GB2249577A

GB2249577A - Stair apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2249577A
Application number: GB9121391A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seymour Cemoun Daniels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-10
Filing date: 1991-10-09
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Also published as: GB9022043D0; GB9121391D0

Abstract

Stair apparatus (2) for use between rows of seats, which stair apparatus (2) comprises a first flight of stairs (4) forming part of a bridge arrangement (6), and a second flight of stairs (8) which is supported by the bridge arrangement (6) and which extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement (6), the bridge arrangement (6) comprising first and second upstanding sides (10, 12) and an upper bridging portion (14) which bridges the first and the second sides (10, 12) and from which the second flight of stairs (8) extends, the first and the second sides (10, 12) being spaced apart by a distance which enables the first side (10) to be located in a walkway between two rows of seats and the second side (12) to be located in an adjacent walkway between two rows of seats with the upper bridging portion (14) spanning the row of seats common to both walkways, and the first side (10) of the bridge arrangement (6) being such as to include the first flight of stairs (4). <IMAGE>

Description

STAIR APPARATUS This invention relates to stair apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to stair apparatus for use between rows of seats.

Many buildings such for example as court rooms, theatres and cinemas have rows of seats. These rows of seats are usually fixed and considerable difficulty arises in conducting simple repair work above the rows of seats. For example, in order to change a lightbulb or a fluorescent tube, a scaffolding tower may need to be erected simply because a ladder cannot be positioned between the rows of seats.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, there is provided stair apparatus for use between rows of seats, which stair apparatus comprises a first flight of stairs forming part of a bridge arrangement, and a second flight of stairs which is supported by the bridge arrangement and which extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement, the bridge arrangement comprising first and second upstanding sides and an upper bridging portion which bridges the first and the second sides and from which the second flight of stairs extends, the first and the second sides being spaced apart by a distance which enables the first side to be located in a walkway between two rows of seats and the second side to be located in an adjacent walkway between two rows of the seats with the upper bridging portion spanning the row of seats common to both walkways, and the first side of the bridge arrangement being such as to include the first flight of stairs.

The apparatus of the present invention can easily be moved between the rows of seats to a desired position for effecting appropriate maintenance work.

The stair apparatus can be constructed such that it is of an appropriate size to fit into lifts in buildings so that the stair apparatus can be stored in, for example, a basement storeroom and brought out speedily and efficiently as and when required.

The second flight of stairs may be fixed in an upstanding position from the bridge arrangement. However, preferably, the second flight of stairs is moveable from a use position in which it extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement to a stored position in which it hangs below the bridge arrangement to enable the stair apparatus to be moved through doorways and into lifts.

The stair apparatus may be one in which the first side of the bridge arrangement slopes inwardly towards the upper bridging portion, and in which the second side of the bridge arrangement is vertically positioned.

The first and the second sides of the bridge arrangement may include wheels for ease of moving the stair apparatus. Any suitable and appropriate type of wheels may be employed.

The wheels may have brake means for ensuring that the stair apparatus does not roll whilst a person is -working on the stair apparatus. The brake means may be lever operated brake means which can be simply moved to a brake-on position when the stair apparatus is in position. Alternatively, the wheels may be spring loaded such that the wheels only engage the brake means under the weight of a person working on the stair apparatus.

The first flight of stairs may have at least one hand rail. Preferably, the first flight of stairs has two hand rails.

Similarly, the second flight of stairs may have at least one hand rail. Preferably, the second flight of stairs has two hand rails.

The first and the second sides may each have outrigger supports. The outrigger supports may give added stability to the stair apparatus during use. This may be especially desirable when persons are working at the top of the second flight of stairs.

Preferably, parts of the first and the second sides at the height of the rows of seats are provided with padding. The padding may be effective to prevent damage to the seats due to careless moving and positioning of the stair apparatus between the rows of seats.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front and one side of stair apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rear and one side of the stair apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the stair apparatus shown in Figure 1 and additionally shows the second flight of stairs in a stored position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown stair apparatus 2 for use between rows of seats (not shown).

The stair apparatus 2 comprises a first flight of stairs 4 forming part of a bridge arrangement 6, and a second flight of stairs 8 which is supported by the bridge arrangement 6 and which extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement 6 as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2.

The bridge arrangement 6 comprises a first side 10 and a second side 12. The first and the second sides upstand as shown and they are bridged by an upper bridging portion 14. The second flight of stairs 8 extends from this upper bridging portion 14.

The first and the second sides 10, 12 are spaced apart by a distance which enables the first side to be located in a walkway between two rows of the seats, and the second side to be located in an adjacent walkway between two rows of the seats. The upper bridging portion 14 will then be in a position spanning the row of seats common to both walkways.

As can be seen from the drawings, the first side 10 of the bridge arrangement 6 includes the first flight of stairs 4.

As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 3, the second flight of stairs 8 is moveable from a use position which is shown in Figure 1 and in which the second flight of stairs 8 extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement 6, to a stored position which is shown in Figure 3 and in which the second flight of stairs hangs below the bridge arrangement 6. The second flight of stairs 8 pivots between its use position and its stored position. Locking bolts 16 are employed to hold the second flight of stairs 8 in its chosen position. The second flight of stairs 8 will usually be in its stored position shown in Figure 3 when the stair apparatus 2 is to be moved from room to room in a building or is to be stored in a storeroom.

The stair apparatus 2 is such that the first side 10 of the bridge arrangement 6 slopes inwardly towards the upper bridging portion 14. This is to assist ascent of the first flight of stairs by a person working on the stair apparatus. The second side 12 of the bridge arrangement 6 is vertically positioned. The vertical positioning of the second side 12 helps the second side 12 to clear the rows of seats.

The first and the second sides 10,12 of the bridge arrangement 6 includes wheels 18 for ease of moving the stair apparatus 2. The wheels 18 each have brake means 20 for ensuring that the stair apparatus 2 does not roll whilst a person is working on the stair apparatus 2. The brake means 20 includes a lever 22 as can best be seen in Figure 3.

The first flight of stairs 4 has a pair of handrails 24, and the second flight of stairs 8 has a pair of handrails 26. The second flight of stairs 8 slopes at approximately the same angle as the first flight of stairs 4.

The first side 10 of the bridge arrangement 6 has outrigger supports 28. The second side 12 of the bridge arrangement 6 has outrigger supports 30. The outrigger supports 28, 30 are shaped as shown.

The upper bridging portion 14 has handrails 32.

The stair apparatus 2 will usually be made in a metal. The metal may be steel or an aluminium alloy.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shape of the upper bridging portion 14 may be varied, as may be the shape of the second flight of stairs 8 which is triangular in side view as shown in the drawings. If desired, the outrigger supports 28,30 may be dispensed with. Further, parts of the first and the second sides at the height of the rows of seats may be provided with padding (not shown) to prevent the first and the second sides being pushed against the rows of seats and damaging them due to careless positioning of the stair apparatus 2 when it is being use!d between rows of seats. As shown in the drawings, the second flight of stairs 8 is moveable manually from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the position shown in Figure 3.

If desired however the second flight of stairs 8 may be moved by electric means, hydraulic means, a rack and pinion arrangement, or by pulley means. Pins or other locking means can be employed to lock the second flight of stairs 8 in position. The wheels 18 can be weight locking wheels.

Claims

1. Stair apparatus for use between rows of seats, which stair apparatus comprises a first flight of stairs forming part of a bridge arrangement, and a second flight of stairs which is supported by the bridge arrangement and which extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement, the bridge arrangement comprising first and second upstanding sides and an upper bridging portion which bridges the first and the second sides and from which the second flight of stairs extends, the first and the second sides being spaced apart by a distance which enables the first side to be located in a walkway between two rows of seats and the second side being located in an adjacent walkway between two rows of the seats with the upper bridging portion spanning the row of seats common to both walkways, and the first side of the bridge arrangement being such as to include the first flight of stairs.

2. Stair apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second flight of stairs is fixed in an upstanding position from the bridge arrangement.

3. Stair apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second flight of stairs is moveable from a use position in which it extends upwardly above the bridge arrangement to a stored position in which it hangs below the bridge arrangement to enable the stair apparatus to be moved through doorways and into lifts.

4. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first side of the bridge arrangement slopes inwardly towards the upper bridging portion, and in which the second side of the bridge arrangement is vertically positioned.

5. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second sides of the bridge arrangement include wheels for ease of moving the stair apparatus.

6. Stair apparatus according to claim 5 in which the wheels have brake means for ensuring that the stair apparatus does not roll whilst a person is working on the stair apparatus.

7. Stair apparatus according to claim 6 in which the brake means are lever operated brake means which can be simply moved to a brake-on position when the stair apparatus is in position.

8. Stair apparatus according to claim 6 in which the wheels are spring loaded such that the wheels only engage the brake means under the weight of a person working on the stair apparatus.

9. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first flight of stairs has at least one hand rail.

10. Stair apparatus according to claim 9 in which the first flight of stairs has two hand rails.

11. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second flight of stairs has at least one hand rail.

12. Stair apparatus according to claim 11 in which the second flight of stairs has two hand rails.

13. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and the second sides each have outrigger supports.

14. Stair apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which parts of the first and the second sides at the height of the rows of seats are provided with padding.

15. Stair apparatus for use between rows of seats, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.