US 12,257,980 B2
Automated retractable vehicle step
Anthony Smith, Costa Mesa, CA (US); Todd Wallace Yeoman, Osceola, IN (US); and William Ridgway Lang, Jr., Granger, IN (US)
Assigned to Lund Motion Products, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Lund Motion Products, Inc., Buford, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/375,042.
Application 18/375,042 is a continuation of application No. 17/746,378, filed on May 17, 2022, granted, now 11,807,190.
Application 17/746,378 is a continuation of application No. 17/338,531, filed on Jun. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,814,011.
Application 17/338,531 is a continuation of application No. 16/667,734, filed on Oct. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,208,044, issued on Dec. 28, 2021.
Application 16/667,734 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/136,091, filed on Sep. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,513,224, issued on Dec. 24, 2019.
Application 16/136,091 is a continuation of application No. 15/792,562, filed on Oct. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,106,088, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Application 15/792,562 is a continuation of application No. 15/344,178, filed on Nov. 4, 2016, granted, now 9,834,147, issued on Dec. 5, 2017.
Application 15/344,178 is a continuation of application No. 14/977,404, filed on Dec. 21, 2015, granted, now 9,511,717, issued on Dec. 6, 2016.
Application 14/977,404 is a continuation of application No. 14/169,626, filed on Jan. 31, 2014, granted, now 9,272,667, issued on Mar. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/898,674, filed on Nov. 1, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/832,115, filed on Apr. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0181969 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 3/02 (2006.01); B60R 3/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01); G05D 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 3/02 (2013.01) [B60R 3/002 (2013.01); B60R 16/023 (2013.01); B60R 16/03 (2013.01); G05D 3/10 (2013.01); B60Y 2304/05 (2013.01); B60Y 2304/07 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49117 (2015.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A remotely controlled retractable vehicle step system configured for use with a vehicle comprises:
a stepping member having a stepping surface and being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle;
at least one support member connectable with respect to an underside of the vehicle and connected to the stepping member, the at least one support member configured to at least partially support the stepping member with respect to the vehicle;
a motor operably coupled to the at least one support member and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping member from the retracted position to the deployed position;
a light configured to illuminate the stepping member when activated; and
a controller in electronic communication with the motor and the light, the controller comprising a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to operate the motor and the light based at least in part on commands received from the remote electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to operate the light to turn the light on or off in response to a manual light on or a manual light off command, respectively, received from the remote electronic device.