Hinge and ladder

A hinge and a reconfigurable ladder having at least one pair of hinges is disclosed. The ladder has stile sections connected together by the hinges. The hinges consist of two hinge members mountable to ends of respective stile sections. A hinge cover extends over and receives the hinge members which are pivotally connected to the cover. The hinge members are linked to each other to control the pivotal movement of the hinge member so that they both pivot in unison and to the same extend relative to the cover. The hinge members have locating apertures. A locking mechanism is cooperable with the locating apertures for locking the hinge members in a desired relative position to one another.

THE INVENTION relates to a ladder, a hinge for reconfigurable ladder and to 
a locking mechanism for a reconfigurable ladder. 
Folding or reconfigurable ladders and hinges, knuckles or pivot connections 
for such ladders have previously been suggested. Australian patent 
specifications 591506, 478281 and 59883/69 show various hinge or knuckle 
configurations. With all of these constructions, the point about which the 
stiles of a ladder having such hinges are caused to pivot was laterally 
displaced to one side of the stile and this resulted in a pronounced lobe 
like appearance for the hinges. These lobes projected from the stiles and 
interfered with the use of the ladder. For example, if the ladder was 
configured into a trestle and a plank was placed between two similarly 
constructed trestles, the lobe interfered with the proper positioning of 
the plank. 
The construction of the hinges referred to was such that it was not 
possible to have a rung extend between adjacent stiles at a hinge 
location. Ladder rungs are typically equally spaced along the length of a 
ladder and when such a reconfigurable ladder was configured into a step 
ladder with the hinge at the apex of the ladder, a tray could not be 
formed or provided at the apex because of the absence of a rung at that 
location. 
The length of the stiles with such previous ladders between the hinge at an 
apex of a step ladder and the nearest rung performed little useful 
function and added to the resultant cost of the ladder. 
The construction of the hinge or knuckle was such that a plurality of 
possible positions could be achieved and each hinge of the ladder had to 
be manipulated to unlatch the hinge and the hinge then moved progressively 
through successive latchable positions until the desired configuration was 
achieved. This was a tedious operation. Adjacent sections of a stile 
between which a hinge extended could be pivoted about a pivot point 
separately from or independently of one another and this added to the 
difficulty in reconfiguring the ladder into the desired configuration. 
With hinges of the type mentioned, it was necessary to unlock each hinge 
separately before the ladder could be reconfigured. This was tedious and 
time consuming. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge for a 
reconfigurable ladder, a reconfigurable ladder with at least one hinge in 
each stile and a locking mechanism which at least minimises some of the 
disadvantages referred to above. 
According to one aspect, the invention provides a hinge for a 
reconfigurable ladder, the ladder having two spaced stiles and each stile 
comprising a plurality of stile sections, the hinge including two hinge 
members and a respective said hinge member being mountable to each end of 
two adjacent stile sections to allow the stile sections to be coupled to 
one another, a hinge cover extending over and receiving the hinge members 
and having the hinge members pivotally connected thereto about pivot axes 
located between sides of the stile sections, the hinge members being 
linked to each other whereby the pivotal movement of the hinge members 
relative to the cover is controlled so that both said hinge members may 
pivot in unison and to the same extent relative to the cover, the hinge 
members each having a plurality of locating apertures, and a locking 
mechanism cooperable with the locating apertures for locking the hinge 
members in a desired relative position to one another. 
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a 
reconfigurable ladder having two spaced stiles each consisting of a 
plurality of stile sections and a hinge according to the paragraph 
immediately above pivotally interconnecting at least two adjacent said 
stile sections of each said stile. 
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a ladder 
having a locking mechanism for the hinge of the invention as described 
above, said locking mechanism being mountable relative to a rung of the 
ladder, the locking mechanism including an operating member movable 
relative to the rung and locking members biased into engagement with the 
hinge members and the cover to lock the hinge members into a desired 
orientation and movable out of engagement with the hinge members to enable 
the hinge members to be pivoted and locked in an alternative orientation. 
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a ladder 
having a locking mechanism for the hinge of the invention as described 
above, the locking mechanism is mountable relative to a rung of the 
ladder, the rung extending between two spaced stiles and each stile 
comprising stile sections hinged together by the hinge of the invention, 
the mechanism including an operating member movable relative to the rung 
and linked to respective locking members biased into engagement with the 
hinges on opposed stiles to lock the hinge members of each said hinge into 
a desired orientation and the respective locking members being movable in 
unison out of engagement with the respective hinge members of the hinges 
on the opposed stiles to unlock both hinges in unison to enable the hinge 
members to be pivoted and locked in an alternative orientation. 
The pivotal movement of the hinge members may be controlled by having the 
members linked in order that they move in unison relative to the cover. 
One way in which the hinge members may be linked is by having them 
interengage. This may be achieved by providing the hinge members with 
complementary intermeshing projections. In one embodiment, the 
intermeshing projections may consist of gear teeth provided on the hinge 
members. 
In an alternative embodiment, the hinge members may be linked by one or 
more connecting members extending between and coupled to the hinge 
members. The connecting member may comprise a connecting link pivotally 
coupled to the hinge members. Alternatively, two cross connected springs 
may serve to link the hinge members to each other. 
The hinge members may be fixed to the stile sections in any suitable 
manner. In one embodiment fasteners are used which project through the 
stile sections and into the hinge members. The hinge members may have 
apertures or recesses for receiving the fasteners. In one form, the hinge 
members have rearwardly directed arms terminating in fastener receiving 
flutes and rivets are employed to secure the hinge members to the stile 
sections. 
The hinge members may have an arcuate leading or forward portion and the 
plurality locating apertures may extend at spaced intervals along the 
arcuate portion. In an alternative form, the plurality of locating 
apertures may be arranged at a location between the rearwardly directed 
arms and the arcuate leading portion. In that case, the plurality of 
locating apertures may extend along an arcuate path and at spaced 
intervals along that path. The number of locating apertures determines the 
number of different discrete positions that the hinge members may be 
locked into relative to the cover. Preferably, each hinge member has three 
locating apertures although more than this may also be employed. 
Where the hinge members are linked by a connecting link, it is preferred 
that the connecting link also have locating apertures. The locating 
apertures in the link may be arranged in groups and the number of groups 
correspond to the number of locating apertures provided in the hinge 
members. The groups include at least one aperture although it is preferred 
that some of the groups consist of a pair of apertures. One of the 
apertures of a pair of apertures may also provide the means for pivotally 
connecting the link to one of the hinge members. 
The cover may be substantially U-shaped having two side walls and a 
connecting web. The connecting web may act as a limit or stop to prevent 
the hinge members from pivoting beyond the web. In one embodiment, the 
cover consists of two L-shaped hinge plates having a main part which 
provides the side walls and a short flange extending outwardly from one 
edge of the main part. When the two hinge plates are placed together in 
mirror symmetry, the two flanges together form the web of the cover. 
The main parts of the hinge plates have apertures for receiving the locking 
members and for receiving pivot sleeves or pins about which the hinge 
members pivot. 
The hinge of the invention may have provision for a ladder rung to be 
fitted to it. Thus, hinges formed in a ladder in laterally spaced stiles 
may have a rung extending between them. This may be achieved by having a 
rung mounting plate secured to each of the covers of the two spaced 
hinges. The rung mounting plates may be secured to the covers employing 
the pivot sleeves or pins about which the hinge members pivot or in any 
other suitable way. The rung mounting plate may have an aperture for 
receiving an end of the rung and to enable the rung to be fixed thereto. 
One way in which this may be achieved is by swaging the end of the rung 
although other methods are not excluded. It is preferred that the rung and 
the rung receiving aperture have means to ensure that the rung is 
prevented from rotating relative to the rung mounting plate. Complementary 
recesses in the receiving aperture and projections or extensions on the 
rung may be present for this purpose. 
Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by 
way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an end view of a rung 30. The rung 30 has a circular body 31 
with tread ribs 32 extending along the length thereof and at diametrically 
opposed locations on the body. Extensions 33 extend from the body 31 and 
have a radial portion 34, a tangential portion 35 and a short return 
portion 36. The tangential portion 35 is also provided with longitudinally 
extending tread ribs 32. 
A typical stile 40 for use in constructing a ladder and hinge according to 
the invention is shown in FIG. 2. The stile has a generally hollow 
rectangular transverse cross sectional shape. 
FIGS. 3a and b show a rung mounting plate 45. The plate 45 has an aperture 
46 for receiving rung 30 shown in FIG. 1. Aperture 46 has locating 
recesses 47. These recesses ensure that the rung is unable to rotate 
relative to the plate. The tangential portions 35 and return portions 36 
of each extension 33 are trimmed off for a short distance along the length 
of an near ends of the rung so that only radial portions 34 of each 
extension 33 remain for that short distance. These portions key into 
locating recesses 47 and enable the ends of the rungs to project through 
the plate 45 for a short distance. These ends of the rungs are swaged over 
to lock the rungs relative to the plate 45. Apertures 48 receive pivot 
pins of the hinge (shown in subsequent figures). The plate has a stepped 
profile as shown in FIG. 3b. The aperture 46 is provided in the central 
raised part 49 of the plate 45. 
FIGS. 4a and b show views of a hinge plate 50 employed in a hinge for a 
ladder according to one embodiment. In a hinge two such plates are used 
arranged to form a U-shaped cover for the hinge. The plate 50 has two 
apertures 51 in a main part 53 thereof. Apertures 51 receive hinge pins of 
the hinge. Also present in the main part of plate 50 are two apertures 52 
relative to which locking pins of the hinge may locate. The plate 50 has a 
short flange 54 extend outwardly from an edge of the main part 53. When 
two plates 50 are configures into a U-shaped cover, flanges 54 form a web 
extending between the two main parts 53 of the two plates. 
FIG. 5 shows a side view of a hinge member 60 employed for forming a hinge 
in a ladder according to an embodiment of the invention. The member 60 has 
rearwardly directed arms 61, 62 which terminate in inwardly directed 
flutes 63, 64 for receiving fasteners to allow the member to be fixed to a 
section of a stile 40. Arms 61, 62 extend into the hollow space within a 
stile section 40 and an end of the stile section abuts against shoulders 
65. 
Member 60 has a central aperture 66 for receiving a hinge pivot pin or 
sleeve. Member 60 has an arcuate forward or leading portion 67 into which 
are formed flutes 68, 69, 70. 
FIG. 6 shows a hinge member 75 of similar configuration to member 60 in 
FIG. 5. Members 60 and 75 are both employed in a hinge of the invention as 
shown in FIG. 7. Like numerals are used in FIG. 6 to show features that 
member 75 has in common with member 60 in FIG. 5. Member 75 has flute 76 
for a purpose described below. 
FIG. 7 shows end portions of two stile sections 40 relative to which hinge 
members have been fitted. Arms 61, 62 of members 60, 75 fit within the 
stile sections 40 and fasteners such as rivets 77 locate in flutes 63, 64 
and extend through apertures in the larger side walls of the stile 
sections to secure the members in place. Rivets 77 also secure arms 61 and 
62 to the stile sections. 
Apertures 66 in members 60, 75 have sleeves or pivot pins fitted to them 
and it is about these sleeves or pivot pins that these members may pivot. 
Two hinge plates 50 locate about the stile sections 40 and limit pivotal 
movement of members 60, 75 in one direction only. 
Members 60, 75 are linked together via apertured connecting member 80. 
Member 80 locates about sleeve 81 secured within flute 68 of member 60 and 
pivot pin 82 which in turn is received by flute 76 in member 75. Locking 
pins 83, 84 maintain members 60 and 75, and hence the stile sections to 
which they are secured, in the orientation shown in the figure. When pins 
83, 84 are withdrawn members 60, 75 pivot in a controlled manner relative 
to each other and both maintain a corresponding orientation relative to 
the hinge plates 50. 
As shown in FIG. 7, member 60 is provided with a slot in its arcuate 
forward portion terminating at a limit defined by line 85. 
Likewise a slot terminating at a limit defined by line 86 exists in member 
75. These slots in the members 60, 75 accommodate connecting member 80 
when hinge members 60, 75 pivot. 
The connecting member 80 has a first pair of apertures 90 relative to which 
locking pins 83, 84 may locate and a second pair 91 relative to which pins 
83, 84 locate in FIG. 8. In the position shown in FIG. 9 pin 83 is 
received by aperture 92 in connecting member 80 while pin 84 locates in 
flute 70 of hinge member 75. 
FIG. 7 shows the stile sections 40 collinear relative to one another. FIG. 
8 shows the stile sections defining an angle of about 120.degree., while 
FIG. 9 shows the stile sections at about 30.degree. to each other. 
FIG. 10 shows an alternative ladder hinge to that shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. 
The ends of the stile sections 40 receive hinge members 90, 91. Members 
90, 91 have an identical shape and are received on and pivot about pivot 
pins or sleeves 92, 93. Two hinge plates 50 define a U-shaped profile and 
extend about the members 90, 91 and have sleeves 92, 93 secured to them. 
Flutes 94, 95 receive fasteners to secure the members to the stile 
sections. Locking pins 83 and 84 extend through apertures 96 to lock the 
hinge members together. The pins may be removed, the hinge members pivoted 
and the pins aligned either relative to apertures 97 or 98 to lock the 
members 90, 91 selected orientations relative to one another. To ensure 
that the hinge members 90, 91 maintain the same orientation relative to 
one another and to the hinge plates 50 as they pivot the arcuate leading 
faces are provided with intermeshing teeth 99 and recesses 100. 
FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show various views of a hinge in a ladder. The portion 
of the ladder illustrated includes a rung 30, a hinge 110 and two stile 
sections 40 projecting from the hinge 110. The hinge is formed at a 
location where a rung is present. Rivets 111 secure two hinge members (not 
visible in these figures) within ends of the two stile sections 40. Two 
hinge plates 50 form a U-shaped cover extending over ends of the stiles. 
Rung mounting plate 45 is secured to one of the hinge plates 50 by two 
pivot pins or sleeves 78. The sleeves have a flange at one end and the 
other end is deformed or swaged to lock the sleeves in place. These 
sleeves extend through the apertures 66 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the hinge 
members. Rung 30 extends through aperture 46 in rung mounting plate 45 and 
its end 30a is swaged relative to plate 45. 
Operating mechanism 112 includes a knob 113, a shaft 114 and a two part 
block 115, 116. The shaft 114 extends through a slot 117 in the rung 30 
and through blocks 115, 116. The blocks have a recess 118 for receiving 
one end of a spring 119. A cap 120 receives the other end of the spring 
119 and the cap is prevented from moving further along the interior of the 
rung 30 by detents 121. Two locking pins 122 are captured between the 
blocks 115, 116. Movement of the operating mechanism 112 against the 
spring 119 withdraws pins 122 from the hinge members and allows those 
members to be pivoted about sleeves 78. Once the hinge members have been 
pivoted to the desired position, knob 113 may be released and the pins 122 
once again locate in apertures in the hinge members and lock those members 
into the new position. 
In order to reduce wear on the rung in the vicinity of slot 117, a strip 
123 of suitable material is positioned between adjacent extensions 33 on 
the rung 30. Strip 123 has a slot corresponding to slot 117. 
A ladder may have hinges of the type described at corresponding locations 
on two transversely spaced stiles and with the locking arrangement shown 
in FIG. 13 the two transversely spaced locking arrangements must both be 
operated to enable the ladder to be hinged at that location. The 
configuration shown in FIG. 14 enables both transversely spaced locking 
arrangements to be simultaneously operated. 
FIG. 14 shows a ladder hinge 140 formed as previously discussed at one side 
of the ladder and another hinge 141 at the other side of the ladder. Both 
of these hinges may be constructed as shown in FIG. 7 or employing one of 
the other embodiments of the invention. The operating mechanism 142 
includes a knob 143 and a shaft 144. The shaft is received by a slide 145 
located within the rung 30. Pin 146 is carried by the slide 145. The shaft 
144 extends through a slot 147 in the rung 30 and in a slot in a wear 
reducing strip 148. Strip 148 is received between extensions 33 on the 
rung as previously mentioned (see FIG. 1). The strip 148 may be fixed to 
the rung by fasteners (not shown). 
Locking pins 122, 122a are captured by respective block formed in two 
halves 150, 151 and 152, 153. These blocks also capture respective ends of 
a cord 154. A spring 156 extends between the left hand block halves 150, 
151 and a cap 157. The cap 157 is prevented from moving within the stile 
30 by detent 158. A spring 160 extends between the right hand block halves 
152, 153 and a cap 161. The cap 161 is prevented from moving within the 
stile 30 by detent 162. A pulley 164 is rotatably mounted within the rung 
30. The cord 154 extends freely through the slide 145 and has one end 
anchored by block 152, 153. The cord extends under the pulley 164, then 
under and around pin 146 and has its other end anchored by block 150, 151. 
By moving operating mechanism 142 to the right of FIG. 14 the pins 122 and 
122a are simultaneously withdrawn from the respective hinge members 
forming the hinges 140, 141 and the ladder may be hinged and locked into a 
new orientation when the operator 142 is released. 
FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show an alternative ladder hinge to that illustrated in 
FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIG. 10. Hinge members 170, 171 have rearwardly extending 
arms 172, 173 terminating in flutes 174, 175 received within ends of 
stiles 40. Hinge plates 176 cover hinge members 170, 171 and these members 
are hinged to the plates by sleeves or hinge pins 177, 178. 
Hinge member 170 has shoulders 179 against which ends of the stile sections 
40 may abut. Three locking apertures 180 are present in member 170 and the 
hinge plates have apertures 181 (see FIG. 17) which align with a selected 
one of the apertures. Locking pins 182 locate through apertures 181, and 
selected ones of apertures 180 and corresponding apertures in member 171 
to lock the stile sections 40 and hinge members at a desired orientation 
to one another. 
Rivets 183 locate in flutes 174, 175 and through the stiles 40 to secure 
members 170, 171 to the stiles. 
A locking slide 190 is mounted on rung 30 for movement along it. Springs 
191 are anchored to the slide 190 and to a keeper 192 to bias the slide 
towards an adjacent stile 40. The slide 190 has the two locking pins 182 
mounted to a body 193. Central portion 194 of the slide 190 can be grasped 
by a user to cause the slide to move against the action of the springs to 
disengage pins 182 from the hinge plates and hinge members. Once 
disengaged the hinge may be manipulated to adopt a new desired 
orientation. The slide is then released to lock the hinge into this new 
position. A similar operation needs to be performed for the transversely 
spaced hinge in a stile which forms the other side of the ladder. 
Link 195 extends between hinge members 170, 171 and is pivotally connected 
to them at the locations identified by numerals 196 and 197 at 196, 197. 
This link ensures the hinge members move together and maintain a desired 
orientation relative to one another. The arcuate adjacent faces of the 
hinge members are slotted to accommodate the link 195. 
FIG. 19 shows a further alternative hinge construction having sections 40, 
two hinge members 200, 201 and two hinge plates 202 covering the members 
200, 201. Flutes 203 at ends of arms 204 allow rivets 205 to secure the 
members 200, 201 to the stile sections 40. Sleeves or hinge pins 206 
extend through the hinge members and the plates 202 and it is about the 
sleeves 206 that members 200, 201 pivot relative to plates 202. The 
members 200, 201 have apertures 207 relative to which locking pins 208 may 
locate. Pins 208 also extend through apertures in plates 202 and a locking 
arrangement like that shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 or 13 may be used to move 
the pins to unlock the hinge. 
Members 200, 201 have locating recesses 209 and shoulders 210, 211. Cross 
connected linking springs 212, 213 connect the members together so that 
they move in unison to maintain them in a desired relative orientation 
when they are pivoted about hinge plates 202. 
FIG. 20 shows an end view of a tray extension which may be secured relative 
to a rung to provide a ledge for tools or the like. Extension 230 has an 
attachment end 231 with opposed arms 232, 233. Each of these arms have 
return end portions 234 which locate about extensions 33 on a rung 30 
shown in FIG. 1. The extension 230 has a ledge portion 235 and a lip 236 
at its free end. Extension 230 is of a length corresponding to the 
distance between two laterally spaced stiles. When the extension 230 is 
positioned on a rung located at a hinge at an apex of a ladder configured 
as a step ladder, ledge portion 235 extends substantially in a horizontal 
direction. When the ladder is configured as a straight ladder, ledge 
portion 235 extends in a direction generally along the stiles and does not 
interfere with the normal use of the ladder. 
FIGS. 21a to 21c are diagrammatic views of a ladder 240 according to an 
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 21c shows the ladder collapsed or in its 
storage position. The ladder has two transversely spaced stiles consisting 
of stile sections 40 with a single hinge 241 in each of the stiles. The 
operating knob 242 like knob 113 in FIG. 11 or 143 in FIG. 14 is clearly 
shown in these FIGS. 
FIGS. 23a to 23i show a diagrammatic view of a ladder according to another 
embodiment of the invention. The ladder 250 is shown in its collapsed or 
storage position in FIG. 23e. The other Figures show alternative use 
configurations into which the ladder 250 may be configured. The ladder has 
two laterally spaced stile consisting of stile sections 40 and a plurality 
of hinges 251 in each of the stiles. The operating knob 252 of each 
operating mechanism like knob 113 or 143 in FIGS. 11 or 14 respectively 
extend outwardly from the ladder in an alternating opposite direction as 
shown. 
FIGS. 22a to 22e show a ladder 260 having a main portion 261 consisting of 
two laterally spaced stiles consisting of stile sections 40 with each 
stile having a single hinge 262. The operating knob 263 associated with 
each hinge extends outwardly to one side of the ladder as shown. The ends 
of each of the two laterally spaced stiles 40 are each provided with 
telescopic extensions 264. The extensions 264 may be retracted as shown in 
FIGS. 22a and e, fully extended as shown in FIGS. 22b and c or partially 
extended as shown in FIG. 22d. The extensions 264 may be locked into any 
of these positions. 
The part of the ladder shown in FIGS. 24 to 27 has a hinge 300 on one side 
and a hinge 301 on another side. A rung 302 extends between the hinges. 
Operating mechanism 303 includes two oppositely directed arms 304, 305. 
Each of these arms has an inner end 306, 307 provided with slots 308. A 
gear 309 is mounted on a shaft 310. The shaft 310 is journalled in 
apertures in the rung and is adapted to rotate relative to the rung 302. 
An operating lever 311 is fixed to the shaft 310 such that when the lever 
is pivoted the shaft and the gear are caused to rotate. The lever is U 
shaped and straddles the rung 302 and has a connecting portion 312 which 
extends across the rung 302 and acts as an operating handle. 
The arms 304, 305 are cranked as shown and have an outer end 320, 321 to 
which locking pins 322, 323 and 324, 325 are secured by locating pins 326, 
327. Pins 326, 327 are received by a slot 328, 329 provided in ends 320, 
321 of the arms. 
Spring housing 330, 331 extend around the ends 320, 321 of the arms and 
bear against detents 332, 333 provided extending into the interior of the 
rung 302. 
FIG. 24 shows the locking mechanism in its locked condition with the 
locking pins extending through the hinges 300, 301. By pivoting the lever 
311 from the position shown to extend outwardly of the run, the pins 322, 
323 and 324, 325 are drawn into the housings 330, 331 against the action 
of springs 334, 335. This unlocks the hinges 300, 301 to allow adjacent 
sections of the ladder to be pivoted relative to one another. The lever 
311 may be returned to the position shown to the right in FIG. 25. This is 
possible even prior to the pins 322, 323 and 324, 325 returning to their 
locked position relative to the hinges. The slots 328, 329 allow this to 
occur. 
The hinges are configured into their new position and the pins are caused 
to return to the locked position by the springs. 
The locking mechanism allows simultaneous unlocking of the hinges by 
operation of a single lever. 
FIGS. 26 and 27 show a locking slide 350 mounted to the rung 382. The slide 
has a nose portion 351 engageable in a recess 352 formed in a side of the 
lever 311. When the slide 350 is in position shown in FIG. 26 the lever 
311 is locked against pivotal movement. 
A spring 353 is located in a recess formed in the underside of slide 350. 
Thus spring biases portions 351 into the recess 352.