Patent ID: 7766357

Claim:
A collapsible step assembly comprising: a mounting means being receivable by a trailer hitch; the mounting means supporting the collapsible step assembly; at least two collapsible steps for the collapsible step assembly communicating with the mounting means; the at least two collapsible steps being movable from a closed position to an open position, and from the open position to the closed position; the at least two collapsible steps including a top step and a bottom step; the mounting means including a first part of a top hinge; the top step including a second part of the top hinge; a left vertical support and a right vertical support connecting the top step to the bottom step; a first upper hinge rod connecting the first part of the top hinge and the second part of the top hinge; a top first side plate and a top second side plate being connected to opposing sides of the top step; a bottom first side plate and a bottom second side plate being connected to opposing sides of the bottom step; a first lower hinge rod connecting the bottom first side plate and the bottom second side plate to the bottom step; a first upper hinge rod connecting the first top side plate and the second top side plate to the top step; a second upper hinge rod connecting the left vertical support and the right vertical support to the top step; the second upper hinge rod connecting the first top side plate over the left vertical support to the top step and connecting the second top side plate over the right vertical support to the top step on opposing sides thereof; a first lower hinge rod connecting the left vertical support over a first bottom side plate to the bottom step at a lower end thereof; the first lower hinge rod connecting the right vertical support over a second bottom side plate to the bottom step at the lower end thereof; the first lower hinge rod connecting the left vertical support and the first bottom side plate to the bottom step; the first bottom side plate being between the left vertical support and the bottom step; the first lower hinge rod connecting the right vertical support and the second bottom side plate to the bottom step; the second bottom side plate being between the right vertical support and the bottom step; a fastener holding each end of the first upper hinge rod, the second upper hinge rod, the first lower hinge rod and the second lower hinge rod in a desired position; a lever lock assembly and a ball lock assembly cooperating with the left vertical support and the right vertical support in order to provide for positioning the collapsible step; the lever lock assembly fitting into the top step adjacent to the second upper hinge rod; a centrally located spring with a spring cover for the lever lock assembly; the spring cover cooperating with a coupling shank on each side thereof; each coupling shank cooperating with an end latch bolt of the lever lock assembly; and a sliding bushing operably connecting to the spring in order to facilitate an opening and a closing of the step assembly.