Removable stairway

Abstract

An adjustable stairway system provides access between a first elevation level and a second elevation level. The system includes a pair of expandable and retractable scissor stringers and multiple spaced apart treads joining the pair of stringers. The system further includes a first mounting assembly structured to allow a top portion of the stairway to be relatively permanently secured to a landing or other man-made structure, and second, different mounting assembly that allows a bottom portion of the stairway to be removably secured to natural terrain such as a beach. The system sometimes includes a control assembly to assist in expanding or retracting of the stairway.

1 . An access system for providing access between a first elevation level and a second elevation level, the system comprising:
 a stairway device structured to be moved between a expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the stairway device including a stringer assembly having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a plurality of treads connected to the stringer assembly; and   an anchoring system for adjustably connecting the stairway device to and between a first elevation level and a second elevation level, the anchoring system including
 a first mounting assembly structured to be secured to a structure at the first elevation level and connectable to the proximal portion of the stringer assembly, and 
 a second mounting assembly structured to be removably secured to a ground surface at a second elevation level and connectable to the distal portion of the stringer assembly. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second mounting assembly is structured to be insertable into natural terrain. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second mounting assembly comprises a support element includes a distal region structured to facilitate insertion and removal of the support element into natural terrain. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said distal region is secured to an anchor selected from the group consisting of a buried tank, a buried bladder, a buried balloon, a pounding rod, and an auger. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the support element distal region comprises a threaded distal region. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the support element distal region comprises an auger. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second mounting assembly is slidably connectable to the distal portion of the stringer assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second mounting assembly includes a support post having a threaded distal region structured to facilitate insertion and removal of the support element into natural terrain. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first mounting assembly is structured to be secured to an existing man-made structure. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the second mounting assembly is structured to be insertable into natural terrain. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a control assembly effective to facilitate at least one of expanding and retracting of the stairway device. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the control assembly comprises a gear assembly secured to a proximal portion of the stringer assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the gear assembly comprises a housing that forms a tread of the stairway device. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said anchoring system further comprises one or more intermediate mounting assembly structured to be removably secured to a slope surface at an elevation level intermediate between said first and second elevation level and connectable to an intermediate portion of the stringer assembly. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said anchoring system comprises at least two of said intermediate mounting assemblies. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said intermediate mounting assembly comprises a support element that includes a distal region structured to facilitate insertion and removal of the support element into natural terrain. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said distal region is secured to an anchor selected from the group consisting of a buried tank, a buried bladder, a buried balloon, a pounding rod, and an auger. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the support element distal region comprises a threaded distal region. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the support element distal region comprises an auger. 
   
   
       20 . A retractable stairway system comprising:
 a stringer assembly having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a pair of opposing scissor stringers and a plurality of treads joining together said stringers; and   an anchoring system including a support element structured to be removably inserted into natural terrain;   the stringer assembly being structured to be expandable and retractable between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration respectively;   wherein the proximal portion of the stringer assembly is directly secured to a man-made structure located at a first elevation level, and the distal portion of the stringer assembly is structured to be removably anchored to the second elevation level when the support post projects from natural terrain located at the second elevation level.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a control assembly effective to facilitate at least one of expanding and retracting of the stringer assembly. 
   
   
       22 . A method of providing access between a structure and a ground level of variable elevation, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing to a structure located at a first elevation level a retractable and extendible stairway comprising
 a pair of movable scissor stringers comprising a plurality of pivotally connected links and a plurality of treads secured between the stringers, and 
 a control system effective to assist in extending or retracting the stairway; 
   extending the stairway, while a proximal portion of the stairway is secured to the structure, such that a distal portion of the stairway extends toward a second elevation level;   removably anchoring the distal portion of the stairway at a second elevation level, and   removably securing one or more intermediate mounting assembly between said proximal and distal end of the stairway by means of one or more removable support posts projecting from the ground.