Foldable camper step assembly

Claim 2

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step having an elongated support member attached at one end thereto and projecting downwardly from said upper step; b. a lower step having an elongated pivot arm attached at one end thereto and projecting upwardly from said lower step, its upwardly projecting end being pivotally attached to said support member to permit said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal pivot axis; c. stop means associated with said support member and pivot arm for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement of said lower step for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically spaced, unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal; and d. positive locking means associated with said support member and pivot arm for slidably interconnecting said support member and pivot arm at said pivot axis so as to permit said pivot arm to slide longitudinally downward with respect to said pivot axis automatically in response to said lower step''s being pivoted upwardly into a raised, folded position above said upper step, said locking means including means for preventing further pivotal movement of said lower step and locking said lower step into place above said upper step automatically in response to said downward sliding motion of said pivot arm.

Claim 3

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said steps include non-skid surfaces.

Claim 4

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper step includes mounting means for attaching said step assembly to the vehicle.

Claim 5

The step assembly of claim 3 wherein said mounting means comprises threaded fasteners for attaching said step assembly to the rear bumper of the vehicle.

Claim 6

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower step comprises blocking means for preventing the camper door from opening when said lower step is in said raised, folded position.

Claim 7

The step assembly of claim 5 wherein said blocking means comprises means attached to said lower step for projecting upwardly in front of the camper door when said lower step is in said raised, folded position.

Claim 8

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said forward wall portion comprises said stop means.

Claim 9

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a portion projecting laterally with respect to said assembly from said support member for engaging said pivot arm.

Claim 10

The step assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes means for automatically locking said lower step in said folded position by action of gravity when said step is placed in said folded position.

Claim 11

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. a top step, a middle step, and a bottom step; b. a first pair of linking means disposed between said top and middle steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said middle step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said top step about a horizontal axis; c. a second pair of linking means disposed between said middle and bottom steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said bottom step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said middle step about a horizontal axis; d. geometric means associated with said first and second pairs of linking means for permitting said bottom step to be pivoted upwardly into a folded position above said middle step and for permitting said folded bottom step and said middle step to be pivoted upwardly together into a folded position above said top step with said bottom step tucked between said middle and top steps; and e. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement of said middle and bottom steps for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically spaced, unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal.

Claim 12

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. a top step, a middle step, and a bottom step; b. a first pair of linking means disposed between said top and middle steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said middle step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said top step about a horizontal axis; c. a second pair of linking means disposed between said middle and bottom steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said bottom step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said middle step about a horizontal axis; d. geometric means associated with said first and second pairs of linking means for permitting said bottom step to be pivoted upwardly into a folded position above said middle step and for permitting said folded bottom step and said middle step to be pivoted upwardly together into a folded position above said top step with said bottom step tucked between said middle and top steps; and e. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement of said middle and bottom steps for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically spaced, unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal.

Claim 13

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. an L-shaped elongated support member having forward and side wall portions attached to said upper step and extending downwardly lengthwise from said upper step; c. a pivot axle attached to said side wall portion of said L-shaped member; d. an elongated pivot arm attached at its bottom end to said lower step; e. positive locking means for automatically locking said lower step in a raised, folded position above said upper step in response to being pivoted upwardly into said raised, folded position, said positive locking means comprising an elongated slotted opening formed in the upper end of said pivot arm in engagement with said axle for permitting said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis, said slot having substantially semi-circular ends and being disposed longitudinally of said arm such that the maximum distance from said upper end of said pivot arm to the center of curvature of the nearest end of said slotted opening is less than the distance from the center of said pivot axle to said forward wall portion of said L-shaped member, and the maximum distance from said upper end of said pivot arm to the center of curvature of the furthest end of said slotted opening is greater than the distance from the center of said pivot axle to said forward wall portion; and f. stop means associated with said support member and said arm for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically spaced, folded position with their surfaces horizontal.

Claim 14

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. an L-shaped elongated support member having forward and side wall portions attached to said upper step and extending downwardly lengthwise from said upper step; c. a pivot axle attached to said side wall portion of said L-shaped member; d. an elongated pivot arm attached at its bottom end to said lower step; e. positive locking means for automatically locking said lower step in a raised, folded position above said upper step in response to being pivoted upwardly into said raised, folded position, said positive locking means comprising an elongated slotted opening formed in the upper end of said pivot arm in engagement with said axle for permitting said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis, said slot having substantially semi-circular ends and being disposed longitudinally of said arm such that the maximum distance from said upper end of said pivot arm to the center of curvature of the nearest end of said slotted opening is less than the distance from the center of said pivot axle to said forward wall portion of said L-shaped member, and the maximum distance from said upper end of said pivot arm to the center of curvature of the furthest end of said slotted opening is greater than the distance from the center of said pivot axle to said forward wall portion; and f. stop means associated with said support member and said arm for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically spaced, folded position with their surfaces horizontal.

Claim 15

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. a first pair of linking means disposed between said pair of steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis between a raised, folded position directly above said upper step and a downward, unfolded position vertically spaced obliquely below said upper step; c. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in said unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal; d. positive locking means for locking said lower step in said raised, folded position above said upper step; e. a third step below said lower step and a second set of said linking means and stop means disposed between said lower step and said third step, said first set of linking means including means for holding said lower step in a predetermined distance above the top of said upper step when said lower step is in said folded position, said predetermined distance being sufficient to permit the insertion of said third step between said upper and lower steps, said second set of linking means including means for permitting said third step to be folded upwardly together with said lower step into a position inserted between said lower and upper steps.

Claim 16

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. a first pair of linking means disposed between said pair of steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis between a raised, folded position directly above said upper step and a downward, unfolded position vertically spaced obliquely below said upper step; c. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in said unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal; d. positive locking means for locking said lower step in said raised, folded position above said upper step; e. a third step below said lower step and a second set of said linking means and stop means disposed between said lower step and said third step, said first set of linking means including means for holding said lower step in a predetermined distance above the top of said upper step when said lower step is in said folded position, said predetermined distance being sufficient to permit the insertion of said third step between said upper and lower steps, said second set of linking means including means for permitting said third step to be folded upwardly together with said lower step into a position inserted between said lower and upper steps.

Claim 17

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. a pair of linking means disposed between said pair of steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis; c. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically-spaced, unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal; positive locking means for locking said lower step in a raised, folded position directly above said upper step; and e. blocking means rigidly depending from said lower step for contacting said camper door and thereby preventing said door from opening when said lower step is in said raised, folded position.

Claim 18

A foldable step assembly adapted for mounting beneath the door of a vehicle-mounted camper to facilitate access thereto, said step assembly comprising: a. an upper step and a lower step; b. a pair of linking means disposed between said pair of steps for pivotally interconnecting said respective steps so as to permit said lower step to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper step about a horizontal axis; c. stop means associated with said linking means for limiting the arcuate distance of said downward pivotal movement for holding said steps in an oblique, vertically-spaced, unfolded position with their surfaces horizontal; positive locking means for locking said lower step in a raised, folded position directly above said upper step; and e. blocking means rigidly depending from said lower step for contacting said camper door and thereby preventing said door from opening when said lower step is in said raised, folded position.