US716057A - Folding ladder. - Google Patents

Description

Patentedec. I6, |902.

H. LABRANcHE & F. Tumor.

FOLDING LADDER.

(Application tiled July 24, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Iii/72058855 777%.

'mi NoRms PETERS 0. PHoTvJ-Lmo,. WASHINGTON, D4 c,

HENRI LABR'ANOHE'AND FERNAND THIROT', OF PARIS, FRANCE.

FOLDING LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,057, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed July 24,1902. Serial No. 116,807.

T0 a/ZZ whom it muy concern.-

Beit known that we, HENRI LABRANCHE and FERNAND THIROT, citizens of the Repub-` lic of France, residinglat 114 Avenue de Sui'-` fren, Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relatesto an improved folding ladder of the kindwhich comprises rigid sides connected together by means of steps the ends of which are pivoted or jointed to the said sides, so that thelatter can be brought together the one against the other when the ladder is not in use.

The improvements which form the subjectmatter of the present invention are for the purpose of providing a ladder of this kind which will be strong, stable, easy to use, and cheap to make. We will describe the same in reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of eXample, several forms in which our invention can be carried out.

Figurel is a front elevation of a slidable ladder, such ladder not being opened out. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same ladder opened out. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the same ladder shut up again. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the lower part of oneof the sides of the ladder, on a larger scale, on the'linel 4: of Fig. 5. same part of the side on the line' 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The double ladder comprises two single ladders A and B, adapted to slide one on the other. Each ladder comprises two rigid sides c. and b so shaped in cross-section as to correspond to the form of steps which have to come into housings let in for the same in the said sides, and also steps c, the ends of which are engaged in grooves in the sides of the ladder and jointed to studs or pivots f, fixed in the said sides. When the side b is by moving it upward brought against the side c, the steps turn on their pivots, come together, and areinclosed within the grooves of the sides, so that the latter can come together and occupy but a very littlespace On the inner surfaces of the sides of the Fig. 5 is a verticalsection of the,

(No model.)

ladder, on either side oftheir groove, are

A.fined bands g, of metal or other suitable material, which serve as wear-plates. Through the lower step or bar c is arranged a pin h, which also passes at a certain distance from the corresponding stud fthrough a supplementary part e' of the side a., rigidly fixed to the lower part of the latter as well as through metal plates y, attached to the inner or adjacent surfaces of the said part i. There may be a similar arrangement at the upper part of the side b of the ladder. Each pin 7i prevents the corresponding step or bar from oscillating relatively to the side Ct or b, whether upward or downward, so that all the steps or bars are held at an invariable angle relatively to the sides of the ladder, and the nladder cannot get out of shape and allow the left or right side to move downward, as said pin z serves as a lock. lnsteadof a pin h,put in place byhand, we may use a springbolt or other equivalent locking part or member. The pins, bolts, or the like are drawn out when it is desired to shut up the ladder. To prevent loss of the pins, they are connected by means of chains to the eyes h.

The steps or bars comprise each two parts d e, telescoping one into the other, so as to vary the distance apart at which the sides are held and widen the ladder. One of the intermediate steps or bars c is made in one piece, and the step or steps above the same are so arranged that the outer tubes d abut against the pivot-heads of the inner tubes e. The upper parts of the sides of the ladder are thus held at a certain distance apart when the steps are horizontal, while being capable of moving a farther distance apart. On the otherhand, the greatest distance apart of the lower parts of the sides c and b is limited by means of a rod k, located within the lowermost step or bar, jointed to the correspending studf and provided with a head Z, against which abuts the inner end ot" tube e. This arrangement does not prevent the sides from being brought parallel one to the other nor from being brought against eachother by moving the side b upward.

The tubes d and e are arranged alternately from one step to another, so as to keep the step perfectly rigid and stable.

IOO

The ladders A and B are located the one against the other, and their adjacent sides are embraced by catches m and n, which allow the same to slide and keep them together. The lower catches m are fixed to the ladder A, and the upper catches n are xed to the ladder B. The latter catches are provided, Figs. 6 and 7, in front with-pivots 0, on

which are mounted collars p, sustaining a shaft q, and on this shaft are formed two arms r, which rest on one of the steps or bars of the ladder B. When the ladder A is moved upward, the steps of the same cause the arms r to oscillate each in turn and also the shaft q in the same manner as pawls, the said arms falling again each time by their own weight onto the step, so that the ladder A thus moved up cannot move down again of itself and remains suspended on the arms r. A pin s, formed on the shaft g and Working in a notch t of one of the collars p, prevents the pawls or dogs r from being turned over in a forward direction. This stop can also be operated by hand at will to move up the dogs when it is desired to move down the ladder B. The ladder thus formedl may, of course, be provided with pulleys, cords, and other accessories now used for sliding ladders.

We reserve to ourselves the right of applying the hereinbefore-described improvements to stools, foot-steps, stairs, furniture, tents, and other ,objects constructed in a similar manner to the presentladder. In certain cases instead of single steps we may use several bars, either rigid or telescopic, located one by the side of another, so as to form a step of a certain width.

1. A folding slidable ladder, comprising side rails each having a groove in its inner side, telescopic bars or rungs pivoted to said side rails and extended into said grooves, pins for passing through the rungs and the inner parts of the side rails, and metal plates attached to the said parts of the side rails and having openings to receive the. pins.

2. A folding slidable sectional ladder, comprising side rails, each having a groove in its inner side, telescopic bars or rungs pivoted to said side rails within said grooves, catches on one of the sections of the ladder and embracing the sides of the other section, collars pivotally connected to said catches, shafts mounted in said collars, and dogs extended from said shafts and adapted .to rest on a rung of one section of the ladder to engage any rung of the other section.

3. A ladder comprising` side rails, rungs consisting of telescopic tubular sections pivoted to the rails, one of said sections having an end closure provided with an opening, and a rod extended from the other of said tubes and engaging with its pivot, the said rod also passing through said opening and having a head.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI LABRANCHE. FERNAND THIROT.

Witnesses:

MAURICE ROUX, EDWARD P. MACLEAN.

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