US614177A - Step for poles - Google Patents

Description

NITE STATES ATENT Fries.

STEP FOR POLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,177, dated November 15, 189 8. Application filed A il 2 1, 1898. Serial No. 678,427. (No mcdeL) T0 coZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL B. MCBRIDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steps for Poles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steps for telegraph and other poles; and it has for its prime object to improve such devices by providing a base-plate which may be permanently secured to a pole to removably receive a step and to so adapt the same as to prevent an unauthorized person from climbing the pole.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claim when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is .a view of a telegraph or other pole with my improved base-plates secured thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view, with the improved plate partly in section and the step seated in the plate. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line xxof Fig. 2. Fig. at is a perspective view of one of the steps removed, and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the base-plate.

Referringby letter to said drawings, Aindicates a pole, which may be that of a telegraph or other pole usually employed for stringing wires. This pole forms no part of my invention, being simplyillustrated for the purpose of showing the application of my improvements thereto.

B indicates the base-plate of my improved device. This plate is provided with a vertically-disposed groove or socket a on its outer side, and on its opposite side it is provided at a suitable distance from its upper end with a rearward horizontally-disposed spike b,which is designed to be driven-or otherwise inserted into the post to secure the plate B thereto. This socket or groove a is of a dovetail or approximately dovetail form in cross-section, being formed by the two longitudinal vertical flanges c, which may be straight and parallel at their inner ends, as shown at d, and from this point converge outwardly, as shown at 6, although I do not wish to confine myself to this precise shape in the construction.

These flanges are preferably rounded or bev= they are also preferably tapered or beveled at the upper corners g for a purpose which will presently appear.

As an additional means of securing the plate to a pole I provide the plate at a suitable point below the spike with a transverse hole 72, and insert thereina screw tor the like. It is obvious, however, that the screw need not be employed in all cases, as ordinarily the spike will be sufficient to secure the plate; but the screw or a nail in lieu thereof is both desirable and preferable.

0 indicates my improved step. This step comprises a horizontal branch and a vertical branch Z at the inner end of the horizontal branch. The upper side of thehorizontal branch is preferably roughened, so as to provide a secure footing for the operator. In the illustration I have shown the upper side of the horizontal branch provided with a central longitudinal recess m, which may be dropped therein or otherwise produced during the stage of manufacture, so as to present longitudinal edges n, which will afford perfect security to the foot in climbingor while standing upon the step. To afiord an additional security to the foot and prevent the same froni'accidentally leaving the step, the outer end of the horizontal branch may be turned upwardly, as shown at p. The vertical branch Z, which depends from the inner end of the horizontal branch, is of a length the same or about the same as that of the base-plate and should of course be shaped conformable in cross-section to that of the socket in the base-plate, and this vertical branch, as well as' the socket of the base-plate, preferably tapers from its lower to 'its upper end, and the under side of the horizontal branch of the step where it meets the vertical branch may have a lateral shoulder q to engage the upper end of the side walls of the socket.

By beveling the upper ends of the flanges c and disposing said ends of the flanges below the upper end of plate a it will be seen that when the steps have been removed from the base or socket plates boys and unauthorized persons will be afforded no means for climbing the pole, as the foot would tend to slip off of the plates in any attempt to rest the foot thereon. These devices can be formed of any suitable material, such as malleable iron, steel, or cast-iron.

In operation, after the plates have been secured to the post, to climb the post it is simply necessary to insert the vertical branches of the steps in the sockets of the plates, and in descending the pole the operator can with draw the steps from the socket and thereby leave the pole with the plates only.

W'hile I have described the branch I) as a spike to be driven into the pole, yet in some cases it may be found desirable to make this branch a screw, so that instead of driving it in it may be turned into the pole.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is-- The plate having the lateral spike or securing-arm 011 its inner side and the Vertical flanges on its outer side, the said flanges forming the socket to between them and having their upper ends disposed below the upper end of the plate and also having said upper ends beveled as indicated by g; in combination with a removable step havingavertical branch adapted to enter the socket between the flanges of the plate, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL B. MCBRIDE.

Witnesses:

J. A. YOUNG, RoBT. T. McEWAN.

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