Abstract: A storm shelter escape door assembly includes a frame and a door hinged to the frame. The frame includes three inner sidewalls, an open end, and a horizontal attachment plate extending outwardly from upper edges of the inner sidewalls. The door has at least three outer sidewalls joined by a door face. The door is hinged to the frame adjacent the open end and below the horizontal attachment plate so the door is openable in an inward direction away from the horizontal attachment plate. When the door is in a closed position, the door face angles downwardly toward the open end to cause water to run off the door.

Abstract: A ladder assembly for a vehicle can include: a support frame; a ladder comprising a first portion and a second portion coupled to and retractably extendable from the first portion; a linkage means coupling the first portion to the frame; and a releasable latching means arranged to releasably latch the second portion to the first portion, wherein the ladder assembly is movable between: a stowed condition in which the ladder is stowed adjacent to the frame, the second portion is retracted and latched to the first portion by the latching means; a deployed condition where the ladder is deployed from the frame and the second portion is released from the first portion by the latching means; and an extended condition where the ladder is deployed from the frame and the second portion is extended from the first portion.

Abstract: A quick disconnect mechanism for a detachable stair system for vehicles. The apparatus includes mounting brackets for installation at either side of a doorway in a recreational vehicle such as motorhome, camping trailer, or camper on a pickup truck. Fixed plates in the form of open jaw brackets are provided at each side of a sill cover plate, to enable operation of a pivotable detachable stair portion. The open jaw of the fixed plates are pivotable about pivot studs located in the mounting brackets. The fixed plates further include an arcuate channel defined radially outward from the pivots studs. The arcuate slot is sized and shaped for engagement with a pivot lock also located on the mounting brackets. The pivot locks extend inward for sliding operation with the arcuate slot, but not so far inward as to interfere with the pivoting motion of the sill cover plate.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a service pit having a head section and a foot section made from fiberglass, aluminum or other metal sheeting, molded plastic, or other suitable material. In one example embodiment, the service pit is equipped with a staircase pivotally mounted at one end of the service pit to accommodate a pivoting action of the staircase and permit access to the bottom of the pit for cleaning, maintenance or other operation.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments herein are generally directed toward force-balancing mechanisms for weighted members and/or loads. According to one embodiment, the force-balancing mechanism includes at least one gear rack, at least one spring assembly comprising a spring member operatively connected to the at least one gear rack, a pinion gear intermeshed with the at least one gear rack; and a variable radius cam. Rotation of the cam causes the pinion gear to rotate to thereby in turn linearly drive the at least one gear rack and accumulate spring force of the spring member. The spring member may be a compression or a tension spring. Preferably, the spring member is a compression spring.

Abstract: A ladder assembly for a work vehicle is disclosed. The ladder assembly may generally include a ladder having a first side rail, a second side rail and first and second rungs extending between the first and second side rails. The ladder may be supported on the work vehicle at a first pivot point and a second pivot point. The ladder may also include a first linkage and a second linkage. The first linkage may be coupled between the first rung and the first pivot point and the second linkage may be coupled between the second rung and the second pivot point. In addition, the ladder may be configured to pivot about the first and second pivot points between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A footboard which can be used in case of necessity by drawing out a footboard main body as a tread from a lower portion or a vicinity of the lower portion of a portion for getting on and off and then by lowering the footboard main body to an intermediate position of a height from a drawn out position to the ground below the footboard in order to make it extremely easy not only for general well-built adult men but also children, women, elderly people, people with leg or lumbar disabilities to get on and off a step portion and especially an automobile with a large vehicle height, called a van or a recreational vehicle, and having a door for getting on and off in a relatively high position. This is formed by assembling attachment members for attaching the footboard to the step portion, e.g.

Abstract: A highly stable beach access stairway is described that includes steps constructed of first and second parallel stringers with a plurality of treads extending between the stringers; upper, intermediate and lower support posts upon which the stringers are mounted; upper, intermediate and lower cable attachment rods extending through the support posts and stringers; a plurality of sand anchors positionable at spaced distances from the top and sides of the steps, and cables that connect the anchors to the attachment rods adjacent the inner sides of the stringers. The top anchor is connected to the upper and intermediate rods, while the side anchors are attached to the inner face of the stringer on the opposite side of the steps from the anchor. A bottom anchor may also be positioned beneath the steps and attached to the intermediate and lower rods.

Abstract: An escape/rescue ladder that can be mounted in a non-useable condition on the side of a building and can be placed in a useable condition to allow persons to enter and exit from any of a plurality of vertically spaced openings in the building located alongside the ladder. The ladder includes rungs pivotally connected to the building, a rail pivotally connected to the rungs, and a bar extending and constrained to move in the vertical direction adjacent to the building. The bar is connected to the building by at least one counterbalance spring and to at least one rung by a cable fixedly attached to the bar so that as the bar is moved the rungs pivot from their non-useable positions into their useable positions. The springs are selected to approximately counterbalance the weight of the rungs and rail throughout their movement from the non-useable condition to the useable condition.

Abstract: A boarding ladder assembly for mounting a boarding ladder on a support for movement between raised storage and lowered boarding positions. The assembly includes a guide structure that has first and second guide tracks mounted in spaced diverging angular orientation relative to each other and first and second guide track followers that are mounted therein for changing the angular orientation of the boarding ladder as it is raised and lowered. A counterweight has an actual weight greater than the weight of the ladder. A linkage is connected between the counterweight and ladder at a lift angle that varies as the ladder is raised and lowered to cause the counterweight to exert an actual lifting force that is sufficient to overcome the ladder weight when the ladder is in a raised position and that is less than the weight of the ladder when the ladder is in its lowered boarding position to automatically maintain the ladder in either position without the need for a latching mechanism.

Abstract: A step assembly (438) includes two step supporting members (444) which have proximal ends pivotally attached to the underside of a mounting bracket (440). The step supporting members (444) support a plurality of rungs (445). A step plate (446) is attached in cantilevered manner to each of the rungs (445) whereby a rear one of the step supporting members (444) is intermediate the step plate (446) and the front step supporting member. A transmission assembly is provided for causing distal ends of the step supporting members to contact the ground (G) and thereby acquire an extended, angularly inclined position. In one embodiment, the transmission assembly includes an actuator (470). In another embodiment, the transmission assembly includes a motor and cable assembly (472).

Abstract: A loft ladder which can be pivotally and slidably mounted to loft opening has counterbalancing means including a resiliently biased pivotal arm, connected to the loft ladder by a link member pivotally connected between the pivotal arm and the loft ladder to allow the ladder to turn about is pivotal connection to the loft opening over at least a limited extend. The arm has a two-stage resilient biasing spring offering a greater resilient force over part of the range of movement of the arm. A hand rail of the ladder is supported on a section of the ladder by spacers allowing the hand rail to be carried at a lateral distance from the ladder stile greater than the lateral space occupied by the counterbalance mechanism. A releasable catch for retaining two ladder parts in a selected position comprises two moveable catch members mounted on respective stiles, and interconnected together.

Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to an access ladder for the elevated operator's platform of a vehicle, the ladder being pivotable in two planes between operative and inoperative positions about two separate axes. Counterbalance means interconnecting the ladder and the platform assist pivotal movement in the first plane. A biased locking mechanism releasably holds the ladder in the operable position relative to the second plane.

Abstract: A boarding stairway moves relative to fixed structure in front of it between a raised retracted position and a lowered operative position. Rollers at the top of the stairway are guided in a fixed track that is straight and vertical along most of its length from its top but curves into a short downwardly-rearwardly inclined bottom section. The stringers of the stairway rest against a roller rotatable on a fixed horizontal axis that is below and to the rear of the track; hence the bottom of the stairway swings rearward as it moves down. A counterweight that moves vertically is connected with the stairway by a cable that has a vertical front stretch extending up from the counterweight to a cable guide above the stairway and a rear oblique stretch extending down from the guide to a connection on the stairway that is spaced below its top.

Abstract: A fold-up ladder is provided for a combine which pivotally connects at its upper end to a deck adjacent an operator's cab at the forward end of the combine. The axis of the pivot connection at the upper end of the ladder substantially coincides with the edge of the deck and the edge of the upper step of the ladder. A gas spring is connected between the deck and the ladder to counterbalance the weight of the ladder as it swings from its lowered position to its overhead transport position. The gas spring has a desirable stabilizing influence on the ladder as it is raised and lowered. When the ladder is moved from its transport position to a lowered position, the line of force of the gas spring passes "overcenter" in relation to the ladder pivot axis thereby permitting the gas spring to releasably hold the ladder in its down position. Appropriate abutments are provided to properly position the ladder in its desired transport and lowered positions.

Abstract: Fire escape apparatus having a flight of stairs formed of a smooth material having treads and risers and which is mounted beneath a balcony for swinging movement between a horizontal position and a downwardly inclined position, the treads and risers being so shaped that when the flight of stairs is in the inclined position, the treads slope inwardly and downwardly and the risers curve outwardly and downwardly to the treads so as to facilitate descent in a sitting position and to enable the stairs to be climbed in a normal manner.