AU2018100668A4 - Step Apparatus, System and Method - Google Patents

Abstract

A step apparatus for a tray deck of a utility vehicle, the tray deck provided with at least one channel substantially parallel the plane of the tray deck and an abutment, the step apparatus including: a step member; a channel connector attached to the step member; and an abutment contact on one side of the step member; wherein the channel connector is configured to removably attach to one of the at least one channel of the tray deck, such that, when attached, the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment, and such that the step member presents a substantially horizontal surface suitable for stepping, and wherein abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment at a location below the step surface. 'urn tz

Description

STEP APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a step, and may be useful for decks and tray decks for vehicles, and particularly useful for decks and tray decks for utility type vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Utility vehicles, sometimes referred to as utes, pick-ups or pick-up trucks, typically are equipped with a tray or tray deck at the rear of the vehicle, which serves to carry loads of various types. The loads may include equipment, sand, gravel and various other kinds of items and materials.

[0003] Some utility vehicles have a flat area, which may be referred to as a tray, a cargo bed or a deck. Other utility vehicles have a flat area which is surrounded by up to four sides to form a container, which may also be referred to variously as a tray or a cargo bed. The sides may be fixed or moveable, and may be a combination of fixed and moveable sides. Sometimes the side at the back is referred to as a tail gate.

[0004] In this specification, for consistency and ease of understanding, the vehicle will be referred to as a utility or utility vehicle; the flat area will be referred to as a deck; each of the sides will be referred to as side gates (front, rear, left and right); and the deck and side gates together (whether there be one, two, three or four side gates) will be referred to as a tray deck.

[0005] In some utility vehicles, the sides of the tray deck are fixed in position, the deck and sides forming what is sometimes referred to as a tub. In other utility vehicles, one or more of the sides are moveable between open and closed configurations. In this specification, unless otherwise indicated, the term side gate will refer to a side of a tray deck, wherein the side gate is moveable at least between open and closed positions. Some utility vehicles have side gates which are detachable. Typically, if a utility vehicle tray deck has a front side (usually adjacent a cab of the utility vehicle), the front side is in a fixed position, and in this specification the front side may be referred to as a fixed side or also referred to as a side gate, though it will be understood that the front side is typically in a fixed position.

[0006] Typically, a deck or tray deck will be provided with a utility vehicle when sold to a customer. The type of tray deck is either dictated by the model of the vehicle or there may be a very limited range of options available from which a customer can select.

[0007] It is also possible to buy utility vehicles without a deck or tray deck fitted, and the customer can select a deck or tray deck for their vehicle after purchase, but the customer will have a very limited range of options for a deck or tray deck.

[0008] Further, decks and tray decks are typically manufactured or supplied as a single unit, and can be fitted only to one vehicle model or a very limited range of vehicle models. Such units are bulky, which causes them to be inconvenient and expensive to transport, for example, form a place of manufacture to a place where the deck or tray deck is to be fitted to a utility vehicle.

[0009] Many decks and tray decks are not configurable or may have very limited options for configuration. A customer may want to include various features to make a deck or tray deck more suitable for that customer's intended use of the utility vehicle.

[0010] Often a user of a utility vehicle needs to climb onto the deck of the vehicle to attend to tasks, such as shifting loads, tying items to racking bars, or for other purposes. Presently, it can be difficult, and in some instances, dangerous, to climb onto a utility vehicle deck. Sometimes, a person might use various parts of the deck or tray deck to climb up on the deck, such as the top edge of a folded down side gate, a wheel, or a wheel arch. Using these means to climb onto the deck can be hazardous and can also damage the tray deck or utility vehicle components.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, at least one of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and/or to overcome, or at least ameliorate, at least one problem in the prior art, which has not been mentioned above and/or to provide at least a useful alternative to prior art devices, systems and/or methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In one aspect, the present invention provides a step apparatus for a tray deck of a utility vehicle, the tray deck provided with at least one channel substantially parallel the plane of the tray deck and an abutment, the step apparatus including: a step member providing a step surface; a channel connector attached to the step member; and an abutment contact on one side of the step member, wherein the channel connector is configured to removably attach to one of the at least one channel of the tray deck, such that, when attached, the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment, and such that the step member presents a substantially horizontal step surface suitable for stepping, and wherein abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment at a location below the step surface.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a step system for a tray deck of a utility vehicle, the step system including: on the tray deck: at least one channel substantially parallel the plane of the tray deck; and an abutment; and step apparatus, including: a step member; a channel connector attached to the step member; and an abutment contact on one side of the step member, wherein the channel connector is configured to removably attach to one of the at least one channel of the tray deck, such that, when attached, the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment, and such that the step member presents a substantially horizontal step surface suitable for stepping, and wherein the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment at a location below the step surface.

SUMMARY OF SOME OPTIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In embodiments, the step member is a substantially planar plate. It will be appreciated that, to safely carry the load presented by a large adult human, the step member should be formed from a suitably robust material, such as steel. Further, it will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the size of the step member should be such that a large adult human's foot encased in a work boot is comfortably accommodated on the step member.

[0015] In embodiments, the step apparatus includes two connector arms comprising the channel connector. In some embodiments, each arm has at its end distal from the step member a hook for hooking into the channel. In some embodiments, each connector arm depends from the step member approximately at a 45° angle.

[0016] In other embodiments, each arm has at its end distal from the step member a channel slider for insertion into and sliding along the channel. In some other embodiments, the channel slider of each connector arm is rotatably connected to the connector arm, wherein the channel slider includes a hinge pin which is inserted into a hole at the end of the connector arm distal from the step member.

[0017] In other embodiments, the abutment contact comprises a side of the step member. In some embodiments, the abutment contact is padded to avoid scratching or scuffing the tray deck or the utility vehicle. It will be appreciated that the step member should be sufficiently rigid, such that, when the abutment contact abuts the abutment, and when a large adult human stands on the step member, the step member should remain substantially unbending under the downward force of the human and the lateral force of the abutment against the abutment contact.

[0018] In various embodiments, the at least one channel is located on a side gate of the tray deck, wherein, when the side gate is moved to a fully open position, and the side gate is approximately 180° from its upright (closed) position, the channel present outwardly of the vehicle on which the tray deck is mounted. In this regard, it may be understood that, when the side gate is closed, the channel faces inwards towards the tub area of the tray deck. In some embodiments, the side gate has multiple parallel channels, providing options for placing the step apparatus at different heights.

[0019] In various embodiments, where the side gate has at least two channels, an upper channel (when the side gate is in its fully open position) accommodates the channel connector, and a lower channel accepts the abutment contact. In this arrangement the provided step surface is located above the location where abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment. It will be appreciated that this arrangement may provide further stability for the step apparatus and system, as the abutment contact is held within the lower channel further preventing the step member from swinging side-to-side.

[0020] In further embodiments, the abutment comprises an area on the side gate, under the channel, when the side gate is lowered to its fully open position.

[0021] In yet further embodiments, the at least one channel may be formed in other parts of the tray deck, other than the side gate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] At least one embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following, non-limiting illustrations representing the at least one embodiment of the present invention, in which: [0023] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the step apparatus and system, the step apparatus located on a tray deck, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a step apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Figure 1 shows a tray deck 100 of a utility vehicle 100, having a deck 102 formed from planks and side gate, including right side gate 104. The right side gate is shown in a fully lowered position, about 180° from its upright and fully closed position. The right side gate has two channels, as depicted with the right side gate in the fully lowered position, upper channel 106 and lower channel 108. Step apparatus 110 is mounted on the right side gate.

[0026] The step apparatus 110 includes a step member 122, an abutment contact 120, and a channel connector 112. The channel connector includes two connector arms 114, each connector arm including a channel slider 116 hingedly mounted with a rotating pin 118 at an end of the connector arm distal from the step member. The channel sliders 116 are slid into the upper channel 106. It will be appreciated that the channel sliders allow the step apparatus to be positioned at any selected position along channel 106.

[0027] The abutment contact 120 comprises a rear edge (as depicted) of the step member 122, with the abutment contact abutting the bottom of lower channel 108 (or the rear of the lower channel, as depicted). As lower channel 108 accepts the abutment contact and a portion of the edge of the step member, this arrangement provides more stability for the step apparatus when so connected to the side gate 106.

[0028] When a user of the apparatus and system steps on the step member, part of the force imparted by the load of the user is transferred via the channel sliders 116 of the step apparatus 110 to the rails of the upper channel 106, and, by the hinged arrangement of the step apparatus 110, part of the force is transferred through the abutment contact 120 to the abutment formed by the lower channel. This configuration provides for a distribution of force so that neither channel is required to take all the force of a person stepping on the step apparatus.

[0029] Figure 2 shows some details of the step apparatus 110, including holes 200 located at an end of each connector arm 114, each hole configured to accept a hinge pin 118 of a channel slider 116 for rotatable engagement therein.

[0030] Although the step apparatus 110 of the depicted embodiment is shown mounted to a side gate, it will be appreciated that the step apparatus is adapted to be mounted to other parts of the tray deck 100, which are configured with a suitable channel arrangement. Further, it will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the means of connecting the step apparatus could include hooks, and the tray deck may include slots adapted to accept the hooks.

[0031] Moreover, the step apparatus can be connected to other parts of a utility vehicle or to other objects, such as walls.

[0032] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0033] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims (5)

1. A step apparatus for a tray deck of a utility vehicle, the tray deck provided with at least one channel substantially parallel the plane of the tray deck and an abutment, the step apparatus including: a step member; a channel connector attached to the step member; and an abutment contact on one side of the step member, wherein the channel connector is configured to removably attach to one of the at least one channel of the tray deck, such that, when attached, the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment, and such that the step member presents a substantially horizontal surface suitable for stepping, and wherein abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment at a location below the step surface.

2. A step system for a tray deck of a utility vehicle, the step system including: on the tray deck: at least one channel substantially parallel the plane of the tray deck; and an abutment; and step apparatus, including: a step member; a channel connector attached to the step member; and an abutment contact on one side of the step member, wherein the channel connector is configured to removably attach to one of the at least one channel of the tray deck, such that, when attached, the abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment, and such that the step member presents a substantially horizontal surface suitable for stepping, and wherein abutment contact abuts against the tray deck abutment at a location below the step surface.

3. The step apparatus of claim 1 or system of claim 2 wherein the step member is a substantially planar steel plate and is sufficiently large to comfortably accommodate a large adult human's foot when encased in a work boot.

4. The step apparatus or system of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the channel connector includes two connector arms and each arm has at the end distal from the step member a hook for hooking into the channel.

5. The step apparatus or system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the a least one channel is located on a gate of the tray deck, wherein, when the gate is moved to a fully open position, and it is approximately 180° from its upright (closed) position, then the a least one channel presents outwardly of the vehicle on which the tray deck is mounted.