Improvements in the Construction of Ladders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jen., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
Improvements in the Construction of Ladders.
1, WILLIAM HAYWARD, Senior, of the Firm of William Hayward and Sons,
of Brunswick Works, Bilston Road, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
Hurdle and Fencing Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to construct a metallic ladder in a manner
which is economical in material and labour and enables the sides- and rungs to be
packed separate or detached from one another and to be readily put together in situ
even by unskilled labour.
According to this invention, the sides of the ladder are formed of hoop metal or
otherwise of a section which is broad and thin. These sides are prepared to
receive the runga by forming two parallel slits running lengthways of the metal at
cach part where a rung is to be engaged therewith, and setting the portion of metal
between the slits outwards from one face of the ladder side and the two widths of
metal at the outer sides of the slits outwards from the face of the ladder-side in
the opposite direction, and each rung is engaged with each ladder-side by passing
it between the band or portion of metal which has been set outwards from one
face of the ladder-side and the two bands or portions of metal which have been
set outwards in the opposite direction from the other face of the ladder-side.
The rungs may be pushed sufficiently tightly into place between the portious of
the ladder-sides which have been prepared to receive them to he held fairly firmly
thereby. These connections may however be made rigid, or sufficiently so, by closing
in somewhat the portions, or certain portions, of the metal which are adjacent to the
slits, immediately at the upper and lower sides of the rungs, and this may be
accomplished by the aid of a suitable tool formed with portions which may be held
in position to press against the parts which are to be closed in while the back of the
tool is struck with a haminer, or is pressed forwards.
The rungs may be formed with notches therein into which the middle bands of
the slit portions of the ladder-sides are tightened or set to securely prevent the
rungs moving endwaye.
According to a modification of this invention, in lieu of slitting portions of the
ladder-sides and setting out the portions thus divided, metal straps or loops may be
riveted to the ladder-sides, which in such case may be of a stronger section than
when prepared as above described, and the rungs be passed between such straps or
loops and the ladder sides.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Ladders.
I, WILLIAM HAYWARD, Senior, of the Firm of William Hayward and Sons,
of Brunswick Works, Bilston Road, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
Hurdle and Fencing Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to construct a motallic ladder in a manner which
is economical in material and labour, and enables the sides and rungs to be packed
separate or detached from one another and to be readily put together in situ even
by unskilled labour.
According to this invention, the sides of the ladder are formed of hoop metal or
otherwise of a section which is broad and thin. These sides are prepared to receive
the rungs by forming two parallel slits running lengthways of the metal, at each
part where a rung is to be engaged therewith, and setting the portion of metal
between the slits outwards from one face of the ladder-side and the two widths of
metal at the outer sides. of the slits outwards from the face of the ladder-side in
the opposite direction, and each rung is engaged with each ladder-side by passing
it between the band or portion of metal which has been set outwards from one face
of the ladder side and the two bands or portions of metal which have been set
outwards in the opposite direction from the other face of the ladder-side. The
runga may be pushed sufficiently tightly into place between the portions of the
ladder-sides which have been prepared to receive them, to be held fairly firmly
thereby. The connections between the rungs and ladder-sides may, however, be
made rigid, or sufficiently so, by closing in somewhat the portions of metal between
which the ends of the rungs pass so as to grip the rungs tightly; and this may be
accomplished by the aid of suitable tools properly shaped for the purpose.
The rungs may be formed with notches therein into which the middle bands or
straps of the slit portious of the ladder-sides are tightened or set to securely
prevent the rungs moving end ways.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
the same by the aid of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shews, in front elevation, a short length of a ladder-side with one end of
a rung fixed thereto in the manner of this invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the parts shewu by Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a
corresponding view to Figure 2, but shews the joint between the ladder-side and
rung to have been tightened up by means of suitable tools.
A is the ladder-side, and B the rung. A band or loop a is pressed out from the
middle of each ladder-side A at each part where a rung B is to be connected
therewith; and bands or straps b b, forining the portions of metal of the ladder-
side which are on either side of the loop a, are pressed out in the opposite direction
to the loop a. The pressed out parts a and b are so shaped that the end of the
rung B may be pushed between them in the manner shewn, and, preferably, by
the exercise only of some force, which tends to force apart slightly the apices of the
parts a and b which are opposite to one another as seen in side elevation, so that
the rung will be held with some degree of grip when in place. It is much preferred,
however, to make each joint between the end of a ring and the Indder-side rigid, or
substantially so; and this may be effected by means of tools of which the operative
ends are illustrated by broken lines Figures 2 and 3. By the use of these tools the
parts a may be caused to grip the rung B more securely. It will be observed
that in Figure 2 the rung B bears only against the opposite apices of the parts a b,
and that both the tools CD are forined with hollow V-shaped ends of which the

page_text: apices are somewhat sharper than the opposite apices of the parts a b. The tool C
is held against one face of the ladder-side, with the V-shaped part bridging the
pressed-out portions b, and the tool D is driven up against the opposite part a so as.
to drive back the end of the rung B into the parts baud cause it to drive the apex
formed by the sides of such parts into the apex of the tool C, thus sharpening the
angle such sides make with each other aud causing one of the inclined sides of the
end of the rung to close up against the lower sides of the parts, the inclined sides
of the V-shaped portion of the tool Dat the same time causing the inclined sides of
the part a to close up somewhat and thus securely grip the end of the rung between
the parts a and b. The operation of the tools causes the apices of the parts ab to
more securely grip the angles of the rung. To increase the security of the joint
the angle c of the rung may be notched, and the apex of the part a bo driven into.
the notch by the tool D.
According to a modification of this invention, in lieu of slitting portions of the
ladder-sides, and setting out the portions thus divided, metal straps or loops may
.be riveted to the ladder-sides, which in such case may be of a stronger section than:
when prepared as above described, and the rungs be passed between such straps or
loops and the ladder-sides.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, respectively, in front and side elevation, a loop d
riveted to a ladder-side A'. In this case V-shaped portions e are formed in tho
ladder-sides, and the straps d are similarly shaped, so as to receive and grip the
ends of the rungs between them. In this case, also, the joint may be made more.
secure by means of tools similar to those described with reference to the modification
shewn by Figures 1, 2 and 3; and, if desired, one of the corners of the rung may
be notched for the engagement therowith of the strap d.
Rungs of triangular section are shewn in the drawings, but it will be obvious.
that rungs of other section may be used, if desired. If rungs of flat section are
used, and are placed with one edge upwards, the bands a ouly, or straps d, as the
case may be, need project outwards from the faces of the ladder-sides. In such.
case when the bands are pressed outwards from the ladder-sides the metal of the.
bands will readily stretch sufficiently for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tior, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Improvements in the construction of ladders, according to which the ends of
the rungs pass behind or between bands or straps which have been pressed
outwards from the ladder-sides or which are riveted thereto, substantially as.
described.
2. Improvements in the construction of ladders, according to which the ends of
the rungs pass behind or between bands or straps which have been pressed outwards.
sufficiently from the ladder-sides to admit of the ends of the rungs being passed
behind or between them, or which are riveted to the ladder-sides, and which in
either case bave been securely tightened up against the rungs by the aid of
suitable tools, substantially as described.
3. Improvements in the construction of ladders, according to which the ends of
the rungs are each formed with a notch and passed behind or between bands or
straps which have been pressed outwards sufficiently from the ladder-sides to admit
of the ends of the rungs being passed behind or between them, or which are riveted
to the ladder-sides, aud which in either case bave been securely tightened up against.
the rungs by the aid of suitable tools, aud portions of such bands or straps forced
into the notches of the rungs, substantially as described.
4. Thin flat metal ladder-sides formed with bands or straps which stand outward
therefrom being slit away along their sides from other portions of the metal while
they remain joined thereto at their euds, substantially as described for the purpose-
set forth.
5. Thin flat metal ladder-sides formed with middle bands or straps which stand.

page_text: outward therefrom being slit away along their sides from other portions of the
metal while they remain joined thereto at their ends, the portions along the outer
sides of the slits being set back in the opposite direction, substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.
6. The improved means of joining the rungs of ladders to metallic sides thereof, 5
substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
1007
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.