Improved Stay for Step Ladders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
Improved Stay for Step Ladders.
I RICHARD WHITAKER Hardware Merchant 724 Rochdale Road Manchester in
the County of Lancaster 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 stays for step laddors and has for its object
the keeping of the step ladder from opening beyond a certain extent, and also
keoping the step ladder when open, from closing again until released, by the operator,
from the grip of the apparatus. This apparatus will be horeinafter referred to, as,
"this improvel stay." The improvements in this improved stay consist in the
fewness of parts, simplicity of action and of manipulation, combined with the fact
that when a stop ladder having "this improved stay" is closod, "this improved
stay" lies in the back of the step ladder and has no awkard parts projecting from
the step ladder. Thus "this improved stay" offers no impediment in the handling
of the step ladder when closed. I make this improved stay" of iron, brass, or
steel rod. A section of this iron, brass, or steel rod may be a square of equal or
unequal sides; or may be a triangle of equal or unequal sides or may be T shaped,
or may be shaped, or may be V shaped, or I may make this improved
stay" of tobular rods of iron, brass, or steel. Preformbly, I use ronnd solid rods
of steel of an inch in diameter which will be hereinafter referred to as "steel
rod." Fig. 1 is a bolt which I make of "steel rol" at one end of this bolt I make
a round or flat head, the other end 1 screw to take a nut. Fig. 2 I make of one piece
of "steel rod" bent into the shape as shown, a and b Fig. 2 are eyes through which
the bolt Fig. 1 passes. Fig. 2 swings upon Fig. I alike unto a hinge, c and d
Fig. 2 aro curved for the purpose of causing Fig. 2 to lie stowed away in the hack
of the step ladder when it is closed, as shown in Fig. 4. Also c and d Fig. 2
are curved for the purpose of causing (as the stop ladder is opened) Fig. 2 to
spring into the position shown by e and Fig. 5. This springing into position of
Fig. 2 is caused by a part of each curved arm j and k Fig. 5 coming into contact
with tho step! Fig. 5 before tho step ladder is fully opened. The part i Fig. 5
is curved as shown to allow the fingers of the operator to pass between i and m
Fig. 5 in order to lift the part i Fig. 5 upward when it is desired to close the
step ladder. Fig. 8 I make of one piece of "steel rod" bent into the shape as
shown. and Fig. 3 are bows through which the arms and d Fig. 2 slide
and Fig. 8 uro eyes which are for the purpose of bolting Fig. 3 to back of step
ladder as shown g and h Fig. 4.
"
To operate "this improved stay" the operator opens the step ladder as he would
an ordinary step ladder. "This improved stay is quite automatic in the opening
of the step ladder.
In closing the step ladder the operator catches hold of Fig. 5 and lifts it
out of the bows e and Eig. 5, at the same time tilting the step ladder forward
so that the back part thereof is raised from the ground, the back part of the step
ladder then closes in on the front part and "this improved stay
presents the
appearance shown by Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. An apparatus for holding step ladders fixed, in the open position so that

page_text: they cannot open beyond a certain extent. Also for holding the said step ladders
so that they cannot, when open, close again until released from the grip of the
apparatus, substantially as described and shown.
2nd. An apparatus that shall automatically lock itself with a spring, at the moment
the step ladder is opened to a certain extent, substantially as hereinbofore described
with reference to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. An apparatus that shall have no part projecting beyond the general outline
of the step ladder substantially as described and set forth in Figs. 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of November 1896.
RICHARD WHITAKER.