Stowable step assembly
A stowable step assembly for climbing a structure is disclosed which includes an articulating step, including a step, the step has at least one cam surface, allowing articulation of the step from i) a deployed position allowing a user to place weight on the step, to ii) a stowed position, at least one cam stop configured to stop the cam motion of the step when in the deployed position; a hanger, including a connector configured to interface with the step, wherein the connector includes at least one counterpart cam surface to the at least one cam surface of the step and wherein the connector includes at least one counterpart cam stop to the at least one cam stop of the step, at least one hook configured to interface with a counterpart attachment arrangement of a structure; and a fastener configured to couple the connector to the step.
1. A stowable step assembly for climbing a vertical structure, comprising:
an articulating step assembly, including
a step configured to be coupled to a vertical structure and further configured to allow a user to place weight in an upward or downward climbing motion by placing the user's weight on an inward surface of the step while climbing the vertical structure, the step having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end,
two cam surfaces disposed adjacent the proximal end, one said cam surface defining the proximal end of the step and another said cam surface coupled to the vertical structure, allowing articulation from i) a deployed position allowing a user to place weight on the step, to ii) a stowed position allowing the step to be stowed away when not in use where in the stowed position the step and the vertical structure assume a tucked formation such that extension of an imaginary line along said inward surface of the step is configured to cross an imaginary line along surface of the vertical structure adjacent the distal end of the step in an acute angle,
two cam stops configured to stop the cam motion of the step when in the deployed position;
a hanger assembly, including
a connector configured to interface with the step on one side of the connector, wherein the connector includes two counterpart cam surfaces to the two cam surfaces of the step and wherein the connector includes at least one counterpart cam stop to the two cam stops of the step,
two hooks fixedly disposed on a second side of the connector, wherein the second side is opposite the first side of the connector, each of the two hooks having a hook cam surface configured to interface with one of a plurality of counterpart attachment arrangement of the vertical structure, wherein the two hook cam surfaces enhance ease of positioning of the two hooks on the counterpart attachment arrangement of the vertical structure; and
a fastener configured to couple the connector to the step.
2. The stowable step assembly of claim 1 , the connector is metallic.
3. The stowable step assembly of claim 2 , the metal is aluminum.
4. The stowable step assembly of claim 1 , the step includes plastics.
5. The stowable step assembly of claim 4 , plastics includes one or more of high-density polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
6. The stowable step assembly of claim 1 , the at least one cam stop of the connector includes two cam stops.
7. The stowable step assembly of claim 1 , the step is spring-loaded to bias the step to the stowed position.