US1943626A

US1943626A - Platform for use with ladders, etc.

Info

Publication number: US1943626A
Application number: US340166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis M Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-02-15
Filing date: 1929-02-15
Publication date: 1934-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-16

Description

Jan. 16, 1934. L. M. RICHARD 1,943,626

PLATFORM FOR USE WITH LADDERS, ETC

Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lows M imman gwuentoz Jan. 16, 1934. R|HARD 1,943,626

PLATFORM FOR USE WITH LADDERS, ETC

Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 b 2 2 \n for".

Laws. MRmmm Patented Jan. 16, 1934 ym'rso STATES PLATFORM FOR USE WITH LADDERS, ETC.

Louis M. Richard, Woodbridge, Conn. Application February 15, 1929. Serial No. 340,166

6 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices or platforms for use in connection with ladders and more particularly to a platform for use with a ladder of the so-called runged type.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a platform adapted to be supported upon the rung of a ladder so that it may be readily swung into normal operative position and further so that it may be readily revolved into inoperative position whereby without removal from the ladder it does not interfere with the ordinary use of said ladder.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a platform and support therefor which prevents accidental displacement or removal of the platform and its support from the ladder.

A still further object of the invention is a provision for a platform of the character set forth above with an associated supporting member so constructed that a person upon the ladder may readily move said platform and support into operative or inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a platform and support of the character set forth above which may be readily attached to or removed from the ladder.

Still further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood however that this more detailed description is given by way of explanation and illustration only and not by way of limitation since various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

In connection with that more detailed description set forth below there is shown in the drawings:

In Fig. 1, a side elevational view of the platform and supporting member therefor illustrating the same and attached to a ladder and in operative position, the ladder being shown in section; i 1!} In Fig. 2, a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the platform raised from the supporting member illustrating the first step in the placing of the device in inoperative position;

In Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating both the platform and the supporting member pivand supporting member therefor, the platform being shown broken away.

In further explanation of the device shown in the drawings, the platform may be of. any desired form, construction and material but is preferably of such size as to pass conveniently between the rungs of the ladder and the side members thereof. Also it is desirable that the platform taper towards its front end so that at its inner end .adjacent the ladder it will be but slightly smaller than the distance between the side pieces of the ladder while at its front end it is considerably narrower so that it may be readily passed between the sidefiieces of the ladder.

For example the platform 1 reinforced by cross pieces 1a, is mounted upon a support 2. For this purpose hinge members 3, one at each side of the platform and attached thereto as by screws 3a, project rearwardly from below the platform and are bent as shown at 3b to embrace the connecting element of the support to be described below. The relationship of the members 3 and the faces-connecting member of the support is similar to that between thehinge plates and the pintle of a hinge. After passing about the connecting member of the support the member 3 extends from the said depression 3b rearwardly and is shaped into a hook member 30 adapted to surround the rung R1 of the ladder as explained below. The portion of the member 3 extending just beyond the platform 1 is placed in close proximity as shown at 32) to the face 1c of the platform so that the connecting member 2e described below acts as a pintle about which the platform 1 may be moved.

The support generally referred to as 2 is desirably formed from a continuous metallic element having faces which may be substantially parallel and are substantially similar in geometric contour. For example thesefaces may be triangular in form having

face elements

2a, 2b, and 2c. The upper face element 20 is desirably bent or depressed to allow passage of the connecting member 2e beneath the platform. By

constructing the support in thismanner with the connecting member 2e joining the substantially parallel and similarly contoured faces 2 and preferably whereby the connecting member 22 lies just above the underface element 20, a very rigid structure is obtained. The ends of the metallic element desirably project beyond the connecting member 2e to form rung engaging projections 2f. The .face element 2a immediately contiguous to the ladder is desirably of such length that when supported by the rung engaging projection 2 upon a rung of the ladder the angle 2g of the support will extend just below the next rung R of the ladder.

When assembled in the manner set forth above, the device is ready for use in conjunction with a ladder.

The

members

3, 3, attached to the underface of the platform 1 are desirably placed contiguous to the faces of the support 2 so that there will be little play of the parts. While the connecting member 2e of the support acts as a hinge pin or pintle for movement of the platform thereabout, such movement is limited by the fact that the rear face 10 of the platform will engage the portion 2h on the rung engaging projection 21.

In attaching the device to a ladder or placing it upon a rung thereof, the platform and support are disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings and the entire device is then bodily positioned upon the ladder rung as illustrated in Fig. I. In the position of the structure as shown in Fig. 1 it will be noted that engagement is had between the rung and the rung engaging projection 2 of the supporting memher, and further the support 2 due to the length of the face 2a extends just below the next lower rung R of the ladder and contacts therewith at a: of Fig. 1. The support is thus rigidly held in position and increase in pressure upon the platform merely serves to increase the rigidity of the support. Assuming that the platform is in a position indicated in Fig. l of the drawings and that it is desired to move the platform into inoperative position, the platform 1 is swung into the position shown in Fig. 2, which represents the limit of movement between the platform and its associated support. Further movement of the platform 1 will then carry the associated support into the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the hooked element of the member 3 is also brought into engagement with the rung R1 of the ladder. In this position the face element 2b will contact with the rung R2 lying just above the rung on which the support is positioned.

At this point the entire device may drop of its own weight to the position illustrated in Fig. i of the drawings and is maintained in this inoperative position by means of the elliptical hooklike portions 30 of the hinge members engaging the ladder rung R1. In the final inoperative position illustrated in Fig. l, it will be noted that both the platform and the associated supports are so placed that they will not interfere with the ordinary use of the ladder even though the platform and support remain supported upon the rung R1 of the ladder L. Further the hook-like portion 30 of the hinge member which engages the ladder rung prevents the platform and associated support from being accidentally displaced therefrom.

From the inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 4 the device may be readily restored to operative position by a reversal of the operation set forth above. The end angle 29 of the support 2 may be readily moved in a counter clockwise direction whereby the support is rotatedabout the rung R1 and assumes the position illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. The platform 1 is also carried back into that position shown in Fig. 1

due to the association of parts as described above.

The arrangement of parts is such that the platform and associated supports are very nearly balanced so that a minimum of effort is required to bring these supports and platform into operative or inoperative position. Further these operations may be readily performed by the foot of a person standing upon the ladder and above the rung on which the support and platform are supported.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a rung type ladder, a support adapted to embrace a rung of said ladder, a platform carried by such suport for movement on said'support into operative and inoperative positions, means for permitting movement of the support into operative position, and means for permitting movement of the support into inoperative position.

2. In combination with a rung type ladder, a platform adapted to be pivotally mounted upon a rung thereof so that it may be swung about a rung into operative and inoperative position, and support means carried by said platform for securely maintaining the same in both operative and inoperative positions.

3. In combination with a ladder, a platform, a supporting member therefor, hinge members carried by the platform for pivotal engagement thereof with the supporting member, the said platform having pivotal engagement with the rung of the ladder, whereby the platform is adapted to be swung into operative and inoperative position, said platform supporting member including means for securely maintaining the said platform in operative and inoperative positions, said means comprising rung engaging projections on the supporting member and hooked portions upon the hinge members adapted to engage with the ladder rung.

4-. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a support comprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially parallel faces of similar geometric contour joined by a connecting member, the ends of said metallic element projecting under and beyond the connecting member joining the faces, the said ends being formed into rung engaging projections, and a platform carried by said support.

5. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a support comprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially parallel faces of similar geometric contour joined by a connecting member, at least one of said faces being of a length greater than the distance between contiguous rungs of the lader, the ends of said metallic elements projecting under and beyond the connecting member joining the faces, said ends being formed into rung-engaging projections and a platform carried by said supports.

6. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a support comprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially triangular parallel faces and a connecting member joining said faces, at least one of said faces being of a length greater than the distance between contiguous rungs of the ladder, the ends of said metallic element projecting under and beyond the con= necting member joining the faces, said ends being formed into rung-engaging projections, and a platform carried by said supports, said platform carrying projecting hooked members embracing the faces of the connecting member of the support whereby the platform and support are pivotally associated. said hooked members further surrounding the supporting rung in order to limit the movement of the platform about said rung.

LOUIS M. RICHARD.