Patent ID: 8011681

Claim:
An access structure for a vehicle having a structural support, the access structure comprising: a mounting structure pivotally coupled to the structural support for pivoting movement about the pivot axis, the mounting structure including a first frame section and a second frame section that are rigidly fixed to one another such that the first frame section is located on a first side of the pivot axis and the second frame section is located on a second side of the pivot axis opposite the first frame section, the first frame section and the second frame section extending from the pivot axis to form an obtuse angle therebetween; and a step rigidly fixed to the first frame section such that the step moves with the first frame section about the pivot axis between a retracted position and an extended position such that in the retracted position a distal end of the second frame section is spaced apart from the structural support and located inboard of the pivot axis and the step is in a substantially non-horizontal orientation and such that in the extended position the distal end of the second frame section contacts the structural support and the step is in a substantially horizontal orientation.