Retractable step for use with trailers, motor homes, or other vehicles

Claim 2

A retractable step for use with vehicles and the like comprising, a step, a pair of front and rear links pivotally secured to each side of the step, with the upper portion of said links pivotally connected to a support secured to the vehicle and with the lower portion of the links pivotally connected to the step for supporting said step for movement in a substantially horizontal plane from a retracted position to an extended in-use position and vice versa, means for locking or latching said step in extended position and in retracted position, said last mentioned means including a latching bar secured to and extending between the rear links and a latching lever supported on a front cross-bar extending between the front links for locking engagement with said latching bar in either extended or retracted position of said step, said latching lever being manually actuated, and spring means biasing the latching lever towards latching position.

Claim 3

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the step moves through an arc while in a horizontal plane and in which the step when in extended position is below the horizontal plane of the floor of the vehicle and extends outwardly of the vehicle and when in retracted position is substantially underneath the floor of the vehicle.

Claim 4

A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which a latching bar is secured to and extends transversely between the rear links of the pairs of links and in which a latching lever is manually operated to lock the step in either extended or retracted position.

Claim 5

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the latching lever is provided with spaced notches for engaging the latching bar, the rearmost of said notches when engaged locking the step in extended position and the forward notches when engaged locking the step in retracted position.

Claim 6

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which when the latching lever is manually actuated the front cross bar is rotated or rocked.

Claim 7

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the step has a rearward extension on each side thereof and in which the pair of pivotally mounted links are pivotally connected at their lower ends on each side to each said extension and at their upper ends to a horizontal support to form a four bar linkage and wherein the links move in a parallel relation when the step is moved from retracted to extended position.

Claim 8

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a pair of latching levers supported on the front cross-bar for engagement with the latching lever and wherein the spring means bias both said latching levers towards latching position.

Claim 9

A structure as set forth in claim 7 in which a manually engageable lever is connected to one of said latching levers for simultaneously operating said pair of latching levers.

Claim 10

A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which a manually engageable lever is connected to said latching lever for operating said latching lever.

Claim 11

A retractable step for use with vehicles and the like comprising, a step, a pair of front and rear links pivotally secured to each side of the step with the upper portion of said links pivotally connected to a horizontal support secured to the vehicle and with the lower portion of the links pivotally connected to the step for supporting said step for movement in a substantially horizontal plane from a retracted position to an extended in-use position and vice versa, said horizontal support and said step with said links forming a four bar linkage wherein the links move in a parallel relation when the step is moved from retracted to extended position, means for locking or latching said step in extended position and in retracted position, said last mentioned means including a latching member secured to and extending between the rear links and a latching lever supported on a cross bar connected to and extending between the front links for locking engagement with the latching member in either extended or retracted position of said step, said latching lever being manually actuated, and spring means biasing said latching lever towards latching position.

Claim 12

A retractable step for use with vehicles and the like comprising, a step, a pair of front and rear links pivotally secured to each side of the step with the upper portion of said links pivotally connected to a horizontal support secured to the vehicle and with the lower portion of the links pivotally connected to the step for supporting said step for movement in a substantially horizontal plane from a retracted position to an extended in-use position and vice versa, said horizontal support and said step with said links forming a four bar linkage wherein the links move in a parallel relation when the step is moved from retracted to extended position, means for locking or latching said step in extended position and in retracted position, said last mentioned means including a latching member secured to and extending between the rear links and a latching lever supported on a cross bar connected to and extending between the front links for locking engagement with the latching member in either extended or retracted position of said step, said latching lever being manually actuated, and spring means biasing said latching lever towards latching position.