Laterally Collapsible Staircase

Abstract

A laterally collapsible staircase with first and second side rails has a number of advantages compared to prior structures. A leveling screw is connected to the second side rail bottom surface to adjust the position of the stairs when deployed to insure that the stairs are horizontal. The second rail has a top side edge extending between its top and bottom and a recessed area extends along the second rail top side edge allowing a user's fingers to grip the rail to facilitate its movement between laterally collapsed and deployed positions. At least one permanent magnet is connected to the second side rail inner surface capable of interacting with another aligned permanent magnet mounted in a wall to help maintain the second side rail in a laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved. Pre-calibrated gas struts eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laterally collapsible staircase comprising:
 a first side rail and a second side rail substantially parallel to said first side rail, said second side rail having top and bottom surfaces;   said rails operatively connected by a plurality of steps pivotally connected to said rails;   said first side rail fixedly attachable to a wall and said second side rail pivotally movable about said first side rail between a deployed use position wherein said steps extend substantially horizontally between said side rails, and a laterally collapsed position wherein said steps extend substantially vertically between said side rails; and   at least one leveling screw with enlarged foot operatively connected to said second side rail bottom surface to allow adjustment of the position of said stairs when said side rails are in said deployed position to insure that said stairs are substantially horizontal.   
     
     
         2 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one leveling screw with enlarged foot operatively connected to said second side rail top surface to allow adjustment of the position of said top surface of said stairs when said side rails are in said deployed position to insure that said stairs are substantially horizontal when deployed. 
     
     
         3 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second rail has a top side edge extending substantially between said top and bottom surfaces thereof; and further comprising a recessed area along said second rail top side edge allowing a user's fingers to grip said second rail to facilitate movement of said second side rail between said laterally collapsed and deployed positions. 
     
     
         4 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 3  wherein said recessed area extends substantially the entire length of said second rail top side edge. 
     
     
         5 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 2  wherein said second side rail top surface has a recessed area allowing a user's fingers to grip said second rail to facilitate movement of said second rail between said laterally collapsed and deployed positions. 
     
     
         6 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second side rail has an inner surface facing said first side rail; and further comprising at least one permanent magnet operatively connected to said inner surface capable of interacting with another permanent magnet mounted in a wall to which said laterally collapsible staircase is connected to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom. 
     
     
         7 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 6  in combination with a wall to which said first side rail is attached, and at least one permanent magnet mounted in or to said wall positioned to cooperate with said at least one permanent magnet connected to said second side rail to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 3  wherein said second side rail has an inner surface facing said first side rail; and further comprising at least one permanent magnet operatively connected to said inner surface capable of interacting with another permanent magnet mounted in a wall to which said laterally collapsible staircase is connected to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 8  in combination with a wall to which said first side rail is attached, and at least one permanent magnet mounted in or to said wall positioned to cooperate with said at least one permanent magnet connected to said second side rail to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom 
     
     
         10 . A laterally collapsible staircase comprising:
 a first side rail and a second side rail substantially parallel to said first side rail, said second side rail having top and bottom surfaces;   said rails operatively connected by a plurality of steps pivotally connected to said rails;   said first side rail fixedly attachable to a wall and said second side rail pivotally movable about said first side rail between a deployed position wherein said steps extend substantially horizontally between said side rails, and a laterally collapsed position wherein said steps extend substantially vertically between said side rails;   wherein said second rail has a top side edge extending substantially between said top and bottom surfaces thereof; and   further comprising a recessed area along said second rail top side edge allowing a user's fingers to grip said second rail to facilitate movement of said second side rail between said laterally collapsed and deployed positions.   
     
     
         11 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 10  wherein said recessed area extends substantially the entire length of said second rail top side edge. 
     
     
         12 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 10  wherein said second side rail top surface has a recessed area allowing a user's fingers to grip said second rail to facilitate movement of said second rail between said laterally collapsed and deployed positions. 
     
     
         13 . A laterally collapsible staircase comprising:
 a first side rail and a second side rail substantially parallel to said first side rail, said second side rail having top and bottom surfaces;   said rails operatively connected by a plurality of steps pivotally connected to said rails;   said first side rail fixedly attachable to a wall and said second side rail pivotally movable about said first side rail between an deployed position wherein said steps extend substantially horizontally between said side rails, and a laterally collapsed position wherein said steps extend substantially vertically between said side rails;   wherein said second side rail has an inner surface facing said first side rail; and   further comprising at least one permanent magnet operatively connected to said inner surface capable of interacting with another aligned permanent magnet mounted in a wall to which said laterally collapsible staircase is connected to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom.   
     
     
         14 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 13  in combination with a wall to which said first side rail is attached, and at least one permanent magnet mounted in or to said wall positioned to cooperate with said at least one aligned permanent magnet connected to said second side rail to help maintain said second side rail in said laterally collapsed position until intentionally moved therefrom. 
     
     
         15 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 13  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase. 
     
     
         16 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase. 
     
     
         17 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 10  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase. 
     
     
         18 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 3  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase. 
     
     
         19 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 12  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase. 
     
     
         20 . A laterally collapsible staircase as recited in  claim 7  further comprising at least two balanced pre-calibrated gas struts, each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bottom of a step and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the first side rail so as to substantially eliminate racking, jiggle, and bounce of the staircase.