Improvements in Double Step-ladders.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Double Step-ladders.
I JAMES MOUNTSTEPHEN ROGERS of 15 Old Street in the County of London
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention is intended to provide a double step-ladder of the type usually
used in shops, libraries and other places where it is desirable that such articles
should occupy but a small space when not in use, shall be light and convenient to
move from place to place as required and present an appearace that is not
unsightly.
In carrying out my invention I may construct my improved steps in the
following manner say for a pair of double steps having about three treads on each
side and a top step, or landing, the dimensions given being only for the purpose of
more clearly describing the construction and may be varied according to the size
or strength of the step ladder required.
I take a piece of hard wood about 45 inches in length, three and a half to four
inches in width and about one inch in thickness and by means of a ribbon or like
saw I cut this down so as to divide it into two parts which form the legs of one
side of the steps or 1 may clamp two pieces of similar size together before.sawing
so as to obtain the legs for both sides at one cutting or sawing operation by which
means they will be perfectly true.
... Instead of cutting straight down the centre of the flat part of the strips of wood
I cut in such a manner that I form at intervals brackets of a semicircular form on
one side and recesses or indents on the opposite side and immediately or nearly so
under the brackets or projections semicircular or similar indents or recesses on the
one side and consequently semi-circular brackets or projections on the opposite
side. These brackets are formed at proper intervals to carry the treads and the
spaces between may be cut away in the middle for lightness and if desired in an
ornamental manner leaving sufficient wood at edges to support the brackets and
trends. The circular cuts form together ogees and the two parts or legs will fit
into each other when the steps are closed or folded together.
The brackets or projections are grooved on their inner faces to receive the
treads which are mortised, tenoned, glued and wedged so as to be firmly fixed
therein or thereto and as the brackets on one side or ladder do not correspond in
distance from floor or bottom of ladder with those on the opposite side or ladder
the two sets of treads lie over and under each other when the double step-ladder is
closed.
"
The tops of the sides are cut to a convenient shape and "dolphin" or "rule-
joint hinges are fixed; on them to connect the opposite legs or uprights.
together.
The top step or platform is fixed and formed differently from the treads or
lower steps and is pivoted to one side or ladder only at a convenient distance.
from the tops of the sides and is of sufficient width to reach and fall over a stay
or support on the opposite ladder and so form a strutt or brace and lock to keep
the double ladder open and firm, but when not in use it remains tilted or folded
upwardly within the sides or legs of the ladders, and for this purpose in

page_text: constructing the top step or platform I form or fix metal or wooden ledges along
and underneath each end of this top step or flap and near one end of each I make
holes or bushes through which I pass a metal rod which is firmly secured at each
end to the sides or uprights of one ladder and so forms the pivot on which the top
step or flap is hung.
At the opposite ends of the ledges I cut or form notches which engage over the
rod or stay secured to the sides or uprights of the opposite ladder when the step
ladders are open for use. The top step or flap is tilted automatically by the
closing of the ladders or brought down into position (and so locking the ladders)
by the opening of them and for this purpose I bend a strong wire or a metal rod
into the form of the loop of a D but having its extremities bent outwardly or
downwardly; these extremities I secure in holes or bushes in the legs of the ladder
carrying the stay or support and at a convenient distance below the top step when
in use and I pass the loop through holes in the ledges of the top step or flap
placed in a suitable position so that the whole forms a lever which pushes up the
top step when the steps are closed and pulls it down when they are opened.
The brackets and sides may be cut to any convenient or suitable ornamental
pattern and the whole when folded or closed forms a sightly piece of furniture
which may be painted, or stained and varnished' in any desired manner.
Dated this 9th day of March 1895.
I JAMES MOUNTSTEPHEN ROGERS late of 15 Old Street in the County of
London and now of 57 Compton Street, Clerkenwell in the same county Engineer
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 is intended to provide a double step. ladder of the type usually
used in shops libraries and other places where it is desirable that such articles
should occupy but a small space when not in use, shall be light and convenient to
move from place to place as required and present an appearance that is not
unsightly.
In carrying out my invention I may construct my improved steps in the
following manner say for a pair of double steps having about three treads on each
side and a top step or landing the dimensions given being only for the purpose of
more clearly describing the construction and may be varied according to the size
or strength of the step ladder required and I have also attached to this
Specification a sheet of drawings further illustrating my invention to "which
drawings and to the letters of reference and figures thereou I shall hereafter
refer.
Figure 1. is a perspective view of a double step ladder made in accordance with
my invention and standing open.
Figure 2. is a sectional elevation of ladder when closed and
Figure 3. is a back elevation of same shewing arrangement of the top step or
landing.
In building my step ladder I take a piece of hard wood say about 45 inches in
length three and a half to four inches in width and one inch in thickness and by
means of a ribbon or other suitable machine saw I cut this down its length so as
to divide it into two parts which form the legs or uprights A. A of one side of
the ladder or I inay clamp two similar pieces together before sawing so as to obtain

page_text: the legs or uprights for both sides at one cutting or sawing operation so that they
may be perfectly true and exactly correspond.
Instead of cutting straight down the centre of the flat of the strips of wood
I cut in such a manner as to form at intervals brackets or projections of a semi-
circular form such as B. B. B. on one side and recesses or indents such as C. C. C.
on the opposite side and immediately, or nearly so, under "the brackets or
projections semi-circular or similar indents or recesses B' B' B₁ on the one side
and consequently corresponding brackets or projections C₁ C'C' on the opposite
side; these brackets are formed at proper intervals to carry the treads D. D. D
and the spaces between E. E. E. may be cut away for lightness and if desired in
an ornamental manner leaving sufficient wood at edges to support the brackets or
trends.
The circular cuts form together ogees and the two parts or legs will fit into
each other when the legs are closed or folded together as shewn in Figure 2. The
brackets Bare grooved on their inner faces to receive the treads which are
morticed tenoned glued and wedged so as to be firmly fixed and as the brackets
on one side or ladder do not correspond in distance from floor or bottom of ladder
with those on the opposite side or ladder the two sets of treads lie partially over
and under each other when the double step ladder is closed. The tops of the
sides or ladders are cut to a convenient shape and dolphin or rule joint hinges
such as F. are fixed on them to connect the opposite legs or ladders together.
The top step or landing H is formed differently from the treads D. and is
pivotted to one side or ladder only as at J at a convenient distance from the
tops of the sides and is of sufficient width to reach and fall over a stay or
support K. on the opposite ladder and .so forni a strutt or brace and lock to
keep the double ladder open and firm (if such be needed), but when not in use
it remains tilted or folded upwardly within the sides or legs of the ladders as
shewn in Figures 2 and 3. and for this purpose in constructing the top step or
landing I form or fix metal or wooden ledges L. L. along and underneath each
end of this. top step or flap and near one end of each I make holes or bushes
through which I pass a metal rod O which is firmly secured at each end to the
sides or uprights of one ladder and so forms the pivot on which the top step or
flap is hung at the opposite ends of the ledges L L I cut or form notches M.
The top
which engage over the rod or stay K when the ladder is open for use.
step or flap is tilted automatically by the closing of the ladders or brought down
into position by the opening of them at the same time locking them, and for this
purpose I bend a strong wire or rod Q into the shape of three sides of a rectangular
figure, thus, or in equivalent manner, and before the bending is complete pass
it through holes S in the ledges of the top step or flap allowing the extremities
of the wire or the like to hang downwardly and be hinged at their ends to the
legs of the ladder carrying the stay K at a convenient distance below the top step
or landing when in use. The hinge for this purpose may be made by curving up
the end of wire rod Q and securing it by a screw as shown, and thus a lever is
formed which pushes up the top step or landing when the steps are closed and
pulls it down when they are opened.
The steps ladders made according to my invention may be of any height or
contain any
desired number of treads, and the tilting platform.or top step may be
used for single folding step ladders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of tny said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly. In double step ladders, cutting or so shaping the legs or standards that
when folded together certain parts may interlock and the oppositely situated treads
overlap one another substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. In step ladders, the use of a hinged top step or landing capable
of assuming a vertical or nearly vertical position when the ladder is folded

page_text: substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. The construction and design of an improved collapsible or folding
step ladder substantially as described in the foregoing Specification.
Dated this 9th day of January 1896.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
7 & 8 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.