LADDERS "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS OR
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Allan Jones at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th August 1882.
CHARLES ALLAN JONES of Gloucester Solicitor
LADDERS
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS OR
My Invention has for its objects to so construct ladders or steps that they are
light and compact occupying small space when folded up and being very firm and
free from any liability to accidentally collapse when opened out for use.
According to my said Invention the part of the steps or ladder which is opened
out to form the strut or support for the same is connected to the main or body part
of the steps by a sliding guiding arrangement in place of by a centre pin arrange-
ment as is usual. This sliding guiding arrangement may be formed by projecting
pieces on the upper portion of one part taking over guiding strips or surfaces on
the upper portion of the other part. The part of the steps folded out is connected
by a stretcher or folding strut with the main or body part. In folding out the one
part of the steps from the other the projecting pieces on the one part pass upwards
lengthwise over the guides on the other part until they abut against a stop instead
of turning outwards on a centre therefore the greater the weight upon the steps
the greater is the security of the ladder from collapse. On folding up the steps the
guiding parts move longitudinally in the reverse direction and the parts are
preferably so proportioned that the steps when folded will stand upright. The
sides of the main or body part are preferably made of bars at back and front with
cross pieces to support the steps. Between the steps when put in place strut pieces
are forced extending diagonally from the back of one step to the front of that next
above it and secured at both ends to the bars forming the sides of the main or body.
part of the steps:
The Invention may be applied to single or double steps or ladders

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Allan Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th February 1883.
CHARLES ALLAN JONES of Gloucester Solicitor
LADDERS
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS OR
My Invention has for its objects to so construct ladders or steps that they are
light and compact occupying small space when folded up and being very rigid and
free from any liability to accidentally collapse when opened out for use.
And in Order that my Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the figures on the annexed drawing the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in both the figures.
The said Figures represent a pair of steps made according to my Invention the
one Figure showing them opened out ready for use and the other Figure showing
them closed.
The part B of the steps or ladder which is opened out to form the strut or
support for the main or body part A of the steps or ladder is connected, as to its
upper end, to the upper portion of such part A by means of a sliding guiding
arrangement which is formed by projecting pieces or pins 6 on such upper end of
the part B on both sides thereof taking over guiding strips or surfaces a formed
on or attached to the upper portion of the other part A at both sides and, as to its
lower end, by means of pivots or pins to stretchers or folding struts c which
stretchers or struts are again connected at their other extremities to the middle
or thereabouts of the main or body part A in place of by the hinge or centre pin
arrangement which it has hitherto been customary to employ.
It will be understood that although the principals forming the sides to the front
part A are by preference inclined to each other longitudinally so as to obtain a
wider base for the steps to stand on the outward surfaces of the guiding strips a
are adjusted parallel to each other.
In folding out the one part of the steps from the other in place of the part B turning
on a centre as in the ordinary step ladders the projecting pieces b on the one part pass
upwards lengthwise over the guides a on the other part until the part or stop b²
comes against the stop a" and arrests further motion at the same time the stretchers c
vibrate about their pivotted ends and serve not only as a tie to prevent further
spreading of the lower ends of the two principals but also as a strut to prevent
the accidental collapse of the steps in the event of the user applying his weight
unduly in a forward direction. It will therefore be observed that the greater the
weight upon the steps the greater is the security of the apparatus from collapse.
On folding up the steps the guiding parts b move longitudinally in the reverse
direction over the guides a and the lateral bracings of the two principals A and B
and of the stretchers are so arranged so that the several parts may fold compactly
together as shown in Figure 2. The parts are also preferably so proportioned that
the steps when folded will stand upright as there shown.
The sides of the main or body part A are preferably made of bars d at back and
front with cross pieces e to support the steps or treads f. Between the said steps f
are situated strut pieces g extending diagonally from the back of one step to the
front of that next above it and secured at both ends to the bars d forming the
sides of the main or body part of the steps.
On reference to the Drawings it will be seen that the back principal B and
stretchers c are somewhat similarly constructed of bars strutted tied and diagonally

page_text: braced. To secure rigidity of the steps when the side principals of the main or
body part A are composed of bars of small section the two bottom cross pieces e
should be connected by means of a bar and a diagonal bracing a should be
applied at the back of such part A from the bottom up to the middle or thereabouts
where the stretchers are connected or pivotted. Above this point I find that in
steps of a moderate height the stretchers and back principal B are sufficient to give
the necessary rigidity to prevent lateral motion in the part A.
This Construction may be applied to single or double steps or ladders.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:-
First; The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the steps or
ladder illustrated in the accompanying Drawing and herein before described with
reference thereto.
Secondly: The improvements in steps or ladders consisting in constructing
them of two parts or principals connected at their upper portions by a sliding
joint and controlled at the lower portions by a strut or stretcher or struts or
stretchers substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Thirdly: In steps or ladders the combination of the guides a, pins b, and stop
pieces a³, and 62, or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Allan Jones have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of February One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
CHA³ ALLAN JONES (Ls.)