Detachable folding camper steps

Claim 2

A readily and selectively attachable and detachable folding step unit for use with the rear of a pickup type truck, or truck-mounted camper vehicle and the like, having a back bumper type support with a generally flat horizontal upper surface and generally vertical rearward surface, and further embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hitch means of the conventional drop-in bolt type within said bumper, said step unit comprising in combination: a. First upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces, and rearward, forward and opposite sides. b. said first upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper-type support overlying at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and also projecting substantially co-planar therewith a sufficient distance behind said bumper type support to constitute a complete and safe step tread; said upper tread plate being apertured to correspond with and closely receive therethrough said drop-in bolt of the hitch means so as to detachably secure said step unit onto said bumper-type support; c. cooperable pivot-enabling bracket and hinge means on said first and second step means pivotally connecting said steps together so that in the unfolded condition the steps are disposed in normal step fashion, and when in the folded-up condition the second step tread plate overlays that of the first step means in tread-to-tread relation; d. said bracket and hinge means including at least one hinge bracket rigidly attached to and extending a free portion thereof a distance approximating half the riser height at substantially right angles from each of said upper and lower step tread plates toward each other in a non-coplanar but closely adjacent relationship, and having hinge pin means interconnecting said brackets through alignable apertures formed in said adjacent free portions with said hinge pin disposed approximately midway of the riser height to facilitate the said folded-up condition; said at least one hinge bracket which depends from said upper tread plate having a terminal edge for abutting said vertical rearward surface of said bumper to supplementally support said step unit therewith and e. said upper tread plate having at least one notch recessed In the rearward edge thereof in corresponding coplanar relation with said bracket projecting from said lower step tread plate and being of a size corresponding essentially to the cross-sectional dimension of said latter bracket so as to receive said bracket therein when said second step is in said folded-up condition.

Claim 3

A readily and selectively attachable and detachable folding step unit for use with the rear of a pickup type truck, or truckmounted camper vehicle and the like, having a back bumper type support with a generally flat horizontal upper surface and generally vertical rearward surface, and further embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hitch means of the conventional drop-in bolt type within said bumper, said step unit comprising in combination: a. First upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces, and rearward, forward and opposite sides. b. said first upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper-type support overlying at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and also projecting substantially co-planar therewith a sufficient distance behind said bumper type support to constitute a complete and safe step tread; said upper tread plate being apertured to correspond with and closely receive therethrough said drop-in bolt of the hitch means so as to detachably secure said step unit onto said bumper-type support; c. cooperable pivot-enabling bracket and hinge means on said first and second step means pivotally connecting said steps together so that in the unfolded condition the steps are disposed in normal step fashion, and when in the folded-up condition the second step tread plate overlays that of the first step means in tread-to-tread relation; d. said bracket and hinge means including at least one hinge bracket rigidly attached to and extending a free portion thereof a distance approximating half the riser height at substantially right angles from each of said upper and lower step tread plates toward each other in a non-coplanar but closely adjacent relationship, and having hinge pin means interconnecting said brackets through alignable apertures formed in said adjacent free portions with said hinge pin disposed approximately midway of the riser height to facilitate the said folded-up condition; said at least one hinge bracket which depends from said upper tread plate having a terminal edge for abutting said vertical rearward surface of said bumper to supplementally support said step unit therewith and e. said upper tread plate having at least one notch recessed In the rearward edge thereof in corresponding coplanar relation with said bracket projecting from said lower step tread plate and being of a size corresponding essentially to the crosssectional dimension of said latter bracket so as to receive said bracket therein when said second step is in said folded-up condition.

Claim 4

A readily and selectively attachable and detachable folding step unit for use with the rear of a pickup type truck, or truckmounted camper vehicle and the like, having a back bumper type support with a generally flat horizontal upper surface and generally vertical rearward surface, and further embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hitch means of the conventional drop-in bolt type within said bumper, said step unit comprising in combination: a. First upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces, and rearward, forward and opposite sides. b. said first upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper-type support overlying at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and also projecting substantially co-planar therewith a sufficient distance behind said bumper type support to constitute a complete and safe step tread; said upper tread plate being apertured to correspond with and closely receive therethrough said drop-in bolt of the hitch means so as to detachably secure said step unit onto said bumper-type support; c. cooperable pivot-enabling bracket and hinge means on said first and second step means pivotally connecting said steps together so that in the unfolded condition the steps are disposed in normal step fashion, and when in the folded-up condition the second step tread plate overlays that of the first step means in tread-to-tread relation; d. said bracket and hinge means including at least one hinge bracket rigidly attached to and extending a free portion thereof a distance approximating half the riser height at substantially right angles from each of said upper and lower step tread plates toward each other in a non-coplanar but closely adjacent relationship, and having hinge pin means interconnecting said brackets through alignable apertures formed in said adjacent free portions with said hinge pin disposed approximately midway of the riser height to facilitate the said folded-up condition; said at least one hinge bracket which depends from said upper tread plate having a terminal edge for abutting said vertical rearward surface of said bumper to supplementally support said step unit therewith and e. said upper tread plate having at least one notch recessed In the rearward edge thereof in corresponding coplanar relation with said bracket projecting from said lower step tread plate and being of a size corresponding essentially to the crosssectional dimension of said latter bracket so as to receive said bracket therein when said second step is in said folded-up condition.

Claim 5

A step unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second step means includes abutment means disposed thereon to engage a lower portion of said hinge bracket extending from said upper tread plate, to support said second step tread plate in a generally horizontal offset parallel position relative to the upper tread plate when in an unfolded in-use condition.

Claim 6

A step unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said abutment means comprises part of riser plate means attached at a generally right angle to and adjacent the back side of said second step tread plate.

Claim 7

A step unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said notch of para. (e) is of a size to effect a friction fit of said bracket projecting from said lower step tread plate when said latter step is in the folded-up condition.

Claim 8

A step unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket and hinge means include at least one pair of hinge brackets disposed in a laterally spaced-apart manner on each of said upper and lower step tread plates in the manner defined, and a corresponding pair of notches is provided in said upper tread plate as per para. (e) of claim 1.

Claim 9

A step unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said pair of hinge brackets on said upper step tread plate extend therefrom in depending relation from opposite extreme side edges thereof, and said pair of hinge brackets extending from said second step tread plate are disposed in corresponding near opposite extreme edges thereof, but laterally inwardly of said depending brackets.

Claim 10

A step unit as defined in claim 6, wherein said upper tread plate notches, for receiving said lower tread plate attached hinge brackets, when in the folded-up condition, are of a size to provide a light friction fit with said brackets to help retain said second step means in the folded-up condition when not in use during transit of said camper or truck vehicle.

Claim 11

A step unit as defined in claim 7 further comprising a third step means of the same general character as the first and second step means and pivotally connected to said second step means by hinge bracket means constructed and operable like those defined for said first and second step means respectively, and said third step means being foldable upon said second step means, and said third and second step means together then being foldable upon said first step means.

Claim 12

A step unit as defined in claim 8, wherein said second step means tread plate is provided with a pair of slotted apertures near its opposite lateral sides, like those of said first upper tread plate, to accommodate said hinge brackets of said third step tread plate when the latter is folded upon said second step tread plate.

Claim 13

A step unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper step tread plate includes at least one lateral extension portion of sufficient elongated length projecting beyond the lateral width of said basic step tread plates to assure complete overlying coverage of the hitch recess in said bumper.

Claim 14

A step unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising a third step means of the same general character as the first and second step means and being pivotally connected to said second step means by pivot-effecting hinge bracket means constructed and operable like those defined for said first and second step means respectively, and said third and second step means being respectively sequentially foldable to overlay the first step means when in a completely folded-up condition.

Claim 15

For use with a pickup type truck, or camper vehicle and the like, having a back bumper with a generally flat horizontal upper surface and generally vertical rearward surface, and further embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hitch meanS of the conventional drop-in bolt type within said bumper, a readily attachable and detachable foldable step unit for mounting on said bumper in at least partial overlying relation to said hitch by use of said hitch pin, said step unit comprising: a. first upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces, and rearward, forward and opposite sides; b. each step means having pivot-enabling bracket means including a pair of hinge brackets disposed at opposite sides of and complementally rigidly affixed respectively so as to have free end portions depend both from the lower surface, and to also project upwardly from the upper surface of said respective first and second step tread plate in an adjacent manner; and pivot pin means interconnecting the hinge brackets near their respective adjacent free ends at a point approximately midway of the riser distance between said steps to facilitate the said folded-up condition; c. said step and bracket means being of a relative size and disposition to enable said steps to be foldable between a first folded-up condition and a second unfolded condition, that when in said folded-up condition said second step overlays in face down condition a corresponding part of the face-up tread surface of the first step means, with said second step hinge brackets complementally recessed with a friction fit within slot-like apertures formed at opposite rearward sides of said upper step tread plate and in conjunction with said depending brackets thereof; and when in said unfolded condition said lower step tread plate is held in a generally horizontal, parallel offset condition relative to said upper step tread plate by rigid abutment means on said lower step means which abutment means engagingly abut lower portions of said upper tread plate''s depending hinge brackets; d. said upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper in overlying relation to at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and being apertured in alignment with and adapted to receive therethrough said drop-in hitch bolt for attaching said step unit to said bumper; e. said upper tread plate projecting generally coplanarly from the top of said bumper a sufficient distance to constitute a complete safe step tread independent of said bumper upper surface and beyond said camper vehicle to accommodate camper units of a length whose rearward most end overhangs most of said bumper; and f. said hinge brackets depending from said upper step tread plate having generally vertical, forwardly directed terminal edges disposed to engage with the generally vertical rearward surface of said bumper to supplementally support said step unit therewith.

Claim 16

For use with a pickup type truck, or camper vehicle and the like, having a back bumper with a generally flat horizontal upper surface and generally vertical rearward surface, and further embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hitch meanS of the conventional drop-in bolt type within said bumper, a readily attachable and detachable foldable step unit for mounting on said bumper in at least partial overlying relation to said hitch by use of said hitch pin, said step unit comprising: a. first upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces, and rearward, forward and opposite sides; b. each step means having pivot-enabling bracket means including a pair of hinge brackets disposed at opposite sides of and complementally rigidly affixed respectively so as to have free end portions depend both from the lower surface, and to also project upwardly from the upper surface of said respective first and second step tread plate in an adjacent manner; and pivot pin means interconnecting the hinge brackets near their respective adjacent free ends at a point approximately midway of the riser distance between said steps to facilitate the said folded-up condition; c. said step and bracket means being of a relative size and disposition to enable said steps to be foldable between a first folded-up condition and a second unfolded condition, that when in said folded-up condition said second step overlays in face down condition a corresponding part of the face-up tread surface of the first step means, with said second step hinge brackets complementally recessed with a friction fit within slot-like apertures formed at opposite rearward sides of said upper step tread plate and in conjunction with said depending brackets thereof; and when in said unfolded condition said lower step tread plate is held in a generally horizontal, parallel offset condition relative to said upper step tread plate by rigid abutment means on said lower step means which abutment means engagingly abut lower portions of said upper tread plate''s depending hinge brackets; d. said upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper in overlying relation to at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and being apertured in alignment with and adapted to receive therethrough said drop-in hitch bolt for attaching said step unit to said bumper; e. said upper tread plate projecting generally coplanarly from the top of said bumper a sufficient distance to constitute a complete safe step tread independent of said bumper upper surface and beyond said camper vehicle to accommodate camper units of a length whose rearward most end overhangs most of said bumper; and f. said hinge brackets depending from said upper step tread plate having generally vertical, forwardly directed terminal edges disposed to engage with the generally vertical rearward surface of said bumper to supplementally support said step unit therewith.

Claim 17

A step unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said abutment means on second step means comprises at least a partial riser plate attached at a generally right angle to and adjacent to the back side of said second step means tread plate, and said riser plate having portions extending in laterally opposite directions beyond said hinge brackets of the lower step means to engagingly abut a lowermost portion of the free ends of said depending hinge brackets of the upper tread plate.

Claim 18

A step unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said upper step tread plate includes at least one lateral extension portion of sufficient elongated length projecting beyond the lateral width of said basic step tread plates to assure complete overlying coverage of the hitch recess in said bumper.

Claim 19

A readily attachable and detachable folding step unit for use with the rearward part of a pickup type truck or truck-mounted camper unit and vehicle, having a back bumper type support with a generally flat horizontal upper surface, generally vertical rearward surface, and embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hiTch means of the aperture and drop-in bolt type formed within said bumper support, said step unit comprising in combination: a. first upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces; b. said step means being constructed to enable unfolding from a first folded up closed condition to an extended unfolded more useable condition; c. said upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for complemental engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper in overlying relation to at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and having stabilizing bracket means depending therefrom to bear against said rearward vertical surface of said bumper, and said upper step tread plate being apertured in alignment with and adapted to receive therethrough said drop-in hitch bolt for attaching said step unit to said bumper; and d. said upper step tread plate projecting rearwardly beyond said bumper a sufficient distance to constitute a safe step tread independent of said bumper upper surface and beyond said camper vehicle to accommodate camper units of a length whose rearwardmost end overhangs most of said bumper support.

Claim 20

A readily attachable and detachable folding step unit for use with the rearward part of a pickup type truck or truck-mounted camper unit and vehicle, having a back bumper type support with a generally flat horizontal upper surface, generally vertical rearward surface, and embodying a generally medially recessed trailer hiTch means of the aperture and drop-in bolt type formed within said bumper support, said step unit comprising in combination: a. first upper and second lower pivotally connected step means separated by a riser distance of normal step height, each step means comprising a basic generally flat tread plate with upper and lower surfaces; b. said step means being constructed to enable unfolding from a first folded up closed condition to an extended unfolded more useable condition; c. said upper step tread plate being of a size and including a substantially flat portion for complemental engagement upon said upper surface of said bumper in overlying relation to at least part of said recessed trailer hitch means and having stabilizing bracket means depending therefrom to bear against said rearward vertical surface of said bumper, and said upper step tread plate being apertured in alignment with and adapted to receive therethrough said drop-in hitch bolt for attaching said step unit to said bumper; and d. said upper step tread plate projecting rearwardly beyond said bumper a sufficient distance to constitute a safe step tread independent of said bumper upper surface and beyond said camper vehicle to accommodate camper units of a length whose rearwardmost end overhangs most of said bumper support.

Claim 21

A folding step unit as defined in claim 15, of which the structural components are so related as to provide at least a single step utility of the unit in its folded up condition, and to provide at least a double step unit in its unfolded condition.