Adjustable Stairway Floating Step Stabilization Against Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adjustable stairways with conical locating devices experience issues of floating steps binding or jamming, leading to misalignment and inefficiencies in use and storage.

Innovation Solution

A mobile adjustable stairway apparatus with a first frame section and a second frame section that allows for relative movement, featuring floating steps stabilized by a combination of rollers and guides that engage laterally and longitudinally to prevent misalignment and jamming, and a linear actuator for controlled adjustment between compacted and extended forms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a conical locating device is used to stabilize floating steps, then the floating steps are stabilized about the conical locating device, but the floating steps are prone to binding or jamming due to misalignment with the conical locating device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of floating stepsVSAvoidbinding or jamming of floating steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function is divided into two separate components: a locating device for longitudinal stability and a lateral stabilizing component for lateral stability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without causing misalignment issues, as the lateral stabilizing component is specifically designed to accommodate the floating step's position and prevent binding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lateral stabilizing component acts as an intermediary element between the floating step and the frame section. It provides a dedicated interface that accommodates lateral movements and misalignments, preventing the floating step from binding with the conical locating device while maintaining proper positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ladders and stairways are used to accommodate different access heights, then various access heights can be accommodated, but the cost, storage requirements, and transport complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of various access heightsVSAvoidnumber of stairways and ladders required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stairway incorporates adjustable frame sections that can be extended or retracted to change the overall height and configuration. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single stairway to adapt to various access heights, replacing the need for multiple fixed-height stairways and ladders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable stairway is designed to perform multiple functions by accommodating different access heights and configurations. This multi-functionality allows one stairway to replace several different pieces of access equipment, reducing the total number of devices needed for various maintenance and access tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If floating steps are used to allow progressive raising and lowering, then the steps can adapt to the extended and compacted forms, but misalignment with the locating device causes binding or jamming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogressive raising and lowering of stepsVSAvoidbinding or jamming during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral stabilizing component is designed with specific local properties to accommodate the floating step's movement characteristics. It provides targeted stabilization at the interface between the floating step and frame, allowing smooth progressive raising and lowering without binding, while maintaining proper alignment throughout the range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12515813B2Adjustable stairway

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 CALIBER ENTERPRISES

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for a mobile adjustable stairway which has a first frame section which is adapted to be mobile and has fixed steps and a second frame section coupled to the first frame section such that relative movement there between can take place whereby the stairway is adjustable between a compacted form and an extended form. A set of floating steps is provided whereby each floating step is adapted to be progressively raised and lowered as the stairway as the second frame section is moved relative to the first frame section between the compacted and extended forms. The stairway also has a set of first components associated with each floating step operable to laterally stabilize the floating step when in the extended form; and a set of second components associated with each floating step operable to longitudinally stabilize the floating step when in the extended form.