Improvements in Step-ladders.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step-ladders.
WILLIAM TAYLOR of Great Driffield in the County of York, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEP-LADDERS to be as
follows:-
This invention applies chiefly to Steps, the back legs of which are constructed to be
turned up and so formed into lean-to ladders, but the method of securing the back legs
can be used for ordinary folding steps. The steps consist of any desired number of
treads of uniform length, grooved, morticed or otherwise fixed to side pieces, as usual,
but these side-pieces are continued upwards above the top tread for a distance equal to
that between one tread and the next. At the top of each side-piece, in a line with its
front edge is a short metal horn or projection.
Back legs or supports, similar in size to the side pieces of the steps, but preferably
reduced slightly in width at one end are connected together by narrow rails, one less
in number than the treads of the steps, at such a distance apart that the legs will
slip easily outside the side-pieces of the steps. The rails are preferably about half the
width of the treads of the steps, and are dovetailed or otherwise fixed into the legs,
close to one of their edges, and the same distance one from another as are the treads of
the steps, thus forming a kind of ladder.
The back legs or sides of this ladder are slipped over the side pieces of the steps and
the two connected or jointed together by short pins or bolts, or by a long bolt passing
right through both back legs and side-pieces, at a point just below the top tread of the
steps.
If the steps and back legs are pulled apart a certain distance at their lower
extremities, they form a pair of ordinary steps, but if they be pulled apart until the
two are in a straight line, the horns or projections on the tops of the side-pieces of
the steps will come in contact with the first rail connecting the back legs, and a long
lean-to ladder will be produced.
For the purpose of fixing the side-pieces and back legs in their relative positions
necessary to form steps or ladder, suitable bolts or pins passing through metal plates,
or working in suitable frames, and actuated by springs are attached to the upper onds
of the back legs or side pieces, and taking into holes protected by metal plates in the
side pieces or back legs.
When the side pieces and back legs are pulled apart, as soon as the bolts or pins in
the one come opposite the holes in the other, the pins or bolts are forced into the holes
by the springs, and the two become rigidly fixed together, but they may be easily
released by pulling out the bolts or pins with the hands, for which purpose they are
provided with rings or knobs.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step-ladders.
) I, WILLIAM TAYLOR of Great Driffield in the county of York, Machinist do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STEP LADDERS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention applies chiefly to Steps, the back legs of which are constructed to be
turned up, and so formed into lean-to Ladders, but the method of securing the back
legs can be used for ordinary folding steps. The Steps consist of any desired number
of treads. of uniform length, grooved, morticed or otherwise fixed to side pieces as usual
[ Pain S

page_text: but these side-pieces, are continued upwards above the top tread for a distance equal
to that between one tread and the next. At the top of each side-piece, in a line with
its front edge, is a short metal horn or projection. Back legs or supports, similar in
size to the sido-pieces of the stops, but preferably reduced slightly in width at one end
are connected together by narrow rails one less in number than the treads of the steps, at
such a distance apart that the legs will slip easily outside the side-pieces of the steps.
The rails are preferably about balf the width of the treads of the steps, and are dove-
tailed or otherwise fixed into the legs close to one of their edges, and the same distance
one from another as are the treads of the steps, thus forming a kind of ladder.
The back legs or sides of this ladder are slipped over the side-pieces of the steps, and
the two connected or jointed together by short pins or bolts, or by a long bolt passing
right through both back legs and side-pieces at a point just below the top tread of the
steps.
If the steps and back legs are pulled apart a certain distance at their lower
extremities, they form a pair of ordinary steps, but if they be pulled apart until the
two are in a straight line, the horns or projections on the tops of the side-pieces of the
steps, will come in contact with the first rail connecting the back legs, and a long
lean-to ladder will be produced. For the purpose of fixing the side-pieces and back legs
in their relative positions necessary to form steps or ladder, suitable bolts or pins passing
through metal plates, or working in suitable frames, and actuated by springs are
attached to the upper ends of the back legs or side pieces, and taking into holes
protected by metal plates in the side pieces or back legs. When the side pieces and
back legs are pulled apart, as soon as tho bolts or pins in the one come opposite the
holes in the other, the pins or bolts are forced into the holes by the springs and the
two become rigidly fixed together, but they may be easily released by pulling out the
bolts or pins with the hands, for which purpose they are provided with rings or knobs.
I will now proceed to describe my invention by means of the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the ladder when used as a pair of steps.
Fig. 2 shews the same when extended as a lean-to ladder.
Fig. 3 is a front view of part of the same, the reference letters being in all cases
identical.
and
Fig. 4 shews, on an enlarged scale the spring catch or bolt and frame for the same,
Fig. 5 the catch plate into which the spring bolt locks.
a (Figs. 1, 2, 3) shews the sides of a step ladder, into which are fixed four flat
treads a. shews the back legs into which are dovetailed threo rails b', which, when
the legs are turned up or extended, serve as the rungs of a ladder. The step sides and
back legs are pin-jointed together by the bolt or rivet c, and held in position by the
spring bolts d, taking into holes in the catch-plates e and e¹ according as the ladder is
used as a pair of steps or extended. If the knobs d' are pulled simultaneously by both
hands, the spring bolts will be withdrawn and the sides and legs be free to turn on the
bolt c and may be fixed as desired either in the position shewn in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or
closed together as denoted by the dotted line at the bottom of Fig. 1. The catch-
plates e and el are bevilled on one side (see Fig. 5) so that when the spring bolts
(Fig. 4) come in contact with them, they will be pushed back until they come opposite
the holes h, when they will automatically interlock. A thin plate (Fig. 1) is fixed
as a continuation of the catch-plate e¹, and is bent to form a bevil at the other edge of
the side a. When the ladder is closed the end of the spring bolt lies just clear of this
bevil, and on pulling the step-sides and legs apart, the bolt is pushed back by it, and
rubs along the plate until it comes opposite the hole in the catch-plate e', when they
will interlock as before described, and the steps be held rigid in the position shewn in
Fig. 1.
For the purpose of giving rigidity to the ladder, two horns y of the shape shewn,
securely screwed to the sides a, come in contact with the first rung b' and in combina-
tion with the bolt c, and spring bolt d, form a strong and rigid ladder.
To give the necessary strength and prevent wear, the bolt c passes through holes in
metal plates screwed to the sides a and b. These plates also serve to keep the sides

page_text: and legs from rubbing one against the other. In place of the spring bolts or catches
herein described, bolts or catches actuated by flat springs or other equivalent
mechanism may be employed.
When it is desired to use the extended ladder for windows or similar purposes, a
flat bar can be screwed across the top. This bar comes upon the ground at the feet of
the back legs when the steps are used as shewn in Fig. 1. and if it is made slightly
longer than the width of the back legs, it adds to their stability.
Fig. 4 shews on a larger scale the spring catch for securing the step-ladder in its
various positions. i shewing one side of the case or frame, the other side, " the
top, and the underside. 4ª shews a section of the catch complete, i shewing the
framic, the bolt, & the knob, (secured to j by a pin) and the coiled spring.
Fig. 5 shews the catch plate; m showing the top, n the underside, o one side, p the
other, and g is an end view.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,
1st. Step Ladders constructed substantially as shewn, and capable of being
extended and held in their desired positions by automatic spring bolts or catches.
2nd. Spring bolts or catches constructed as shewn for securing step Ladders.
Dated this 30th day of July 1889.
WM. TAYLOR.