Lockable folding stairs
OwnerPatrick Hoffman, David King +1inventors
InventorsPatrick Hoffman, David King, Tom Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A two-piece locking folding stair is provided with a spring-like locking mechanism. The spring-like device, deployed one on of the two members, includes a protruding member which engages a notch on the other member when the stairs are in the full open, or locked position. When the stairs are opened, the device moves into a position which prevents the stairs from folding unintentionally. To unlock the assembly, the spring-like device is depressed thus releasing the protruding member from a corresponding notch, allowing the stairs to be folded to the closed position for stowing or transport.
Claims12
A folding stair comprising:
- a first member having a plurality of steps distributed from a first end to a second end, said first end adapted to be placed on a substantially flat surface;
- a second support member having a first end adapted to be placed on the substantially flat surface and a second end rotatably coupled to said second end of said first member;
- at least one locking mechanism comprising a springboard-like protrusion having a catch at an end of said protrusion, said protrusion deployed on said second end of said second member, said protrusion and catch adapted to interact with a corresponding notch defined by a support structure located on the underside of said first member near said second end;
- wherein said first and second members rotate from a folded position for stowage to a locked extended position for use;
- wherein when in said locked extended position said catch of said protrusion abuts said support structure of said notch such that said first and second members are locked;
- and whereupon movement of said springboard protrusion releases said catch from said support structure, permitting said first and second members to rotate into said folded position.
A folding stair comprising:
- a first member having a plurality of steps distributed from a first end to a second end, said first end adapted to be placed on a substantially flat surface;
- a second support member having a first end adapted to be placed on the substantially flat surface and a second end rotatably coupled to said second end of said first member;
- at least one locking mechanism comprising a spring-like device having a protruding member outwardly biased, said spring-like device deployed on a side of one of said first and second members, a hole defined by the other of said first and second member, said hole shaped and positioned to receive said protruding member of said spring-like device when the folding stair is in an extended position for use;
- wherein said first and second members rotate from a folded position for stowage to said extended position for use;
- wherein when in said extended position said protruding member of said spring-like device protrudes through said hole such that said first and second members are locked;
- and whereupon movement of said protruding member out from within said hole releases said first and second members, permitting said first and second members to rotate into said folded position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.