Patent ID: 8376084

Claim:
A folding stair for providing a compactable walkway up and alongside a structure, comprising: a supporting surface parallel to a surface of a structure, fixed in orientation thereto such that the supporting surface does not move and extending from a lower portion of the structure to a higher portion of the structure, and rigidly coupled to the surface of the structure at both the lower portion of the structure and the higher portion of the structure; wherein the lower portion of the structure includes a bottom landing pivotally coupled to the structure having a bottom stair extending orthogonally therefrom; wherein the higher portion of the structure includes a top landing pivotally coupled thereto; a plurality of steps, each rotatably coupled directly to the supporting surface, at an end thereof such that the plurality of steps are rotatable about the supporting surface, each spaced to provide a graduated walkway when in a deployed position and to lie substantially parallel to the supporting surface when in a retracted position, wherein the plurality of steps rotate about a long axis of the supporting surface; a support member coupled to each of the plurality of steps at an opposite end of the steps where the plurality of steps are coupled to the supporting surface and wherein the support member is not directly coupled to the surface of the structure; and a motivator coupled to the plurality of steps and configured to motivate a transition between the deployed and retracted positions, wherein the top landing comprises a platform larger than each of said steps and pivotally coupled to said support member, further comprising a railing coupled to the support member, and the top landing having a first landing railing contiguous to the railing and a second landing railing pivotally coupled to the first landing railing.