h a l f b a k e r y
Professional croissant on closed course. Do not attempt.
idea:
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random
meta:
news, help, about, links, report a problem
account:
Browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
or Create a new account.
|
|
|
Going down: You step onto the top step, push a big 'Stop/Go' button to release the stairs movement lock, and your weight causes the stairs to move down, like a free-moving escalator.
On the way down a light gearing system lets the movement of the stair wind up a spring (or similar energy storing
mechanism) and also stops the stairs moving too fast. A nice ratchety sound adds to the effect.
Once you reach the bottom and the stairs stop moving they automatically lock in place, to allow you to walk up them.
Going up (mostly): You walk up like normal - bah!
Going up (sometimes): A green light tells you that the 'spring' is sufficiently wound, so you get to step on the bottom step, push a big 'Go' button and the spring-stored energy gently powers your ascent to the top.
(Don't forget to push the Stop/Go button at the top to save any energy left in the spring.)
So, no effort going down and occasionally no effort going back up either.
[Edit - shortly after writing this one I noticed BJS' anno on 'weight activated 2 way escalator', which is like the downward motion part of this idea]
Escalator Temporarily Stairs
http://www.youtube....watch?v=FSIkjNaICsg
based on Mitch Hedberg's timeless observation about escalators. (See YouTube video desc.) [kerryoco, Feb 10 2008]
[link]
|
| |
Thank you for noticing me. |
|
| |
You should add some kind of lock or something so that people can go up it without their weight making them go down. |
|
| |
Going up: You walk like normal. When you get part-way up, you see some joker at the top press the 'Stop/Go' button to release the stairs' movement lock, and your weight causes the stairs to move back down again. |
|
| |