An Improved Combined Step-ladder and Table.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN E. ALDEN, of Lake George, New York, United
States of America, Gentleman.]
An Improved Combined Step-ladder and Table.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to an improved combined step-ladder and table and is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the device in the form of a step-ladder.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the device, as shown in Fig. 1 taken on the
broken line - in that Fig. and showing some of the parts in side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the broken line - in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device, in the form of a table.
Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the device, as shown in Fig. 4
taken on the broken line - in that Fig. showing two of the supports in
elevation.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the table taken on the broken line x-x
in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the broken line y-y in Fig. 5.
The device is provided with a rectangular frame, made up of the longitudinal side
boards A A', the end slats A2 and A3 and the intermediate cross-slats a having one
edge rabbeted as shown at a¹ and the other edge beveled, as shown at a².
This frame maintains the same shape and form, both as a ladder and a table.
A series of cross-boards forming the steps 6 are pivoted at each end, near one
edge, as at 6' to the side boards of the frame, the other edge being supported,
when used as a step, by the cleats or projections A secured to the side boards.
The frame is also provided with the supports A' and A° pivoted upon the cross
rod A supported by the side boards of the main frame, and the supports A and A'
pivoted upon the cross rod A10 supported by the side boards of the main frame.
The supports A' and A° are connected at their oscillatory ends by the cross
rod A2 and the supports A8 and A' by the cross-rod A¹³.
The four supports when arranged so that one pair crosses the other, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 5 are made to serve as braces, each for the other, by means of a
detachable cross-rod consisting of the shell B containing spring-actuated slide-
rods B¹ projecting from each end of the shell, and adapted to fit corresponding
apertures in the several supports.
The ends are each provided with operating arms or handles B projecting out
through slot B³ in the shell, and are separated by a coil spring B.
To secure the pairs of supports together, it is only necessary to grasp the arms B*
between the thumb and finger, and force them toward each other until they strike
the stops B in the slot B³.
The inward slide-movement given the rods will be sufficient to draw their outer
ends within the supports A8 and A, until the rod-apertures in both pairs are brought
into alignment so as to register with each other, whereupon the rods are released and
forced by the spring into the position shown in Fig. 7.
The stops B serve to prevent the slide-rods from being withdrawn from their
apertures in the supports A³ and A' whereby the cross-rod is permanently secured in
these supports.
A pair of supporting arms C is pivoted upon the cross-rod A' the oscillatory ends

page_text: :
of such arms are pivoted upon and support one end of a platform ( which platform
may be a single board, shown in end-elevation in Fig. 1 the other end being supported
by the end-slat A³.
The oscillatory braces (2 are pivoted at one end upon the rod C³ passing through
the arms, braces and platform, as shown in Fig. 2 and indicated by dotted line in
Fig. 1.
The oscillatory ends of the braces are connected by cross-rod (and provided
with notched or recessed ends, adapted to receive and fit the cross-rod A¹³ and be
supported thereby as shown in Fig. 2.
From the foregoing, it will be readily understood how the device can be maintained
in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to support a person upon the ladder, and
permit of his easily ascending and descending the steps b, also how the platform C¹
affords a convenient support for a pail, tools, or implements desired while using the
ladder.
When it is desired to convert the ladder into a table, such as shown in plan view
in Fig. 4 and partly in section, and partly in elevation in Fig. 5 it is only necessary
to rest the main frame upon the floor, with the supports projecting upward, swing
the braces into alignment with the arms, drop the oscillatory ends of the arms, swing
the platform into alignment with the braces and arms, and then swing the
oscillatory ends of the arms together with the braces and platform in between the
side-boards of the main frame, to the position shown in Fig. 5 where they can be
secured by the buttons C pivoted one upon each of the arms and adapted to be
turned so that one end of each button will enter a slot C in the side-boards and
support the arms, while the other end projects beneath one of the braces and one
edge of the platform, shown partly by dotted lines in Fig. 4.
The device is then raised upon its supports, to the position shown in Fig. 5 and
the cover D drawn over the same, from the spring roller D' located at one end of
the main frame, to the other end of the frame and secured by rings D³ upon the
pins D projecting from the cross-slats, a part of the cover being broken away in
Fig. 4 to show a ring and pin.
The spring roller is not shown in detail, as it may be made like any well known
form of curtain spring-roller.
The steps 6 being pivoted at 6' and supported by the cleats A* in a position angular
to the side boards, will all fall down upon the cross-slats a when the frame is laid
down with the supports projecting upward, to the position shown in Fig. 5 the
rabbeted edges 62 matching the rabbeted edges a¹ and the beveled edges 6³ the beveled
edges a² on the cross slats a.
They are secured in such position by a slide-frame of nearly the same length, and
width as the main frame and composed of side pieces F connected by the cross-
•pieces F¹.
The side pieces are adapted to fit and slide in grooves cut in the side boards, as
shown in Figs. 3 and 6. After the steps have placed in the position shown in Fig. 5
the slide-frame is moved longitudinally of the frame from the position shown in
Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5 which brings a cross-piece Fi directly under the
oscillatory edge of each step, thereby firmly securing them in the desired position.
The slide-frame can be reciprocated by hand, either to secure the steps in the
position shown in Fig. 5, or to release them from such position.
I prefer however to accomplish the movement in another way, and have for that
purpose provided each of the arms with an eccentric hub or cam J on the cross-
rod A', which cams are connected with the slide-frame by the cam-rods J', pivoted
at J, upon lug J³, projecting from the cross piece F³, which may be one of the
pieces F made a little wider.
The oscillatory movement of the arms C, in passing from the position shown in
Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, serves to actuate the cams sufficiently to operate the
slide-frame.
The end-piece on the left end of the slide-frame, as seen in Fig. 5, is provided with

page_text: the pins D, fixed thereon to project through suitable apertures in the end-slat of the
main frame, when the frames occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 5, and hold
the cover-rings D³.
Should it be desired to convert the device from the table shown in Fig. 5 to the
step ladder shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it would only be necessary to turn the buttons C¹³
to release the arms C, platform C¹, and braces C2, and swing out the arms until the
cams move the slide-frame back sufficiently to release the steps as before explained ;
set the main frame on one end, and lift the oscillatory ends of the arms and platform
to place, all as shown in Fig. 3.
As soon as the slide-frame moves sufficiently to release the steps, it will at the same
time withdraw the pins D³ from the cover-rings releasing the cover to the action of
its spring-roller which will immediately roll up the cover upon the roller.
When it is desired to store or transport the device, it can be folded to a very
compact form, by detaching one pair of supports from the other, as before explained,
and folding the supports from the position shown by the solid lines in. Fig. 5 to that
shown by the dotted lines in the same figure.
Instead of employing the buttons (5 to secure the platform C³, arms C, and
braces C, in a folded position, the spring bolts C8, having operating lugs or handles Co,
by which they may be operated against the force of the springs Co, can be employed,
the projecting ends of the bolts being forced into receiving apertures in the side
boards A A of the main frame, which may be the apertures 0%, or separate
apertures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First In a combination step-ladder and table, the combination with a main
rectangular frame provided with cross-slats fixed thereon, of a series of slats or steps
pivoted upon the main frame and adapted to fit and be swung into and out of the
spaces between the fixed slats, means for supporting the steps, when swung into such
spaces, as a slide-frame consisting of cross-pieces F¹, connected by the longitudinal
slide pieces F, and means for supporting the steps when swung out of such spaces, as
cleats A; two pairs of supporting legs, each fastened at one end to the main frame,
projecting therefrom in angular converging planes, and crossing each other at points
about midway of their lengths, and means for fastening such legs together at their
points of crossing, as rods or pins B', substantially as described.
Second-The combination with a step-ladder, having a pair of supporting legs A
and A6, of supports A8 and A° secured to the ladder-frame and legs, and projecting
beyond the latter, swinging arms C, braces (3, and platform C, one end of the
platform and braces being pivoted to the swinging ends of the arms, the other end
of the braces being fitted to rest upon the projecting supports A and A³, substantially
as described.
Third The combination with the main frame of a combination step-ladder and
table, of a table-cover having a plurality of retaining rings, a spring-actuated cover-
supporting roller secured to one end of the main frame, a plurality of ring-engaging
pins secured to a vibratory step-supporting frame, and projecting through the cross-
slat on the other end of the main frame, whereby the pins are withdrawn from the
rings to release the cover by a vibratory movement of the slide-frame toward the
roller end of the main frame, substantially as described.
Fourth In a combination step-ladder and table, the combination with a main
rectangular frame covered on one side by cross-slats, some of which are fixed thereon,
and others forming a regular equidistant series, pivoted thereon at one edge, whereby
the other edge can be swung out to form steps, a slide-frame consisting of step-
supporting cross-pieces F¹ and longitudinal pieces F, cam J, cam-rod J', pivoted upon
one of the cross-pieces of the slide-frame, and the cam-actuating arm C, substantially
as described.

page_text: Fifth The combination in a table, with cross-supports A5, A6, A8, A³, of a
detachable support-binding cross-rod, consisting of slotted shell B, shell enclosing
spring-actuated slide-rods B', having the handles B2, substantially as described.
Sixth-In a combination step-ladder and platform, the combination with the boards
of the ladder frame provided with button-grooves, of a platform platform-
supporting arms C, and brace C², pivoted together at one end as at C³, the other
end of the arms being pivoted upon the ladder boards and the buttons (s upon the
arms, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.