US Patent 6880843 Vehicle step device

A vehicle step device includes a base unit including a bottom wall and a pair of side walls that are attached to and extend upwardly from the bottom wall. The side walls are positioned opposite of each other and each has an top edge having one of a pair of brackets attached thereto for selectively coupling the base unit to a vehicle. Each of a pair of guides is mounted to an inner surface of one of the side walls. A panel has a pair of side edges. Each of a pair of rails is attached to and extends along one of the side edges. Each of the rails is positionable into one of the guides such that the panel is selectively positionable between an extended position extending outwardly of the base unit and a retracted position positioned inward of the base unit.