Improved Combined Truck and Step-ladder.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combined Truck and Step-ladder.
I, JAMES HILL, of Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne, and State of
Pennsylvania, Inventor, 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 pertains to a certain new and useful improved combined truck, step-
latter, shelf, and bag-holder; and it consists in the detailed construction, combination
and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my combined truck and step-ladder, showing
the same closed; Figure 2 is a similar view, with the parts extended; Figures 3 and 4
are likewise views in perspective, the former showing a shelf as employed in connection
with my invention, and the latter a bag-holder, with a bag applied thereto, the shelf
being lowered; and Figure 5 is a view of a modification.
In the construction of my invention, my object is to so arrange the handles and
frame on the outside of the steps as to afford more room and greater facility for
handling the truck; to adapt the truck foot-rests to hold the ladder when extended, as
well as to support the truck; to so arrange the wheels of the truck in connection with
the ladder that they may be disposed above the floor when the step-ladder is used, in
order to permit the latter to rest upon a horizontal plane; to employ in connection
with the step-ladder a shelf for the support of a bucket, pail or other similar article:
and to provide means for tightly securing the open end of a bag.
In carrying out my invention, I provide two parallel standards or side-pieces A, A,
which are connected at suitable distances apart by means of cross-pieces a, a, the
whole forming a step-ladder A¹.

page_text: B is a truck-frame consisting of two parallel side-pieces, the upper ends of when
are formed into curved handles, and the lower ends have secured thereto the ends of a
lifting-plate a'.
The step-ladder A', and the truck-frame B are pivoted or hinged together by means
of a nutted bar a², passing through corresponding orifices in the side-pieces of said 5
step-ladder and truck-frame. The step-ladder is constructed as to width to fold within
the side-bars of the truck-frame. Between the parallel standards or side-pieces of the
step-ladder are disposed on an axle b, wheels C, C, the same being so arranged at such
distance above the ends of said side-pieces as to prevent contact of said wheels with
the floor when the device is used as a step-ladder, and to admit the ends of the side-
pieces of the step-ladder, which are beveled, as shown at d, to conform to the surface-
plane of the floor and rest thereon when in an upright position.
To the front edge of the side-pieces of the step-ladder, near the upper ends thereof,
are secured two oppositely disposed pins e, e, which, when the device is employed as a
step-ladder, register with the foot-rests secured to the side-pieces of the truck-frame,
whereby the outward movement of the step-ladder is accordingly regulated.
D, D, are two oppositely disposed plates or brackets secured to the inner surface of
the side-pieces of the step-ladder, the ends of said plates being bent at right angles and
caused to rest against the surface of each of said side-pieces, so as to provide a small
opening or aperture wherein are inserted the opposite ends of a relatively fixed clasp
or frame D¹. The ends of said clasp or frame project through said plate sufficiently
far to cause the same to retain a fixed position. To about the centre of the opposite
side-pieces of this clasp or frame are pivoted by means of a bar d' the ends of a second,
smaller, clasp or frame D³, fitting within said former clasp or frame. The pivoted
bar d¹ is secured by ordinary means to the said side-pieces of the clasp or frame D¹;
and upon this cross-bar d, is pivotally hinged or secured a shelf E, the hinging
thereof being effected by ordinary means. The outer edge of this shelf is slightly
beveled so as to rest against the upper, outer edge of the inner, or pivoted clasp or
frame D2, when the device is to be used to support a bucket, pail or other like article.
To the rear portion or end of this shelf are rigidly secured two, or more, studs
or pins e¹, e¹.
When it is desired to use a bag-holder in connection with my invention the ends of
the fixed clasp or frame D¹ are slightly withdrawn from their securing plates, so as to
permit of rearwardly turning the shelf E, causing the same to occupy a vertical
position, after which the ends of said clasp or frame are again inserted within their
securing plates.
It will be observed that by slightly raising or elevating the pivoted clasp or frame
the open-end of a bag can be placed around the inner surface of the relatively fixed
horizontal
clasp or frame D', and secured on the studs or pins e', on the now upper,
edge, of the shelf E, and closing down the pivoted clasp or frame D² the bag will be
securely held in position as against accidental displacement.
In lieu of the above described form of bag-holder a frame F, shown in figure 5, may
be employed to like advantage, said frame consisting of two outwardly projecting
spring-arms, connected at their inner ends by a cross-bar, which has right
angular plates secured to its inner sides and to the arms f¹, whereby the same ca
be inserted on the handled ends of the truck-frame.
To the outer ends of the spring-arms are secured two approximately inverte
T-shaped brackets G, by means of which the bag is securely retained in position.
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 :-
1. The herein described combined truck and step-ladder, consisting of the parall
side-bars connected by cross-pieces, and having beveled ends, the wheels located nea

page_text: one ends of said side-bars, the truck-frame having the handled ends, and a lifting-plate,
the angular foot-rests, and the pins secured on the step-ladder, said truck-frame and
step-ladder being pivotally connected by a nutted rod, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a combined truck and step-ladder, the angular foot-rests for supporting one
end of the truck, in connection with pins secured on the step-ladder frame for holding
the truck in an approximately-upright position, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination of the truck-frame having foot-rests, the step-ladder having
pins to register with said foot-rests, and wheels disposed substantially as shown, and
for the purpose described.
4. The combination with a step-ladder having a pin on each side thereof and the
side-bars beveled on their lower ends, of the truck having foot-rests, and the nutted
bar pivoting said ladder and truck, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with the truck-frame and step-ladder having apertured plates,
of the clasp or frame having opposite extensions, the shelf and the hinging rod,
substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination with the step-ladder having the apertured plates, of the fixed
clasp or frame, the pivoted clasp or frame, and the shelf having pins on its upper end,
substantially as shown and for the purpose described.