US2103603A

US2103603A - Removable ladder step

Info

Publication number: US2103603A
Application number: US107453A
Authority: US
Inventors: Voigt Adolph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-10-24
Filing date: 1936-10-24
Publication date: 1937-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1954-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1937. A. VOlGT I REMOVABLE LADDER Filed Oct. 24, 1936 Patented Dec. 28, 1937 my 7 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE 2,103,803 REMOVABLE LADDER srar- Adolph Voigt, Miami, Fla.

Application October 24, 1936, Serial No. 107,453

2 Claims. (Cl. 228-60) This invention relates to removable steps. with rounded rungs. While the invention is ca-v adapted for use on stepladders, and more particpable of use with any type of ladder, it is parularly to removable ladder steps that are inexticularly useful in connection with the type of pensive in construction, and readily adapted to ladder shown in the drawing, since in the use 5 use with ladders to be placed in any desired posi-t of ladders with rounded rungs, insufilcient sup- 5 tion thereon. port is given for the foot, and continued use of Among the objects of the present invention is h ladders d c n i Standing on th the construction of a ladder step of any desired rounded rungs results in substantial strain. The 'materlal, that may be inexpensively constructed ovab e S eps of t p es invention are D and simply applied in use on ladders, enabling ticularly useful in connectionwith ladders of 10 ready removal of the ladder step from and into s ype to lieve y Strain i their 10118 the desired position, tinued use. In illustrating the invention, and

Other objects and advantages will appear'from as shown in the drawing, two steps are shown on the more detailed description set forth below, each of the ladders. but this is for the P p of it being understood, howev r, that thi more d illustrating certain features in connection with tailed description is given by way of illustration the steps, since although any number of such and explanation only, and not by way of limita p e s ca be pp d o ladders. it 18 tion, since various changes therein may be made unnecessary to use more than a single step memby those skilled in the art without departing her, which is applied to the rung at the partic- 20 from the scope andspirit of the present invenular place where the user of the ladder must 20 tion. 7 stand for some substantial period of time.

In accordance with that more detailed de- The rt cu a type of s ep member Produced scription, there is shown by way of illustration in n eeeordeneewith t e present invention, B the accompanying drawing, in step member which can be readily applied tothe Figure l, a front elevation of a ladder carrying desired ladder. the p member being a Su 25 removable step members in accordance with the etentielly flat article. h en s 01' whi h re present invention, two such step members being cut away to-receive-the rails of the ladder. Such shown, one of them in cross section, in position steps may be made either extensible, as shown in on said ladder; in Figures 15, or substantially 01' one piece as Figures 2 and 3, side elevators of ladders carshown in Figures 6 to 7. The extensible-type rying the step members as shown in Figure 1, steps are desirablymade of metal, while the oneportions of the ladder and lower step members piece step, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, may debeing shown in section; in sirably be made of wood, although wood mem- Figure 4, a plan view or a removable step members may be telescoped to provide the form of deber made in accordance with the present invenvice shown in Figures 1 t0 if desired, While tion, in position on the ladder 01' Figure 1, the single metal steps of the form shown in Figures rails of the ladder being shown in section, the 6 tot may also be employed. section being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; Considering more particularly the extensible in form of step as shown in Figures 1-5, the ladder 40 Figure 5, a perspective view of one of the ex- L having the usual rails I, 2 is provided with the 40 tension members of the step shown in Figures usual rungs 3. The stepS produced in accordance 1-4; in with the present invention is desirably made of Figure 6, a modified form of step of the present two telescoping members 4, 5, the exposed ends invention shown in position on a ladder; in of each of these telescoping members 4, 5 being Figure "7, a side elevation of the ladder of Figp ed w th a cu ut p rt 6. espe tive- 45 ure 6 showing the step in position, the view being ly, for receiving the rails I, 2 of the ladder. partly in section; and in When such extensible members 5 are produced.

Figure 8, a plan view of the step in position on of sheet metal, as illustrated, those portions of the ladder taken along the line 88 of Figure 6. the metal which are cut away to produce the In accordance with the presentinvention, a rail reception openings 6, I may desirably be 50 removable step member is produced for use on bent downwardly, as particularly shown in Figany desired type of ladder, although as i1lusure 5, to provide

tongues

8 and 9 on one member trated in the drawing, the invention is particand I0 and II on the other, which metal tongues ularly usefulin connection with those ladders serve the P p e Of pp e des Ofthe having substantially square-type rails provided rails I, 2 of the ladder. While not essential, such 55

tongues

8, 9, l0, and II are desirable in gripping the sides of the rails I and 2, and holding the step in position. The step rests on the corresponding rung 3 adjacent thereto, and even though the vertical angle at which the ladder is employed may vary as shown in Figures 2 and 3 particularly, due to the configuration of the rail-receiving-cuta'way portions of the step members and the depending gripping

tongues

8, 9, l0, and I I, the step will shift to a horizontal position regardless of the angle at which the ladder is used, as particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the step in all cases being retained in a substantially rigid position.

When made of sheet metal, the telescoping members may be held together in any desired way, but as shown in the drawing, this is desirably accomplished by rolling the edges of each of the extensible members 4, 5 to produce channel portions I2 and 13 on the inner telescoping member, and channel members I4 and IS on the outer telescoping member, these channel members lying within each other and serving to hold the step portions together.

In the extensible form of step shown in Figures 1-5, the step is easily placed in position by telescoping the members until the width of the step is considerably less than that or the ladder, and then placing the step on the particular rung of the ladder desired, followed by extension of the step members iintil the rail-receiving portions of the step members are positioned about the rails, with the

tongue portions

8, 9, l0 and I l serving to hold the step in position on the particular rung. In a similar manner the step may be removed from any particular rung, and either taken away completely from the ladder, or placed on any other rung thereof.

In the form of the device shown in Figures 6 to 8, a substantially one-piece step is shown. In this form, the ladder L having rails I and 2 and rungs 3 is provided with a one-piece step 20, desirably made of wood, and having a width greater than the distance between the rails of the ladder, but less than the diagonal distance between successive rungs of the ladder, so that the step may be raised into an angular position and removed from between the rails. Each of the ends of the step 20 is provided with a cut-out portion 2| adapted to receive the rails i and Z of the ladder.

In using the single piece step shown in Figures 6 to 8, the step may be placed in position on any particular rung by inserting the step diagonally between the rungs, with one of the rail receiving cut-out portions 2| positioned against the corresponding rail, and then dropping the step into horizontal position, so that the other rail receiving cut-out portion 2| is placed about the corresponding rail. The step will occupy the position shown of each of the steps in Figures 6 and 7. Similarly, the step may be removed from such position by reversal of the procedure just mentioned.

It will be seen that a simple step is provided, either of one piece or telescoping members that may be economically constructed, of inexpensive materials, and simply applied in connection with any desired type f ladder and used, as desired, on any rung thereof.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. A removable ladder step adapted to rest on the rung of a ladder, said step comprising telescoping members extensible to a width greater than the distance between the rails of the ladder, the end portion of each telescoping member being cut away to receive the corresponding rail, the cut away portion of the extensible members having a pair of tongues lying within the cutaway portion and formed from the metal that is cut away for gripping the corresponding rail, said tongues being directed downwardly and toward each other so that they serve to maintain the step in a substantially horizontal position.

2. A removable ladder step having a substantially flat main body portion adapted to rest on the rung of a ladder and having cut away parts in its end portions adapted to receive the corre sponding rail, the cut away part of each end portion having a pair of tongues for gripping the corresponding rail, said tongues being directed downwardly and toward each other so that they serve to maintain the face of the main body portion in a substantially horizontal position.

ADOLPH VOIGT.