Patent ID: 7318596

Claim:
A retractable running board assembly for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment and an opening for permitting a person to enter and exit the passenger compartment, the assembly comprising: an anchor constructed and arranged to mount the running board assembly to the vehicle in an operative position beneath the passenger compartment; a longitudinally-elongated retractable running board; and a running board moving assembly comprising: a selectively-actuated link having an end portion connected to the running board and an opposite end portion connected to the anchor, the link being constructed and arranged such that, when the running board assembly is mounted in the operative position, actuation of the selectively-actuated link moves the running board between (a) a step-assist position wherein the running board extends outwardly from the vehicle away from the opening at an elevation spaced above ground level, and (b) a retracted position wherein the running board is retracted inwardly from the extended position; and a selectively-operable driving mechanism operatively connected to the selectively-actuated link such that, when the running board assembly is mounted in the operative position, selective operation of the driving mechanism actuates the selectively-actuated link to move the running board between the step-assist and retracted positions, wherein the link comprises: a pair of generally horizontally oriented travel slots; and a linking structure having structures constructed and arranged to engage the travel slots for guiding the running board between the step-assist and retracted positions as the driving mechanism actuates the selectively-actuated link.