US1910551A

US1910551A - Orchard ladder safety device

Info

Publication number: US1910551A
Application number: US494969A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst J Kruse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-11-11
Filing date: 1930-11-11
Publication date: 1933-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-23

Description

. May 23, 1933- E' KRUSE 1,910,551

ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY'DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23, KRUSE ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 23, 1933 ERNST J. KRUSE, OF W'ENATOHEE, WASHINGTON ORCHARD LADDER SAFETY DEVICE Application filed November 11, 1930. Serial No. 494,969.

The present invention relates to ladders or the like and more particularly to a step ladder which is adapted to be used in the picking of fruit from the fruit trees.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety ladder which may be readily used by a person in the picking of fruit from trees and particularly in the picking of apples, the device being so constructed as to permit the positioning of the. ladder at any desired angle for the picking of fruit from the trees.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which will not readily tip over when the operator or user thereof leans over during the picking of fruit or the like from the trees and the de vice further embodies means for positioning the ladder on round of various contours so that the ladder may be readily mounted on a hillside.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section partly in detail showing the manner of mounting the bracing legs on the ladder;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail front elevation of a modification of this device, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view partly in tail taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates generally a ladder of conventional construction which is adapted to be used in the picking of fruit from fruit trees, the ladder embodying a pair of parallel side frame members 11 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced steps 12 which are adapted to hold the side members 11 in spaced relation to each other. The steps 12 are preferably slightly inclined from the transverse axis of the side frame members 11 so that When the ladder 10 is mounted at an angle, it will not inconvenience a person to stand on any of the steps 12 for a length of time in the picking of the fruit from the trees.

A relatively wide and large top member 18 is mounted on the upper end of the side frame members 11. In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 2, there is disclosed an adjustable brace designated 14 which is free at one end thereof and at the opposite end is secured to a hinge plate 15 which is bolted to said opposite end by means of bolts or screws 16 or the like.

his leaf of thechinge 15 is provided with an aperture 17 for swingably mounting the brace 14 on the side members 11. The side members 11 are provided with an outstanding bolt 18 and a sleeve or bearing member 19 is mounted about the bolt 18. A washer 20 is positioned about the bolt 18 and engages against the side of the frame member 11 and one end of the sleeve 19.

A second washer 21 is positioned about the bolt 18 and engages against the opposite end of the sleeve or bearing 19, these

washers

20 and 21 being adapted to engage against the opposite faces of the leaf 22 of the hinge 15. A nut 28 is threadably mounted on the bolt 18 and is adapted to hold the leaf 22 against removal from the bolt 18.

A locking bar 24 is swingably mounted at one end on the side frame members 11 and the opposite end of the locking bar 24 is adapted to engage a bolt or securing member 25 on the bracing member 14 which may be constructed in the form of an L-shaped bolt or the like and the locking bar 24 is provided with a plurality of notches 26 within which the bolt 25 is adapted to engage for holding the brace 14 in adjusted position with respect to the angle of the side frame members 11. a

The locking bar 24 may be lifted upward ly a suflicient distance so as to permit the ready adjustment of the brace 14 and when the brace 14 is positioned at the desired an gle with respect to the ladder 10, the locking bar 24 may be moved downwardly so that the bolt will engage in the selected notch 26. The upper end of the brace 14 may be secured to the ladder 10 at any desired point therealon and is preferably secured intermediate the opposite ends of the ladder 10 so that the braces 14 will constitute a pair of adjustable legs for holding the ladder 10* in upright position. The braces or legs 14: may be swung inwardly toward the side members 11 when it is desired to move or transport the ladder and are held in collapsed position by means of a pair of U- shaped clamps 27 which are secured to the outer faces of the side frame members 11.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 3 the ladder 10 is provided along the sides 11 thereof with an elongated guide bar 28 which is secured to the sides 11 by means of bolts 29 or the like, the guide bar 28 at the opposite ends thereof being provided with inwardly extending portions 30 which terminate in outwardly extending lugs 31 which extend in a plane parallel to the guide bar 28.

A slide 32 is mounted on the guide bar 28 and is provided with a pair of spaced cars 33 which have alined apertures 34. The supporting legs 14 have a plate 15 the upper end thereof which is provided with a suitable aperture for receiving a bolt 35 so as to swingably and adjustably secure the legs 14: on the frame members 11.

The bar 28 may be constructed in the form of a round bar or the like and is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 36 and in like manner, the slide 32 is provided with a plurality of apertures 37 therethrough which are adapted to register with selected apertures 36 and a locking bolt or pin 38 is adapted to be adjust-ably positioned in the

selected apertures

36 and 37 for positioning the slide 32 at the desired point on the guide bar 28.

In the use of this device, the lower end of the ladder 1O constitutes one supporting leg and the adjustable leg members 14 may be extended outwardly of the side frame members 11 so as to support the ladder 10 at the desired angle. The legs 1d and 1% may be secured in adjusted position by scans of the locking bar 24, the notched portion 26 of the locking bar 24 engaging the bolt or securing member 25 so as to prevent any movement of the leg 14 with respect to the ladder 10. Through the use of the leg members 14-, it will be possible for a person to stand on the top 13 of the ladder 10 and lean over to a considerable degree or angle without overbalancing the ladder. The ladder 10 may be provided with a supporting leg 39 which is swingably secured to the upper end of the ladder and cooperates with the legs 14 and 14' in maintaining the ladder upright.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claim.

I claim An orchard ladder comprising a ladder structure, a supporting leg swingably secured to the upper end of the ladder, a pair of bracing members, a hinge for each bracing member, means for securing one leaf of each hinge to one of said bracing members, a pair of guide bars disposed one on each side of the ladder, a slide engaging each guide bar, means engaging the slide and the guide bar to hold the slide in adjusted position on the guide, and means engaging the other leaf of the hinge and the slide to pivotally secure each bracing member to a. guide whereby the bracing member will have substantially universal swinging movement, the pivot for said other leaf being disposed at substantially right angles to the pintle of the hinge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ERNST J. KRUSE.