Vehicles, such as recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers, being movable by nature may be taken to a number of different locations by the user. Such vehicles also may have one or more elevated surfaces, e.g., the interior of the RV, a fold-down patio, or a trailer bed, and it may be desirable for the user to be able to walk up and down between the ground and the elevated surface when the vehicle has reached its intended location. Due to various size and safety regulations, as well as the height of the elevated surface relative to the ground, it may not be possible or practical to integrate stairs onto the exterior of the vehicle. Thus, removable stairs may be attached to the elevated surface to allow the user to walk up and down between the ground and the elevated surface. Existing stair assemblies, however, are deficient in that they may lack sufficient adjustability to accommodate different ground heights/conditions, they may be constructed such that they are heavy and, therefore, difficult to install and remove, and the steps may lack adjustability such that the user is forced to walk up and down steps that may be at an unnatural angle and/or have an inconsistent rise and run. These deficiencies in known stair assemblies make them difficult to use and undesirable.
An aspect of the present technology is directed to a stair assembly that may be adjusted for an elevated surface at a variable height from the ground.
Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a stair assembly that may be adjusted to provide a consistent rise and run between steps.
Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a stair assembly that may be adjusted to provide a consistent rise and run between steps when the stair assembly is height-adjusted for a surface elevated above the ground.
Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a removable and collapsible entry stair for a recreational vehicle that may be securely connected to the vehicle. The stair includes a plurality of steps connected to stringers that may be manipulated to adjust the angle of the steps with respect to the stringers to provide level and even footing between the ground and the elevated entryway of the vehicle or deck over a range of angles of inclination of the stair with respect to the vehicle.
Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a stair assembly comprising: at least one step; a main stringer pivotably connected to the at least one step; a support stringer pivotably connected to the at least one step; and a camslot plate pivotably connected to one of the main stringer and the support stringer and pivotably and slidably connected to the other of the main stringer and the support stringer.
In examples of any of the aspects of the preceding paragraphs of this section, (a) a latching mechanism may be joined to a top end of the main stringer, the latching mechanism being configured to releasably connect the stair assembly to an anchor or a wall mount, (b) the latching mechanism may comprise a rotary latch such that the stair assembly is rotatable relative to the anchor or the wall mount when connected thereto, (c) the stair assembly may comprise a plurality of steps each having a forward portion and a rearward portion, the main stringer is pivotably connected to each of the plurality of steps at one of the forward portion and the rearward portion and the support stringer is pivotably connected to each of the plurality of steps at the other one of the forward portion and the rearward portion such that the steps move in unison when the support stringer is moved relative to the main stringer, (d) the camslot plate may include a first end and a second end, and the first end of the camslot plate or the second end of the camslot plate includes a pivot hole and the other of the first end of the camslot plate or the second end of the camslot plate includes an elongated slot, (e) the stair assembly may comprise a first pivot assembly configured to connect the main stringer to the camslot plate and a second pivot assembly configured to connect the support stringer to the camslot plate, (f) the first pivot assembly may be configured to pivotably connect the main stringer to the camslot plate at one of the pivot hole and the elongated slot, and the second pivot assembly may be configured to pivotably and slidably connect the support stringer to the camslot plate at the other one of the pivot hole and the elongated slot, (g) the stair assembly may comprise a removable pin, the camslot plate may comprise a plurality of camslot plate holes, the support stringer may comprise at least one support stringer hole, and the support stringer may be configured to be positioned relative to the camslot plate such that the at least one support stringer hole aligns with one of the plurality of camslot plate holes to allow the removable pin to pass therethrough and secure the support stringer relative to the camslot plate, (h) the stair assembly may comprise: a plurality of steps; two main stringers, each being connected to a corresponding lateral end of each of the plurality of steps; two support stringers, each being connected to a corresponding lateral end of each of the plurality of steps; and two camslot plates, each being connected to corresponding ones of the two main stringers and the two support stringers, (i) the stair assembly may comprise a foot that is rotatably connected to a bottom end of the main stringer to engage a ground surface during use, (j) the foot may be height adjustable relative to the bottom end, and/or (k) the stair assembly may comprise a handrail connected to the main stringer.
Another aspect of the present technology is directed to a stair assembly comprising: a plurality of steps; a main stringer pivotably connected to a corresponding lateral end of each of the plurality of steps; and a support stringer pivotably connected to a corresponding lateral end of each of the plurality of steps, wherein the main stringer and the support stringer are movably connected to the plurality of steps such that a rise and a run of each of the plurality of steps is substantially consistent when the main stringer and the support stringer are moved relative to each other to adjust the plurality of steps to a substantially level position.
In examples of any of the aspects of the preceding paragraphs of this section, (a) the stair assembly may comprise a latching mechanism joined to a top end of the main stringer, the latching mechanism being configured to releasably connect the stair assembly to an anchor or a wall mount, (b) the latching mechanism may comprise a rotary latch such that the stair assembly is rotatable relative to the anchor or the wall mount when connected thereto, (c) the stair assembly may comprise a foot that is rotatably connected to a bottom end of the main stringer to engage a ground surface during use, (d) the foot may be height adjustable relative to the bottom end, (e) the stair assembly may comprise a handrail connected to the main stringer, (f) the main stringer and the support stringer may be configured to be releasably fixed relative to each other, and/or (g) the stair assembly may comprise a camslot plate configured to guide relative movement of the main stringer and the support stringer.
Of course, portions of the aspects may form sub-aspects of the present technology. Also, various ones of the sub-aspects and/or aspects may be combined in various manners and also constitute additional aspects or sub-aspects of the present technology.
Before the present technology is described in further detail, it is to be understood that the technology is not limited to the particular examples described herein, which may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing only the particular examples discussed herein, and is not intended to be limiting.
The following description is provided in relation to various examples which may share one or more common characteristics and/or features. It is to be understood that one or more features of any one example may be combinable with one or more features of another example or other examples. In addition, any single feature or combination of features in any of the examples may constitute a further example.
A forward portion of each step 12 may be pivotably mounted to the main stringer 14, and a rearward portion of each step 12 may be pivotably mounted to the support stringer 16. More specifically, the main stringer 14 may be pivotably connected to the first screw boss 25a, and the support stringer 16 may be pivotably connected to the second screw boss 25b. The main stringer 14 and the support stringer 16 may be secured to the screw bosses 25a, 25b by fasteners 26 extending through corresponding apertures 18 formed on the side walls 19 of each of the main stringer 14 and the support stringer 16, and a washer 68 may be provided between the fastener 26 and an interior surface 31 of a corresponding side wall 19 of each main stringer 14 and support stringer 16, as shown in
As shown in
The first end 35 of the camslot plate 30 may pivot about the first pivot assembly 32, which connects the camslot plate 30 to the main stringer 14, and the second end 37 of the camslot plate 30 may pivot about and slide relative to the second pivot assembly 33, which connects the camslot plate 30 to the support stringer 16. The camslot plate 30 may cooperate with the first pivot assembly 32 and the second pivot assembly 33 to restrict the extent to which the step 12 may pivot with respect to the main stringer 14 and the support stringer 16.
The camslot plate 30 may include a plurality of camslot plate holes or apertures 36 disposed between the first end 35 of the camslot plate 30 and the elongated slot 34. When the stair assembly 10 is assembled, one of the plurality of camslot plate holes 36 may be aligned with a corresponding hole 41 in the support stringer 16 that penetrates the side walls 19 of the support stringer 16 and may be secured in place by a removable pin 38, or a similar locking mechanism, to hold the main stringer 14, the support stringer 16, and the steps 12 in a desired configuration with respect to each other. As best seen in
The ends 23 of the main stringers 14 that engage the ground may include a foot 40 secured by a pin or bolted shaft 43 so that the foot 40 engages the ground when the stair assembly 10 is installed on a threshold. The foot 40 may pivot about the pin 43 with respect to the main stringer 14 so that the foot 40 is moveable to sit flush with the ground at any angle a of the stair assembly 10. In some examples, the foot 40 may have side surfaces 44 with multiple holes 45 along the height of each side surface 44 for selective vertical adjustment of the foot 40 relative to the main stringer 14 to accommodate significantly uneven ground underneath the stair assembly 10.
The uppermost ends 21 of the main stringers 14 may be connected to an extender piece 42 that may be bent at an angle from the main stringer 14 and that may house a latching mechanism 51, as shown in
An anchor or strike 54 may be mounted onto the threshold 70, which may lead to a patio, an elevated surface, an upstairs area, or the entryway to the living space. There may also be a stopper 56 mounted onto the threshold 70, which may be made of any suitable material such as rubber, plastic, or metal. The anchor 54 and the stopper 56 may be spaced to accommodate the size of the latching mechanism 51 when the stair assembly 10 is in the latched position on the threshold 70. The stair assembly 10 may be installed by positioning the extender pieces 42 of the top end 21 of the stair assembly 10 over the anchors 54 installed on the threshold 70 and forcing the extender pieces 42 downward so that the latches 48 catch and lock onto the anchors 54. In this position, a free end 71 of the extender piece 42 may abut the stopper 56 to mitigate vibration and movement in the top end 21 of the stair assembly 10. The anchor 54 may be sized and positioned on the threshold 70 so that both the extender piece 42 and the top end 21 of the main stringer 14 are spaced from and do not contact the threshold 70 when the stair assembly 10 is in the latched position. The bottom end 23 of the stair assembly 10 that includes the feet 40 may then be placed on the ground to be level with the ground at the appropriate distance from the living space, e.g., a patio or elevated surface 100, as shown in
The stair assembly 10 may be placed into a collapsed position, as shown in
It is to be understood that the technology is not to be limited to the disclosed examples, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/672,886, filed May 17, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62672886 | May 2018 | US |