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AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorAnthony M. Rund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An access ladder configurable from an extended position for providing access to a structure and a stowed position. The access ladder comprises an elongated first member having a first step extending laterally therefrom. An elongated second member is associated with the first member and configured for translational movement relative thereto and has a second step extending laterally therefrom. A link extends between the second member and the structure such that rotation of the first member moves the second member translationally relative to the first member, thereby moving said at least one second step towards said at least one first step.
Claims16
An access ladder, the access ladder configurable from an extended position for providing access to a structure and a stowed position, the ladder comprising:
- an elongated first member having a first end and a second end and connected to the structure;
- at least one first step extending laterally from the first member;
- an elongated second member associated with the first member and configured for translational movement relative to the first member, the second member having at least one second step extending laterally from the second member, wherein the first member is hollow at the second end and wherein the second member is configured to extend from within the second end;
- and
- a link pivotally and slidably engaging an elongate channel formed in the elongate second member, the link extending between the second member and the structure through a slot formed in and extending through a surface of the first member, such that rotation of the first member from the extended position to the stowed position moves the second member translationally relative to the first member, thereby moving said at least one second step towards said at least one first step.
An access system, the access system configurable between an access configuration for providing access to a structure and a stowed configuration, the access system comprising:
- a first ladder portion having an elongated first member from which at least one first step extends horizontally, the first ladder portion having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the structure;
- a second ladder portion having an elongated second member from which at least one second step extends horizontally, the second ladder portion slidably associated to the first ladder portion so as to extend past the second end, wherein the first member is hollow at the second end and the second member is configured to extend from within the second end;
- and
- a link pivotally and slidably engaging an elongate channel formed in the elongate second member, the link extending from the structure to the second ladder portion through a slot extending through a surface of the first member so as to move the second ladder portion to slide relative to the first ladder portion when the first member rotates from an extended position to a stowed position relative to the structure.
An off-highway vehicle, comprising:
- an access system configurable between an access configuration for providing access to a structure and a stowed configuration, the access system comprising:
- a first ladder portion having an elongated first member from which at least one first step extends horizontally, the first ladder portion having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the structure;
- a second ladder portion having an elongated second member from which at least one second step extends horizontally, the second ladder portion slidably associated to the first ladder portion so as to extend past the second end;
- and
- a link pivotally and slidably engaging an elongate channel formed in the first member, the link extending from the structure to the second ladder portion through a slot extending through a surface of the first member so as to move the second ladder portion to slide relative to the first ladder portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.