Folding step system

Claim 2

A folding step system, which comprises: (a) base means including proximate and distal ends; (b) link means including base and step ends; (c) step means including proximate and distal ends; (d) base hinge means hingedly connecting said base proximate end and said link base end; and (e) step hinge means hingedly connecting said link step end and said step proximate end, said step hinge means including: (1) a step hinge rod extending transversely across said link means step end; and (2) a receiver extending transversely across said step means proximate end and rotatably receiving said step hinge rod.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1, wherein: (a) said step means includes a retracted position adjacent to said link means and an extended position projecting from said link means step end.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2, wherein: (a) said step means is pivotable through an arc of approximately 90 degrees between its retracted and extended positions.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3, wherein: (a) said step hinge means includes stop means for restraining said step means in a range of movement between its retracted and extended positions.

Claim 6

A folding step system, which includes: (a) a base assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; (3) an upper surface; and (4) a lower surface; (b) a link assembly having: (1) a base end; (2) a step end; and (3) a transversely-spaced pair of longitudinal members extending between said base and step ends; (c) a step assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; and (3) opposite ends; (d) base hinge means for hingedly interconnecting said base proximate end and said link base end for rotation through an arc of movement about a transverse rotational axis between a retracted position adjacent to said base assembly and an extended position extending from said base assembly proximate end, said base hinge means including a pair of hooks on one of said base assembly and said link assembly defining an open receiver; and (e) step hinge means for rotatably interconnecting said link assembly step end and said step proximate end for rotation about a transverse rotational axis through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said link assembly and an extended position extending from the step end thereof.

Claim 7

A folding step system, which includes: (a) a base assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; (3) an upper surface; and (4) a lower surface; (b) a link assembly having: (1) a base end; (2) a step end; and (3) a transversely-spaced pair of longitudinal members extending between said base and step ends; (c) a step assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; and (3) opposite ends; (d) base hinge means for hingedly interconnecting said base proximate end and said link base end for rotation through an arc of movement about a transverse rotational axis between a retracted position adjacent to said base assembly and an extended position extending from said base assembly proximate end, said base hinge means including a pair of hooks on one of said base assembly and said link assembly defining an open receiver; and (e) step hinge means for rotatably interconnecting said link assembly step end and said step proximate end for rotation about a transverse rotational axis through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said link assembly and an extended position extending from the step end thereof.

Claim 8

A folding step system, which comprises: (a) base means including proximate and distal ends; (b) link means including base and step ends; (c) step means including proximate and distal ends; (d) base hinge means hingedly connecting said base proximate end and said link base end, said base hinge means including a base hinge rod extending transversely across said link base end; (e) step hinge means hingedly connecting said link step end and said step proximate end, said step hinge means including a trunion hinge assembly; and (f) a receiver extending transversely across said base proximate end, said receiver rotatably receiving said base hinge rod.

Claim 9

A folding step system, which comprises: (a) base means including proximate and distal ends; (b) link means including base and step ends; (c) step means including proximate and distal ends; (d) base hinge means hingedly connecting said base proximate end and said link base end, said base hinge means including a base hinge rod extending transversely across said link base end; (e) step hinge means hingedly connecting said link step end and said step proximate end, said step hinge means including a trunion hinge assembly; and (f) a receiver extending transversely across said base proximate end, said receiver rotatably receiving said base hinge rod.

Claim 10

A folding step system, which comprises: (a) base means including proximate and distal ends; (b) link means including base and step ends; (c) step means including proximate and distal ends; (d) base hinge means hingedly connecting said base proximate end and said link base end; (e) step hinge means hingedly connecting said link step end and said step proximate end; (f) said link means being pivotal about said base hinge means through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said base means and an extended position extending from said base means proximate end; and (g) said base hinge means including stop means for restraining the movement of said link means between its retracted and extended positions, said stop means including a flange depending downwardly from said base proximate end, said flange being impinged by said link means in its extended position.

Claim 11

A folding step system, which comprises: (a) base means including proximate and distal ends; (b) link means including base and step ends; (c) step means including proximate and distal ends; (d) base hinge means hingedly connecting said base proximate end and said link base end; (e) step hinge means hingedly connecting said link step end and said step proximate end; (f) said link means being pivotal about said base hinge means through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said base means and an extended position extending from said base means proximate end; and (g) said base hinge means including stop means for restraining the movement of said link means between its retracted and extended positions, said stop means including a flange depending downwardly from said base proximate end, said flange being impinged by said link means in its extended position.

Claim 12

A folding step system, which includes: (a) a base assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; (3) an upper surface; and (4) a lower surface; (b) a link assembly having: (1) a base end; (2) a step end; and (3) a transversely-spaced pair of longitudinal members extending between said base and step ends; (c) a step assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; and (3) opposite ends; (d) base hinge means for hingedly interconnecting said base proximate end and said link base end for rotation through an arc of movement about a transverse rotational axis between a retracted position adjacent to said base assembly and extended position extending from said base assembly proximate end; (e) step hinge means for rotatably interconnecting said link assembly step end and said step proximate end for rotation about a transverse rotational axis through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said link assembly and an extended position extending from the step end thereof; (f) said base assembly including opposite side walls associated with said base hinge means; (g) said step assembly including opposite side walls; and (h) with said step assembly in its retracted position and said link assembly in its retracted position, each said step side wall being positioned between a respective base assembly side wall and a respective longitudinal member.

Claim 13

A folding step system, which includes: (a) a base assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; (3) an upper surface; and (4) a lower surface; (b) a link assembly having: (1) a base end; (2) a step end; and (3) a transversely-spaced pair of longitudinal members extending between said base and step ends; (c) a step assembly having: (1) a proximate end; (2) a distal end; and (3) opposite ends; (d) base hinge means for hingedly interconnecting said base proximate end and said link base end for rotation through an arc of movement about a transverse rotational axis between a retracted position adjacent to said base assembly and extended position extending from said base assembly proximate end; (e) step hinge means for rotatably interconnecting said link assembly step end and said step proximate end for rotation about a transverse rotational axis through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said link assembly and an extended position extending from the step end thereof; (f) said base assembly including opposite side walls associated with said base hinge means; (g) said step assembly including opposite side walls; and (h) with said step assembly in its retracted position and said link assembly in its retracted position, each said step side wall being positioned between a respective base assembly side wall and a respective longitudinal member.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 1, wherein: (a) said link means is pivotable about said base hinge means through an arc of movement between a retracted position adjacent to said base means and an extended position extending from said base means proximate end.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 9, wherein: (a) said link means is pivotable through an arc of movement of approximately 270 degrees.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 1 wherein said base hinge means includes a transversely-spaced pair of hooks at said base proximate end and a base hinge rod at said link means base end, each said hook forming a receiver for said base hinge rod.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 9 wherein said base hinge means includes: (a) stop means for restraining the movement of said link means between its retracted and extended positions.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 12 wherein: (a) said stop means includes: (1) a flange depending downwardly from said base proximate end, said flange being impinged by said link means in its extended position.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 13 wherein: (a) said link means includes: (1) a pair of transversely-spaced, generally parallel longitudinal members extending between said base and step ends.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 6, wherein said step hinge means includes: (a) a step hinge rod extending transversely across said link means step end; and (b) a receiver extending transversely across said step means proximate end and rotatably receiving said step hinge rod.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 6, wherein said step hinge means includes a channel member extending transversely across said step means proximate end and forming said receiver.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 5, wherein said step hinge means includes: (a) a trunnion hinge assembly.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 17 wherein: (a) said base hinge means includes: (1) a base hinge rod extending transversely across said link base end; and (b) a receiver extending transversely across said base proximate end, said receiver rotatably receiving said base hinge rod.