Patent ID: 7044487

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: (a.) a chassis; (b.) a plurality of wheels mounted to the chassis; (c.) an operator compartment supported on the chassis; (d.) a battery for providing power to the vehicle; (e.) a metal step for supporting an operator of the vehicle when the operator enters or leaves the operator compartment, said step being disposed proximate to the operator compartment and including a tread plate and an electrical resistance heater disposed proximate to the tread plate; a front flange joined to a front side portion of the tread plate and extending downwardly therefrom, wherein the heater is secured to the front flange; and (f.) an electrical circuit connecting the heater to the battery, said electrical circuit being operable to supply power from the battery to the heater, thereby causing the heater to heat the step and melt any snow or ice that may be present on the step.