US1821075A - Stepladder joint and shelf support - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1931. 51m. PETERS ETAL 1,821,075

STEPLADDER JOINT AND SHELF SUPPORT Filed March 27. 1929 TORJ l atented S ept.

SPENCER in. reruns AND ARTHUR B. noorinsT-ER, or' srniivenznim, I'LLINoIs; sAIIi noonnsrsn essrenon 'ro sari) rnrnns STEIPLADDER JOINT Ann sHELr sU'rfon'i- Application filed March 27,

Our invention relates to joint members, reenforcements and stepladder shelf supports adapted to be used at the top of a stepladder where the step ladder legs are joined to the stiles; an object being in this device particu' larly to provide a substantial and durable connection between the step ladder legs and the stiles at their point of attachment and to provide in connection with a substantial joint of this kind a means of pivotally supporting and substantially resting a pivoted top step ladder shelf atthe upper end of the step ladder for convenience in use and economy in manufacture.

i i e attain the objects of our invention in the step ladder joint and shelf support hereinafter described and recited in the claims.

lleferring to the drawings Fi g. 1 iso perspective of the upper end of a step ladder disclosing the joint and shelf support of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical half-section taken through a portion of the upper end of a top ladder showing in section a step ladder shelf and one of the steplad'der steps. I

Fig. 3 is a front view of a step ladder folded with the upper shelf pivotally folded down between the ladder stilesand showing in a cutaway a more complete detail of the joint member and shelf support member.

Fig. i is a vertical half-section of what is shown in Fig. 2 with the leg member folded in closed position and the shelf member also pivotally folded between the stiles.

'l i 5 is a vertical half-section of a leg and stile of a step ladder disclosing the manner of securing the leg member to a stile member at the joint and disclosing the relative operating position of the oint member and shelf support member.

Fig. dis a perspective of the step ladder joint and shelf support plate disclosing in netted lines the manner in which the shelf 1929. Serial No. 350,339.

step ladder joint and shelf support We provide at the top of stiles -1 and 2- joint plates ;3 and .4. substantiallyengaging the upper end of the stiles. These plates have integral front and rear flanges 5-- and .6 --7 and 8 (not shown) adapted to respectively engage the front and rear face of the top of the stiles While each of .these plates 3- and 4 have the upper portion of flanges 7 and 8 (not shown) inwardly bent in the same plane with the flange and in opposite directions therefrom in a relative positiontoprovide a substantial shelf support .9- and 10 for the operative support of step ladder shelf .11- hingedly supported pivotally on a rod 12. "This shelf is re-enforced by angle bars 13 and 14 engaging rod 12 ;.and it is these angle barsthat'rest on shelf support members 9 and l0 when the shelf is in normal use. Vhen not in use shelf 11 folds down to a position parallel with the stiles as shown'in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.

For there-enforcement of stepiladder'legs 15 and -16 we provide U shaped plates -.-l7 and +18 hcldinto engagement with these step ladderlegs atthe joint connection between the legs and stiles of the step ladder and are held substantially by square shanked bolts fitting into square central .holes of the U shaped plates .-1 7 and ..l8- While the bolts are .pivotally secured toithe stiles ina manner permitting the bolt to turn in the stile as it holds to plates 3 and 4 and not turn in the leg. Thus the joint is protected for a minimum of wear of the contacting movable parts.

The steps of the step ladder may be made flat as shown in the drawings with reference to numeral 19 or they may be made of any other suitable material and design.

Bolt 20- snugly extends through a leg and a stile of the ladder while nut -2l may be substantially riveted on to prevent the loss of the bolt.

Certain minor details of our step ladder acteristics have been herein above described, are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter recited in the claims.

Having thus describedthe nature of our invention what we claim is: V

1. In combination with a stepladder having spaced parallel stiles a pair of parallel bracing legs pivotally connected with the stiles and a top shelf pivotally supported between 10 the top end'of the stiles, apair of stepladder joints and shelf supports each respectively engaging the inner face adjacent the top end of said stiles; said joints each being formed in the shape of a Z-bar section with its outer angle engaging the forward edge of the stile and. its inner angle extending inwardly toward the opposite stile; said joint members each provided with a pair of bolt holes, a bolt secured through one of'sa-id holes and through the corresponding stiles and a rod pivotally supporting said shelf between said stiles and extending through the remaining hole in each of said joints and through each of said stiles V where itis firmly secured into operative position; said inner an le of each of said joints being adapted to provide supporting means for said shelf when they same is in normal use.

2. In a stepladder having stiles and supporting legs pivoted thereto a pair of step ladder joints each respectively engaging the inner face and forward edge of the stile; said joints each being formed in the shape of a Z-bar, and provided with a pair of spaced 3 bolt holes, a bolt securing each of said joints to said stile respectively through one of said I holes in each joint and a relatively long rod extending through both of said stiles and through both of said joints; said joints each 4 having an inwardly extending integral plate portionvadjacent its upper end; and a pivotally mounted shelf secured to said rod and adapted to be operatively supported on said inwardly extending integral plates of said joint members.

In witness whereof, we hereunto set our hands this th day of March, 1929. I SPENCER M. PETERS.

ARTHUR B. ROCHESTER.

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