Stairs and Platform System for Mobile Elevated Shelter

Abstract

A shelter includes a body having a wall. A stairs and platform system is connected adjacent the wall of the shelter. The stairs and platform system includes a platform and a stair assembly. The platform includes: (i) first and second spaced-apart side rails and a platform floor located between the first and second side rails; and (ii) first and second platform handrail assemblies respectively located on opposite first and second lateral sides of the platform. The stair assembly is connected to the platform to provide access to the platform and is movable relative to the platform from a first operative position in which the stair assembly projects outwardly away from the platform to a second stowed position in which the stair assembly is retracted relative to the platform and at least part of the stair assembly is supported adjacent the platform. The first and second platform handrail assemblies are each selectively configurable to be in: (i) an operative position in which the first and second platform handrail assemblies project respectively upwardly from the opposite first and second lateral sides of the platform; and (ii) a stowed position in which the first and second platform handrail assemblies engage both the platform and the stair assembly to capture and retain the stair assembly in its stowed position.

1 . A shelter comprising:
 a stairs and platform system connected adjacent a wall, said stairs and platform system comprising:   a platform including: (i) a platform floor; (ii) at least one platform handrail assembly;   a stair assembly comprising at least one stair handrail assembly, said stair assembly movable relative to said platform from a first operative position in which said stair assembly projects downwardly at an angle away from the platform to a second stowed position in which at least part of the stair assembly is supported adjacent the platform floor and is arranged parallel relative to the platform floor;   wherein said stair assembly is selectively captured adjacent to said platform floor when said stair assembly is in said second stowed position.   
     
     
         2 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said stair assembly is slidably connected to the platform and slides relative to the platform to and between the first operative position of the stair assembly and the second stowed position of the stair assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising first and second polymeric connection blocks secured to the platform and slidably engaged respectively with first and second stringers of said stair assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising first and second stringer stops connected respectively to the first and second stringers that respectively engage the first and second connection blocks when the stair assembly is located in its second stowed position. 
     
     
         5 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said platform is movably connected to the shelter wall and moves relative to the wall between an operative position and an inoperative position, wherein said platform and said stair assembly both lie adjacent said wall when said platform is located in said inoperative position and said stair assembly is in said second stowed position. 
     
     
         6 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said platform is pivotally connected to the wall and wherein said platform pivots relative to the wall between said operative position and said inoperative position. 
     
     
         7 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said platform is pivotally connected to the wall by first and second platform mounting brackets and wherein said platform is selectively removable from the first and second platform mounting brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said wall comprises a door and wherein said platform and said stair assembly both lie adjacent said door of said wall when said platform is located in said inoperative position and said stair assembly is located in said second stowed position. 
     
     
         9 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising a latch system for selectively retaining said platform in its inoperative position adjacent said wall. 
     
     
         10 . The shelter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said stair assembly is selectively captured adjacent to said platform floor when said stair assembly is in said second stowed position by engagement of said at least one platform handrail assembly with both said platform and said stair assembly when said stair assembly is located in said second stowed position adjacent said platform floor.