US1811708A - Disappearing stairway - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1931. F. E. BESSLER DISAPPEARING STAIRWAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 27, 1928 INVENTOR. l ke/w Bassma BY 8% A TTORNEYJ Patented June 23, 1931 r UNITE} srAre-s PATENT. orsics remix E. nnssnnn or gA xnoit onio, .ASSIGNOR 'ro THE Bns'sLEn. DISAPPEARING STAIRWAY oo vrrnn on AKRON, OHIO, n CORPORATION ononro DISAPPEARING STAIRWAY Application nie'd 'o'eeeber 27, 1928. Serial no. s-ijs'Aao. N

This invention relates to disappearing starrwa'ys rand particularly disappearing stairways of the folding type.

Folding stairways of the disappearing type which have heretofore been made have one or more sections,'comprising' the lower {portion of the stairway, which must be imnually folded and unfolded. Aside from the disadvantage of the separate manual :Tactuation of these uncontrolled sections, they are likely tocause injury to-one operating the stairway.

A particular aob'ject of the invention, therefore, is to provide means in combination with .th'estairway actuating mechanism for moving the folding sections to and from their extended position.

. A further objectof-the invention is to provi deca handrail: in combination witha folding "stairway. 1 J

A. further object 'of the invention is to provide in combi'natio'n, with :a folding type 'of disappearingstairway power means; preferablyelectr'ic'al, for operating the same.

The foregoing and other objects f the invention are obtained in the disappearing stairway illustrated the accompanying drawings and described below. :It is to be understood that the invention-is -'not1imited *to the particular form thereof shown and described. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side "elevation, partly in section, of a disappearingstairway structure showing :it extended for use;

Figure2 is *a front-elevation thereof; I

F-igureil'is side elevation, partly-in section, shoiving the stairway folded in itsdisappear-in-g position;

Fig'ure t-isa wiring diagram for the stairway operating motor and co'ntrol switches "whenthe --stairwa-y is operated in one -direc- :tion;

Figure 5 isa-detail side'elevation,;partly "in c-sec'tion, of the stoppingand resetting switch control for the stairway operating motor;

Figure 6 'is a detail iehd: elevation of said "switch'control and v 1 :Figure :7 -is ;a'-view similar to FigureAshowing of a lower room 'givingaccess to an upper room. Pivoted at one end of said opening to swingdownwardly therefrom is a panel 11 on which is fixed sections 12 12 of a pair of stringers 1'2, 12 having a plurality of foldable. sections 12*, 12212312 and between which are secured treads v13, '13. The sections 12 are hinged to sections 12:at 14, 14 and the sections 12 are hinged to sections 12 at 15, '15 so that section 12 of thelstair structure is foldable ontosection 12 and section 121is then foldable onto'section 12"., allion .topof panel 11 as "is shown inFigure 3. V

- The-panel 11 is provided with supporting toggle linkages 16, 16,, the upper links 16*, 16 of which are connected to brackets 17, 17 on each side of opening by vertically adjiistin'g means such as screws 17 1-7, and the lower links 16, 16 of wliiclrare pivotally connected to the outer sides of stringer sections 12 Reinforcing "plates .50 on. the stringer sections 12 may beemployed to facilitate the pivotal connection of the links 16 thereto. The-iointofitoggles 16-is suitably designe'dito hold panel 11 again'stlifting until the toggles are broken.

A hand rail 181naybe provided-on either o'r each side of thestairway, :only one hand rail being herein shownon the right side thereof. This hand rail is slidably rnount ed adjacent one end on a "rigid post 19 extending up from stringer section 12 'andit is secured on a foldable post 20 consisting of ing mounted on a stringer 12 v The stairway actuating device includes two parts pivoted together at2 1,*post 20 be- "arins 22 preferably on both sides'o'f the stairway arranged to swing through opening 10 by being secured on a shaft 23 extending ,along theend of the opening 10 opposite that .at whichpanel 11is .pivoted. Arms 22 have " links'2 1, 24 connecting-stairway section .12

'thereto to be liftedor lowered by said arms. Toggle linkages 25,25 connect links 24 130 upwardly directed entensions26 26 on stairway sections 12, 12, toggle linkages be ing jointed at 25 In order, when retracting the stairway, to break the toggles 16 as the stair structure is folded to permit elevation of the panel 11 to closed position, lugs or ears 31 are provided on the ends of links 2 1 which are hinged to stringers 12, the lugs being adapted to be swung into engagement with the toggles as the folding of the stair structure is being completed, whereby further movement of the arms 22 swings the panel 11 upwardly into place.

Suit-able manually operable or power means may be provided for operation of the stairway. lhe preferred means comprises an electric motor 2? driving a shaft 23 through worm gearing 29 and worm gearing 30 for driving shaft 23 from shaft 23.

Control of the motor is effected by means of suit-able manually operable three- way switches 32 and 33 suitably located on the lower and upper floors and connected as shown in Figures 4 and 7 through suit-able standard reversing switches 3% and 35 to the motor. In the wiring diagrams the motor illustrated is a standard induction motor having starting leads 27 and running leads 2?. In Figure 4 is shown the wiring diagram just after one of the operating switches 32 or 33 has been thrown to start the motor. Both reversing'switches are automatically thrown after operation of the stair structure to either of its positions by means of fingers 36 and 37 fixed to collars 1-0 and ll adjustably clamped by set screws 42 and 13 on shaft 23 engaging interacting switch elements 38 and 39. Figure 7 illustrates the wiring diagram after one of the fingers 36 or 37 has thrown the reversing switches 3 1 and 35. It will be seen that switch 34; has broken the circuit and stopped the motor. The circuit can be completed by throwing either operating switch 32 or 33. However, when the circuit is again closed by either of the operating switches the switch 35 has reversed the starting leads 2'? so that the motor will be driven in the opposite direction, thus moving the stairway in the opposite direction. Elie other of the reversing fingers 36 or 37 will then come into operation to stop the stairway, as will be apparent.

When not in use, the stairway is in its disappeared position shown in Figure 3. It is lowered to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 by operating either switch 32 or 33, the

motor driving shaft 23 through the mechanism described, which swings arms 22 downwardly. Arms 22 act first to swing panel 11 downwardly until such movement is limited by. toggles l6 and then by continued movement to unfold the stair structure through links 24 and toggle links 25. As section 12 of the stairway is swung into place, the joint ed post 20 which is collapsed in disappeared position, is straightened out and hand rail 18 slides downwardly on post 19 into its position of use. When the stairway is fully extended, the motor is stopped and connections are reversed as will be understood so that upon again actuating switch 32 or 33 after use of the stairway it may be retracted.

In actuating the stairway to disappeared position by operation of switches 32 or 33, upward swinging of arms 22 first folds sections 12 and 12 together on panel 11 and collapses post 20, sliding hand rail 18 upwardly, toggles 16 holding the panel down during this operation. Ears or lugs 31 then engage and break toggles 16, whereupon continued movement of the arms 22 swings the panel 11 up into closed position, carrying the whole folded stair structure thereon.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a simple, effective disappearing stairway of the folding type has been provided with numerous advantageous features and in which the disadvantages and particularly the danger in the use of this type of stairway have been overcome. Obviously modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting the panel in its open position, said linkages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken, a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section and a hand rail slidably supported by a post on the first section and secured onto a collapsible post on the adjacent folding section so as to be slid upwardly when the stairway is folded, means for operating said stairway to and from an entended position, said means comprising arms one on each side of the stairway adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, links connecting the arms to the upper folding section, toggle linkages connecting the said links to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable against the firstnamed toggle linkage to break the same as the folding of the stairway is completed in the disappearing operation, and means for swinging said arms comprising a shaft on which the arms are secured, an electric motor for rotating the shaft, switch means for starting the motor and means controlled by movement of the stairway for stopping the motor and for reversing the connection to the motor for a succeeding operation of the stairway as appeared positions.

2. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening'between; lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting'the panel in its open position, said linkages being adapted to hold: the panel against lifting until they are broken, and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted ontop ofsaid panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldahle on each other and onto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising arms one on each side of the stairway adaptedto be swung from the other end of theopening through the opening, links connecting the arms to the upper folding section, toggle linkages connecting the said links to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable against the first-named toggle linkage switch means for starting the motor and means controlled by movement of the stairway for stopping the motor and for reversing the connection to the motor for a succeeding operation of the stairway as the stairway is moy-edto its extended or disappeared posi tions. r

3. A disappearing s'tairwayof the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged atone end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting the panel in its open position, said link ages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two foldingsec tions hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other a-ndonto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended'positiom'said means comprising arms one on each side of the stairway adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, links connecting the arms to the upper folding-section, toggle linkagesconnecting the said links I to theother folding section, means associated with the stairway operating "means and operable against the firsthamed toggle linkage to break the same as the folding ofthestair way is completed during the disappearing operation, and means for swinging sald arms as the stairway is moved to its: extended or "disappeared positions.

4;. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, Said stairway comprising a panelhinged at one. end of Said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supportng the panel-in its open position, said linkges. being adapted to hold the panel againstlifting until they are broken and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on topofsaid panel and two folding sections lunged together and, to said first section and folda-ble on each other and onto the first sectio-n, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means 7 comprising an arm adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, a link connecting the arm to the upper folding section, toggle linkage connecting the said link to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable against the first-named toggle linkage to break the same as the folding of the stairway is completed during the disappearing operation, and

means for swinging said arm comprising a shaft onwhich the arm is secured, an electric motor for rotating the shaft, switch means for starting the motor and means controlled by movement of the stairway for stopping the motor and for reversing the connection .to the motor for a succeeding operation of the stairway as the stairway is moved to extended or disappeared positions.

7 5. A, disappearing stairway of the folding typefor use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said'stai-rway comprising apanel hi nged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages. for su porting the panel in its open position, sai linkages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken and a foldable its stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged" together and to said first section and foldable oneach other and onto the first "section, means for operating said, stairway to and from an extended position, said means 1. i rcomprlslng an arm adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, a link connecting the arm to the upper folding section, toggle linkage con- 1 necting the said linkto the other foldingsec- -tion, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable against the first- 'nained toggle linkage to break the same as 'tions.

6. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end ofsaid openlng to -close the same, means for supporting the panel in its open positionand adapted to holdthe panel against lifting and a foldable w stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising arms one on each side of the stairway adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, links connecting the arms to the upper folding section, toggle linkages connecting the said links to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable to release the panel supporting means as the folding of the stairway is completed during the disappearing operation, and means for swinging said arms comprising a shaft on which the arms are secured, an electric motor for rotating the shaft, switch means for starting the motor and means controlled by movement of the stairway for stopping the motor and for reversing the connection to the motor for a succeeding operation of the stairway as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

7. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, means for supporting the panel in its open position and adapted to hold the panel against lifting and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising arms on each side of the stairway adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, links connecting the arms to the upper folding section, toggle linkages connecting the said links to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable to release the panel supporting means as the folding of the stairway is completed during the disappearing operation, and means for swinging said arms as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

8. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, means for supporting the panel in its open position and adapted to hold the panel against lifting and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising an arm adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, a link connecting the arm to the upper folding section, toggle linkage connecting the said link to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable to release the panel support-ing means as the folding of the stairway is completed during the disappearing operation, and means for swinging said arm comprising a shaft on which the arm is secured, an electric motor for rotating the shaft, switch means for starting the motor and means controlled by movement of the stairway for stopping the motor and for reversing the connection to the motor for a succeeding operation of the stairway as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

9. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, means for supporting the panel in its open position and adapted to hold the panel against lifting and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel, and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising an arm adapted to be swung from the other end of the opening through the opening, a link connecting the arm to the upper folding section, toggle linkage connecting the said link to the other folding section, means associated with the stairway operating means and operable to release the panel supporting means as the folding of the stair- ,way is completed during the disappearing operation, and means for swinging said arm as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

10. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting the panel in its open position, said linkages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken, a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section and a hand rail slidably supported by a post on the first section and secured onto a collapsible post on the upper folding section so as to be slid upwardly when the stairway is folded, and means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising means for lowering and raising the panel and means associated therewith operable to unfold the foldable sections after the panel is lowered and to fold the foldable sections before the panel is raised as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

11. A disappearing stairway of the folding type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting the panel in its open position, said linkages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken, and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, and means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising means for lowering and raising the panel and means associated therewith operable to unfold the foldable sections after the panel is lowered and to fold the foldable sections before the panel is raised as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

12. A disappearing stairway of the fold ing type for use in an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway com prising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, toggle linkages for supporting the panel in its open position, said linkages being adapted to hold the panel against lifting until they are broken, and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, and means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising means for, lowering ans raising the panel and means associated therewith operable to unfold the foldable sections after the panel is lowered and to fold the foldable sections before the panel is raised as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

13. A disappearing stairway of the fold ing type for usein an opening between lower and upper rooms, said stairway comprising a panel hinged at one end of said opening to close the same, means for supporting the panel in its open position and adapted to hold the panel against lifting, and a foldable stair structure including one section mounted on top of said panel and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, and meansfor operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said means comprising means for lowering and raising the panel and means associated there with operable to unfold the foldable sections after the panel is lowered and to fold the foldable sections before the panel is raised as the stairway is moved to its extended or disappeared positions.

ng wa fe -us a penin e ve nl rnd p e ro ms, ai sta rw y mp is ng a paeelf iiese at ne eedr'b aid'qpen t h sam mea o pp r ies t e pan l its span p si ion and. adapt lilienan r s li Santana; u I section mount; ed on mp f "saidpan el and two folding sections hinged together and to said first section and foldable on each other and onto the first section, and means for operating said stairway to and from an extended position, said meanscomprising means for lowering and raising the panel and means associated therewith operable to unfold the foldable sections after the panel is lowered and to fold the foldable sections before the panel is raised as the stairway is moved toits extended or disappeared positions.

15. In a disappearing stairway adapted for use in an opening between a lower and upper floor, a movable panel closure for the opening, a foldable stair structure carried by the panel, means for opening and closing the panel, and means actuated thereby for positively unfolding and folding the stairway.

16. In a disappearing stairway adapted for use in an opening between a lower. and upper floor, a movable panel closure for the opening, a foldable stair structure carried by the panel, a collapsible hand rail structure associated with the stair structure, means for opening and closing the panel, and means associated therewith for unfolding and folding the stairway, said hand rail structure being collapsible by folding of the stairway.

17. 111 a disappearing stairway adapted for use in an opening between a lower and upper floor, a movable panel closure for the opening, a foldable stair structure carried by the panel, means for opening and closing the panel, means associated therewith for unfolding and folding the stairway, power means for operating the panel opening and closing means, and control means for stopping and resetting the power means for reverse operation at the completion of each operation of the stairway.

18. In a disappearing stairway adapted for use in an opening between a lower and upper floor, a movable panel closure for the opening, a foldable stair structure carried by the panel, and a collapsible hand rail structure mounted on the stair structure and adapted to be collapsed by folding thereof.

19. In a disappearing stairway of the folding'type adapted for use in a ceiling opening between a lower and upper floor, a panel hinged at one edge of the opening providing a downwardly opening closurefor said opening, a folding stair structure including three sect-ions hinged together end on end on said panel, automatic means for positively unfolding and folding the three sections of the stair t es", an ant-he;

structure when thepanel is open, said means including connections between the three sections, and means for supporting the panel in its open position, said means being adjustable to support the lower end of the unfolded stairway substantially at the lower floor level in rooms having different ceiling heights.

FRANK E. BESSLER.

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