GB2440150A

GB2440150A - Step Assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2440150A
Application number: GB0614020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Hunter; Phillip Haywood
Original assignee: PYRAMID PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: PYRAMID PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-14
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Publication date: 2008-01-23
Also published as: NL1034137C2; GB0614020D0; NL1034137A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a step assembly 10 for a structure 12 such as caravans or motorhomes, wherein the structure 12 comprises a door 14 which permits access to an interior of the structure 12. The step assembly comprises a support structure 18, 20 connectable to the structure 12, and a step member 16 connected to the support structure 18, 20. The step member 16 is moveable between an operable position, in which the step member 16 can be used by a person to gain access to the interior of the structure 12 through the door 14, and a stowed position, in which the step member 16 inhibits opening of the door 14 of the structure 12. The step member 16 is preferably pivotally connected to the support structure 12 and may be locked when in either the stowed or operable position.

Description

Title: Step Assembly Descriotion of Invention This invention relates to

a step assembly. More particularly the invention relates to a step assembly for a structure to permit a person more easily to access an interior of the structure through a door thereof.

According to the present invention, we provide a step assembly for a structure, the structure having a door permitting access to an interior of the structure, the step assembly including:-a support structure connectable to the structure; and a step member connected to the support structure, wherein the step member is moveable between an operable position, in which the step member can be used by a person to gain access to an interior of the structure through the door thereof, and a stowed position, in which the step member inhibits opening of the door of the structure.

In the stowed position a part of the step member may overlap a part of the door thus inhibiting opening of the door.

The step assembly may include locking means for locking the step member in the stowed position. This provides additional security for the door to deter further a thief from entering the structure through the door.

Locking means may also be provided for locking the step member in the operable position. Locking the step member in the operable position means that the step member cannot be moved to the stowed position, which has the advantage that a person inside the structure may not accidentally be locked in the structure.

The locking means may include a locking member engageable with a part of the support structure and a part of the step member to lock the step member inside either the operable or the stowed position.

The step member may be pivotally connected to the support structure and thus may be moveable pivotally between the operable position and the stowed position.

In the operable position the step member may extend away from the structure, substantially transversely away from the door thereof. In the stowed position the step member may extend upwardly towards the door of the structure. In one example the step member is moveable between the stowed and operable positions about its pivoting axis through an angle of about 90 .

Preferably the step member is substantially planar, such that, in the operable position a plane of the step member is substantially perpendicular to a side of the structure and in the stowed position a plane of the step member is substantially parallel with a side of the structure.

Where the structure is a vehicle, preferably the support structure is connectable to a chassis of the vehicle. The step assembly can therefore easily be connected to the vehicle, for example, as a retrofit. When the support structure is, for example, connected to a vehicle the pivoting axis of the step member may be substantially parallel with a plane of a chassis of the vehicle.

The step assembly of the present invention has been devised for use with structures such as caravans, both static and portable, or motor homes, although it may be used with any structure where access to an interior of the structure is gained through a door thereof.

Examples of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the step assembly of the present invention connected to a vehicle, with a step member thereof in an operable position; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the step assembly of figure 1, with the step member thereof in a stowed position: Figure 3 is a side view of the step assembly in accordance with the present invention, with the step member thereof in an operable position; Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the step assembly; Figure 5 is a side view of the step assembly in accordance with the present invention, with the step member thereof in a stowed position; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a locking member.

Referring firstly to the schematic views in figures 1 and 2 there is shown a step assembly, generally indicated at 10. The step assembly 10 is connected to a vehicle 12, the vehicle 12 including a door 14, which is pivotally mounted at 15, to permit access to an interior of the vehicle 12. In this example, the door 14 opens outwardly.

The step assembly 10 includes a support structure having a pair of support members 18, 20 which are spaced from each other and are connected to a chassis of the vehicle 12. The support members 18, 20 are aligned substantially parallel with each other and each has a free end which protrudes outwardly from the vehicle 12, substantially perpendicularly away therefrom.

Pt-' 4 Pivotally connected to and positioned between the remote ends of the members 18, 20 is a generally planar step member 16 (discussed in more detail later). The step member 16 is pivotally moveable between an operable position (see figure 1) and a stowed position (see figure 2). In the operable position the door 14 can be opened by a person, and then the person can use the step member 16 to gain access to an interior of the vehicle 12. In the stowed position a part of the step member 16 overlaps the door 14 such that the door 16 cannot be opened. The step member 16 thus inhibits the door 14 from being opened.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the step assembly 10 in more detail. The step member 16 includes a pair of spaced arms 22, one of which is pivotally connected to the remote end of the support member 18 and the other of which is pivotally connected to the remote end of the support member 20. The arms 22 are connected by three transversely extending step plates 30. The step plates 30 engage recesses 60 in a part 29 of each arm 22 such that they are fixed relative to the arms 22. Alternatively, the step plates 30 could be secured to the arms 22 by any appropriate fasteners. An upper surface of the step plates 30 may be provided with a non-slip surface covering, or, alternatively a surface of each step plate 30 may be textured.

The arms 22 are each pivotally connected to their respective support member 18, 20 in identical fashion, i.e. the arm 22 connected to the support member 18 is a mirror image of the arm 22 connected to the support member 20.

Therefore, only the arm 22 connected to the support member 18 will hereinafter be discussed.

The remote end of the support member 18 includes two spaced projections 18a (outermost), 18b (innermost) between which is received the arm 22. The arm 22 is pivotalty connected to the support member 18 by a cylindrical axle 28 which passes through cylindrical apertures 35 in the projections 1 8a, I 8b of 1 5 the support member 18 and a cylindrical aperture 26 in a widened region 34 the arm 22. The axle 27 allows for pivoting of the arm 22 relative to the support member 18 about an axis 28. The aperture 26 has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the axle 28, such that the arm can rotate freely about the axle 28.

The part 29 of the arm 22, which supports the step plates 30, extends away from the axle 27 and the support member 18. A part 31 of the arm 22 extends away from the axle 27 in an opposite direction to the part 29, i.e. towards the support member 18 when the step member 16 is in the operable position. The part 31, when the step member 16 is in the operable position, engages a recess 19 in the support member 18. Engagement of the part 31 with the recess 19 limits pivotal movement of the step member 16 downwardly towards a ground surface, in this example so that the step member 16 is limited to a position in which it extends substantially perpendicularly away from the vehicle 12, and generally parallel to the ground on which the vehicle 12 is parked.

The widened region 34 of the arm 22 includes two further cylindrical apertures 33, 36, both of which extend substantially parallel with the aperture 26. The apertures 33, 36 are each spaced at the same distance from the aperture 26 and are spaced at 90 from each other about the axis 28 of the aperture 26, such that, when the step member 16 is in the operable position, the aperture 36 is positioned vertically above the aperture 26 and the aperture 33 is positioned horizontally to one side of the aperture 26 (i.e. the side remote from the part 29). An end 39 of the aperture 33 adjacent the innermost projection 18b of the support member 18 is of a larger diameter than the remainder of the aperture 33.

The outermost projection I 8a of the support member 18 has a further aperture 25 which extends substantially parallel with the apertures 33, 36. The aperture is positioned to a side of the aperture 26 remote from the step plates 30. 1 6

The innermost projection 1 8b of the support member 18 includes a receiving formation 41 which is aligned with the aperture 25.

The aperture 25 is configured such that, when the step member 16 is in the operable position, with the part 31 engaging the recess 19, the aperture 33 is aligned with the aperture 25 and the receiving formation 41. When the step member 16 is in the stowed position the aperture 36 is instead aligned with the aperture 25 and the receiving formation 41.

The step assembly 10 includes a locking member 50 for locking the step member 16 in either the operable position or the stowed position. The locking member 50, which can be seen in detail in figure 6, has a substantially cylindrical body with one end including an anti rotation formation 52. The anti-rotation formation 52 is shaped to cooperate with the receiving formation 41 in the projection 18b of the support member 18, as will become apparent below.

The locking member 50 also includes a moveable locking part 51 positioned near the anti-rotation formation 52, which is moveable radially away from and towards an axis of the locking member 50 between a locking position and a withdrawn position. In the locking position the part 51 projects outwardly of an external surface of the body of the locking member 50 and in the withdrawn position the part 511s received in a recess in the body of the locking member and does not projection outwardly of the external surface of the body of the locking member 50. The part 51 is biased towards the locking position but can be moved to the withdrawn position by a key insertable in an end of the body of the locking member 50 remote from the anti-rotation formation 52.

When the step assembly 10 is not in use, e.g. when the vehicle 12 is moving or when the vehicle 12 is not in use, the step member 16 should be in the stowed position (see figures 2 and 5). In order to prevent the step member 16 from pivoting about the axis 28 towards the operable position, and also to inhibit the door 14 from being opened, the locking member 50 must be inserted into the aperture 25, leading with the anti-rotation formation 52. As the locking member 50 enters the aperture 25 a leading surface of the part 51, which is sloped, forces the part 51 to its withdrawn position. The locking member 50 must then be inserted through the aperture 36 in the arm 22 until the anti-rotation formation 52 engages the receiving formation 41 in the projection 18b of the support member 18. When part 51 reaches the part 39 of the aperture 33 it is biased to move from its withdrawn position to its locking position. At about the same time, the anti-rotation formation 52 engages the receiving formation 41. In this position the locking member 50 holds the step member 16 in the stowed position, and cannot be withdrawn due to the locking formation 51 engaging an end face of the part 39.

In order to move the step member 16 from the stowed position to the operable position the locking member 50 must be withdrawn. This is achieved by inserting a key (not shown) in the end of the body of the locking member 50 remote from the anti-rotation formation 52. The key, when rotated, moves the part 51 to its withdrawn position thus permitting the locking member 50 to be withdrawn completely from the apertures 25, 36. It is necessary, when using such a locking member 50, to provide an anti-rotation formation 52, or an equivalent feature, to prevent the locking member 50 from rotating about its axis when the key is rotated about that axis. Of course other types of locking members/devices could be used to lock the step member in the stowed position, as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in this technical field.

Once the locking member 50 has been removed, the step member 16 can be pivoted to the operable position, which also permits the door 14 to be opened.

Although it is not essential for the step member 16 to be locked in the operable position, this has the advantage that a person inside the vehicle 12 may not accidentally be locked inside the vehicle 12. Locking the step member 16 in the operable position is achieved in a similar fashion to locking the step ( 8 member 16 in the stowed position, except that the locking member 50 is inserted through the apertures 25 and 36, and not the apertures 25 and 33.

Unlocking the step member 16 is achieved as above described.

Although in the above example the step member 16 includes only one step surface, i.e. the step plates 30, it must be appreciated that other types of step member could be utilised. For example, the step member may include two or more step surfaces which are vertically spaced from each other when the step member is in the operable position, i.e. a flight of steps.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. ( 9

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A step assembly for a structure, the structure having a door permitting access to an interior of the structure, the step assembly including:-a support structure connectable to the structure; and a step member connected to the support structure, wherein the step member is moveable between an operable position, in which the step member can be used by a person to gain access to an interior of the structure through the door thereof, and a stowed position, in which the step member inhibits opening of the door of the structure.

2. A step assembly according to claim I wherein in the stowed position a part of the step member overlaps a part of the door thus inhibiting opening of the door.

3. A step assembly according to claim I or claim 2 including locking means for locking the step member in the stowed position.

4. A step assembly according to any preceding claim including locking means for locking the step member in the operable position.

5. A step assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the locking means includes a locking member engageable with a part of the support structure and a part of the step member.

6. A step assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the step member is pivotally connected to the support structure.

7. A step assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the structure is a vehicle and the support structure is connectable to a chassis of the vehicle. C 10

8. A step assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A structure including a step assembly according to any one of claims 1 to6.

10. A vehicle including a step assembly according to any one of claims I to 7.

11. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein with reference to and/or in the accompanying drawings.