HORIZONTAL RETRACTABLE VEHICLE STEP

摘要

A horizontally moving retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle, such as a low to the ground vehicle like a van. The horizontal vehicle step can provide access to different portions of the vehicle. Further, the horizontal vehicle step can act as a safety mechanism to reduce potential harm to a user in accidentally stepping in gaps between the vehicle and a curb.

主权项

1. A horizontally extending step comprising:
an attachment frame configured to attach to a vehicle; and a stepping fixture comprising:
a pair of arms rotatably attached to the frame and extending away from the frame;a support component rotatably connected to the pair of arms; anda stepping platform attached to the support component, said stepping platform defining a stepping surface; wherein the stepping fixture is configured to rotate between a stowed and deployed position; wherein the stepping platform remains generally parallel to a plane Ps defined by a plane passing along the stepping surface when the stepping platform is in the stowed position, both when in the stowed and in the deployed position; and wherein a distal tip of the stepping platform remains within 1 inch in the vertical direction between the stowed position, the deployed position, and an intermediate position located halfway between the stowed and deployed positions.