Moveable support platform

Abstract

A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a manually operable vehicle side step assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a step member configured to be moveable between a retracted position and an extended position outward from said retracted position;   providing a first support arm configured to pivot about a first axis near an upper end of said first support arm and a second axis near a lower end of said first support arm;   providing a mounting assembly configured to couple the step assembly to a vehicle; and   providing a mount configured to engage a spring wherein the spring acts on the upper end of the first support arm, wherein said first support arm pivots with respect to the step member about said second axis and is configured to allow said step member to move between said retracted and said extended positions and said spring biases said step member in both said extended position.