Improvements in Ladders, tops, and
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
Improvements in Ladders, tops, and
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM HENRY WOOD, of Ullesthorpe near Lutterworth in the County
of Leicester, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention for Improvements in Ladders-Steps and the like-has for its object
the making of such Ladders and Steps in such a manner that they shall take up
less space, that they shall be more readily carried, and that they can be used in various
ways, and it consists in making the said Ladders or Steps in two or more parts-the
parts to be joined by means of a hinge and the bars used for holding the parts apart
when used as steps to be also utilized by being fastened (when the ladder is open)
at an angle for the purpose of pruning trees &c-they can also be crossed in the top
rung for use in cleaning windows &c.
In applying my Invention to two short ladders-or a ladder and steps (for example)
I should connect the parts by means of a hinge fastened to the bottom of each side of
the upper part, and to the back of the lower part near the upper rung-they would
thus fold close together, and when opened at an angle would form Steps, being fastened
in that position by metal bars, they would when fully open form a Ladder, and would
be fastened either with a hook and staple, or a metal loop passing over the two parts
above the hinge at each side.
The upper rung I should form of metal with a hollow or knotch at each end and
place it on the back of the sides.-I should fasten a rod-made in two parts so as to
fold together if desired-by means of an oval loop to the front of either side, opposite
the top rung-these rods would fasten the steps in position-by being hooked to the
lower part, they would turn inwards and backwards through the hollows or knotches
in the top rung to form a pruning ladder, or crossed and passed through the opposite
hollows at full length--for cleaning windows &c-they would be fixed in these
positions by a small bar fastened across the top of the top rung by a screw, or loop
and staple-when not in use the bars would be fastened to the sides of the ladder.

page_text: Improvements in Ladders, Steps, and the like.
ARTHUR WILLIAM HENRY WOOD of Ullesthorpe near Lutterworth in the County
of Leicester, Dentist do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN LADDERS, STEPS, AND THE LIKE, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention has for its object the making of such Ladders and Steps in such
a manner, that they shall take up less space, that they shall be more readily
carried, and that they can be used in various ways-and it consists in making the
said Ladders or Steps in two or more parts, the said parts to be joined by means
of a hinge and the bars used for holding the parts apart, when used as Steps
to be also utilized by being fastened-when the Ladder is open-at an angle for
pruning trees &c., they can also be crossed in the top rung for use in cleaning
windows &c. In applying my invention to two short ladders or a ladder and Steps
(for example) I should connect the parts by means of hinges (c, c, Fig. 1
and c, c, Fig. 2) fastened to the bottom of each side of the upper part (b) and
to the back of the lower part (a) near the upper rung, they would thus fold close
together and when opened at an angle would form Steps-being fastened in that
position by metal bars (d, d,)--they would when fully open form a ladder as shown
by dotted line (Fig. 1) and would be fastened in that position, either with a hook and
staple, or a metal loop passing over the two parts above the hinge (e) at each side,
When the ladder is required for window cleaning and similar purposes only-I should
attach to each side of upper part (6) opposite the top rung, a metal lug—to which
I would attach an eye bolt (1) sufficiently loose to revolve, (Fig. 8. 9.) through each
eye bolt (1) I should pass a metal rod (₫) made with an eye at one end, and hooked
at the (i) other end (Fig. 8) I should connect the eyes by means of a double hook-
passing through both of them to act as a pin, and hook at the same time I would
also attach a metal loop (m, Fig. 6) to the back of bottom Step, and would make the
top rung of metal (Figs. 7. 8. 9) when the ladder is required as Steps, the said double
hook would be secured to the loop at bottom step (Fig. 6) which is a section of Fig. 5
at the dotted line A-B). When used for window cleaning &c. the ladder would be
extended and the rods (d. d) pushed up so that by the turning of the eye bolts (l. 1.)
the rods would assume a horizontal position (as shown in Fig. 8 which is a back view
of top end of ladder and Fig. 9 which is a top view of the same) and the hook (j)
would secure them in that position, by hooking on to the top rung (K Fig. 7) in the
center of which collars are attached to prevent the hook from slipping the upper hook
would then be available for suspending a bucket or other articles upon.
When not in use the rods (d. d.) would be drawn down and secured by the hook (j)
to one of the lower rungs.
When the ladder is also required for pruning and other purposes, I should
construct it in the following manner, the upper rung I should form by attaching a
metal plate with a hollow or knotch at each end, on the back of the sides (e. Fig. 2).

page_text: I should fasten a rod, having an eye at one end and a hook at the other, made in
two or more parts (Fig. 4) sliding upon each other if desired-by means of an oval
loop-attached to the front of either side opposite the top rung (h. Fig. 3) these
rods (d. d.) would fasten the steps in position by being hooked to a staple in the lower
part (Fig. 1) or they could be turned inwards, and backwards in the knotches in the
top rung (as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 which is a section of Fig. 2 top view,)
when required for pruning &c.-When required for window cleaning &c., they would
be crossed in the opposite hollows of top rung (Fig. 2. 3) they would be secured in.
these positions by a small bar (f. Fig. 2) sliding in two loops, attached to top
rung, and the said sliding bar would be secured in position by means of a screw-
or a loop (g.) falling over a staple fixed to the top rung (e) and fastened with a
lynch pin.
When not in use the bars would be fastened to staples provided for the purpose on
the sides of the ladder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. Combining a Step ladder with an ordinary rung ladder.
2. Utilizing the side rods for supporting the ladder for window cleaning, pruning,
and other purposes.
3. Novel method of folding the sections of a divided ladder or Steps.