US1513854A - Stepladder leg - Google Patents

Description

Patented ov. 4,. 1924.

UNITED STATES RALPH E. rmcuronn, or muncrn, INDIANA.

STEPLADDER LEG.

Application filed October 12, 1921.

'10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. Pn'rrrronn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muneie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Stepladder Legs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improven'ients in ladders of the type that have an extensible leg or frame whereby the ladder may be practicably used upon surfaces of irregular contour, or upon elevations of varied heights such as stairways and the like.

Purposes of the invention are to provide an extension member attachmentwhich is economical of construction, dependable, not

liable to derangement, and which is easily applied to use.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by, and the invention is embodied in the new construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accomanying drawings and descrlbed 1n the following specification. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

The different parts of the invention are identified by suitable characters of reference applied thereto in the several views in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a ladder of standard form, and in which my present invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a side View showing my improved extension bar and connector for ladders.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the yoke.

Figure 4' is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44'in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front view showing the manner in which the extension members may be combined with supplementary ladder steps.

The invention comprises an extension member adapted to register with and to be adjusted to different heights on the leg of the ladder there being spaced recesses in the extension member, a binding device to embrace the ladder leg and said extension member, an element to engage one of the said recesses and at the same time to clamp the binding device. to the ladder leg, and means carried by the binding device to secure it to the extension member.

The preferred form and construction of parts and elements for carrying my inven- Serial No. 507,171.

tion into effect, is that shown in the draw- Jugs, it being understood that minor changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, without departing from the nature and spirit. of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I

The extension member 2 adapted to be connected to the leg 1 of the ladder, is of a thickness and width to correspond substantially with that of the ladder leg, and is made of pine or poplar or of any suitable wood, or of light sheet metal. The thickness of the legs in ladders of wood or of metal construction, is about one inch. At spaced locations throughout the length of the extension member, are recesses 3. The recesses extend transversely of the rear face of the said member, are U shaped in cross section having rounded corners 3*, and are located about one inch apart.

The connector, or binding device, which may be termed a yoke, consists of a metal bar 4: about one inch wide and one eighth of an inch thick, bent into U shaped form as shown in Figure 4, the opposed ends of the bar being inturned and constituting fingers 4" to engage the rear side or edge of the ladder leg. On each of the opposed faces of the bar 4 is provided a small integrally formed tooth or projection 4"; and near the central portion of each side of the yoke is provided an elongated hole or slot 4.

Passed through the holes 4 is a bolt 6 having the wing nut 6. To attach this yoke it is simply placed at position on the ladder leg; the bolt 6 is then set at contact with the face of said leg. By then screwing the wing nut 6 the bolt is secured at its said position a ainst the ladder leg, andat the same time tlie sides of the yoke are drawn into tight contact with the sides of the said leg, the teeth 4 being embedded therein. Two of the yokes ordinarily aroused on each of the ladder legs 1 as shown in Figure 1.

The upper end 2 of the extension member is tapered so that it may be easily slipped into engagement with the yoke, and which yoke retains it in alignment with the ladder eg. Loosely connected to the inner end of the thumb screw 7 that is threaded through the head portion of the yoke, is a. grip block 8 which is adapted to engage the outer face of the extension member. This grip block is of cast metal and may be of the form in cross section shown in Figure 3.

It is apparent that the extension member may be easily slipped to the desired pos1- tion with reference to the ladder leg 1, the rounded corners 3 of the recesses 3 permitting the passing of the extension member freely over the bolts 6. When the extension member will have been set at the adjusted position, each of the bolts 6 of the yokes, is engaged by one of the recesses 3. Then by the screwing in of the thumb screw 7, and the firm engagement of the grip block 8 against the outer face of the extension member, the extension member and the ladder leg are secured together.

Where a short extension only, of the ladder leg, is desired, the extension members are used in their individual form as shown in Figure 2. To provide a longer extension of the ladder legs, additional steps A and A are placed between the extension members disposed knuckle C by which the expandermember may be easily turned by the hand. The usual binding bolts D between the extension members and underneath the steps are used todraw the extension members to tight engagement with the ends of the step pieces.

Advantages of my invention are readily apparent. By thus making possible the easy variation in length of the ladder legs, it is entirely practicable to cause the ladder to stand stably, regardless of the contour of the surface upon which the ladder may rest. With the extension members combined with the rear legs E and E, adjustment of any one or all of the legs of the ladder is easily possible. An ordinary step ladder equipped with my invention may be used on surfaces of varying heights such as stair steps and the like. v

While I have shown this invention applied to use with the well known household form of step ladder, it is, with slight mechanical modifications, equally well applicable to use in combination with ladders of all kinds. Further features of advantage in my invention are that the construction of the extension members and of the yoke devices, is simple and inexpensive. The extension device complete and constructed in accordance with my invention is com act in form, easy and practicable to pack or transportation, either singly, or in quantities, and the manner of applying the invention to use is ap parent toa person of ordinary skill in the handling and use of ladders.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An extension device for a .ladder leg, comprising an extension member having spaced recesses in its face, a yoke adapted to be secured to the ladder leg and to loosely engage the extension member, means to bind the'yoke to the ladder leg and which means is engaged by one of said recesses, and means on the yoke to clamp the extension member at the said engaged position.

2.4K device of the kind described, comprising an extension member having successively arranged recesses, a U shaped yoke to embracethe extension member and having its free ends adapted to engage the sides of a ladder leg, a bolt'through the sides of the said yoke totighten the sides of the yoke against the ladder leg and to constitute a tooth for the said recesses, and a ,clamp carried by the yoke to tighten the extension member against the ladder leg.

3. An extension device for a ladder leg,

comprising an extension bar having successively arranged recesses in its face, a ,U shaped yoke having 1ts sldes to loosely ongage said bar, there being elongated openings in the sides of the yoke and oppositely disposed. a-bolt disposed-in the said openings, said bolt being adapted to be engaged by one of the recesses of the extension bar, means carried by the yoke 'to tighten the yoke against the said bar, and the free ends of the yoke being adapted to engage the sides and corners of the ladder leg.

4. An extension device of the kind described, comprising an extension bar having spaced recesses in its face, a U shaped yoke having its ends turned inwardly, clamping means movable longitudinally of the yoke and adapted to engage one of the said recesses, and operable to draw the sides of the yoke towards each other, a set screw in the head of the yoke operable to tighten the said yoke against the extension member.

5. An extension device of the kind described, comprising an extension bar having spaced recesses, a U shaped yoke to loosely engage the said bar, there being teeth on the opposed inner faces of the sides of the yoke and the ends of said yoke being turned inwardly and-there being elongated openings in the sides of said yoke, a bolt to engage the said openings, a set screw in the head of the yoke, and a grip block carried loosely by the said set screw.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH E. PETTIFORD.

Images