Improvements in Hinges for Step-ladders.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hinges for Step-ladders.
We, CHARLES FULFORD, of 34, Thornhill Road, Handsworth. in the County of
Stafford, Cashier, and GEORGE FREDERICK MANION, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall,
in the County of Stafford, Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
}
This invention relates as hereinafter described to the improvements in hinges
for step-ladders and has for its object to provide better means whereby such
hinges may be made in a cheaper and better manner than heretofore.
In carrying our invention into effect we make the two side plates of a hinge,
the joint part being similar to the rule joint and provided with stops arranged
in a manner whereby when the said sides are pivoted together in the form of a
toggle joint they take the shape of a A the stops aforesaid forming a butt for
the two sides and prevent them from opening too wide. Near the ends of the two
side plates we connect by pivots two links also connected together by a rule joint
and provided with stops as before described, the function of this arrangement is
to prevent the steps opening too wide, one of the side plates being attached
to each side of the step ladder. It will be obvious that by this arrangement the
cord generally used for preventing the step ladder from opening too wide may
be dispensed with. When the steps are closed or folded up, the side plates of
the hinge and the links assume a vertical position by folding against each other.
We may in some cases vary the inclination of the A shaped joint by extending
the same to a greater inclination in which case we may dispense with the link
joint aforesaid.
That this oth
1000
We, CHARLES FULFORD, of 34, Thornhill Road, Handsworth in the County of
Stafford, Cashier, and GEORGE FREDERICK MANION, of Bloxwich Road, Walsall,
in the County of Stafford, Traveller. do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 as hereinafter described to the improvements in hinges
for step-ladders and has for its object to provide better means whereby such
hinges may be made in a cheaper and better manner than heretofore.

page_text: In carrying our invention into effect we make the two side plates of a hinge,
the joint part being similar to the rule joint and provided with stops arranged
in a manner whereby when the said sides are pivoted together in the form of a
toggle joint they take the shape of a. A the stops aforesaid forming a butt for the
two sides and preventing them from opening too wide. Near the ends of the two
side plates we connect by pivots two links also connected together by a rule joint
and provided with stops as before described. The function of this arrangement is
to prevent the steps opening too wide, one of the side plates being attached
to each side of the step ladder. It will be obvious that by this arrangement the
cord generally used for preventing the step ladder from opening too wide may
be dispensed with. When the steps are closed or folded up, the side plates of
the hinge and the links assume a vertical position by folding against each other.
We may in some cases vary the inclination of the A shaped joint by extending
the same to a greater inclination in which case we may dispense with the link
joint aforesaid.
:
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we will describe
it by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1.shows a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan in part section of our improved
hinge. Fig. 3 shows a front elevation and Fig. 4 is a plan in part section of a
modification of our invention.
A, A, represents two side plates hinged or jointed together by the pin B; the
stops D, D, form a butt for the hinge and prevent the step-ladder to which it is
attached from opening too wide.. The links C, C, are connected by the pin or
pivot E and are pivoted to the side plates A, A, by the pivots F, F. f, f, are
stops or butts for the said hinge thus forming an additional stop and dispensing
with the use of cord.
The said hinge is attached to the sides of the step ladder by wood screws
passing through the screw holes H.
At Fig.
and 4 we show a modification in which the links aforesaid are
detached from the hinge and are attached to the step ladder a little lower down
by the plate I, I, thus forming a separate attachment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The improvements in hinges for step ladders consisting of two side plates
hinged or pivoted together and the stops and links for preventing the hinges
from opening too wide substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of September 1899
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicants.