Stowable Rigid Stair Structure With Flush-Mounted Rail Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stowable ladder or stair devices project from vehicle surfaces, interfere with normal use, require substantial effort to move, are less stable and safe, and are not fully supported by the surface when in use, and may not be suitable for all vehicles or trailers.
Innovation Solution
A stowable, rigid stair structure with support rails and a rigid stair unit that moves between stowed and operative positions via engagement members along channels, fully supported by the support rails, featuring fixed and foldable steps, and optional additional engagement members for enhanced stability and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stowable ladder or stair devices are attached to vehicle surfaces, then they provide access capability, but they project from the surface and interfere with normal use
Solution Approach 1:
The stair structure is nested within a housing that is attached to the vehicle surface. When not in use, the stairs are retracted into the housing, creating a flush-mounted appearance that does not protrude or interfere with normal vehicle surface use. When needed, the stairs extend outward from the housing to provide access capability.
2Volume of moving object
If stowable devices are made collapsible for compact storage, then they reduce space requirements, but they require substantial effort to move and connect/disconnect
Solution Approach 1:
The stair structure employs a dynamic mechanism that allows it to be collapsed into a compact form for storage within the housing, reducing volume. The system uses movable components that can transition between extended and retracted positions, enabling easy operation without requiring substantial effort to connect or disconnect.
3Ease of operation
If slim rigid ladder members with rungs are used, then they are compact and easy to move, but they are less stable and safe for users
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional ladder structure with rungs to a three-dimensional platform stair structure. This dimensional change provides a larger, more stable standing surface that enhances safety and reliability while maintaining compactness through the retractable mechanism and ease of movement via the housing integration.
4Stability of the object's composition
If ladder devices engage ground surface for support, then they achieve stability, but they are not fully supported by the vehicle surface and require additional support
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ground engagement requirement by designing a system where the stairs are fully supported by the vehicle surface through the housing attachment. The stairs receive support from the housing structure itself, eliminating the need for additional ground surface engagement or external support elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A stowable, rigid stair structure includes a pair of support rails configured to be fixed beneath a support surface and spaced apart from each other, a rigid stair unit including at least one step and side walls connected at lateral sides of the at least one step, and supporting projections extending continuously from the side walls of the rigid stair unit away from the at least one step and operatively, movably connected to the support rails to permit the rigid stair unit to be moved relative to the support rails between stowed and operative positions of the rigid stair unit. When the support rails are fixed to the at least one support surface, the rigid stair unit is fully supported in both the stowed and use positions thereof by the supporting projections operatively connected to the support rails and by the at least one support surface.