Year: 1887

page_text: I, ANNA DORMITZER, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Gentlewoman, 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 invention is designed to increase the safety and convenience and use and
application of ornamental step-ladders by certain novel devices which will be herein-
after fully set forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the specifica-
tion in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figuros.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the step-ladder folded in position for suspension from
a wall.
Figure 2, is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of the same, open for use.
Figure 4, is a side elevation of the same folded up.
Figure 5, is a plan of the upper steps of the ladder.
In the drawings A represents the front section of the ladder, consisting of two
parallel side bars a, a, held together by top and bottom cross bars b,, the four bars
forming a rectangular frame which may be strengthened by other cross bars as b¹.
The back section B is also a rectangular frame composed of side and end pieces c, c,
and d, d, respectively, and preferably strengthened by diagonal bars.
This section B is made narrower than the frame A by as much as the thickness of
the side bars a, a, and the two sections are hinged or pivoted together at their upper
ends as shown at g, so that the section B, may be folded within the sides of the
31

page_text: section A as indicated in Figure 4, or so that the two sections may be opened apart
for use as a step-ladder as shown in Figure 3.
Secured on the back section B and forming the outer or exposed face of the same is
a panel, shown in Figure 1, which may be of wood, paper, plush, silk, canvas or other
suitable material with some decorative or ornamental design, as at painted, printed,
embroidered or otherwise fixed on it according to fancy, or said panel may be per so
of ornamental material.
The steps C, C, are pivoted at their ends, near the rear edges thereof, as indicated
at h, Figure 3, between the side bars a, a.
Step-ladders containing the above features are already known.
The upper step C, has, near its ends two-rear-extensions-k, k, as-shown in Figures 4
and 5, which are designed, when the ladder is open to make contact with their rear
ends against the front faces of the side pieces c, c, of the section B, and thereby con-
tribute to the security of the steps when open, as indicated in Figure 3.
Jointed braces m, m, pivoted at their upper ends to the inner faces of the side
strips a, a, and at their lower ends to the ends of the step C, near the front thereof,
also serve to hold the steps firmly in open position and will fold up with the latter.
All the steps C C are connected with each other by two rods o, o, which are firmly
secured to the ends thereof near their front, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that
when the upper step is opened or closed the steps C are thereby synchronously
opened or closed.
When the ladder is closed as indicated in Figures 1, 2, and 4, it is so held by the
engagement of a common spring catch p, fixed on section B over a pin or stud q on
the section A as shown in Figure 2, and when it is desired to open the ladder the said
catch may he released from said stud or pin and a loop is pulled with the effect of
pulling the steps down in position and at the same time of pushing the section B into
open position through the medium of the links s, s, that have their forward ends
pivoted on tho step extensions k, k, and their rear ends pivoted on the sido bars of the
section B, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
On the outer face of one of the side bars of the ladder section A, are secured two
sleeves t, u, one near the top and the other near the bottom thereof; the upper
sleeve is pivoted in place so that it may be swung laterally as indicated in Figure 3,
and the lower sleeve is immovable. These sleeves together are designed to hold in
inoperative position, a stout rod E as shown, and said rod is provided, near its lower
end with a stop stud laterally inserted to prevent said rod from being pushed two
far down in sleeve u. To fix this rod E in position to be used as a hand support for
any one using the step it is pulled up, as shown in Figure 3 so that its lower end shall
be in the upper sleeve t and is then moved into a vertical position, as it may be by
the swing of the sleeve t, on its pivot, and then the said rod is pushed down so that
the slot y in the lower end of the said rod shall engage over the stud fixed in the
side of the section A, whereby the rod is properly steadied in position.
On the opposite side of the section A is a corresponding rod or beading E' which is
preferably permanently fixed in order to make the two sides look alike.
A stretcher y may be attached to the device to hold it open as indicated in
Figure 3.
A handle F screwed to the upper bar of the section A enables the user to carry the
ladder about and also serves to suspend it by, on a wall. When the device is not in
use as a ladder it may be closed and hung on a wall and be then recognized only as a
picture or ornamental panel.
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 ;-
First. The combination with a step-ladder constructed substantially as herein shown
and described with frame sections A, B, pivoted or hinged together and folding
steps C, C, of step extension k, k, folding braces m, m, rods o, o, and links s, s,
all
arranged and operating as set forth.

page_text: v,
Second. The combination with the step-ladder A, B, of the pivoted sleeve t, fixed
sleeve u, stop and hand-supporting rod E provided with slot y, and stud all
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described and for the purposes.
set forth.
Third. An ornamental step-ladder constructed substantially as herein shown and
described consisting of frame sections A, B, panel z, pivoted folding steps C, C³,
step extensions k, k, folding braces m, m, rods o, o, and links s, s, all arranged as set
forth.
Fourth. In a step-ladder provided with a hand-supporting rod, substantially as
herein shown and described, the combination therewith of a sleeve t pivoted on a side
of the ladder and adapted to hold tho rod in operative position and a stop inserted
in the ladder to assist in holding the rod in place as set forth.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.