Improvements in Adjustable and Combined Ladder Attachments to be Applied to and Connected with Railroad-car and Steamship Berths.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1890-Accepted, 10th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable and Combined Ladder Attachments to
be Applied to and Connected with Railroad-car and Steamship
Berths.
I, WILLIAM FORD, of 171 Broadway, New York, in the United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable ladder to be applied to and
connected with Railroad Car and Steamship Berths so that the ladder is made to
swing and fold up into a compact space, when not required for mounting to or
alighting from the berth, to serve as a seat when being used as a ladder; to form a
tray when turned up and placed horizontally upon supports fixed to the exterior
portion of the upper berth, and when not in use to fold up and fit into a recess in or be
locked against and concealed in the outside framework of the ship or car berth.
The manner in which I attain my object is as follows:-The ladder and general
framework is secured by screws to the outside framework of the berth by means of
metal work or a bracket, which carries a swivel-bar, rocking with a centrally jointed
crosshead which is held at one end by a screw nut, while the other end is split or
slotted in the center to receive a swivelled connecting rod of the ladder crosshead.
This crosshead binds the two sides of the ladder and holds them firmly to the
bracket, and in the said sides the crosshead revolves at one extremity while the con-
necting rod revolves or oscillates at the other extremity.
The swivelled crossbar is provided at its journals with stop pins which control the
travel or motion of the said cross bar and the depended ladder.
A sliding binged or folding seat is supported on one of the lower steps and
provided with suitable guide slots, in a manner that permits of the said seat being
shut up and locked inside the ladder in a vertical position between the steps, by means
of a spring catch.
To enable the ladder to be used as a table or tray swinging brackets are furnished
at one extremity, being secured to the exterior framework of the berth, and turning
upon hinged joints, while at the other extremity vertical pins are furnished to receive
and secure the tray through holes in the ladder. When the device is not required
for use, it is easily folded up and vertically placed inside the main bracket which
keeps it snugly held to the exterior framework of the berth.
The ladder and attachments being secured to the upper berth by means of
variously constructed union joints, accommodate themselves to the motion of the
ship or car, without losing their rigidity or endangering their effectiveness, while
at the same time the whole device can be instantly folded up and neatly packed away
or again thrown into actual use by the occupant while in his berth.
It will be obvious that in some cases it may be found desirable to dispense with
the chair seat or even with the tray, and that in special cases a slight modification
of the joints may be advantageous still the same may be done without departing
from the spirit or scope of my invention.
London. July 9th 1889.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable and Combined Ladder Attachments to
be Applied to and Connected with Railroad-car and Steamship
Berths
•
い
WILLIAM FORD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 adjustable and combined ladder attach-
ments capable of being applied to and connected with Railroad Car and Steamship
Berths in which the. ladder is inade to swing and fold up in a compact space such
attachments being likewise applicable for various other uses when not required for
mounting to or alighting from the berth; for instance they may serve as a seat
when erected for use as a ladder; or form a tray when turned up and placed
horizontally upon supports fixed to the exterior portion of the upper berth; and when
not in use in the latter case they may be folded up and fitted into a recess or be
"locked against and concealed in the outside framework or the ship or car berth.
The objects of my invention are:-Firstly to provide an easy and safe means of
getting into and out of ships and car berths or bunks. Secondly to provide a seat
from or connected with a lower step of the ladder. Thirdly to make such provisions
in the mode of joining the folding and affixing attachments as to enable the occupant
of the upper berth to readily lift up and firmly secure the ladder in position for
use as a fixed table alongside and against the upper berth.
Fourthly to permit, owing to its peculiar jointed and swivelled connections and
arrangements, of being instantly locked and concealed in or snugly secured to the
exterior framework of the said upper berth, and fifthly to be able to instantly dis-
connect the folded and concealed ladder and drop it down so that by its falling it
shall promptly and safely adjust itself for immediate use.
I attain these objects by the mechanism and arrangement of parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which—
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a railroad car, showing the device ready for use as
a ladder and the seat also extended for use. Fig. 2. is a view of the device proper
showing the same fixed horizontally to the upper berth and ready for use as a table
or tray. Fig. 3. is an external view of the device corresponding to that shewn in
Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shews the device out of use and closed up against the external
framework of the berth. Fig. 5 illustrates in detail the manner in which the device
is jointed and swivelled for folding and adjusting purposes. Fig. 6, is an enlarged
detail of the bracket attachment which carries and controls the device.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures.
The ladder and general framework of the device A is secured by the screws at b², b',
to the outside framework of the berth E2, by means of the metal bracket B which
carries the swivel bar J rocking at K K and provided with a centrally jointed cross-
head j, which is held at its lower end by a nut j', while its upper end is centrally
split or slotted to receive one end of the swivelled rod H, connecting the bar J with
the transverse piece G. This piece G further connects the two sides of the ladder A
and secures the same firmly to the bracket B.
The piece G is free to turn at g on the sides of the ladder while the rod H is
capable of turning or oscillating upon its respective extremities at h and h¹..
The journals of the swivelled bar J are provided at K K with stop pins K' as shewn
in Fig. 6, which control the travel or motion of this bar g and of the ladder.
Supported on one of the lower rounds d of the ladder there is provided a sliding
hinged and folding seat C furnished with guiding slots and arranged in such a manner
that the said seat can be closed and locked within the ladder in a vertical position
between two successive rounds d d as shown at c¹ c' in Fig. 2, the seat being secured
by a spring catch c³.

page_text: To enable the ladder to be used as a table or tray by the occupant of the berth the
swinging brackets E, E, are made use of. These brackets E. E. are secured at one
end to the exterior framework of the berth f, f. and turn upon hinged joints
at E E, while at the other extremity vertical pins e, e, are furnished to receive and
secure the tray F through holes e e¹ in the ladder. When the device is not required
for use, it is easily folded and vertically placed inside the main bracket B, which
keeps it singly held to the exterior framework of the berth as shown at A' in Fig. 1.
The ladder and attachments being secured to the upper berth by means of various
specially constructed union joints accommodate themselves to the motion of the ship
or vehicle without losing their rigidity or endangering their effectiveness while at the
same time the whole device can be instantly folded up and neatly packed away or
again thrown into actual use by the occupant while in his berth.
It will be obvious that in some cases it may be found desirable to dispense with
the chair seat attachment or even of the tray, and that in special case a slight
modification of the joints may be advantageous, still the same may be done without
departing from the nature of my Invention.
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
1st. For use in connection with berths in ships and railroads cars, the combination
device herein before described of a step ladder, tray and chair seat, substantially as
described and shown and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In a sleeping berth attachment for ships and railroad cars of a combination of
adjusting and swivelling devices consisting of the swivel bar J carried in the arms
of the bracket B, said bar having a centrally placed socket for carrying the pivot j
with slotted head, the swivelled rod H, connecting same to the cross piece G
placed within the two sides of the ladder frame all arranged and connected for the
purpose specified and substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
set forth.
1
ليم
1
1000
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.