Patent ID: 7413204

Claim:
A retractable step for use with a vehicle, said retractable step comprising: a first arm connectable with respect to an underside of said vehicle so as to be rotatable about a first axis generally orthogonal to a direction of access to said vehicle via said retractable step; a second arm connectable with respect to said underside of said vehicle so as to be rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis, wherein said first axis is located above said second axis; a step member comprising a stepping surface and a support bracket extending generally from said stepping surface toward said arms; said step member connected to said first arm and rotatable with respect to said first arm about a third axis, said step member connected to said second arm and rotatable with respect to said second arm about a fourth axis, an end portion of said first arm being received in an opening formed in said support bracket near said third axis, an end portion of said second arm being received in said opening near said fourth axis; said step member being moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position suitable for providing access to said vehicle; said stepping surface having a lateral dimension which is oriented generally orthogonal to said direction of access to said vehicle, when said step member is in said deployed position; said third axis and said fourth axis being generally parallel to said lateral dimension when said step member is in said deployed position, said fourth axis being located inward of and above said third axis when said step member is in said deployed position; wherein, when said step member is in said deployed position, placement of a load on said stepping surface tends to urge said step member further toward said deployed position.