US1811706A - Disappearing wall stairway - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1931. E, BESSLER 1,811,706

DISAPPEARING WALL S TAIRWAY Filed May 12, 1928 s Sheets-Shet 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. E. BESSLER DISAPPEARING WALL STAIRWAY Filed May 12. 1928 June 23, 1931.

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DISAPPEARING WALL STAIRWAY Filed May 12. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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June23, 1931. F. E. /BESSLER 1,811,706

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Patented June 23, 1931 "UNITED STATES FRANK E. BESSLER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BESSLER DISAPPEARING PATENT OFFICE STAIRWAY COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO I DISAPPEARING WALL STAIRWAY Applicationfiled May 12, 1928.

The present invention relates to movable stairways which are designed to permit access to an attic or upper floor in a dwelling house or other building, it being the b 5 ject of the presentinvention to improve upon prior constructions for the same purpose. In a house or building there is frequently an upper room or floor to which access is necessary only occasionally, but to which stairways 0 must be provided. The provision of the additional fixed stairway for access to the occasional room occupies valuable floor space, and it is the object of the invention to devise a practical and operative mechanism where- 5 by the stairway will be housed in every limited space while not in use, but can be readily set out in position when required.

Stairways for this general purpose have been designed prior tothis invention and e numerous improvements therein have been made hereto-fore by the present inventor. The object of the present invention is to still further improve upon the general objects and purposes set forth by the perfection 5 of an entirely new type of movable stairway,

as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description of the invention.

In prior successful constructions for the general purpose set forth, the movable stairway has been disposed, in inoperative position, but the ceiling of the lower room or passageway and within the upper room. The movable stairway has thus occupied a horizontal position and has taken-up considerable floor space in the room or space above. It has also been" necessary to raise and lower the heavy movable stairway which has required the provision of counterweights or the equivalent thereof in order to render easy the operationof the stairway. While the described prior forms of the movable stairway have been successful and are in use, the present invention is a radicaldeparture therefrom, as will be apparent.

In, the present invention the disappearing wall stairway is housed in a small-space or in a recess in the-wall of the lower floor and is in vertical position, thereby occupying a minimum amount of space when not in use. The space or recess for the disappear- Serial N0. 277,171.

ingwall stairway is provided with a continuation which is formed in the ceiling and 1s in communication therewith, so that as the stairwayris moved to inclined position, the complete passageway to the upper level is provided. The opening in the ceiling may be provided with a movable panel or closure which opens asthe stairway moves into operative position, and the said devices may be connected for joint operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand rail or rails which automatically move to an elevated position along the stairway stringer to afford the banister. As

a further refinement of the invention, the dlsappearing wall stairway and connecting parts may be motor operated, so that with a single operation of an electric button, the stairway can be moved in and out of position, together with the other adjuncts of the device. It is also an object of the in vention to combine the stairway with door operating mechanisms, so that as the stairway is moved outwardly the door for the recess is opened and as the stairway moves into closed position the door will be closed:

The invention has numerous other objects and advantages which will appear from the detailed description herein contained. 'It will be appreciated that many of the detailed mechanisms are not essential and may be omitted or modified within the scope of the invention as defined by the prior art and'by the claims in this case. The drawings show theperfected and preferred form of the invention so that the construction and operation thereof will be clear to'those skilled in this art, changes and departures therefrom being within the scope of the invention.

' In the drawings: r

Fig. l is a side elevation and partial section of the new disappearing wall stairway in open or operative position, 7

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus in closed or inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stair- Way, the parts in section being on the line 33 of Fig. 1; U i

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper end of the stairway in open position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the hand rail;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view of the closure in raisedor open position on the line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 1; Fig 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11' of Fig. Fig. 12 is a section on line 1212 of Fig. Fig. 13 is a section through the recess'or cupboard with the stairway in closed position therein, being taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the stairway showing the automatic operating device for moving the stairway and being taken on the line indicated at 14l4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section through the door operating mechanism by which the door is opened and closed in unison with the operation of the stairway;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 17 is a detail view of the dog or latch;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line 1818 of Fig. 17

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic showing of the motor control switches and electrical connections if such be incorporated in the completed structure.

Figure 20 is a section on line 2020 of Figure 5; and

Figure 21 is a fragmentary plan along line 21-21 of Figure 5.

The complete apparatus is designed to be installed within an area formed by a wall 1 and a ceiling 2 and, for the purpose of describing the invention, may be assumed to be placed in an upper hallway in a dwellin and to permit access to the attic, although, as made clear herein, the invention is by no means limited to such an installation.

The wall is provided with a recess or cupboard 3 extending from the floor and opening up through the ceiling into the room above, the recess being of sufficient dimensions to house the stairway in vertical or closed position. The recess may be closed by a door 4 if desired, this door extending to the ceiling and completely concealing the closed stairway. If desired, the door may be omitted in installation in factories, warehouses or dwellings and the recess may also be omitted. the stairwa bein moved back 1 1 17 against the wall in such cases.

The ceiling opening, which is in communication with the recess 3, is indicated by the numeral 5 and is lined about the stairway or right hand end thereof, as shown in Figure 4, with a metal plate 6, the face of which is flush with the rear wall of the recess, being secured over the opening by a flange This plate has wings 8 extending along the sides of the opening and secured by ears 9 to the side of the opening. The sides of the ceiling opening are provided with rails 10 which extend from end to end thereof. The far end of the opening is provided with a frame or plate 11.

The disappearing wall stairway consists of parallel stringers 14 which support the treads 15. The stairway is supported upon rollers 16 secured to-a shaft 17 in the lower ends of the stringers, the rollers being covered with a rubber tread 18, if desired, which tread may be vulcanized directly to the rollers. The rollers are movable over the floor 19 and support the stairway thereon. If the stairway is to be operated by hand the driving mechanism may be omitted; and in the cases of warehouse or factory installations, the rollers may be omitted. If the automatic operation is to be installed, the lower end of the stairway is provided with a box or housing 20 in which is mounted the reversible electric induction motor 21 having starting leads S and running leads R and having a worm 22 upon its shaft.

The worm 22 meshes with a worm gear 22 supported on theupper end of a vertical jack shaft 22 mounted in a bearing plate 22 secured to the housing 20. The shaft 22 carries at its lower end a worm 23 meshing with a worm gear 23 which is rotatable on the shaft 17 being confined at one side by a collar 23. On the opposite side of the worm gear 23 is located a clutch member 24, also rotatable upon the shaft and slidable thereon. The clutch 24 is connected to the gear 23 by pins 24 projecting from the side of the worm gear and projecting into recesses in the side of the clutch member 24, the pins being of sufficient length to maintain proper driving connection between the clutch and the worm gear.

The clutch member is designed to engage a clutch 25 on one of the rollers 16. The clutch is thrown into and out of engagement by a pivoted lever 27 mounted on a bracket 27 on. the side of the plate 22. The lever is moved to disengage the clutch by a spring 28, and is engaged by means of weighted arms 29 on the motor shaft, which, when thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, move a collar 30, against the face of which the levers make contact. The movement of the collar rocks the lever 27 and engages the clutch. In this manner the motor will drive the rollers when it has attained sufficient speed and will also disengage the rollers promptly when current is shut off therefrom, thereby moving the stairway to a definite position.

The motor drive may be controlled in a number of ways which will readily be suggested to one familiar with the requirements. An arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figure 19, in which represents single pole, double throw switches which close the motor circuit. The switches 35 may be mounted at convenient points and connect by leads in conduits 35 Fi ure 1 with a con trol box 36 located at a convenient point in the opening 5 which controls the direction of rotation of the motor. The automatic stopping and reversing of the motor is accomplished through a pair of reversing switches in the control box which; are actuated by a lever 38 through the agency of a rock shaft'37 and arm 37 which leveris ad justably secured at to cradle or movable support for the stairway, so that as the stairway approaches either limit of its movement, the current is shut off from the motor. The two reversing switches are connected together by a bar 36 cooperating with the arm37 mounted on the rock shaft 37. (as seen diagrammatically in Figure 19) which is actuated by the throwing of the lever 38. The operation of the stairway is eifected by closing either of the switches 35 while the motor circuit is openedand reversed by the automatic throwing of the reversing switches by the lever 38 as can be seen. from the diagram. One of the switches 35 must then be operated to cause the stairway to move in the reverse direction whereupon the reversing switches will be again thrown to their orig inal positions by the lever 38 to open and reverse the motor circuit and put it in its original condition. This cycle can be repeated as desired. a The stairway stringers 14' are'of the required length to extend to the upper floor level when moved outwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. When in closed inoperative position, they project through the opening 5into the room above. In order to permit the pivotal and longitudinal movements required, the stringers "are mounted in swinging supports or cradles, the con.- struction of which will now be described.

To the face of the plate 6 are secured the stationary members of the hinges; The

movable members 46 of the hinges are fastened to the support for the stairway. This support is in the form of a framework comprising a cross bar 48 having a central depressed portion spanningthe stairway and with raised end portions 50 which are riveted to the underside of the hinge members 46. Theframework includes a second cross. bar 52 spaced from the bar 48 and rigidly connected therewith by diagonal braces 53.'

The ends of the cross bar 52 are bent upwardly on either side of the stringers 14 and connecting this portion of the bar 52 with the corresponding portionof the bar 48 are. guide bars 55 which are slidable in grooves or channels56 in theside faces of the stringers 14. By the construction which has 'just been described, the disappearing wall stairway is properly guided in its pivotal and sliding movement, and the stairway cannot twist, but will move in a straight line into and out of position. In order to limit the outward movement of the stairway, a stop 58 is secured to each stringer near the upper end thereof which is adapted to engage a stop 59 on the hinge plate 46.

It is desirable to provide a hand rail for the stairway, which may be omitted in rougher installations. If the stairway is placed in the angle of a wall only a hand rail on the outer stringer is necessary. One hand rail only is illustrated, but this element may be added on either or both sides. It is also desirable that the hand rail fold against the stair stringer when in vertical or closed position and move outwardly automatically as the stairway is moved to inclined or open position. The mechanism for this purpose is shown in Figures 4 to 7' and 11. and 12.

The hand rail is indicated by the numeral 60 and its position when the stairway is open is shown "in Figure 1, the ends of the rail being in approximately vertical alignment with the ends of the stringers 14. In closed position the hand rail is adjacent the string er, lying along the upper or outer edge of the stringer, being oii'set therefrom for this purpose. The hand rail is attached to sub stantially triangular-shapeddouble brackets 62 near its upper end and to plates 63 along its length. To the bracket'62 is pivoted an arm 64 reinforced with double side plates 64 the other end being pivoted at 65 to a spacer 66 riveted to the upper end of the stringer 14; The plates 63 are pivoted to other arms 64, also pivoted at 65 to spacers 66 on the stringer. The upper and lower arms 64 are provided with stop plates 72 which contact with the underside of the hand rail when the stairway is closed. The

lowermost spacer 66 is provided with an angularly arranged stop 7 3 with which its arm 64 contacts when the rail is at its uppermost position.

In order to elevate the hand rail as the stairway moves outwardly to open position, the link 7 5 is provided. This link consists of two parts 76 and 77 which are permitted to slide upon one another by clips 78 attached to each of said members and embracing the other member. The link part 7 6 is pivoted at its upper end to pin 7 9 connecting the brackets 62. The link 7 7 is pivoted at its lower end upon a pin 80 in the ends of 1 the cross bar 52. The link 76 is formed at its upper end with a stop 82 which "limits the telescopic movement of the two links. The bracket 62 adjacent the link 77 is formed with an inturned lip or short flange 8 1 and the link 7 7 with a projection85 which is adapted to pass behind the flange 84 to hold the hand rail in its raised position, as will be explained.

I When the stairwa is closed or in vertical position, the hand rail lies along the stringer and the links 76 and 77 are extended to their greatest length, the lower end of the coirpound link being secured to the pivotal support and the upper end to the bracket on the hand rail. As the stairway moves outwardly by pivotal movement of. the support, it also moves longitudnally in the support, sliding on the guide bars 55. The telescopic links contract until the link 77 strikes the pin or stop 82, up to which time there has been no outward movement of the hand rail, none beingrequired until the stairway reaches its outermost position.

As the stairway approaches its final open position, the link 75 being in the position shown in Figure 7, the continued movement of the stairway, through the now rigid link, elevates the hand rail'to its outer position. At the same time the pin passes behind the flange 84, locking the rail in position. It will thus be seen that the invention provides for the automatic elevation of the hand rail as the stairway opens. As the stairway closes, the reversal of movement causes the collapse of the hand rail so t-hat'it occupies its final posit-ion automatically.

The invention also provides-for the automatic operation of a closure for the opening 5 from the upper end of the recess 3 to the end plate 11.

In the form of the invention shown, this closure consists of a. two-part panel and 91, the parts being iinged together at 92 so as to fold invertical position at the farxend of the opening 5 when the stairway is open and to expand and cover the opening when the stairway is closed. The panel 90 is provided with a plate 9 1 which is hinged at 95 at each end of the panel to a flange provided on a. gear box 96 located in the angularrecess in the opening 5. The free end of the panel 91 is provided with brackets 98 in which are journaled rollers 99 moving over rack bars 100 which slide on the rails 10. The panel 90 is also provided with stop brackets 10.1 which rest upon the rails when the panel is lowered or expanded, the panel being then supported from sagging throughout its extent. A handle 102 on the panel 90 provides means for raising the panel from above and for operating the disappearing wall stairway thereby.

The panel is folded and expanded by means connected with the stairway so that the parts operate in unison.

To the extremities or". the cross bar 18 are pivoted links 105, the other ends ofthe links being pivoted to the slidingrack bars 100. Therack bars are angular incross section as topermitthe rollers 98 to move over them. In order to prevent elevation of the rack bars by the movement of the link 105 on outward movement of the stairway, the rollers 106 are provided on the ends of wings 8 of the plate 6, these rollers confining the rack bars during their travel.

The far ends of the rack bars 100 are provided with short racks 108 which mesh with intermediate gears 109 supported by journal hearings in the gear boxes 96 on eitherside of the openin These gears mesh with gears 110 also supported in like manner to which are rigidly fastened arms 111. The arms are formed with lugs 112 which slide upon bars 114 secured on angle brackets 113 on the panel 90.

The operation of the panel may be briefly summarized. When the. stairway moves outwardly, the rack bars and racks are moved to the left as shown in the drawings and the gears are rotated, which, through the arms 111, raise the panels 90 and 91 which fold together until they are in upright position. In their travel the panels are supported by the rollers moving over the upper surfaces of the rack bars which are, in turn, supported by the rails 10. In moving to closed position, the reverse of this action takes place.

It will thus be seen that by the simple movement of the stairway from vertical or closed position in the recess 3 to its outer position, the ceiling opening is uncovered and the hand rail is elevated. These movements may all be accomplished by the operation of the motor driving mechanism for the stairway, although the manual operation of [the ladder will perform the same actions.

In many cases, the door 4 may be operated by hand, but it is desirable to provide means for opening and closing the door by the operation of the stairway, and this additional automatic feature is applicable where the stairway is motor operated, provision being made to open and close the door as the stairway moves out and in.

The details of the mechanism which have been provided for this purpose are shown in Figures 15 and 18 inclusive. It will be observed that the opening movement of the door is limited by'a stop and the door is mounted upon angular hinges 121 which engage with the stop to hold the door in its proper open position. The door is provided at its lower inner corner with a plate 122 having an eye 123 formed thereon, with which is engaged one end of a link 124%, the other end being fastened in a swiveled pin 125. The pin 125 is swiveled upon the lower end of a swinging latch or dog 126, pivoted at its upper end to a bracket 127 secured to the frame of the adjacent side wall of the recess 3. The upper. end of the bracket 127 is provided with a flange 128. Intermediate cess.

the ends of the latch, it is given ah'orizontal bend 129. which offsets the lower end of the latch and between the bend and the flange 128 is located a tension spring 130 which tends to move the latch upwardly in either direction, the movement of the latch being limited by the movement of the door.- The lowermost end of the latch is provided with. a rigid finger 131 and with a movablefinger '132between which is situated the notch 133. The movable finger 132 is made from a shaped piece of metal which is pivoted at 134 on a lug 135 onthe' lower end ofthe latch, the arrangement being such that the finger 132 may rock toward the left as shown in Figure 17, but will be prevented from movement to the right by this lug. I

The lower end of the stringer 14 of the stairway is provided with a pin 138, held in place by a reinforcing plate 140, the pin be ing adapted to engage in the notch 133 when the stairway is in the recess and for a limited period of its movement. 'When the stairway is in vertical oridle position, the

latch is located in the dotted line position shown in Figure 16, the pin 138 being to the right of the finger 131 and in the notch 133. As the stairway moves outwardly by the operation of the motor, it will move under thepivoted finger 132 into the notch and against the face of the finger 131. This will move the latch outwardly, which, through the link 124, will open the door to its full position, the momentumor, the force of the spring 130 serving to clear the path of the pin. The full line position of the parts in Figure 16 showsthe bottom of the stairway moved out from the wall to a position where it has fully opened the door 'On i return movement, the pin passes beneath the finger 131 and into the notch 133 and against the face of the finger, 132, which is now rigid againstthe face of the lug 135, thereby closing the door. as the stairway enters the re-' The pivoted finger 132" only comes into play when the door has been opened by hand and is in its openv position when the stair is moved to its outwardposition. -At this time the pin 138 will pass outwardly under and raise the finger 132, but upon the inward movement of the stair will engage positively with the finger to move the bracket to close the door. I y

It will be understood that the mechanism described for opening and closing the door may be omitted and the door opened and closed by hand, the automatic operation of the door being a further refinement operating in combination with the stairwaymoving mechanism and also operating in timed re- Provision is made.

lation with the closure. for the automatic operation of all of the parts of the complete mechanism, including the stairway, its hand rail, theceiling closure andthe door. It will be apparent that struc-.

turesequivalent to Stairways may be substituted for. the stairway shown and described and that the invention is of suflicientscope to reach such modifications. What is claimed is: 1. In a device of the class described, a stairway, and a pivotal mounting for the stairway at theceiling, said stairway being a stairway longitudinally movable in the support from vertical to inclined position. 3. In a device-of the class described, a ceiling having an opening therein, a pivoted support on. one end of the opening, a stairway longitudinally movable in the support from vertical to inclined position, and a movable closure for said opening.

4.'In a device of the class described,1a ceiling having an opening therein, a pivoted support on one end of the opening, a stairway longitudinally movable in the support from vertical to inclined position, a movable closure for said opening, and means for moving saidclosure in unison'with the movement of the support.

5. In a building having upper and lower floors with an opening between, a stairway having its lower end movable over the lower floor, and a pivoted support at one edge ofthe opening on the upper floor in whichthe stairway is slidably mounted, said opening providing a passageaway at the head of the stairway.

6. In a building having upper and lower floors with an opening between, a stairway havingits lower end movableover the lower floor, a pivoted support at one edge of the opening on the upper floor in which the stairway is slidably mounted, said opening providing a passageway atthe head of the stairway, and a closure for said passageway,

said closure being movable in unison with the movement of the stairway.

7. In a building having upper and lower. floors with an opening-between, a stairway having its lowerend movable over the lower floor, a pivoted support at one edge of the opening on the upper floor in which i the stairway is slidably mounted," said opening providing apassageway at the head of the stairway, and a closure for said passageway,

said closure comprising a folding panel and means to fold said panel to expose the passageway as the stairway moves across the lower floor. 1 A

8. In a building having upper and lower floors with an opening between, a stairway having its lower end movable over the lower floor, a pivoted support at one edge of the opening on the upper floor in which the stairway is slidably mounted, said opening providing a passageway at the head of the stairway, and a closure for said passageway, said closure comprising a folding panel and means to fold said panel to expose the passagewayQ 9. A device of the class described, comprising a'single rigid stairway unitmovable from vertical inoperative position to inclined operative position, a hand rail on the stairway, said hand rail being movable from a position adjacent the stairway to a position above the stairway when the latter is in inclined position, and means connected to the hand rail and operable by movement of the stairway between its positions to move said hand rail between its positions.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a single, rigid stairway unit movable from vertical inoperative posit-ion to inclined operative position, and a hand rail on the stairway, said hand rail being movable by the operation of the stairway from a position adjacent the stairway to aposition above the stairway as the latter is moved to inclined position.

11. A device of the class described, comprising a single, rigid stairway unit movable from vertical inoperative position to inclined operative position, a hand rail on the stairway, said hand rail being movable from a position adjacent the stairway to a position above the stairway as the latter is moved to inclined position, and means to lock the hand rail in its elevated position.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a single, rigid stairway unit movable from vertical inoperative position to inclined operative position, a hand rail on the stairway, said hand rail being movable by the operation of the stairway from a position adjacent the stairway to a position above the stairway as the latter is moved to inclined position, and means to lock the hand rail in its elevated position.

13. A device of the class described, comprising a single, rigid stairway unitmovable from vertical inoperative position to in clined operative position, a hand rail on the stairway, said hand rail being movable from a position adjacent the stairway to a position above'the stairway as the latter is moved to inclined position, and a panel above the stairway movable away from the head of the stairway in unison with the movements of the stairway and the hand rail.

14. In a device of the class described, a single, rigid stairway unit movable from vertical position to inclined position, a hand rail on the stairway movable from a posi tion adjacent the stairway to a position rm mm above the stairway, a closure at the head of the stairway, and connections between the stairway, the closure and the hand rail to move all of said parts in unison.

15. In a device of the class described, a stairway movable from vertical position to inclined position, said stairway being received in a recess in the adjacent wall, a door for the recess, means for moving the stairway, and apparatus adapted to be engaged and actuated during initial movement of the stairway from the recess for automatically opening the door upon outward movement of the stairway from the recess.

16. In a device oi? the class described, a stairway movable from vertical position to inclined position, said stairway being received in a recess in the adjacent wall, a door for the recess, means for moving the stairway, and apparatus operable by movement of the stairway for automatically opening the door upon outward movement of the stairway from the recess and closing the door upon inward movement of the stairway.

17. In a device of the character described, a wall having a recess therein, a stairway receivable in the recess when in vertical position, a door for the recess, a ceiling having an opening in communication with the recess to provide a passageway along the stairway, a closure for said opening, means for moving the stairway to inclined position,

and connecting means operable by movement of the stairway for moving the closure away from the opening and opening the door in unison with the movement of the stairway.

18. In adevice-of the character described, a wall having a recess therein, a stairway receivable in the recess when in vertical position, a door for the recess, a ceiling having an opening in communication with the recess to provide a passageway along the stairway, a closure for said opening, means for movingthe stairway to inclined position, and connecting means for moving the closure away from the opening and opening the door in unison with the movement of the stairway, said means also moving the closure over the opening and closing the door upon reverse movement of the stairway.

19. A disappearing stairway movable in cooperation with a ceiling opening between lower and upper floors of a building between a vertical or retracted position and an inclined position for use, reversible power means for operating the stairway b tween said positions, and means controlled by movement of the stairway into its respective positions for stopping the power means and setting it to reverse.

20. A disappearing stairway movable in cooperation with a ceiling opening between lower and upper floors of a building and with a wall between said floors between a vertical or retracted position adjacent the wall and an inclined position for use, reversible power means for operating the stairway between said positions, and means controlled by movement of the stairway into its respective positions for stopping the power means and setting it to reverse.

21. A disappearing stairway movable in cooperation with a ceiling opening between lower and upper floors of a building and with a wall between said floors between a vertical or retracted position adjacent the wall and an inclined position for use, a motor for operating the stairway between said positions, and means controlled by movement of the stairway into its respective positions for stopping the motor and setting it to reverse.

22. A disappearing stairway for cooperating with a ceiling opening between lower and upper floors of a building, said stairway being movable between a retracted position when not in use and an extended position when it is to be used, reversible power means for operating the stairway between said positions, and means controlled by movement of the stairway into the respective positions for stopping the power means and setting it to reverse. g

23. In a device of the class described, a

stairway, the lower end of which is supported upon and movable over a floor, a pivotal mounting for the upper end of the stairway at an edge of a ceiling opening and on which the stairway is slidable, a motor on the stairway, and means driven by the motor to propel the stairway over the floor.

24. In a device of the class described, a stairway, the lower end of which is sup-- ported upon and movable over a floor, a pivotal support mounted at an edge of a stairway, means driven by the motor to propel the stairway over the floor, means for controlling the motor by movement of the stairway, and a movable closure at the head of the stairway connected thereto and operable in unison therewith.

FRANK E. BESSLER.

ceiling opening in which the upper end of i the stairway is slidably mounted, a motor on the stairway, means driven by the motor to propel the stairway over the floor, and

means for controlling ment of the stairway.

25. In a device of the class described, a stairway, the lower end of which is supported upon and movable over a floor, a pivotal mounting for the upper end of the the motor by movestairway at an edge of a ceiling opening on which the stairway is slidable, a motor on the stairway, means driven by the motor to propel the stairway over the floor, and a movable closure at the head of the stairway connected thereto and operable in unison therewith.

26. In a device of the class described, a stairway, the lower end of which is supported upon and movable over a floor, a pivotal mounting at one end of a ceiling opening in which the upper end of the stairway is slidably mounted, a motor on the

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