US1829346A - Stepladder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1.931. J. G. FROMMEYER 1,829,346

DDDDDDDD ER Oct. 27, 1931. J. G. FROMMEYER STEPLADDER Filed June 13, 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m w n .10

Patented Oct. 27, 1931 masas PATENT' OFFICE JAMES G. FROMMEYER,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO Y STEPLADDER Application led June 13,

`This invention relates toimprovements in stepladders, and is particularly directed to a stepladder of thetype incorporating a work platform. It is an object of this invention to provide a stepladder of this type incorporating 'a work platform of relatively large'area 1n which side rails are provided at Vthe extreme upper end of the ladder at an elevation conT siderably above the platform, these rails functioning as guard rails and enabling the workman to brace himself thereagainst when standing on the platform.

'Another object is to provide a pivoted arrangement of the side rails and ladder upright frames as well as an improved mounting of the platform permitting the collapsing or folding ofthe platform into an extremely fiat and compact form.

Another object is to provide a folding vstepladder construction which is staunch and rigid when set up in use, and in which the platform in set-up position functions to brace y'and steady the stepladder.V

Still another object is to provide apositive and strong device for sustaining the loaded platform.

Other objects relate to the metal an-d wood fabrication of the stepladder which with further advantages will be apparent from the description of the accompanying drawings, in

which .folded position, showing a pivot reinforcing velement in section and further illustrating Athe forming of the side rails to permit complete folding of the stepladder.

YFigure 5 is a fragmentary view of the eX- treme upper end ofthe stepladder, showing the V'stepladder in set-up position and details 1928. Serial N0. 285,184.

ing the double frames thereof.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the U-shaped clips for reinforcing the pivotal connection of the top side rails to the front frame.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of upright stepladder frames, namely front and rear, are indicated respectively at l and 2, these frames being pivotally joined at the upper ends thereof. Theforward of the frames may be referred to as a step frame, being composed or fabricated of a pair of side pieces 3 3 joined by steps 4. The rear upright 2 is fabricated of a pair ofsifle frames 5 5 joined by a pair' of diagonally disposed braces 6 6 and a lower cross piece 7 the upper ends of the side frames of the rear upright being joined by means of a metal cross piece 8.

A work platform 9 is pivotally mounted between the frames adjacent the top step thereof. A hinged attachment for the forward end of the platform is provided by means of a pair of pivot brackets 10 secured to the sides of the upright, each having plat form attaching portions extending rearwardly and connected to the respective extending forward side flange of the angle iron platform side pieces 11 by means of pins or rivets 12.

The rear end of the platform is slidably mounted in the rear frame. A pair of guide rails 13 formed of sheet plateV are secured along the respective outer sides of the .rear frame and have slots 14 formed longitudinally therein, these slots, by this arrangement, being disposed longitudinally of the rear frame. The slotted portions of the guide rails extend forward from the side pieces 5 or points of attachment, the slotted portions being therefore sufficiently clear thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

The slidable connection of the platform to t-h e rear frame is by means of a rod 15 traversing the extending ends of the side flanges 16 of the platform angle iron cross pieces and slidably traversing the slots 14. This pivot rod is a long tie bolt having nuts 17 on the ends thereof for maintaining the same pivotal connection of the and portions of each turned inwardly below the base end of the slot thus providing anges i 18 disposed in the path of downward swingH of` the platform rear end and these flanges, as shown in'Figure 2, are adapted to serve y'asfrests.forffthe platform, being engaged by the kangle ironl side pieces lll thereof. 'This engagement oftheplatform with the fianges lSoccurs at just the time that the slidef rod llfenga'ges the lower endof the slots li. As

a further support for the platform in its set.-

-up position, a strip of metal 19 is securedto the underside 'thereofy at .a central point and extends rearwardly" having; a down-turned 'flange 20 providingasort of hook which en"- iga'ges overa cross rod 2l drawn between the side pieces of the rear frame.' r M v Y oined to-V gether at the upperends thereof through a Ldouble pivotal connection for a purpose here- -inafter described;

The front, and rear frames are j iA pair of side'v rails 22, one at each'side of the step'ladder, join they respective adjacent side'piec'es of the'front and back frame each being pivotally connected tothe rear frame Vby means of bolts 23 and' to thefront frame Hbymeans of bolts 24.- The previouslymenvtioned cross strap 8-has downturned flanges 25 traversed by the carriage bolts 23, joining the side pieces of the rear frame. 'The 'piv- ;otal connection of the side rails to the front frame is reinforced by means of U-shaped A `clips or brackets 26, one at each pivot point,

:rear portion'of the bight of the U-shaped elements is cut away as at 30 tothenecessary l depth to provide' a clearance for ,the collapsone of these brackets being detailed in Figure 6'. The brackets straddle the top ends of the side pieces 3 as well as the pivoted forward ends of the'side` railsand `are rigidly secured to the rail by means of rivets 27. The bolts 24 traverse the clips er brackets and-are drawn between the flanges thereof.

v As detailed in Figure 5 the forward ends oftheside rails`22 are notched out asat 28 to permit pivotal. movement of the rails and I front frame relative to each other when the -ladderiscollapsech As shown in this-view the Vouter upper corner 29 ofthe side rails `engagesthe underside ofthe bight of the U-shaped elementsp-roviding a positive abut-` ment or stop, when the ladder is set up, making an extremely rigidV construction.v The ing pivotal movementof these elements.

Bythis arrangement 'of parts it is pro- `rails or,Y cross. piece.

. of the platform.

vided that vthe workmanpmay stand upon the horizontally disposed platform and use the side rails v22 and cross piece 'or rail 8 for bracing himself. y The distance from the platform to the rails or extreme top or guardv Y rail of the stepladderis such that the workman is able to steadyhimself by engaging his `knees against these vaforeinen tionedr side The three point support yfor the horizon- .tally disposed set-upvplatform,namely, the

engagement of the slide rods at the base of the slots, the engagement of the platform vside angle ,iron elements. with the Vflanges A formed'on the' guidefrailsyand the engagement ofthe center strapfwiththe cross rod Y provides a positive `support",forfthe,person using Ythe ladderand' at the same time insuresthat the ladder will not fold up orfcollapse understhe weight inasmuch as fthis vis Vimj possible unless the platform is forcedupwardly on its hinge from underneath, whereupon the front frame and side rails will move relatively on their pivots andthe whole struc.-

ture will fold up into theforml shown in Figure 4. Y. j Y Having described my invention,I claim: l. A device ofthe class described, comprising, -a step frame, a support frame, a'pair offllnkspivoted to and spacingthe upper ,Y

ends of said frames, said links disposedgone at each sideof the joined structure-,"a. platform hinged to one'framefadjfacent-.the top thereof, and means forslidably.mounting `the swinging end of said Vplatform in the 1 .00

other frame for Vlimited downward movement A. deviceof the class described, comprismg, a front frame formed of side pieces joined by steps, a rear frame formed of side {.05

pieces joined by braces, a ypairof side rails connected at their endsto'the respective front and rear frames, a cross strap'joining the upper ends ofthe rear upright yside pieces, a platform hinged to the front frame and slidi .able at itsfrear end in said rear frame, abutment means for limiting the downward Vmovement of said platform at horizontal plane,fand a connectionbetween the platform and the rear frame for preventing spreading:

of the frames when the platform :isv in horizontal plane.

3. Ak folding stepladder,comprising, Va pair of upright frames,"links pivotally 'connected at their ends to theupper'ends of the 4 respective frames, said links being disposed one at each side ofsaid connected frames,a

*cross rail oining the upper ends of thestiles of the rear frame, and a platform hinged to one of said frames, and means for slidably mounting the opposite endof said platform in the other frame:v l, Y Y. Y

4. Astepladder construction, comprising,

a pair of upright frames,means ypivotally connectingY the upper ends of frames, `a

platform hinged to one of said frames, a pair of slotted metal guides secured to the respective sides of the other frame, inwardly turned lugs formed integral with the lower 5 ends of said guides, and a slide rod secured in the rear end of said platform and traversing the slots of said guides, said slots terminating relative to said lugs so as to provide, in combination with the lugs, a rest m for the platform rear end at horizontal plane. 5. A stepladder construction, comprising, a pair of upright frames, means pivotal y connecting said frames at the upper ends thereof, a platform hinged to one of said 1.-, frames, a pair of slotted guides secured to the respective sides of the other frame, a rod mounted in the outer end of said hinged platformA and slidably mounted in said guide rails, downward movement of the platform E() rear end being limited by engagement of the rod with the lower ends of the slots, a draw rod extending between the sides of the rear frame adjacent the ends of the slots, and an extension formed rearwardly and centrally of said platform engaging said rod and, in combination with the slot ends, supporting the platform in horizontal plane. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe myname. :zo JAMES G. FROMNIEYER.

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