A movable platform adjacent to a stationary platform and operable between a raised position forming a part of a deck surface and a lowered position at least partially submerged in the body of water. A landing section and walkway section included in the movable platform. A lever arm carried by the landing section and extending underneath the walkway section, wherein the lever arm engages a bottom side of the walkway section when the movable platform is in the raised position, and the lever arm disengages from the walkway section when the movable platform is in the lowered position. A floatation unit disposed on the bottom side of the landing section. An air pump unit carried by the stationary platform, wherein the air pump unit channels air into and out of the floatation unit to change the buoyancy of the floatation unit to raise and lower the movable platform.

An escape system for providing an escape route out of a building is discloses. The system comprises a ladder, and at least one anchor element at a position distant from the proximal end of the ladder. The ladder is extendible between a collapsed storage configuration and an extended use configuration. The ladder comprises a plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments, each ladder segment comprising at least one rung and being displaceable in relation to the remaining plurality of ladder segments. The ladder also comprises at least one fixation element attached to or forming part of at least one of the ladder segments. The fixation element comprises a first spacer element, the first spacer element extending between the anchor element and the ladder in the extended use configuration. The ladder is detached from the anchor element in the collapsed storage configuration, and at least one fixation element of the ladder is configured to attach to the anchor element when the ladder is in the extended use configuration.

A self-retractable step for assisting a user in elevating him or herself above a floor, is disclosed. The self-retractable step comprises a self-retractable foot member and a cylindrical assembly coupled with the self-retractable foot member. The foot member is configured to move from one position to another position. The cylindrical assembly comprises a rotary member, one or more spring members and a protuberance member. The rotary member is configured to move the foot member to a predetermined position. Further, the spring members coupled to the rotary member is configured to self-retract the foot member from the predetermined position. The protuberance member disposed at the cylindrical assembly is configured to act as a stopper to hold the foot member in a predetermined position on retraction by the spring members. The self-retractable step further comprises a load bearing member at a base of the foot member.

An apparatus comprises a stowable step including a mounting plate, a platform for supporting a load when the platform is in a deployed position in which the platform is perpendicular to the mounting plate, and a folding assembly that enables the platform to transition between the deployed position and a stowed position in which the platform is parallel to the mounting plate. The stowable step also includes a pedal assembly that enables a transition between the deployed position and the stowed position to be completed by a person's foot. When the pedal assembly is pressed, while the stowable step is in the deployed position, the folding assembly transitions out of the deployed position and when the pedal assembly is pressed, while the stowable step is in the stowed position, the folding assembly transitions out of the stowed position.

An apparatus comprises a stowable step including a mounting plate, a platform for supporting a load when the platform is in a deployed position in which the platform is perpendicular to the mounting plate, and a folding assembly that enables the platform to transition between the deployed position and a stowed position in which the platform is parallel to the mounting plate. The stowable step also includes a pedal assembly that enables a transition between the deployed position and the stowed position to be completed by a person's foot. When the pedal assembly is pressed, while the stowable step is in the deployed position, the folding assembly transitions out of the deployed position and when the pedal assembly is pressed, while the stowable step is in the stowed position, the folding assembly transitions out of the stowed position.

A movable platform adjacent to a stationary platform and operable between a raised position forming a part of a deck surface and a lowered position at least partially submerged in the body of water. A landing section and walkway section included in the movable platform. A lever arm carried by the landing section and extending underneath the walkway section, wherein the lever arm engages a bottom side of the walkway section when the movable platform is in the raised position, and the lever arm disengages from the walkway section when the movable platform is in the lowered position. A floatation unit disposed on the bottom side of the landing section. An air pump unit carried by the stationary platform, wherein the air pump unit channels air into and out of the floatation unit to change the buoyancy of the floatation unit to raise and lower the movable platform.

A mechanism that allows a ladder to be moved to either a use position or a retracted position. The ladder can be moved from the retracted position to the use position with a minimal effort, and the ladder moves by itself from the use position to the retracted position. A pit ladder apparatus for an elevator according to the present invention includes a position change means to be provided in a fixing metal frame fixed to the hoistway and allowing a ladder to be moved to either the use position when the ladder is used or the retracted position for retracting the ladder when it is not used so as not to interfere with operation of the elevator.

A mechanism that allows a ladder to be moved to either a use position or a retracted position. The ladder can be moved from the retracted position to the use position with a minimal effort, and the ladder moves by itself from the use position to the retracted position. A pit ladder apparatus for an elevator according to the present invention includes a position change means to be provided in a fixing metal frame fixed to the hoistway and allowing a ladder to be moved to either the use position when the ladder is used or the retracted position for retracting the ladder when it is not used so as not to interfere with operation of the elevator.

Disclosed herein are attic stair assemblies, in which each attic stair assembly may include: a frame that may include: a first wall; and a second wall; a stair coupled to the frame closer to the first wall than the second wall; a floorboard disposed above the stair; a port extending through the frame and the floorboard; and a support frame removably coupled to the floorboard that may include: a first leg having a first leg upper end, wherein the first leg may be closer to the first wall than the second wall; and a second leg having a second leg upper end, wherein the second leg may be shorter than the first leg and may be closer to the first wall than the second wall; and a rail portion extending from the first leg upper end to the second leg upper end at a first acute angle to the floorboard.

A self-retractable step for assisting a user in elevating him or herself above a floor, is disclosed. The self-retractable step comprises a self-retractable foot member and a cylindrical assembly coupled with the self-retractable foot member. The foot member is configured to move from one position to another position. The cylindrical assembly comprises a rotary member, one or more spring members and a protuberance member. The rotary member is configured to move the foot member to a predetermined position. Further, the spring members coupled to the rotary member is configured to self-retract the foot member from the predetermined position. The protuberance member disposed at the cylindrical assembly is configured to act as a stopper to hold the foot member in a predetermined position on retraction by the spring members. The self-retractable step further comprises a load bearing member at a base of the foot member.