US2182475A

US2182475A - Adjustable ladder step

Info

Publication number: US2182475A
Application number: US233555A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herline George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-10-06
Filing date: 1938-10-06
Publication date: 1939-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1939. HERLlNE 2,182,475

ADJUSTABLE LADDER STEP Filed Oct. 6, 1938 INI 'ENTOR.' azuqmz' mix/w A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1939 I UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE LADDER STEP George Herline, Saginaw, Mich.

Application October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,555

1 Claim.

This invention relates to platforms used as removable attachments for rung ladders to provide a fiat step on which the user may stand. Myimprovement pertains more particularly to such a device adapted for use on ladders of various widths and tiltably mounted so it may be kept level regardless of the angle of the ladder, and is capable of being fastened at any point along the length of a ladder, although the ladder may be wider at the bottom than at the top. The device is also adapted to be fastened to the ladder rail so as to be supported in its middle by a rung, or it can be fastened between any two rungs without the auxiliary support of a rung.

The objects of my improvement are:

To provide a simplified structure that can be manufactured at small expense.

Toprovide such a device with a platform that is strong, rigid, and adapted to be extended or retracted in the direction of its length so as to fit narrower or wider parts of a ladder. The platform although extensible has no hinged joints or folding members. Not being dependent for its strength upon any releasable bolts, latches or like fastenings likely to get out of order and cause accidents, the platform is stronger and safer than a foldable platform.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the platform to conform with various tilted positions of the ladder and to secure the platform in such angularly adjusted positions.

A further object is to provide fastening means for securing the device to the side rails of the ladder at any desired height so that the platform may either rest upon a rung or else be secured independently in the space between two rungs.

More specifically my improved appliance possesses the following advantages in use:

The interengaging or telescopic members of the platform are fastened together in overlapping relation giving the platform sufficient strength to carry usual loads without sagging. Consequently the platform need not be supported by a ladder rung, although it may rest upon a rung if desired. Its ability to be fastened at any place on the ladder, either on a rung or between two rungs, distinguishes it from earlier devices wherein a hinge extended crosswise of a foldable platform, the hinge requiring to be supported intermediate its ends by a ladder rung.

In my device the platform may be tilted on its supporting brackets and may be fastened in such tilted position while the ladder is in use and without unfastening the brackets from the ladder rails.

With the foregoing and certain other objects in view which will appear later in the specification, my invention comprises the devices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a ladder equipped with three platforms made according to my improvement, applying the features of telescopic adjustment to suit various ladder widths at different heights.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the telescopic platform, showing the supporting brackets and the means for angularly adjusting the platform and brackets relatively to each other.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the pivotal connection of the clamping bracket to the platform, and indicating a tilted position thereof by broken lines.

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic side views of a ladder standing against a support, the platform being adjusted on the brackets so as to be horizontal in various angular positions of the ladder.

Numerals l and 2 designate respectively the rails and rungs of a conventional ladder which is narrow at the top and wider toward the bottom.

The platform as shown in plan in Fig. 2, is telescopic, that is to say longitudinally extensible and retractable and comprises, in the form shown, two series 3, 4, of parallel interdigitating fingers. The outer ends of the fingers are fixed to the horizontal flanges, 5, of L-shaped supporting members 6, and their inner ends are kept together by means of straps or bars 3a, lid on their top and bottom faces.

Two flanges 1, 8, Figs. 2 and 3, project outwardly from a bracket plate member 9 to receive rails I, l between them, and a clamping plate In is mounted on flange 8 by means of a clamping screw ll.

Plate member 9 of the bracket and the upright member 6 of the platform support are pivoted together at 12 so that the platform can be kept level regardless of the angle of tilt given to the ladder, as shown at A, A in the comparative diagrammatic views, Figs. 4 and 5.

The broken lines, Fig. 3, indicate an adjustably tilted position of the bracket in relation to the platform, the angle of tilt being designated at the right by a curved arrow. Plate member 9 of the bracket has spaced apertures l3 and the platform supporting member 6 has a corresponding aperture Hi. When [4 is in register with one of the apertures l3 a pin I5 is inserted, fastening the platform and rail bracket together in any chosen angular position.

In operation the device is inserted in the space between the ladder rails l, I, and between any two of the rungs 2, shown in Fig. 1. The flanges 1, 8 of the brackets at the ends of the platform are moved outwardly to embrace the rails I, I, thus lengthening the platform until the

members

9, 9 take against the inside walls of the rails. The screws II are then tightened and the plates l6 firmly grip the front and back walls of the rails.

In Fig. 1 the platform is shown resting on rungs 2 which help support the platform load. However, if desired, the device may be fastened to the rails between two rungs and thus be supported independently of them. The platform can be applied to any wider or narrower part of the ladder, as is shown in three places, Fig. 1, or to ladders of different widths, without any adjustment or manipulation other than merely pulling out or extending the platform in the manner described above.

It will be observed that when the tilted position of the ladder is to be changed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, it is not necessary for the user to loosen the bracket T, 8, or to shift their position on the rails I, I in order to keep the platform level. The user merely removes pin l5, turns the platform about the pivot l2 until aperture I4 registers with a different aperture l3, and then reinserts the pin.

To remove the apparatus from the ladder, the clamping screws II are loosened and the two ends of the platform are pushed toward each other until the flanges l, 8 are disengaged from the rails l, I.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

An attachment for ladders comprising a pair of rail-engaging brackets adapted to be mounted on the side rails of a ladder, clamp means adapted to fasten the said brackets to said rails at any point along the length of the rails, a platform comprising two series of interdigitating members in mutually telescoping relation, said platform being tiltable about an axis lengthwise thereof, platform supporting members secured to the outer ends of the said interdigitating members of each series, said platform supporting members being pivotally mounted on said railengaging brackets; and releasable fastening means adapted to secure said supporting members to the respective rail-engaging brackets in