Patent ID: 7000932

Claim:
A running board for an automotive vehicle comprising: a polymeric platform for supporting a vehicle occupant's pedal portion for entry or exit of a door of said vehicle, said platform being an elongated member extending along a lateral side of said vehicle; said platform having an upper solid surface reinforced with transverse webs underneath generally perpendicular to said upper solid surface; and at least first and second spaced apart polymeric support brackets, said brackets being generally J-shaped having an upper end for connection with said lateral side of said vehicle and said brackets having a lower end transversely extending and integrally connected with said platform and said brackets being co-molded therewith and wherein said brackets have a channel cross-sectional configuration comprising a plurality of channels being formed from a plurality of sidewalls with said sidewalls being continuous with said transverse webs of said platform, so that said lower end of said J-shaped bracket comprises said transverse webs, said channels being generally U-shaped in cross-section and extending uninterrupted from said lower end of said J-shaped bracket to said upper end of said J-shaped bracket.