US548670A

US548670A - Step-ladder

Info

Publication number: US548670A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1912-10-29

Description

. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. v. STEPHENSON.-

STEP LADDER.

No; 548,670. Patented Oct. 29,1895.

v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. V. STEPHENSON.

STEP LADDER.

No! 548,670. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

m i'nesa es. 1

I u i e I 1 @Q m Oi? ANDREW 813mm.PHOTG-LITNU WASMNGTONJ GL UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

W'ALTER V. STEPHENSON, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,670, dated October 29, 1895.

Application filed May 27, 1 895. Serial No. 550,838. (No model.)

Io all whom it in er/y conceive:

Be it known that I, WALTER V. STEPHEN- soN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fort Dodge, in the county of VVebstar and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, and durable step-ladder in which the ladder proper and also the support therefor may be adjusted as to length independently of each other or in unison, thereby adapting the device for use in position where the ladder and the support rest'npon bases in different horizontal planes-such, for instance, as upon a stairwayand further to provide means whereby the support may be detached and the ladder used independently thereof.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the complete ladder in per-- spective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the ladder and support of different lengths and supported upon a stairway. Fig.3 is a side elevation of the ladder in a folded position. Fig. t is a perspective view of one of the brackets for holding the parts of the support together. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the sliding connection between the two parts of the ladder proper.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the underportion of the ladder proper is seen to comprise the two fiat uprights A, flared outwardly at their lower ends to produce a broad base and having a series of angular rounds A fitted and secured in its front edge at suitable distances apart. At the upper end portion of each side piece is a springactuated bolt A fixed at one end and projected through a slot in the side piece.

The upper ladder-section is composed of two parallel side pieces B, separated a sufficient distance to engage the inner faces of the uprights A, and these side pieces B are slotted longitudinally at B to receive the bolts A B indicate fiatsteps connecting the two side pieces B and located the same distance apart as the r0uuds'A On the lower ends of these side pieces B are two flat bars B to project forwardly and then downwardly to overlap one of the rounds A The said bars and rounds and steps are so arranged that when the bars are resting upon one round the steps and rounds above will coincide and the upper section be firmly held against movement relative to the lower section in any direction except upwardly. It is obvious, however, that the upper section may first be raised until the bars B clear the rounds, then the lower end of the upper section inclined ontwardly and the upper section moved longitudinally relative to the lower onein any direction.

A broad flat top O is fixed on the upper ends of the uprights B and secured thereon by the bracket 0 The support for the ladder is also made of two parts, each preferably constructed of three distinct pieces. The outer pieces D of the lower section are forked at the base, the brackets D placed between the outer and inner pieces at the fork to strengthen the bent portion,and a wooden round D passed through the three parts near their lower ends. The central piece D is somewhat wider than the others and its edge projects rearwardly, a number of notches D being formed in this edge.

The upper section F is of substantially the same general construction, being forked at its top, provided with the metal strips F on its upper ends adapted to admit a rod F that is extended through the brackets O and through said strips, thus pivotally connecting the ladder and supportand providing means whereby the support may be readily detached.

The two parts of the support are slldingly connected by means of the two cleats H, clearly shown in Fig. 4, which are secured to the upper section and overlap the lower sec tion.

J indicates a bail pivoted in the lower end portion of the upper section and overlapping the upper section to enter the notches D and thus prevent the upper sections from moving relative to the lower one except upwardly. The bail, however, may readily be thrown out of engagement with the notches and the parts freely moved relative to each other.

To hold thelower ends of the latter and support at the proper distance relative to each other, I have provided a forked bar K, with its ends slotted at K to admit the bolts K having elongated heads and fixed to the inner surfaces of its uprights A, so that the said forked bar may not be detached from the uprights unless the fork is placed in a position parallel with the uprights.

N indicates a bar pivoted near the end to the bar K and having a lug N on its end to enter a notch N in the top of the bar K, thus preventing the bars from bending downwardly at their central portions. The other end of the bar N-is connected with the base of the support by means of a link N and in this end of the bar N is pivoted a hook S, so shaped as to engage one of the rounds of the ladder when folded. 1

In practical useit is obvious that either the ladder proper or the support may be adjusted relative to each other so as to enable the device to rest upon a stairway with the steps of the ladder in either direction. They may also be lengthened or shortened at the same time, and, if desired, the support may he removed and the ladder proper be used independently.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure py Letters Patent of the United States thereor, 1s

1. In a step ladder, the combination of a ladder section having flat side pieces and steps at the front edge thereof, fiat springs secured at their lower ends to the side pieces and having extensions on their ends passed through the side pieces, a second ladder section having slotted sides designed to pass between the sides of the lower section and receive the said extension in the said slots, and bars se cured to the lower ends of the upper section to overlap one step of the lower section, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

2. The combination in a step ladder, of a suitable ladder, two bolts having elongated heads fixed. to the inner lower surfaces of its side pieces, a support pivotally and detachably connected with the upper end of the ladder, a bar or brace pivotally attached at one end to the lower end of said support, and having slots on its other ends designed to admit the heads of said bolts and a joint in the cen tral portion of said bar or brace designed to fold upwardly, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

WALTER V. STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

H. O. BALDWIN, W. J. CAMPBELL.