Improvements in Step Ladders.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
JOHN THOMAS MOORE Wood Villa Langley Cheshire Chair Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The step ladders are made with 2 pieces or sides on each side the hinder of
which folds inside the front one when closed, the steps are pivoted or otherwise in
connection with the sides. An iron or other connection from the supporting strut
to the hinder part of the side holds the steps in position as required.
Dated this 27th day of November 1893.
Improvements in Step Ladders.
I, JOHN THOMAS MOORE of Wood Villa, Langley, near Macclesfield, Chair
Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention consists of a new or improved construction of collapsible step
ladder, or a step ladder made to fold into a very small compass and so occupy very
little room and be better adapted for transit or storage than step ladders as at
present made.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood
and carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved collapsible ladder in an open or
extended form and
Fig. 2 is a side view of the ladder in a collapsed or closed form.
Fig. 3 is a part side view for the better illustrating of the method of mounting
the steps.
In accordance with my invention the ladder is composed of duplicate side
pieces (A), (A') arranged parallel to each other, and to the inner faces of the side
pieces (A) are pivoted the front edges of the steps (C) whilst to the outer faces of
the side pieces (A¹) are pivoted the rear edges of the steps, thus ensuring that the
side pieces (A¹) shall close between the side pieces (A) when brought together.
The pivots are of the form of a bar (D) (seen more clearly in Fig. 3) with pivots
or projections at either end taking in metal lined holes in the side pieces (A), (A'),
the extremities of the bar (D) being screwed to the wood and formed to clamp
over the edges of the steps, or with a lip beneath let into the step.
By thus mounting the steps the side pieces are connected together and will open
and close uniformly and will cause the steps to assume a horizontal position when
fully extended. To complete the step ladder and support and lock the side piece
and steps when in use I provide the supporting strut (E) and tie rods (F) (F) the
former hinged to the side pieces (A) and the latter hinged to the cross-bar (G) of
the strut (E) and to the side pieces (A').
To further strengthen the step ladder I provide the strut (E) with a cross
bar (H) and form projections (1) on the side pieces (A') which when the step
ladder is opened out abut against the said cross bar (H). The side pieces (A¹) are

page_text: also provided with a cross bar (J) which abuts against the packing strips (K) on
the underside of the top step of the ladder, such cross bar and strips meeting
together when the top step has assumed a horizontal position.
To hold the side pieces (A) and (A¹) apart and connect each set rigidly together
I provide the bracing rod (L), foot (M) and cross bar (N). If desired the bracing
rod (L) may be substituted by straight rods concealed underneath the steps.
The top step may be made rather broader than the lower steps to enable a
.bucket or cleaning utensils to be placed upon it or to give greater standing room.
The side pieces (A) are, by preference extended upwards to form handles to
facilitate the handling of the ladder.
The action of the step ladder will be obvious. To close the ladder the side
pieces (A) are simply drawn up vertical and then the strut (E) is folded against it,
which, by the tie rods (F), causes the steps (C) and side pieces (A') to fold flat
between the side pieces (A) as illustrated in Fig. 2.
To open or distend the ladder the operation is reversed, the strut (E) being
pulled out which, by the tie rods (F), pulls out the side pieces (A') and steps (C)
until stopped by the projections (I) coming against the cross bar (H) when the
ladder is fully open.
Having thus 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 :-
1st. In collapsible step ladders the use and employment of duplex side
pieces (A), (A'), pivoted steps (C), pirot bar (D), supporting strut (E), tie
rods (F), and locking bars when mounted and arranged substantially as herein before
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
2nd. In collapsible step ladders the use and employment of the bar (D) as and
for the purposes set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of August 1894.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.