Improvements in Step Ladders.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR of Great Driffield, in the County of York do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improved catches or fastenings for step ladders, and the
means of actuating the same.
It is applicable to the extension ladder described in my Patent No. 15722 of the
year 1888, and also to non-extending step ladders.
The catches consist of flat bent levers pin-jointed near their centre to plates fixed
to the back edges of the side pieces or uprights of the step-ladder. The ends of
the levers which form the catches pass between the side pieces and back legs
(which are pinjointed together sufficiently apart to allow for the same) from the
back where they are jointed, to the front, where they are provided with notches
formed to catch on to projecting studs fixed at suitable points on the back-legs,
when these are brought to the required positions to form a pair of steps, or
extended ladder, as the case may be. The other ends of the levers are bent from
the joints nearly at right angles, and terminate in loops or eyes for the reception of
the ends of a bar or handle which lies parallel with, and a little below one of the
steps, at a height where it can be conveniently reached.
Suitable springs are fixed at the joints of the levers to make them catch with
greater certainty.
The action of the arrangement is such that so soon as the ladder is opened out to
the proper position, the catches come into action and hold it secure, but when it is
desired to close the ladder, all that is necessary is to seize hold of, and lift it by
the handle, when the catches are at once released, and the ladder folds together.
The position of the catches and handle in relation to the sides and back legs,
may be varied without departing from the principle of the invention.
Dated this 30th day of July 1891.
WM. TAYLOR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR, of Great Driffield in the County of York, Machinist, 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:-
The invention relates to improved catches or fastenings for step ladders and the
means of actuating the same. It is applicable to the extension ladder described in
my Patent No. 15722 of the year 1888, and also to non-extending step ladders.
The catches consist of levers pinjointed near their centre to plates fixed to the
back edges of the side pieces or uprights of the step ladder. The ends of the
levers which form the catches pass between the side pieces and back legs (which
are pinjointed together sufficiently apart to allow for the same) from the back
where they are jointed, to the front where they are provided with notches formed
to catch on to projecting studs fixed at suitable points on the back legs, when these
are brought to the required position to form a pair of steps or extended ladder, as
the case may be. The other ends of the levers are bent from the joints nearly at
right angles and terminate in loops or eyes for the reception of the ends of a bar or
handle which lies parallel with and a little below one of the steps at a height where

page_text: it can be conveniently reached. Suitable springs are fixed at the joints of the
levers to make them catch with greater certainty. The action of the arrangement
is such that as soon as the ladder is opened out to the proper position, the catches
come into action and hold it secure, but when it is desired to close the ladder, all
that is necessary is to seize hold of and lift it by the handle when the catches are
at once released and the ladder folds together.
The position of the catches and handle in relation to the sides and back legs may
be varied without departing from the principle of the invention.
And in order that ny said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 1 is a separate view of parts thereof, and
Figure 2 is a back view of a folding extension ladder provided with my improved
fittings, and representing the same in position for use as an ordinary folding step
ladder.
Figure 3 represents parts of the same ladder when in use as an extension or
lean-to ladder.
Figures 4 and 5 are two views of one of the catches.
Figures 6 and 7 are two views of one of the double lugs or bearings to which one
of the catches is pinjointed, and Figures 8 and 9 are two views of one of the sockets
within which works a projection carried by one of the catches to limit the motion of
the latter.
Figure 10 is a side view and Figure 11 is a front view of a nou-extension folding
step ladder provided with a modified construction of my improved fittings, and
showing the same opened out for use, and Figure 12 is a side view of the upper
parts of the same when folded together.
I will first describe the arrangement represented at Figures 1 to 9.
The
au, bb, are the side bars of the two parts of the ladder, which are jointed
together by the rod c; a¹ a¹, b¹¹ are the steps or treads respectively of such side
bars. d d are a pair of catches, which are pinjointed to the double lugs or
bearings e carried by plates e fixed to the back edges of the side bars a a.
arms of these catches d are connected together by a cross bar or handle d', and
they are formed with a notch or recess to catch over either the studs ff or gy,
according to whether the ladder is extended for use as an ordinary lean to ladder,
as shown at Figure 3, in which case the studs g g are in use, or whether it is to be
folded for use as a folding step ladder, as represented at Figures 1 and 2, in which
case the studs ff are in use.
The studs and 9 g are carried respectively by plates f¹ƒ³, g¹g', fixed to the
front or outer edges of the side bars b b.
When used as an extension or lean to ladder, as shown at Figure 3, a
projection at the top of each side bar a rests against the face of a step or
tread b¹.
hh are stops fixed to the side bars a a, which act, in combination with the
arms, to limit the motion of the catches d d in one direction, and projections d³ ³
fixed to the inner side of the catches d d (see Figures 4 and 5) and moving in
recesses formed in the shields or fittings ii (see Figures 8 and 9) limit the motion
of the stops d d in the other direction.
The first part of the projections d³ stands out at right angles to the catches dd,
and the second part is parallel with the sides thereof, the object being that when
such projections are within the guards or shields it, they shall be held securely
therein by the lips or flanges of such guards or shields (see Figures 8 and 9)
thus securely holding the catches d d to the sides of the ladder and consequently
preventing them from accidentally coming in the way of the side bars b, b.
When the ladder is in use, either as a folding step ladder or as an extension or
lean to ladder, the catches d d can be freed from the studs ff or 9 g by simply

page_text: pulling the handle d¹ away from the stops h h. x, x are springs, which are mounted
on the axes of the catches d d and exert their pressure between the arms d³ and the
plates e', thus rendering the action of the catches more certain.
I will now describe the modification represented at Figures 10 to 12, which
represent a ladder capable of use only as a folding step ladder.
In this case the ladder a a¹ is constructed, and it is pinjointed to the side bars bb,
in like manner to that described with respect to Figures 1 to 9, except that the
stops a² a at the tops of the side bars a a are dispensed with. The side bars b b
also in this case are connected together by only one cross bar and the axle
rod c.
In this case I have represented the ladder as provided with only one catch or
stop d, but two may be employed if desired; the said stop or catch d is pinjointed
to a plate e fixed to the side of one of the side bars a, and instead of being formed
with a notch d² to catch on to studs for g, as in the ladder hereinbefore described,
it is in this case formed with a stud d to enter a notch j' formed in a slotted link j
which is hinged to a plate k fixed to one of the side bars and works upon a stud
fixed in the plate e', which stud and slotted link serve to limit the opening out
of the parts a and b. In this case also the handle d', by which the catch a dis
operated, is located above the said catch, instead of being below as in the previously
described ladder, and the motion of the catch or stop in one direction is limited by
the arm d' thereof coming against the back edge of one of the side bars a, and in the
other direction by said arm coming against the stop h. One end of the handle d¹ is
fitted loosely in a hole formed in one side bar a, and the other end of such handle d'
works loosely in an eye or loop at the end of the arm d³.
In the constructions of ladders herein shown and described, by simply lifting or
pulling the handle d', the catch or catches are liberated and the ladder folded and
lifted by the same action.
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 folding step ladders of the character herein referred to, the combination
therewith of stops or catches acting substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
2. In folding step ladders of the character herein referred to, the combination
therewith of a catch or catches provided with an operating handle so placed as to
serve as a means for releasing the catch or catches and for lifting the ladder at one
operation, substantially as herein shown and described.
Bavou
WILLIAM TAYLOR,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.