Telescoping Access Ladder with Foldable Steps for Ceiling Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ladders used to access areas above ceiling holes are either too long to store conveniently or difficult to maneuver, leading to unused storage space and inconvenient climbing through small access holes.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping access ladder with sections that slide relative to each other, allowing the ladder to extend and retract, with steps that unfold and fold as the sections move, enabling convenient mounting and storage within the access hole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long ladder is used to reach through the access hole, then the user can access the area above the ceiling, but the ladder is too long to store conveniently in the house
Solution Approach 1:
The ladder is divided into multiple telescoping sections that can be extended or retracted independently. Each section contains rungs that can be folded or extended, allowing the ladder to be broken down into manageable segments for storage while maintaining full length when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ladder sections are designed to nest within each other when retracted, with each telescoping section containing the next smaller section. This nested configuration allows the long ladder to be compressed into a compact form that fits within the access hole or small storage spaces.
2Length of moving object
If a long ladder is used to reach through the access hole, then the user can access the area above the ceiling, but the ladder is difficult to maneuver through the house
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows the ladder to be maneuvered in sections through tight spaces. Each telescoping section can be independently positioned and stabilized, making it easier to navigate through doorways and hallways compared to a single rigid long ladder.
Solution Approach 2:
The ladder transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, adaptable configuration. The telescoping sections and foldable rungs allow the ladder to change its shape and size according to the spatial constraints encountered during maneuvering and deployment.
3Volume of moving object
If the ladder sections telescope, then the ladder becomes compact for storage, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complexity is distributed across multiple identical or similar telescoping sections rather than concentrated in a single complex mechanism. Each section uses the same basic telescoping and folding principles, making the overall system more manageable and easier to manufacture despite the increased number of components.
Data Source
AI summary
An access ladder for an access hole in a building includes a plurality of sections which telescope relative to each other between an extended position, where the sections define a plane and a user can climb the sections, and a retracted position where the sections are folded on each other. Several of the sections have a least one step which preferably moves between an unfolded position where the user can stand on the step when the sections are in the extended position, and a folded position when the sections are in the retracted position. Each section slides relative to another section of the plurality of sections which it is in contact in order for the sections to telescope. A method for using an access ladder attached to an end of an access hole of a building.