Portable stairs with adjustable landing platform height

• US 6,810,995 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Stair Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Integrated Stair Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Warford, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/101,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 182/115, 182/113, 521/82--91
• US Class Current: 182/115
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/025 Stairways having stringers E04F11/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/112 of metal or with an upper layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1865 Collapsible or portable balustrades
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/39 Ladders having platforms; Ladders changeable into platforms platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/081 Rungs or other treads comprising anti-slip features
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/44 Means for mounting ladders on uneven ground

Abstract

An adjustable stair and platform system. The apparatus includes a set of stairs which is affixable to a platform at a first height or alternately at a second height. Both the platform unit and the stair unit include vertically adjustable legs above ground engaging feet. The stairs includes a stair rail frame which is releasably affixable to a side hand rail frame provided for the platform unit. The hand rail frame provided for the platform unit includes an end rail which is pivotally mounted to the side hand rail frame. The end rail frame is changeable to support a right hand or a left hand configuration of the side hand rail frame provided on the platform unit. The combination of vertical adjustability, and left and right hand adjustability, make the unit adaptable for various installation configurations, and avoids the need for multiple stair system units for portable buildings.

Claims

1. An adjustable platform and stair system, comprising:

(a) at least one platform unit of a preselected dimensions and having a plurality of side portions, said platform unit further comprising

a structural support framework to support said platform unit, said framework comprising a plurality of substantially vertical support leg members, each of said vertical support leg members further comprising a vertically displaceable slide portion, each of said slide portions securable at a desired height with respect to a selected substrate therebelow,

along at least one of said plurality of side portions, at least one upper stair receiving member and at least one lower stair receiving member, each of said upper and lower stair receiving members affixed to a portion of said structural support framework;

(b) at least one stair unit, said at least one stair unit having a predetermined length and connectable with said at least one upper stair receiving member or with said at least one lower stair receiving member on said at least one platform unit, said at least one stair unit further comprising

a pair of opposing side panels,

an upper end, said upper end further comprising at least one platform attachment member, said at least one platform attachment member sized and shaped for attachment to said at least one upper stair receiving member, or to said at least one lower stair receiving member,

a lower end, said lower end further comprising a first adjustable foot and a second adjustable foot, said first and second adjustable feet independently vertically adjustable for securement at a desired height with respect to a selected substrate therebelow, and

a plurality of steps positioned between said upper end and said lower end and between said pair of side panels;

(c) wherein said at least one stair unit is adapted for attachment to said at least one platform unit at said at least one upper stair receiving member, or at said at least one lower stair receiving member, so as to enable utilization of said at least one stair unit at a first selected height of said platform above a selected substrate, and, by repositioning said at least one stair unit, at a second selected height of said at least one platform above said selected substrate, wherein each of said vertical support leg members further comprises, at the upper end thereof, a receiver, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a main platform unit hand rail side frame, said main platform unit hand rail side frame comprising a pair of vertically oriented main platform hand rail column members, and running therebetween, am upper horizontal rail and a central horizontal rail, and wherein each of said vertically oriented main platform hand rail column members have a lower end, and, spaced upward from said lower end, a stop, and wherein each of said vertically oriented main platform hand rail column members are size and shaped for placement into a receiver, so that a vertically standing, secure main platform unit hand rail side frame is provided, further comprising a main platform unit end hand rail frame, said main platform unit end hand rail frame comprising a vertically oriented main platform end hand rail column member, and a vertically oriented main platform end hand rail partial column member, and running therebetween, an upper horizontal end rail and a central horizontal end rail, and wherein said vertically oriented main platform end rail column member has a lower end, and, spaced upward from said main platform end rail column member lower end, a stop, and wherein said vertically oriented main platform end rail column member is size and shaped fro placement into a receiver, and wherein said main platform end hand rail partial column member is secured to, for pivotal movement with respect to, one of said main platform hand rail column members, so that a vertically standing, secure main platform unit end hand rail frame is provided, wherein said main platform unit end hand rail frame is pivotally secured to a vertically oriented main platform hand rail column member via a sleeve, and wherein said vertically oriented main platform hand rail column member is a cylindrical tubular member having an outer diameter, and wherein said sleeve is size and shape larger than, but complementary to for close fitting engagement with, said outer diameter of said vertically oriented main platform hand rail column member, and wherein said sleeve is securely affixed to said main platform end hand rail partial column member.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and said second adjustable feet are threadably adjustable along a vertical axis.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said of substantially vertical support leg members comprises an upper tubular member and a lower support member, said lower support member nested in said upper tubular member, said upper tubular member and said lower support member adapted for moving with respect each to the other along a common vertical axis.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said upper tubular member and said lower support member are fixable in axial relationship so as to support said platform at a selected vertical distance above a selected substrate.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lower support member comprises a generally C-shaped tubular member defining a vertically running channel.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said substantially vertical support leg members further comprises

a caged nut located within said generally C-shaped tubular member,

a bolt,

a bolt hole in the lower reaches of said upper tubular member, said bolt hole aligned with said vertically running channel in said lower support member and adapted to receive said bolt therethrough for securement with said caged nut, and

wherein said vertically running channel in said lower support member provides a slot for passage of said bolt when said lower support member is adjusted upwardly to nest in said upper tubular member.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said caged nut is in a generally square configuration, and wherein said caged nut is caged within said generally C-shaped tubular member.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said substantially vertical support leg members further comprises, at the lower end thereof, a foot plate, said foot plate sized and shaped for transmitting a portion of a load from said apparatus to a substrate below with a preselected force loading on said substrate.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one upper stair receiving member comprises at least two upper step mounting brackets, and wherein two of said at least two upper step mounting brackets are spaced apart to opposite sides of said at least one stair unit.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one upper stair receiving member comprises a pair of upper step mounting brackets, said pair of upper step mounting brackets spaced apart to opposite sides of said at least one stair unit.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one lower stair receiving member comprises at least two lower step mounting brackets, and wherein two of said at least two lower step mounting brackets are spaced apart to opposite sides of said at least one stair unit.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one lower stair receiving member comprises a pair of lower step mounting brackets, said pair of lower step mounting brackets spaced apart to opposite sides of said at least one stair unit.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said at least one platform attachment member at said upper end of said at least one stair comprises at least two pocket pins, said pocket pins sized and shaped for close fitting mating engagement within one of said at least two upper step mounting brackets.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said at least one platform attachment member at said upper end of said stair comprises a pair of pocket pins, each of said pocket pins sized and shaped for close fitting mating engagement within one of said mounting brackets in said pair of upper step mounting brackets.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said at least one platform attachment member at said upper end of said at least one stair comprises at least two pocket pins, said pocket pins sized and shaped for close fitting mating engagement within one of said at least two lower step mounting brackets.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said at least one platform attachment member at said upper end of said stair comprises a pair of pocket pins, each of said pocket pins sized and shaped for close fitting mating engagement within one of said mounting brackets in said pair of lower step mounting brackets.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is vertically affixed to said main platform end hand rail partial column member.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a step hand rail frame, said step hand rail frame comprising

an upper column member, said upper column member having an upper end, a middle portion, and a lower end, and spaced upwardly from said lower end, a stop,

a lower column member, said lower column member having an upper end and a lower end, and spaced upwardly from said lower end, a stop,

a horizontally oriented generally V-shaped rail member, said horizontally oriented generally V-shaped rail member having an apex end, a first leg, and a second leg, said first leg oriented generally horizontally and having an outer end affixed to said middle portion of said upper column member, and said second leg having an outer end affixed to said upper end of said upper column member, and wherein at or near said apex, said horizontally oriented generally V-shaped rail member is affixed to said upper end of said lower column member.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a hook, said hook affixed to said upper column member between said upper end and said middle portion, said hook sized and shaped for secure, linking engagement with one of said vertical oriented main platform rail column members, so as to secure said step hand rail frame to said main platform unit hand rail frame.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main platform unit comprises a deck portion generally rectangular in planar shape.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said deck comprises a slip resistant surfacing.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of steps comprises a slip resistant surfacing.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of steps further comprises, extending between said opposing side panels a vertically oriented, longitudinally running stiffener portion.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said a structural support framework to support said platform unit comprises a plurality of upper perimeter tubular frame members, said plurality of upper perimeter tubular frame members including upper tubular frame members running between, and affixed to, each one of said plurality of substantially vertical support leg members.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said platform unit is rectangular, and wherein each one of said vertical support leg members is positioned at a corner of said rectangular platform unit.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said structural support framework further comprises a plurality of floor beam members, said floor beam members affixed to, and running between, two of said plurality of upper perimeter tubular frame members.

27. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said structural support framework to support said platform unit further comprises a plurality of intermediate perimeter tubular frame members, said plurality of intermediate perimeter tubular frame members including intermediate tubular frame members running between, and affixed to, each one of said plurality of substantially vertical support leg members.

28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one upper stair receiving members comprises a tubular member welded to one of said substantially vertical support leg members.

29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one lower stair receiving members comprises a tubular member welded to one of said substantially vertical support leg members.

30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one stair unit includes means for leveling said at least one stair unit when connected to said main platform unit.

31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main platform unit includes means for leveling said main platform unit with respect to said selected substrate therebelow.

32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for securing said step hand rail side frame to said main platform hand rail frame.

33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one stair unit comprises a single stair unit having four steps.