Patent ID: 8342550

Claim:
An adjustable step arrangement for a vehicle having at least one door, said step arrangement including: a substantially U-shaped tube member with substantially parallel, hollow leg portions spaced from each other and respectively extending along a first axis ( 17 ) and a hollow step section extending between the leg portions and along a second axis ( 19 ) substantially perpendicular to the first axis, said leg portions having respective slots extending substantially parallel to each other along the first axis and being spaced a first distance from each other, and a guide system mounted to the vehicle below said door, said guide system including at least two, substantially vertical guide plate members ( 10 ) spaced from each other substantially said first distance said slots are spaced from each other and extending substantially parallel to each other along a third axis, said third axis being substantially horizontal and said plate members and said third axis ( 24 ) being fixed relative to said vehicle, said plate members being respectively slidably receivable in the slots of said leg portions to extend within said respective hollow leg portions wherein said U-shaped tube member can be moved relative to said plate members and said vehicle along said third axis between at least first and second positions, said U-shaped tube member in said first position extending substantially horizontally with the first ( 17 ) and third ( 24 ) axes substantially aligned and with the step section of the U-shaped tube member substantially below the door of the vehicle and spaced outwardly of the vehicle, said U-shaped tube member in said second position extending at an inclined angle to the horizontal with the first axis ( 17 ) inclined to the third axis ( 24 ) and with the step section of the U-shaped tube member spaced lower and farther out from the vehicle than in said first position.