Patent ID: 8579081

Claim:
An overhead ladder system, comprising: a ladder structure having a first section, a second section, and a third section; a support structure mounted to an overhead surface to support the ladder structure from an opening of the overhead surface; a remote controlled drive apparatus comprising a lifting cable connected to the first and second sections such that upon receipt of a remote control signal, the lifting cable pivots a front surface of the second section toward a front surface of the first section such that a back surface of the third section concurrently pivots toward a back surface of the second section until the second and third sections are oriented substantially adjacent to the front surface of the first section, at which time the lifting cable pivots the first section and the adjacent second and third sections as a group toward the overhead surface until a back surface of the first section is oriented substantially coplanar to the overhead surface and the second and third sections are oriented above the first section, wherein the remote controlled drive apparatus comprises: a drive motor; a drive spool rotatably connected to the drive motor to lift the lifting cable when the drive spool is rotated; and a remote controlled device to actuate the drive motor to rotate the drive spool, wherein the remote controlled drive apparatus further comprises: a tension arm disposed above the overhead surface and including at least one pulley connected to the lifting cable; an inner pulley connected to the second section to guide the lifting cable from the second section to the first section; a folding cable connected between the first or second section and the third section to assist pivoting movement of the third section; and an outer pulley connected to the second section to guide the folding cable when the folding cable is connected between the first section and the third section.