Aftermarket Cab Stair Step Insert for Lower Entry Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semi-truck cabs are often positioned high off the ground, requiring steep factory-provided stairs for entry, which can lead to knee and back pain due to repeated climbing, and existing solutions are impractical for frequent use.
Innovation Solution
An aftermarket assistance device with a foot hold surface and adjustable vertical support members that can be mounted between factory steps, reducing the step height and providing additional support, made of durable materials like steel or aluminum, and designed to be secure and removable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a removable stair or ladder is added to reduce step height, then knee and back pain is alleviated, but the solution becomes impractical for frequent use
Solution Approach 1:
The assistance device is pre-installed on the factory-provided stair during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary installation ensures the device is permanently in place and ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for drivers to manually add or remove stairs or ladders each time they enter or exit the cab.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vertical support member is made long to reduce step height, then the step height is reduced, but the device protrudes excessively from the cab
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical support member is divided into two separate segments (first and second vertical support members) that connect to different steps. This segmentation allows each support member to be shorter individually, reducing the overall protrusion depth while still achieving the desired step height reduction through the intermediate foot hold surface.
Data Source
AI summary
An aftermarket assistance device for use with a factory stair with a vertical space of about 18 inches between steps of the factory stair and comprising a foot hold surface and a mounting surface extending from connection with the foot hold surface wherein the foot hold surface has a surface area less than the surface area of either the steps of the factory stair and wherein the foot hold surface is mountable within the vertical space between the steps of the factory stair.