US938638A - Ladder. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. CALDWELL.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 1.

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mu :w. a. GRAHAM co. PNOTO-UTHDGRAP J. W. CALDWELL.

LADDER.

' APPLIOATION Hum APR. 29, 1908.

938,638, Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WM. CALDWELL, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LADDER.

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN WVILLIAM CALD- 'ELL, a British subject, residing in the city f Toronto, in the county of York and Provnce of Ontario, Canada, have invented cerain new and useful Improvements in Laders; and I hereby declare that the followig is a full, clear, and exact description of 1e same.

This invention relates to a ladder consist- 1g of two or more sections in which the ide bars of one section are hinged to the ide bars of the adjacent section or sections, )tllflt the sections can be moved into an exnded position and securely coupled toether or moved into a. folded position and ayed by unlocking the coupling members ut without disconnecting the hinge memers, and it further relates to the peculiar onstruction of the means by which the lader sections are hinged and coupled together 'llCl means consisting of multiple sets of inge members provided with hinge knuckles nd pins, and a corresponding number of ts of coupling members coacting with the inge members and provided with coupling nuckles and pins, as hereinafter set forth nd particularly pointed out in the claim.

For an understanding of the invention ference is to be had to the following de- :ription and to the accompanying drawings 1 which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the lader consisting of three ladder sections conected together by hinge and coupling memrs showing the ladder sections in their 'tended position. Fig. 2, is a perspective iew of the ladder shown in Fig. 1, with the dder sections folded. Fig. 3, is an enrged perspective View of one set of the mbined hinge and coupling members with 1e parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. ig. 4, is a similar View to Fig. 3, with the arts in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig.

is a view of a modificationof the con- .ruction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a view a staple which may be used as a substiite for the coupling pin shown in Figs. 3

Like characters of reference refer to like irts throughout the specification and draw- The ladder may be described as consisting two ladder sections a a, each ladder secon consisting of a palr of side bars I) and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 29, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 429,946.

a set of steps 0. Secured to the back of each side bar at the top of the ladder section a is a-hinge member (Z having a hinge knuckle e, and secured to the back of each side bar at the adjacent end of the ladder section a is a hinge member f having hinge knuc les g. The hinge knuckles e register with the hinge knuckles g and receive the hinge pins it by which the hinge members connect the sections a a together. Secured to the side faces of the side bars Z) near the top of the ladder section a, are coupling members 2' having coupling knuckles y', and secured to the side faces of the side bars near the adjacent end of the ladder section a are coupling members 7:: having coupling knuckles Z which register in the spaces between the coupling knuckles and receive the coupling pins m.

The adjacent ends of the ladder sections are jointed to butt closely together when in the position shown in Fig. 1, and when they are in that position the knuckles j and Z register with each other and receive the coupling pins m, which look them together and securely hold the ladder sections in their extended position. To move the ladder sections from the position shown in Fig. 1, to that shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to withdraw the coupling pins m from the coupling knuckles j and Z and when that is done the ladder section a can be turned upon the hinge pins 71, and folded into the position shown in Fig. 2, and stayed by a chain 9 or other device of a like character.

As shown in the drawings the coupling members i and is are secured to the outer surfaces of the side bars but these coupling members may as conveniently be connected to the inner surfaces in some styles of ladders without affecting the operation of the parts. The ladder shown in the accompanying drawings consists only of three ladder sections but it may consist of two or more than two ladder sections, and the words multiple sections, used in the claim will therefore be construed to mean two or more than two ladder sections. To increase the holding power of the coupling members each coupling member is preferably provided with two sets of coupling knuckles. The coupling knuckles of one coupling member register with the coupling knuckles of the other coupling member and are locked together by coupling pins, or by the staple as shown in Fig. 5, which may be used in lieu of the pins. When the ladder is of comparatively considerable length it is preferable to use the coupling members With the double set of coupling knuckles and fasten them together by a double set of coupling pins or staples. The knuckles Z describe a circle, the center of which is the center of the hinge pin h, and in order that the knuckles Z and j may fit tightly together they are each formed with curved faces the curvatures of which are described from the center of the hinge pin 72,. Hinged to the top step 0 of the section a is a platform 0 which can hang in an inclined position when the sections are extended and Which can be raised into a substantially horizontal position when the sections are folded, the platform, When in this last mentioned position, resting upon the top step of the section a by which it is supported, as the ladder sections move between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4E.

Having thus fully described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A ladder comprising several ladder sections, two hinge members secured to the side bars of each ladder section, on the same side thereof, hinge pins connecting the hinge members together so that the ladder sections can be moved into an extended, or into a folded, position, tWo hinge like coupling members, for each ladder section angularly disposed to the hinge members and connected to the side bars on the sides adjoining those to Which the hinge members are secured, and a removable means fastening together the coupling members of the adjacent ladder sections When the latter are in an extended position.

Toronto, April 14th, 1908.

JOHN WM. CALDlVELL.

Signed in the presence of- G. H. RioHEs, H. L. TRIMBLE.

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