US 12,258,245 B2
Step system for elevating platform
Ryan J. McKinney, Parkville, MO (US); Brad Harju, St. Joseph, MO (US); and Kyle E. Hoffmann, Saint Joseph, MO (US)
Assigned to Altec Industries, Inc., Birmingham, AL (US)
Filed by Altec Industries, Inc., Saint Joseph, MO (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/077,547.
Application 17/077,547 is a continuation of application No. 15/619,174, filed on Jun. 9, 2017, granted, now 10,815,106.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/348,542, filed on Jun. 10, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0039932 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. B66F 11/04 (2006.01); E06C 9/02 (2006.01); F16M 13/02 (2006.01)
CPC B66F 11/044 (2013.01) [B66F 11/04 (2013.01); E06C 9/02 (2013.01); F16M 13/02 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A step for a vertical surface of a utility bucket, the step comprising:
a step body comprising a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side,
wherein the step is provided on the vertical surface of the utility bucket;
at least two flanges, including a lower flange and an upper flange;
a first notch and a second notch, wherein the first notch separates the upper flange from the lower flange on the first side and the second notch separates the upper flange from the lower flange on the second side,
wherein the lower flange and the upper flange provide contact surfaces and are operable to bear compression loads,
wherein the lower flange is integrally formed to the bottom, the first side, and the second side, of the step body,
wherein the upper flange is integrally formed to the top, the first side, and the second side of the step body with an offset from the lower flange, the offset being approximately a thickness of the vertical surface and spanning a width of the step body from the first side to the second side,
wherein the step is configured to be inserted into an opening of the vertical surface,
wherein the lower flange is configured to contact an outer surface of the vertical surface when the upper flange contacts an inner surface of the vertical surface, and
wherein the step is constructed to support a vertical load of an operator.