Patent ID: 7740259

Claim:
A materials handling vehicle comprising: a frame comprising an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard; and at least one step capable of being positioned across said entrance a spaced distance from said floorboard such that an operator may stand on said step when said step is positioned across said entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location, wherein said step is movable between a deployed position where said step is positioned across said entrance and a stowed position where said step is positioned in a location so as not to block said entrance into and exit from said operator compartment, said step being in a down position when deployed and an up position when stowed; a biasing element for assisting an operator in moving said step from the down position to the up position; at least one hinge mechanism coupled to said at least one step to allow said step to pivot between the deployed and stowed positions; and wherein said operator compartment further comprises first and second substantially vertical and opposing walls, and further comprising a stop coupled to said first wall, said step being pivotably coupled at a first end to said second wall, and a second end of said step engaging said stop when said step is moved to the down position.