Step platform and ball hitch assembly

[0002] Not applicable.

[0003] Not applicable.

[0004] Not applicable.

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The invention relates to a step and ball hitch assembly for a vehicle and, more particularly, to an assembly that fastens to a receiver hitch with the step portion rotatable to a location beneath the vehicle body.

[0007] 2. Background of the Invention

[0008] With the increased use of relatively large vehicles, such as utility vehicles, vans, pickup trucks with or without a cover shell, and other high vehicles, there exists a need for an inexpensive and easy to use means, such as a step to aid persons in entering, leaving and loading the rear of such vehicles. A number of steps of various types for the front, rear or side of various vehicles have been provided so that a person can safely enter and exit the vehicle, these steps have not been successful in providing an easily removable step that may be attached to an existing trailer hitch at the rear of a vehicle, and which step may be rotated between a “storage” and an “in use” position. Thus, there exists a long felt need in the art for an easy to manufacture, mount and use step for a vehicle, that may be safely inserted and removed for use on different vehicles, and particularly, on the rear of a vehicle having an existing trailer hitch, for easy insertion into and out of such an existing trailer hitch. The step of the present invention is capable of easy motion to and from a storage, locked position when the vehicle is in motion or the step is not in use, to an in use, extended position when it is desired to use the step.

[0009] While foldup and sliding steps are known for trucks and other vehicles, such steps are limited for attachment to bumpers or for permanent attachment to a vehicle, and such known step means do not meet the need of all users. Thus, there still exists a need for a rotatale step means for a vehicle having a trailer hitch, the step safely usable on any vehicle having a receiver-type trailer hitch, with the device easily removed and/or stored when not in use. Some examples of step devices for which patents have been granted include the following.

[0010] Ludwick, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,362, describes a step that is mounted to a rectangular receiver by a bar or hollow beam held in the receiver with a bolt or pin. The flat step is rotatably fastened to the beam by a post that fits in a circular opening in the beam. A locking means, such as a U-shaped bracket fastened to the end of the post, allows the step to be positioned beneath the receiver or, by lifting and rotating the post, to be positioned beyond the receiver, thus forming a step.

[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,475, Dick discloses a receiver hitch step attachment for mounting to a vehicle receiver hitch. The steps are adjustable laterally and vertically. An auxiliary stabilizer leg is provided for engaging the ground when the truck is parked in order to support the vehicle against movement when an individual uses the steps or moves inside the truck bed. The steps remain exposed when in a stored position.

[0012] Klemp, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,774, describes a removable bumper that may be releasably coupled to a hitch located in the rear of a vehicle for concealing the hitch from view and for providing a step support for entry into the vehicle. The bumper/step device has a shaft that fits into a receiver, with flattened areas on the horizontal bumper acting as steps. The bumper/step remains exposed at all times.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,861 by Willis discloses a trailer hitch step that mounts to the ball and support of a hitch. The ball must be in position for the step to be attached and used.

[0014] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,865, Cannara et al. describe a combined trailer hitch cover and step assembly that includes a flat, rectangular step that rotatably attaches to a receiver with a pin and bracket fastener. The step can be positioned horizontally when needed as a step and vertically when not in use. The step remains exposed at all times.

[0015] Maxwell et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,843, describe a trailer hitch step which mounts to a receiver-type trailer hitch with the step portion extending to the side of the tailgate of the vehicle. The support bar for the step may be rigid, telescoping, or folding for storage.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,927 by Debo discloses a similar trailer hitch step which includes a bracket that attaches to a frame hitch. The device includes a beam with a tread at one end, the beam slidable within the bracket so the beam and tread can be stored beneath the vehicle chassis when not in use. The beam may include a gooseneck to lower the tread to about half the height of the tailgate, as illustrated in the figures.

[0017] The invention is a step platform assembly for attachment to a vehicle hitch assembly. The platform assembly includes a planar step platform member rigidly fastened to a coplanar linear step support member having an aperture adjacent a step support member end opposite the step platform member. The aperture contains a bushing member with the planar step platform member and step support member assembly adapted for rotatable connection to the hitch assembly by a fastener means there between. A locking means is present for selectively securing the step platform member and linear step support member either beneath a vehicle body or exterior a vehicle body.

[0018] The invention also includes a step platform and hitch assembly, including a square tubular support member adapted for insertion into a receiver hitch bracket on a vehicle. A hitch connector member is rigidly secured to one end of the tubular support member at an angle thereto, with the hitch connector member having an end section opposite the tubular support member. The hitch connector member end section is oriented parallel to the tubular support member, with the end section having an aperture therein. A planar step platform member is rigidly fastened to a linear step support member having an aperture adjacent the step support member end opposite the platform member. A fastener means is insertable into the hitch connector member end section aperture and the step support member aperture, thereby rotatably connecting the step platform member and step support member to the hitch connector member and tubular support member. A locking means is present for selectively securing the step platform and step support member either beneath a vehicle body or exterior a vehicle body. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener means includes a ball hitch with threaded base and a hex nut. The assembly functions both as a trailer hitch and a rotatable step when attached to a vehicle.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the step platform assembly of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the step platform and hitch assembly of the present invention in the “in use” configuration.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the step platform and hitch assembly of the present invention in the storage configuration.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the step platform and hitch assembly of the present invention in the “in use” configuration.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the step platform and hitch assembly of the present invention in the storage configuration.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a plan view of one embodiment of the step platform and hitch assembly of the present invention secured to a vehicle in the “in use” configuration.

[0025] Nomenclature

[0026] 10 Step Platform and Hitch Assembly

[0027] 12 Hitch Assembly

[0028] 14 Square Tubular Bracket Member

[0029] 15 Square Tubular Support Member

[0030] 20 Hitch Connector Member

[0031] 25 Horizontal Section of Hitch Connector Member

[0032] 30 Aperture in Hitch Connector Member

[0033] 35 Step Platform Assembly

[0034] 40 Step Platform Member

[0035] 45 Linear Step Support Member

[0036] 50 Aperture in Step Support Member

[0037] 55 Bushing Member

[0038] 60 Ball Hitch and Nut Assembly

[0039] 65 Threaded Bolt and Nut Assembly

[0040] 70 Locking Aperture in Hitch Connector Member

[0041] 75 Locking Apertures in Step Platform Assembly

[0042] 80 Locking Pin Member

[0043] 85 First Flange Member

[0044] 90 Apertures in First Flange Member

[0045] 95 Second Flange Member

[0046] 100 Aperture in Second Flange Member

[0047] Construction

[0048] The present invention is most useful when installed on a pickup truck or similar vehicle having a tailgate that pivots from a vertical, closed position to a horizontal, open position. Such trucks or similar vehicles are routinely equipped with a trailer hitch assembly 12 secured to the frame or rear bumper of the vehicle and centered at the rear of the cargo box. The trailer hitch assembly 12 may be removable or permanently secured to the vehicle. The most common type of removable hitch is the so called receiver hitch. A square tubular bracket member 14 is permanently fastened to the rear of the vehicle and a square tubular support member 15 is insertable within the bracket 14. Both the bracket 14 and tubular support member 15 have alignable holes so that a pin can be inserted through both parts and secured with a clip to hold the two parts together. The square tubular support member 15 has a linear hitch connector member 20 fastened at the end opposite the bracket 14. The hitch connector member 20 is frequently angled toward the ground and then curves to become parallel with the square tubular support member 15. This horizontal hitch connector section 25 contains an aperture 30 that holds a trailer ball hitch assembly 60, having a threaded stem and accompanying threaded nut, perpendicular to the horizontal hitch connector section 25. The above described receiver hitch assembly 12 is widely used for towing various trailers, mobile homes, etc. by the powered vehicle.

[0049] One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, where a step platform assembly 35 for attachment to a hitch assembly 12 is shown. The step platform assembly 35 includes a planar step platform member 40 rigidly fastened to a coplanar linear step support member 45, having an aperture 50 adjacent a step support member end opposite the step platform member 40. The step platform member 40 is shown as rectangular in shape, however the step platform member 40 may be square, round, oval, or any shape desired without affecting the utility of the assembly. The aperture 50 in the step support member 45 preferably contains a bushing member 55 therein. The planar step platform member and step support member assembly 35 is adapted for rotatable connection to a drop down hitch assembly 12 by a fastener means there between. The fastener means preferably is a ball hitch assembly 60, with a threaded stem and threaded nut. The threaded stem of the ball hitch assembly 60 is sufficiently long that it passes through both the aperture 30 in the horizontal section 25 of the hitch assembly 12 and the bushing member 55 in the aperture 50 of the step platform assembly 35, with the nut secured on the stem opposite the ball. The bushing member 55 allows the step platform assembly 35 to rotate relative to the stationary hitch assembly 12. Alternatively, the fastener means can include a simple bolt and threaded nut assembly 65 if the ball hitch assembly 60 is not required.

[0050] In order to selectively and securely position the step platform assembly 35, a locking means is provided for selectively securing the step platform assembly 35 either beneath the vehicle body or exterior the vehicle body. In one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the locking means comprises alignable apertures in both the hitch assembly 12 and the step platform assembly 35. The horizontal section 25 of the hitch assembly 12 contains a second aperture 70 positioned between the first aperture 30 and the square tubular support member 15. The linear step support member 45 contains a pair of apertures 75, one on each side of the first aperture 50 forming a line perpendicular to the step platform member 40, as seen in FIG. 1. With the step platform member 40 positioned beneath the vehicle body, the second aperture 70 and one aperture 75 of the linear step support member 45 are aligned and a locking pin member 80 is inserted to hold the step platform assembly 35 in the storage position beneath the vehicle body, as illustrated in FIG. 3. With the step platform assembly 35 rotated to extend exterior the vehicle body, the second aperture 70 and the other aperture 75 of the linear step support member 45 are aligned and the locking pin member 80 is inserted to hold the step platform assembly 35 exterior the vehicle body, in the “in use” position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The linear step support member 45 is of sufficient length that the step platform member 40 extends beyond a horizontally positioned tailgate of a vehicle, thereby providing a step to assist in entering the cargo box of the vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0051] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking means comprises first and second flange members, with the first flange member 85 secured to the hitch assembly 12 and having two apertures 90 therein, and the second flange member 95 secured to the step assembly linear step support member 45 and having an aperture 100 therein. A locking pin member 80, inserted through one aperture 90 of the first flange member 85 and the aligned aperture 100 of the second flange member 95, positions the step platform assembly 35 beneath a vehicle body, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Inserting the pin member 80 through the other aperture 90 of the first flange member 85 and the aligned aperture 100 of the second flange member 95 positions the step platform assembly 35 exterior a vehicle body, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Again, the linear step support or member 45 is of sufficient length that the step platform member 40 extends beyond the horizontally positioned tailgate of a vehicle, thereby providing a step to assist in entering the cargo box of the vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0052] As described above, the step platform assembly 35 can be secured to an existing hitch assembly 12 to provide a step platform 40 that can be selectively stored and locked beneath a vehicle body when not needed, and quickly rotated and locked in a position to provide a step with the tailgate of a vehicle in a horizontal position. The trailer hitch assembly 12 remains available for use in the towing of other wheeled units. When a receiver hitch assembly 12 is installed on a vehicle, it is frequently desirable to have a combined step platform and hitch assembly 10 as a single unit that can be inserted and removed from the square tubular bracket member 14 secured to the vehicle frame or bumper. The user need only remove the pin that holds the square tubular support member 15 within the bracket member 14, remove one hitch assembly 12, and insert a combined step platform and hitch assembly 10 into the bracket member 14 and reinsert the pin to hold the assembly 10 in position. With a ball hitch assembly 60 as the fastener, the assembly 10 remains functional for towing other wheeled devices.

[0053] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.