Stone guard for step bar

Abstract

A guard assembly for a vehicle step includes a guard portion attached to the step blocking an opening and preventing road debris from being thrown against a body of the motor vehicle. The guard portion includes a first edge adjacent an outer edge of the vehicle step and an inner edge inboard of the vehicle. The inner edge is inboard of an inner edge of a tire mounted to the vehicle. A lip portion extends transverse from the guard portion and prevents road debris from being thrown between the guard portion and the underside of the motor vehicle.

1 . A guard assembly for a vehicle step comprising: 
 a guard portion attached to said step and blocking an opening between said vehicle step and the vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard portion includes a first edge adjacent an outer edge of said step and an inner edge inboard of the vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in said inner edge is inboard of an inner edge of a tire mounted to the vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard portion includes a plurality of grooves.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard portion includes a plurality of alternating channels extending parallel with said step member.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a lip portion transverse from said guard portion.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said guard and said lip portion includes corresponding interlocking portions for attachment of said lip portion to said guard  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said interlocking portions are “V” shaped, and said interlocking portion of said guard includes a ridge portion for securing said interlocking portion of said lip.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further including an extension portion attachable to said lip portion to extend a length of said lip portion above said guard portion.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said extension portion includes a clip section securing said extension portion to said lip portion.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further including a decorative design applied to said lip portion.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , fabricated from a plastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1  fabricated from a corrosion resistant material.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard includes a snap mechanism corresponding to said step for attachment to said step.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said guard includes a flexible material attached to said vehicle step by a plurality of snaps.  
     
     
         16 . A vehicle step assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: 
 a step portion attached to the motor vehicle, said step defining an opening between said steps and said motor vehicle;    a guard attached to said step portion blocking said opening.    
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said guard portion includes a first edge adjacent an outer edge of said step and an inner edge inboard of the vehicle.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said guard includes a flexible material attached by a series of snaps.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said guard includes lip extending transverse relative to said guard.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said guard and lip including interlocking portions to detachably mount said lip to said guard.