US1010832A - Combined step and extension ladder. - Google Patents

Description

I E. F. WEL'DEN. COMBINED STEP AND EXTENSION LADDER.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1', 1910 1,010,832.

Patented W, 1911.

EDSON F. WELDEN, OF DEMSTER', NEW YORK.

COMBINED STEP AND EXTENSION LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Application filed November 1, 1916. Serial No. 590,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EnsoN F. \VnLnnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Demster, in the county of'Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Step and Extension Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in combined step ladders and extension ladders, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efliciency and utility of devices of. this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be disposed in extension ladder form without increasing the width of the parts.

WVith these and other objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointedout in the claim; and, in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment. of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged as a step ladder; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the improved device arranged as an extension ladder; Fig.

3 is a section on the line 3-3of Fig. 2, illustrading the construction of the locking means between the two ladder sections.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device is arranged in two sections or portions, a lower or step ladder portion and an upper or extension ladder port-ion hingedly united, so that the two lad-- der sections whenin one position form a step ladder and when in another position form an extensionladder and without disconnecting any of the parts The step ladder sect-ion comprises side members 10-11 and steps 12 of the usual arrangement with the'side members spaced apartat a greater distance, at the lower ends than at their upper ends to increase the stability of the step ladder portion. The

step ladder portion may be of any required length and contain any required number of steps, and will preferably be constructed of wood as light as possible consistent with the strains to which it will be subjected when in use. v

The extension ladder section comprises spaced side members 13-14 and rounds between the xnember 10-11 at their upper ends. The extension ladder section may be of any required length and contain any re- I quired number of the rounds, and may be much longer than the step ladder section, as

shown.

Connected to the side members of'the lad- "der sections are hinge members 16-17 the hinges being so arranged that the two ladder sections are supported either in angular relations when arranged as a step ladder, as shown in Fig. 1, or in parallel relations when arranged as an extension'ladder, as shown in Fig. 2. Hinge members 16-17 are connected to' the side members 10-11 at their upper ends and extend beyond the same and likewise toward the side members 13-14, while the opposing hinge members 18-19 are connected to the side members 13-14 and extend at right angles thereto. By this arrangement the side members 13-14 remain at all times opposite the side members 10-11, and when the extension ladder section is located in parallel relations to the step ladder section, as sho'wn in Fig. 2, to form an extension ladder, the edges of the side members 13-14 will bear against the edges of the side members 10-11. By this means the width of the ladder does not at any time exceed the total width of the step ladder section at its upper end. This is an important feature of applicants device, and

adds materially to its efliciency and utility, as the ladder is materially reduced in width without decreasing its strength or efliciency. The upper round 15 of the extension ladder section is provided with a hooked bar 20 which bears over one of the steps 12, and thus forms an eflicient locking means between the two sections when the device is arranged as an extension ladder.

Pivoted at 22 to the side members 10-11 are notched bars 23 which are adapted to engage by the notches over pins 24 upon the side-members 13-14 of the extension ladder section, to hold the extension ladder section at an angle .to the step ladder section when the device is arranged as a step ladder. The

extension ladder section thus performs the' function of supporting legs for the step ladder, as shown in Fig.1. The bars 23 are provided with an additional notch 25 to engage over pins 26 in the .side members 10-l1 when the device is arranged as anladder form by simply arranging the step ladder section into vertical position with one hand and adjusting the extension ladder section into \ertical position and locking the same to the extension ladder section with the other. The device is thus very convenient to handle and operate.

When the ladder is folded, the hooked bar 20 hangs freely from the upper rung of the extension section, as is disclosed to advantage in Fig. 1, and is adapted to support a pail, basket, or other receptacle, or any article desired. This feature of the hooked bar 20 produces a ladder which is I convenient in picking fruit, washing windows, and various other like uses.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is: A device as specified comprising a step ladder section, hinge members carried at the .a round in itsupper end, hinge members carried against the sides of the extension section at a point spaced from the upper end thereof and engaging with the hinge members of the first section, the hinge members of the extension section projecting inward from the same to space the section from the first section, notched bars hinged against the sides of the ladder section, pins extending from the sides of the extension section for engagement in the notches of the bars, and a In testimony whereof, I. ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDSON FQVVELDEN.

lVitnesses:

' lViL-LIAM H. lVooosmn,

R. L. SIMoNs.

Images