Patent ID: 12196041

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically toFIG.1thereof, there is shown a ceiling ladder10. The ladder10comprises a frame12adapted to fit into the ceiling11. The ladder10comprises a door14that fits into the frame12. The ladder10comprises a top section16fixed to the door14having a right top rail22, a left top rail28in parallel with and opposing the right top rail22, and a plurality of top steps34having a width attached to the right and left rails. The ladder10comprises a second section18rotatably attached to the top section16having a right second rail24, a left second rail30in parallel with and opposing the right second rail24, and a plurality of second steps36attached to the right second rail24and the left second rail30. At least one of the second steps36being a deep step40having a width at least 1.5 inches longer than a width of at least another one of the second steps36. The right top rail22connected by a first hinge42to the right second rail24and the left top rail28connected to the left second rail30by a second hinge44so the second section18can fold onto the top section16into a folded position; and unfold from the top section16into and unfolded position. The ladder10comprises a third section20rotatably attached to the second section18having a right third rail26, a left third rail32in parallel with and opposing the right third rail26, and a plurality of third steps38having a width attached to the right third rail26and the left third rail32. The right second rail24connected by a third hinge46to the right third rail26and the left second rail30connected to the left third rail32by a fourth hinge48so the third section20can fold onto the second section18into the folded position and the door14can be closed into the frame12with the top and second and third sections16,18,20disposed above the ceiling, and unfold from the second section18into the unfolded position. When in the unfolded position, the top and second and third sections16,18,20align to form the ladder10on which a user can climb reach the ceiling with the deep step40located 2-5 feet below the ceiling. When in the folded position, the deep step40fits between the top steps34of the third section20, as shown inFIG.6.

Ceiling or attic ladders have steps which are all the same width (side to side) and the same depth or length (front to rear). These uniform steps are designed to allow the user to simply climb up into and down from an overhead space. But in actual use, often the user will pause when partway up the ladder10in order to move objects21, packages, etc., into and out of the attic, as shown inFIG.7. Having deeper steps40at the height where a user is likely to pause makes standing there safer and more comfortable

The deep step40may be fixed in place between the second right rail and the second left rail. As shown inFIGS.3and5, the ladder10may include a first brace or first arm50which extends from a rear of the deep step40that is located behind the second right rail and the second left rail, to the second right rail to transfer loads on the deep step40to the second right rail. The ladder IO may include a second brace or second arm52which extends from the rear of the deep step40to the second left rail to transfer loads on the deep step40to the second left rail.

The deep step40may be a one-piece extrusion that has a first flange or first skirt54whose right side58is fastened to and inside of a front flange60of the second right rail and whose left side59is fastened to an inside of a front flange60of the second left rail, as shown inFIGS.2and5. The one-piece extrusion may have a front horizontal portion that extends essentially at a right angle from a top of the first flange54, a second flange or second skirt56which extends essentially at a right angle down from the front horizontal portion and whose right side58is fastened to an inside of a rear flange62of the second right rail and whose left side is fastened to an inside of a rear flange62of the second left rail, as shown inFIGS.3,4B and5. The extrusion may have a rear horizontal portion66that extends from the first horizontal portion64in a coplanar manner and from the rear flange62and essentially at a right angle, and between and behind the second right rail and the second left rail, with the rear horizontal portion66having a length which is shorter than a length of the front horizontal portion and a length of the second flange56.

The deep step40may have a lip68which extends down from the rear of the rear horizontal portion66. The first brace50may be attached to the second flange56and the rear horizontal portion66adjacent to the second right rail, and the second brace52is attached to the second flange56and the rear horizontal portion66adjacent the second left rail, with the lip68covering over where the first and second braces50,52attached to the rear horizontal portion66.

For a normal step, as shown inFIG.4A, the standard width is between 2.5 inches and 3.25 inches and preferably 2.946 inches. For the deep step40, as shown inFIG.4B, the width is between 4.5 inches and 6.5 inches, and preferably 5.423 inches. The deep step40can support at least 300 lbs., and is made of aluminum. The front horizontal portion and the rear horizontal portion66can have grooves to provide further traction for a user standing on the deep step40. The thickness of the deep step40is between 1/16 inch and ¼ inch and preferably about ⅛ inch. The rear horizontal portion66has a shorter length than the front horizontal portion so that it can extend between and through the second right rail and the second left rail. The front flange60and the rear flange62of the deep step40have fastener holes through which fasteners, such as rivets, are inserted to fix the deep step40to the second right rail and the second left rail. The braces may be welded or brazed or soldered to the rear flange62and the rear horizontal portion66. Bracket73, as shown inFIG.1andFIG.6, fix the top section16to the door14, as is well known in the art.

The present invention pertains to a deep step40for a ceiling ladder10, as shown inFIGS.1,3,4B and5. The ceiling ladder10having a plurality of sections with a top section16rotatably attached to the ceiling and a second section18rotatably attached to the top section16. The second section18having a plurality of steps attached to a second right rail and a second left rail of the second section18, with the deep step40being one of the plurality of steps. The deep step40preferably is one-piece, and is preferably an aluminum extrusion, but could also be made of plastic, comprising a first flange54whose right side58is fastened to and inside of a front flange60of the second right rail and whose left side is fastened to and inside of a front flange60of the second left rail. The one-piece extrusion comprises a front horizontal portion that extends essentially at a right angle from a top of the front flange60. The one-piece extrusion comprises a second flange56which extends essentially at a right angle down from the front horizontal portion and whose right side58is fastened to an inside of a rear flange62of the second right rail and whose left side is fastened to an inside of a rear flange62of the second left rail. The one-piece extrusion comprises arear horizontal portion66that extends from the front horizontal portion in a coplanar manner and from the second flange56at essentially a right angle, and between and behind the second right rail and the second left rail, with the rear horizontal portion66having a length which is shorter than a length of the front horizontal portion and a length of the second flange56.

The present invention pertains to a method for placing objects above a ceiling11from a floor15. The method comprises unfolding a plurality of sections of a ladder10having steps, which is attached to the ceiling11, so a user can climb the ladder10to above the ceiling11from the floor15. There is the step of a user climbing the ladder10and standing on a deep step40of the ladder10with an object, which is located between about 2 feet and 5 feet above the floor and below the ceiling. The deep step40having a width that is at least 1.5 inches longer than a width of other steps of the ladder10. There is the step of the user placing the object above the ceiling while standing on the deep step40. There is the step of the user climbing down off the ladder10onto the floor. There is the step of the user folding the sections of the ladder10together into a retracted position. There is the step of moving the sections of the ladder10in the folded position above the ceiling.

FIG.1shows a perspective view of an open and fully extended ceiling ladder10. Typically, attic or ceiling ladders10have a frame12, a door14hinged to the frame12and ladder sections which are connected to each other by hinges. In this case, there is an upper or top section16, mid or second section18and lower or third section20. It should be noted that the ladder10may only have two sections, the top and the second sections.

FIG.2shows a close-up of the second section18of the ladder10. The first and fourth steps of this section are normal steps36while the second and third steps are deep steps40. Users over a wide range of heights are most likely to pause and stand one or the other of those two deep steps40while lifting articles up into or down from the attic.

FIG.3shows a side view of the second section18of the ladder10. The difference in depth between a normal step36and a deep step40is apparent. A deep step40allows the user to have a larger portion of their “footprint” supported by the step. Also, the deeper step allows the user to maintain solid footing while swiveling left or right as needed when passing containers to or from the attic.

FIGS.4A and4Bare a comparison of the size and shape of a normal step36and a deep step40. The ladder10steps shown are made from aluminum extrusions. The deep step40could be made from a single extrusion having an extended portion as shown. Alternately, the extended portion could be a separate piece of material permanently fastened to a normal step extrusion.

FIG.5shows step braces fastened to the underside of the deep steps40. These braces support the extended portion, also referred to here as the rear horizontal portion66of the deep step40.

FIG.6shows the ceiling ladder10with its top (upper), second (mid), and third (lower) sections folded up prior to closing the door14. The steps on all three sections are spaced and positioned so that the deep steps40will not run into the normal steps36when the sections are folded. Because of this, the overall size of the folded ceiling ladder10, and thus the shipping size of the product package, has not increased due to the presence of deep steps40.

When folding the ladder10into the folded position, the user would lift the second and third sections so the second section rotates about the first hinge42and the second hinge44clockwise tour word and over the top section16and the third section20is rotated around the third hinge46¼ inch48counterclockwise toward the underside of the second section18until the rails of the third section20contact the rails of the second section18and the third section20is on top of the second section18as the rails of the second section18contact the rails of the top section16, forming a rectangular shaped sandwich, as shown inFIG.6.

Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.