Improvements in Folding Steps, Ladders, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Steps, Ladders, and the like.
We, ARCHIBALD BOWIE of 142 Trongate, Joiner and WILLIAM RENISON of
12 Belmont Crescent Manufacturer, both in Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
--
This invention relates to improvements in folding steps, ladders and the like.
In accordance with our invention as applicable to folding steps for household and
other purposes we mount the stay legs so that their edges are in the direction of
the opening and closing of the steps instead of the arrangement heretofore of
having the flat of the stay legs in this direction. The stay legs are pivotted to the
outer sides of the step legs in such a manner that when the steps are closed, the flat
sides of the stay legs and the steps lie side by side or parallel so that the edges of
both are flush at the back of the steps. Under this arrangement the steps are
rendered stronger and they are not liable to get out of order especially when
opening and closing the steps because the stay legs when being opened and closed
are always guided by the sides of the step legs; also the steps occupy less room
when folded up and they can be more easily carried. Also for the purpose of
carrying the steps the lower part of the stay legs may be provided with a cross bar
to receive a catch formed upon the middle of the lower or other step so that the
stay legs become locked when the steps are closed.
The extent of opening of the stay legs may be regulated by any suitable
contrivance such as by a catch upon the top edge of each of the stay legs coming in
contact with a catch or stop upon the underside of the top step. By this arrange-
ment the necessity for the usual cord between the legs is dispensed with. The
stop arrangement may also take the form of a quadrant piece at the upper part of
the stay legs and which is guided through a guide plate secured to the sides of the
step legs. Or I may provide the step legs at the top at the front thereof with a
stop plate against which the end of the stay leg comes in contact when the ladder is
opened. In order to lock the ladder when opened and so prevent the ladder being
accidentally collapsed we may provide either the stay legs or the step legs with a
pivotted finger or other equivalent arrangement which can be opened out and act as
a stop to prevent the ladder being closed.
The pivotting of the stay legs to the outside of the step legs may be effected by
a bolt and nut at each side of the steps; the bolt may be passed through the flat of
the stay legs and the step legs; or we may provide a hinge formed upon the back
edges of the step legs and the stay legs.
Our invention can also be applied to folding trestles and the like.
Our invention is also such that when the steps are closed and locked they can be
conveniently used as a ladder.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Steps, Ladders, and the like.
We, ARCHIBALD BOWIE of 142, Trongate, Joiner, and WILLIAM RENISON of
12, Belmont Crescent, Manufacturer, both in Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, 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 relates to improvements in folding steps, ladders and the like and

page_text: has for its object to so arrange and construct the said steps, that they will be much
stronger, not so liable to get out of order, especially when opening and closing, and
also occupy less room when folded up than those hitherto used.
In carrying out our said invention as applied to folding steps for household and
other purposes, and as is shown in side elevation, opened out, Figure 1, part side
elevation, closed, Figure 2, and part front elevation Figure 3, we mount the stay
legs A to the step legs B in such a manner that the edges of the stay legs A are in
the direction of the opening and closing of the steps, instead of the arrangement
heretofore of having the flat of the stay legs in this direction.
The stay legs A are pivotted by means of the hinges C to the step legs B, só
that when the steps are closed the flat sides of the stay and step legs lie side by
side or parallel to each other and the edges of both are flush, or nearly so,
with
each other at the back of the steps as shown in Figure 2. In order to retain the
steps in their closed position and so facilitate their removal from place to place we
may provide the stay legs A with a cross bar D having a small metal plate or
sneck which engages with the spring catch E formed on or attached to the middle
of the lower or other step of the steps, so that when the steps are closed they are
retained in that position by means of the catch E.
The extent of opening of the stays legs A is regulated by means of the stop
plates F which are secured to the front of the step legs B, and against which the
angled ends a of the stay legs A. bear when the steps are opened out, as shown in
Figure 1. If desired to lock the steps when opened we may provide one or
more pivotted finger arrangements or as is shown one or more pin and eyelet
arrangements G so as to prevent the steps from being accidentally collapsed or
closed.
As a modification of the foregoing we may construct the steps, as shown in part
side and front elevations, Figures 4 and 5, that is to say, we dispense with the
hinges and pivot the stay legs A to the step legs B by means of the bolts and
nuts H which are passed through the flat of both the stay and step legs as shown.
The said figures also shew a modification of the arrangement for retaining the steps
in their open position, that is to say, we provide the step legs R with a guide plate
in which works a quadrant piece or arm which is secured to the stay legs A. Or
as a further modification we may provide each of the stay legs with a catch
mounted at the top end or edge, said catches engaging with corresponding catches
or stops mounted upon the underside of the top step.
The whole thus forming an efficient pair of steps which may be easily carried
about and which when closed may be conveniently used as a ladder. Also by our
invention we dispense with the use of any cords, chains or the like between the stay
legs and step legs.
Our said invention may also be applied to folding trestles and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. In folding steps, ladders and the like, the mode of closing the stay and step
legs, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shown more
particularly in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In folding steps, ladders and the like, the arrangement and construction of
the hinge or pivot as shown in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In folding steps, ladders and the like, the locking devices for holding the
steps in the open and closed positions, as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1893.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.