Improvements in and relating to Adjustable Ladder Bases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Adjustable Ladder Bases.
1, FREDERIC SCOTT SEAGRAVE, of 128, West Lane Avenue, in the City of
Columbus, County of Franklin and State of Ohio, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be parucularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
1
My invention relates to the improvement of adjustable ladder bases and the
objects of my invention are to provide a ladder, or the lower section thereof, with
an improved supporting base which will provide a substantial support for the
ladder and obviate any tendency toward the same shipping when in a raised
position, and which at the same time will present an extended bearing surface
for the ladder section which will support the ladder against leaning or tipping
laterally; to so construct my improved ladder base as to admit of the adjustment
of the sections thereof to desirable angles, and to produce other improvements
in details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully
pointed out hereinafter.
These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the lower portion of a ladder having my
improved supporting base thereon, and Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view
taken between the adjoining inner ends of said sections.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In carrying out my invention, I provide the front surface or face of each on
the legs 1 of a ladder at a point near its lower end, with a bracket which consists
of a plate 2 secured to said ladder leg or to the metallic binding of the lower
portion thereof, said plate having projecting therefrom and at an angle with the
direction of the length of the ladder leg, a keeper or eye piece 3, the inclination
of the outer arms of these keepers being inward, as shown. Through these keepers
are adapted to slide portions of base sections 4, the bodies of the latter being in
the form of inclined beams, the inner ends of which are adapted as indicated in
Figure 1 of the drawing to meet and abut one against the other at the center of
the width of the ladder. Each of these base sections 4 has secured to its underside
and engaging the outer end thereof a metallic plate or strap 5, the inner ends
of these straps being, as indicated more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawing, curled
or rounded to form cylindrical hinge tongues which are shown at 6 and 7, said
hinge tongues being jointedly united by a hinge bolt S. The rear end portion
of this hinge bolt extends through a longitudinal slot 9 of an upwardly extending
bar 10 which is affixed to the central portions of the ladder rungs.
Between the outer and inner end portions of each of the sections, 4, I recess or
cut away portions of the upper sides thereof, whereby the thickness of each of
said sections is reduced and inner and outer shoulders 11 and 12 are formed.
Only these reduced portions of the base sections are embraced by the keepers 3,
the forward shoulders 11 serving by contact with the upper portions of said
keepers to limit the outward movement of the sections, and the outer shoulders 12
As indicatedl
serving to similarly limit the inward and upward movement thereof.
at 13 I provide the outer ends of the sections 4 with oppositely located downwardly

page_text: projecting foot plates, the lower projecting ends of which are, as indicated in
the drawing, toothed or serrated to insure their proper engagement with the
ground or other surface upon which the same may bear.
On the outer end of the bolt 8 I hinge or fulcrum a projection 14 of a hand
ring 15, this ring projection being formed with a cam extension which when
the ring is turned upward to the position indicated in the drawing, exerts sufficient
pressure against the lower portions of the sections 4 to tightly bind. said sections
between the guide 10 and said cam. It is obvious that when the ring 15 is
turned downward and the pressure of the cam thus relieved, the sections 4 may
be forced inward or outward, resulting in the traveling of the bolt 8 upward or
downward in the guide 10 and permitting thereby the desired adjustment of the
sections 4. In this manner, it is obvious that the distances which the end por-
tions of the base sections project beyond the sides of the ladder, may be readiiy
controlled by the operator, thereby not only admitting of the supporting base
being adapted for bearing in spaces of various widths, but admitting of the same
being drawn inward in such positions as to be practically out of the way when
the ladder is being carried on a truck, or not in use.
Although the herein-described ladder base is of simple construction and
operation, it will readily be seen that its use will provide a safe and substantial
bearing for a ladder or lower section thereof which will not only resist tendency
toward slipping outward, but which will also resist any tendency toward a lateral
or tipping movement of the ladder in either direction.
In case one of the hearing feet of one of the beam sections should rest upon a
more yielding surface than the other, it is obvious that the tendency toward that
side of the ladder sinking would be greatly overcome by the contact of the under-
side of the beam section with the ground after the sinking of the toothed projec-
tions of the feet 13. It will thus be seen that not only is the ladder provided
with a lateral extended base which will insure a substantial bearing of the lower
ladder section, but that by its use the mounting of ladders by firemen and others
may be conducted with comparative safety, whether the same be supported upon
a smooth or an uneven surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a base attachment for ladders, the combination with a ladder frame, and
keepers projecting from the legs thereof, of a base attachment formed of two
sections and having a sliding support in said keepers, a central guide carried on
said ladder section and means for locking the inner ends of said base sections
at different heights on said guide, substantially as specified.
2. In a base attachment for ladders, the combination with a ladder section
and keepers projecting from the legs thereof, of a base consisting of jointedly
connected sections 4, said sections passing through said keepers, a guide on said
ladder section, and means for locking said base sections at different heights on said
guide, substantially as specified.
3. In a base attachment for ladders, the combination with a ladder section.
keepers projecting from the legs thereof and a central guide carried on said
ladder, of base sections 4, a bolt hinging the inner ends of said sections and
having sliding engagement with said guide and a hand piece fulcrumed to
the outer end of said bolt and having a cam projection, substantially as specified.
al
Dated this 18th day of Anvil 1800
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.