ROVEMENTS IN FOLDING STEPS
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I WALTER JAMES GWYNN of No 3 Church Street Malvern in the County of
Worcester, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING STEPS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, to be as follows that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object "Improvements in Folding Steps" by which
they are made lighter stronger and cheaper than heretofore and without certain
disadvantages inherent in other kinds of folding steps.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have appended hereunto
a Sheet of Drawings in which,
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of the steps when opened out ready for use.
Fig. 2. is a back elevation of the steps when closed.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of the same showing them standing vertically when
closed or folded together.
Fig. 4 is a part side section of the metallic socket cap, and
Fig. 5. is a front section of the metallic socket cap.
The construction of my folding steps are as follows reference being made to the
accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
The two sides A and A¹ to which the steps or treads, K, K', K³, and K³,
themselves are built or secured, are cut out of the solid timber (not framed
together) forming a base for such steps or treads K K K and K in conjunction
with cross strips a³, a, a, a³, aº, a¹º, a¹¹, and a", which are screwed or otherwiso
fastened to the side pieces A and A¹. These cross strips so strengthen and stiffen
the side pieces A that I am enabled to cut large pieces therefrom in any
ornamental or other form and leaving only the connecting pieces a¹, a³, a³, and the
solid piece a. This solid piece a' adds considerably to the strength and security of
the steps when in use, and being the part of the steps to which severe strain and
bard usage is most likely to be felt, I find it desirable to leave it solid, and to
make the sides A and A' from thick timber lightened out as before mentioned,
rather than from thin strips carried to the bottom which lack stability at the very
part needing it.
The treads or steps K, K¹, K³, K³, may be so shaped that the ends thereof may
rest upon the connecting pieces a³, a³, a³, and a', and secured to the side pieces A
and cross pieces, a, by any suitable means, such as screws and nails,

page_text: The front portion of the steps are greatly strengthened by the double struts or
stiffners d, and d¹, under the top step K and by d² and d under the bottom step K³
which are let into the sides A, and, the respective steps K K³, under which they are
placed, until they are level or flush therewith. The struts or stiffeners are thus
kept thoroughly out of the way of the feet.
. The back portion or strut which is opened out to support the front part A is
composed of the side pieces B, cross bars E and J and the diagonal pieces
F and H. These diagonal pieces are sprung across the cross bar E and are fastened
to the upper and lower portions of the side pieces B, the springing of which over
the cross bar E adds greatly to the stability and stiffness of the said back strut.
I sometimes use the cross bar J shewn on the Drawing for extra stiffness and
occasionally also the cross bar, l, shown by dotted lines.
The side pieces B are connected to the front part A by means of the bolt or
pin N passing through a suitable socket cap or clip X attached to the top of the
side pieces B. The construction of the cap or clip I prefer is clearly shown on the
Drawings by Figs. 4 and 5. It will be observed that the clip X is so constructed
that the upper part thereof may bear against the underside of the top step K
this would, as will readily be seen, add to the security and steadiness of the steps
when in use, though with the construction of the other parts as shown my steps
are remarkable steady without the abutment at the top of the socket.
In conjunction with the front and back portions A and B of my new steps I
employ radial arms or rods C which are pivotted to the front A at P by means
of a simple screw or other pivot and are attached to the lower portion of part B
at which point a slot R is formed which slides upon the pins S in the side pieces B
and constitutes the guides limits or stops for regulating the distance the steps may
open. It will be seen on reference to the Drawings that the radial arms C are
made to project somewhat below the part B (Fig. 3.) when closed thus forming legs
upon which the steps may stand when not in use.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention
for Improvements in Folding Steps," and in what manner the same is to be
carried into effect, I declare that what I claim is,
First. The construction of the front portion of folding steps by which they are
made much lighter, and stiffer laterally by means of the double struts, d, and d³,
and and d³, substantially as herein shown and described.
Second. The construction of the back portion or supporting strut of folding
steps in combination with the cross bar E and diagonals F and H with the sides B
and substantially as herein set forth.
Third. The construction of the front and back portions of folding steps in
combination with the radial arms or rods C with the slot R and guide stops S
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The general construction and arrangement of folding steps substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this Toustranih dov of Man 100×
GEO. BARKER,
Agent for the Applicant,
8, Quality Court, London, and
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.