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.

An access platform system for enabling access to and from ground-based structures, vehicles, and mobile equipment. The system has a main frame that is attached to or juxtaposed with one or more of the ground-based structures, vehicles, and mobile equipment; a vertical platform displacement assembly attached to the main frame; and a folding steps assembly. The vertical displacement mechanism has a multi-stage apparatus for influencing the stroke of lift cylinders. In one embodiment, the folding steps assembly has folding and unfolding steps.

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 compact deployable/retractable running board assembly for a motor vehicle including a running board, linkage coupled to the running board, and a motor assembly coupled to an actuator, the running board moveable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. The linkage includes a drive arm connected to a pivot shaft within a housing at a location on the pivot shaft between two bushings that are coupled to the pivot shaft within the housing. The linkage also includes an idler arm connected to a pivot shaft within an idler housing. The actuator is operably coupled to the linkage to cause rotation of the linkage to move the running board between the at least one stowed position generally under the motor vehicle and at least one deployed position to provide a step surface for a user.

A compact deployable/retractable running board assembly for a motor vehicle including a running board, linkage coupled to the running board, and a motor assembly coupled to an actuator, the running board moveable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. The linkage includes a drive arm connected to a pivot shaft within a housing at a location on the pivot shaft between two bushings that are coupled to the pivot shaft within the housing. The linkage also includes an idler arm connected to a pivot shaft within an idler housing. The actuator is operably coupled to the linkage to cause rotation of the linkage to move the running board between the at least one stowed position generally under the motor vehicle and at least one deployed position to provide a step surface for a user.

The invention relates to a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle comprises at least one rail vehicle outer wall. The rail vehicle further comprises a boarding arrangement having at least one first sliding step and one second sliding step. The first sliding step and the second sliding step are mounted so as to be laterally sliding. The first sliding step and the second sliding step can slide from a travel position to an end position by a lateral retraction movement in the direction of the outer wall of the rail vehicle. In the end position, the second sliding step protrudes beyond the first sliding step.

A powered gap mitigation device for transit vehicles allows a gap mitigation plate to move outboard from its stowed position, be locked in the deployed position, move inboard from a deployed position to a stowed position, be locked in the stowed position, and be manually stowed and cut-out in case of malfunction.

An ascent aid on a rail vehicle having a vehicle body includes a step and at least one folding mechanism fastened to the step at one end, as seen in longitudinal direction of the step. The folding mechanism has two lateral rods connecting the step to the vehicle body at hinges. The folding mechanism has a connecting rod additionally connecting one of the lateral rods to the vehicle body at hinges. The connecting rod is split into two parts by a folding hinge. The folding hinge is coupled to an action of force on the folding hinge causing the step to be folded at the hinges between first and second positions relative to the vehicle. In the first position, an ascent to a driver's cab of the vehicle is assisted. In the second position, the step is folded to maintain a predetermined clearance gauge of the vehicle.