US1871693A - Stepladder - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1932. J, uck 1,871,693

STEPLADDER Filed April 9, 1930 INVENTOR fave/L71 WMG} BY 2214 ATTORNE l atented Aug. 16, 1932 sr'rss .Tosnmr noon, on cRnssKILL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO orrnsnnao, WHITMAN; co.

INCL, F LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK f STEPLADDER Application filed April 9, 1930. Serial No. 442,732.

This invention relates to step ladders, and has for its general object and purpose to provide in a step ladder of this type, a novel means for mounting and supporting a pivotally movable platform with respect to the relatively movable parts of the ladder whereby in the movement of said ladder parts, the platform is automatically disposed in its extended operative position or in its folded, collapsed position.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide, a device of the above character in which the platform or support will be strongly braced and rigidly sustained in its extended position.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide an additional lower platform constituting the upper step of the ladder and also providing means to receive and support a tool chest or work box, This platform is pivotally connected at one of its ends with the side rails of the ladder proper and supported at its opposite end upon a connecting bar between the pivoted ladder supporting legs, said platform carrying camshaped rods with which said bar is adapted to coact when the ladder parts are folded together so as to lift or raise the pivoted platform to its folded position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved step ladder, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin and subsequently incorporated in the sub oined claims.

In the drawing, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 Figure 1 is a front elevation, the relatively movable parts-of the ladder being shown in folded or collapsed position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts of the ladder arranged in proper relative positions for use.

Referring in detail tothe drawing, 5 designates the usual side rails of the ladder proper which are connected with each other at vertically spaced intervals by a number of steps, one of which is indicated at 6. The rails are also rigidly connected with each Igthe; at theirupper ends by the top mem- To the outer face of each rail 5 immediately below the member 7,'a metal plate 8 is rigidly secured and projects rearwardly from the rail 5, said plate extending substantially across the full width of the member 7 and the opposite ends of this plate provided with upwardly curved arms indicated at 9, engaged with the front and rear edges of the top member 7. There is also secured to the inner faceof each rail 5 and projecting rearwardly therefrom in opposed relation to the plate 8, a metal strap or plate 10.

Between the rearwardly projecting ends of the plates 8 and 10, the upper ends of the lad der supporting legs 11 are pivoted as at 12. These legs 11 are rigidly connected with each other at vertically spaced points by the cross bars or rods 13 of wood, certain'of said rods being centrally connected with each other by the vertically'extending brace bar 14.

The side rails 5 and the pivoted supporting legs 11 at a suitable point intermediate of their ends are connected with each other in the usual manner by the foldable brace 15. Above this brace, a slatted platform generally indicated at 16 is arranged between the side rails 5, said platform including the side pieces 17 to which the slats are secured, said side pieces being pivotally mounted upon the rod 18 extending between the rails 5. The other ends of the pieces 17 are adapted to rest upon the uppermost rod 13 between the legs 11. In each of the parts 17 of the platform 16, the ends of a wire rod 19 are fixed, said rod extending below the part 17 and having a longitudinally curved section 20, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

At a suitable point below the top member 7 of the ladder, a supporting platformv 21 similar to the platform. 16 but of less length is pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the connecting rod 22 between thelegs 11.

To the opposite sides of this platform, metal bars 23 are rigidly fixed at one of their ends, said rods extending upwardly and rearwardly beyond the pivoted end of the platform and having angularly disposed free end portions 24. These end portions of said bars are slidably engaged through guide brackets 25 which are pivotally mounted in any suitable manner upon the inner faces of the side rails of the ladder.-

Below the pivot-22 of the -platform21, a

stop rod 26 extends between the legs 11 for engagement by the ends of the side pieces 17 of the platform 16 to limit the pivotal movement of the ladder platform to its folded position. 4

From the above description, it will be readily understoodthatwhen the foldable braces 15 are expanded to dispose the legs 11 of the ladder in supporting relation to the ladder rails 5 as seen in Fig. 3, the platform 16 will drop by gravity and rest at its rear end upon the transverse rod 13. Also, the bars 24: will slide through the pivoted guides 25 and in the spreading movement of the rails 5 and legs 13, as the angular parts 24 of said bars move through these guides, the platform 21 is swung rearwardly from the legs 11 to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3. The platform is securely braced and held in this position against downward pivotal movement under the weight of a pail or other article placed thereon, by the bearing engagement of the forward ends of the bars 2st in the guide brackets 25.

After use of the ladder, when it is folded or collapsed, as the legs 11 are moved inwardly towards the ladder rails 5, the angular ends 24: of the bars 23 will move through the brackets 25 which turn or pivot upon the rails 5. Thus the platform 25 is automatically swung upwardly upon the pivot 22 to a substantially vertical position between the upper ends of the legs 11 as seen in Fig.2 of the drawing. Also, the upper rod 13 extending between the legs 11 will have a camming action on the curved sections 20 of the rods 19, and thus also raise or swing the platform 16 upwardly on its pivot 18until the rear ends of the parts 17 engage the stop rod 26. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, both of the platforms are automatically folded and disposed substantially entirely between the side rails 5 and the supporting legs 11 of the ladder. i

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,'the construction, manner of use and the several advantages of the present invention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have devised a very simple and durably constructed means which will be reliable in operation-to automatically move the article supporting platform to its extended or folded positions with respect to the ladder supporting legs. Since the several cooperating parts are of very simple construction, my

invention may be utilized in connection with ladders of this type without greatly increaspose in view, but however, it will be understood that the essential features thereof might also be embodied in various other alternative structural forms, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the inven'tion'as claimed.

Iclaim: v 1. A step ladder comprising a ladder proper having side rails and: supporting legs pivotally connected at their upper ends, with said rails, a platform pivotally V mounted at one of its ends between the supporting legs, a guide bracket pivotally mounted on the inner side of each of the rails, a-nd bars rigidly fixed at one of their ends to opposite sides of the platform and having angularly bent end portions slidably engaged in the respective guide brackets and cooperating therewith to automatically move the-platform to its extended or folded positions with respect to the supporting legs in the pivotal movement of the latter relativeto said rails.

2. A step ladder comprising a ladder proper having side rails, supporting legs pivotally connected to the upper ends of said rails, a platform pivotally mounted at one of its ends between the supporting legs to extend rearwardly therefrom, means rigidly fixed to the platform and projecting longitudinally thereof beyond its pivoted end, and guide means mounted on one end of the ladder rails movably engaged by said last named means and cooperating therewith in the pivotal movement of said supporting legs to move said pivoted platform to an extended horizontal position with respect to said legs or to a vertical folded position therebetween.

3. A step ladder comprising a ladder prop- .er having side rails and supporting legs pivotally connected to the upper ends of said rails, a platform pivotally mounted at one of its ends between the supporting legs to extend rearwardly therefrom, an angularly bent memberv fixed tothe platform'and projecting longitudinally thereof beyond its pivoted end, and a guide pivotally mounted on one of hereto.

JOSEPH I-IUCK.

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