US857453A - Metal step-ladder. - Google Patents

Description

. PATIQNTED JUNE 18, 1907. R.. H. PETTA. I METAL STEP LADDER.

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APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 6, 1905.

. WITNESSES: I 2%2?%@ztm J2. BY

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ATTORNEY.

ROBERT H. FETTA, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

METAL STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed July 6, 1905. Serial No. 268,394.

The primal object of my present invention is to produce a ladder constructed entirely of metal and formed principally of angleirons or the like, wherein a maximum ofstrength is obtained with a minimum of material and mechanical parts.

Another object is to produce a comparatively inexpensive metal ladder which will be simple in construction and operation, easily folded or extended, and which will be practically non-destructible.

Other objects and advantages will be made apparent in the course of the following detailed specification.

My invention and its operation is most clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my entire invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of same, taken on the line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the construction of the operating means, and the means for retaining the ladder extended. And Fig. 4 is a detail insideview of a portion of one side.

Similar reference characters refer to and denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

For a complete exposition of my invention I will now take up the description of the invention in concrete detail and will refer to the various parts as briefly and compactly as I may.

Thetwo sides of the body of my ladder consists each of a pair of standards, denoted in the drawings by the numerals 1 and 2 on the right, and 3 and 4 on the left. Each of the standards, 1, 2, 3 and 4c, are formed preferably of metal, of the type commonly known as angle-iron, this being one of the essential points of this invention. The said standards are arranged in pairs parallel with each other, being spaced apart, substantially as shown,

1 and secured as will presently be made clear.

The numerals 5, 6, 7 and 8 denotes the steps of my ladder, same to be spaced an of the flanges should overlap each other and may be secured together by rivets or the.

The corners of the steps may also be like.

riveted to the standards preferably by riveting through said flanges.

In order to support the front edges of the steps I form tongues in'the front standards 1 and 3 which tongues are cut U-shaped into the front portion of said standards at points corresponding to the spacing of said steps. Said tonguesare bent slightly to the rear to receive the front flange of the steps and they are denoted by the letters a, b, c and d in the standard 1, and by the letters 6, f, g and h in the standard 3.

The sides of the ladder formed of said standards should be formed to stand at the desired angle to give the proper slope to the ladder, as shown in Fig. 1, and the steps are then positioned so as to lie'level with the floor line. The steps are positioned as shown allowing the respective tongues to engage the lower edge of the front flange of the steps, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4, by which it is apparent that the front edges of the steps are supported, and when the steps are brought to the position indicated they should be secured by rivets or the like as shown; the rivets passing through the flanges of the steps and then through the standards. Each of the said steps are further supported, and rigidity obtained for the assembled parts, by a pair of angularly disposed braces for each step, the same being denoted by the numerals 9 and 10; 11 and 12; 13 and 14; and 15 and 16, respectively. The said braces are secured to the front flanges toward the center of the steps and then extend back and downward where they are secured to the rear standards of the main frame as is fully shown.

The numeral 17 denotes the platform of my ladder which platform is mounted on the upper ends of said standards, being so located as to be level when the standards are at their maximum inclinationf Like the steps the platform should be formed of sheet metal, with a marginal flange turned down at right angles to the bod, thereof. Secured to the inner faces of the end flanges of the platform LIA . rivets or otherwise.

are the two hangers 18 and 19, located on the right and left respectively. Fingers extend down from said hangers contacting with the sides of each of the standards, to which they are riveted or otherwise secured, whereby the upper ends of the standards and the platform are all rigidly connected.

The lower ends of the standards 1 and 2 are connected by a shoe 20, and the lower ends of the standards 3 and 4 are likewise connected by the shoe 21, said shoes are made somewhat rounding on their faces where they contact with the floor whereby they act as rockers when the ladder is being opened and closed.

The numerals 22 and 23 denotes the legs of my ladder, said legs are also formed of angleiron as are the said standards. The upper ends of the legs 22 and 23 are pivotally mounted to therespective hangers 18 and 19, as indicated, and they are of a somewhat less length than are the standards.

Connecting the lower portions of the legs and spacing them the desired distance apart is a bar 24, and near the center the legs are connected by the angle-iron bar 25, said bars 24 and 25 being connected to the legs by The frame formed by the legs are secured rigid by means of the two crossing braces 33 and 34 which are secured to the legs as shown, and they further brace the entire ladder when it is in position.

I now come to another novel feature of my invention which is the means for opening and closing the ladder and for looking it open when desired: Secured to the back of the standards 2 and 4, below the step 7, are the two eye pieces 26 and 27, respectively.

The numeral 28 denotes the spacer, formed of any desired shape in cross section such as round, square or flat, having its ends pivotally mounted in the eye pieces 26 and 27, with its arms extending to the legs 22 and 23 and its central portion adapted to rest in the angle of the bar 25, as shown in Fig. 1. The center portion of the spacer is at right angles to and connects the two arms of the spacer, and the central portion thereof is bent forward forming a handle 2, as shown most clearlyin Fig. 2.

The numeral 29 denotes a guide secured at its upper end on the inside of the leg 22 some distance above the bar 25 with its lower end secured to the inside of the bar 25 in such manner as to allow the corner of the spacer 28 to rest in the angle of the bar 25 and to be guided thereby up .and down the leg 22; and in like manner the numeral 30 denotes a guide secured at its upper end on the inside of the leg 23 some distance above the bar 25 with its lower end secured to the inside of the bar 25 in such manner as to allow the corner of the spacer 28 to rest in the angle of the bar 25 and to be guided thereby up and down the leg 23.

The numerals 31 and 32 denotes the two rear guides secured at their upper ends to the back of the respective legs 22 and 23 and then extend down to the bar 25 where they are secured jointly with the lower ends of the guides 29 and 30.

In Fig. 1 the ladder is shown in its operative or extended position, the spacer lying horizontal with its free end resting in the angle of the bar 25. It will now be apparent that a person standing in front of and facing the ladder may reach through between the steps 7 and 8 and grasp the handle 2 andg by pulling same upward and forward it will slide up the' legs between said guides and thereby draw the legs of the ladder up to and parallel with the rear standards, by which the ladder will be closed.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a step ladder formed principally of angle-irons which will be neat and attractive in appearance and otherwise accomplishing the objects previously set forth.

While I have described and shown the best means to me known at this time for carrying out the objects of my invention in a practical manner, I desire it to be fully understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but hold that any changes or variations therein as would suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would clearly fall Within the limits and scope of my invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and its application, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a' step-ladder having two pairs of standards and a pair of movable legs formed of angleiron, a plurality of sheet metal steps carried between the pairs of standards, a down-turned flange formed around each step, braces connected near the forward edge of the center of each step and to the rear standards, and tongues extending outwardly from the face of the front standards and engaging the flanges of the steps, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In a step ladder having two pairs of standards and a pair of legs formed of angleirons, a plurality of steps formed of sheetmetal, each step having a flange turned at right angles to the body of the step and extending there-around, a pair of tongues for each step one of each being formed in the front of each front standard, braces for supporting the center of each step, and means for permanently connecting the ends of the steps to the standards, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A step ladder having in combination with the standards formed of angle iron, a plurality of steps formed of sheet-metal and having downwardly turned flanges extending from each edge, tongues formed in the faces of the front standards for engagement IIO with the flanges of the steps, means for permanently connectingthe steps to and between the pairs of standards, and a pair of braces connecting the forward central edge of each step to the rear standards, all substantially as shown and described.

4. In a step ladder, the combination with two pair of standards formed of angle iron, of a plurality of sheet metal steps, each having a downturned peripheral flange, means for securing the steps at the side to the standards, and upturned lugs on the standards upon which the front flange of the steps rest; substantially as described.

5. In a step ladder the combination with the two pairs. of standards, of a plurality of sheet metal steps having downturned per1pheral flanges, tongues formed in the faces of the front standards in which the front 1 ROBERT H. FETTA. Witnesses J. P. FULGHAM, M. C. HENLEY.

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