Improvements in and connected with Stays, Applicable to Step Ladders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1890-Accepted. 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Stays, Applicable to Step
Ladders.
JOHN GEORGE KEELER 156 Rochdale Road Oldham Lancashire Commercial Clerk
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to furnish a practically safe step ladder.
By the application of two safety stays the said step ladder is rendered perfectly
safe when in use. It is automatic in its action with the opening of the step ladder
& by simply raising a bar which connects the two safety stays together may be as
readily closed.
There is nothing in connection with the invention to interfere with the easy working
of the step ladder.
The safety stays may be made to suit various sizes of step ladders.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH STAYS, APPLICABLE TO STEP LADDERS.
The two safety stays are each fastened to the step ladder (one on each side of the
step ladder) by means of a bolt, which bolt also acts as a hinge enabling the two safety
stays to move upwards and downwards simultaneously with the opening & closing of
the step ladder.
The safety stays are each provided with a slot near the end (of each stay) which
slot terminates in a sudden downward curve
The legs of the step ladder are provided with a slide or groove in each leg exactly
corresponding with each other as to size shape & position.
Through these slides or grooves in the legs of the step ladder, a long bolt is placed
which goes right across the ladder and terminates through the slots of the safety stays
on each side of the step ladder.
Upon opening the step ladder, the bolt connecting the two safety stays with the
legs of the step ladder, first descends the slides or grooves in the legs of the step
ladder which bolt upon reaching the limit of the said slides or grooves (in the legs of
the step ladder) prevents the step ladder closing though only half open.
To give the step ladder greater radius it is only necessary to draw outward the legs
of the step ladder, when the bolt which connects the two legs of the ladder with the
safety stays proceeds along the slots in the safety stays until it reaches the termination
of the said slots, when it (the bolt) drops into the downward curves of the slots,
which renders the step ladder safe inasmuch as it (the step ladder) cannot be closed
until the bolt is released by raising the same out of the curves.
Upon opening the step ladder the safety stays descend, upon closing the step ladder
they ascend.
The limit of the slides in the legs of the step ladder makes it possible to use the
step ladder when half open with safety the limit of the slots in the stays prevents the
step ladder opening too wide.
Dated this 4th day of December 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Stays; Applicable to Step
Ladders:
I, JOHN GEORGE KEELER, of 156 Rochdale Road, Oldham, in the County of
Lancashire, 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 object of this invention is to furnish a practically safe step ladder.
By the application of two safety stays, the said step ladder is rendered perfectly
safe when in use; it is automatic in its action with the opening of the step ladder and
by simply raising a bar which connects the two safety stays together, may be as
readily closed.
There is nothing in connection with this invention to interfere with the easy
working of the step ladder.
The aforesaid safety stays may be constructed of any metallic substance and in any
size, to suit various sizes of step ladders.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and figures
marked thereon.
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of a portion of a step ladder fitted with my
apparatus. The dotted lines indicated in this said figure denote the position of stay d
when the step ladder is closed.
Figure 2, is the back elevation of figure 1 when the ladder is closed..
Figure 3, denotes an enlarged view of the safety stay d and the curved slot f.
My invention consists of two safety stays d, fastened to the step ladder a, one on
each side, by means of a bolt e, which said bolt acts as a hinge or pivot to enable
the two said safety stays d to move upwards and downwards, simultaneously with the
opening and closing of the step ladder.
The safety stays d are provided with a slot f, near the end of each stay, which slot
terminates in a segmental or other shaped curve.
The legs c, c, of the step ladder a are provided with a slot or groove h in each
leg exactly corresponding with each other as to size, shape and position.
Through the beforementioned slots or grooves h in the legs of the step ladder, a
long bolt is placed, which bolt passes right across the ladder and terminates through
the slots of the safety stays d, on each side of the step ladder.
b
Upon opening the step ladder (fitted with usual hinges 6 on each side), the bolt g
connecting the two safety stays d, d, with the legs c, c, of the step ladder, first descends
the slots or grooves h in the legs of the step ladder, which said bolt upon reaching
the limit of the aforesaid slots or grooves h, prevents the step ladder closing though
only half open.
To give the step ladder greater radius it is only necessary to draw
out the legs of the step ladder, when the bolt 9 proceeds along the slots f in the
safety stays d until it reaches the termination of the said slots in the safety stays,
when the bolt g drops in the downward curves of the slots; which renders the step
ladder safe against premature closing, inasmuch as the step ladder cannot be closed
until the bolt g is released by raising the same out of the curved slots hereinbefore
described.
Upon opening the step ladder the safety stays descend; but upon closing the ladder
the stays ascend.
The limit of the slides or slots in the legs of the step ladder makes it possible to use
the step ladder when half open with safety.
The limit of the slides in the safety stays prevent the step ladder opening too
wide.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
g
First The combination of the stay d fitted on each side of a ladder, with the
bolt passing through the slots f of the stays and the slots or groove / in the legs,
fitted to any ordinary step ladder for the purpose of rendering the same perfectly
safe when in use, substantially as herein described and according to the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly: The combination of the apparatus made of any material, or in any size
or shape, to suit various sizes of step ladders, substantially as herein described and
according to the accompanying drawings.
1000
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.