Patent Publication Number: US-11649677-B2

Title: Movable ladder

Description:
The present application refers to a movable ladder, provided with folding side platforms for the placement of work tools or various articles for their subsequent placement on shelves, as well as with ascending and descending wheels to facilitate the attachment of the ladder in the workplace or its easy movement on the surface of the floor. 
     Currently, there are several types of ladders, some of them are of great length, which require for their use to be supported on a wall, a post or some other means that keeps them in an inclined position in order to carry out repairs or work at considerably great heights. There are also folding scissor-shaped ladders on the market, which are widely used in the repair areas, the pruning of low trees, etc. The ladder we are making reference to is a ladder with a construction and utility that has been designed to carry out repair work at low heights, to move various articles for their subsequent placement on shelves or for specialized work where it is required to transport on these ladders the tools and/or products that will be used in the repair of walls, or as already mentioned before, to transport on them diverse articles, which will be subsequently placed on shelves at lower heights. 
     The movable ladder of the invention essentially consists of a frame or metal structure, which supports at least two steps as well as two folding side platforms. This ladder can remain fixed when in use or can be moved by means of four casters, which facilitate the movement of this ladder towards the work area. 
     Most of the above-mentioned ladders are foldable type ladders having the purpose that once unoccupied, they can be stored occupying minimal spaces. It is worth mentioning that ladders that could be considered prior art are those protected in U.S. Pat. D1146094A, patent CN201048733Y, patent CN201048733Y, the English patent GB19551364A, in addition to many others, which can be considered as prior art without thereby invalidating the novelty of the movable ladder, which is the object of the present application. 
     OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the invention to provide a movable ladder, which is provided with elements that keep it stable while it is in use and which permits the transporting on it work tools or articles that are intended to be placed on shelves at a moderately elevated height. 
     Another objective of the invention is the construction and design of a movable ladder equipped with folding side platforms for the transportation of products and/or work tools. 
     It is another objective of the invention to provide a movable ladder with unique features, allowing the user to achieve variable heights for the placement of diverse articles on shelves of supermarkets or service stores, or to facilitate the repair of walls and/or some other services that must be carried out at a height greater than that available to an operator of average height. 
     The invention that is subject of the present application will be fully understood by means of the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate the advantages that the movable ladder of the invention offers, advantages that distinguish it from other ladders of its kind. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the movable ladder of the invention, in which one of its platforms is shown collapsed; 
         FIG.  2    is a top plan view of the ladder in question; 
         FIG.  3    is an elevation view of the back of the ladder; 
         FIG.  4    is an elevation view of the right side of said ladder, with its platform collapsed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The movable ladder  10 , subject of the present application, consists of a structural frame  12 , which has a rear part and two side faces, both the rear part  100  of the structure  12  and the side parts  102  have horizontal structural elements  28 ′ and vertical structural elements  29 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , each side part  102  has two vertical structural elements  29  and two horizontal structural elements  28 ′. Similarly, the rear part  100  includes rear horizontal structural elements  28 ′ that extend from one side part  102  to the other side part  102 . The structural elements  29  have in their lower part side projections  22  in the form of an inverted “U”, which act like the legs of the ladder when in use, and keep the ladder firmly supported on the floor. Note that the legs  22 , which to a certain extent constitute an extension of the structural elements  29 , project slightly outwards, with the purpose of providing the ladder with greater stability. 
     As part of the structural elements of the ladder  12 , object of the present invention, said ladder has two side platforms  14 , which are suitably hinged to the side structural elements  28 ′, by means of a pair of hinges  20 , said platforms  14  are maintained in their horizontal position through the means identified with reference  16 , which can be rotated downwards or upwards in the brackets  18 . One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that said structural means  16  are hooked by the lower part of the platforms  14  when the use of them is required. 
     In the main  FIG.  1   , the collapse of the platforms  14  can be observed. To collapse the platform  14 , the only thing needed to be done is to unhook the supporting means  16 , by rotating it downwards as well as the respective platform  14 . It is important to note that for the first time a movable ladder with two side platforms  14  having dimensions that may vary according to the intended use is offered to the market. 
     From  FIGS.  1  and  4   , it is noted that said ladder is provided with four wheels or casters  25 , which can be retracted or lowered, depending on whether said ladder  10  is being used or not. One of ordinary skill in the art with reference to the subject specification and figures will readily appreciate that when said ladder is in use, said casters  25  will have to be retracted such that said ladder  10  will have an adequate support on the floor by means of the side legs  22 . Said casters  25  are fixedly and permanently mounted on the structural element  28 , with the aid of the devices  24  which are no more than tubular elements either internally threaded or with perforations, for the insertion of a coach screw with the purpose of fixing the position of said casters  25 . 
     Finally, it should be noted from the accompanying figures that the movable ladder of the invention has two steps  26  and  26 ′; the number of steps can vary according to the needs and use to which said ladder is intended. 
     From the detailed description that has been offered herein, it is evident that the objectives or purposes of the invention have been fully met and that due to the very particular structural configuration of the ladder of the invention, it offers advantages and has particular features that distinguish it from those of its kind. 
     Structural and design changes or modifications can be made to the movable ladder of the invention, without constituting a different invention, as long as the proposed changes are part of the invention subject matter and are within the spirit and scope of the claims that are offered below.