Sliding and folding steps

Abstract

A portable staircase includes a stairhead that can slide along a support track to extend and lock the stairhead away from a vehicle. The staircase can further be locked in either an upward storage or downward use position. Vertical support frame members provide support to the staircase when in the downward use position. A further embodiment of the staircase includes a vertical support frame member cover, along with a plurality of moveable vertical support frame members used to move the staircase into one of three positions: front-, right-side-, or left-side-facing.

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
 an exterior wall and an underside;   a support track comprising support beams connected to the underside of said vehicle;   a stairhead movable within said support track between a retracted position under said vehicle and an extended use position; and   an exterior staircase pivotally connected to the stairhead;   wherein the staircase comprises a frame and steps, the staircase being shiftable between an upper storage position against said wall when said stairhead is in its retracted position and a downward use position when said stairhead is in its extended position.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said staircase includes:
 handrails;   rotational means for shifting the handrails from a generally vertical position when said staircase is in said upper storage position to a position generally parallel with said staircase in said downward use position;   legs having upper and lower parts, the upper parts being pivotally secured to an end of the handrails adjacent said support frame of said stairhead, and the lower parts being pivotally secured to said frame of said staircase;   means for minimizing lateral movement of the handrails and the legs when said staircase is in said downward use position; and   locking means for maintaining said staircase in said upper storage position.   
   
   
       3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein said rotational means includes brackets attached to said support frame of said stairhead, with said handrails being pivotally secured to the brackets at one end. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein said means for minimizing lateral movement includes brackets attached to said staircase, said legs extending between the brackets and said staircase in said downward use position. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said stairhead includes:
 vertical support frame members;   handrails;   vertical support frame legs, the legs enclosed by the vertical support frame members and moveable therein; and   horizontal support frame members.   
   
   
       6 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said stairhead further includes:
 a vertical support frame member cover having first and second vertical extents and a step bracket secured therebetween; and   moveable vertical support frame members.   
   
   
       7 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said vertical support frame members include locking mechanisms for said vertical support frame legs, the locking mechanisms securing said legs within said vertical support frame members or against the ground, through a threaded pressure fit. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said handrails are attached between one of said vertical support frame members and said exterior wall of said vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein said horizontal support frame members include rolling means therein for movement of said members along said support track. 
   
   
       10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said support track includes rolling means therein for movement of said horizontal support frame members of said stairhead along said support beams of said support track. 
   
   
       11 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior wall includes locking means for maintaining said stairhead both against said exterior wall and in an extended position away from said exterior wall. 
   
   
       12 . A staircase system, comprising:
 a support track comprising support beams;   a stairhead movable within said support track; and   an exterior staircase pivotally connected to the stairhead;   wherein the staircase comprises a frame and steps, the staircase being shiftable from an upper storage position to a downward use position.   
   
   
       13 . The staircase system of  claim 12 , wherein said staircase includes:
 handrails;   rotational means for shifting the handrails from a generally vertical position when said staircase is in said upper storage position to a position generally parallel with said staircase in said downward use position;   legs having upper and lower parts, the upper parts being pivotally secured to an end of the handrails adjacent said support frame of said stairhead, and the lower parts being pivotally secured to said frame of said staircase;   means for minimizing lateral movement of the handrails and the legs when said staircase is in said downward use position; and   locking means for maintaining said staircase in said upper storage position.   
   
   
       14 . The staircase system of  claim 13 , wherein said rotational means includes brackets attached to said support frame of said stairhead, with said handrails being pivotally secured to the brackets at one end. 
   
   
       15 . The staircase system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for minimizing lateral movement includes brackets attached to said staircase, said legs extending between the bracket and said staircase in said downward use position. 
   
   
       16 . The staircase system of  claim 12 , wherein said stairhead includes:
 vertical support frame members;   handrails;   vertical support frame legs, the legs enclosed by the vertical support frame members and moveable therein; and   horizontal support frame members.   
   
   
       17 . The staircase system of  claim 16 , wherein said stairhead further includes:
 a vertical support frame member cover having first and second vertical extents and a step bracket secured therebetween; and   moveable vertical support frame members.   
   
   
       18 . The staircase system of  claim 16 , wherein said vertical support frame members include locking mechanisms for said vertical support frame legs, the locking mechanisms securing said legs within said vertical support frame members or against the ground, through a threaded pressure fit. 
   
   
       19 . The staircase system of  claim 16 , wherein said handrails are removably attached between one of said vertical extents of said vertical support frame member cover and said moveable vertical support frame members. 
   
   
       20 . The staircase system of  claim 16 , wherein said support track includes rolling means therein for movement of said horizontal support frame members along said support track. 
   
   
       21 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said staircase is removably connected to said stairhead and shiftable about said stairhead when in its said downward use position, whereby the staircase may be optimally located either parallel to or perpendicular to said vehicle wall when in use.