An Improved Hinge Applicable to Step-ladders Convertible into Long Ladders.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 27th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
An Improved Hinge Applicable to Step-ladders Convertible into
Long Ladders.
We, ALLAN EDMONDSON, Cabinet Maker, JOHN, BENJAMIN MOORHOUSE, Iron-
monger, and THOMAS ABRAHAM PROCTER, Cabinet Maker, all of Skipton-in-Craven,
Yorkshire do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
-
It consists of an improved hinge applicable to extension step-ladders, by
the use of which said ladders are readily changed from one form or position to
another such as from the position as when used for step-ladders to that as when used
for common ladders (by the parts that formed the legs or supports in the former cases
being placed in a straight line with the step-parts) or vice versa. The said ladders
being rigidly held by the hinge in either of the positions above named.
This is attained by forming around the pivot of the hinge a suitably shaped circular
cavity or box (half this box being formed by one leg of the hinge while the other
half is formed by the other leg of the hinge) around the inner edge of which is
formed a suitable number of notches or projections, and placing in the said cavity or
box a suitably shaped plate (which may be termed the locking-plate) on the periphery
of which are made projections or notches to suit the respective notches or projections
in the edge of the box; projections being formed on the locking-plate if notches are
formed in the edge of the box or vice versâ, as will easily be understood. Attached
to the side of the locking-plate is a suitable number of projecting pins that enter
appropriate openings made in the outer part or leg of the hinge, from this it will be
seen that when the locking-plate, which is of such a thickness that it may be contained
in one half the box, is moved so as to be contained by the outer part of said box, its
notches or projections will be clear of the projections or notches in the other part of
the box, so one part of the hinge may be turned or moved on the other. However,
by pressing the said locking-plate so that its notches or projections will lay hold of, or
enter the, projections or notches of the inner part of the box, at the same time the
pins attached to the said locking-plate still not being drawn clear of the outer part of
said box then it will be seen that these inner and outer parts are held from being
turned or swivelled on each other, the position in which they are thus held being

page_text: determined by the relative positions of the notches and projections on the said
locking-plate and box-edge.
To operate the said locking-plate, so as to hold it rigidly when moved into or out
of position with the inner part of the box, we form at about its centre part on both
sides thereof a suitably shaped spiral incline in connection with which are made to
work two suitably shaped washers having similar spiral inclines formed on them, these
washers being mounted on so as to revolve with, the pin of a thumb-and-finger-piece
(said pin being the pivot of the hinge) which when turned will move them to produce
the desired effect on the plate.
Instead of these washers being used the spiral inclines may be formed on the
locking-plate so that projecting pins attached to the pin of the thumb-and-finger-piece
might have the same effect.
Or again, a projection might be formed on the locking-plate, and made to fit an
opening formed in the side of the outer box, said box having corresponding projections
formed near said opening so that a small excentric might be mounted to be revolved,
by a handle, in said projections, its excentric part fitting an opening formed in the
projection on the locking-plate, by which means the said locking plate may be moved
as desired.
001
1
1 1003

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hinge Applicable to Step-ladders Convertible into
Long-ladders.
We, ALLAN EDMONDSON, Cabinet Maker, JOHN BENJAMIN MOORHOUSE, Iron-
monger, and THOMAS ABRAHAM PROCTER, Cabinet Maker, all of Skipton-in-Craven,
Yorkshire, 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, that is to say :-
It consists of an improved hinge applicable to a step-ladder convertible into
a long-ladder, by the use of which said ladder may be readily changed from
one form or position to another, such as from the position as when used for a
step-ladder to that as when used for a long-ladder or vice versa, said hinge holding
said ladder rigidly in either of these positions.
In order that our said invention may be more readily understood we have hereunto
appended sheets of drawings illustrative thereof to which, by figures and letters,
reference is made in the following description.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the hinge and fig. 2 is a vertical section of fig. 1. Figs. 3
and 4 are detail drawings hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a ladder with the hinge applied, the position in which said
ladder is shewn being that in which it is used as when a step-ladder. Fig. 6 is a side
view of ladder and hinge when closed.
Fig. 7 is a front view of the ladder as when used for a long-ladder, and fig. 8 is a
side view of same. Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are detail drawings shewing
modifications hereinafter explained.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are about one third the actual size, while
the remaining figs. are of a smaller scale.
Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The object of this invention is attained by forming around the pivot a of the hinge,
a suitably shaped circular cavity or box, one half of this box being formed on or in
connection in with one leg c of the hinge while the other half d is formed on or in
connection with the other lege and around the inner edge of the rim of the part b
are formed suitable notches or openings f (see fig. 12) into which are made to fit the
projections g formed on the plate h said plate being mounted within the cavity
formed by the parts bd. It will be easily seen, that the notches fmight be formed
in the plate h while the projections might be formed on the rim, or in other words,
that the positions of the notches and projections are interchangeable.
Attached to the side of the plate h is a suitable number of projecting pins i that
enter appropriate openings made in the part d. When the plate h (which is of a suitable
thickness to be contained within the cavity formed by either the part 6 or the part d)
is moved so as to contained by said part d, its projections g will be clear of the
notches f, in this manner allowing each part of the hinge to be turned or moved about

page_text: the pivot a. However by pressing the plate so as to move it from within the part d,
as above described, and place it within the part b, which can only be done when said
parts b d are in such relative positions that the openings or notches fin said part b
are brought so that the projections g of the plate h will enter therein, the pins & being
sufficiently long to allow the plate h to be thus placed within said part d without said
pins being withdrawn from the part b; it will be seen that these parts b d are held
from being turned or moved about the pivot a. The notches in the part b the
projections g and pins i on the plate h, and the openings in the part d for said pins i
are relatively placed in such positions (such as shewn by figs. 11 and 12) that when
the hinge is applied to a step-ladder, these parts of the hinge may be brought together
for the purpose of locking or holding each other so as to hold the ladder firmly in
the various positions herein described and illustrated, as will be understood.
To operate the plate h so that after reaching the extent of its movement it may be
firmly held in the position within the part bord as above described, we form about
its centre part, on both sides of it, a suitably shaped spiral incline k (see figs. 2 and 3)
in connection with which are made to operate two suitably shaped washers having
similar inclines formed on them (see figs. 2 and 4), these washers' being mounted
upon (as by having square openings made therein) so as to revolve with, the pin or
pivot a, (which in this case would have to be square in cross section) to which is
attached the thumb-and-finger-piece a¹, when said piece a¹ is manually operated, by
which means the plate is placed and held in the position desired.
Instead of making the plate with the spiral incline k and employing the washers !l
as above described, a projection m (see figs. 9 and 10) might be formed thereon, and a
suitable opening made in the part d to receive same. On the part d, in suitable
proximity with the opening made for the reception of the projection m, (see fig. 11) is
formed the hollow projection (see fig. 10) openings being made in walls of said
projection n and in the projection m so that the small cam or eccentric p might be
mounted in the former to operate in the latter as will be easily seen and with the result
of operating said plate h readily understood. To enable the camp to be thus manually
operated, a handles (see fig. 14) attached thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. A hinge for a ladder constructed so that a somewhat cylindrical cavity is formed
about its jointing-pin or pivot in order that a locking plate may operate therein
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. A hinge consisting of the leg with the part b formed as herein specified,
attached thereto, the leg e with the part d attached thereto, and the pivot a all
arranged and constructed as herein set forth and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
3. The leg c having the part thereto attached, notches (or projections) being
formed therein, lege with the part d attached thereto, the plate / having projections
(or notches), pins i, and incline k formed thereon, the washers and the pin a with
thumb-and-finger piece a¹ attached thereto, in combination substantially as and for the
purposes. specified.
4. The plate having projection m, pins i, and projections 9, formed thereon or
attached thereto, the part d having the part n formed thereon, the part 6 with the
notches formed therein, the pivot a and the eccentric p with its handle s, in com-
bination substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 24th day of December 1887.
MOORHOUSE & HEY,
Agents.