GB2387869A

GB2387869A - Collapsible steps

Info

Publication number: GB2387869A
Application number: GB0209145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Graham Staddon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-23
Filing date: 2002-04-23
Publication date: 2003-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-23
Also published as: GB2387869B; GB0209145D0

Abstract

A collapsible set of steps (1) comprises at least two steps (1a and 1b) each step comprising a base portion (2,3) and a tread (3,4) respectively, the tread portions being separated by first pairs of hinged support portions (6a, 6b, 7a, 7b) and second support portions (12,13,14,15). The step is arranged such that by raising the top tread (4) relative to the base portion (2), the support portions adopt a vertical position locking against one another to maintain the step in an erect position. The invention provides a lightweight collapsible step of sturdy construction.

Description

- 1 - A SET OF STEPS

The present invention relates to a set of steps and particularly to a set of steps comprising two or more treads formed from a box type structure.

s Where individuals regularly need to climb up and/or down a steep incline, a ladder or a flight of steps is normally employed. If a ladder cannot be deployed permanently at a location then this in use can be lent against the object to be climbed or descended and then carried away when not required. Alternatively a collapsible stepladder can be employed.

Ladders and stepladders are well suited to temporary applications due to their relatively low bulk. However, steps are generally safer and easier to use, having a broad flat stable tread, so that one may ascend or descend without the use of hands. Due to there relative bulk, flights of steps for temporary applications are normally designed for one 15 specific application, or alternatively comprise only two or three steps formed from a rigid essentially box type structure, (which is simply picked up when not required and stored), or comprise a collapsible frame structure to which the Heads are attached or form a part thereof. 20 A problem with the collapsible steps referred to above is that in some applications they do not have the desired stability of the non- collapsible box structure design and additionally the frame can be a hindrance to unobstructed use of the steps.

In certain applications there is a requirement for a rigid safe step that can be easily 25 stored. One such application is on quays for assisting with boarding of small to medium sized boats. Here, it is desirable to have a small stable platform on the quay from which one can step from or to the boat whilst the boat may be moving relative to the quay.

Stepladders are not normally sturdy enough for such applications, whilst a short flight of steps (commonly assembled from sheets of plywood) is difficult to store onboard the boat.

The present invention provides a collapsible set of steps comprising at least two steps connected together as a single unit, both when in a collapsed (stored) position and when in an erect (for use) position, each step comprising:

- 2 a substantially rectangular tread: a pair of substantially planer first support portions each hinged at or towards respective 5 ones of a pair of opposed edges of the tread, which first support portions, when the set of steps are in an erect position, are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the tread; a base portion common and hinged to the pair of first support portions; 10 at least one second support portion arranged perpendicular to the pair of first support portions and hinged to either the tread, the common base portion, or one of the first support portions, the second portion being arranged to be pivoted about its hinge when the pair of first support portions are in their erect position, such that side edges of the second support portion contact the first support portions and retain the pair of first support portions in an 15 erect position.

Employing the present invention provides a set of steps that may be collapsed for storage purposes, but when erected for use has two or more stable treads. By employing - support portions in accordance with the invention, the invention may provide a particularly 20 rigid structure. The support portions, which may be rectangular, can lock each step in a regular cubic structure, which is particularly strong, with the treads of each step supported by the vertical support portions.

For the avoidance of any doubt, the support portions need not be a solid structure 25 but could be a lattice structure substantially planar in nature and need not be rectangular.

The important feature of the supports is that there contact points lie substantially in a plane with the contact points at the periphery. The intervening structure is not particularly material to the invention but it will need to be sufficiently planar to enable the steps to fold relatively flush to one another.

Similarly, the edges of the tread need not be the outermost extremities of the tread but need to be sufficiently near to those extremities such that the tread is sufficiently supported should an individual tread to the edge of it. Also, for the avoidance of any doubt,

- 3 the teen "hinge" or "hinged" as used in this specification is to be interpreted to include any

arrangement which permits a hinge type action. For example, a plastic component having a thin membrane section between two thicker portions of material permitting two portions to "hinge" relative to each other is to be included in this term.

s Preferably, the second support portion is arranged such that in an erect position, a lower edge of the second support portion is supported by the base portion whilst the opposite edge of the second portion supports the tread. With this arrangement, the second portion not only maintains the pair of first portions in position but also supports the tread 10 directly.

Advantageously, a bottom step has a lower base portion for contact with the ground and a tread that extends under an upper step, the base portion ofthe upper step comprising the portion of the bottom step tread that extends under the upper step.

It is particularly advantageous if each pair ofthe pair of first support portions comprises two sections hinged together about an axis parallel to the plane of the tread, each step being arranged such that when the second portion is in a collapsed position the first support portions can be folded along there respective hinges, allowing the tread and base 20 portion of each step to be concertinaed together. The steps can then be arranged such that the first support portions in a collapsed position are arranged to be hinged inwardly under their respective tread, whilst in an erect position they can be arranged to be prevented from being hinged outwardly beyond the plane perpendicular to that of the tread wherein they are arranged to be locked in this erect position by the second support portion. This 25 advantageously permits the plane area ofthe step when in the collapsed position to be substantially the same as the plane area ofthe step when in an erect position, the step effectively being concertinaed down to its base portion.

It is particularly advantageous if the second support portion is arranged such that 30 when the step is erected it is positioned under the centre of the tread forming, together with the pair of first support portions a "H" shaped support under the tread. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a step may have a pair of second support portions arranged such that, when the step is an erect position, the side edges of the respective pairs of first and second

support portions engage so that together with the tread base portion they act to form a substantially boxed shaped construction, such box shaped constructions being particularly . rigid. 5 In is particularly advantageous if each step of the set of steps comprises corresponding components arranged in a corresponding manner as then each step will require the same action to assemble it. Preferably the set of steps is arranged to be erected by a single movement of lifting the top tread relative to the base portion.

10 Advantageously, the second support portion of a step is hinged to the tread ofthat step and arranged to fall under the influence of gravity to a vertical position in which position it retains the pair of first support portions in position.

Advantageously, when the set of steps are in an erect position a reservoir is formed 15 below at least one tread, which reservoir can be filled with liquid to increase the mass ofthe steps. This may be particularly advantageous in applications, for example a quay, where the steps need to be lightweight for ease of use and storage, possibly being made of aluminium or plastics material, but where it is necessary to temporarily increase the mass of the steps to prevent the likelihood of them being blown off the quay.

Three embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, like numerals being used to indicate like parts throughout the figures, and of which: 25 Figure 1A is a side elevation of a set of steps in accordance with the present invention in a collapsed position; Figure 1B is a perspective view of the steps of Figure 1A; 30 Figure 2A is a side elevation ofthe steps in an erect position; Figure 2B is a perspective view of the steps of Figure 2A,

- 5 Figure 2C is a front elevation of the steps of Figure 2A; Figure 2D is a rear elevation of the steps of Figure A; 5 Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the mechanism by which the steps illustrated in Figures 1A through to 2D are collapsed; Figure 6 shows an optional addition to the steps illustrated in Figures 1A through to 4; 10 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a set of steps in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 illustrates the principle of folding the steps illustrated in Figure 7; and 15 Figure 9 is a perspective view of a set of steps in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1A to 2D, a set of steps, indicated generally as 1, comprises a 20 base portion 2, a lower tread 3 and an upper tread 4. The treads having hand-holds 5 shown in Figure 1B only.

As shown inFigures 2A to 2D, the base portion 2, lower tread 3 and the lower tread 3, upper tread 4 are separated by receptive pairs of first support portions 6 and 7 each first 25 support portion comprises two sections 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b separated by respective hinges 8.

Components 6a, fib, 7a, 7b and hinges 8 are identical for the lower step la and upper step lb, except for a foot-hold 9 in the first support portion section 7b ofthe lower step la, as shown in Figure 2D only.

30 Each of the sections 6a and 7a are additionally hinged along their upper edge to respective treads as indicated by hinges 10 in Figures 4 and 5, whilst each ofthe sections 6a and 6b are hinged along their lower edge via hinges 11 to the lower tread 3 or base portion 2 as shown in Figure 4.

- 6 Each step la and lb additionally comprises second support portions 12, 13 and 14, 15 respectively hanging from hinges 16 connecting them to lower tread 3 and upper tread 4 respectively, as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

s If the step is to be considered as starting in its collapsed position, shown in Figure la and lb, the step is raised by placing ones foot in foot hold 9, shown in Figure 2D, then lifting the step via hand-holds 5, shown in Figure 1B. To raise the step completely the hand-holds 5 in the upper tread 4 are raised. This will cause the section 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b of 10 the first support portion pairs 6 and 7 to adopt the positions shown in Figure 4 with the step raising from its previously concertinacd position Continued rifling ofthe step will result in the portions 6a, 6b and 7a, 7b becoming vertical as shown in Figure 3. At this point, section 7a rests against stop 17 of Figure 5, formed from pert ofthe tread 4. All the other sections 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b rest against similar stops that only permit the section 6a, 6b, 7a 15 and 7b to fold inwardly.

Once in a fully erect position, the second support portions 12, 13, 14 and 15 are free to pivot about their hinges 60 under the influence of gravity to rest in a vertical position against stops 18 shown in Figure 3. In this position, the opposed side edges of each second 20 support portion 12, 13, 14 and 15 acts against corresponding first support portions 6 and 7 retaining them in a vertical position. The step is now ready for use and any downward force placed upon the treads is exerted upon the ground via the now vertical support portions. 25 Collapsing the step is by the opposite process to that described above, whereby the second support portions 12 to 15 are pushed inwardly and upwards, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, allowing the first support portions to concertina and each step to be collapsed in turn 30 Me step is typically comprised of lightweight materials and may be fabricated entirely from plastic or of aluminium. Such lightweight materials make the step easy to handle but can make the steps prone to being blown in strong winds. To counter this a reservoir 19, as illustrated in Figure 6, may be hung from one ofthe treads 3 or 4, which

- 7 reservoir consists an appropriately formed plastic sheet that can, with the step erected, be filled with water. It can be subsequently emptied by tipping up the step whereupon the plastic sheet will be folded up by the process of pushing in the respective second support portions. Only one embodiment ofthe invention has so far been described but there are numerous variations within the scope of the appended. Particularly, the number of steps is not limited to two. Also it will be realised that it may be possible, depending on the dimensions ofthe step, to swap the positions ofthe first support portions for those ofthe 10 second support portions and vice versa.

Referring to Figures 7 and 9, some examples of alternative embodiments within the scope appended claims are illustrated. In the Figure 7 embodiment common end supports 20 and 21 are used for steps la and lb. These end supports are hinged to the base portion 1 S 2, lower tread 3 and upper tread 4 along the axes indicated by arrows 22. When support portions 23, 24 and 25 are folded in as indicated, the end supports 20 and 21 are free to pivot about axes 22. This is represented by the front elevational view of Figure 8 showing the steps folding from A through B to lie substantially flat in position C. The steps would then be erected by the reverse procedure.

Referring now to Figure 9, a further alternative arrangement is shown whereby each step la and lb comprises a single second support portion 23 and 24 respectively. These are again hinged from respective treads 4 and 3 along their upper edge and retain the first support portions 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b in position at the centre point. The second support 25 portions also support each tread in its middle section. This arrangement could be combined with that illustrated in Figure 3 such that each step comprised three second support portions. As previously stated, these farther embodiments are given for illustrative purposes 30 only and further variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent those skilled in the art.

Claims

- 8 CLAIMS

1. A collapsible set of steps comprising at least two steps connected together as a single unit, both when in a collapsed (stored) position and when in an erect (for use) 5 position, each step comprising: a substantially rectangular tread: a pair of substantially planer first support portions each hinged at or towards respective 10 ones of a pair of opposed edges ofthe tread, which first support portions, when the set of steps are in an erect position, are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the tread; a base portion common and hinged to the pair of first support portions; 15 at least one second support portion arranged perpendicular to the pair of first support portions and hinged to either the tread, the common base portion, or one of the first support portions, the second portion being arranged to be pivoted about its hinge when the pair of first support portions are in their erect position, such that side edges of the second support portion contact the first support portions and retain the pair of first support portions in an 20 erect position.

2. A set of steps as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second portion is arranged such

that in an erect position a lower edge of the second portion is supported by the base portion with the opposite upper edge of the second portion supporting the tread.

3. A set of steps as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a bottom step has a lower base portion for contact with the ground and a tread that extends under an upper step, the base portion ofthe upper step comprising the portion ofthe bottom step tread that extends under the upper step.

4. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the pair of first support portions comprises two sections hinged together about an axis parallel to the plane ofthe tread, each step being arranged such that when the second portion is in a collapsed

position the first support portions can be folded along there respective hinges, allowing the tread and base portion of each step to be concertinaed together.

5. A set of steps as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the first support portions, when in a 5 collapsed position, are arranged to be hinged inwardly under their respective tread, and wherein when in an erect position are prevented from being hinged outward beyond a plane perpendicular to that of the tread, in which position they are arranged to be locked by the second support portion.

10

6. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, when the step is erect, the second support portion is arranged such that it is positioned under the centre ofthe tread to form, in combination with the pair of first support portions, a "H" shaped support under the tread 15

7. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one step has a pair of second support portions arranged so that, when the step is in an erect position, the side edges of the respective pairs of first and second support portions engage and together with the tread and base portion fonn a substantially box shaped construction.

20

8. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in a collapsed position the plan area of the steps is substantially the same as the plan area of the steps in an erect position.

9. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each step comprises 25 corresponding components arranged in a corresponding manner.

10. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to be erected by a single movement lifting the top tread relative the bottom base portion.

30

11. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second support portion of a step is hinged to the tread of that step and arranged to fall under the influence of gravity to a vertical position, in which position it refrains the pair of first support portions in position.

- 10

12. A set of steps as claimed in any preceding claim arranged such that in an erect position a reservoir is formed below at least one tread, which reservoir can be filled with liquid to increase the mass of the steps.

13. A set of steps substantially as herein before described with reference to, and/or as illustrated in one or more of the accompanying figures.