Year: 1888

page_text: PHILIP LUCAS Gentleman Kempsey House 55 Oxford Gardens North Kensington
London, W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To provide a better means of utilizing step ladders on Quays, Harbours, Piers, or
any place styled a landing stage, Jetty, or place applied to the purpose of landing,
also for yachts, ships propelled by sail steam or otherwise. By means of rods or bars
of wrought iron or other metal, attached to the steps by bolts fixed in grooves or
slots, the bolts acting as axes, in their perpendicular or slanting parallel direction, are
fixed also to corresponding bolts in the handrails. I provide thus a parallel move-
ment, to the steps by which they are always horizontal as the tide rises or falls,
although the ladder stands according to its actual length. The attachments to the
Quay, Jetty Landing Stage or ship are also connected to the parallel bars by bolts,
working in wrought iron. To prevent the possible chance of anything passing
through the steps the reverse sides of the steps are curved according to their depth
and width.
The ladder may be either constructed of wood or metal and can be swung in any
direction, and will also move when above the quay, in a horizontal direction similar
to its movement at low tide.
The specification includes the adaptation of the step ladder to any similar
ots on land or water.

page_text: I, PHILIP LUCAS, of 55 Oxford Gardens, W. 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 & by the following statement :—
This invention is to provide better means of utilizing step ladders by self adjust-
ment, on Wharfs, Quays, Harbours, Docks, Piers, Ships, Steamboats, Yachts
Buildings, Outside and inside painting of Houses, Repairs on Roofs, Libraries, Fire
Escapes, or any use where, the adjustinont of the steps is of advantage; the con-
trivance is in accordance with my specification and original invention as hereafter
stated, the ladder can be made of any suitable material.
The steps AA &c. Fig. 1 according to drawing herewith depositod, move by rods,
or bars B B &c. made of wrought iron or other suitable material, attached by
rivets C C &c. as axes to parallel bars D D¹ the rods being either perpendicular, or
slanting, and fastened by bolts E E to the steps A A which are always in a
horizontal position, when the posts of the handrails are perpendicular.
Other forms of attachments may be used to maintain the stops level by pivoting
them directly at each end to parallel longitudinal bars.
The bolts may be either rotary, or work with, slots, grooves, cams, cogwheels, or
other means of motion and the handrails removed if essential, or applied to that use,
or if removed, the steps may work at either end with or without the posts and
handrails by parallel movement above on a level or below the pier &c.
When it is essential to prevent the possible chance of anything falling through the
steps, they are curved on their side elevation according to their corresponding depth,
and width, on the bases equilateral triangles as FG H. Fig. 2 in the annexed
drawing; if a space is required between each step, the triangles are reduced in size,
to suit the requisite spaces. This triangular form of steps avoids injury; they may
also be constructed, flat, hollow, solid semicircular, or any suitable form according to
requirements.
1 beg to state that I am the original inventor of the self adjusting step ladder for
Wharfs, Piers, Ships &c. having had the honour to receive from His late Royal
Highness Prince Albert, the silver Isis Medal of the Society of Arts during the
Session 1843, 1844 which invention with the improvements in form, strength, and
safety is an essential portion of my complete specification now deposited.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same has to be performed I declare what I claim is
The construction of step ladder described and illustrated.