A Compact Ladder.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left 29th Aug
1889-Accented 5th Oct
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Compact Ladder.
LUDWIG GEORGE BARBER of 5 Copthall Buildings E.C. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The essential feature of the invention is that the uprights of the Ladder are
made of steel tubes, closed at one end.
One of the uprights is larger in diameter than the other, to enable (for the
purpose of packing) one upright to fit into the other.
The butt ends of the uprights are slightly larger in diameter, for the purpose of
fitting one ladder on to another; by which means several ladders may be joined
together.
The rungs of the Ladder are of metal or metal & wood & will pack into the smaller
upright. The enlarged ends of the uprights are fitted with caps to prevent the
rungs &c. from falling out. When two or more ladders are fixed together, they are
held in position by a fastener attached to the top & bottom rung of each ladder.
Ladder when put together for use is kept ridgid by two or more of the rungs.
Dated this 30th day of October 1888.
The
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
A Compact Ladder:
LUDWIG GEORGE BARBER of 5 Copthall Buildings, Throgmorton Street in the
City of London, Gentleman, 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
I construct two hollow tubes of steel or other suitable material (see Fig. I in the
accompanying drawing) of the required length to act as uprights, one of which tubes
must be smaller than the other so as to allow it to be enclosed in the larger one.
tubes are preferably both closed at one end, the other end having a cap to fit as
hereinafter described. then construct rungs of steel or other suitable material
which can be packed inside the smaller upright (see Fig. II in drawing).
The ends of the rungs (with the exception of two or more of them hereinafter
described) may be of any shape to fit into holes made in the uprights on the inner side
of each upright at convenient intervals. I prefer the ends to be of some shape which
will not admit of the rungs revolving.
The two or more rungs above excepted should be constructed each with a solid or
other head at one end and threaded at the other. They are then passed through the
holes made in this case-right through the uprights and a nut is afterwards screwed
upon the threaded end of each. By this means when all the rungs are placed in
position the ladder is made quite firm.
When packed or in use the tubes are each closed at the open ends with caps to
fit. The caps should preferably have a bayonet catch, but the ends of the tubes
may of course be closed by any ordinary means.
In case it is desired to add to the length of the ladder by joining another such
ladder thereto it may be carried out by the lower ends of the uprights in each case
being enlarged and arranged so as to admit the top ends of the additional ladder,
see ends of Fig. I and so each ladder may be likewise lengthened or added to. In
this case the caps are removed to admit the ends of the additional ladder.
The advantages of my invention are greater durability, especially in certain
climates where wood is unsuitable, and in the case of Military operations the fact

page_text: that bullets would not be calculated to inflict such damage upon my ladder as they
My invention is
would on other kinds of ladders constructed of softer material.
also more portable than any ladder now in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
(1) A ladder of which the uprights can be packed one inside the other.
(2) A compact ladder for Military and other purposes as above described.
000
C. URQUHART FISHER,
Agent for Ludwig George Barber.