Patent ID: 7377531

Claim:
A retractable running board assembly for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a door opening for permitting a person to enter and exit the passenger compartment, the assembly comprising: an anchor constructed and arranged to mount the running board assembly to the vehicle in an operative position beneath the door opening; an elongated retractable running board; and a running board moving assembly comprising: at least one selectively-actuated link connected between the running board and the anchor and movably supporting the running board, the link being constructed and arranged such that, when the running board assembly is mounted to the vehicle in the operative position, actuation of the link moves the running board between (a) a retracted position, (b) a primary extended position wherein the running board is moved at least outwardly with respect to the vehicle from the retracted position and in spaced relation above ground level for allowing the person to step up and onto the running board and into the passenger compartment, and (c) a secondary extended position wherein the running board is moved upwardly from the primary extended position for facilitating passenger access to a roof of the vehicle; and a selectively-operable driving mechanism operatively connected to the link such that, when the running board assembly is mounted in the operative position, selective operation of the driving mechanism actuates the link to move the running board between the retracted, primary extended, and secondary extended positions.