US2585671A

US2585671A - Flexible ladder

Info

Publication number: US2585671A
Application number: US17696A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Rosarla Forlano Morcaldi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-03-29
Filing date: 1948-03-29
Publication date: 1952-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-12

Description

Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D FLEXIBLE LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1958 Fig].

Fig.2.

Fig.3.

0 l m m 0 M m m 0 F m w. 0 R

INVENTOR.

Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D 2,

FLEXIBLE LADDER Filed March 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rosario For/ana Marco/d1 0 Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MORCALDI D' 2,585,671

FLEXiBLE LADDER Filed March '29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 Fig .9.

Fig. ll.

Rosana For/ano Marco/d1 D INVENTOR.

Feb. 12, 1952 R. F. MoRcALDi D' 2,585,671

FLEXIBLE LADDER Filed March 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Rosario For/ano Morca/d/D INVENTOR.

BY fi ny v Patented Feb. 12, 1 952 q F LEXIBLE LADDER I "Rosaria lfoi lano Morcaldi D,',East BostomMass.

' Application March 29, 1948, Serial No; 17,696

zoisi s (o1; 228-40) This invention relates to novelland useful im+ provements in ladder constructions for use in many environments.

An object of this invention. is to support an individual while climbing tokor descending, from an elevation or to an elevated positionin such ,a manner that upon fracture of one of the cords forming a portion'of the loop ladder associated therewith, the rung will not descend, thereby causing an accident. p

Another object of this invention- 1s to safely removeindividuals from burning buildings and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an'improved ladder composed of a single rope-,- which rope is so arranged in loops and knots as to support rungs of the'ladd'er whereby upon fracturing of one or two of the portions of the rope, the rungs will not fall. V

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description'of th'epreferred' forms of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pouch'or basketwhich may be used in carry-ingsmall chil dren in descent from the higher elevations ofa building, ship or thelike, to a lower-elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of needle work wherefrom the concept of the-presentin-= vention springs;

Figure 3 is a detailed viewshowing the methodof forming the needle-work shownin Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat. similar'toFigure 3, showing; the second step oioperationr,

Figure 5 is a perspective View showinga frag; mentary portion of a building with the instant. invention applied thereto;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing themethod of making the loops and knots forming the instant invention and per-w taining to the first embodiment thereof Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational'view of. a second form of thewinventionqm.

Figure 9 is a detailed view illustrative of: the? method of making the second formof the vention;

Figure 10 is an elevational view" of .a portion:-

of a third embodiment of. the inventiomr Figure 11 is a detailed viewillustrating the method of making the laddershown in. the third-L form of the invention; v V l Figure 12 is an elevational view of theifirst form of'the invention showing the selected ropes broken; a

Figure 13 is an elevational view ofthe-second form of the invention, showing'selected ropes broken; and .Figure'14 is an elevational ViBW Of-llh1 third embodiment of the invention, showing'selected ropes broken therein. I ,This invention and more specifically, the inventive concept springs from and is a development ofthat concept taught in my patents, Numbers 2,407,031 and 2,402,568. These patents teach and show needle-workwhich cannot'u'ri ravel when one of the cords thereof is broken and the method of making the needle work.

The principle of thepresent invention is to-su p'-' ply a ladder which willnot fail to support the individual uponthe fracture of one of the strands supportingtheladder; As in my patents-the concept of failing to unravel when a cord is broken, the present invention contemplates the failure to avoid maintaining the rungsand therefore theiindividualon therungs of the ladder in'zthe' advent of fracture of one'of the supporting portions of thesingle rope which either forms a portion of the rungs or actual-1y supports wooden, metallic-or other types of rungs.

Attention is now directed to Figure '7' wherein the first embodiment of the invention is illuse trated.= The portion of the safety ladder illustrated has-rungs and means for supportin'g the rungs-made from a single strand of rope. This sing-le stran-dofrope has a knot generally indicated are therein and a loop I 0' extending, therefrom: A'portion12 of the said" rope extends from the knot 8- and forms a'seoond knot M'similar to the said krrot Set the apex of the loop 10'. Then, the rope continues to forma third knot 16' with asecond loop l8 ektending'therefr'o'm. 'A"por- I tion -of the' rope forming theflsecond l00p'18 extends to-the apex of the-first'ementioned loop I10 and-forms a-fourth knot zif'thereini Then, a

continuation 22 ofthe said knot 20"projects through the third knot l6 and is"adapted to extend to 'theapex of the second loop l8 an'd'forrn a fif th knot; thereby-initiating this procedure again. A run-g [I -having an aperture I 3 therein rests-partially on the fourth knot 20 and on the" said knot M with the knot I6 thereover.

The abovedescription illustrates both the method of making the sides of the ladder of the firstiembodiment of the invention and the actual structure resulting from this method: Referring now to Figures 1 through 4-, the evolution of the invention may be seen; In Figure 2',

rope or cord I04, the knot 502 is formed. It will be noted that the spiral extends through a loop IIO which has been previously formed in the needle-work piece I09.

Referring now to Figure 4, this second step in 2 the operation of making the needle-work is illus trated. This second step is for the actual formation of the loop H0. The needle II2 having the cord entrained through the eye thereof is utilized in both operations of making the knot I02 and 100p IIO, as is dictated by convenience.

The terminal I I4 of the said knot I02 is formed in a loop IIB, the cord of the'said loop IIB continuing through the existing loop I10 and through the said loop 'II5, thence it is pulled tightly. By pulling the cord tightly as described herein, a loop IIO having a twist I20 is formed. By the manipulations of a single'thread, rope, or string or any other equivalent as described above, a piece of needle-work will result as is seen at I including a plurality of knots and loops with twists therein; By shearing or fracturing certain threads within the needle-work; it will not unravel as is the difficulty with the majority of conventional fabrics and more specifically the majority of handmade needle-work, with the exception of that needle-work disclosed in my patents identified previously herein.

Referring to Figure 1 now, it will be seen that a cradle generally indicated at I24 is supplied with loops I26 and I28 forming a portion thereof. These loops are of course, adapted to be held while a small child, infant or pet may be placed in the body portion of the cradle and lowered with an individual down a ladder. 'It is within the purview of the present invention to form the fabric of the cradle of the needle-work material or of the weave illustrated therein.

Going now to Figure '7 and in conjunction with this embodiment of the invention previously set forth, it may now be seen that a single rope of the ladder is looped and knotted in such a manner for supporting the rungs II whereby upon fracturing of one or two of the cords (see Figure 12) the rungs II will yet be maintained in spaced position for safe ascent and descent;

Referring now to Figure 9, a slightly modified form of the invention is disclosed. This slightly modified form includes a rung I I having an aperture I adJacent each side thereof, which aper purposes.

Attention is directed primarily to Figure 13,

wherein it is disclosed that upon failure of any:

safety purposes. Furthermore, in the event of.

4 fracture of the portions of the rope which connect the knots I6 to the said knots I4 and 20, the latter will still maintain intact as the remaining portions of the rope will support the rungs.

Referring now primarily to Figure 11, the third illustrated form of the invention is made solely from a single piece of rope. Starting at the lower portion of the illustrated ladder for convenience, a knot 40 is illustrated having a loop 42 extending therefrom. The loops and knots in this embodiment as in the second embodiment, are formed as described in conjunction with the first form of the invention.

A portion 44 of the said rope extends from the knot 40 and forms a rung. Formed at the opposite end of the rung is a second knot 45 which is similar to the said knot 40. A second loop 48 projects from the said second knot 46 and a portion 50 of the rope forming the second knot 46 has a third knot 52 formed therein which receives the apex of the loop 48 therein. This portion of the rope also extends from the third knot to form a side loop 54, which side loop 54 has a knot 56 made medially of the length thereof. This' medial knot is utilized for the purpose of preventing separation of the strands of the side loop 54.

At the terminal portion of the said side loop 54 is supplied a fourth knot 58 which is received adjacent the apex of the loop' 48 and then, con tinues to form another'rung 60. generally indicated at 62 is formed at the opposite end of the said rung 60 and receives the said first loop 42 therein adjacent the apex thereof. Then, the second side loop 64 extends from the said fifth knot 62. A lateral knot 66 for prevention of separation of the strands of the second side loop is formed medially thereof and the end portion of the said second side loop 64 has a sixth knot 68 formed therein which also takes in the said first loop 42 adjacent the apex thereof. The said single piece of rope then extends through the said lateral or side knot 66 for continuation to form a portion of another loop partially shown at I0. Of course, this procedure continues until the desired length of ladder is formed. By the above described structure in connection with the third embodiment of the invention, it will be readily appreciated by inspection of Figure 14 that various strands or portions of the single piece rope may be fractured or broken Without unraveling.

' Attention is now directed primarily to Figure 5 wherein one form of the invention is illustrated in use. There is shown a building structure having the usual window therein and the window encasement appurtenant thereto. Eyebolts 82 may be supplied in the window casing in order to accommodate the

chains

84 and 86 detachably therein, through the medium of a clamp 88. These

chains

84 and 86 along with Apertures are formed in the said platform 90 in order to accommodate knots 98 which "are formed at the two ends of the said rope forming the ladder. Itis readily appreciated that the ladder may be suspended in this manner for ascent and descent to and from a building.

From the foregoing, an understanding of the article of the invention, method of making the same and utility thereof is deemed apparent.

invention what rope being tied to an intermediate portion of said rope to form a closed elongated loop, said loop being knotted intermediate its ends, the

sgond end of said rope extending upwardly, through said knot and being gripped'by the knot," said ropehaving a pair of spaced knots engaged with saidloop with the portion of the rope be-j tween the two knots forming an additional loop. 2. In a rope ladder including a pair of rung supporting portions, each of said portions being formed from a single length of rope having firstj 1 and second ends, said first end being tied to an intermediate portion of said rope to form a closed elongated loop, said loop being formed into a knot intermediate its ends, the second end of said rope extendingupwardly through the knot formed in said loop and being gripped by the knot, said rope having a pair of spaced knots engaged with one end of the loop above the knot formed in the loop, the portion of said rope between said spaced knotsforming another elongated loop, said last mentioned loop also being formed into a knot intermediate its ends, the second end of said rope being extended upwardly through the knot formed inthelast named loop, said rope including a second pair of spaced knots engaged with the last named loop, and a ruri'g extending between said vertical portions and having apertured ends seated on the first named knots of each vertical portion and located between the first named knots of the vertical portions and the knots in the last named loops of the vertical portions.

ROSARIA FdaLANo MORCALDI p.

REFEREno s CITED The following referenbesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 303,055 Ryer Aug. 5, 1884 1,328,037 Early Jan. 13, 1920