ZR2Steps started in 2023 as 3DPSQ, with a simple idea, I needed a way to reach my roof rack contents, and I didn't want to replace my rock sliders, or buy expensive bolt on steps. But I had recently gotten into 3D printing and often repeated the motto "but can you print it?" This is a challenge to myself to always try and solve my issues my own way.
Once the step was on, I realized the true utility of the idea. This could be applied to all platforms of vehicles, and in a lot of variable ways. I saw for the first time in my life, a chance to make something that had the potential to elevate me into homeowner status, and provide a basement suite for my aging mum. I also saw for the first time, a glimmer of hope, that one day I could actually have a retirement.
So I made my first you tube video.
https://youtube.com/shorts/cmBPMBJeFjE
It got quite a few hits on that, so I tempted fate and made another and shared on a bunch of Facebook groups.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QTy3zy8SHtg
This got thousands of views, and a very positive reception.
It was clear, I needed to protect this idea. So I reached out to a Patent firm, and asked how to protect my idea, so I can build my business and protect it from IP thieves. And the answer, was to file for a utility patent. Its a long, arduous process, that will take years before I have real enforceable protection, and only if the USPTO approves it. In the end however, I will be able to use the law to protect my idea, and grow.
I decided, it was worth the effort, and the cost.
Utility patents provide broad coverage, what it IS, and what it DOES, and how it WORKS. This was clearly what I needed so I could grow my idea, my business, and evolve over time into a larger scale operation.
As of Jan 2026, the USPTO has approved my Utility Patent application. But that wasn't a straight forward shot. They initially rejected it, citing other side steps styles, like rock sliders with built in steps, and bolt on accessory steps as previous art. But I'm lucky to have hired a crack team of experts who knew exactly what to do. They took the feed back, made amendments, which actually made the application much stronger in several ways, and when it faced the examiner again, he realized the the idea truly was unique, and novel. Enough to grant an allowance.
This was incredible news. Especially since December 2024, and that now others have seen my idea, they have been trying very hard to take it and gain from it themselves. This was exactly what I had anticipated. My idea was good enough to steal.
You will find all kinds of copycats and variants on the internet now, and you will probably find my site buried under it all. I have been struggling to survive, choosing between maintaining the cost of overheads and paying the legal bills, or performing R&D. I've actually had to maintain my full time job to keep the lights on, as well as running this business. I burn 16 hours on a typical day, just going from one job to the next.
And then supporting my mum is a big expense too. At times she's requiring more than 25% of my income. And her needs are getting higher, with rental subsidies being pulled. I knew when I started I was expecting these changes down the road, and really needed this thing to succeed so I could manage and keep up.
Issuance- once a patent is approved you get a unique and unexpected opportunity. You can file another one. There are two kinds, both are considered "Child" patents, while the original is considered the "Parent". These two "Child patents" break down into "Continuation", and "Continuation in Part".
A continuation allows you to claim your original filing date but re-describe your Parent application. You cannot add new matter, and the scope must remain mostly the same. However, you can word smith your way into an even stronger patent, and essentially create layers of protection. Not just one patent, but two.
A continuation in part however is where you can add NEW matter, so new ideas, that branch off from the parent, to expand or evolve on your ideas with new scope, while still linking to the parent forming a layered family of patents.
I chose both. I wanted 3 layers of protections in my ecosystem.
The parent is the "core" idea, the continuation strengthens that and fills in gaps, and the CIP lets me evolve my products to the next level.
Enter Modularity. The evolution of the snap on side step. The original lineup will be comparatively named Singularity, because they are single piece products, and Modularity creates a multi piece component system allowing the combination of multiple steps. No longer is there a need for different sizes, you just click 2 or more together and build your own step to whatever length you want. More than that though, you can now add custom end caps, and internal backlighting to decorate your rock slider however you like. It becomes a modular rail mounted accessory system, with a lot of room for further adaptability.
Now that those are both in, we await the final Parent issuance (Today - March 14 2026). It should arrive sometime in May, then we finally get to use more platform tools. And then we can get back to doing what we set out to DO originally.
Make snap on step solutions, for YOU.
More to come as this story evolves.