Trailer Step Assembly
Patent No. US10850669 (titled "Trailer Step Assembly") was filed by Kurt Josef Honer on Mar 16, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’669 is related to the field of retractable stairs for trailers, specifically addressing the problem of protecting the stair assembly from environmental damage and improving ease of use. Traditional retractable stairs are often mounted underneath the trailer, exposing them to the elements and potential physical damage. This also necessitates complex lifting mechanisms to align the stairs with the trailer's floor level.
The underlying idea behind ’669 is to integrate the retractable stair assembly within the trailer's frame structure , creating an internal cavity for storage. This protects the assembly from weather and road debris. By positioning the assembly higher up, closer to the trailer's floor level, the need for a complex lift mechanism is eliminated, simplifying the design and reducing manufacturing costs.
The claims of ’669 focus on a method of moving a retractable trailer stair assembly between stowed and deployed positions. The key aspects include providing a trailer with a frame and subfloor defining an internal cavity, positioning the stair assembly within this cavity in the stowed position, and then extending the assembly outwards to create steps to the ground. The stair assembly is at least partially disposed within the interior cavity between the subfloor and the frame platform and is not exposed to weather elements.
In practice, the stair assembly slides linearly out of an opening in the trailer frame. The steps, initially aligned horizontally for storage, pivot downwards under gravity to form a staircase as the assembly is extended. The platform, which forms the top step, remains substantially level with the trailer floor, eliminating the need for a separate lifting mechanism. A door can be included to further protect the assembly when stowed.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by integrating the stair assembly within the trailer's structural frame , rather than mounting it underneath. This provides environmental protection, reduces the complexity of the deployment mechanism, and avoids reducing ground clearance. The linear sliding motion and gravity-activated step deployment further simplify the design compared to existing solutions that require complex linkages and lifting mechanisms.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2010s when ’669 was filed, trailers commonly relied on manually deployed or retractable stairs positioned underneath the trailer. At a time when space constraints were a significant design consideration, integrating components within existing structures was a typical engineering challenge. When hardware or software constraints made complex mechanical systems non-trivial, simpler linear movement mechanisms were often preferred for reliability and ease of maintenance.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art, whether considered individually or in combination, does not teach or suggest a method of moving a retractable trailer stair assembly that includes providing a trailer with a frame and subfloor defining an interior cavity, positioning the stair assembly within that cavity to protect it from the weather, and then moving the assembly to a deployed position.
Claims
This patent contains 14 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to a method of moving a retractable trailer stair assembly between stowed and deployed positions. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features, configurations, and functionalities related to the stair assembly and its interaction with the trailer frame, subfloor, and other components.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
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Date
Description
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US10850669
- Application Number
- US16819984
- Filing Date
- Mar 16, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Feb 4, 2039
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents