Lund Motion Products, Inc.

89908, Inc.

Black Decker Inc.

Other

American Moto Products, Inc.

Harris Corporation

88908, Inc.

Anthony Nicholas Smith

Horst Leitner

William Franklin Bibb, Vi

Eric Charles Bajza

Thomas R Sommerville

Dean Edward Mettler

Sean Hill

Scott Cover

Carlos Gutierrez

Chris Schumacher

Mark Donald Rahmes

Jeremy D Leasure

Craig R Steinfels

Steven D McDaniel

Stephen Connetti

John D Karp

Todd W Yeoman

William Ridgway Lang, Jr

Robert P Welsh

Mark A Etter

Joseph C King

Adrienne Smith

Vi Bibb William Franklin

A retractable step and side bar assembly that can be used for raised vehicles, such as trucks. The retractable step can be configured to provide for significant reach in a deployed position to allow for a user to enter the raised vehicle. Further, in the stowed position the retractable step can be located within the side bar, thereby providing a low profile as well as an enhanced aesthetic appearance.

Retractable step and side bar assembly for raised vehicle

Powered retractable vehicle step assist systems and methods are provided. The steps systems are configured for installation (e.g., after market installation) and use with a vehicle. The system can include a stepping member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle. The system can further include a vehicle interface. A controller of the step system can be configured to process information received from the vehicle interface and, based at least partly on the processing of the information, cause movement of the stepping member between the retracted position and the deployed position.

Automated retractable vehicle step

Vehicle tailgate enclosure

A retractable vehicle step includes: a stepping member configured for movement between retracted and extended positions; a first arm having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the stepping member; a mount pivotally connected to the second end and configured to secure to a vehicle, the mount having a housing including an interior to receive a portion of the first arm, the housing having a height, a length, a first axis extending along the height, and a second axis extending along the length and perpendicular to the first axis; and a biasing member in the interior, the biasing member coupled with the second end of the first arm and configured to apply a biasing force to the first arm, the biasing force applied at a first angle with respect to said second axis that is less then approximately 30°.

Retractable vehicle step

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.

Horizontal retractable vehicle step

A tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle can include a plurality of cross-members, a first upright, a second upright, and only one additional upright. Each of the cross-members can be vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the cross-members and can include a first beam, a second beam, and a central beam having a first end and a second end, the central beam positioned at least partially between the first and second beams. The first upright can secure the first beam of each of the cross-members to a first sidewall of the vehicle and the second upright can secure the second beam of each of the cross-members to a second sidewall of the vehicle. The additional upright can be positioned along the central beam of each of the cross-members between the first and second ends of the central beam.

Vehicle cargo tailgate enclosure

A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck, such as at the rear portion. 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. Further, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user.

A rack assembly configured to mount to sidewalls of a truck bed can include a pair of side rails defining a support surface positionable over the sidewalls and at least one cross rail having a first end, a second end, a first length extending between the first and second ends, and one or more channels extending along a portion of the first length. In some embodiments, each of the pair of side rails includes at least a first mounting station. In some embodiments, each of the first and second ends of the at least one cross rail can secure to one of the first mounting stations of the pair of side rails such that, when the at least one cross rail is secured to the pair of side rails at the first mounting stations, the at least one cross rail is transverse with respect to the pair of side rails.

Vehicle rack assembly

A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide 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. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. 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. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.

Growing community of inventors

Costa Mesa, CA, United States of America

Anthony Nicholas Smith