US2517991A

US2517991A - Sectional ladder

Info

Publication number: US2517991A
Application number: US789076A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred W Eddy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-12-01
Filing date: 1947-12-01
Publication date: 1950-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-08

Description

1950 A. w. EDDY 2,517,991

SECTIONAL LADDER Filed Dec. 1, 1947 s She ets-Sheet 1 g INVENTOR.

Aug. 8, 1950 A. w. EDDY 2,517,991

SECTIONAL LADDER Filed Dec. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 8, 1950 l sfrATEs o airmalwlizuay, Qhicagwm; v fippl'i cation llecen ber 1, niziv 'ser al'nnkvsaiovej- Efllaimsa; (61;.2289-fi6ft This invention relates-to a-ladd'er and more particularly to a step ladder More-specifically thi' invention relates to a stepladder consisting 01%? as plurality of sections arranged to" be connected together for increasing the vertical extent ofthe laddera I a It is a well known -fact that one or more step ladders are-usually included in the various main tenance implements appurtenant to" a home or place of'bus'iness. Ladders thusutilized are usually of standard height sothat they may readily-bestored' in out of the way: places when not in use'. The need, howeveryoften arises: for

ladder: constructions :being' designed so that: they may be readilydisassembled into sections; 3,116.16! assembled to provide a step ladderr'ofincreased height or vertical extent. g

Another: object is to; provide. av step" ladder having-side: members and ladder supports, said sideemembers: and-ladder supports :being formed Maw-plurality of? quick. detachable. sections.

- Stilt: another objectis to: provide :.:a sectional stem-ladder; having an improved bracket conestmction for. connecting said, sections together.- in

aestudyiinexpensive and effective-manner;

' TL-1856131516. other objects; will become: more clearly-apparent from a; reading of thezfollowing description when examined in conjunction; with flim'drawingsz. 1.

.Intherdrawings; 1 a. i --.Figure .1 a. side elevationali view iofra step ludder oillconventional size height,v said ladder lmconnectingsections thereto;

Figure 2 is a front view of thexstepladder shnWmIimFigurel; I Y

Elgure issal front view ofa-step ladder;- said isdder having: a: greater" base widths than the ludtl'emshewn immiguresz including bracket membersxadaptedstobemtilized,

"Figure" 4 isa front'view off'a step ladder, -'said ladderhaving;- a greater base width than the ladder'shown in Figure 3; I i

Figure 5 is: a. side elevationalview of a=- step ladder including a plurality of sections con-- nected thereto for increasing the" vertical'height of the same;

Figure 6- is a perspective 7 view of aportionof a section 'attaching'bracket:

Figure T is a sectional view taken along the line 1 of Figure 5;

Figures is a detail side elevational' view-"of 'a portionofasection attaching-bracket;- Figure 9 'is anend view ofthesame; Figure '10 isa' side el'evationalview ofa brace member;

Figure- 11. is a sectional view-taken along the line I l--l:l" of Figure 10. Referring: particularly toFigures- 1 and 2, a ladder of conventional height is designated by the reference character: I 0.. The ladder- 0 comprises anupperrstep- If to which are connected a pair 'ofiangle members I2. A pair of? upright or side members v 13- are rigidly connected at their upper ends to the step I] ina conventionalrmannerby boltsor. other: securing: means: The side members? I 3 diverge or slope outwardly, their spacing at; the lower. end"v being considerably Wider: "than atrthe top; .A pluralitywfstepsvll are c'onnecte'd' to :the' -sidefmembers' and are in" turn-isupported" by reinforcing rods;- l5. Alpair of: Iadder supports 5' are" pivotally connected at their upper ends to the angle members I2; I The ladder supports include cross members 16 and are positioned to diverge 'out'wem-dlt in the same manner as the. side members 131 Referring t'ozFigures 3' and 4, ladders 20" and?! are similarly constructed to ladder "I. These ladders include upper steps 22 and 23 having angle members 24 connected thereto;- Side members: Hand: 28 are connected to the steps "and 23; Each pair of'si'd'e membersalso respectivel} includes

steps

29 and 30 and'ladder supportsifl and 32. Thesidemembers 2T and 28 are broken away: as shown in Figures 3 and' i to'more clearly indicate the ladder supp'ortsxw'hichare positioned directly behindthese: members. I

=Th'e step ladderslll; 2'0, and'zl' are all ofc'onventional height and construction so that they canail be generally used in projects where the same working height is involved; Beczatu'se' 'ef their size they can readily be stored by the user.

Whezrthe userneeds-a ladder of unusual" height he -can readily accomplish his purpose by the utflizatiomofi thesladderswithta number "Ofmin adjustments. By disconnecting the side members 21 and 28 respectively from the upper steps 22 and 23 he thereby provides ladder sections which are designated A and B. By also disconnecting ladder supports 3| and 32 respectively from steps 22 and 23, he thereupon provides ladder support sections designated C and D.

The ladder section A and support section are narrow in width at the top and wider at the bottomagThe upper ends of the side members 21 of section A are placed into engagement with the lower ends of the side members [3 of the ladder Hi to that the members are engaged in overlapping relation. This relation is best shown in Figure 7. The section B is joined to the lower end of section A in a similar manner to provide for the extension of the ladder, as indicated in Figure 5. The support sections C and D also have their ends in overlapping relation to join the parts together and thus provide a firm structure.

i In order-to v properly splice the ends of the sectionsto one another in overlapping relation, a bracket designated generally as 40 is provided. Abracket 40 is provided for each splice and since the brackets .48 for securing the ladder supports .are'similan in structure to the ones required for securing the side members, the samereference characterswvill be used for both types,

Each bracket 40 consists of 'a pair of. channel members 41; having leg members 42. The leg members 42 are bent inwardly toward one another so that they overlie sides of the side members or laddersupports as illustrated in Figure 7. Each channel member is of .sufiicient length to firmlyconnect the sections to one another.

A plate member 43 is placed between the ends of;. .the side members or ladder supports. Each plate member is provided with flange portions 44 which extend angularly outwardly in opposite directions. These'ilange portions 44 are positioned so that they engage edges of the side members or ladder. supports." They are rigidly held against the-edges of the ladder support or side members by means of the channels 4| which have their legs 42 overlapping the flange portions 44. A plurality ofsecuring members or bolts 4'5 ex- ;tend through the channels 4|, the side members orladder supports, and the plate 43 foreffectively connecting the members together. It can clearly :be;seen,that the relation of parts is such that a sturdy box section is provided.

A brace 50 consisting of brace'links has its ends pivotally connected to the plate members 43 .as; best shown in Figures 5 and 8. The brace 50 extends, between ladder supports and the side members for'reinforcing the same andsecuring the ladder .in an openworkin position. A U- shaped clip 52 andrivet 53 connect the links 5| -in pivotal relation so that the ladder may be closed up in a conventional manner.

The connection of the brace 50 to the plate members 43-is of prime importance. since this provides fora, safe and rigid connection to the .boxstructure provided by the bracket 40.

The connection of the sections to. one another :or,- to;' the upper steps can be by bolts or other securing means whereby the parts may be readily assembled or disassembled. In the'present disclosure bolts and nuts are shown. I It; can now-be seen that a novel construction has been provided wherein a plurality of CD11? ventional size ladders mayquicklybe converted to a sectionalladder of increased height q-to acpo nmodate; more' unusual; working; conditions. ThelcQ iv nticnal-size ladders can easily be. stored and yet the owner is assured of their use for many different working conditions.

By the unique and novel bracket construction for joining the sections a rigid structure is provided in an inexpensive and simple manner. By means of this construction quick assembly and disassembly is accomplished.

It is to be understood that modification and changes may be made in this construction which do not depart from the spirit of .the invention as disclosed or as defined within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A sectional ladder having a pair of upright laterally spaced side members and a pair of inclined ladder supports connected thereto, said side members and ladder supports being formed of'upper and lower sections, the upper ends of the lower sections and the lower ends of the upper sections being positioned in overlapping relation, means-tor connecting said sections together comprising a platemember positioned between each of the overlapping ends-of theupper and lower sections, said plate member having flange'portionsoverlying edge portions ofv the sections adjacent the ends thereof; a braceexe tending between said ladder supports and said side members, said brace being connected to said plate members, a pair of channel shaped'members overlapping each'of the upper ends of the lowersections and each of the lower ends of the upper sections, said channel membershavinglegs projecting inwardly toward each other for engaging 'and overlying the flange portions,1and securing means for connecting the members together. I

2. A sectional ladder having a pair of upright laterally spaced'side members, said side members being .formed' of upper and lower sections, the upper ends of the lower sections and thelower ends of the upper sections being positioned in overlapping relation, means for connecting the section'stogether comprisingv a plate membenpm sitioned between each of the overlapping .ends of said sections, said plate member havingfiange portions overlying edge portions of the sections adjacent the overlapping"ends',;a pair of, channel shaped members having legs projectinginwardly toward each other; the legseng'aging 'thevedge portions of tlie sections adjacenttheoverlapping ends, and securing means for connecting said members together-" 3. A sectional ladder having a pair ofupright laterally spaced side .membetsj steps connecting said side members, said side members being formed ofupper and lowerz'sections, the "lower ends of the upper sections engaging the upper ends ofxthe lo'wer sections iii-"overlappingrelation. A box structure at the overlappingends of each section for securing the sections together, said structure comprising a plate member'nly'ing between the overlapping ends of the sections 'and having flanges overlying edges of said sections adjacent the :overlapping endsya pair of channel shaped members oppositely disposedrw-ith respect to each other, said channel shaped member's having legs projecting toward each other andi'e'ngaging edgesv of said side members, and securing means extending through the, channel members and said plate member for connectingfsaid members together. Y :-;2;' i?

4. A pair of first and second short step ladders adapted to be assembled together. to form-i a single step, Jladder. of greater height than each 0! said step ladders, each ofsaid step:ladders gnaw comprising laterally spaced side members connected together by steps to form side member sections, laterally spaced ladder supports pivotally connected to upper ends of the side members to form ladder support sections, the side member sections and the ladder support sections having a relatively narrow spacing at their upper ends and a substantially wider spacing at their lower ends whereby the side members diverge outwardly with respect to each other and the ladder supports diverge outwardly with respect to each other, each of said ladders including a horizontally extending top step connected adjacent the upper ends of the sections, means on the second of said ladders detachably connecting the upper end of the side member sections to the upper ends of the ladder support sections whereby the second ladder may be disassembled into respective separated sections, means for connecting the upper ends of the separated sections of the second step ladder to the lower ends of the sections of the first step ladder in overlapping relation, said means including connecting members on the separated sections of the second step ladder disposed adjacent the upper ends thereof, connecting members on the sections of the first step ladder adjacent the lower ends thereof, and means securing the connecting members together, whereby the side members of the first and second ladders and the ladder supports of the first and second ladders are connected in overlapping longitudinally adjacent relation, the side members of the first ladder and the side members of the second ladder diverging in the same longitudinal direction to provide a single ladder of increased height, the single ladder having its side members spaced relatively narrow at the upper end of the ladder and its side members spaced'relatively wide apart at the lower end of said ladder.

5. A pair of first and second short step ladders adapted to be assembled together to form a single step ladder of greater height than each of said step ladders, each of said step ladders comprising laterally spaced side members connected together by steps to form side member sections, laterally spaced ladder supports pivotally connected to upper ends of the side members to form ladder support sections, the side member sections and the ladder support sections having a relatively narrow spacing at their upper ends and a substantially wider spacing at their lower ends whereby the side members diverge outwardly with respect to each other and the'ladder supports diverge outwardly with respect to each other, each of said ladders including a horizontally extending top step connected adjacent the upper ends of the sections, means on the second of said ladders detachably connecting the upper end of the side member sections to the upper ends of the ladder support section whereby the second ladder may be disassembled into respective' separated sections, means for connecting the upper ends of the separated sections of the second step ladder to the lower ends of the sections of the first step ladder, said means including connecting members on the separated sections of the second step ladder disposed adjacent the upper ends thereof, connecting members on the sections of the first step ladder adjacent the lower ends thereof, and means securing the connecting members together, whereby the side members of the first and second ladders and the ladder supports of the first and second ladders are connected in longitudinally adjacent relation, the side members and the ladder supports REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 363,950 Decker May 31, 1887 1,806,185 Skeels May 19, 1931 2,350,129 Richards May 30, 1944 2,449,056 Clark Sept. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date France c Sept. 24, 1934