US502485A

US502485A - Folding or extension fire-ladder

Info

Publication number: US502485A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1910-08-01

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. DEDERICK. FOLDING 0R EXTENSION FIRE LADDER.

Patented Au 1, 1893.

atta n-nay v 3 z 4 fm l evapeden'ak 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. DEDERIOK. FOLDING OR EXTENSION FIRE LADDER.

(N0 Modgl.)

No. 502,485. Patented Aug. 1, 1893.

lllll (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a. DEDERIOK.

FOLDING 0R EXTENSION FIRE LADDER. No. 502,485. Patented Aug. 1, 1893.

(ta army 1? Nine TATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI DEDERICK, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

FOLDING OR-EXTENSION FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,485, dated August 1, 1893.

Application filed July 19, 1892- Serial No. 440,466- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI DEDERICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding or Extension Fire- Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in foldingfire ladders; and it consists in the devices and elements and combinations of devices and elements hereinafter particularly described and specifically set forth in the claims.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a ladder which is composed of a pair of folding side rails and a series of rounds arranged between them and capable of being extended and contracted at will; second, to combine with a ladder, composed of a pair of folding side rails and a series of rounds secured therewith, supporting guide rails running in direction of the line of extension of the said ladder, and a series of coacting guiding devices secured to the said folding rails, whereby the folded ladder may be supported and have its parts guided when the ladderis being extendedand contracted third, to combine with a ladder composed of a pair of folding side rails and a series of rounds secured therewith, supporting guide rails arranged parallel with the line of direction of extension of the said ladder and co-acting devices secured to the same, of a holding device, securing one end of the ladder stationary in relation to the said guide rails and a draft device operating with the extendible portions of the said folding side rails, whereby the ladder may have its parts extended and folded at will; fourth, to combine with the folding side rails of a ladder and its rounds a series of cross shafts or bars having their outer ends operatingas pivotson whichthe folding barsof said side rails articulate, and set distant from the rounds of the ladder, whereby the folding sides will be stiffened in both the direction of their depth and the width of the ladder; fifth, to combine with a ladder composed of a series of rounds secured to folding side rails, of a series of cross shafts extending from one folding side rail to the other, and a series of lazytong levers arranged between the said folding side rails and pivoted to the said cross shafts, whereby the ladder may be stiffened against lateral sway; sixth, to combine with guide rails which are pivoted by their foot ends so as to be capable of being moved from a horizontal position toward a vertical one and the reverse, and which support and guide the folding side rails of a folding ladder, bracing bars which are jointed at their foot ends with a stationary base piece or platform and have their opposite ends in sliding contact with the said guide rails at points distant from the pivot on which guide rails are moved, and devices for holding the sliding ends of the said bracing bars, to bearings against side rails at points to which they may be moved, whereby the said guide rails will be supported and braced from points Whichare distant from the pivot on which said guide rails are turned; to provide with a folding ladderguide rails, a hoisting mechanism and a draft mechanism, whereby the said ladder may be elevated from a horizontal position and be extended at will, and, finally, to provide particular combina tions of devices and parts whereby my improvements may be embodied in extension or folding ladders. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side elevation of an extension or folding ladder, mounted on a truck and embodying the improvements in my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the ladder extended. Fig. 3 is a view of the same from its rear side. Fig. 4 is a section of the body of the foldingladder with an extensible stiffening device secured thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 isa section, on an enlarged scale, taken in the transverse through the guide rails, and showing the manner in which the parts of the folding ladder are secured and guided in their movements. Fig. 7 is a View, in section, of the supplemental ladder.

In the drawings A represents any suitable platform.

B B are suitable standards secured to the said platform, to serve as part of ajoint connection between the said platform. and the guide rails of the folding ladder; and O is a truck body, mounted on wheels and supporting the said platform which is constructed to serve as a turn table, capable of being revolved horizontally in any direction at will.

D D are guide rails which may be made of wood or metal or both combined, and with a length suitable for use with an extendible ladder of the capacity selected. The guide rails have their forward ends jointed by means of any pivot or shaft a to the said standards B B. These guide rails have preferably made in them, from the inner sides, the longitudinal slots (1, shown by full lines in Fig. 6 and indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which slots are extended from the forward ends of said guide rails to their rear end terminals. Although these guide rails may be made with any suitable form, yet I prefer to make them with a truss form as shown, in which the guide rail proper, at each side is strengthened by the bars D D arranged relatively at an angle with rails D D, and tied therewith by means of studs d and tie bolts (#1 with the forward ends of the said rails and the said bars at a distance apart, while their rear ends are brought together and secured. In this form of construction the lines of the lower side surfaces of the bars D are made relatively inclined, in respect to the line of the slots d,in the respective guide rails D; the use of which incline will be hereinafter explained. The outer or rear ends of these guide rails D are yoked together by means of a crank form tie-rod b, to prevent the said ends from either spreading, or being drawn toward each other.

E E are lifting props, which have their foot ends jointed with the platform A at points at each side, at equal distances back from the standards B as illustrated. These lifting props may be made of wood or metal or both combined, and may each consist of a single piece; yet I preferably make them with a truss like form as shown in Fig. 3, and consisting of pieces 6 a set relatively at an angle or inclining, and studs 6 e and tie bolts 6 with the pieces 6 e relatively parallel and the pieces e e relatively inclining as shown in said Fig. 3. The spread footends of these lifting props are shown to be pivoted with the cross timber or piece B of platform B by means of eyes b b, b b and shafts 11 b Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The outer ends of these lifting props are yoked together by means of any of this tie piecebare suitablepintles e which pass through the eyes 6" secured to the outer ends of the said lifting props, and on these pintles are mounted friction rollers E having bearing against the lower side edge of the guide rails, or bars D forming adjuncts to said guide rails when made with a truss form of construction as before described. These friction rollers E are provided on their outer ends with flanges e which are in contact with the outer side surface of the said guide rails or their adjuncts D, and prevent the said guide rails from spreading.

F F are hoisting ropes made of any suitable material and preferably of wire, which ropes are respectively secured by one end to a draft linkf, secured to the pintle pins 6 holding with the outer end of each of the lifting props E, and by their opposite ends each to a drum of any suitable Windlass. 3 these drums F are shown by dotted lines to be made with a cone like form, in which form of drums, the hoisting ropes are secured to the smaller ends of the same for exerting greater force at the start of the lifting of said props against the guide rails D. These drums FF are mounted on a suitable shaftf, turning in bearings secured to the standards B B and provided with a crank f for revolving the same. A suitable ratchet wheel and pawl and dog are provided on the Windlass shaft f for holding the hoisting ropes from unooiling from the said drums F. The said drums are also provided with a brake f preferably of a friction strap provided with a suitable lever and operating on the friction surface of a suitable flange made with the larger end of said drum as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Mounted in suitable bearings at the top or upper ends of the standards B B are shaft-s c c, on which shafts are mounted the friction rollers c 0 over which the hoisting ropes F F run; These rollers c are at such a distance above the pivot shaftof the guide rails as to produce between the line of the said hoisting ropes (from said rollers c to the point of connection of the said ropes with the upper or outer ends of the lifting props) and the lower side of the guiding rails or theirinclined adjuncts or bars D, a great divergence or an angle whereby the power from the hoisting drums may be more effectually applied to the outer endsof the lifting props as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. hen the said guide rails are made with a truss like form with the trussing bars D serving as adjuncts to the guide rails D for stiffening the latter and for producing an incline in relation to the line of the slots d of the said guide rail. The lines of the hoisting ropes F (from friction rollers c to the point of connection of said ropes with the lifting props E) and the lines of the surface 00 of the inclined bars D (against which the friction rollers E travel) form an angle less acute than the angle would be were the inclined bars D omitted, and the said friction rollers E moved against the lower side of the guide rails D. By this greater angle of the said lines described, the draft of the Windlass on the outer and mov- In Fig.

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ing ends of the lifting props E is made to be most efiective, and at the commencement of the lifting of the outer ends of the said props and their load, a less force will be required to be applied to the Windlass to etfecta starting of the lifting of the load, than would he were the angle of the said lines less. By providing the guide rails D with the inclined bars D the lower side surfaces on of the said bars, are made to gradually accelerate the speed of the upward elevation of the said guide rails from a horizontal position toward a vertical one, so that the nearer the said guide rails approach a perpendicular the more rapid will be the elevation, and this increasing of speed of elevation will occur as the resistance to the draft of the Windlass is lessening and the periphery of the cone like drums is receiving the coils of the hoisting ropes on lines gradually approaching the larger ends of the said drums.

L is a folding ladder composed of rounds G G and the folding side portions II II, which folding side portions operate as do side rails in an ordinaryladder for receiving the rounds by which individuals travel up and down the same. The said folding sides II II are arranged about parallel and at a distance apart, outside measure, about corresponding with the distance between the guide rails D D, which receive between them this folding ladder L; and they are each made to be a duplicate of the other in their essential parts, and hold, between them, the said rounds G G secure in place. These folding sides II II are each composed of a series of bars hand a series of co-acting bars h pivoted together by pivots 11 and t", with the bars h of one series crossing their adjoining bars h of the other series, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. These bars h and 7t may be made of any suitable material, but preferably of thin steel with a suitable width, for receiving the perforations which receive the pivots 2' t" and the ends of the rounds G, and not break when loaded and extended. Although the several bars h h of the respective series in these folding sides are shown to be of like width; yet they may be made to vary in width when the ladder is to have capacity for a great eXtension-- that is to say, in ladders intended to be capable of great length of extension, the first five (or a less or greater number) maybe made, say one quarter of an inch wider than those of the second five bars, and these second five bars may be made one quarter of an inch wider thanv those of the next third five bars and so on to the end of the ladder, lessening the width of the said bars (in groups) as advance is had toward the outer or top end of the ladder from its foot or lower end; at the same time the pivots t t" are preferably increased in their diameter as the widths of the bars h h are increased. Although the pivots t" may be of length only sufficient to hold the bars 72. h jointed together as do pivots t, yet I prefer to make them integral with the tie bars I I which hold the folding sides II II connected with each other as shown in Fig. The said pivots t" may also be ex tended outwardly to a distance sufficient to enter theslots d of the guiding rails D and serve as sliding studs 2' for holding the folding ladder L between the said guiding rails and allow the same to be extended and contracted at will; but if preferred, the studs 2' may be independent of the pivots t" and be secured to the bars h of the outer series, at points equi-distant from said pivots 2" either above or below. The studs t i are preferably provided with friction rollers or thimbles 2' of diameter slightlyless than the width of the slots (Z (Z of the guide rails, which receive them. Although the material around the pivot holes at the outer ends of the bars h h, of the two series in the folding side portions of the ladder, may be without reinforcement, yet it is preferred to reinforce the metal neighboring the pivot holes, in the middle portion of the side bars, by suitable hub like pieces 7&2 secu red to said bars by rivets or their equivalents, which pieces operate to supplement the length of the bore receiving their respective pivots in the middle portions of said bars. The bars I I which are integral with the pivots z" are shown to be held from moving endwise in either direction in the bars of the said folding side portions of the ladder, by means of pins 75 70, Fig. 6.

The rounds G G of this ladder extend from the outside bars h of one folding side to the corresponding bars of the opposite side, and have their ends suitably secured with said bars at points preferably about midway between the pivotst' dot the middle portions of the said bars as shown. Although these rounds may each consist of a single piece of metal or wood, yet I preferably make them of tubesZ of suitable length and diameter, having their ends abutting against the inner sides of the bars h, and a tie rod Z passing through the said tube and the said bars and secured by screw nuts Z as shown in Fig. 6. These rounds G G coaot with the cross bars I I to prevent the body of the ladder from sagging and from swaying sidewise.

This folding ladder may be further stifiened from side swaying by means of a series of folding slats m m, Figs. 4 and 5, pivoted together by pivots n nso as to produce a fold ing web capable of being extended and 0011- tracted in direction of the length of the ladder. This folding web is shown to be pivoted to bars I I by the pivots n n which hold the said slats m m jointed together at the middle of their length. This folding web M formed by the said jointed slats m m may be applied to the whole length of the folding ladder L which extends, when the ladder is elevated, out past the guide rails D D, or may be used at intervals between the upper end of the extended ladder and the outer ends of the said guide rails D as the capacity of the ladder may require.

his

O is a supplemental ladder, provided with a folding platform 0', which is made to have an attachment with the folding ladder by any suitable means, and preferably by means of the slotted side rails 0 shown in Fig. 7 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This supplemental ladder has its side rails 0 of any.

suitable length, and is provided with rounds 0 0 at suitable distances apart in the unslotted portion of the rails o; and has also suitable side railings 0 supported from the side rails 0 by suitable standards 0 The platform 0' is hinged at the termination of the.

slot sinjhe side rails 0 and has its free end or side guided by suitable pins working in a curved slot 8, provided in the bracket S secured to the said side rails 0 of the said supplemental ladder.

This folding ladder L has its foot or lower end secured to the guide rails D by means of suitable bolts T passing through said guide rails and the respective folding side portions H H of the said ladder, so that said lower or foot end of the ladder will be securely fixed from moving in either direction in relation to the said guide rails, or the point of their pivoted connection with the standards 13 B.

This ladderL is capable of being extended in direction of its length and away from the holding bolts T when force is applied to its folded parts in direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 1; and when so moved the several bars h h of the folding sides H H will be moved from a-closed up position as shown in Fig. l to that of an opened out position as shown in Fig. 2. The force so applied in direction of arrow 1 may also be applied at any one or more points in the length of the ladder as may be preferred; and any suitable mechanism may be employed which will apply the moving force employed in aline coincident with the line of movement of the ladder; but preference is given to the employment of a Windlass P, secured to the guide rails D or their adjuncts or bars D, and draft lines Q running from said Windlass to and over the wheels R, mounted on suitable bearings secured to the outer ends of the said guide rails, and then turned and run forwardly to the forward portion of the folded ladder where they are secured to one or more cross bars I of the ladder from its lower side. The drawings show that thesedraft lines Q are made, in their portions for winding on the drums of the Windlass, to consist of a ropepreferably a wire ropeand a chain portion -19 the latter being provided with one or more hooks secured to it at intervals, and engaging with a corresponding number of bars I while the endslof the chains n are permanently secured to one of the bars I, or an equivalent piece, as say to the fifth bar from the bolt T at the foot of the ladder. The hooks q q at intervals in the chains 19', are so placed that when the ladder is in a folded condition as in Fig. 1 there will occur in the said chains one or more sagging portions Q Q between the points of the hitching of the said chains with the ladder; while the portions of chains between the wheels R and the first hook of attachment of the chain as hook q are straight and taut, so that as soon as the Windlass P is operated, a pulling force will at once be exerted in direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 1, and draw the folded sides H in direction away from the fixed foot end of the ladder when a rapid extension of the said sides will be effected, and when this extension has been sufficient to cause the sagging portion Q of the chain 10 to be straightened out, the second hook q will then begin to pull on the ladder to continue its extension, and will be released when the sagging portion Q is straightened out as shown in Fig. 2; the draft of the Windlass on the draft lines Q being continued, the pullon the ladder in direction of arrow 1 will be had by the fixed ends of the chains to the bar I near to the foot end of the ladder. This extension of the ladder may be started before or at the time the guide rails are beginning to be lifted; and the extension of the ladder and its elevation may be effected simultaneously, by operating the respective windlasses F and P, the one for elevating the guide rails D D between which the ladder is held and guided, and the other for forcing the folded parts of the ladder to unfold and extend themselves outwardly and from situation shown in Fig. 1 to that in Fig. '2. The Windlass P is provided with a ratchet wheel and pawl for holding the same from unwinding the draft lines Q and also with a suitable brake if under control of an operator, by which the ladder may be allowed to contract, by force of its" gravity, with any regulated speed preferred.

W'hen this ladder is extended as illustrated in Fig. 2, the rounds G G of the same will be in situation for allowing a fireman or other person to go up or come down, stepping on the said rounds, as on rounds in a common ladder. When the supplemental ladder O is in place as in Fig. 1, and the folding ladder L is elevated and extended, the platform 0 may be folded to a horizontal position and serve as a standing place for a fireman for holding a hose, or for holding persons escaping from a building, by way of a window or the roof, and by the rounds of said ladder 0.

By the improvements in this invention this folding ladder and its supplemental ladder O can be rapidly elevated and lowered so as to rescue persons from buildings, and transfer them from the roof or windows of same to near the ground. By applying the force to the folding ladder in direction of the line of itsextension, the ladder may be extended with great ease.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a foldingladder, the combination with the folding sides H H composed of the two series of bars as h h pivoted together bypivots 'i t as described, and'the rounds G G secured by their ends alternately to the said sides are allowed to be freely extended and Contracted at will, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a folding ladder the combination with the folding sides H'H composed each of two series of bars as h h pivoted together by pivots as described, and the rounds G Gsecured by their ends alternately to bars h h of the respective folding sides and without serving as pivots, of the guide rails D holding and guiding the said folding sides in their movements when being extended or contracted, and devices described securing the foot ends of said folding sides fixed with the said guide rails, with permission for the free movement of the bodies of the said folding sides in direction of the length of the ladder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a foldingladder the combination with the folding sides H H, pivoted together by the horizontal bars I I Iwhile their bars h h are pivoted together by the pivots i 2", and the studs 1' 2' projecting from the outer ends of said sides, of the pivoted guide railsD D calculated to be raised at will from a horizontal position to or toward a vertical one and the reverse and co-acting with said studs, and the holding devices T securing the foot ends of thesaid folding sides from being moved in relation to said guide rails, and the means described for applying force to the said folding sides, in a line of direction away from the foot holding device T, and at points rearward and distant from the said foot holding device, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l. In a folding ladder, the combination with the folding sides H H having a series of bars I I secured at their ends in a pivotal manner with the said folding sides, and provided with the rounds G G, by which individuals may ascend or descend when the ladder is elevated and extended without using the bars I, guiding devices 1' i secured with the outer sides of the said folding sides, of guide rails D, coacting with guiding devices for guiding the said folding sides in their movements of extension and contraction, a device as described for holding the foot ends of said folding sides fixed with the said guide rails, devices for serving as pivots for pivoting the said guide rails to suitable pieces fixed to a platform, and a hoisting mechanism for elevating the free or rear ends of said guide rails, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In afolding ladder, the combination with the folding sides H H having rounds G G secured to the members or bars h h, composing said sides, but not serving the purpose of pivots for the joints between said bars or said folding sides, guiding devices secured to the outer sides of said folding sides, guide rails D coacting with said guiding devices, the

means described for securing the foot ends of said folding sides fixed to the foot ends of the said guide rails, means described for hinging the foot ends of said guide rails with suitable pieces which are fixed to a platform, of the hoisting mechanism described for raising the free ends of said guide rails, and the mechanism described for applying force to the body of the said folding ladder in direction of its length and in a line from the foot end of said ladder toward its free or rear end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a folding ladder, and in combination with its folding sides 11 H, which unitedly carry the rounds G G described, and having a series of transverse bars secured by their ends between the said sides, of guiding rails made with a truss form of construction and hinged by their connected foot ends with suitable pieces which are secured to a platform and having their rear or free ends free to be elevated at will, and the guiding devices described secured to the outer sides of the folding sides of the said ladder, and co-acting with the said guide rails for guiding the said sides in their movements in direction of the length of said guide rails, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a folding ladder and in combination with its folding sides H H having a series of bars secured between, and provided with guiding devices t 1?, and the co-acting guide rails D D hinged at theirfoot ends with pieces fixed to a platform, of the inclined bars D D secured to said guide rails and inclining outwardly and downwardly in relation to the latter, a sliding mechanism for applying power to said inclined bars, and hoisting or draft lines connecting the said sliding mechanism with a Windlass, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. The combination with the guide rails D D, of a folding ladder composed of the folding sides H H and rounds G G working between said guide rails, hinging device connectin g the foot ends of said guide rails with pieces secured to a platform, lifting props having their foot ends hinged to the said platform, and their free ends applied against the free ends of the said guide rails and capable of sliding in relation to the same when power is applied to elevate the free ends of said lifting props, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination with the guide rails D D hinged to pieces secured to a platform, and a folding ladder constructed as described, held and guided by said guide rails andhaving its foot end secured fixedly to the front ends of the same with provision for the free movement of the body away from the fixed ends thereof, of the lifting props E E, having their foot ends secured by a jointedconnection to the platform the said guide rails are hinged with, friction rollers supported from the free ends of the said lifting props and having bearing against the said guide rails or rails and thence toward the fixed foot end of the folding ladder and engaging with it at one or more points rearward of the point of its fastening with said guide rails, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In combination with the hinged guide rails of afolding ladder and the inclined bars D D secured to said guide rails, of the lifting props E E having their foot ends jointed to a stationary piece and their free ends in sliding contact against the lower sides of the said bars D, a Windlass having a cone form drum, a friction roller mounted in bearings on a plane above the plane of the axis of the said Windlass and ahoisting rope having one end secured to said cone like drum and then running to and over the said friction roller, and thence to the free ends of the said lifting props, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination with a folding ladder composed of the folding sides H H and rounds G G, all as described, and guiding rails securely holding the foot ends of thesaid folding ladder sides, from moving, and guiding the extendible portions of said sides in their movements when being extended and contracted, of a draft line secured to the extension portion of the said ladder so as to be capable of pulling on the same in direction of the length of the ladder and at points rearwardly of the points at which the foot ends of the folding sides are held with the guiding rails, a Windlass provided with a ratchet wheel and pawl for operating said draft line, and a brake under control of an operator, the said windlass being carried by the said guide rails, in all its movements from a horizontal position to a vertical one and the reverse, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. The combination with the folding sides H H of a ladder, and rounds G Gsecured with the members h h of said folding sides without serving as pivots and arranged between said sides, of the bars I I pivoting the members h h of said folding sides together and holding each side with the other and permitting the said rounds G G to be used for ascending and descending the said ladder when extended and in a vertical or an inclined position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. The combination with the folding sides H H composed of the two series of bars or members h h, pivots i z" and horizontal bars I integral with pivots t" of the roundsG Gsecured alternately by their ends with said bars h and it without operating as pivots on which said bars may work, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The combination with the folding sides H H composed each of two series of bars 7L 72. secured together in a jointed manner by pivots i 'L d, and connected together by bars I I, and rounds G G held between said folding sides, of studs 2' 71 provided with friction thimbles, and guide rails D D co-acting with the said studs for supporting the moving portions of the bodies of the said folding sides and means for securing the foot ends of said folding sides fixed to the guide rails, substantially as and for the-purposes set forth.

15. The combination with the guide rails D D and the inclined stiffening bars D D secured to the latter and a platform and a hinge connection between the said guide rails and said platform, of the lifting props E E composed of the pieces e e e and the rods, and hinge joints between the said platform and the foot ends of the said lifting props and friction rollers E 13. mounted in bearings secured by the free ends of said lifting props, and having bearing against the lower side edges of the inclined bars D D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

16. The combination with the folding ladder L capable of being extended at will and elevated, of the supplemental ladder O and platform 0 pivoted. with said supplemental ladder, and capable of being folded at will, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. The combination with afolding ladder capable of being extended and contracted at will, of the supplemental ladder 0 provided with extended slotted side rails 0, and the platform 0 pivoted to said supplemental ladder and curved guide pieces guiding the movement of said platform, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. The combination with the folding sides H H of a folding ladder composed of bars h h pivoted together and the cross barsII connecting each of the said folding sides with the other, of the folding slats m m, pivots n n and pivots n holding said folding slats pivoted with said cross bars I I substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. The combination with a folding ladder of the supplemental ladder 0 formed by side rails o and rounds o,- the said side rails being provided with slots sfor engagementwith the rounds of the folding ladder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI DEDERIOK.

Witnesses:

GEORGE PoE, ALEX. SELKIRK.

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