Improvements in Roof Ladders and Staging.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roof Ladders and Staging.
I JOHN ROBERT HAMILTON of Waltham Cross in the County of Hertford,
Nurseryman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in motor roof ladders & has for its object
the construction of an apparatus for safe & speedy locomotion along the roofs of
horticultural & other buildings & is so constructed as to travel along the said roofs
without the use of any laid track; such as metal or wood lines.
My invention consists of a wood structure on which a workman can sit, & by
means of a hand propelling gear, travel backward or forward along a roof; & is
fitted with glass & paint carriers; also with seat, steps etc. for the accommodation of
painters glaziers &c.
In order that my invention may be clearly rendered reference may be had to the
accompanying drawings
Fig. I shows a plan of motor ladder in position on a roof. (a) forms the top seat,
to which is attached the propelling gear (6) consisting of rollers, which run along the
ridge worked by an inverse or any other suitable gear.
c. c. are side runners so placed as to keep the ladder in position on the ridge.
d. is a seat on which a workman may sit to paint.
e. is a rack in which glass may be carried. f is a clip for carrying a paint pot.
g is a steel shod runner which runs along the roof, rendering the use of a metal or
any other track unnecessary.
Fig. II is a detachable extension which may be attached to Fig. I by hooks (/) and
eyes (i) for elongating ladder.
2011 March 1906
I JOHN ROBERT HAMILTON of Waltham Cross in the County of Hertford,
Nurseryman 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 relates to improvements in motor roof ladders & staging & has for its
object the construction of an apparatus of simple structure, combining the uses of a
roof ladder & staging for ordinary work on roofs of horticultural buildings and the
like, such as painting, glazing &c., and also a means of safe and speedy locomotion
along the said roofs, & is so constructed as to travel along the said roofs without the
aid or use of any laid track such as wood or metal lines. My invention consists of a
wood structure on which a man can sit and by means of a hand propelling gear travel
backwards or forward along a roof & is fitted with a rack in which glass may be

page_text: carried, a receptacle for carrying a paintpot, seat, steps &c. for the accommodation of
painters, glaziers or other workmen.
In order that my invention may be clearly rendered, reference may be had to the
drawings filed with my Provisional Specification.
Fig. I shows a plan of my invention in position for travelling along the roof.
(a) forms the top, on which a man sits when propelling himself along the roof, and to
which is attached the propelling gear (6) consisting of the rollers which are fixed at
either end of the said top (a) & roll along the ridge worked by an inverse cogged
or any other suitable gear. (c. c.) are side runners so placed as to run on either side
of the ridge that the ladder cannot run off to one side when travelling. (d) is a seat
on which a workman may sit to paint or do other work. (e) is a rack in which glass
may be carried. (f) is a clip for carrying a paint pot. (9) is a steel shod bearer to
support the ladder & its occupant; this bearer is made so long that it must always
have a bearing on two or more rafters of the roof at the same time. The steel plate
or shoe is kept lubricated so that as the rollers roll along the ridge the bearer (9)
slides along the bars or rafters, thus the top end of the ladder is rolled along the ridge
& the bottom end of the ladder slides along the rafters & in this manner the use or aid
of any laid track such as metal or wood lines is dispensed with.
Fig. II is a detachable extension which may be attached to Fig. I by means of
hooks (h) which are fixed on Fig. II, & eyes () which are fixed on Fig. 1, with the
object of elongating the ladder.
Having now particularly described & 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 :-
1st. A roof ladder & staging fitted with propelling gear, which is portable and in
no manner attached to the roofs on which it travels, & which requires no special fixture
of any kind attached to the said roofs, to support it, to hold it in position, or assist it
in locomotion, substantially as herein shown.
2nd. A roof ladder & staging on which a man can sit and propel himself along the
roofs of horticultural buildings & the like without the aid or use of any laid track such
as metal or wood lines & the like substantially as herein described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
JOHN R. HAMILTON.