US641158A - Combination step-ladder. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 9, |900. W. L. SKELLEY.

CDMBINATION STEP LADDER. (Applx'cation'led Oct. 4, 189g.) (No Model.)

A TTOH/VEY rvrrnn WALTER L. SK'ELLEY, OF OABOOL, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CARL E. GRANT, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBlNATION STER-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,158, dated January 9, 1900.

Application filed October 4,1899. Serial No. 732,487. (No model.) I

. To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that l, WALTER L. SKELLEY, of Oabool, in the county of Texas and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Combination Step-Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a combination long and a step ladder, the sides of which when used as a long or extended ladder constitute each a truss and the hinges central struts for the same, rendering the eX- tended ladder exceedingly staunch and permitting the ladder to be made very light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the platform of a stepladder and the parts connected therewith may be utilized to securely lock and brace the sections of the ladder when said sections are brought end to end to form a continuous or long ladder.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the ladder that it may be quickly and conveniently converted from one form to the other, and whereby the ladder in -both of these forms will be not only light, but durable, thoroughly braced, and capable of ready manipulation.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth ,and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved ladder utilized as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through theimproved ladder when the members of the ladder are brought together and secured to form an upright or long ladder, the View being drawn on a larger scale than the viewshown in Fig. l and the section being taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an under side view of the central portion of the extended or long ladder; and Fig i is a longitudinal section through the platform of the ladder and the members to which the platform is attached, the members being folded together. i

As usual in step-ladders theladder consists of two supporting-sections A and B, a platform O, connected with said members constitu ting the upper portion of the step-ladder, and hinges D, whereby the sections or inembers of the ladder are connected. Each side 10 of each section or member A andB of the ladder constitutes a portion of a truss, the said sides 10 being cut centrally and longitudinally from their hinged or abutting ends to a point at or near their opposing or outer ends, and the parts formed thereby constitute an upper or outer rail 10 and an inner or lower rail 10b, the outer or upper rails being longer than the inner or lower rails, and when the members A and B of the ladder are broughtin longitudinal alinement at the front the outer or upper rails l0n meet at their inner ends, or practically so, to forni a continuous or long upright ladder when such form of ladder is required. The rails of the sides of the said supporting sections A and B are braced between their ends by pins 1l, which maybe of wood or other material, and. these pins 1l constitute strutsfor the truss portions of the ladder.

The sections A and B of the ladder are conneeted by hinges D. Each hinge comprises two parts l2 and 13, each part being of angular construction. The body member a of each section of the hinge is usually somewhat curved, as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper ends or those ends which are adapted for attachment to the sections A and B of the ladderare at one side ot' a line drawn longitudinally through the center of the body-sections of the hinges, and the upper ends of said body-sections a of the hinges are made to engage with the inner faces of the upper or outer lrails l0PL of the sections Aand B of theladder at the inner ends of said rails, the connection being effected through the medium of bolts or rivets 14 or their equivalents. portion of one section of a hinge is carried over upon the corresponding portion ot' the other section, and the body portions of the two sections of a hinge are pivotally connected by pins 15 or like devices, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. The foot portion b of each section of a hinge is adapted to engage with a The body IOO lower or inner rail b, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. These foot portions of the sections of the hinges are provided with tongues 16, adapted to Iit into er enter recesses made in the said rails 10b. These tongues serve to strengthen the rails 10", and the foot portions struts for each side truss.

of the said hinge-sections may be secured rigidly to the said rails 10b by rivets or their equivalents.

It may be here observed that the inner rails 10b of the section B of the ladder are drawn together at their inner ends to such an extent that they will be Within the longitudinal plane of the corresponding rails of the section A, as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently the foot portion of a section of each hinge is attached to the outer face of the contracted rails 10", while the foot portions of the other sections of the hinges are secured to the inner faces of the rails 10b of the opposing section of the ladder. Under this construction it is obviousthat the contracted rails 10" may be carried within the wider-spaced rails of the opposing section of the ladder when the two sections A and B are brought longitudinally together, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The section A of the ladder, which is the front section when the ladder is used as a step-ladder, is provided with the usual steps 17, while the opposin g or rear section B of the ladder is provided with corresponding rungs 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The platform C for the ladder when used as a step-ladder is provided with transverse iianges 19 near its ends. These iian ges are secured to the under face of the platform C and are preferably inwardly curved, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to permit free play of the hinges D. One end of each flange 19 attached to the platform C is pivotally connected at 2O in any suitable or approved manner with the upper inner portion of the section B of the ladder, the attachment being preferably made to the upper or outer rails 10a, while the opposite end of each platform-flange 19 is connected with `the corresponding rail of the section A of the ladder by means of links 21, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Thus in operation when the ladder is set up as a step-ladder the platform C is horizontal, and said platform will not be in engagement with the upper ends of the sections A and B of the ladder, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sections A and B of the ladder may be carried as far apart or as close together as occasion may demand.

When a long ladder is required, the two sections A and B are brought end to end or in longitudinal alinement, the inner ends of the rails 10n at that time being brought together, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. When the sections of the ladder are in this position, it is evident that each side of the ladder forms a complete truss and that the body portions of the hinges D constitute central The sections A and B of the ladder are securely locked in the extended position by causing the platform to drop down upon the upper edges of the two sections, the flanges of the platform being then between the outer or upper rails 10a, and when the platform is in this position, which is shown particularly in Fig. 2, the links 21 where they connect with the iianges on the platform will be below the center of their pivotal connections with the section Aof the ladder. Under such construction it is obvious a lengthy upright ladder may be quickly provided and that the ladder under this arrangement of its parts will be exceptionally light and very strong, and may be therefore readily manipulated and conveniently carried from place to place. The sections of the ladder may be folded so as to produce an ordinary step-ladder by simply carrying the platform C out slightly from the outer faces of the sections A and B and then breaking the sections at their hinged connection. When the members A and B of the ladder are folded longitudinally in engagement with each other, as shown in Fig. 4, the platform is supported by the body portions of the hinges D.

It will be noted that the two sections A and B of the ladder are practically of the same length. Thus when the sections are brought end to end a very long light ladder is obtained. It will also be noticed that when the sections of the ladder are brought end to end the pivots of the hinges are a considerable distance below the platform, which at this time serves as a lock, and, as stated, when the sections of the ladder are folded longitudinally toget-her the hinges extend considerably above the upper edges of said sections.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A ladder comprising hinged sections, a platform having pivotal connection with one of the sections, and a link connection between said platform and the other section whereby the platform serves as a locking device when the sections are alined, substantially as speciiied.

2. A foldingladder having truss sides, and hinges for the sections of the ladder, which hinges in one position of the sections consti-v tute struts for the truss sides.

3. A folding ladder having truss sides and hinges for the sections, constituting central struts for the ladder.

4. A folding ladder, a hinged connection between the sections of the ladder, and a platform having pivotal engagement with the sections of the ladder, the platform being supported on said hinges when the sections of the ladder are brought in longitudinal contact.

5. In a folding ladder, the combination, with the sections of the ladder, of hinges constructed in angular pivotally-connected members, the said members being attached to the abutting ends of the said sections of the ladder, and a platform above said abutting ends,

Ifo

having direct pivotal engagement with one of the sections and a link connection with the opposing section of the ladder, as set forth.

6. In a folding ladder, the combination, With the sections of the ladder, of hinges constructed in angular pivotally-connected members, the said members being attached to the abutting ends of the said sections of a ladder,

and a platform above the abutting ends of 7. In a folding ladder, hinges consisting of angular members pivotally connected andarranged to move one upon the other, one section of each hinge member being attached transversely to a side of a section of the ladder at the abutting ends of said sections, the other section of each hinge member extending longitudinally along a side of a 1addersection,and provided with strengthening projections for the ladder-sections, as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed 'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l WALTER L. SKELLEY.

Witnesses:

L. HAZZARD, R. MCGAULEY.

Images