Improvements in Step Ladders to Stand Firmly on Level or Uneven Ground.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders to Stand Firmly on Level or Uneven
Ground.
I, JOSEPH CLARKSON, of 32 Fitzwarren Street, Pendleton, Manchester,
Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The front portion is an ordinary step ladder, having two upright sides & any
number of steps; but the back portion, in order to stand firmly on uneven, as well
as on level ground, contains two legs or uprights which work independently of
each other, & are fastened near their upper extremities, respectively, on the
right and left sides & near the upper extremity of the front portion of the ladder,
by means of bolts or studs, from which they may swing backwards or forwards as
required.
A piece of cord or chain is fixed to one of the back legs or uprights near to its
lower extremity, and is passed through or round the front portion of the step
ladder either on pulleys or in another convenient manner, & the other end of the
cord or chain is fixed to the other back leg or upright near to its lower
extremity.
A stay is placed obliquely from the upper portion of one of the back legs or uprights,
to the lower portion of the other back leg or upright, & is so fixed that each back leg or
upright will work independently of each other, and adjust themselves so that all
the four legs or uprights will rest upon the ground, causing the step ladder to
stand firmly on uneven, as well as on level ground.
The parts of which I claim to be the inventor are :-
(1) The two back legs or uprights working independently of each other.
(2) The oblique position & manner of fixing the stay by which the two back
legs or uprights are joined together, and
(3) The cord or chain being in one piece, and passing from one back leg or
upright, through or round the front portion of the step ladder, to the other back
leg or upright.
Dated this Fourth day of December 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders to Stand Firmly on Level or Uneven
Ground.
I, JOSEPH CLARKSON, Professor of Music, of 32 Fitzwarren Street, Pendleton,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster 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 :-
An improved step-ladder, to stand firmly with four legs on either level or uneven
ground. The front portion is like that of an ordinary step-ladder, having two
upright sides and any number of steps; but the back portion (in order to stand
firmly on uneven, as well as on level ground) contains two legs or uprights which
work independently of each other, and are attached to the front portion of the
step-ladder by means of bolts, studs, hinges, or in another convenient manner, so
that the said back legs may swing backwards or forwards as required, always
ID 77

page_text: being allowed to work independently of each other. To assist in describing this
invention, I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings, to which 1 shall here-
after refer. One end of a piece of cord or chain is fixed to one of the back legs at
A, and is passed through, or round the front portion of the step-ladder, either on
pulleys or in another convenient manner, and the other end of the said cord or
chain is fixed to the other back leg at B. A stay is placed obliquely from C to
D, which is hinged at C, and nailed, morticed, or otherwise fixed at D to one of
the back legs. Another stay is placed obliquely from E to F, and hinged at each
end. The ends of this stay are also hevelled on the inner side (as shewn in the
reversed view of this oblique stay Fig. 2) in order to allow the back legs to work
independently of each other, and to adjust themselves so that all the four legs will
rest upon the ground; thereby causing the step-ladder to stand firmly on uneven,
as well as on level ground. Fig. 3, shews a view of the edge of the oblique stay
EF, from G to H, Fig. 2. A bolt or stud may be used at J. Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The independent motion of the two back legs or uprights.
2. The oblique positions and manner of fixing the stays by which the said back
legs or uprights are joined together.
3. The cord or chain being in one piece, and passing from one back leg or
upright, through or round the front portion of the step-ladder, to the other back
leg or upright.
Dated this Third day of September 1894.