Folded staircase

Abstract

To provide a folded staircase that is easy to fold and unfold, has a good appearance when folded, and allows safe access to an upper space at a side in an ascending / descending direction.SOLUTION: In a folded staircase 1A, a fixed bridgeboard 2 fixed to a wall surface and a movable bridgeboard 3 rotating when folded and unfolded are connected by a plurality of treads 4 at their stepped horizontal portions. The movable bridgeboard 3 is lifted above the fixed bridgeboard 2 and supported by each tread 4 standing up vertically when folded. As each tread 4 fills a space between the fixed bridgeboard 2 and the movable bridgeboard 3, all treads 4 and movable bridgeboard 3 are in close contact with the wall surface and are approximately flush with the fixed bridgeboard 2. By rotating the movable bridgeboard 3 diagonally downward, all treads 4 are supported horizontally. The topmost tread 5 has a front-to-back width at least 1.5 times that of the other treads 4, and when unfolded, its top surface is at the same height as a floor of the upper space to which it moves, so that it functions as a landing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding staircase, and more particularly to a folding staircase that can be folded compactly so as to fit closely against a wall, and then unfolded with a simple operation so as to be usable as a staircase. [Background technology]

[0002] In buildings such as houses, a telescopic ladder that can be pulled down from the upper space is well known as a means for accessing spaces below and above, such as lofts and attics that are used relatively infrequently. Such telescopic ladders have the advantage of being simple in structure and compact when not in use, making them less of a nuisance. However, they have the drawback of being unstable and potentially dangerous when climbing up and down while holding something in both hands.

[0003] In contrast to this, retractable stairs and folding stairs are known as being more stable for climbing up and down than the ladders mentioned above. These stairs are designed to not interfere with normal daily life, such as traffic flow or lighting, and can be folded up or stored in a compact state when not in use, and can be unfolded when in use to function as a normal staircase.

[0004] For example, Figures 1 and 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-92250 show a retractable staircase in which multiple treads are supported slidably while fitting into horizontal guardrails attached to the walls on both sides, and when not in use, they are stored in a vertically stacked state at the innermost position, and when in use, these treads slide in order to form a staircase; by storing all the treads when not in use, a large space can be secured.

[0005] Furthermore, Figures 1 and 2 of Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-128727 show a folding staircase consisting of a fixed rafter that is fixed to the wall surface and a movable rafter that rotates and expands, which are hinged so that they can rotate freely with multiple treads that have hinges on both ends. Normally, both rafters and all of the treads are folded and close to the wall, so as not to interfere with daily movement, and when in use, they can expand and function as a normal staircase.

[0006] However, in the above-mentioned storage staircase, the steps arranged across the left and right walls are all parallel from floor to ceiling when stored, so that space cannot be used for a hallway or storage area. Also, the operation of storing and unfolding all the steps by sliding them one by one requires a great deal of time and effort. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned folding staircase, the fixed rafters, rafters, and movable rafters overlap when folded, resulting in a thickness of three layers of material. Therefore, if this staircase is placed in a narrow passageway, the thickness can easily obstruct the passage of people, and the complex overlapping of the components makes it look extremely unsightly.

[0007] In response to this, the inventor and applicant of the present application previously proposed in Patent Publication No. 7144844 a folding staircase in which a fixed rafter with a stepped upper oblique side that is fixed to the wall and a movable rafter with a stepped lower oblique side are connected by treads with hinges on both ends, allowing the movable rafter and treads to rotate simultaneously, and in the folded state where the movable rafter is above the fixed rafter, all of the treads fill the space between the rafter and the movable rafter and are flush.

[0008] This makes it easy to fold and rotate, and when folded it fits compactly from the wall, only the thickness of a single rafter, so it does not interfere with the flow of daily life even when placed in a narrow passage or small space, and it also looks good when stored.However, while there is no problem if the flow of traffic between the top step and the upper space is in the same direction as going up and down the stairs, if that flow of traffic connects firmly from the top step to the side opposite the movable rafter, there is a concern that people may lose their balance and fall when entering or exiting the upper space to the side, as the front-to-back width of the top step is small. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-92250 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-128727 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7144844 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention aims to solve the above problems by providing a folding staircase that is easy to fold and unfold, yet compact and looks good when folded, and also allows safe access to the upper space on either side of the stairs in the ascending and descending direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] Therefore, the present invention is a structure in which a fixed girders with an upper oblique side formed in a stepped shape and fixed to the wall surface, and a movable girders with a lower oblique side formed in a stepped shape and rotating when folded and unfolded, are connected at the horizontal parts of the steps by a plurality of treads with hinges on both ends, and in the folded state in which it is not used as a staircase, the movable girders are supported in a state where they are lifted above the fixed girders by the vertically standing treads, and each tread fits into the space formed between the fixed girders and the movable girders. In a folding staircase in which all treads and movable girders are in close contact with or in close proximity to the wall surface and are approximately flush with the fixed girders, and when unfolded, the movable girders are rotated diagonally downwards so that the lower end of the movable girders abuts the floor surface and the staircase is unfolded, and all treads are supported horizontally, the top tread has a front-to-back width that is at least 1.5 times that of the other treads, and when unfolded, its top surface is at the same height as the floor surface of the upper space to which it moves, so it functions as a landing.

[0012] In this way, by connecting the fixed and movable rafters with treads that have hinges on both ends, folding and rotating operations are easy, and when the movable rafter is folded so that it is above the fixed rafter, all of the treads fill the space between the fixed and movable rafters and are roughly flush overall, so that even when placed in a narrow passage or small space, it is unlikely to interfere with the flow of movement in daily life, and the flush surface shape like a single board makes it look extremely attractive.In addition, the top step is wider from front to back than the other treads, and when unfolded it is flush with the floor of the upper space to which it is reached, so it functions as a landing, making it safe to move between the top of the stairs and the upper space.

[0013] Furthermore, this folding staircase is characterized in that a fence member is provided at the upper end of the top step that opens and closes in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations, and when unfolded, a fall prevention fence is erected at a specified height between the upper side of the movable rafter and the wall side.If this is to be designed in such a way that the end of the movement path along the stairs is blocked, preventing the risk of falls.In addition, the fence member can also be used as a handrail when turning around on the landing, making it even safer to move between the landing and the upper space.

[0014] In this case, at least the highest of the fence members has its other end connected to a support member on the wall side at a higher position than the end connected to the upper end of the movable girders when unfolded, and in addition to preventing falls when unfolded, it also functions to suspend the upper part of the movable girders and the top step from the support member.If this is the case, even if the folding staircase is one in which the upper end of the movable girders does not rest on the floor of the upper space, the load-bearing capacity of the upper part of the movable girders and the landing will be improved, making it easier to ensure stability and safety when going up and down.

[0015] Furthermore, if this folding staircase is characterized in that at least some of the fence members are made of rope, it becomes easier to achieve the folding function including the fence portion with a simple configuration.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned folding staircase, the underside of the top step has the base end of a support rod pivotally attached to a rail arranged vertically on the wall, the tip of which is connected so that it can slide up and down, and when the top step is unfolded to be horizontal, the tip of the support rod abuts against a stopper and supports the step from below, maintaining its horizontal position.If this is the case, then by using the support rod to maintain the horizontal position of the top step when unfolded, it becomes even easier to ensure the stability and safety of the landing.

[0017] In this folding staircase, a fence member is provided above the tip of the top step, which opens and closes in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations. The other end of the fence member, where it connects to the wall, is connected to a vertical rail member fixed to the wall, allowing it to slide up and down. The tip of the support rod presses down on one end of a seesaw member, the middle of which is journaled, just before it hits the stopper during the unfolding operation. This causes a vertical link rod, the lower side of which is connected to the other end of the seesaw member, which is raised by this, and its upper side is connected to the other end of at least one of the fence members. If this is characterized by the fact that the other end of the fence member moves up and down within a predetermined range in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations, even if the width of the fence member is larger than the tread and the radius of rotation is larger than the radius of rotation of the movable reed beam, the excess can be absorbed by the other end of the fence member moving up and down, making it easier to unfold and store the stairs smoothly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] When folded, all the treads fill the space between the fixed and movable rafters, making the entire surface roughly flush. In addition, the top tread is wider from front to back than the other treads, allowing it to be used as a landing at the same height as the floor of the upper space. This invention makes it easy to unfold and fold, yet compact and looks good when folded, and also allows safe access to the upper space that is to the side of the stairs in the direction of ascent and descent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a folded state of a folding staircase according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the folding staircase of FIG. 1 in an unfolded state. [Figure 3] (A) is a right side view of the folding staircase of Figure 1, and (B) is a right side view of the unfolded folding staircase of Figure 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3(B) is a partial right side view showing a modified example of the unfolded folding staircase. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a front view showing the folded state of the folding staircase according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] (A) is a partial front view of the folding staircase in Figure 5 in an expanded state, with the upper part enlarged, and (B) is a partial right side view of (A). [Figure 7] 6 is a partial front view of the upper part enlarged to show the details of the movement of each part during the unfolding operation of the folding staircase of FIG. 5, where (A) is the folded state, (B) is the state during the unfolding operation, and (C) is the unfolded state. [Figure 8] 8(A), (B), and (C) are partial right side views at various stages in FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a folding staircase 1A according to this embodiment in a folded state. This folding staircase 1A is designed to be used to move between the normal living space in a house or the like and a higher upper space that is not used relatively frequently, such as a loft, attic, or storage room. Normally, as shown in the figure, the staircase is folded flat against the wall so as not to interfere with daily life or traffic flow.

[0022] This folding staircase 1A consists of a fixed rafter 2 whose upper oblique side is formed in a stepped shape and is fixed to the wall surface with a specified fixing means such as a bolt, and a movable rafter 3 whose lower oblique side is formed in a stepped shape and rotates when folding and unfolding, with the horizontal parts of the stepped shapes connected to each other by multiple treads 4 with hinges 8, 8 on both ends.When the staircase is in the folded state where it is not being used as a staircase as shown in Figure 1, the movable rafter 3 is supported in a raised position above the fixed rafter 2 by each of the vertically rising treads 4.

[0023] Furthermore, when this folding staircase 1A is folded, as shown in Figure 1, each step 4 is configured to fill the entire space formed between the fixed rafter 2 and the movable rafter 3, and all steps 4 and movable rafters 3 are in close contact with or close to the wall surface, and are approximately flush with the fixed rafter 2.

[0024] Therefore, when folded, it is flat and compact, protruding from the wall surface only by the thickness of one of the beam members that make up the fixed and movable beams 2 and 3. Therefore, even when placed in a narrow passage or small space, it does not interfere with the flow of daily life or the placement of objects, and its flush, clean surface shape gives it an attractive appearance.

[0025] In this embodiment, the top step 5 has a front-to-back width that is at least 1.5 times that of the other steps 4 (approximately twice as wide in this embodiment), and when unfolded, its top surface is at the same height as the floor of the upper space to which the stairs lead, so this step 5 functions as a landing at the top of the stairs, which is the most distinctive feature of the present invention.

[0026] In other words, unlike conventional folding stairs, where the line of movement does not lead straight from the direction of ascending or descending the stairs to the upper space, it is designed to bend at a right angle to the direction of ascending or descending the stairs, opposite the movable crossbeam 3, and connect to the upper space.The top step 5 is significantly wider from front to back than the other steps 4, and when unfolded it is at the same height as the floor of the upper space where people enter and exit, so it also functions as a landing, allowing people to move safely between the stairs and the upper space.

[0027] The reason why the top step 5 is made at least 1.5 times the front-to-back width (width in the short direction) of the other steps 4 is that, while the front-to-back width of a typical step is about the length of the sole of the foot, experiments have proven that the minimum width that allows a person to walk with their feet together while turning their body on the top step 5, which serves as a landing, is 1.5 times the length of the sole of the foot.However, from the perspective of ensuring sufficient safety, it is preferable that the width be at least twice as wide.

[0028] Figure 2 shows the folding staircase 1A of Figure 1 in an unfolded state for use as stairs. When unfolding from the folded state, the movable girders 3 are rotated diagonally downward by grasping the handle bars 6, etc., so that the support legs 32 attached to the lower ends of the movable girders 3 come into contact with the floor and stop, completing the unfolding process.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3(B), when the platform is expanded, fence members 31 and 32 constituting the fall prevention fence are installed at a predetermined interval between the upper side of the movable crossbeam 3 and the wall side at the upper tip (front) side of the top step 5, which is also an important feature of this embodiment.

[0030] That is, one end of the fence members 31, 32 is pivotally supported on the upper side of the movable reed girder 3, while a square pillar-shaped support member 9 is arranged so as to extend from the wall surface to which the fixed reed girder 2 is fixed toward the upper space, and the other end of the fence members 31, 32 is pivotally supported on the upper side of this support member 9. Therefore, when the movable reed girder 3 is expanded from the folded state shown in Figure 3(A) to the state shown in Figure 3(B), the fence members 31, 32 open to a horizontal position to form a fall prevention fence, and the upper fence member 31 also functions as a handrail on the landing, making it even safer and easier to move between the landing and the upper space.

[0031] In addition, a damper 7 is interposed between the lower side of the support member 9 and the bottom surface of the tread 5, which elastically supports the topmost tread 5, which serves as a landing, from below, making it easier to open and close the stringer 3.For example, by providing a bulge that acts as a stopper in the middle of the cylinder rod of the damper 7, the bulge can be set to abut against the cylinder opening, etc., and stop the retraction of the cylinder 7 when the tread 5 becomes horizontal during the expansion operation.This damper 7 also functions as a stopper that supports the tread 5 from below while stopping it in a horizontal position, so that even in cases such as this embodiment in which the upper end of the movable stringer 3 does not hook onto the floor surface of the upper space, it is possible to stably support the tread 5 from below while a person is standing on it.

[0032] Figure 4 shows a folding staircase 1B, a variation of the folding staircase 1A described above, in a partial right-side view of the upper part when unfolded. In this example, the fall prevention fence is made up of fence members 39 and 40, each fixed at both ends to ring-shaped fasteners 38. The upper fence member 39 is positioned higher than the end connected to the upper end of the movable crossbeam 3 when the stairs are unfolded, with the other end connected to the wall-side support member 9 and inclined. Fence member 41 is also positioned below fence member 40 and inclined in a similar manner.

[0033] In this way, when unfolded, the fence members 39, 40 that make up the fall prevention fence are attached to the movable braid 3 diagonally downward from the wall-side support member 9, thereby not only preventing falls but also suspending the upper part of the movable braid 3 and the tread 5 that forms the landing from diagonally above. This further improves the load-bearing capacity of the upper part of the movable braid 3 and the landing, and makes it easier to ensure stability and safety when ascending and descending. In addition, in this variant, the fence members 39, 40 that make up the fall prevention fence are made of rope material such as wire, so that the folding function, including the fall prevention fence portion, can be easily achieved on a folding staircase at low cost even with a relatively simple configuration.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a front view of the folding staircase 1C, which is the second embodiment of the present invention, in its folded state, Figure 6(A) shows a partial right side view of the upper part, and Figure 6(B) shows a partial right side view of Figure (A).

[0035] In this embodiment, the underside of the top step 5 is journalled at its base end with a support rod 55 whose tip is connected to a curtain rail-like rail 36 arranged vertically on a support plate 20 placed on the upper lower wall of the fixed sash beam 2 so that it can slide up and down.When the top step 5 is expanded to be horizontal, the tip of the support rod 55 abuts against a stopper (not shown) on the lower end of the rail 36, thereby supporting the step 5 from below and maintaining its horizontal position, as shown in Figure 6(B), further enhancing the stability and safety of the staircase.

[0036] In addition, the fence members 33 and 34 that form the fall prevention fence above and in front of the top step 5, which forms the landing, are pivotally attached at one end to the upper tip surface of the movable slat 3, as shown in Figure 6 (B), and are hung at the other end so that they can slide up and down on a curtain rail-like rail 96 that is vertically mounted on the support member 9.

[0037] Referring to the diagram (C) of the unfolding state in Figure 7, which shows the details of the unfolding operation of the folding staircase 1C in stages, the pin 550 provided at the tip of the support rod 55 presses down on the hook-shaped portion 370 at one end of the seesaw member 37, which is supported at its midpoint, just before it comes into contact with the stopper (not shown) of the rail 36 during the unfolding operation. This causes a vertical link rod 371, the lower side of which is connected to the other end of the seesaw member 37 that is lifted, to have its upper side connected to the other end (wall side) of the lower fence member 34, and to lift up the other end together with the upper fence member 33, which is connected by vertical fences 301, 302.

[0038] That is, as shown in Figures 8(A), (B), and (C), which show the unfolding operation of the folding staircase 1C in Figures 7(A), (B), and (C) in a right side view, the other end (wall side) of the fence members 33, 34 moves up and down within a predetermined range in conjunction with the unfolding and stowing operation of the stairs. As a result, even in cases where the width of the fence members 33, 34 constituting the fall prevention fence is greater than that of the treads 4, 5, as in this embodiment, and their turning radius is greater than that of the movable reed 3, the excess is absorbed by the fence member 34 and the other end of the fence member 33 connected thereto moving up and down, allowing the unfolding and stowing operation of the stairs to be performed smoothly.

[0039] 7(C) to be folded, the hook-shaped portion 370 provided on one end of the seesaw member 37 is hooked onto the pin 550 at the tip of the support rod 55, so that one end of the seesaw member 37 is slightly lifted in conjunction with the start of the rise of the support rod 55, and the other end pulls down the link rod 371 for an instant, after which the pin 550 disengages from the hook-shaped portion 370. Therefore, the other ends of the fence members 33, 34 are slightly pulled down in the initial stage of the folding operation, making the folding operation even smoother.

[0040] As described above, the present invention makes it possible for folding stairs to be easily folded and unfolded, and makes the folded state compact and attractive. It also makes it possible to safely enter and exit the upper space to the side of the stairs in the direction of ascent and descent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1A, 1B, 1C Folding stairs, 2 Fixed crossbeam, 3 Movable crossbeam, 4, 5 Step, 7 Damper, 8 Hinge, 9 Support member, 31, 32, 33, 34, 39, 40 Fence member, 36, 96 Rail, 37 Seesaw member, 55 Support rod, 301, 302 Vertical fence, 371 Link rod, 370 Hook-shaped portion, 550 Pin

Claims

1. A folding staircase is comprised of a fixed rafter whose upper oblique side is formed in a stepped shape and fixed to the wall surface, and a movable rafter whose lower oblique side is formed in a stepped shape and which rotates when folded and unfolded, the horizontal parts of the steps being connected by a plurality of treads with hinges on both ends, and in the folded state when not in use as a staircase, the movable rafter is supported in a raised position above the fixed rafter by each of the vertically standing treads, and all of the treads fit into the space formed between the fixed rafter and the movable rafter, so that all of the treads and the movable rafter are in close contact with or close to the wall surface and are approximately flush with the fixed rafter, and when unfolded, the movable rafter is rotated diagonally downwards so that the lower end of the movable rafter abuts the floor surface, the staircase is unfolded, and all of the treads are supported horizontally. The folding staircase is characterized in that the step of the top step has a front-to-back width at least 1.5 times that of the other step boards, and when unfolded, its top surface is at the same height as the floor surface of the upper space to which it is moved, functioning as a landing.

2. A folding staircase as described in claim 1, characterized in that a fence member that opens and closes in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations is provided at the upper tip of the top step, and when unfolded, a fall prevention fence is erected at a predetermined height between the upper side of the movable rafter and the wall side.

3. A folding staircase as described in claim 2, characterized in that at least the uppermost of the fence members has its other end connected to a support member on the wall side at a position higher than the one end connected to the upper side of the movable rafter when unfolded, and in addition to providing a fall prevention function when unfolded, it also functions to suspend the upper part of the movable rafter and the top step from the support member.

4. 4. The folding staircase according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the fence members is a rope.

5. A folding staircase as described in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the underside of the top step is axially attached to the base end of a support rod whose tip is connected to a rail arranged vertically on the wall so that it can slide up and down, and when the top step is expanded to be horizontal, the tip end of the support rod abuts against a stopper and supports the step from below, maintaining its horizontal position.

6. A folding staircase as described in claim 5, characterized in that a fence member is provided at the upper tip of the top step, which opens and closes in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations, and the other end of the fence member, where it is connected to the wall, is connected to a vertical rail fixed to the wall so that it can slide up and down, and the tip of the support rod presses down on one end of a seesaw member whose middle part is supported by a journal just before it abuts against the stopper during the unfolding operation, and a vertical link rod, whose lower side is connected to the other end of the seesaw member that is lifted as a result, has its upper side connected to the other end of at least one of the fence members, and the other end of the fence member moves up and down within a predetermined range in conjunction with the unfolding and folding operations.

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