Improvements in Folding Up Ladders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 28th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Up Ladders.
1, JOSEF ZUREK of Freistadt, Austrian Silesia, Constructor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:--
In this invention two or more parts or lengths of a ladder are jointed together
so as to be capable of folding or doubling up. by means of two metal plates
connected together by a link or hinged together. These ladder connecting plates are
fixed each to the end of a ladder length and to each of said plates is hinged .a
folding stiffening plate said hinges being at right angles to the hinge or link of the
ladder connecting plates. The stiffening plates are further linked or jointed to each
other at their meeting edges so that when folded up they may be turned with the
ladder parts and when turned down with the ladder opened out they hold the ladder
parts rigid. The invention relates secondly to step ladders which may be folded up
and in this position form chairs. The step part of the ladder folds up in say three
parts upon the aforesaid connections and the back in two parts. The additional or
lengthening part of the back is jointed to the fixed part and when turned down to
lengthen the back of the step ladder is fixed by means of a spring lever which connects
both parts together. The top of the step ladder forms in the folded position the
bottom of the chair.
Dated this 26th day of March 1896.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, JOSEF ZUREK of Freistadt, Austrian Silesia, Constructor, 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 a ladder which may be folded up in several connected
lengths to form a chair, and unfolded to form a step ladder of a height varying
with the number of lengths unfolded. The essential feature of the invention is the
means, consisting of hinged and linked metal plates, for connecting the several
lengths of the ladder together, so that they may be readily folded and unfolded
and when in the latter position rigidly held.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shews the hinged and linked device for connecting two folding sections of
the ladder together said sections being rigidly held in the unfolded position.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the hinge and link of one folding part of
the device.
Fig. 3 a view of the device in the closed position ready for folding up with two

page_text: Fig. 4 shews two ladder sections in the partially closed or folded position.
Fig. 5 a view of a ladder folded up to form a chair.
Fig. 6 a view of the ladder prop.
Fig. 7 a perspective view of a ladder with two unfolded and one folded up
section.
The other views relate to details.
A, B, are metal plates connected together by a hinge sch formed as shown in
Figs. 14 and 24, of two bolts b, b', engaging in a plate p so that one of the bolts
serves as a pivot for the plate, or as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, i is a hinge by which the
flap L is connected to the plate A and the flap L to the plate B. Flaps L, I, are
connected together at their lower ends by a link d, d', p', as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
or by a hinge as shewn in Figs. 1B, 2B. When the flaps are turned up (Fig. 3)
the ladder sections may be folded, and when turned down (Fig. 1) the plates A, B,
and consequently the corresponding ladder sections are held rigidly in the unfolded
position. By means of the hinged and linked device indicated as a whole by g
(Figs. 5, 6, 7) ladders, which in the folded position form chairs, may be unfolded and
rigidly held in the lengthened position. The chair is changed into a ladder by
turning the ladder sections b, c, into the dotted position of Fig. 5 when the seat s
comes upwards as shewn in Fig. 7 and to lengthen the ladder from this latter
position, the ladder section c and the part vare respectively turned down in the
direction shewn by the arrows. The part vis in connection with the prop
means of a hinge shewn on an enlarged scale in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and in order that
said part may be held firmly against the prop it is furnished with a pivot n which
engages in a catch k shewn in detail in Figs. 11, 12, and consisting of a lever m
pressed by a spring into a notch or groove of said pivot and holding the
lengthening part fixed. The lever m may be disengaged by pressing against the
projection z.
by
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
1 claim is:
1. In a folding up ladder the device for connecting the several folding sections
thereof, consisting of two metal plates A, B, fixed to the ladder sections and hinged
or linked together, and of two folding flap plates L, L', hinged or linked together
and hinged each to one of the fixed plates, said flap plates serving to hold the ladder
sections firmly in the unfolded position, substantially as described and shown.
2. In the device referred to the link construction consisting of a plate connecting
two pins or bolts each arranged in one of the plates A or B and so that one of said
pins or bolts may form the turning axis for the plate in which the other engages,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.