US2075494A - Ladder - Google Patents

Description

March 30, 1937. E. J. ARPS 2,075,494

LADDER Filed Jan. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 9 r INVENTOR Fig. BY dvrz/xzd ATTKRNEY March 30, 1937. 4

E. J. ARPS LADDER Filed Jan. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 659710110" I 64 A NEY Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention pertains to ladders, and has primarily for its object to produce an exceedingly light, simple and inexpensive ladder structure, capable of serving as either an extension ladder,

step ladder, or general utility ladder.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a ladder of the foregoing character, comprising pairs of inner and outer side rails or guides pivotally and slidably connected whereby they can be either spread to function as a step ladder, or general utility ladder, or telescope upon each other to provide an extension ladder.

A more detailed object is to provide a ladder of the foregoing type, in which a guide member is pivotally connected to one of the ladder sections and slidably connected with the adjacent section.

A still further object resides in the provision of a ladder having the foregoing characteristics, in combination with a nesting platform, which also serves as a tie to limit spreading or collapsing of the ladder sections when the same are open to a step ladder position.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, showing the ladder sections spread to step ladder position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the ladder in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of the lower end of the slidable ladder section.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein the invention esseno tially comprises two ladder sections A and B,

respectively, the numeral l designates the side rails of section A, between which the side rails 2 of section B are nested, as best shown in Figure 1.

While the side rails may be constructed in any conventional manner, it is preferred, for the purpose of lightness and strength, to fabricate the same, utilizing spaced struts 3 having secured therebetween the squared ends of the rungs 4. However, it is to be understood that the foregoing structure is old and well-known and therefore forms no part of the present invention, other than as hereinafter claimed.

The ends of the struts forming the side rails of both ladder sections A and B are secured in any suitable manner to connecting blocks 5, and, as best shown in Figure 6, the ends are further reinforced by the strap 1 straddling the ends. The lower ends of the side rails of section A differ slightly in formation, in that a pair of straps I are connected to the outer faces of the struts and connected at their lower ends by a U-shaped strap 8, which form spaced prongs 9 to prevent slippage on hard, smooth surfaces as the lower end of section A is always in contact with the ground, regardless of the manner in which the ladder is to be used.

As best shown in Figure 5, the rear struts of the side rails 2 of section B are of greater width than the front struts, thus causing the same to project laterally beyond the front struts to support the guide strips H], which strips have secured to their side faces, adjacent their upper ends, the bracket plates Ii, which in turn are pivotally connected to the blocks 5 to which the upper ends of the struts 3 of the side rails l are connected.

Secured to the outer faces of the guide strips 10, adjacent their lower ends, are brackets l2, to which are pivotally connected angle irons I3, having secured thereto in any suitable manner a plurality of transverse slats M which serve to form a platform when. the sections A and B are swung to open position, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Connected to the outer end of each angle iron 13 is a strap I5 having a loop l6 formed on its outer end and then projecting rearwardly in spaced relation to the angle iron M, the rear end of the strap being secured to one of the transverse slats at [1.

As best shown in Figure 3, when the sections A andB are opened to form a step ladder, the loop I5 is engaged over one of the rungs 4, thus serving to retain the sections in open position. When it is desired to collapse the sections A and B, it is merely necessaryto release the rung of section A from the loop l6 and allow the strap IE to ride over the rung, which automatically causes the platform to be nested between the side rails of section B, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Also, when in collapsed position, it will be noted that the straps I snugly engage the rungs 4 of the outer section A, and, being connected to the angle irons [3 which are pivotally secured to the brackets l2, serve to securely hold the lower ends of the guide strips against the rear struts of the side rails of section B.

When the sections A and B are in normal collapsed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, section B is supported by hooks I8 formed on the rear stretches of the straps 1 connecting the lower ends of the struts 3 forming the side rails 2, as best shown in Figure 6, the hooks l8 being engaged over the rungs carried by the side rails l of section A.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that in collapsed position the section B is readily slidable upon the guide strips I0. Therefore, in order to extend the sections, it is merely necessary to raise section B on section A and engage the hooks l8 upon the rungs of section A, in any desired adjusted position.

On the other hand, when sections A and B are spread to step ladder position, as indicated in Figure 3, it is essential to provide some means to prevent sliding movement of section B upon the guide strips 10. This is accomplished by the provision of blocks [8 secured to the inner faces of the side rails I adjacent their upper ends. As best shown in Figure 2, the blocks l9 are normally out of the path of travel of the side rails of section B, when sections A and B are collapsed, thus in no way interfering with the sliding movement of section B on section A. However, when sections A and B are swung to open position, as shown in Figure 3, the upper ends of the side rails 2 abut the blocks l9, thus preventing the same from being projected upwardly on the guide rails l0. Likewise, when in open position, it is also essential to prevent withdrawal of the slide rails 2. Consequently, finger plates 20 are secured to the inner faces of the side rails 2, and in open position these plates project over the blocks l9. Thus it will be seen that section B is rigidly held against movement in either direction when in open position.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that an extremely simple and inexpensive structure has been provided, which is capable of functioning as an ordinary utility ladder, step ladder, or an extension ladder, the salient features of the invention residing in the provision of two ladder sections, in combination with guide strips pivotally connected to one section and slidably associated with the adjacent section, whereby the sections may be either telescoped or pivoted upon each other. It will further be seen that extremely simple and novel means has been provided for locking the sections against relative movement when in adjusted open position, no moving parts being required, in that the blocks I!) automatically aline with the upper ends of the side rails 2 and the fingers 20 to prevent such movement.

I claim:

1. A combination ladder comprising, a pair of sections, side rails of one section nesting between the side rails of the other section, guide strips pivotally connected to the inner sides of the outer side rails adjacent their upper ends, means slidably connecting the inner side rails with said guide strips, blocks secured to the inner faces of the side rails adjacent their upper ends for engagement with the upper ends of the inner side rails when swung to open position, means carried by the inner side rails for engaging said blocks to prevent movement of said inner side rails on said guide strips in the opposite direction, and a tie connection between said sections to retain the same in open position, said connection comprising a platform pivotally connected to said guide strips and slidably connected with the adjacent section.

2. A combination ladder comprising a main section and a supplemental section, each section including longitudinally extending side rails and connecting rungs, slide bars extending longitudinally of the rails of the main section and slidably connected therewith, means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the rails of the supplemental section to the upper ends of the slide bars, and a platform pivotally connected to the lower ends of the slide bars and slidably connected with a rung of the supplemental section.

3. A combination ladder comprising a main section and a supplemental section, each section including longitudinally extending side rails and 7 connecting rungs, slide bars extending longitudinally of the rails of the main section and slidably connected therewith, laterally extending brackets carried by the opposite ends of the slide bars, means pivotally connecting the upper ends of the rails of the supplemental section to the uppermost brackets, and a platform pivotally connected to the lowermost brackets and slidably connected with a rung of the supplemental section.

EDMUND J. ARPS.

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