Improvements in and relating to Step-ladders.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Step-ladders.
I, THEODORE MINIATI of 40 Dickenson Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant and Shipper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to step ladders and its object is to increase the stability of
such ladders without materially increasing their cost.
As at present constructed there is a great risk of a step-ladder falling over to
one side or the other when in use, especially if the person using it is at or near the
top. To obviate this risk, a step-ladder constructed according to these improve-
ments is furnished on each side with a prop or leg. These side props may be
suitably hinged or connected at their upper ends to the sides of the step ladder in
such a manner that they may be moved outwards and sideways and that their lower
ends may rest upon the floor when the ladder is opened. The step-ladder thus has
a greatly increased effective base and the risk of falling over sideways is altogether
abolished. When not in use the props or legs are closed into or upon the sides of
the ladder which then occupies no more space than one of ordinary construction.
A step-ladder furnished with the side supports or props may, as a consequence,
be constructed with a very much larger top step, so as to be capable of holding the
worker and a pail or other utensil or tools. For this purpose the top step may be
provided with hinged or similar flaps or leaves which may be folded out of the
way when not in use, or it may be constructed of one piece of wood.
Dated this 12th day of November A.D. 1890.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Step-ladders.
I, THEODORE MINIATI of 40 Dickinson Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant and Shipper, 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 step-ladders and its object is to increase the stability
of such ladders without materially increasing their cost or interfering with their
portability.
As at present constructed there is great risk of a step-ladder falling over to the
one side or to the other when in use, especially if the person using it is at or near
the top. To obviate this risk, a step-ladder constructed according to these
improvements is furnished on each side with a prop or leg. These side props may
be suitably hinged or connected at their upper ends to the sides of the step-ladder
in such a manner that they may be moved outwards and sideways and that their
lower ends may rest upon the floor when the ladder is opened. The step-ladder
thus has a greatly increased effective base and the risk of falling over sideways is
altogether abolished. When not in use the props or legs are closed into or upon
the sides of the ladder which then occupies no more space than one of ordinary
construction.
A step-ladder furnished with the side supports or props may, as a consequence,
be constructed with a very much larger top step, so as to be capable of holding the
worker and a pail or other utensil or tools. For this purpose the top step may be

page_text: provided with hinged or similar flaps or leaves which may be folded out of the way
when not in use, or it may be constructed of one piece of wood.
In order that this invention may be more easily understood I have hereto
appended a sheet of drawings reference to which is hereinafter made.
Figure 1 is a view of a step-ladder constructed according to these improvements
with the side props extended for giving greater stability;
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively side and front views of the device employed for
attaching the props to the ladder in their supporting position, and
Figure 4 is a view of the same device when the props are not in use and are
folded back.
A is a step-ladder which may be of ordinary construction and has attached to
it near its upper end two side props B B each of which is capable of being folded
against the ladder as shewn in dotted lines, or of being extended to form side
supports as illustrated in Figure 1. The side props may be attached to the ladder
by means of staples C secured to the ends of the props and working in eyes D
fastened to the sides of the ladder.
These staples and eyes are preferably of the construction shewn in detail in
Figures 2, 3, and 4. The staple C consists of a piece of rectangular iron bent
as illustrated and formed with an increasing thickness on one side as shewn at E.
Close above this tapered portion the staple is cut away and rounded as at F and
when this rounded portion is contained within the eye D the prop may be moved
in any radial direction and be folded back as illustrated by Figure 4.
When the props are opened out and used to support the ladder the tapered
parts E of the staples enter the eyes and are wedged fast, thus rigidly holding the
props in position as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. With this arrangement the
greater the lateral strain upon the ladder the tighter are the props held, but I may
employ any suitable and convenient devices for connecting the legs or props to
the ladder.
The top step of the ladder may be enlarged or may have attached to it folding
flaps such as G, which may be opened so as to give a support for a pail or other
utensil as shewn by Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. The combination with a step-ladder of lateral supports or props, constructed
and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated."
2. The combination with a step-ladder provided with lateral supports of an
enlarged or folding top; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated.
3. The improved device for connecting a lateral prop or support to a step-ladder
consisting of a staple and eye, constructed and arranged substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
Dated this 13th day of August A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.