Stowing stairway
OwnerGene S. Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stair is pivotable from a lowered position allowing a user to climb the stair from a lower level to an upper level, into a stowed position wherein the stair is lifted from the lower level so that the plane of the stair is approaches the ceiling situated between the lower and upper level. The stair, which is preferably not articulated (i.e., the stair does not fold), rotates between the lowered and stowed positions about a pivot fixed in association with the ceiling. A drive cable, which preferably extends from the stair top or from a drive arm extending from the stair top, is anchored to surrounding structure in the upper level. A drive motor drives the drive cable to draw the stair top downwardly, thereby raising the stair bottom about the pivot.
Claims20
A stowing stair assembly comprising:
- a. a stair including a pair of siderails with rungs extending between the siderails, the stair having a stair top and a stair bottom;
- b. a pivot about which the stair pivots, the pivot being situated adjacent the star top and below the topmost rung;
- c. a motor affixed to the stair top, the motor driving a cable leading to an anchor situated off the stair,
- whereby the motor's driving of the cable draws the stair top toward the anchor and thereby rotates the stair about the pivot to raise the stair bottom.
A stowing stair assembly comprising:
- a. a stair having a stair top, an opposing stair bottom, and several rungs situated in spaced relationship therebetween;
- b. a pivot upon which the stair is pivotally mounted, wherein at least one rung is situated between the pivot and the stair top;
- c. an anchor in relation to which the stair pivots;
- d. a cable affixed to the anchor;
- e. a motor at the top of the stair which drives the cable and thereby rotates the stair about the pivot to raise and lower the stair bottom;
- wherein the stair bottom is biased downwardly by gravity, and lowers downwardly toward a floor absent the driving action of the motor.
A stowing stair assembly comprising:
- a. a stair having a stair top, an opposing stair bottom, and several rungs situated in spaced relationship therebetween;
- b. a pivot interposed between a pair of rungs, the stair being pivotally mounted on the pivot, whereby the stair bottom may be raised and lowered in relation to the pivot;
- c. a cable extending from the stair to an anchor situated off the stair;
- and
- d. a motor at the top of the stair which drives the cable, wherein driving of the cable raises and lowers the stair bottom about the pivot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.