Patent ID: 7017927

Claim:
A running board assembly for accommodating access to a motor vehicle, said running board assembly comprising: a plurality of mounting brackets fixedly secured to a motor vehicle; a step movably secured to said plurality of mounting brackets, said step having a cantilever arm extending out therefrom and defining a stepping surface, a peripheral edge extending around said step, and a contoured surface opposite said stepping surface shaped to provide an inner rocker panel appearance, said step movable between a deployed position providing access to said stepping surface and a stowed position wherein a portion of said peripheral edge abuts the motor vehicle and said contoured surface merges with adjacent vehicle panels; a linkage secured to said step for defining a path of travel for said step between said deployed and stowed positions; a motor operatively connected to said linkage for moving said linkage and said step; and a transmission having a sector gear secured to said step and operatively engaging said motor, said sector gear having an arcuate toothed portion and defining a slot having upper and lower slot ends.