US709118A - Ladder. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7o9,na. Patented Sept; 16, I902.

C. B. SMITH.

LADDER.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1,901.

(No Model.)

TN; npmus mu m. Manama. ammo-Ion. n. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CLAYTEN B. SMITH, OF FORESTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,118, dated September 16, 1902. Application filed October 2. 1901. Serial No. 77,836. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTEN B. SMITH,a citizen of the United States, residing at Forestville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; andI 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.

The present invention relates to ladders, and has for its objectto produce a ladder which while being extremely light and easily moved will at the same time possess great strength and one which can be cheaply and quickly made.

A further object is to produce a ladder so constructed and arranged that one or more such ladders may be quickly coupled together to produce a ladder of any length desired.

To the above ends the present invention consists of the improved ladder which will now be described, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

The present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows an end view of a ladder embodying the same, showinga plan View of one of the treads or rungs. Fig. 2 shows a front View of a portion of the ladder, illustrating in dotted lines the method of coupling two ladders.

Similarletters ofreference will be employed throughout the specification and drawings to designate corresponding parts.

The ladder consists of the side rails a and the treads or rungs b. The side rails a, are constructed of some suitable sheet metal, preferably sheet-steel, and of any desired or suitable length, being formed by suitable dies or rolls, and comprise a medial portion 0, the edges of which are rolled over to form the stiffening-ribs cl. The ribs d, aside from stiffsuing the side rails a, form rounded grasping portions which are grasped by the hands when moving the ladder and also, as will be hereinafter noted, the very important function of enabling two or more such ladders to be coupled together. The ribs d are substantially cylindrical in cross-section, as clearly shown, and it is intended that the opposite ends of a ladder shall be of such relative sizes as to be readily coupled to the adjacent ends of other similar ladders. This may be conveniently accomplished, as in the device of the drawings, by providing the side rails a at one end with the substantially troughshaped coupling-sockets e, struck up from sheet metal and riveted or otherwise secured to the outer face of the side rails and extending some distance beyond the ends thereof, thus providing sockets f, into which the ends of the side rails of an adjacent ladder may be fitted, as shownin dotted lines, and thus produce a ladder of any desired length within certain limitations.

The rungs b may be formed in any'suitable manner and of any desired material and may be of any desired shape in cross-section and fastened to the side rails a in a manner best suited to produce the desired strength and rigidity. The form of rungs shown in the drawings has been found to givegood results when a broad tread is desired, and consists of wooden boards I) of a width corresponding to the distance between the rounded ribs d, through which are passed bolts 0r rods g, the endsof which pass through apertures in the side rails a and are threaded to receive the nuts h, which are set up tightly against the outer surface of the side rails a.

It will be noted that I have produced a light, strong, and durable ladder and one which can be made at slight expense.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A ladder having in combination, side rails composed of sheet metal the edges of which are bent inward to form tubular cylindrical ribs, rungs and means for securing the same to the side rails, substantially as described.

2. A ladder having in combination, side rails the edges of which are bent inward to form tubular ribs, rungs fitting snugly be- 2 roams tween the beads of the respective side rails I at one end of the rails, substantially as deand means for rigidly securing them to said scribed. IO rails, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature A ladder having in combination, metal in the presence of two witnesses. side rails the edges of which are bentinward CLAYTEN B. SMITH. to form tubular cylindrical ribs, rungs fitting Witnesses: snugly between said ribs, means for securing FREDERICK M. PEASLEY,

the rungs t0 the rails and coupling-sockets CHARLES SOHMID.

Images