Improvements in Step Ladders.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Dec.,
1895
Improvements in Step Ladders.
I CHARLES BANKS of 42 Grove Road Holloway in the County of Middlesex
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention has for its object improvements in or in connection with step
ladders whereby such appliances are provided at the top with a flat protected
platform of any desired and convenient length ensuring safety to the persons using
the same and affording facility for dealing with a larger surface of cleaning painting
paper-hanging white-washing or whatever purpose the step ladder may (for the
time being) be required in use for.
According to my invention the front ladder is connected with the back. strut by
centre pins at the top, the treads or steps of the ladder are not however carried up
to the top of the inverted V formed by the ladder and back strut but only to one
step distance below the desired height of the platform, which platform is preferably
a sufficient distance below the apex of the ladder and back strut, that such apex
may form a convenient height for a handrail or guard round three sides of
the platform. The platform is carried upon a horizontal frame hinged in the centre
to open or bend upwards only and pivoted at one end to the ladder and at the other
to the back strut the ladder back strut and platform assuming when open for use
the form of the letter A, the horizontal stroke in such letter representing the
platform.
When being closed the platform is carried by the part of the before described
frame pivoted to the back strut to a vertical position thus allowing the ladder and
back strut to fold compactly together as in the ordinary step ladder.
In order to make the said ladders and the platform more secure I employ two
additional struts, the one working parallel to the ladder upon the same centres or
pivots as the part of the platform frame pivoted on the back strut and extending to
the height of the apex of the ladder and back strut and the other working parallel
to the back strut and upon the same centres or pivots as the part of the platform
frame pivoted to the ladder but extending only beyond the ladder to a height
convenient for the handrails (after described) guarding the sides of the ladder.
The two additional struts are pivoted together beneath the platform and open
and shut with the ladder and back strut upon the lazy tongs principle.
On each side of and above and parallel with the ladder is a handrail pivoted to
the top of the additional strut last mentioned and at the lower end to a supplemental
arm pivoted to the ladder and opening into position and closing with the other parts
upon the same lazy tongs principle.
The ladder handrails are extended to the same height as the apex of the ladder
and back strut and to the upper end of each handrail may be attached a chain or
rope running through eyes at the apex of the ladder and back strut and joining the
top of the additional strut pivoted on the back strut thus forming on each side of
the platform a guard chain or rail.
It is obvious that this system may be extended and by further application of the
lazy tongs principle combined with the platform system above explained a step
ladder might be constructed to carry a platform, of course made up of a series to
platforms, as above described of any convenient length.
Wheels or like contrivances may be used to enable the ends of the struts to be

page_text: more readily opened and-as the ladder constructed according to my invention
cannot collapse owing to the platform and frame bracing the ladder and back strut,
may be used with safety.
Instead of applying a chain or rope as a guard rail to the platform I may use a
wooden rail jointed to close with the remainder of the appliance.
Dated this 19th day of December 1894.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
CHARLES BANKS of 42, Grove Road, Holloway in the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
This invention has for its objects improvements in or in connection with step
ladders whereby such appliances are provided at the top with a flat protected
platform of any desired and convenient length ensuring safety to the persons using
the same and affording facility for dealing with a larger surface of cleaning painting
paper-hanging white-washing or whatever purpose the step ladder may (for the
time being) be required in use for.
According to my invention the front ladder is connected with the back strut by
centre pins at the top, the treads or steps of the ladder are not howevor carried
up to the top of the inverted V formed by the ladder and back strut but only to
one step distance below the desired height of the platform, which platform is
preferably a sufficient distance below the apex of the ladder and back strut, that
such apex may form a convenient height for a handrail or guard round three sides
of the platform. The platform is carried upon a horizontal frame hinged in the
centre to open or bend upwards only, and pivoted at one end to the ladder and at
the other to the back strut-the ladder back strut and platform assuming when
open for use the form of the letter A, the horizontal stroke in such letter representing
the platform.
When being closed the platform is carried by the part of the before-described
frame pivoted to the back strut to a vertical position thus allowing the ladder and
back strut to fold compactly together as in the ordinary step ladder.
In order to make the said ladders and the platform more secure I employ two
additional struts, the one working parallel to the ladder upon the same centres or
pivots as the part of the platform frame pivoted on the back strut and extending
to the height of the apex of the ladder and back strut and the other working
parallel to the back strut and upon the same centres or pivots as the part of the
platform frame pivoted to the ladder but extending only beyond the ladder to a
height convenient for the handrails (after described) guarding the sides of the
ladder.
The two additional struts are pivoted together beneath the platform and open
and shut with the ladder and back strut upon the lazy tongs principle.
On each side of and above and parallel with the ladder is a handrail pivoted to
the top of the additional strut last mentioned and at the lower end to a supple-
mental arm pivoted to the ladder and opening into position and closing with the
other parts upon the same lazy tongs principle.
The ladder handrails are extended to the same height as the apex of the ladder
and back strut and to the upper end of cach handrail may be attached a chain or
rope running through eyes at the apex of the ladder and back strut and joining the
top of the additional strut pivoted on the back strut thus forming on each side of
the platform a guard chain or rail,

page_text: It is obvious that this system may be extended and by further application of the
lazy tongs principle combined with the platform system above explained a step
ladder might be constructed to carry a platform preferably made up of a series
of platforms A and hinged frames B (sec Figs. I & II) as above described of any
convenient length.
Wheels or like contrivances may be used to enable the ends of the struts to be
more readily opened and as the ladder constructed according to my invention
cannot collapse owing to the platform and frame bracing the ladder and back strut,
may be used with safety.
Instead of applying a chain or rope as a guard rail to the platform I may use a
wooden rail jointed to close with the remainder of the appliance.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. I is a perspective view of a pair of steps constructed according to my said
invention, such steps being shewn in an open or extended position. In this figure,
A is the platform B the horizontal frame hinged at I to open upwards as before
described, C is the handrail or guard. The additional struts are marked D, D'.
Fig. II is a diagram explaining the action of the ladder and back strut in
combination with the platform and horizontal frame carrying the same, the dotted
lines shewing the position assumed by the respective parts when the steps are
partially closed.
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. In the construction of step-ladders and the like, the use of the platform A
carried on the horizontal jointed frame B and opening and closing with the steps
substantially as before described.
2. In the construction of step-ladders and the like the use of the platform A,
frame B as before described in combination with the additional struts D and D'
and guard chain C as and for the purposes and substantially as before described.
3. The improved construction of step-ladders and the like substantially as before
described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1895.