US1183707A - Folding car-step and trap-door. - Google Patents

Description

A. V. WINEGARDEN.

FOLDING CAR STEP AND TRAP DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20. [915.

1,1 83,707 1 Patented May 16, 1911s.

1 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. F -l. Flgif.

32 WITNESSES.-

63 1 I WITNESSES: 9

A. V. WINEGARDEN.

FOLDING CAR STEP AND TRAP DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED 020.20.1915.

Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WMMMW THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

. pnrran sra'rns rarnnr orrroa.

AREY V. WINEGARDEN, 0F \NICI-IITA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T0 ELMER E. CRESSLER, OF VVICHITA, KANSAS.

FOLDING CAR-STEP AN D TRAP-DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AREY V. VVINEGARDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Folding Car-Step and Trap-Door, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in folding car steps and trap doors, and has particular reference to certain improvements in the construction of these devices disclosed and described in Patent No. 1,081,879, granted to me December 16, 1913.

It is an object of the present invention to simplify and strengthen the various operative parts of the device disclosed in my prior patent, and to improve the connection between the folding step and the hinged trap door, which connection admits of the separate and independent operation of the folding step and the trap door.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for housing in and covering the various working parts to protect the same from the weather, such as rain, snow, sleet, and the like, which would otherwise rust out and prevent the free operation of the pivotally connected parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for releasing the connecting device between the step operating mechanism and the hinged door.

Other objects and advantages'of this invention will be more clearly brought out in the following detail description of the present preferred embodiment of the in vention, which is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through one side of a platform of a car, showing in section the improved folding step in raised. or collapsed position, and showing the trap door closed, the parts being in position when not in use and usually when the car is in motion. Fig. 2 is a similar view, disclosing the folding step opened, and showing the trap door raised, so that the entrance to the car is open for use. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the car platform, looking toward the inside of the improved step and door in the position of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an end elevation of one side of the platform, showing the operating handle partly in section, and showing the apron for housing in the outer end of the mech anism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower end of a tier of car steps, showing the shield or apron behind which the improved folding car step is inclosed, when folded, and showing the adjacent parts of the improved mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged sectional view of a connection be tween the trap door and the mechanism which operates the folding step, this view also showing the releasing bolt and its adjacent mechanism in releasing position. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the releasing bolt. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the tumbling block for connecting and-releasing the parts. Fig. 9 is a horizon tal sectional view through the connection betweenthe releasing bolt and the tumbling block, and the parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable connection between the door operating rack and the step folding mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail side elevational view of a slightly modified form of operating means for turning the step folding shaft.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar numerals of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates the body of a car provided at one end and at its side with a tier of steps 11 arranged in the usual manner.

The-lowermost fixed tread 12 of the tier of steps 11 is provided at its front edge with a depending apron or shield 13 comprising the vertical leg of an angle iron, which extends across the lower end of the tier of steps 11, and has its horizontal leg or flange secured to the under side of the tread 12. This apron 13extends downwardly from the tr'eadl2 a considerable distance, substantiallyhalf the. height of one of the risers 1 1 of the steps, and is adapted to entirely house and close in from view the improved mechanism, which will 110W be described.

A hinge shaft 15 is secured at its opposite ends to the side 16 of the steps and lies closely in the angle between the tread 12 and the apron 13 It is, of course, understood that the apron 13 may be secured to the tread 12 in any other suitable manner than as shown, it only being necessary that the upper ends for rotatable engagement upon the shaft to thus hinge the riser 17 on the shaft. The lower ends of the straps 19 are turned abruptly forward to provide seating shoulders 20 upon which the lower ends of the risers 17 rest The forward extremities of the strap 19 arelooped to provide eyes 21 for hinge engagement upon a second transverse hinge shaft 22. This hinge shaft 22 constitutes a connection be- .tween the riser l7 and the folding tread 18. The tread 1 8 has upon its under side two ornore straps 23 secured transversely thereacross, and being looped at their inner ends for engagement over and about the hinge shaft 22. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the rear ends of the straps 23 are turned abruptly upward to form seating shoulders against which the inner edge of the tread 18 is adapted to rest. The straps 23 terminate against the under side of the tread 18 short of the outer edge thereof, the outer edge being reinforced by a longitudinal strap 24, which preferably engages at 1ts inner edge against the extremities of the straps 23. Thetread 18 is held in extended position, and in a true horizontal position by means of pairs of links 25 and 26. The upper links 25 are hinged upon the shaft 15 adjacent to its opposite ends, and extend down and have pivotal connection by means of pins 27, with the upper ends of the links 26. The lowerends of the links 26 are rotatably mounted upon pins 28 projecting longitudinally from the strip 24 carried beneath the tread 18, the links 26 being held upon the pins 28 by nuts 29, or the like. The upper extremities of the links 26 extend. beyond the pivot'pins 27 and are provided upon their lower or inner edges wlth inturned lips or stops 30, which engage against the lower edges of the upper'links 25 to hold the links 25 and 26 from straightening or buckling outward. This insures the easy. closing of the links as the same are always in position to buckle inwardly and thus admit of the folding of the tread 18 V against the outer face of the riser 17.

The tier of steps 11 carries most of the operatin mechanism therebeneath, the mechanism being supported upon a pair of angle brackets 31, each of which has one arm arranged vertically and secured to the adjacent side 16 near the top of the steps, while its opposite arm projects outwardly substantially in line with the lowermost fixed 65, tread l2, asclearlyshown in Figs l and 2 the path of the shoulders 38.

of the drawings. In the angles of these brackets 31 is journaled the opposite ends of an operating shaft 32, which is turned by any suitable mechanism, such as by means of a handle 33. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the handle 33 comprises a relatively flat elongated bar having an upstanding hand engaging portion 34, and provided with a socket 35 at its inner end for the reception of the upper end of a handle shaft 36. a The shafts 36 extend downwardly through a supporting plate or guide 37, which is secured in any convenient manner to the platform of the car 10. The handle 33 is locked in its opposite positions, one position being shown in Fig. 4, wherein the improved car step mechanism is collapsed or folded, and the opposite position being shown in Fig. 3, wherein the car step is extended. For locking the handle 33 in its opposite positions, the plate 37 is provided at each side of the shaft 36 with a shoulder or stop 38 adapted to receive thereagainst a lug 39 depending from a finger latch 40, which is pivoted upon theangle of the handle 33 and which extends inwardly along the upper side of the handle. The lug 39 projects downwardly through a slot or opening formed in the handle and into the path of the shoulders or stops 38. As shown in Fig. 4,.the stops or shoulders 38 are provided with inclined faces adapted to receive and raise the lug 39, as the handle 33 approaches the stops 38. The lug 39 is adapted to snap down behind the shoulders 38 and thus lock the lever 33 from turning into opposite position until it is released by the operation of the finger latch 40. A leaf spring 41 is carried upon the upper face of the lever andbears at its free end upon the horizontal portion of the finger lever 40 to yieldingly hold the lug 39 down into The handle shaft 36 passes downwardly through a bearing 42 in the floor of the car platform and ondown into juxtaposition to the operating shaft 32. Bevelgears 43 connect the operating shaft 32 to the handle shaft 36 to thus turn the operating shaft when the handle 33 is actuated. It will benoted that the gear 43 on the operating shaft 32 is fixed upon an outer extremity of the operating shaft which extends beyond the adjacent side bracket 31, so that the gears, or the connection between the operating shaft and the handle is located outside of the, vertical planes of the side 16 of the tier of steps 11.

As may be seen from Fig. 11, the operating shaft may be actuated in a different manner, such as by positioning upon the outer end of the operating shaft 32 a pinion 43 and meshing a rack bar 36 with the pin- ,ion. The rack bar 36 is mounted,'prefer- -ably beneath the platform of the car, in the lower end of, a bearing 42 and isconnected to a cylinder 33 for reciprocating the rack bar 36 to thus rotate the pinion 43 in either direction. Fluid, such as compressed air, steam, or the like, may be admitted to the piston 33" through one or more pipes 34 leading to the cylinder 33 Thus, the operating shaft may be rotated in opposite directions by hand power, or by fluid power.

The operating shaft 32 is provided with a pair of radial arms 44 and 45, the same being adjustably mounted upon the operating shaft 32 by set screws 46, or the like. The outer ends are bifurcated or split edgewise to provide sockets 47 in which are received the inner ends of links 48, which extend forwardly from the outer ends of the arms 44 and 45, and have pivotal engagement upon the opposite outer ends of the hinge shaft 22, which connects the riser 17 to the tread 18 of the folding step. The inner ends of the links 48 are offset downwardly, as at 49 to admit of the complete folding of the step and the turning of the arms 44 and into such position as to dispose the line of draft through the links 48 substantially through the central axis of the operating shaft 32. It will be noted from examining Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that the tread 18 is not only drawn backwardly by the links 48 and arms 44 and 45, but that it is also inclined backwardly at a slight angle, so as to raise its forward edge up behind the apron 13. This tilting action of the tread 18 is accomplished by means of a guiding arm 50, which is secured against the under side of the tread 18 and projects backwardly beneath and out of contact with the hinge shaft 22, and is bent up into proximity to the operating shaft 32. The rear end of the guiding arm 50 is provided with a loop 51 receiving there through the shaft 32 and being bent intermediate its ends into angle formation to hold the step 18 first in its true horizontal position, and to subsequently, when the forward edge of the tread 18 reaches a point beneath or slightly in rear of the plane of the apron 13, raise or tilt the forward edge of the tread 18 and guide it into the position shown in Fig. 1, as the links 48 draw the'hinge shaft 22 rearwardly.

Each bracket 31 is provided with a depending rest or support 52, the same being in the form of astrap secured to the horizontal arm of each bracket 31 and extending downwardly and inwardly from the same, and having upon its lower end an inturned lip against which the lower edge of the adj a cent link 48 is adapted to seat. This limits the downward movement of the links 48 and holds them in position where they may be easily raised, and also firmly supports the tread 18, when opened.

Each end of the tierof steps 11 is provided with a depending apron or shield 53, which is in the form of sheet metal, as shown to advantage in Fig. 4, secured along its upper edge to the adjacent side 16 of the tier of steps and depending sufiiciently to close in the operating shaft, links, and other devices, which are depended upon for folding and unfolding the step 18. It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 5 that the lower ends 54 of the shields or aprons 53 are spread outwardly to accommodate the links 25 and 26 when extended, and to house the same when they are collapsed. In the present instance, the aprons 53 and 13are disclosed as being separately formed and secured to the tier of steps 11. It, however, is to be understood that these aprons, or apron sections, may be made in any desired manner, which is found suitable and convenient in manufacture and application, and that it is not necessary to adhere to the specific formation herein described.

Each side of the platform of the car 10 is provided with a trap door 55 adapted to close the space at the top of the steps 11 and to form a continuation of the floor of the platform, when the steps are not to be used. It is a purpose of this invention to provide a novel connecting means between the trap door 55 and the folding step 18, so that the step and the trap door may simultaneously operate to open and close, and so that it will not be necessary. to efi'ect this action by two separate or independent operations. This connecting means comprises an arm 56 which extends substantially vertically beneath the tier of steps 11, and has a for wardly and downwardly curved projection 57, as best seen in Fig. 10 of the drawings, and has a laterally extending pin 58 for en gagement in an opening or bearing in the inner end of the innermost arm 44 of the operating shaft. It will be noted from Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the pin 58 is mounted eccentric to the operating shaft 32, so that upon the rotation of the shaft, the pin 58 is given eccentric movement to raise and lower the arm 56. The upper end of the arm 56 is received in the fork 59 of a coupling head 60. which extends horizontally inward from the upper end of the arm 56. The coupling head 60 has upon its inner end an enlarged rounded head portion with a vertical opening therethrough to slidably receive therein the depending threaded shank 61 of a rack bar 62, which projects upwardly from the coupling head 60 and through the bottom of the platform of the car. The trap door is hinged at its inner edge to the inner side of the platform adjacent the body of the car 10, as shown in the drawings. The trap door 55 is fixed at its inner edge to a pivot rod 63 mounted for rotation in strap bearings 64 secured to the body of the car and admitting of the free rotation of the pivot rod 63 therein. On the inner end of the rod 63 is fixed a pinion segment 65, meshing with the rack 62. The segment is of suf ficient size to admit of the swinging of the door 55 through an angle of ninety degrees,

or from a closed horizontal position into an open vertlcal position. Counter-sunkin the floor of the platform of the car 18 a guiding casing 66 adapted to receive upwardlytherener side with a leaf spring 67 fixed at one end against the wall of thecasing 66, and, having its opposite end bearing against the. .lower end of the rack bar 62, to normally.

urge the rack bar outof contact with the segment 65.

16 is normally broken so that the step and the door may be separately and independ-.

ently actuated. In the forwardside of the guiding casing 16, a tumbling block 68 is ing of the trap door 55 may be quickly ads justed according to the movements ofthe hinged upon a pin 69 extending transversely through the guiding casing 66, and having eccentric faces 70 and 71 adapted for alternate engagement against the forward side of the rack bar 62. As will be particularly noted from Fig. 8, the abutting face 71 lies closer to the pivotal axis of the tumbling block 68 than does the abutting face 70. The abutting face 70 is, therefore, arranged to advance the rack bar 62 against, the segment 65, while the face 71, when presented.

to the rack bar, admits of the retraction thereof under the action of. the leaf spring A boss or hub 72 projects through the 67 side of the casing 66 and is preferably integral with the tumbling block 68. The outer end of this boss or tubular projection has fixed thereon a link arm 73, provided in its outer end with a longitudinal slot 74. A

sliding bolt 75 is mounted against the outer end of the car body 10 in a vertical position and adjacent to the trap door 55. This slidin bolt 75, as may be best seen in Figs. 6 and? is held in position for sliding movement by straps 76 secured to the car body in vertically spaced relation. A stop shoulder 77 is formed upon the lower end of the bolt 75, and projects outwardly therefrom and is adapted for contact with the lowermost strap 76 to retain the sliding bolt in position and to limit its upward movement. An outturned lip 78 is formed upon the upper end of the bolt 75 and constitutes a hand or finger grasp to enable the easy operation of the bolt. The lower end of the bolt 75 has a lateral offset portion 79, which projects down through the floor of the platform, and is curved outwardly at its lower end to provide a horizontal arm 80, which, when the sliding bolt 75 is raised, lies in substantially; the horizontalv plane of the tumbling block Thus, the connection between: the folding step 18 and the hinged trap door.

' links 518 :1116. arms 5 14: and 45. c

68, and which hasafinger 81 upon its outer end projecting into theslot 74L of the link .arm 73. It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the arm is recessed in one side for the reception of, the slotted end of the link arm 73, and to admit of the free swinging movement ofthe link arm, as the bolt arm 1s raised... and lowered.

,When the handle operating mechanism,

shownin the drawings in Figs. 3 and 4, is

.used, the gears 43 are preferably protected or housed by a casing 82, which surrounds thelower end of the handle shaft 36 and coversthe sides and outer end of the shaft 32, so as to. ward off dust, dirt, rain and the like, which would otherwise clog up the teeth and, .rust out the gears.

F rom. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10 of the'drawings,

it will be noted that thethreaded depending shank of the rack bar 62 is adjustably held in the coupling head 60, bymeans of the usual binding nuts, which engage against the upper and. lower sides of the coupling head. In this manner, the openingand closfolding. step. I In the operation ofthe present device, when the step is folded and the door is closed, asshown in Figs. 1 and 4: of the latter through the. gears 43', turns the operating shaft 32. The shaft 32 is turned. forwardly so as to raise the rear outer ends of thearms 1 1 and 45, and to thus swing the links 48 upwardly and forwardly, into the position shown in Fig. 2. As the links 48 are thrust. forwardly by the arms 1 1 and 45, the riser 17 is swung downwardly and outwardly about the hinge shaft 16, and the tread 18, which moves with the riser 17 and is hinged to the bottom thereof, is held by the guide. arm 50 in its substantially horizontalposition during the swinging of the riser 17. The guide arm 50 holds the tread 1.8 in its horizontal position until the links 25 and 26 are fully extended and are interlocked by means of the stop 30. Thus, the links 25 and 26 relieve the arm 50 of all strain incident to weight placedv 0n the lower tread 18 whenextended. When the links 18 are thrust forwardly to hold the riser 17 in its foremost position, the links 4:8 rest onv thestops 52, and, the depending projections or offset pivot points of the links lie below the rests 52 to thus hold the links in locked position, so that any tendency to swing the riser 17 back beneath the tier of steps 11 will be prevented by interlocked As the inner armtetis turned, by the rotation of the operating shaft 32, the forwardly curved projection 57 of the coupling arm 56 is swung first backwardly and then forwardly from a position beneath the operating shaft as shown in Fig. 1, to a position immediately over the operating shaft as shown in Fig. 2. This circular movement of the projection 57 is permitted as the arm 56 is free to swing in the fork 59 of the coupling head. The coupling head is supported on the arm 56 and is thus raised from its lower position, in Fig. 1, to its uppermost position, shown in Fig. 2. The rise and fall of the coupling head 60 moves the rack bar 62' up and down through the guiding casing 66, and thus rocks the segment 65 to open and close the door 55 by the turning of the operating shaft 32 in opposite directions. As the spring 67 normally urges the rack bar 62 out of engagement with the segment 65, the swinging of the tumbling block 68 into the position shown in Fig. 6, or wherein the bearing face 71 is turned into engagement with the rack bar 62 causes the spring 67 to force the rack bar62 outwardly away from the segment 65, and thus disconnects the door 55 from the step operating mechanism. When it is desired to actuate the tumbling block 68, the operator grasps the lip 78 of the sliding bolt 75, and draws the latter upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6, which upward movement is limited by the engagement of the stop77 against the lowermost strap 76. During this upward movement, the horizontal arm 80 is drawn up against the side of the casing 66, and as the finger 81 projects inwardly for engagement in the longitudinal slot 7 4 of the link arm 73, the latter is swung upwardly to release the rack bar 62, as shown in Fig. 6. When it is desired to couple the door 55 to the rack bar, the sliding bolt is forced down through the straps 76, the arm turning the arm 73 down into the position shown in Fig. 3, to turn the tumbling block 68 and present the abutting face or edge 70 against the outer side of the rack 62 and force the latter inwardly into engagement with the segment 65. It is, of course, understood that in order to obtain the correct adjustment of the arts, it is necessary to have the tread 18 un olded or extended when the door 55 is fully open and to at that time couple the parts together. Of course, the desired adjustment may be had by coupling the closed door to the folded step, so that any operation of the shaft 32 will simultaneously operate the members to provide a free passage up to the platform, or will entirely close the passage.

It will be noted, particularly from Figs. 1 and 2, that when the door 55 is closed and the folding step is also closed, the connecting arm 56 is lowered and the projection 57 at the lower end thereof extends beneath the operating shaft 32, so as to dispose the pivot pin 58 at the lowest point in its circular path. Thus, any tendency to force the door 55 open will be resisted by the direct upward pull of the pin or pivot 58 beneath the shaft 32 and the door 55 is thus held in locked position. In Fig. 2, the door 55 is opened or raised, and the pivot 58 is arranged immediately above the operating shaft 32, and in line with the center of gravity thereof, so that the weight of the door is supported by the pivot pin 58, without any tendency to turn the shaft 32, the operating parts of the device being, therefore, locked in either open or closed posit1on.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the above outlined specific embodiment of the present invention, such changes being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device as specified, a platform having a tier of fixed steps, a folding step at the bottom of said fixed steps, operating means for folding and extending the folding step located beneath the fixed steps, and an apron depending from the sides and from the front of the tier of fixed steps to house said folding step and its operating means and protect the same from the weather.

2. In a device as specified, a platform having a tier of fixed steps, a riser hinged to the forward edge of the lowermost step, a tread hinged to the bottom of the riser, means for folding the riser against the under side of the step and for folding the tread up against the riser, an apron depending from the forward edge of said fixed step and extending downwardly a distance equal to one half the height of the riser to receive the riser thereagainst when the latter is swung down, and to receive therebehind the riser and said tread when folded upwardly against said fixed step to house and protect the riser and the tread, and lateral aprons carried by Said tier of steps for closing in said folding means to protect the same against the weather.

3. In a device as specified, the combination with a folding step, of an operating shaft for extending and collapsing the step, an arm eccentrically connected to the shaft and adapted to be raised and lowered thereby, a coupling head hinged upon the upper end of said arm, a rack bar adjustably mounted on the coupling head, a hinged door, and a segment connected to the hinged door for engagement with the rack bar whereby upon the rotation of said shaft to actuate the step and swing said door.

4. In a device as specified, the combination with a hinged door, a folding step, and

operating means for actuating the step in cluding an operating shaft, of a vertical arm having an outwardly projecting extension pivotally and eccentrically connected to said shaft whereby to raise and lower the arm upon the rotation of the shaft, a coupling head hinged upon the upper end of the arm, a rack bar adjustably mounted in the coupling head and projecting upwardly therefrom, a segment connected to said door and meshing with said rack bar whereby to actuate the door upon the movement of the rack bar, a spring normally urging the rack bar out of engagementv with the segment, and a tumbling block eccentrically mounted against the outer side of the rack and adapted when turned to move the rack into and out of engagement with the segment.

5. In a device as specified a folding step, means for operating the step including an operating shaft, means for turning said shaft, an arm eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a coupling head connected to the upper end of the arm, a rack bar having a depending threaded shank for adjustable engagement through said coupling head, a guiding casing surrounding said rack bar to hold the same in vertlcal position, a hinged door, a pinion segment connected to the door concentric therewith, and adapted to mesh with said rack bar to actuate the.

door, a spring in the casing bearing against said rack bar to retract the same from said pinion segment, a tumbling block eccentrically mounted in the casing against the outer side of the rack bar, a link arm connected to said tumbling block and lying against the outer side of the casing, a sliding bolt arranged adjacent the door and having a laterally offset portion projecting down against one side of the casing, a horizontal arm projecting outwardly from the sliding bolt for engagement against the outer side of said link arm, said horizontal arm having a recess in its inner edge to receive said link arm therein, whereby said horizontal arm is adapted to lie close against the side of the casing, and an inwardly projecting finger carried by said horizontal arm adapted to engage in the link portion of said link arm to swing the latter upon the up and down movement of the sliding bolt.

6. In a device as specified, a folding step, operating means for the folding step including an operating shaft, an arm connected to the shaft for vertical movement thereby, a rack baradjustably mounted on the arm, a door pivoted above said shaft, a segment concentric with the door, means for normally urging the rack bar away from said segment, and a connecting means engaging the rack bar for forcing the latter against the segment to actuate the door upon the rotation of said shaft. a

7. In a device as specified, a folding step,

operating means for said step, including a shaft, a rack bar connected to the shaft for vertical movement thereby, a guiding casing surrounding the rack bar, a hinged door,

a segment concentric with the door, means within the casing to hold the rack bar out of contact with said segment, a tumbling block in the casing havingan abutting edge for engagement with the rack bar, a sliding bolt, and a connection between said bolt and said tumbling block, whereby tO 'II1OY6 said rack bar against the segment and hold it in such position and to release the rack bar from the segment. Y

8. In a device as specified, a car platform having a fixed tier of steps, a riser hinged to the lower end of the tier of steps, a tread hinged to the lower edge of the riser, operating means for swinging said riserdownwardly into vertical position, and swinging the tread outwardly therefrom and an apron depending from the lowermost tread of the tier of steps, and extending downwardly half the height of said hinged riser for :closing in the riser and the tread when folded, and adapted to receive the riser against its inner side, when the riser is swung downwardly into vertical position.

9. In. a device as specified, a'foldingstep, a hinged trap door, an operating shaft connected to said step to fold and. extend the same when turned in opposite, directions, and an arm connected to said hinged door, and having eccentric connection with said shaft, whereby to raise and lower the door upon the turning of the shaft in opposite directions, the connection between saidarm and the shaft being, disposed above the shaft in the line of the center of gravity thereof, when thedoor is raised, whereby to lock the door in raised position,fand being adapted to lie beneath the shaft in the line of the center of gravity thereof, when the door is closed to lock the door in closed position.

10, In a device as specified, an operating shaft, a horizontally hinged door above the shaft, a pinion segment concentric with the door,'a vertically movable rack bar meshing with said segment, a coupling head carried upon the lower end of the rack bar, an arm hinged to the couplinghead, and extending downwardly toward the shaft, andlhaving an outwardly projecting portion pivotally and eccentrically connectedto the shaftland adapted, when the door is raised,f,t,o extend outwardly over the shaft, and adapted to extend, when the door is lowered,'outwardly beneath the shaft, itolock thedoor in its raised and in its closed positions.

11. In a device asjspecified, the ,combi. nation with a folding, step, of an operating shaft for extendingand collapsing the step, an arm eccentrically connected to the shaft and adapted to be raised and lowered there-v by, a hinged door, a segment connected to the door, a rack bar meshing with the segment to swing the door upon the movement of the rack bar, and an adjustable connection between the rack bar and said arm to actuate the rack bar upon the turning of the a shaft and to Vary the relative positions of the door and the folding step.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

AREY V. WINEGARDEN.

Witnesses:

W'. H. LUCRAFT, DORRIS FOWLER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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