An Improvement in Step-ladders.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1892
An Improvement in Step-ladders.
I JOHN PRING of Elworth near Sandbach in the County of Chester Wire
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The application of an arm or rack for retaining in position and supporting the
back legs of step-ladders.
The arm or rack is made of iron wood or any other suitable material and is
fastened at its base by a hinge underneath one of the steps between the two
uprights of the front part of the ladder.
On a lower crosspiece connecting the two uprights or legs of the back part of
the ladder I fasten a metal piece having a slot immediately opposite the said arm
or rack and in such a manner that the said arm or rack may fit and slide
therein.
In the arm I cut one or more recesses or notches of a width corresponding with
the edge of the said slot and made so that when the said arm or rack slides through
the slot the arm or rack may catch by its recesses in the bottom of the slot which
is left above rail for that purpose and thus hold the front and back of the ladder
firmly together.
I cut one or more recesses or notches so that the ladder may be opened at various
angles and still remain firm.
The arm or rack is bent or curved so that when the ladder is closed it will slide
through the slot and lie flush between the two back uprights.
On the top cross-piece between the two back uprights I fix a button made of
wood or metal which on being turned prevents the arin or rack from coming from
between the uprights when the ladder is closed and thus prevents the ladder from
opening,
-
The arm or rack may have a hinge so that the end may fall down or be turned
away when the ladder is part open.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Step-ladders.
I JOHN PRING of Elworth near Sandbach in the County of Chester Wire
Manufacturer 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 :-
My invention consists in the application of an arm or rack to step ladders for the
purpose of securing in position and supporting the back legs or supports of the same.
The arm or rack is applied as follows:-The step ladder is one of an ordinary
kind consisting of two parts, the steps proper, and the back support or legs fastened
at the top to the back of the steps by a hinge and made to spread out.
The
ladder is shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of my drawings and the hinge is lettered (a)
and the arm or rack (6).
I fasten the arm or rack (b) at its base to the underside of the back of one of
the steps of the ladder by a hinge (a) in such a manner that it will work either up
or down freely. On the back support of the ladder I fasten a metal piece or
slide (c) having a slot immediately opposite the said arm or rack (b) and in such a
manner that the said arm or rack (6) may fit and slide therein. The metal piece (c)
ID:

page_text: is fastened to a cross piece or rail (e) connecting the two uprights or legs of the
back support of the ladder.
In the arm or rack (b) I cut one or more recesses or notches (ff) of a width
corresponding with the edge of the said slot (i) and made so that when the said arm
or rack (b) slides through the slot (i) the arm or rack (b) may catch by its
recesses (f) in the bottom of the slot (i) which is left above rail for that purpose
and thus held the two parts of the ladder firmly together.
On the said arm (6) I cut one or more recesses or notches (f) so that the
ladder may be opened at various angles and still remain firm.
The said arm () is made of iron, wood, or any other suitable material and is
bent or curved so that when the ladder is closed it will slide through the slot (i)
and lie flush between the two uprights of the back support of the ladder; and on
the top cross piece (9) between the said two uprights I fix a button (d) made of
wood or metal which on being turned prevents the arm or rack () from coming
from between the said two uprights when the ladder is closed and thus
prevents the ladder from opening. The end of the arm or rack () 1 enlarge in
the form of a head (4) in such a manner that it is too large to pass through the
slot () but operates as a check in keeping the two parts of the ladder from
spreading too far apart.
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. The application of an arm or rack (b) for the purpose of securing the back
supports of step ladders at different angles the said arin or rack (6) being fastened
on the underside of the back of one of the steps and having an enlarged head.
2. The affixing of a metal piece on slide (c) on a cross piece between the two
uprights of the back supports of step ladders in such a manner that the arm
or rack (b) as claimed by me in Claim 1 hereof may fit and slide therein.
3. Making a step ladder with an arm or rack (b) of such a shape that the
end or head of the same fits in such a position as described so that when the
ladder is closed a simple button (d) will hold closed.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1892.
•
OHN PRING.