Improvements in Collapsible Ladders.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
Improvements in Collapsible Ladders.
I, LUDWIG JACOB AUGUST ENGELSMANN, of Mannheim, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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 subject of the present invention is the construction of a ladder the legs of
which are capable of being drawn together in a manner hitherto unknown whilst
the ladder affords when in use the greatest possible security, and when not in
use i.e. in a closed condition takes up only a minimum of space in consequence of
the ingenious arrangement of the separate parts. When in a closed condition
the ladder can be made useful for various purposes, some of which are hereinafter
specified.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a view of a ladder constructed in accordance with my invention and
shews the ladder open for use,
Fig. 2 shews the closed position of the ladder and
Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections on the lines a-b and x-y Figures 1 and 2
respectively.
The improved ladder is formed of two side rails A, A', both of the side rails
being formed as shewn on the drawings each with an enlarged portion at opposite
ends so that the rails when laid one upon the other in the closed position as shewn
at Fig. 2 make up or become a smooth pole. On their inner surfaces the
rails A, A', are each divided with a longitudinal groove of somewhat greater depth
than half the height of the rungs and in these grooves the rungs S, S₁, S³, S³, S*
and S are jointed securely at the necessary distances apart by means of pivot
pegs s to s. In order to give the necessary security when the ladder is in
position for use a peg k carried by small chain K is provided said peg being
placed in an eye drilled in the side rail A and at the same time passing through
an eye in the rung S2 so that the collapsing of the ladder is impossible.
k
On the under enlarged portion of the ladder rail A' there is fitted a snap
catch H having a spring, which catch on the opening or erection of the ladder
springs over the under rung S5 and holds it firm in its place, whilst this catch
when the ladder is closed may be easily loosened through a pressure on its
lower end.
In the collapsed position of the ladder the individual rungs lie sloping over each
other as shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 2 within the long grooves of the side
rails A, A', as also the already described peg k with its chain K, so that the ladder
presents the appearance of a smooth pole in which form rings R, R', are pushed
over it to further hold together the legs.
With respect to the manifold uses of the ladder in its collapsed condition it can
be used as a pole for the hanging of carpets during beating operations; by firemen
as a battering ram its ends being in this case pointed; by despatchers as a boat
hook; by soldiers and ambulance corps as a stretcher; by painters as a scaffold
plank, etc. The ladder can be made as desired of wood or iron or any other suitable
material.

page_text: 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. A parallel sided ladder composed of two side rails A, A¹, capable of being
drawn together, said rails having a longitudinal groove on their inner sides of a
greater depth than half the height of the rungs said rungs being jointed or pivoted
by means of pivot pegs and being enclosed by the side rails when the ladder is in
a collapsed condition, substantially as described with reference to the annexed
drawings.
2. A collapsible ladder (as in Claim 1) provided with a peg k secured by a
chain K with corresponding eyes drilled in the rail A and rung S for the reception
of the peg k to secure, the ladder in open position in combination with a snap
clasp H and spring F which when the ladder is collapsed can be pressed aside to
release the rails and which when the ladder is opened clasps the under side of the
rung S, substantially as described.
3. In a collapsible ladder (as in Claims 1 and 2) the arrangement of rings R, R',
placed over the closed rails of the ladder to bind the same to give it the appearance
of a smooth pole and thereby make possible the use of the ladder for the purposes
hereinbefore described:
Dated this 2nd day of Santambien 1905
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.