US 11,807,190 B2
Automated retractable vehicle step
Anthony Smith, Costa Mesa, CA (US)
Assigned to Lund Motion Products, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed by Lund Motion Products, Inc., Buford, GA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/746,378.
Application 17/746,378 is a continuation of application No. 17/338,531, filed on Jun. 3, 2021.
Application 17/338,531 is a continuation of application No. 16/667,734, filed on Oct. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,208,044, issued on Dec. 28, 2021.
Application 16/667,734 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/136,091, filed on Sep. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,513,224, issued on Dec. 24, 2019.
Application 16/136,091 is a continuation of application No. 15/792,562, filed on Oct. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,106,088, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Application 15/792,562 is a continuation of application No. 15/344,178, filed on Nov. 4, 2016, granted, now 9,834,147, issued on Dec. 5, 2017.
Application 15/344,178 is a continuation of application No. 14/977,404, filed on Dec. 21, 2015, granted, now 9,511,717, issued on Dec. 6, 2016.
Application 14/977,404 is a continuation of application No. 14/169,626, filed on Jan. 31, 2014, granted, now 9,272,667, issued on Mar. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/832,115, filed on Apr. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/898,674, filed on Nov. 1, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0274529 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 3/02 (2006.01); G05D 3/10 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01); B60R 3/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 3/02 (2013.01) [B60R 3/002 (2013.01); B60R 16/023 (2013.01); B60R 16/03 (2013.01); G05D 3/10 (2013.01); B60Y 2304/05 (2013.01); B60Y 2304/07 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49117 (2015.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powered vehicle step assist system, comprising:
a step configured for attachment to a vehicle and comprising a stepping deck, the stepping deck movable between a retracted position in which the stepping deck is stowed under the vehicle and a deployed position in which the stepping deck is outboard of the retracted position with respect to the vehicle;
a motor drivably coupled to the step and capable of effectuating movement of the stepping deck from the retracted position to the deployed position;
a controller in electronic communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to cause the motor to effectuate movement of the stepping deck in response to door status information generated by an existing vehicle computer system of the vehicle, the door status information comprising one or more of door opened/closed status and door locked/unlocked status; and
a user input device positioned on the stepping deck and configured to be actuatable by a user to cause the motor to effectuate movement of the stepping deck.