Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Folding spiral staircase/bookshelf/bureau

It is a given that I will need some sort of way up to the loft. Since it has to take up little space, I am basically limited to a ladder or a spiral staircase. Spiral staircases are nice and relatively space efficient, but one would still take up too much space in my house. Ladders are efficient, but boring. Here is a quick sketch of what I came up with to solve the problem.





















The left hand picture shows what it might look like folded up. Some of the slots could have drawers for storage of clothes, while others can be left open for books.

The right hand picture shows how it will extend into a stair case. Each step is mounted on a pivot on its right side, and will interlock with the next step so that it can be opened and closed by moving only the top step. I will need to work out some sort of rope or gear mechanism to operate it.
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18 comments:

  1. SeanOctober 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM

    You could create levers for the steps that rotate around the post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. metal spiral stairsJanuary 16, 2010 at 2:20 AM

    Metal has made its name through Spiral Stairs
    spiral stairs are fully assembled in one piece
    Metal spiral staircases can be customized to suit your style.
    i just loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MichelleJanuary 27, 2010 at 9:33 PM

    This looks absolutely brilliant! Let me know if it works, as I am fascinated by the combination of storage and stairs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2010 at 10:32 AM

    I absolutely love this idea. I look forward to seeing how you engineer the come along feature of the lower stairs behind the top stair and how you lock them into place so they don't move during ascent and descent. Others have employed the drawers/shelves as stairs idea, but I have never seen it done with contracting/expanding spiral stairs. It seems so obvious now that I have seen it, but it takes a special eye to be the first to see. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. knutsandvikJune 2, 2010 at 3:38 AM

    Have you checked this one out. It's a stair for really tiny areas.
    http://www.designerpages.com/products/120888-1m2-Stair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JodySeptember 4, 2013 at 4:20 PM

      I like this idea. Hardly takes up any space at all!

      Delete
  6. AnonymousNovember 12, 2010 at 9:58 PM

    How much would it cost me to buy it from you?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Brilliant idea. I am building a tiny portable house. Since I am already a senior and look toward the day when I may be less agile, I like the spiral stairs better than a ladder. An to combine storage and stairs in my tiny space would be the best of all worlds. Please let me know if you have worked out some of the "bugs." If so, I would like to buy a kit, or the item. Thank you. Jaclyn greatenergy2share@mac.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. JodySeptember 4, 2013 at 4:12 PM

    This is a great idea! I hope it works out. What a great way to save space and store things too :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2014 at 1:10 PM

    Love it...... I was looking for a solution for the same problem when I found yours..... which was much like what I was contemplating. Rotate the post on bearings, and leave the bottom step anchored, and it would not be difficult to make it collapse and expand. Bottom step anchored to the floor, top to the post......the rest float. Each step could bed slightly wider than the one below, and this would allow a hand rail that collapsed to work also. I love your idea of storage inside the steps!! Howard

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ian AndersonFebruary 26, 2014 at 7:25 PM

    Thanks! I would love to see pictures if you build it. I would like to revisit this again for another project sometime, but it seems that a counterweighted ladder makes more sense at this point.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownDecember 19, 2015 at 1:45 PM

    The idea looks good on paper, but this design isn't going to work for an average 150 pound person. The top boards need to be thicker so as not to bend under the weight and the inside hollow needs more support.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownDecember 19, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    The idea looks good on paper, but this design isn't going to work for an average 150 pound person. The top boards need to be thicker so as not to bend under the weight and the inside hollow needs more support.

    ReplyDelete
  13. IanSeanNovember 8, 2016 at 9:00 PM

    I liked this so I ended up engineering one that could actually stand -- it doesn't fold all the way, but it folds from 240 degrees open to 110 degrees closed, and rises 6'8" in eight ten-inch high steps. I didn't end up using it in my final design, but it could fit 2x6s as support posts, which would hold a fairly sized human! Contact me at iansean@gmail.com if you want to see what I came up with.

    Thanks,

    ReplyDelete
  14. IanSeanNovember 18, 2016 at 11:31 AM

    Hi again,

    Tried to reply to your email but I had gone over the attachment limit. Instead of validating, Gmail just hung up. I tried to delete that one message, but it deleted your whole conversation and your email address and everything. Love to try again though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 13, 2017 at 2:07 PM

      Hello Ian,
      I sent an e-mail to iansean@gmail.com but not sure you received it. Mine is litewrkr@msn.com

      Delete
  15. Hammad AliMay 10, 2019 at 5:29 PM

    Guys this idea is brilliant and if you use a plain metal plate inside cabinet then it would definitely work good for all kind of people

    ReplyDelete
  16. gwordApril 2, 2020 at 1:05 PM

    An italian company already makes these. I am sure they will cost a fortune

    http://www.bpiutoscanalaser.com/en/Products/id:71/

    ReplyDelete

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