Retractable step for utility poles and the like

Claim 1

A METALLIC UTILITY POLE OR THE LIKE HAVING AN UPRIGHT TUBULAR BODY, AN OPENING THROUGH THE SIDE OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, A METAL SLEEVE PROJECTING RADIALLY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND WELDED THERETO, A RIGID STEP SLIDABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID METAL SLEEVE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION FORMING A WORKMAN SUPPORT AND A RETRACTED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY INTERIORLY OF SAID TUBULAR BODY, AND SPRING KEEPER MEANS ON THE INNER END OF SAID RIGID STEP HAVING CONVERGING LEGS LOCATED OUTWARDLY OF THE INNER END OF SAID STEP AND HAVING ALIGNED FREE ENDS EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS OUTWARDLY THROUGH DIAMETRIC OPENINGS AT THE INNER END OF SAID STEP, AND SAID CONVERGING LEG BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID METAL SLEEVE TO CAM SAID LEGS TOGETHER AS SAID KEEPER MEANS IS FORCED AXIALLY ALONG SAID SLEEVE THEREBY TO RETRACT THE ALIGNED ENDS OF SAID LEGS INWARDLY OF THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID DIAMETRIC OPENINGS DURING THE ASSEMBLY OPERATION, AND SAID SPRING ALIGNED LEGS AND LOCK SAID STEP PANDING TO EXTEND SAID ALIGNED LEGS AND LOCK SAID STEP AGAINST DISASSEMBLY FROM SAID SLEEVE WHILE LEAVING THE STEP FREE FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT AXIALLY OF SAID SLEEVE.