Retractable vehicle step

Abstract

A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having an upper stepping surface, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The second arm also has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. The first and second arms can be generally planar linkages.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A retractable vehicle step comprising:
 a frame;   a first arm rotatably connected to the frame at a first axis;   a second arm rotatably connected to the frame at a second axis, the second axis positioned inboard of the first axis; and   a step member rotatably connected to the first arm at a third axis and rotatably connected to the second arm at a fourth axis,   wherein the step member comprises one of a running board or a tubular rail, the one of a running board or a tubular rail comprising a stepping surface, the first arm and second arm being configured to move the stepping surface between a retracted position and a deployed position, the deployed position being located outboard of the retracted position;   wherein, when the stepping surface is in the retracted position and the retractable vehicle step is viewed in a plane perpendicular to the first axis, a first line connecting the first and third axes intersects outboard of the first axis with a second line connecting the second and fourth axes, and   wherein, when the retractable vehicle step is viewed in the plane perpendicular to the first axis, an aspect ratio defined by (1) a distance between the third and fourth axes divided by (2) a distance between the first and third axes is less than 0.4.   
     
     
         3 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the step member further comprises a support bracket connected to the one of a running board or a tubular rail, wherein the step member is rotatably connected to the first arm and the second arm via the support bracket of the step member. 
     
     
         4 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second arms are positioned such that, when the retractable vehicle step is connected to an underbody of a vehicle and the stepping surface is in the deployed position, the first and second arms are both positioned inboard of an outboard edge of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 3 , wherein the support bracket is connected to the one of a running board or a tubular rail at a distal end of the support bracket, and the support bracket comprises first and second portions extending proximally toward the first arm and the second arm, wherein the third and fourth axes both pass through the first and second portions, at least a portion of the first arm is positioned between the first and second portions, and at least a portion of the second arm is positioned between the first and second portions. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second arms comprises a width that is substantially greater than a thickness, wherein the thickness is defined by a maximum distance between an inboard surface and an outboard surface, and wherein the width is defined by a maximum distance between a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second arms comprises a width that is substantially greater than a thickness, wherein the thickness is defined by a maximum distance between an inboard surface and an outboard surface, and wherein the width is defined by a maximum distance between a substantially vertical first side and a substantially vertical second side. 
     
     
         8 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second portions of the support bracket comprise a pair of spaced apart flanges. 
     
     
         9 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second frame;   a third arm rotatably connected to the second frame; and   a fourth arm rotatably connected to the second frame,   wherein the step member further comprises a second support bracket connected to the one of a running board or a tubular rail, and the step member is further rotatably connected to the third arm and the fourth arm via the second support bracket of the step member.   
     
     
         10 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the aspect ratio is less than 0.3. 
     
     
         11 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the distance between the third and fourth axes is less than 6 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the second and fourth axes is less than the distance between the first and third axes. 
     
     
         13 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the first axis is positioned upward from the second axis. 
     
     
         14 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein, when the stepping surface is in the deployed position, the first line is non-parallel to the second line. 
     
     
         15 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 14 , wherein the second arm comprises a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the frame and the second end connected to the step member,
 wherein, when the stepping surface is in the deployed position and a downward force is applied to the stepping surface, further movement of the stepping surface beyond the deployed position is resisted by the second end of the second arm applying a force to an inboard side of the first arm through a static stop member that is fixed with respect to or integrally formed with one of the first or second arms.   
     
     
         16 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein, when the stepping surface is in the deployed position, the first line intersects with the second line below the third and fourth axes. 
     
     
         17 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the stepping surface initially moves in a direction that comprises an upward component as the stepping surface moves from the retracted position to the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a running board and a tubular rail comprises a width substantially greater than either of the first and second arms. 
     
     
         19 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein the stepping surface comprises an outboard end and an inboard end, wherein the outboard end is positioned higher than the inboard end when the stepping surface is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         20 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , further comprising a motor configured to cause the stepping surface to move between the retracted position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         21 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , further comprising a vehicle, wherein the frame is rigidly connected to an underbody of the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 21 , wherein the frame is rigidly connected to the underbody of the vehicle via a connection bracket. 
     
     
         23 . The retractable vehicle step of  claim 2 , wherein, when the stepping surface is in the retracted position and the retractable vehicle step is viewed in the plane perpendicular to the first axis, the first line intersects with the second line inboard of an outboard edge of the stepping surface.