Portable construction staircase

Abstract

A portable staircase for use at construction sites that comprises fold-down railings to facilitate transport from one construction site to the next. The portable staircase includes a plurality of horizontal treads supported by stringers. Handrails are provided which pivotally connect to the stringer utilizing a plurality of handrail support posts. A permanent pivot pin pivotally connects the handrail to each of the handrail support posts. Another permanent pivot pin pivotally connects each of the handrail support posts to the stringer. The handrail can be locked into one of two pre-selected positions: a first folded-down position to facilitate transportation and a second upright position for use at construction sites. Two removable pins may be employed to lock the handrail in position: a first removable pin to lock the handrail support post to the stringer and a second removable pin to lock the handrail support post to the handrail in the up and usable position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention is a portable staircase for use at construction sites and more specifically a portable staircase which includes a hand railing which can be folded down to facilitate transportation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention is a portable staircase that can be utilized by contractors or construction crews at construction sites. Many contractors that renovate homes and / or build new homes or other structures must climb ladders to go from one floor to the next during the construction phase. This method of ascending floors remains in place until either a temporary staircase is built or the permanent staircase is installed. These contractors, homeowners, designers and inspectors do not like or feel safe climbing these ladders, but they have little choice until the permanent stairs are installed.[0003]There are many prior art prefabricated staircases already on the market, but none of them address the portability issue that ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention is a portable staircase for use at construction sites that comprises fold-down railings to facilitate transport from one construction site to the next. The portable staircase includes a plurality of horizontal treads supported by stringers. At least one handrail is provided which is pivotally connected to the stringer utilizing a plurality of handrail support posts. A permanent pivot pin pivotally connects the handrail to each of the handrail support posts. Another permanent pivot pin pivotally connects each of the handrail support posts to the stringer. The handrail can be locked into one of two pre-selected positions: a first folded-down position to facilitate transportation and a second upright position for use at construction sites. The stringer, handrail posts and handrail are all predrilled with pin-receiving holes in order to lock the handrail in its chosen position utilizing a removable pin. If desired, two removable pins may be employed to lock the handrail in position: a first removable pin to lock the handrail support post to the stringer and a second removable pin to lock the handrail support post to the handrail in the up and usable position.

Problems solved by technology

These contractors, homeowners, designers and inspectors do not like or feel safe climbing these ladders, but they have little choice until the permanent stairs are installed.

These prior art temporary staircases are typically extremely heavy, and more importantly, bulky.

As such, they are difficult to transport, and virtually impossible for a contractor to relocate from one job site to the next.

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