An access ladder includes a plurality of sections connected together to telescope between an extended position and a retracted position that has an increasing reactive force to counterbalance the weight of the sections as they extend.

An access ladder includes a plurality of sections connected together to telescope between an extended position and a retracted position that has an increasing reactive force to counterbalance the weight of the sections as they extend. A method for accessing a room with a ladder connected to a ceiling including the steps of moving the ladder to a fully extended position subject to an increasingly active force to counterbalance the weight of the ladder as it extends. There is the step of retracting the ladder into a retracted position in the ceiling.

An automated ladder apparatus mounted on a cover and including a plurality of ladder sections to provide access to a space above or below an elevated structure, includes a pivotable cover for an opening in the elevated structure that is pivotable about a pivot axis, and a motorized system including a gearmotor and an energizable brake, the motorized system being mounted on the pivotable cover such that the motorized system and the pivotable cover are movable in unison when the pivotable cover pivots about the pivot axis, the pivotable cover being pivotable between at least a first position to allow access to the space through the opening and a second position in which the pivotable cover substantially covers the opening. The gearmotor has a gear ratio sized to allow the opening of the pivotable cover under gravity only when the energizable brake is disengaged.

An improved retractable attic stair apparatus assembly includes a stair component retractable staircase assembly including two shock mount subassemblies, two gas spring subassemblies, and two short railing pipe assemblies. The two short railing pipe assemblies are used as a left and right handrail of the retractable staircase assembly while also supporting the two shock mount subassemblies. The two gas spring subassemblies are at least partially supported by the two shock mount subassemblies. The attic stair apparatus is configured for an installation site in an attic or a garage and includes a first retracted configuration. A deployed configuration allows the apparatus to extend downwardly from the installation site for use of the attic stair apparatus by a user to ascend the attic stair apparatus to access an attic, a garage crawl space, or a garage roof.

An improved retractable attic stair apparatus assembly includes a stair component retractable staircase assembly including two shock mount subassemblies, two gas spring subassemblies, and two short railing pipe assemblies. The two short railing pipe assemblies are used as a left and right handrail of the retractable staircase assembly while also supporting the two shock mount subassemblies. The two gas spring subassemblies are at least partially supported by the two shock mount subassemblies. The attic stair apparatus is configured for an installation site in an attic or a garage and includes a first retracted configuration. A deployed configuration allows the apparatus to extend downwardly from the installation site for use of the attic stair apparatus by a user to ascend the attic stair apparatus to access an attic, a garage crawl space, or a garage roof.

An improved retractable attic stair apparatus assembly includes a stair component retractable staircase assembly including two shock mount subassemblies, two gas spring subassemblies, and two short railing pipe assemblies. The two short railing pipe assemblies are used as a left and right handrail of the retractable staircase assembly while also supporting the two shock mount subassemblies. The two gas spring subassemblies are at least partially supported by the two shock mount subassemblies. The attic stair apparatus is configured for an installation site in an attic or a garage and includes a first retracted configuration. A deployed configuration allows the apparatus to extend downwardly from the installation site for use of the attic stair apparatus by a user to ascend the attic stair apparatus to access an attic, a garage crawl space, or a garage roof.

An adaptive supporting structure of a stairway for accessing space above or below an elevated structure. The adaptive structure includes a forward structural and a rear structural module. The forward module holds the system that limits the opening angle of the module and is hinged on the supporting structure that surrounds the Rough Opening in the ceiling. The spacing between the rear structural module and the forward structural module can be adjusted to whatever length of the Rough Opening in the ceiling. The rear structural module holds all the components of the automated ladder apparatus. The fixed section of the automated ladder is mechanically bridging both structural modules while the bottom part of the structural modules supports a cover that cooperates with a fixed fairing mechanically attached to a portion of the framing that surrounds the Rough Opening in the ceiling.