US3454132A

US3454132A - Ladder step

Info

Publication number: US3454132A
Application number: US673653A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rocco J Platino; John L Lombardo
Original assignee: JOHN L LOMBARDO; ROCCO J PLATINO
Current assignee: JOHN L LOMBARDO; ROCCO J PLATINO
Priority date: 1967-10-09
Filing date: 1967-10-09
Publication date: 1969-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-08

Description

LADDER STEP Filed Oct. 9, 1967 FlGi' FIG. 2

IN VENTORS ROCCO J. PLATI NO J HN L LOMBARDO ATTORNBJ United States Patent 3,454,132 LADDER STEP Rocco J. Platino, 308 E. Chestnut St., and John L. Lombardo, 111 S. Lincoln Road, both of East Rochester, N.Y. 14445 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,653

' Int. Cl. E06c 7/16 US. Cl. 182-121 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE To permit a man to stand erect on a ladder, a platform or step is provided having a plurality of clips or grips for releasably supporting the platform on adjacent rungs of a ladder, when the ladder is in use. Two spaced grips project downwardly from opposite ends, respectively, of the platform adjacent its forward edge to straddle one rung of the ladder, a leg or brace projects downwardly from the platform medially of its rear edge, and a flexible half-round foot on the lower end of the brace releasably supports the platform from the next lower rung of the ladder.

This invention relates to ladders, more particularly to a removable step or platform, which is attachable to the rungs of a ladder, when the ladder is in use, to form a generally horizontal support upon which a person may stand safely.

Most ladders, and particularly extension ladders, have circular rungs, which form the steps of the ladder. These rungs can be very uncomfortable for the person who must stand thereon for any extended period of time during the use of the ladder. Moreover, because the rungs are circular in cross section, they present very little surface area for contact with the shoes of the person standing on the ladder, so that it is quite easy for ones foot, or feet, to slip from the rungs. For this reason also, it is difficult for one using the ladder to lean very far from one side or the other of the ladder.

Efforts have been made to obviate these disadvantages by changing the rungs of the ladder. The conventional collapsible stepladder, for example, has flat steps or treads, but it cannot be made conveniently in heights much above twelve to fifteen feet. Removable stands or platforms upon which the user of a ladder may stand, have also been developed, but have not proved satisfactory.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a removable step or platform, which may be attached to a conventional ladder having circular rungs, to provide therefor, when the ladder is in use, a flat, generally horizontally disposed support upon which the person using the ladder may stand safely and comfortably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removv,

able step or platform of the type described, which is substantially less expensive and more compact than prior such steps.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a removable ladder step made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, and illustrating in phantom by broken lies part of a ladder upon which the step is adapted to be mounted; and

FIG. 2 is an end view of this step, the ladder again being shown in phantom by broken lines.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, the removable ladder step or platform 10 comprises a rigid, rectangular frame 12 around a central rectangular "Ice opening 14. Secured on top of frame 12 by conventional screws 16 and nuts 17 is a flat plate or board 18. Secured to the bottom of frame 12 adjacent the front thereof to project downwardly therefrom adjacent opposite ends thereof, respectively, are two pairs of identical, spaced, laterally aligned blocks 20 and 22, respectively, which constitute clips or grips.

Secured at its upper end to the bottom of frame 12 rearwardly of the blocks 20 and 22, and substantially medially of the rear edge of the frame, is a leg or brace 26, to the lower end of which is fixed a flexible half-round shoe or socket 28, which may be made of rubber and which in cross-section is inverted U-shaped in configuration.

In use the forward edge of frame 12 is positioned over one rung R of a ladder L, so that each pair of blocks 20 and 22 straddles this rung adjacent opposite ends thereof. The flexible shoe 28 is then engaged over the top of the next lower rung R in the ladder, so that the plate 18 will be disposed substantially horizontally, when the ladder is in use. In this position the person using the ladder can stand on the board 18 safely and comfortably. Moreover, the step 10 can be shifted upwardly and downwardly on the ladder for support by any two adjacent rungs thereof.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the instant invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive step, or platform, which obviates much of the discomfort and risk heretofore associated with extension ladders and the like. Step 10 utilizes, in essence, threepoint loading, since its legs transmit part of the weight of the person thereon to the center of the rung engaged by the shoe 28, and part to opposite ends, respectively, of the next higher rung on the ladder. The flexible shoe 28 is somewhat larger than the diameter of a rung to provide enough play to permit the shoe 28 to fit differently sized rungs; and the blocks 20 and 22 of each pair are spaced far enough apart to accommodate therebetween any conventional ladder rung. Hence, the device can be used on ladders having different sized rungs. Moreover, although not illustrated, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the leg 26 may be made longitudinally adjustable by any conventional means to suit the distance between adjacent rungs of the ladder upon which the step is to be mounted.

A principal advantage of the invention herein is that the major portion of platform 18 projects rearwardly and beneath the upper end of the ladder when in use. Thus, only a small portion of the platform 18 projects outwardly (to the left in FIG. 2) into the path of travel of the person moving up or down the ladder, therefore providing minimum interference with such travel.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1 A removable step for use on a stepladder, com- PIlSlIlg a rectangular frame,

two pairs of spaced blocks extending vertically downwardly from opposite sides, respectively, of said frame adjacent and parallel to the front edge thereof, with the blocks of one of said pairs being laterally aligned with the blocks of the other of said pairs,

a rigid :brace secured at its upper end to the underside of said frame substantially medially of the rear edge of said frame, and extending diagonally beneath said frame in a plane disposed medially of the sides of said frame,

an inverted, U-shaped socket member secured to the bottom of said brace, and

a plate secured on top of said frame,

said socket member being releasably engageable over one rung of a ladder, and said two pairs of blocks being engageable in straddling relation with the next highest rung of the ladder, thereby to support said plate generally horizontally above Said next highest rung with the major part of said plate disposed at the rear of said ladder when the ladder is in use,

the distance between said pairs of blocks and the rear edge of said plate being substantially greater than the distance between said pairs of blocks and the front edge of said plate, whereby said plate defines a step at the rear of said ladder of substantial dimension for a person to stand on, when said step is in use. 20

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Higgins 182121 Lynch 1821'2l Lucas l82-121 Harding 1 82-121 Maran 182121 White 182-121 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.