US 11,999,309 B2
Retractable step and side bar assembly for raised vehicle
Anthony Nicholas Smith, Huntington Beach, CA (US); Eric Charles Bajza, Orange, CA (US); and William Franklin Bibb, VI, Littleton, CO (US)
Assigned to Lund Motion Products, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Lund Motion Products, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/334,248.
Application 18/334,248 is a continuation of application No. 17/455,301, filed on Nov. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,713,012.
Application 17/455,301 is a continuation of application No. 17/016,690, filed on Sep. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,180,100, issued on Nov. 23, 2021.
Application 17/016,690 is a continuation of application No. 16/123,462, filed on Sep. 6, 2018, granted, now 10,773,670, issued on Sep. 15, 2020.
Application 16/123,462 is a continuation of application No. 15/406,982, filed on Jan. 16, 2017, granted, now 10,077,016, issued on Sep. 18, 2018.
Application 15/406,982 is a continuation of application No. 14/846,433, filed on Sep. 4, 2015, granted, now 9,550,458, issued on Jan. 24, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/171,780, filed on Jun. 5, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0092296 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 19/48 (2006.01); B60R 3/00 (2006.01); B60R 3/02 (2006.01); B60R 19/42 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 19/48 (2013.01) [B60R 3/002 (2013.01); B60R 3/02 (2013.01); B60R 19/42 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A combination side bar and vehicle step assembly adaptable for use with different vehicles, the assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket comprising:
a vehicle attachment portion comprising an aperture for insertion therethrough of a fastener to couple the vehicle attachment portion to an underbody of a vehicle,
wherein the aperture comprises an elongate slot shaped such that the fastener can be inserted through the aperture at different heights with respect to the vehicle attachment portion; and
a side bar attachment portion;
a side bar extending along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to a direction along which the elongate slot extends,
wherein the side bar comprises an opening extending along the longitudinal direction, the opening shaped to receive another fastener that can (1) slide within the opening along the longitudinal direction to adjust a longitudinal position of the side bar with respect to the side bar attachment portion of the mounting bracket, and (2) be tightened within the longitudinal opening to stop longitudinal motion of the side bar with respect to the side bar attachment portion of the mounting bracket; and
an extendable vehicle step comprising a stepping platform connected to at least one arm, the at least one arm configured to rotate about an axis extending along the longitudinal direction in order to move the stepping platform between an extended position and a stowed position,
wherein in the stowed position the stepping platform is positioned inboard of an outboard edge of the side bar.