IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0505747
(2006-08-17)
|
등록번호 |
US-7503572
(2009-03-17)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Park,Brenda K.
- Rodgers,Richard C.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Park,Brenda K.
- Rodgers,Richard C.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
17 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle is provided. The retractable vehicle step includes a mounting bracket that can be configured for attachment with a trailer hitch receiver of the vehicle. A pair of arms are provided and are pivotally attached to the mounting b
A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle is provided. The retractable vehicle step includes a mounting bracket that can be configured for attachment with a trailer hitch receiver of the vehicle. A pair of arms are provided and are pivotally attached to the mounting bracket. The pair of arms are movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A step is carried by the pair of arms. The step is configured for being stepped on by the user to access the vehicle.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed: 1. A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle, comprising: a mounting bracket configured for attachment with a trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle; a pair of arms pivotally attached to said mounting bracket, said pair of arms movable between an extend
What is claimed: 1. A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle, comprising: a mounting bracket configured for attachment with a trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle; a pair of arms pivotally attached to said mounting bracket, said pair of arms movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein said pair of arms pivot about axes oriented in the vertical direction, and wherein the relative position between said pair of arms and said mounting bracket in the vertical direction is the same in said extended position and in said retracted position; and a step carried by said pair of arms, wherein said step is configured for being stepped on by the user to access the vehicle, wherein said step is closer to said mounting bracket in said retracted position of said pair of arms than in said extended position of said pair of arms. 2. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, wherein a first arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached about a vertical axis to a second portion, and wherein a second arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached about a vertical axis to a second portion. 3. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 2, wherein an end of said first portion of said first arm and wherein an end of said first portion of said second arm are pivotally attached to said mounting bracket to effect pivotal attachment of said pair of arms to said mounting bracket, and further comprising a step bracket pivotally attached to an end of said second portion of said first arm about a vertical axis and pivotally attached to an end of said second portion of said second arm about a vertical axis, wherein said step bracket carries said step, and wherein said step is pivotally attached to said step bracket such that said step is capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis. 4. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, further comprising a locking member configured for locking said pair of arms in said extended position. 5. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, wherein said step has a stepping surface onto which the user can step to access the vehicle, and wherein said step is configured for being oriented between a use position in which said stepping surface is substantially horizontal and a stored position in which said stepping surface is substantially vertical. 6. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 5, wherein said step has an advertising surface oppositely disposed from said stepping surface, wherein said advertising surface has advertising indicia displayed thereon. 7. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, further comprising a tow ball attached to said mounting bracket. 8. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, wherein said pair of arms are configured for being located completely rearward of the trailer hitch receiver when said pair of arms are in said extended position, and wherein said pair of arms are configured for being located completely rearward of the trailer hitch receiver when said pair of arms are in said retracted position. 9. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, wherein said pair of arms extend farther outboard in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when said pair of arms are in said retracted position as opposed to when said pair of arms are in said extended position when said mounting bracket is attached to the trailer hitch receiver. 10. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 1, wherein said pair of arms are unlatched when in said retracted position, and wherein said step is pivotable between a use position and a stored position, and wherein said step is unlatched when in said use position and said stored position. 11. A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle, comprising: a mounting bracket configured for attachment with the rear of a vehicle; a tow ball attached to said mounting bracket; a pair of arms pivotally attached to said mounting bracket about vertical axes, wherein said pair of arms are movable between an extended position of said arms and a retracted position of said arms; and a step carried by said pair of arms such that said step is carried by said mounting bracket, wherein said step is configured for being stepped on by the user to access the vehicle, wherein said step is movable between an extended position of said step and a retracted position of said step when said pair of arms are moved between said extended position of said arms and said retracted position of said arms, wherein said step is located rearward of said tow ball when said step is in said extended position of said step and in said retracted position of said step. 12. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 11, wherein said step in said extended position of said step is located rearward of a lowered tailgate of the vehicle when said mounting bracket is attached to the rear of the vehicle with the tailgate. 13. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 11, wherein a first arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached to a second portion, and wherein a second arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached to a second portion, and wherein an end of said first portion of said first arm and wherein an end of said first portion of said second arm are pivotally attached to said mounting bracket to effect pivotal attachment of said pair of arms to said mounting bracket, and further comprising a step bracket pivotally attached to an end of said second portion of said first arm and pivotally attached to an end of said second portion of said second arm, wherein said step bracket carries said step, and wherein said step is pivotally attached to said step bracket such that said step is capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis. 14. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 11, further comprising a locking member configured for locking said step in said extended position. 15. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 11, wherein said step has a stepping surface onto which the user can step to access the vehicle, and wherein said step is configured for being oriented between a use position in which said stepping surface is substantially horizontal and a stored position in which said stepping surface is substantially vertical. 16. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 15, wherein said step is unlatched when in said retracted position. 17. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 15, wherein said step has an advertising surface oppositely disposed from said stepping surface, wherein said advertising surface has advertising indicia displayed thereon. 18. The retractable vehicle step as in claim 11, wherein said mounting bracket has a trailer hitch engagement member that has a square shaped outer perimeter, wherein said trailer hitch engagement member is configured for attachment to a trailer hitch receiver of the vehicle. 19. A retractable vehicle step for use in allowing a user to access a vehicle, comprising: a mounting bracket configured for attachment with a trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle; a tow ball attached to said mounting bracket; a pair of arms movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein a first arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached to a second portion about a vertical axis, and wherein a second arm of said pair of arms has a first portion pivotally attached to a second portion about a vertical axis, and wherein said first portion of said first arm is pivotally attached to said mounting bracket about a vertical axis, and wherein said first portion of said second arm is pivotally attached to said mounting bracket about a vertical axis, wherein the relative position between said pair of arms and said mounting bracket in the vertical direction is the same in said extended position and in said retracted position; a locking member configured for locking said pair of arms in said extended position; a step bracket, wherein said second portion of said first arm is pivotally attached to said step bracket about a vertical axis, wherein said second portion of said second arm is pivotally attached to said step bracket about a vertical axis; and a step pivotally attached to said step bracket about a horizontal axis, wherein said step has a stepping surface onto which the user can step to access the vehicle, and wherein said step is configured for being pivoted between a use position in which said stepping surface is substantially horizontal and a stored position in which said stepping surface is substantially vertical.
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