Patent ID: 6959937

Claim:
A running board support assembly for securing a running board step to a vehicle, the support assembly comprising: a support bracket engagable with the running board step in a supporting relation, said support bracket having a hook end at a distal end and an aperture spaced from said distal end; a mounting bracket for coupling with the support bracket, the mounting bracket having a generally U-shaped configuration having a bight portion and a first arm and a second arm, each of said arms extending from the bight portion, said first arm having a hooking end engaging said hook in a pivoting relation and a second of said arms having a pin engaging said aperture upon urging said first arm towards said second arm to align said pin with said aperture, said mounting bracket having an aperture sized to receive a fastener to attach the mounting bracket to the vehicle and a guide pin extending therefrom, said guide pin positioned to engage a generally horizontal flange of a mounting structure of the vehicle thereby maintaining generally vertical alignment of said mounting bracket relative to the vehicle; said hooking end comprising a pair of locking fingers defining a locking channel therebetween, and said hook comprising a locking flange configured to engage said fingers, the hooking end further comprising a stop for urging the locking flange against the locking fingers when the support bracket engage said stop; and a fastener connectable to said pin for fastening said support bracket to said mounting bracket.