Improvements in or relating to Ladders and Ladder-supports.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Ladders and Ladder-supports.
A communication from CARL ENDRISS, of Göppingen, Württemburg, in the
Empire of Germany, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It frequently happens that, for cleaning windows, painting signboards etc. the
upper ends of the ladder-uprights or side bars cannot be laid directly against these
objects and under such circumstances it is necessary to have recourse to auxiliary
appliances, which are in general but little reliable, and which must be specially
constructed on each special occasion, and are generally troublesome to prepare
and fit.
The present invention has the advantage of obviating this evil, by providing an
adjustable lean-to device for ladders, which is, moreover, adjustable in regard to
the breadth between the supports as well as the number of rounds in height. This
is attained, by forming the lean-to support for the top of the ladder of two sliding
bent rods, which are united to the uprights of the ladder in such a manner that by
means of suitably adjustable devices the width of the supporting arms can readily
be regulated in accordance with the varying requirements of each special case.
The new lean-to device consists of rods sliding upou each other so as to admit
of being fastened in any required position as to width of bearing; they may
advantageously be bent, so that, on the one hand, their supporting ends may rest
at right angles, or nearly so, against the supporting wall, and on the other hand
that with every increase in the width of the opening there may also be an increase
in the distance of the ladder-head from the supporting wall.
These rods may be formed of iron, tubular Hat, angle or other shape in section
or they may be formed of any other suitable material and they may be secured
together after being adjusted for any given width of opening, by means of clamps
or sleeves.
Secured to the ladder-uprights are the shoes, whereby the fastening may either
be permanent or temporary; in the latter case the said shoes may be applied and
fastened to the ladder-uprights in any desired position; while, in the former case
the height of the ladder can be altered in a well-known manner by means of
sliding nprights, which can be drawn out. These shoes have grooves in which the
rods or bars can be screwed or clamped fast. To this end is arranged upon each
shoe a hinged arm or bow, in such a manner that the rods can easily be laid in the
groove and there secured by means of a set screw or equivalent. If the height,
at which the rods are to be secured to the ladder-uprights, is required to be capable
of adjustment within not too large limits, a shoe is preferably pivoted to each
upright of the ladder, and can, by means of the series of holes and suitable bolts,
be firmly united with the upright in various positions according to desire or
necessity.
In a modification the shoes are, with advantage, also secured by bolts so as to
be adjustable, so that the lean-to device may be applicable at any desired height.
It will easily be seen that, in any case, the new lean-to device is quickly and
readily capable of adjustment, both in height and width, to meet the requirements

page_text: of all ordinary circumstances. It is not necessary that the ladder should invariably
stand in the centre of the arms, but, on the contrary, they admit of being moved
along them in either direction, and can be fixed in any desired position. Occasional
fortuitous irregularities in the ground-level can be provided for by means of sliding
bolts or bars affixed to the lower end of one or both uprights and secured in any
position by suitable set-screws.
In the extremities of the arms there may be arranged other and adjustable arms,
at right angles to them, and so that the distance of the ladder-head from the
supporting wall is capable of variation within the widest limits.
The device may be arranged so that both the width of opening and the
distance of the ladder-head from the supporting surface may be specially
adjustable.
A special stop-arrangement may be employed in lieu of set screws, for the arms.
To this end, a sliding prolongation is introduced into the arm and provided with a
series of holes or ratchet teeth, in which a spring or detent fastened to the arm or
a spring-controlled pin, is arranged to engage. The arm may be made of iron
pipe or flat bar.
The adjustment in relation to the distance of the head of the ladder from the
face or wall of the building is of special importance for facilitating the painting,
repairing or otherwise operating upon eaves-gutters, signs and other projecting
devices.
It is to be noted, that this new lean-to device may be supplied, of specific
dimensions, for ladders without being fitted with adjustable arrangements or
devices.
Dated this 19th day of March 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
A communication from CARL ENDRISS, of Göppingen, Württemburg, in the
Empire of Germany, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent 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 :—
The adjustable auxiliary lean-to devices for ladders, hitherto employed have
related only to an adjustment in the length of their brace or support so that
openings, such as window-openings of whatever width can be embraced. Contrary
to these lean-to devices the present invention relates to lean-to arms or devices.
wherein the distance of the ladder-head from the wall or other support admits of
adjustment.
There are numerous advantages attainable by the employment or arrangement
of the above-named arms which are essentially perpendicular to the supporting
wall, and attached to the ladder uprights. In the first place, this device enables
work to be undertaken and with facility carried out on projecting mouldings,
entablatures, eaves-gutters, and the like, without the ladder touching the same,
and without the ladder touching the same, and without the workman having to
assume any backward leaning position. Furthermore, the workman, in painting
walls, for instance, can work more conveniently, and, in particular, can get a better
view and conception of the work he is engaged upon. Above all, with a ladder

page_text: provided with such lean-to appliances, it is easy to hang, clean and repair &c.
pictures, clocks, sculpture, statuary and the like, without requiring to stand upon
furniture underneath the said articles, or to remove such furniture, or lean the
ladder against it. The fact that the auxiliary supporting arms can be adjusted
in any direction, i.e. in relation to the distance of the ladder from, or in relation to
the breadth of the supporting surface, enables the ladder to be placed directly in
front of the object suspended from or attached to the wall, so that the supporting
points of the ladder on which it rests, may be on both sides of the object or article
in question, and the workman exactly in front thereof.
His work on the ladder which may include the raising, lowering and removal
of weights is thereby greatly facilitated because the object is directly in front of
him, and not on one side.
The adjustable nature of the device, as regards the breadth of the supporting
surface, is advantageously obtained, in connection with this invention, by means of
curved arms.
By the arrangement of curved arms, in contrast with straight arms, not only is
any sagging of the same prevented but also a removal of the ladder-head from the
wall is attained and effected so that the two adjustments, in point of width of
supporting surface, and distance from the wall, can simultaneously be obtained.
Moreover, in the present invention, forethought has been given to the fact, that
the new lean-to device should be, not only capable of easy adjustment, but also
easily taken apart and put together again; so that, this new lean-to device can
easily be applied to existing ladders, and the ladder can be transformed into.
an ordinary ladder simply by detaching the auxiliary arms or supports and
so used.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder provided with one form of the new
lean-to device employed against an opening or window.
The device here illustrated comprises bars A bent outwardly from the
supporting wall, and joined together by sleeves B (Figs. 4 and 5). It will be
seen that by adopting this construction of the bars, any sagging towards the
supporting wall is prevented, and that by extension, i.e. by drawing out the bars
or rods from one another, both the breadth and distance of the ladder-head
from the support are simultaneously altered.
The bars A may be formed of iron, tubular, flat, angle or other shape in section
or they may be formed of any other suitable material and secured together after
being adjusted for any given width of opening, by means of the before-mentioned
clamps or sleeves B (Figs. 4 and 5) or other convenient devices.
Secured to the ladder uprights are shoes C (Figs. 6 to 9) whereby the fastening
may either be permanent or adjustable; in the latter case the said shoes may, be
applied and fastened to the ladder-uprights in any desired position; while, in the
former case, the height of the ladder can be altered in a well-known manner by
means of telescopic sliding uprights. These shoes have grooves in which the
bars A can be secured or clamped. To this end is arranged upon each shoe C
a hinged arm or flap D, in such a manner that the bars A can easily be laid
in the groove and there secured by means of a set screw or equivalent E. If
the height at which the bars A are to be secured to the ladder-uprights is
required to be capable of adjustment within not too large limits, the construc-,
tion indicated in Fig. 6 is to be recommended; here a shoe C is pivotted to
each upright of the ladder, and, can by meaus of the series of holes F and
suitable bolts, be firmly united with the upright in various positions, according
to desire or necessity.
Figs. 2 and 3 show another construction of the appliance which is intended above
all things to enable variations to be made in the distance of the upper end of the
ladder from the supporting-surface, as may be necessary, for example, in executing
work on eaves-gutters and the like; a simultaneous alteration in the width or
space of the support may be obtained, as shown in Fig. 2, by the arms being bent.
or arranged slantwise.

page_text: In this modification, the shoes may be secured to the ladder-uprights in the
manner previously described so as to enable the lean-to to be adjustable to any
desired height.
It will easily be seen that, in any case, the new lean-to device is quickly and
readily capable of adjustment both in height and width, to meet the requirements
of all ordinary circumstances. It is not necessary that the ladder should invariably
stand in the centre of the arms A, but on the contrary, they admit of being moved
along them in either direction, and can be fixed in any desired position. Occasional
fortuitous irregularities in the ground-level can be provided for by means of
adjustable bolts or bars G (Fig. 10) mounted on the lower ends of one or both
uprights and secured in any position by suitable set-screws.
In the extremities of the arms A there may be arranged other adjustable arms A'
at right angles to them, so that the distance of the ladder-head from the supporting
wall is capable of variation within very wide limits.
In such cases the breadth as well as the distance of the support can be readily
adjusted Figs. 11 to 13 illustrate this construction.
As shown also in Figs. 14 and 15 a special stop-arrangement may be employed
in lieu of set screws for the arms. To this end a sliding prolongation A¹ is
introduced into the arm A and provided with a series of holes or ratchet teeth, in
which a spring or detent a fastened to the arm A. is arranged to engage. The
arm A may be tubular or made of flat, angle or other iron.
Fig. 16 represents the forward end of a lean-to or supporting arm made of
angle-iron.
Having now particularly described the nature of the said invention as communi-
cated to me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. The combination with a ladder of laterally extending bearings or supports
such as A attached thereto, one or both of said supports being adjustable to vary
the width of bearing substantially as described.
2. The combination with a ladder of supports such as A sliding upon each other
holding the head of the ladder from the wall and means to fasten the supports in
any required position as to width of bearing, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a ladder having a laterally extending support or
supports such as A connected to the ladder of bars such as A' connected to the
support or supports A at the extremities thereof substantially as described.
4. The combination with a ladder and supports such as A sliding upon each
other of bars such as A' adjustably mounted on the ends of the supports A
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a ladder of shoes such as C preferably adjustably
connected to the uprights of the ladder and supports such as A. adjustable, in the
shoes and clamped therein substantially as described.
6. The combination with a ladder of shoes supports adjustable in these shoes and
sliding upon each other and means to fasten the supports in any required position,
substantially as described.
7. The combination with a ladder of a support or supports such as A connected
to its upper end and extending laterally from mid-ladder and forwardly projecting
bars at the extremities of and rigidly connected to the support or supports
substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of November 1895.