Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Wall- or floor-attached – Independent rung or step
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-08-07
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Wall- or floor-attached
Independent rung or step
C248S272000, C248S243000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269906
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a quick mounting step or support that can be installed and removed without the use of tools or fasteners.
Most steps and brackets require the use of tools for installation and/or fasteners for attaching. The use of tools or fasteners for installation purposes can, in many circumstances, be cumbersome, time-consuming or nearly impossible due to space restrictions. A step that can be mounted without tools or other fasteners has an advantage because it avoids such problems and increases efficiency as well as versatility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a step or support that can be used in applications such as an implement step, or a support bracket for mounting other parts. No tools or fasteners are required for attaching the step or support (referred to as a step hereafter) to a mounting wall. The step may be removed by hand or installed in another location by hand for another application. Installation and removal by hand and without tools aids in the easy and quick repositioning of the step.
The step of the present invention as shown is generally V-shaped with two diverging legs. The angle between the legs and length of the legs are selected so when installed on a vertical wall surface, one leg is horizontal to form a step surface or a support surface, and the other leg extends to form a brace. Installation of the step requires a mounting wall that has at least one specially designed hole to receive a tab at the end of one of the legs for attaching to the mounting wall through the hole and locking it in place by twisting the step about an axis perpendicular to the wall. Preferably, as shown in an exemplary form, both legs have tabs, shown as T-tabs, at their ends. The step can mount anywhere a pair of patterned holes is cut in a mounting or support wall of prescribed thickness for the given T-tab design and there is clearance behind the mounting wall for the T-tabs.
The step is installed as shown by orienting the step so that a T-tab of one (lower) leg of the step is aligned with the long axis of a first associated slot in the mounting wall, as shown. The tab is inserted into one of the two holes cut in the mounting wall and the entire step is rotated until the first end of the second leg is aligned with a second slot or hole. The rotation is sufficient so the T-tab of the one leg is locked to the mounting wall. Next, the second (upper) leg of the step is moved relative to the one leg to a position where the T-tab attached to the upper leg can be inserted into the second hole in the mounting wall. The second or upper hole is spaced from the first hole so the legs are under spring load when the other leg is inserted. The V shape provides a spring load resisting separation of the legs and tends to move the ends of the legs back to their rest position. Once the T-tab of the second leg is inserted, the leg can be released and the spring force tending to move the legs back to their original position causes the T-tab to lock into the second hole of the mounting wall.
Various types of tabs can be used, and the upper leg can be secured to the mounting wall with other fasteners, if desired. The tabs on both legs make installation and removal simple and easy.
Although the step can be removed or installed by hand, once installed, the step is held securely to resist loading from all directions, and cannot be removed or dislocated with normal use. However, the step can be removed by reversing the installation process. Depending on the design and material properties of the step, varying amounts of force will be required to install or remove the step.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1335553 (1920-03-01), Brachtz
patent: 1657939 (1928-01-01), Rockwell
patent: 2667322 (1954-01-01), Ullberg
patent: 3833090 (1974-09-01), Georgianna
patent: 3930562 (1976-01-01), Zorn
patent: 3974615 (1976-08-01), Ditcher
patent: 4193649 (1980-03-01), Sharon
patent: 4382416 (1983-05-01), Kellogg-Smith
patent: 4434960 (1984-03-01), Berry
patent: 4605098 (1986-08-01), Leuty
patent: 954943 (1964-04-01), None
Bogner Philip D.
Dockter Donald D.
Chin-Shue Alvin
Clark Equipment Company
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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