Tailgate access step

摘要

A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a rear portion of a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step provides clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time.

主权项

1. A retractable vehicle step, comprising:
a stepping member being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; a biasing mechanism being operably coupled to said stepping member and comprising a moveable retaining surface and a cam surface such that in said retracted position said cam surface contacts said retaining surface and urges said stepping member toward said retracted position, said biasing mechanism configured to at least partially resist movement of the stepping member from said extended position toward said retracted position, and said cam surface being configured to move towards and compress the moveable retaining surface during movement of the stepping member from the retracted to the extended position.