A loft ladder subframe assembly

Abstract

 A loft ladder subframe assembly comprising a generally quadrangular subframe, a hatch door moveably couplable to the subframe at or about one lateral edge of the hatch door to allow the hatch door to be movable between an open position and a closed position. A multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being mountable on the upper surface of the hatch door, wherein at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a loft ladder subframe assembly for enabling an easy installation of the loft ladder subframe assembly into an aperture of a ceiling defined by a hatch frame

[0002] The traditional loft ladder subframe assembly has a generally quadrangular subframe enclosing a hatch door which is moveably coupled to the quadrangular frame via a hinge means along at least one side of the frame. A latch of some configuration is coupled between the hatch door and the side of the frame opposing the hinge means to allow the easy opening of the hatch door. A multi-sectional ladder assembly is permanently mounted on the upper side of the hatch door to allow the multi-sectional ladder assembly to be stored in the ceiling out of sight when the hatch door is closed on the subframe. The multi-sectional ladder assembly can be unfolded or telescopically extended for example out of the storage position generally within the boundary of the hatch door when the latch of the hatch door is released. At this time the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is currently mechanically mounted to the hatch door at the manufacturing stages in the factory which is then hingedly mounted to the subframe and the entire loft ladder subframe assembly is packaged and shipped as a single unit.

[0003] Subsequently when the loft ladder subframe assembly arrives on site, an operator installs the entire assembly by lifting the entire assembly into the aperture defined by the loft ladder hatch frame in the ceiling. A traditional loft ladder hatch frame is created by cutting away a portion of plasterboard between two ceiling joists and framing out a rectangular aperture by nailing or screwing two pieces of timber transverse the ceiling joists to define the loft ladder hatch frame. Once the hatch frame has defined the aperture in the ceiling, the loft ladder subframe assembly is hoisted into the aperture, temporarily supported and subsequently fixed to the hatch frame.

[0004] While a loft ladder that is prefixed to the hatch cover may have packaging and transportation benefits there are however issues with regards the weight of the loft ladder assembly for installation purposes.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a loft ladder subframe assembly comprising a generally quadrangular subframe, a hatch door moveably couplable to the subframe at or about one lateral edge of the hatch door to allow the hatch door to be movable between an open and closed position, a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being mountable on the upper surface of the hatch door, wherein at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0006] Preferably, by detachably couplable we mean that at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly can be manually detached and reattached by simple mechanical means for a semi-permanent fitting. There is no requirement for complex equipment to remove and reattach the one or more sections of the loft ladder assembly.

[0007] Ideally, the at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly to allow ease of installation.

[0008] Ideally, the entire multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the hatch door.

[0009] Preferably, the entire multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0010] Advantageously, the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly or at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly means that the operator can first install the subframe and hatch door and when this part of the loft ladder subframe assembly has been installed, the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly can be lifted and coupled to the hatch door. This means that the weight of the components which must be lifted into the hatch frame is reduced as the components are separately installed/mounted.

[0011] Preferably, the loft ladder subframe assembly has a latch means operably couplable between the hatch door and the loft ladder subframe to lock the hatch door in the closed position and to release the hatch door from the closed position into an open position.

[0012] Preferably, quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attached to and released from the remainder of the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0013] Ideally, by quick release and attach mechanical coupling means we mean that all or part of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly can be simply mounted to or detached from the remainder of the loft ladder subframe assembly by utilising a simple tool to perform one simple mechanical coupling or decoupling function.

[0014] Ideally, quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attached to and released from another section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly.

[0015] Most ideally, quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow the multi-sectional loft ladder to be quickly attached to and released from the hatch door and to allow at least one section to be quickly attached to and released from another section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly.

[0016] Preferably, quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow the hatch door of the subframe to be quickly attached to and released from the subframe.

[0017] Advantageously, a quick release and attach mechanical coupling means that allows the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attached to and released from the hatch door and/or to allow at least one section to be quickly attached to another section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly provides for not only a quick and easy loft ladder assembly at the manufacturing factory but also subsequently provides an operator with a relatively simple and speedy loft ladder installation process on site.

[0018] Further advantageously, this provides an operator with an uncomplicated method to remove a substantial amount of weight for initial loft ladder installations. This results in a reduced load being lifted into the ceiling aperture defined by the hatch frame. The staggering of the load will ultimately reduce of the risk of muscle strain and injury to the operator.

[0019] Preferably, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling means operable between sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly comprise coupling members on two loft ladder sections adjacent one another in use.

[0020] Ideally, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling means operable between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly comprises coupling members between the upper section of the loft ladder assembly and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0021] Preferably, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members operable between sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly comprises of correspondingly located pairs of coupling members on spaced apart locations at or about the ends of adjacent sections of the loft ladder.

[0022] Ideally, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly comprises at least two pairs of correspondingly located coupling members on spaced apart locations on the upper surface section of the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly corresponding to the location of the coupling members of the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder when mounted on the hatch door.

[0023] Ideally, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly comprises of four pairs of correspondingly located pairs of coupling members on spaced apart locations on the upper surface section of the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly corresponding to the location of the other member of each pair of coupling members of the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder when mounted on the hatch door.

[0024] Advantageously, the utilisation of multiple quick release and attach mechanical coupling members enables the loft ladder assembly to be fitted to the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly securely, spreading the weight of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly structure across the majority of the hatch door. Further advantageously, the quick release and attach coupling members of the multi-sectional loft ladder allows a similar ladder with correspondingly located coupling members to replace an existing damaged or old ladder.

[0025] Preferably, the coupling members of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members are male and female mechanical coupling members.

[0026] Advantageously, the use of male and female mechanical coupling members provides the quick release and attach mechanical coupling means with its quick and uncomplicated engagement mechanism for the installation of the varying sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0027] Ideally, the male member mechanically coupling the loft ladder assembly to the loft ladder subframe assembly is located upon the upper surface of the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0028] Preferably, the male member mechanically coupling the loft ladder assembly to the loft ladder subframe protrudes orthogonally from the upper surface of the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly.

[0029] Preferably, the female member coupling means coupling the loft ladder assembly to the loft ladder subframe assembly is located on the loft ladder assembly.

[0030] Ideally, the female member coupling the loft ladder assembly to the loft ladder subframe assembly is integral to the loft ladder assembly.

[0031] Preferably, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe comprise a pair of brackets mounted towards the upper corners of the loft ladder assembly, the brackets having an elongate slot with an expanded head portion at one end being the female member and a pair of expanded head bolts adjustably mounted on the hatch door as the male member in a corresponding location to the pair of brackets on the loft ladder assembly.

[0032] In use, an operator offers the brackets of the loft ladder assembly with the integral female coupling member up to the corresponding male expanded head bolts located on the hatch door. Once the male and female members are engaged within the expanded head portion of the female member, a controlled downward motion of the loft ladder assembly as a result of gravity, forces the male member to slide along the elongate slot of the female member.

[0033] Advantageously, quick release and attach mechanical coupling members utilising male expanded head bolts extending orthogonally from the hatch door in combination with a loft ladder female receiving means enables an operator to install a loft ladder from below the ceiling aperture as defined by the hatch frame without the need to enter into the attic space. As described this is achieved by a vertical lift of the loft ladder assembly until the loft ladder assembly female expanded head portion is in alignment with the hatch door male expanded head bolts. The loft ladder assembly is then offered up to the hatch door so that the receiving means is aligned with the heads of the bolts so that the hatch door protrusion means engage the bracket. Following the simple engagement of the male and female members the use of gravity is employed to aid in the installation with an operator merely controlling the descent. This minimises the amount of muscle strain placed upon the operator reducing the risk of injury to the individual.

[0034] It will of course be appreciated that the brackets can be located on the hatch door and the expanded head bolts or similar male members can be located on the loft ladder assembly.

[0035] Ideally, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members attached between the sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly comprises a corresponding pair of coupling members mounted on or about both lateral portions of the ends of two loft ladder sections adjacent one another in use to provide a hinge means for releasably connecting adjacent sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder.

[0036] Preferably, the coupling members between adjacent sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder comprise quick release and attach pivotal coupling arrangements.

[0037] Ideally, the pivotal coupling arrangement comprises press fit, snap fit, click fit or other quick fit and release arrangement to allow a hinge joint to be formed between two coupling members.

[0038] In use, an operator aligns the corresponding pair of female sockets of overlapping coupling members. Once aligned a male member is inserted into the aligned female members to form the pivotal coupling arrangement. This enables a multi-sectional loft ladder to extend for use and retract for storage as well as be assembled and disassembled about the pivotal coupling arrangement.

[0039] Advantageously, quick release and attach mechanical coupling members that are formed about the pivotal coupling arrangement of a pair of correspondingly located coupling members provides a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly with the ability to extend and retract during use and storage. Further advantageously as the engaged male and female members of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members forms the pivotal coupling arrangement of the joint, this provides an operator with an easy access coupling point, limiting the amount of complex mechanical fittings that would be required to otherwise detach and reattach the individual sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly whilst maintaining the traditional hinged fitting.

[0040] Accordingly, the present invention provides a loft ladder subframe assembly mountable in a hatch frame having a detachably couplable multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being mounted on the upper surface of the hatch door of the loft ladder as outlined above utilising a quick release and attach mechanical coupling means for a relatively quick and easy installation of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly upon the loft ladder subframe.

[0041] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example one embodiment of the loft ladder subframe assembly in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the loft ladder assembly prior to the mounting of the loft ladder assembly upon the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly;

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the ceiling aperture defined by the hatch frame with the loft ladder subframe assembly attached to the hatch frame;

Figure 3 is a detailed and enlarged perspective view of one example of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe before the engagement of the expanded head bolt of the male member and the expanded head portion of the female member;

Figure 4 is a detailed and enlarged perspective view of one example of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe whereby the expanded head bolt of the male member has entered the expanded head portion of the female member;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the loft ladder assembly in a detached form, whereby the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detached from the two lower sections of the loft ladder subframe assembly;

Figure 6 is a detailed and enlarged view of one pair of engaged quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between two adjacent sections of the loft ladder

Figure 7 is a detailed and enlarged view of one pair of disengaged quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between two adjacent sections of the loft ladder.

[0042] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a loft ladder subframe assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The loft ladder subframe assembly 1 has a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 adapted for quick release and attach coupling to a hatch door 4. The hatch door 4 is movably coupled to a loft ladder subframe 3. The loft ladder subframe assembly 1 has a quadrangular subframe 3 made of frame members 2 and the hatch door 4. The hatch door 4 is coupled via hinges to the subframe 3 at the door's lateral edge 5 to allow the hatch door 4 to be moved between an open position, see Figures 1 and 2 and a closed position, see Figure 5. A multi-sectional and in this embodiment three sectioned loft ladder assembly 6 is mounted upon the upper surface of the hatch door 4. The multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 is detachably coupled to the loft ladder subframe assembly 3 via quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanisms 7. These are provided to allow the multi-sectional loft ladder 6 to be quickly attached to and released from the hatch door 4.

[0043] By detachably coupled it is meant that at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 can be manually detached and reattached by simple mechanical means for a semi-permanent fitting without the requirement of complex equipment to remove and reattach the one or more sections of the loft ladder assembly. Additionally, the term quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanism means that all or part of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 can be simply mounted to or detached from the remainder of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 by utilising a simple tool to perform one simple mechanical coupling or decoupling function. The tool can be a bespoke or standard non power hand tool.

[0044] In use, a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 (or at least one section of the loft ladder assembly) which is detachably coupled to the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 enables an operator to initially install the subframe 3 and hatch door 4. Subsequently once these parts of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 have been installed, the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 can be lifted and coupled to the hatch door 4. This means that the weight of the components which must be lifted into the hatch frame is greatly reduced as the components are separately installable/mountable. Furthermore, a quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanism 7 that allows the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 to be quickly attached to and released from the hatch door 4. Quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanisms 8 further allow at least one section to be quickly attached to another section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6. This provides for not only a quick and easy loft ladder assembly 6 at the manufacturing factory but also subsequently provides an operator with a relatively simple and speedy loft ladder installation process on site. Advantageously, this also provides an operator with an uncomplicated method to remove a substantial amount of weight for initial loft ladder installations. This results in a reduced load being lifted into the ceiling aperture 9 defined by the hatch frame 10. This staggering of the lifting of the load will ultimately reduce the risk of muscle strain and injury to the operator.

[0045] The quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanisms 8 which are located between the sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 comprise coupling members 11 located on adjacent folding ends of two adjacent sections of loft ladder sections when in use. The quick release and attach mechanical mechanism 7 located between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 and the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 comprises coupling members 12 between the upper section of the loft ladder assembly 6 and the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2.

[0046] The quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 12 between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 and the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 6 comprises four pairs of correspondingly located coupling members, one member of each pair 12, 7 being located on spaced apart locations on the upper surface section of the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2. These correspond to the location of the other member of each pair 12, 7 spaced along the lateral portions of the upper section of the loft ladder assembly 6 proximal to corners of the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder 6 when mounted on the hatch door 4. The position of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 12 is not limiting to the present invention in any way and can be adjusted to any position provided the loft ladder assembly 6 is securely supported on the hatch door 4 when the hatch door 4 is in the open position with the loft ladder assembly unfolded with a person climbing the loft ladder assembly 6.

[0047] In use, the utilisation of multiple quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 12,7 enables the loft ladder assembly 6 to be fitted to the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 1 securely, spreading the weight of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 across the majority of the hatch door 4. Further advantageously, using quick release and attach coupling members 12, 7 allows the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 to be replaced quickly and easily with a similar ladder with correspondingly located coupling members to replace an existing damaged or old ladder.

[0048] Referring especially to Figures 3 and 4 the quick release and attach mechanical coupling mechanism 7 between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 and the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 comprises at least two and in the embodiment shown four brackets 15, two of the four being mounted spaced apart on each opposite lateral side of the loft ladder assembly 6. These brackets 15 are L-shaped brackets 15 having the leg of the L-shaped bracket mounted proximal to the corners of the loft ladder assembly 6. The foot of the L-shaped brackets 15 have an elongate slot 16 with an expanded head portion 17 at one end provided a female coupling member 14. A pair of expanded head bolts 18 are adjustably mounted on the hatch door 4 in a corresponding location to the pair of brackets 15 along each opposite lateral side the loft ladder assembly 6 providing the male coupling member 13.

[0049] The male member 13 mechanically coupling the loft ladder assembly 6 to the hatch door 4 protrudes orthogonally from the upper surface of the hatch door 4 of the loft ladder subframe assembly 6. Whereas the female coupling member 14 coupling the loft ladder assembly 6 to the loft ladder subframe assembly 2 is located on the bracket 15 of the loft ladder assembly 6.

[0050] In use, an operator offers the brackets 15 of the loft ladder assembly 6 with the female coupling member 14 up to the corresponding male expanded head bolts 18 located on the hatch door 4. Once the male and female members (13 and 14 respectively) are engaged within the expanded head portion 17 of the elongate slot 16, a controlled downward motion of the loft ladder assembly 6 as a result of gravity, forces the male member 13 to travel along the elongate slot of the female member 16.

[0051] Advantageously, quick release and attach mechanical coupling members utilising male expanded head bolts 18 extending orthogonally from the hatch door 4 in combination with a loft ladder female coupling member 14 enables an operator to install a loft ladder from below the ceiling aperture as defined by the hatch frame 3 without the need to enter into the attic space. As described this is achieved by a vertical lift of the loft ladder assembly 6 until the female expanded head portion 17 of elongate slot 16 is in alignment with the expanded head bolts 18 on the hatch door 4. The loft ladder assembly 6 being offered up to the hatch door 4 so that the female coupling member 14 is aligned with the heads of the bolts 18 means that the hatch door bolts 18 engage the bracket 15. Following the simple engagement of the male and female members (13 and 14 respectively) the use of gravity is employed to aid in the installation with an operator merely controlling the descent. This minimises the amount of muscle strain placed upon the operator reducing the risk of injury to the individual.

[0052] It will of course be appreciated that the brackets 15 can be located on the hatch door 4 and the expanded head bolts 18 or similar male members can be located on the loft ladder assembly 6.

[0053] Referring now to Figures 5 to 7, the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 8 attached between the sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 have a corresponding pair of coupling members 11 mounted on or about both lateral portions of the ends of two loft ladder sections 19 adjacent one another in use and extending towards each other so as to overlap or be inter connectable to provide a pivotal coupling arrangement 20 for allowing the adjacent sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder to be folded between a storage position and an in use position. The quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 8 are adapted for releasably connecting adjacent sections 19 of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6.

[0054] The overlapping or inter connectable coupling members 11 between adjacent sections 19 of the multi-sectional loft ladder 19 comprise quick release and attach pivotal coupling arrangements 20. These pivotal coupling arrangements 20 comprises press fit, snap fit, click fit or another quick fit and release arrangement to allow a hinge joint to be formed between the two coupling members 11. The two coupling members 11 each have a female socket 21 and a male hinge pin 22 is formed for insertion between the female sockets 21 forming the pivotal coupling arrangement 20. A spring loaded catch to allow insertion and retention of the male hinge pin 22 can be provided and a means for releasing the catch is provided for quick release.

[0055] In use, an operator aligns the corresponding pair of female sockets 21 of overlapping coupling members 11. Once aligned a male member 22 is inserted into the aligned female members 22 to form the pivotal coupling arrangement 20. This enables a multi-sectional loft ladder to extend for use and retract for storage as well as be assembled and disassembled about the pivotal coupling arrangement 20.

[0056] Advantageously, quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 8 that are formed about the pivotal coupling arrangement 20 of a pair of correspondingly located coupling members 11 provides a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 with the ability to extend and retract during use and storage. Further advantageously as the engaged male and female members (21 and 22 respectively) of the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members forms the pivotal coupling arrangement 20 of the joint, this provides an operator with an easy access coupling point, limiting the amount of complex mechanical fittings that would be required to otherwise detach and reattach the individual sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 whilst maintaining the traditional hinged fitting.

[0057] In relation to the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that one or more technical features of one embodiment can be used in combination with one or more technical features of any other embodiment where the transferred use of the one or more technical features would be immediately apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to carry out a similar function in a similar way on the other embodiment.

[0058] In the preceding discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of the said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

[0059] The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A loft ladder subframe assembly comprising a generally quadrangular subframe, a hatch door moveably couplable to the subframe at or about one lateral edge of the hatch door to allow the hatch door to be movable between an open position and a closed position, a multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being mountable on the upper surface of the hatch door, wherein at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

2. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entire multi-sectional loft ladder assembly is detachably couplable to the loft ladder subframe assembly.

3. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attachable to and releasable from the remainder of the loft ladder subframe assembly.

4. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow at least one section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attachable to and releasable from another section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly.

5. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members operable between sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly comprise correspondingly located pairs of coupling members at or about the ends of adjacent sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly.

6. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members 8 attached between the sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly 6 have a corresponding pair of coupling members 11 mounted on or about both lateral portions of the ends of two loft ladder sections 19 adjacent one another in use and extending towards each other so as to overlap or be inter connectable to provide a pivotal coupling arrangement 20 for allowing the adjacent sections of the multi-sectional loft ladder to be folded between a storage position and an in use position.

7. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the overlapping or inter connectable coupling members 11 between adjacent sections 19 of the multi-sectional loft ladder 19 comprise quick release and attach pivotal coupling arrangements 20.

8. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein these pivotal coupling arrangements 20 comprises press fit, snap fit, click fit or another quick fit and release arrangements to allow a hinge joint to be formed between the two coupling members 11.

9. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the two coupling members 11 each have a female socket 21 proximal one end thereof and a male hinge pin 22 is formed for insertion between the female sockets 21 forming the pivotal coupling arrangement 20.

10. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein quick release and attach mechanical coupling means are provided to allow the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly to be quickly attachable to and releasable from the hatch door.

11. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 10, wherein the quick release and attach mechanical coupling means between an upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly comprises at least two pairs of correspondingly located coupling members on spaced apart locations on the upper surface section of the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly corresponding to the location of coupling members of the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder when mounted on the hatch door.

12. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 11, wherein the quick release and attach means are male and female mechanical coupling members.

13. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 3 to 12, wherein the quick release and attach mechanical coupling members between the upper section of the multi-sectional loft ladder and the hatch door of the loft ladder subframe assembly comprise a pair of brackets mounted proximal to the upper corners of the upper section of the loft ladder assembly, the brackets having an elongate slot with an expanded head portion at one end and a pair of expanded head bolts mounted on the hatch door in a corresponding location to the pair of brackets on the loft ladder assembly.

14. A loft ladder subframe assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the brackets can be located on the hatch door and the expanded head bolts or similar male members can be located on the loft ladder assembly.

15. A loft ladder subframe assembly mountable in a hatch frame having a detachably couplable multi-sectional loft ladder assembly being mounted on the upper surface of the hatch door utilising a quick release and attach mechanical coupling means to provide a quick and easy installation of the multi-sectional loft ladder assembly onto the hatch door.

Drawing