Patent Application
20120199417
1. Field of Inventive Concept
The present general inventive concept relates generally to folding overhead ladders, and more particularly, to a sectional overhead ladder capable of automatic operation with the assistance of a remote controlled motorized apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Overhead ladders are commonly used to provide convenient, temporary access to attics of houses or other structures without the loss of floor space occupied by a permanent stairwell. Typically, overhead ladders include a plurality of sections that are folded upon one another within a frame secured to a structure. The ladder typically includes hinges for connecting the sections. The sections of the ladder align during use to form a continuous ladder structure spanning from one surface to another.
An overhead ladder is typically accessible through an opening in a ceiling by way of a hatch or panel mounted in the ceiling. Most commonly, a user must access such an overhead ladder by pulling down the ceiling-mounted hatch and manually extending the sections of the ladder. However, these sections are often heavy and cumbersome to operate.
Some existing overhead ladders have been developed such that the stair portion is extended and retracted by some type of powered arrangement. However, most existing systems are not entirely satisfactory in providing a remote controlled overhead ladder system capable of folding, unfolding, opening, and closing a sectional overhead ladder to provide access to an attic area or other elevated structure.
The present general inventive concept provides a remote controlled motorized sectional overhead ladder for use in attics or other elevated or lofted structures. In some example embodiments, the overhead ladder system is capable of remotely opening, closing, folding, and unfolding in response to a remote signal from a remote control device. In some embodiments, after a first section of the ladder unfolds, second and third sections of the ladder can unfold until the ladder is fully opened and ready for use. When not in use, the user can actuate the remote control device to fold and lift the ladder sections above a ceiling compartment and close the ceiling compartment.
Additional features and embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept can be achieved by providing a remote controlled overhead ladder system including a ladder structure having at least a first section and a second section. The ladder structure can be mounted to a support structure located above an opening of the overhead surface, and can include a remote controlled lifting cable connected to the first and second sections such that upon receipt of a remote control signal, the lifting cable pivots the second section toward a front surface of the first section until the second section is oriented substantially adjacent to the front surface of the first section, at which time the lifting cable pivots the first section and the adjacent second section as a group toward the overhead surface until the ladder sections are substantially coplanar to, and above, the overhead surface.
Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept can also be achieved by providing a remote controlled overhead ladder system including a ladder structure having a first section, a second section, and a third section. The ladder structure can be mounted to a support structure located above an opening of the overhead surface, and can include a remote controlled drive apparatus including a lifting cable connected to the first and second sections such that upon receipt of a remote control signal, the lifting cable pivots a front surface of the second section toward a front surface of the first section such that a back surface of the third section concurrently pivots toward a back surface of the second section until the second and third sections are oriented substantially adjacent to the front surface of the first section, at which time the lifting cable pivots the first section and the adjacent second and third sections as a group toward the overhead surface until a back surface of the first section is oriented substantially coplanar to the overhead surface and the second and third sections are oriented above the first section.
The back surface of the first section can include a panel structure to cover the opening when the ladder structure is fully raised.
The overhead ladder system can include an operating arm connected between the support structure and the first section to support the first section with respect to the overhead surface.
The overhead ladder system can also include a shock element connected to the operating arm to inhibit pivoting movement of the first section with respect to the overhead surface until the second and third sections are oriented substantially adjacent to the front surface of the first section.
The support structure can include a boxed-frame structure oriented substantially parallel to the overhead surface such that the shock element inhibits the pivoting movement of the first section until the second and third sections are positioned to clear the boxed-frame.
The overhead ladder system can also include a spring mechanism connected between the operating arm and the support structure to assist pivoting movement of the first section and to prevent the first section from free-falling from the overhead surface.
The support structure can include a sloped-frame assembly located adjacent to an end of the first section and extending above the overhead surface at an acute angle relative to the overhead surface. The sloped-frame can include at least one step to facilitate climbing of the sloped-frame above the overhead surface.
The remote controlled drive apparatus can include a drive motor, a drive spool rotatably connected to the drive motor to lift the lifting cable when the drive spool is rotated, and a remote controlled device to actuate the drive motor to rotate the drive spool.
The remote controlled drive apparatus can also include a tension arm disposed above the overhead surface including at least one pulley connected to the lifting cable, an inner pulley connected to the second section to guide the lifting cable from the second section to the first section, a folding cable connected between the first section and the third section to assist pivoting movement of the third section, and an outer pulley connected to the second section to guide the folding cable between the first section and the third section.
The overhead ladder system can also include an emergency release assembly to disengage the remote controlled drive apparatus from the ladder structure.
Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept can also be achieved by providing a method of operating an overhead ladder system, including installing a drive apparatus above the overhead surface, connecting a lifting cable to the first and second sections and the drive apparatus, and actuating the drive apparatus via a remote control signal to raise the lifting cable such that the lifting cable pivots a front surface of the second section toward a front surface of the first section such that a back surface of the third section concurrently pivots toward a back surface of the second section until the second and third sections are oriented substantially adjacent the front surface of the first section, at which time the lifting cable pivots the first section and the adjacent second and third sections as a group toward the overhead surface until a back surface of the first section is oriented substantially coplanar to the overhead surface and the second and third sections are oriented above the first section.
The following example embodiments are representative of exemplary techniques and structures designed to carry out the objectives of the present general inventive concept, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to these example embodiments. Additional embodiments and/or features of the present general inventive concept will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the example embodiments read together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to various embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The following description of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present general inventive concept, its application, or uses. The example embodiments are merely described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures. It is noted that in the accompanying drawings and illustrations, the sizes and relative sizes, shapes, and qualities of lines, entities, and regions may be exaggerated for clarity and/or convenience of illustration.
It is also noted that throughout the following description, spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood, however, that these spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, and are provided for convenience of description only with reference to the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Referring to
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, as mentioned previously, the support structure may take the form of a boxed frame 5′, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to such shape. For example, referring to
Referring to
Referring back to
In the example embodiments, the ladder structure 10 is generally described in terms of having three sectional members: a top stair section 1, a middle stair section 2, and a bottom stair section 3. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present general inventive concept is not limited to any particular number of sectional members, and it is possible that more or less sectional members could be used without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the present general inventive concept.
In the illustrated embodiments, for example
Referring to
Referring to
For example, referring to
In the example embodiment of
One or more wheels 23 can be provided on a bottom surface of the bottom stair section 3 to assist movement of the bottom stair section 3 against a floor or ground surface (not illustrated) upon actuation of the drive motor.
It is possible that the remote controlled device 30 can include various controls and/or switches to communicate suitable signals to the drive motor 12 to control the speed at which spools 9 are rotated, thus enabling the operator to control the speed at which the ladder 10 is opened and closed. The direction of the spools can also be controlled to selectively raise and lower the ladder structures in response to the remote signal. The drive motor 12 can be configured to respond to remote signals from the remote control device 30 via a wired or wireless connection to selectively open and close the ladder and/or control the speed of opening and closing of the ladder based on operator inputs from the remote control device 30.
Referring to
As illustrated in
For example, in the case of the box-frame embodiment of
In the example embodiments, there is illustrated a motorized sectional overhead attic ladder system operable in a ceiling, attic, mezzanine, elevated walkway, roof access area, basement, fire escape, stairwell, or other elevated structure. The system can remotely open and close the ladder structure upon actuation of a remote control device, thus enabling automatic opening, closing, folding, and unfolding operations of the sectional ladder for a variety of applications. For example, when the ladder is not in use, an operator can actuate the remote control device to fold and lift the ladder sections into the ceiling compartment and close the panel of the ceiling access for convenient storage.
It is noted that the simplified diagrams and drawings do not illustrate all the various connections and assemblies of the various components, however, those skilled in the art will understand how to implement such connections and assemblies, based on the illustrated components, figures, and descriptions provided herein. It is also noted that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. For example, regardless of the content of any portion of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary in the description or claims, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements.
Thus, while the present general inventive concept has been illustrated by description of several example embodiments, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the general inventive concept to such descriptions and illustrations. Instead, the descriptions, drawings, and claims herein are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and additional embodiments will readily appear to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description and drawings.
