Loft Ladder Assembly

Abstract

A loft ladder assembly ( 10 ) is described which comprises a telescopically collapsible ladder ( 12 ) in combination with a frame ( 14 ) for mounting the ladder ( 12 ) within a hatch opening. The frame ( 14 ) comprises a mounting bracket ( 14 a ) to be secured in use to the hatch opening, to which bracket ( 14 a ) the uppermost section of the ladder ( 12 ) is pivotably connected, and a carriage ( 14 b ) pivotably connected to the mounting bracket ( 14 a ) for supporting the weight of the ladder ( 12 ) in its stowage position and preventing the ladder ( 12 ) from extending unintentionally.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A loft ladder assembly for accessing a loft through a hatch opening, the loft ladder assembly comprising a telescopically collapsible ladder having a locking arrangement, being releasable, on one rung to collapse the ladder and a frame for mounting the ladder within the hatch opening, the frame comprising a mounting bracket secured to the hatch opening, connecting arrangements to pivotably connect the ladder to the frame and holding arrangements to hold the ladder in relation to the frame when the ladder is in a collapsed position, and the ladder having corresponding holding arrangements which interact with the holding arrangements on the frame.  
   
   
       16 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein an uppermost section of the ladder is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket, and a carriage is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket for supporting a weight of the ladder, in a stowed position, and preventing the ladder from unintentionally extending.  
   
   
       17 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein beams are pivotably connected to the frame, and an uppermost section of the ladder is pivotably connected to the beams.  
   
   
       18 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein a carriage is pivotably connected to the mounting bracket for supporting a weight of the ladder, in a stowed position, and preventing the ladder from unintentionally extending.  
   
   
       19 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the carriage is provided with a means for releasably engaging a lowermost section of the ladder to prevent the ladder from extending under its own weight.  
   
   
       20 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for releasably engaging the lowermost section of the ladder comprises a pair of hooks for receiving lugs which project laterally from a second lowermost rung of the ladder.  
   
   
       21 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the ladder is provided with a means for releasably engaging the frame in order to prevent the ladder from extending under its own weight.  
   
   
       22 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the means for releasably engaging the frame comprises a hook section on a second lowermost rung of the ladder for receiving a vertical bar extending between the mounting brackets of the frame.  
   
   
       23 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein, the ladder is provided with a means for releasably engaging a carriage in order to prevent the ladder from extending under its own weight.  
   
   
       24 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the means for releasably engaging the carriage comprises a hook section on a lowermost rung of the ladder for receiving a vertical bar connecting horizontal bars of the carriage.  
   
   
       25 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the beams are provided with a holding arrangement to prevent the ladder from extending under its own weight when in a stowed position.  
   
   
       26 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein a carriage is connected to the mounting bracket by at least one spring urging the carriage into a stowed position against a weight of the ladder.  
   
   
       27 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein each of the at least one spring is connected to the mounting bracket and to the carriage to act as an over-center toggle spring to urge the carriage away from the ladder when the latter is deployed.  
   
   
       28 . The loft ladder assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the ladder has locking pins built into the rungs, the locking pins are spring biased to move laterally outwards into holes formed in stiles to lock sections of ladder bars together when the ladder is in an extended position, the locking pins for a next higher section of the ladder being retracted as the rung carrying the locking pins approaches a rung beneath it.