US2948350A - Adapter step for ladders - Google Patents

Description

Aug 9, 1960 H. BQHANNAN ADAPTER STEP FOR LADDERS Filed Feb. 6. 1959 H/'l/ory Schan/mn 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patenti() 'I i i PatentedAug.Y 9', 1960v 2,948,350 ADAPTER STEP non LADDERS Hillory Bohannan, Box 742, `Willcox, Ariz. Filed Feb. 6, 1959, ser. No. 191,665

4 claims. (ci. 18a- 121) This invention relates generally to an attachment for stepladders and more particularly to anv adapter which may be employed to enable removable steps to be added to the stepladder intermediate the fixed rungs.

Painters, electricians, and mos-t any one who uses a stepladder Wil-l readily agree that numerous occasions arise during which the normal rungs or steps of a stepladder are not positioned properly'for the desired purpose. For example, stepladders generally vertically space their steps about a foot apart and when, for instance, utilized by an electrician to install ceiling fixtures, a lower step may not elevate the electrician sullciently to comfortably reach the ceiling while an upper stepmay cramp him close to the ceiling and hinder his Work. Accordingly, it -is the principal object of this invention to provide an adapter for stepladders to enable removable steps to be added to the stepladder intermediate the fixed rungs thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adapter for stepladders which is readily attachable and detachable to various types of conventional ladders.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an adapter for stepladders which may be safely attached thereto to provide la safe footing for the user.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the above noted objects, below 1s particularly ydescribed the structure and operationpfor the ladapter comprisingthis invention` includmg'arigid rectangular frame having a top member, va bottom member anda vpair of side members. Eachh of the side members includes a plurality of vertically spaced grooves. Removable steps are adapted to be slidably received in aligned grooves in the opposed side members. A pair of strap members are provided. The strap members include top hook portions for overlying the conventional ladder rungs to dependingly support itself therefrom adjacent the ladder stiles. Slots in the strap members are registered with apertures passing through the side members of the frame and 'along with a rear strip member, receive bolts therethrough. The rungs of the ladder are retained between the top member of the frame and the hook portion of the straps. The bottom member of the frame is adapted to overlie a lower ladder rung. The removable steps have reduced end portions which are slidably received in the grooves. The central portion of the step is intended to be Wider than the frame. The strap members and strips overlie the grooves and retain the reduced portion of the removable steps therein to prevent the removable steps from accidentally sliding from the grooves.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsesuently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described :and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein an adapter for stepladders which is reliable, ecient, f1-0 2 like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: Y

Figure l is an elevational fragmentary view of a con-` ventional ladder utilizing the attachment comprising this invention; Y Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 2-2 of Figure 1; Y Q

Figure 3 is a sectional viewY taken substantially along the plane 3 3 of Figure 2; and Y Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating theelements of the attachment in disassembled form.

With continuing reference to the drawings and initial reference to Figure 1 the numeral 10 generally represents a conventional `stepladder with whichthe attachment comprising this invention is adapted to be utilized. The stepladder lllincludes opposed ` stiles 12 and 14 conventionally connected by rungs 16 and 18 whichfare vertically spaced. As is indicated above, it is the pur-` pose of this invention to provide a device which will enable `a step to be inserted between the fixed rungs 16 and 18 of ladder 10. L VAccordingly, an adapter is provided including a frame 20 having a top member 22, ya bottom member 24 and a pair of side members perpendicularly extending between the top and bottom members 22 and 24 at the terminal ends thereof. Only a single side member-is illustrated in the drawings and this is generally designated by the numeral 26. The side member y26 includes a plurality of vertically spaced grooves 28 therein. -Though not illustrated, the opposed side member is identical to the side member 26 and likewise includes grooves as28 which are `aligned therewith. Astep 30 having reduced end portions 32 and a wide portion 34 separated by a vshoulder 36 is slidably received withinA the'V grooves 28 `step 30 can be no larger than the side member 26-for reasons tovbe understood more fully hereafter. y Y

Apertures 38 and 40 extend through thesidemembers 26 and are registi-able with slots 40 and 44 of strap members 46 Yand 48. Each of the strap members 4648 AVincludesr a top hook portion 50 including a,` horizontal sec- 'tion 52 andV a 4verticallyrdepending section 514. As `will be noted in Figure 2, the hook portion is ,adapted to l'overlie rthe'rung' 16`of ladder' 10 with Y"the horizontal section 52 and vertically depending section 54 lying flush with the surface of the rung 16. The body section 56 of strap 46, 48 is angularly related to the horizontal section 52 as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. Since the depth .of the rung 16 may vary for different ladders, slots as 42, 44 are provided in the straps 46, 48 rather than apertures to be aligned with the apertures 38, 40 of the side member 26. A rear strip 60 having its apertures 62, 64 in registry with the Iapertures 38, 40 of the side member 26. Bolts 66 and 68 are received through the slot 42, aperture 38 and aperture 62 and slot 44, aperture 40, and aperture 6'4 respectively. Wing nuts 70 and 72 are threadedly engaged with the bolts 66 sand 68 to secure the assembly. .It will be particularly noted in Figure 4 that the strap 48 rand strip 60 overlie the grooves 28 of the side member 26 so that the reduced portion 32 of step 30 received in the grooves 28 is unable `to slidably emerge from the groove 28. That is, as Ilong as the nuts 70 and 72 and bolts 66 and 68 secure the strap 48 and strip 60 adjacent the side member 26, the step 30 will be unable to be removed from the particular groove 28 in side members 26.

It will be appreciated that the adapter may be easily placed on and removed from the ladder 10 and also that the step 30 may be utilized in any of a plurality of grooves 28 along the side member 26 between the fixed rungs 16 and 18 of the ladder 10. Though no particular materials have been described for the invention, it is contemplated that any convetnional ladder materials may be utilized :solong `as the combination of the ladderand` adapter are suioient to sustain the desired weight. v

The foregoing is considered as illustrativeonly of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occunto those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modiiications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An adapter for stepladders to enable removable steps to be added to the stepladder intermediate the fixed rungs comprising a rigid rectangular frame including a top member, a bottom member and a pair of side members, a plurality of vertically spaced grooves in each of said `side members, opposed grooves in said side members adapted to slidably receive a step therebetween, and ineans for securing said frame to a stepladder, said means including a pair of strap members, said strap members secured to said side members, said strap members including a top hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be suspended from said stepladder rungs, apertures in said side members, slots in said strap members, said apertures and slots being aligned to receive bolts therethrough, a pair of strips, said strips having apertures therein receiving said bolts, nuts received on said bolts outwardly of said strips for securing said strip adjacent said grooves for preventing slidable removal of a step therefrom in one direction.

2. An adapter for stepladders to enable removable steps to be added to the stepladder intermediate the fixed rungs comprising a rigid rectangular frame including a top member, a bottom member and a pair of side members, aplurality of vertically spaced grooves in each of said side members, opposed grooves in said side members adapted to slidably receive a step therebetween, and means for securing said frame to a stepladder, said means including a pair of strap members, said strap members secured to said side members, said strap members including a top hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be suspended from said stepladder rungs, apertures in said side members, slots in said strap members, said apertures and slots being aligned to receive bolts therethrough, a pair of strips, said strips having apertures therein receiving said bolts, nuts received on said bolts outwardly of said strips for securing said strip adjacent said grooves for preventing slidable removal of a step therefrom in one direct-ion, said straps overlying said grooves for preventing slidable removal of a step therefrom in a second direction.

3. An adapter for stepladders to enable removable steps to be added to the stepladder intermediate the fixed rungs comprising a rigid rectangular frame including a A top member, a bottom member and a pair of side members, a plurality of vertically spaced grooves in each of said side members, opposed grooves in said side members adapted to slidablyreceive a step therebetween, and means for securing said frame to a stepladder, said means including a pair Vof strap members, said strap members secured to said side members, said strap members including a top hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be suspended from said stepladder rungs, apertures in said side members, slots in said strap members, said apertures and slots being aligned to receive bolts therethrough, a pair of strips, said strips having aper-tures therein receiving said bolts, nuts received on said bolts outwardly of said strips for securing said strip adjacent said grooves for preventing slidable removal of a step therefrom in one direction, said straps overlying said grooves for preventing slidable removal of a step therefrom in a second direction, said removable step having reduced end portions, said reduced end portions received ,inY said grooves and retained therein between said strips and said straps. i

4. In combination with a stepladder having a pair of opposed stiles connected by vertically spaced rungs, an adapter for adding removable steps between said rungs comprising a frame including a pair of grooved side members, a pair of strap members, said strap members including a top hook portion, said hook portion dependingly supporting said strap members from one of said rungs adjacent said Stiles, registered apertures in said side members and said strap members, fastening means received through said registered apertures for securing said side and strap members together with said one rung secured between said hook portions and said side members, and a removable step slidably received in said grooves between said side members.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,643,045 Renfro June 23, 1953 2,684,193 Buckley July 20, 1954 2,876,047 LaPlante Mar. 3, 1959

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