International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

Universal Tool & Stamping Co., Inc.

Matthew E Buchanan

Joseph T Penaloza

Jay H Lutz

The invention provides a stowable ladder mechanism for an overhead bed or upper berth in a bunk bed. A horizontal linear guide is vertically spaced above a horizontal support surface and associated with a bed or berth. The rungs of the ladder are supported between two vertical uprights, one of which is fixed at one end of the berth and the second of which is coupled to the horizontal linear guide and translates across the horizontal support surface along one side of the bed. The plurality of rungs include swing sections mounted on hinges which hang vertically when the translatable vertical upright is positioned adjacent to the fixed vertical upright. When the translatable upright is positioned away from the fixed upright, the swing sections are supported in a horizontal position.

Vehicle sleeper compartment bunk bed ladder

A scissors jack has first and second upper channels having first and second opposite ends and joined by first and second pivot pins to a load bearing member at the first ends. First and second lower channels have first ends joined to the second ends of the first and second upper channels at third and fourth pivot pins, and second ends of the first and second lower channels are joined by fifth and sixth pivot pins to a base having a floor portion and upwardly extending sidewalls. Gear teeth are formed at opposite side walls at the second ends of the first and second lower channels and which intermesh at an engagement region between the fifth and sixth pivot pins. A screw has one end received through an aperture associated with the third pivot pin, and an opposite end is received in a threaded aperture associated with the fourth pivot pin. First and second support tabs are provided directly adjacent the lower channel gear teeth at the engagement region of the teeth of the first and second lower channels so that the teeth in the engagement region are closely sandwiched between a flat supporting surface of the respective support tab and an inside of the respective sidewall of the base, so that misalignment of the teeth at the engagement region caused by high loads is substantially prevented.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Matthew E Buchanan