Patent Application
20080264724
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to attic ladders. More particularly, the present invention relates to attic ladders that have slip-resistant steps. Additionally, the present invention relates to attic ladders that can be adjustably supported against a floor surface.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Most homes are constructed so as to have an attic positioned above the living space of the home. These attics are often used for the storage of various items. In certain circumstances, the attics are converted into living spaces. In many other circumstances, the attics are constructed so as to have only selective access.
Access to the attics is often carried out so as to retrieve articles that are stowed within the attic. In other circumstances, it is necessary to install various items, such as air conditioning equipment, insulation, piping, fans, and other items. In order to install these items, an access ladder is required so as to facilitate the ability of a person to enter the attic. In certain circumstances, conventional stepladders are utilized so as to allow a person to enter a trap door of the attic so as to gain access. In other circumstances, homeowners desire easier and more convenient access to the storage space in the attic. As such, attic ladders have been developed in the past whereby an opening of the trap door will expose a ladder that is built into the trap door. Typically, these ladders can be extended or unfolded so that they can allow the homeowner to climb the steps and enter the attic in a safe and convenient manner. After access to the attic is completed, the ladder can be folded upon itself and returned to its stowed space in the attic. In this manner, the ladder is stowed outside of the living space of the home.
Unfortunately, in the past, these attic ladders have been somewhat difficult to use. First, the steps of such a conventional attic ladder are of a relatively small size. In certain circumstances, they are formed of a rather slippery wooden material. Wooden dowel rods extend between the side rails of the ladder. These round rails sometimes fail to provide adequate support and, at least, fail to provide slip-resistant support to the person that is climbing the ladder. In other circumstances, these ladders do not extend fully to the floor of the home. As such, the user can climb a ladder that is only supported from an upper end thereof. This can cause a flexing or movement of the ladder as the user traverses the ladder in order to enter the attic.
In many circumstances, the user climbs the ladder by grasping a step, placing a foot on a lower step and climbing the manner in which a person a climb a conventional ladder. When the person reaches the upper end of the ladder, there are often difficult surfaces to grasp in order to complete the climbing. As such, a need has developed so as to facilitate the ability to climb the ladder in a safe and easy manner.
Most existing attic ladders are simple mechanical devices. In other words, when the trap door is opened, the ladder is unfolded and then climbed. The unfolding of the ladder can be relatively noisy. Since the ladder is unfolded through the assistance of gravity, the lower portions of the ladder can be unfolded in a haphazard manner. It can be difficult for elderly or frail individuals to effectively fold the ladder and return the ladder to its stowed position within the attic. As such, a need has developed in order to supplement the strength of the user in order to effectively return the ladder to its stowed position.
Certain attic ladders have generally flat sides. These flat sides can result in relatively sharp edges on the side rails of the ladder. Additionally, such flat sides may present a less than the desirable aesthetic appearance of the attic ladder.
The hinges associated with such attic ladders are often a point of weakness in the construction of such attic ladders. Since these hinges often require the necessary strength and attachment to the ladder in order to support the weight of the individual climbing the ladder, the integrity of the hinges can tend to decline over time. Often, these hinges are simply installed into wooden attic ladders with simple wood screws. These wood screws can eventually dethread or otherwise become loosened. As a result, the portions of the side rails of the ladder will tend to be somewhat wobbly. As such, a need has developed so as to ensure that there is a strong and permanent hinged connection between the various portions of the ladder.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder that has slip-resistant steps.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder which utilizes polymeric steps.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder that has an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder that assures a strong connection between the bottom of the ladder and the floor of the living space in which the attic ladder is installed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder that includes a hinged connection between the side rail portions which will not deteriorate over time and which will provide a strong and fixed connection between the portions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder which facilitates the ability of the user to climb the ladder and to provide proper support when the user reaches the upper limits of the ladder.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder which provides pneumatic assistance so as to overcome the effects of gravity when returning the ladder to its stowed position.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an attic ladder which can be moved between the extended position and the stowed position with minimal noise.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.
The present invention is an attic ladder that comprises a frame, a first side rail, a second side rail extending in generally parallel relationship to the first side rail, and a plurality of steps extending between the first and second side rails. The first and second rails are pivotally connected or interconnected to the frame at an upper end thereof. Each of the plurality of steps is formed of a polymeric material. Each of the plurality of steps has a generally flat upper surface.
In the present invention, each of the plurality of steps has embossings on the generally flat upper surface. Each of the side rails has a generally curved outer surface. Each of the plurality of steps has a first projection extending outwardly on one side thereof and a second projection extending outwardly on an opposite side thereof. The first projection is received in and affixed to an interior of the first side rail. The second projection is received in and affixed to an interior of the second side rail.
In the present invention, a panel is hingedly connected to the frame. This panel extends in spaced parallel relationship to the first and second side rails. Each of the first and second side rails has a width dimension. Each of the plurality of steps also has a width dimension that is greater than the width dimension of the first and second side rails. Each of the plurality of steps extends into the space between the side rail and the panel.
Each of the first and second side rails has a channel defined on an interior thereof. A base rail is slidably received in the channel at a bottom of the side rail. A shoe is affixed to the bottom of the base rail opposite the side rail. The base rail has an interior channel defined by a surface and a pair of sides extending transversely from opposite edges of the surface. The shoe has an upper portion affixed to the surface. The base rail has a bottom abutting a top of a flange of the shoe. The shoe has a corrugated surface at a bottom of the flange of the shoe. The shoe is formed of a polyvinyl chloride polymeric material. The side rail and the base rail are formed of a metallic material.
Each of the first and second side rails includes a first rail portion, a second rail portion, and a hinge affixed to the first and second rail portions. Each of the rail portions has an interior channel. The hinge is affixed within the interior channel of the rail portions so as to cause the rail portions to move between a first position in which the rail portions are longitudinally aligned with each other and a second position in which the first rail portion overlies the second rail portion. The hinge has a pivot point adjacent a side of the first and second side rails. The hinge has a first abutment surface overlying the end of the first rail portion and second abutment surface overlying the end of the second rail portion. The first and second abutment surfaces are in surface-to-surface contact when the rail portions are in the first position.
A handrail extends in parallel relationship to one of the first and second side rails. A first member extends transversely to the first side rail and a second member extends transversely to the first side rail in spaced relationship to the first member. The handrail is affixed to an end of the first and second members opposite the first side rail. The first and second members are formed of a metallic material. The handrail is formed of a wooden material.
A first bar is pivotally connected at one end to one side of the frame and affixed to the first side rail at an opposite end. A second bar is pivotally connected at one end to an opposite side of the frame and affixed to the second side rail at an opposite end. A third bar is affixed to one of the first and second side rails in spaced relationship to the second bar. A pneumatic cylinder has an end affixed to the frame and an opposite end connected to the third bar opposite the side rail.
Referring to
As can be seen in
A first base rail 32 is slidably received at a bottom end of the first side rail 14. Another base rail 34 is slidably received by the bottom of the second side rail 16. The base rails 32 and 34 have shoes 36 and 38, respectively, affixed to a bottom end thereof opposite the bottom of the side rails 14 and 16. The side rail 14 includes a first rail portion 40 that is hingedly connected to a second rail portion 42. A hinge 44 connects the rail portions 40 and 42. This hinge is described in greater detail in association with
A handrail 52 is connected by members 54 and 56 to the first side rail 14. Members 54 and 56 extend transversely out from the side rail 14. The handrail 52 is connected to an opposite end of the members 54 and 56 from the side rail 14. The handrail 52 extends in spaced parallel relationship to the side rail 14. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handrail 52 will be formed of a wooden material. The members 54 and 56 are formed of a metallic material. The handrail 52 facilitates the ability of a person climbing the attic ladder 10 of the present invention to enter the attic and to effectively and safely reach the upper level of the attic ladder 10.
After use, the ladder portions can be folded so as to overlie one another by rotating the hinges 44 and 50. The base rails 32 and 34 can telescope inwardly. The panel 28 can be pushed upwardly with the assistance of the lifting mechanism 30 such that the side rails 14 and 16, along with their steps 18, are properly stowed within the interior of the frame 12.
The shoe 38 is secured to the bottom of the base rail 34. Shoe 38 is formed of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. The shoe 38 has a corrugated bottom surface 76 which will provide strong gripping forces against an underlying surface, such as a floor. The bottom of the base rail 34 will abut the top surface 78 of the flange 80 of shoe 38. This abutting relationship between the bottom of base rail 34 and the top surface 78 of flange 80 further enhances the connection therebetween and avoids slippage and deterioration over time. Additionally, furthermore, the shoe 38 prevents any damaging contact between the sharp bottom edges of the base rail 34 and an underlying surface. As a result, the configuration of the present invention will avoid any scratching or marring of the underlying surface.
The shoe 36 is illustrated as having a corrugated bottom surface 90 formed at the bottom of the flange 92. A pair of ears 94 and 96 extend upwardly from the top surface 98 of the flange 92 of shoe 36. Each of the ears 94 and 96 has a hole formed therein. The holes of each of the ears 94 and 96 are arranged so as to coincide with the holes 100 and 102, respectively, formed at the bottom edge of the base rail 32. As such, the shoe 36 can be securely affixed within the internal channel of the base rail 32.
A second bar 134 has one end 136 pivotally connected to the frame 12 and an opposite end affixed to the side rail 16. Bar 132 also has a pivot point 138 formed therealong so as to allow the bar 134 to fold upon itself when the attic ladder is moved to its stowed position. A third bar 140 has one end affixed to the side rail 16 and an opposite end connected to a pneumatic cylinder 142. Pneumatic cylinder 142 has an opposite end 144 affixed to the frame 12. As the side rails 14 and 16 are moved upwardly to a stowed position, the pneumatic cylinder 142 will exert suitable lifting forces, in a quiet and efficient manner, so as to overcome the effects of gravity and to allow the user to easily lift the ladder into its stowed position. The pneumatic cylinder 142 also allows the user to quietly lower the side rails 14 and 16 while providing a slight resistance so as to prevent the attic ladder 10 from dropping rapidly due to the force of gravity. Once again, the present invention enhances the safety of the raising and lowering of the attic ladder 10.
The present invention offers an attractive curved side rail. As can be seen in
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
