Vehicle safety step

Claim 2

A retractable step for a vehicle comprising a retractable tread including a flat and rigid plate having front and back edges and first and second sides, first and second tread support brackets fixed to respective tread sides and each extending upwardly and rearwardly from said tread, each said bracket including a forwardly facing end extending upwardly from a respective side of said tread, means for retractably mounting the brackets to a vehicle for motion from a storage position to an extended position, a readily connectable and detachable safety step for providing a significantly increased tread area, said safety step comprising a flat rigid step body lying atop said retractable tread between said first and second brackets and having first and second side edges juxtaposed to inwardly facing surfaces of said first and second brackets, respectively, hook means on said safety step body in engagement with said rear edge of said tread, said safety step including a forward section having a lateral dimension greater than the lateral distance between said first and second brackets and defining first and second rearwardly facing step stabilizing shoulders respectively abutting the forwardly facing ends of said first and second support brackets and cooperating with said hook means to retain and stabilize the safety step to and upon the tread and support brackets, said safety step including a rear section extending between said brackets and having a lateral dimension substantially equally to the distance between said brackets to form a snug fit between the brackets, the underside of said flat safety step being in contact with and supported by the upper side of said flat tread plate throughout substantially the entire area thereof.

Claim 3

In a self-storing vehicle step having a tread connected to and extending between first and second brackets fixed to the side edges of said tread and extending upwardly thereof for a substantial portion of the tread depth, said brackets each being mounted to a vehicle for movement between a storage position and an extended position, said tread having rear, front and side edges and a tread surface, and said brackets each having a forward portion positioned at respective sides of said tread, the improvement comprising a safety step adapted to be readily attached to and detached from said vehicle step, said safety step comprising a body portion having a dimension from front to back greater than the corresponding dimension of said tread and having a rear section and a forward section, said rear section having a smaller dimension from side to side than said forward section and positioned to lie upon said tread between said first and second support brackets, sides of said rear section abutting inner surfaces, respectively, of said upwardly extending portions of said brackets, said forward section having a side-to-side dimension considerably greater than the side-to-side dimension of said rear section, and cooperating therewith to form first and second rearwardly facing shoulders at respectively opposite sides of said forward section, said shoulders being positioned in abutting relation with said forwardly facing portions of said first and second brackets, respectively, means for securing a rear edge of said safety step to the rear of said tread comprising substantially L-shaped hook means having a first leg fixed to said safety step and depending therefrom and a second leg integral with said first leg and spaced from the undersurface of said safety step by a distance not less than the thickness of said tread, said second leg extending forwardly in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of said tread, and means for securing said forward sections of said safety step to the front edge of said tread, comprising a retractable locking member slidably mounted to the underside of said safety step and spaced therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said tread, spring means for urging said locking member rearwardly, and a handle on said locking member for retracting the locking member against the force of said spring.

Claim 4

In a self-storing vehicle step having a tread connected to and extending between first and second brackets fixed to the side edges of said tread and extending upwardly thereof for a substantial portion of the tread depth, said brackets each being mounted to a vehicle for movement between a storage position and an extended position, said tread having rear, front and side edges and a tread surface, and said brackets each having a forward portion positioned at respective sides of said tread, the improvement comprising a safety step adapted to be readily attached to and detached from said vehicle step, said safety step comprising a body portion having a dimension from front to back greater than the corresponding dimension of said tread and having a rear section and a forward section, said rear section having a smaller dimension from side to side than said forward section and positioned to lie upon said tread between said first and second support brackets, sides of said rear section abutting inner surfaces, respectively, of said upwardly extending portions of said brackets, said forward section having a side-to-side dimension considerably greater than the side-to-side dimension of said rear section, and cooperating therewith to form first and second rearwardly facing shoulders at respectively opposite sides of said forward section, said shoulders being positioned in abutting relation with said forwardly facing portions of said first and second brackets, respectively, means for securing a rear edge of said safety step to the rear of said tread comprising substantially L-shaped hook means having a first leg fixed to said safety step and depending therefrom and a second leg integral with said first leg and spaced from the undersurface of said safety step by a distance not less than the thickness of said tread, said second leg extending forwardly in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of said tread, and means for securing said forward sections of said safety step to the front edge of said tread, comprising a retractable locking member slidably mounted to the underside of said safety step and spaced therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said tread, spring means for urging said locking member rearwardly, and a handle on said locking member for retracting the locking member against the force of said spring.