Improvements in Step Ladders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
Improvements in Step Ladders.
We, JOHN WHITTAKER, HENRY WHITTAKER, and WILLIAM WHITTAKER, trading
as Whittaker Brothers, of Pioneer Iron Works, Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the stays of step ladders, such improved
stays being so designed as to be to a certain extent self acting, easy of adjustment,
and to ensure the legs of the steps and the steps being held perfectly rigid and with
no liability of the legs opening or slipping when in use.
According to this invention, we construct the step ladder in the ordinary manner,
and to one of the upper steps is loosely hinged a vertical pendant rod on the lower
end of which is a head. Carried on the pendant rod, and free to slide up and down.
same is a block, through holes in which are passed two bent rods, the ends of one of
such rods being pivoted to the sides of the steps, and the ends of the other rod is
pivoted to the sides of the supporting legs.
When the steps are not in use, and the legs are folded close to the steps, the block
slides up the pendant rod, and the bent rod be lineable with and close to the steps.
When the legs are opened the block falls down the pendant rod and the bent rods are
held horizontally and rigidly across and between the legs and the steps, the head on
the pendant rod preventing the block falling beyond a given point.
A winged nut working through the block is provided, by means of which the latter
can be fixed at any desired point, the pendant rod being slightly notched to provide
sufficient hold or bite.
Dated this 11th dox of November 1806
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
We, JOHN WHITTAKER, HENRY WHITTAKER, and WILLIAM WHITTAKER, trading
as Whittaker Brothers, of Pioneer Iron Works, Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Makers, 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 improvements in the stays of step ladders, such improved
stays being so designed as to be to a certain extent self acting, easy of adjustment,
and to ensure the legs of the steps and the steps being held perfectly rigid and with
no liability of the legs opening or slipping when in use.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention, the following is a complete
description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a step ladder fitted with the improved stay
rods, the ladder being opened to almost its full extent.
Fig. 2 is a view of a step ladder when closed.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but in this case only one stay rod is employed.
Fig. is a plan. view of the block and fixing nut, shewing also parts of the

page_text: Fig. 5 is a sectional end view of Fig. 4, the stay rods being removed.
The remaining figs. on Sheet 3 are details of parts detached.
According to this invention, we construct the step ladder 1 in the ordinary
manner and to one of the upper steps is loosely hinged a vertical pendent rod 2 on
the lower end of which is a head 3. Carried on the pendent rod 2 and free to
slide up and down same is a block 4 (see Sheet 3) formed in two parts 4-44 and
through holes 5-5 in such block 4 are passed two bent stay rods 6-6ª, the ends
of one of such rods 6 being pivoted or hinged to the sides of the steps 1, and the
ends of the other rod 6^ are pivoted or hinged to the sides of the supporting legs 7,
each stay rod 6-6 being bent or cranked and passed through a hole 5 in the
block 4.
When the steps 1 are not in use and the legs 7 are folded close to the steps,
the block 4 slides up the pendent rod 2 and the bent stay rods 6-6 lie lineable
with and close to the steps (see Fig. 2). When the legs 7 are opened the block 4
falls down the pendent rod 2 and the bent rods 6-6 are held horizontally and
rigidly across and between the legs and the steps, the head 3 on the pendent rod 2
preventing the block falling beyond a given point, i.e., beyond the point when
the stay rods 6-6 are in the same plane.
A winged nut 9 working on a screwed eye 10 passing through the block 4 is
provided, iy means of which the latter can be fixed at any desired point on the pendent
rod 2 which may be slightly notched to provide sufficient hold or bite.
The tail of the screwed eye 10 passes through a hole in a lug 11 cast on the block 4
and by turning the winged nut 9 the rod 2 can be tightly gripped at any point and
when the ladder is only partly opened. If the ladder is opened to the full extent it is
not necessary to tighten the winged nut 9, the weight of the block 4 and stay rods
preventing the ladder closing or slipping. To close the ladder when opened to its full
extent, it is only necessary to raise or slide the block 4 up the rod 2, after loosening
the nut if it has been tightened. If the ladder has only been partly opened, the nut is
first loosened, then the ladder is simply closed in the ordinary manner.
For short and light ladders one of the stay rods 6₁ may be dispensed with
(see Fig. 3) and in this case the rod 2 is rigid being fixed to two cross bars 12, 12 of
the legs of the ladder, and the block 4 is free to slide up and down the rigid rod 2,
the action being similar to that already described when referring to Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts constituting
the improved staying or holding devices of step ladders, as and for the purpose herein
described, and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the annexed
drawings.
(2) In step ladders a pendent and headed rod 2, sliding block 4, and stay rods 6-6,
all in combination as and for the purpose herein described and substantially as
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
(3) In step ladders a rod 2, sliding block 4, and stay rod 6, all in combination, as
and for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 3 of the
annexed drawings.
Dated this 10th day of April 1897.
JOHN WHITTAKER,
HENRY WHITTAKER,
WILLIAM
WHITTAKER,
By their Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.