The present invention uses magnets and a wand to create a simple, attractive and functional way to get rid of the hanging cord and handle in an attic staircase. We call it the Magnetic Pulldown. It has an attractive fixture with magnets in the ceiling above and a three-foot wand with a powerful magnet nearby. The ceiling fixture houses the conventional rope and handle for pulling down the attic staircase. The handle is in a pocket and is visible from the floor below. The handle has weak magnets pointing up to keep it in place and a powerful magnet pointing down, awaiting the wand's powerful magnet to pull it out. To access the attic the user gets the wand and snaps it into the powerful magnet in the handle above. The user easily pulls the handle and rope down, snaps the bond between the magnets, z and uses the rope and handle to pull the attic staircase down. The Magnetic Pulldown needs no motor or electrical components. There is a prototype for this invention in the home of one of the inventors.

A folding staircase for use in a door opening having a threshold. The folding staircase has a pair of stringers that have an upper end and a lower end that is adapted for contacting a ground surface. The stringers are spanned by at least one tread. A hinge is connected to a floor near the door opening and a threshold plate pivotally connected thereto is movable between a use position and a stowed position. The staircase may be provided with a lifting mechanism that biases the staircase and threshold plate toward their stowed positions. The lifting device provides a variable force that provides more rotational force when the staircase would require a user to bear more of its weight and less force when less of the weight of the staircase would be borne by a user.

A folding staircase for use in a door opening having a threshold. The folding staircase has a pair of stringers that have an upper end and a lower end that is adapted for contacting a ground surface. The stringers are spanned by at least one tread. A hinge is connected to a floor near the door opening and a threshold plate pivotally connected thereto is movable between a use position and a stowed position. The staircase may be provided with a lifting mechanism that biases the staircase and threshold plate toward their stowed positions. The lifting device provides a variable force that provides more rotational force when the staircase would require a user to bear more of its weight and less force when less of the weight of the staircase would be borne by a user.

A ceiling ladder having a plurality of sections that can be climbed by a user when in an unfolded position into an attic and that can be folded together into a retracted position to be stored above the ceiling. The ladder has a deep step, which has a width greater than the width of other steps of the ladder, in which is located between about 2-5 feet from the floor when the ladder is in the unfolded position so user can stand on the deep step in place objects into the attic without having to climb into the attic. A method. A deep step.

A ceiling ladder having a plurality of sections that can be climbed by a user when in an unfolded position into an attic and that can be folded together into a retracted position to be stored above the ceiling. The ladder has a deep step, which has a width greater than the width of other steps of the ladder, in which is located between about 2-5 feet from the floor when the ladder is in the unfolded position so user can stand on the deep step in place objects into the attic without having to climb into the attic. A method. A deep step.

A folding staircase for use in a door opening having a threshold. The folding staircase has a pair of stringers that have an upper end and a lower end that is adapted for contacting a ground surface. The stringers are spanned by at least one tread. A hinge is connected to a floor near the door opening and a threshold plate pivotally connected thereto is movable between a use position and a stowed position. The staircase may be provided with a lifting mechanism that biases the staircase and threshold plate toward their stowed positions. The lifting device provides a variable force that provides more rotational force when the staircase would require a user to bear more of its weight and less force when less of the weight of the staircase would be borne by a user.

A ceiling ladder having a plurality of sections that can be climbed by a user when in an unfolded position into an attic and that can be folded together into a retracted position to be stored above the ceiling. The ladder has a deep step, which has a width greater than the width of other steps of the ladder, in which is located between about 2-5 feet from the floor when the ladder is in the unfolded position so that a user can stand on the deep step and place objects into the attic without having to climb into the attic.

An attic ladder modification kit, a method of modifying an attic ladder using the kit, an attic ladder, and a method of using the attic ladder. The attic ladder modification kit includes a plurality of components for installation onto the attic ladder to improve the safety and ease of use of the attic ladder through modification, either during construction of the attic ladder, or as an after-market addition to the attic ladder. The plurality of components includes a pair of springs to bias a hinged connection between a middle section and an upper section of the attic ladder, means to removably secure a lower section hingedly connected to the middle section of the attic ladder, and a rope and pulley system and a descent rope to facilitate raising and lowering the attic ladder into and out of an attic opening, respectively.

A device and system for transporting items up and down a folding attic stairway in a building, such as a residential structure, and into an attic space finally resting securely on the floor of the attic.

A ceiling ladder having a plurality of sections that can be climbed by a user when in an unfolded position into an attic and that can be folded together into a retracted position to be stored above the ceiling. The ladder has a deep step, which has a width greater than the width of other steps of the ladder, in which is located between about 2-5 feet from the floor when the ladder is in the unfolded position so user can stand on the deep step in place objects into the attic without having to climb into the attic. A method. A deep step.