US967252A - Combined step-ladder, stair-ladder, and extension-ladder. - Google Patents

Description

W. S SHIELDS. COMBINED STEP-LADDER, STAIR LADDER, AND EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.20. 1909.

. Pafientetl Aug. 16, 1910.

\ Witnesses.- Inventor- Qnr William 500% Sl'filii- Mfiorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SCOTT SHIELDS OE BEVERLY, NEW JERSEY.

CDMBINED STEP-LADDER, STAIR LADDER, AND EXTENSION-LADDER.

Specification, of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1910.

Application filed October 20, 1909. Serial No. 523,564.

, step-ladders, and particularly to a combined after use.

step-ladder, stair-ladder and extension ladder. I

The objects of the invention are to provide a step-ladder with a ladder extension which shall also serve as the prop for the step por-- tion, and to so combine these parts that they may be easily and readily shifted with respect to each other and that the combining and cooperating parts shall be. as few and simple as possible, wit-h due regard to safety of user and expedition in handling.

The invention therefore consists in the structure of parts and their combination for the. specified purpose, substantially as. hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which jform a part of this specification, Figure 1 representsthe combined device in side elevation ready for shipping or stowing away;

Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig.4 represents, in side elevation, the device displayed as a step-ladder; Fig. 5 is a side elevation. of the device displayedas a stair-la and Fig. 6 shows in plan the platform when the combined parts are displayed as a step-ladder as in Fig. 4.-

The step portion of the combination is indicated at 10-;with-its' treads at 11 and platform at 12. ,'lllie?ladd'er extension is indicated at13 with'i s rungs at 14 and its platformat 15.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these parts are shown ready for shipping or for putting away A rod is secured at its ends to part 10 and is formed into a loop as at 16 about part 13. It serves as a guide when the latter is used as a ladder extension and as .a hinge therefor'when said extension is used as the prop for the stepdadder. Beneath the platform 15, are secured stops as 17 which project over the loop 16, and to,

. 13 and together with said stays form a second guide for the ladder extension. -.Tl1ese stays are referabl connected b an enlar ed! eye. to the lower angle of the plate 20 and are adapted to pass, by their hooked ends, through slots at the upper angles of said plate. T he'enlarged eyes permit of this insertionand withdrawal of said hooks from said slots and, when the hooks are in the slots, they turn at right angles thereto and so retain said stays in place as guides, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. For the sake of clearness in illustration, the hook stays are omitted from Fig. 3.

When the parts 10 and 13 are displayed in step-ladder form, Fig. 4:, the hook stays, unshipped from their keepersplates 20, have their free ends hooked into staples 21 on the side rails of art 13. Other staples as 22 may be located on. part 13 to receive said hooks when the said parts are displayed for use on stairs, Fig. 5. In this form, the

inner edge of the platform 12 engages a rung between the side rails of the part 13 and the inner edge of the platform 15 is shaped to fit under that of platform 12 and so assists in forming a stable hinge and continuon?l platform for the step-ladder, Fig. 4 an In using the device as a ladder, the extension portion 13 is simply pushed up from the position seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to the desired height, through the guides 16 and 19, the pivoted dogs 24 falling in under the rungs 14 in the usual way as the rungs pass them.

Obviously in using the device as a stairladder, the ladder extension, or prop,-m'ay be extended a sufficient number of rungs to adapt the device to stairs of any pitch. The stair-ladder lends itself readily to the use of decorators and others Working in a stairway, and the fact that the prop is a ladder makes it especially convenient, since the device may also be mounted from-the up or 5 short side. i v

Suitable angle braces may be added under one or more or all of the steps or treads of the step portion and under the platform as well. The presence of such braces is indicated at 25, Figs. 2 and 3.

The invention claimed is 1. In a combination of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extension having a separable'hinge connection at their upper ends, lateral guide plates, and hook stays cooperating with said guide plates and both plates and hooks so constructed and connected that they securely brace the parts of the device when displayed as a step-ladder or as a stair-ladder and serve as a guide for the longitudinal adjustment of the extension portion when the device is displayed as an extension. ladder.

2 In a combination .of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extension, a loop connected to the upper end of the former and embracing the latter, a spring hook attached ,tl re latter and engagingthe loop, plates secured to the sides of the step portion and overlappingthe side rails of the ladder extension, and hook stays connected to said plates. by one end and adapted, each, to engage the opposite plate with its free end.

3. In a combination of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extension having a separable hinge connection at their upper ends, said hinge being formed by projecting the platform of the step portion between the rails of the ladder portion and forming the edge of said platform to fit the edge .of the platform on the ladder extension and by a loop attached to the step portion and embracing the ladder extension, a spring catch holding the said parts in readiness for coact-ion when the device is to be displayed as a step-ladder.

4;. In a combination of ladders, a step i ortion, a ladder extension, means for hol ing the one in longitudinal adjustment with the other, the step portion having its platform constructed to engage the successive rungs of the ladder extension, and\stays for bracing the parts when adjusted.

5. In a combination of ladders, a step portion and a ladder extensionihaving a separable hinge connection at their upper ends, portions of said hinge serving as guides for the adjustment of one part of the device upon the other, the step portion being constructed at' its upper end for supporting engagement 'th the rungs of the ladder extension V119,; eby the device may be used upon flights of stairs of different pitch, and hook stays for bracing the Pet of the step portion and said extension.

WILLIAM SCOTT SHIELDS.

W'itnesses J OSEPH E. HAMMELL, ELLSWORTH H. Vxxsorvnn.

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