US2827215A - Hand truck and ladder - Google Patents

Description

G, 'w. BURG ErAL HAND TRUCK AND LADDER Filed July 1G. 1956 INVENTORS e WBuI- g- Rober WLedger wood m7' .4 M221 D Hi' g5.

Georg- United States Patent O HAND TRUCK AND LADDER GeorgeW. Burg and Robert W. Ledgerwood-Portland, Oreg., assignprs to Rol-Away 'Ifrulr Manufacturing Company, Inc., Portland, Gregg., a corporation of Oregon Application July-16, 1956, Serial-No.4598g103 9-Claims. (Cl. 228-16) This invention relates to aV novel stepladderassembly and more particularly to a stock transfer truck having` a collapsible stepladder retractably carried thereby to assist in the loading and unloading of thestock transfer truck.

StockV ,transfertrucks presently iind- Wide acceptance by concerns which handle, store, andtransfer vlarge volumes of such items as packaged goods, foods, replacement parts, and the-like. Items of this nature are quite generally stored in a stockroorn which has high, ceiling to floor shelves distributed throughout the stockroom along the walls of the room and frequentlyalong isles laid out along the area bounded by the walls. Conventionally, the stock transfer truck is employed to assist in the transfer of goods to and from the various shelves, the transfer truck enabling the more expeditious vtransport of goods from one point to another,

Stock transfer trucks, by reason of the high shelves found in-a stockroom of the typedescribed, are sometimes equipped with built-in ladder devices which are transported with the stock transfer truck so as to-be-ready-for use when the occasion demands. ladder with the transfer truck, it becomes no longer necessary to distributemany laddersl throughoutthei stockroom or separately transport aladder whenever itA is needed. V-

ln view of the conditionsV whichv areV normally found inI a stock room, a well designedstock transfer truck and ladder assembly should be constructedso as to meeta number of requirements. For instance, to permit easy set up of the ladder without thev need of manual aid to maintain` proper balance, the ladder-s step elements should lie onta plane sutliciently inclined from theV verticaltopermit a person u singthe ladder properly to balance himself usinghis feet only. In additionvto thisrequirement, structure should be provided which willV serve to anchor the truck and` ladder from inadvertent movement While theladder is in use. Also because of the crowded conditions normally found in storerooms, it is mandatory that the ladder assembly consume as little space as possible so as to permitA maximum maneuverability of the truck.

Transfer truck and ladder assemblies have been proposed; however, to our knowledge the constructions heretoforersuggestedhave not been wholly satisfactory. The majorityof-'transfer trucks which have been proposed have been equipped with laddersof substantially rigid construction, with the step elements of the ladder arranged on an inclined plane either with the upper portion of the ladder extending inwardly over a portion of the cart itself, or witnthc entire assembly protruding outwardly from one end of .the cart. Theforrner design has resultedv inl decreased available` space on the cart andy increased difficulties inloading: and unloading theA truck, whereas the latter-has been cumbersome and hard to manipulate.

To obviate the aforementioned difculties, this inven- By the inclusionof a` tion contemplates the incorporation with a stock transfer truck of a collapsible stepladder assembly which has n- 2,827,215l Patented Mar. 18, 1:958

vCC f cor-porated therein a novel arrangement which unfolds the stepladder to Vpermit easy use of the ladder when the st epladder is positioned on the ground, and which collapsesv the ladder and positively holds the ladder in this state whcneverthe ladder is not inA use and positioned to ride clear of the ground. Further, additional means are provided so that theladder will unfold and assume an operatiye posit-ion; under the weight of an ordinary person-, and; immediately returnto a riding and collapsed condition wherein; theladder is folded and held against the @side of a cart when subsequently released.

Generally, therefore,4 it; is an object of this invention to providein cornbinationwith a stock transfer truck, a Collapsiblsstepladder mounted for` reciprocaticn Vbetween ariding, position,whereinY theladder is clear of the ground, andan-` anchored position wherein the ladder contacts.- the ground, and which is collapsed andv positively held inafolded. position; by means disposed between the truck andtneladder whenever the ladder is raised from they anchored, totheI riding position.

Another-object ofthis inyention is to provide a stock transfer truck andcollapsible ladder assembly which includes abiasing-arrangement normally urging the stepladder to a` riding positionV where the ladder clears the groundbrnovement to this riding position automatically folding the -ladder-v so that it will lie compactly against the stock transfer` truck.

Anotherobjectofthis invention is to-provide a collapsible stepladder-for; use with an adjoining structure such as a stock transfer-truck which will support; itselfindependently whenI opened for use, and whichl will automaticallyfold together and be carried by the adjoining structure; when the ladderis released and not in-.uset Still anotherobject o f this-invention is to provide afastening meansfor suchv aA collapsible ladder disposed between the support structure andthe ladder-for--loelcingvthe ladder inits extended and opened. position.

These and other-,objects andi advantages are attained lby thel present invention, various-novel features of. which are` more fully disclosed in thefollowingdescription and illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. l isa side view ofone form-y of the transfer truck and ladder of this inyention, showingY the ladder folded againstv the transfertruck in a raised4 riding position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the transfer truck andladder shown in. Fig. l, showingthe ladder unfolded and in an opened, extended position; andv Fig. 3isan1end-view of the transfer truck and ladder with theladder in-the position it occupies in- Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, generally indicated at 10;,is thebody of a conventional stockv transfertr-uck comprised offour opstanding frame. or chassis members 11 disposed at the corners of' body 1l) and forming the, peripheral outline of body lll. Lying horizontally betweenthe Vframe. members 1-1 are shelves 7', 8y and 9, which are suitably secured as by welding toy frame membersV 1-1.-

The body lll, of the transfer truck is mounted upon a pair. of frontvwheels 12 and a. pair of rear wheels. 13 so as tov provide wheelJ support for body, 1l); Wheels 12 and 131are prefer-,ably caster wheels mounted to swivel beneath body-luso that thetransfer truck has armaxirnum degree of .maneunerability At one, endl of body 1,0. and mountedv on the upright portion presented by, frame members 11V is a ladder` assembly generally indicated at 14. This ladder assembly comprises.- an inner ladder, Support 16 mounted, as described hereinbelow for reciprocationL betweenL an an- ChoralVV position. wherein the innerladder supporti GQ41- tests the 'ef-Oiled, and. a riding position whereinhe 99- pnrt is raised upwardly Clear 0f the ground, ,Plv- 01rd tol this: innerdadder.supportA at. airuppei'` par; thereof; :is

an outer ladder support 'generally' indicated at 17. Outer that the free end of the outer ladder support is free to move toward and away Vfrom the body portion of the truck to the positions generally shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

More specifically, the inner ladder support generally includes a pair of ladderuprights l18 and l19 having YU- shaped upper end portions 21 and 22. Each ladder upright is slidably mounted in spaced guide members 23 secured to the side of the transfer truck by suitable means, as by screws 24. Y

Encircling the lower portion ofY each ladder upright is a compression spring 26. The lower end of each compression spring 26 is seated on the upper surface of theV lower guide Vmemberr23, and the upper end of each spring is seated on the lower surface of a retainer sleeve 27, suitably fastened to the ladder uprightV as by screw 2,8. Mounted on each ladder upright above retainer sleeve 27 is-an abutment sleeve 29 secured to the upright ladder support is pivoted to the inner ladder support so Y n Vmaximum degree of stability is attained.-

Y 4 Y moved downwardly to its anchored position, the free end of the outer ladder support will swing outwardlyr to its extended position. Links44 and 46 are selected so that when the inner ladder support, comprising ladder up- V rights 18 and 19, are in contact with the ground, the outerV ladder support, comprising legs 32 and 33, will also simultaneously contact the ground. Thus, when the ladder assembly 14-.is unfolded and in use, the ladder is independently sustained by reason ofV the four-point support provided by the ladder legs and ladder uprights, Vso that a ` Rubber tips 49 and 51 are carried by the bottom portions of each ladder leg and ladderA upright to insure-that the ground, and an'upper or riding position where abut- Y ment sleeve 29 strikes the lower surface of the upper guide member 23. The combined force of the two compression springs 26 encircling ladder uprights 18 and 19 is sucient to lift the ladder assembly 14 to its riding posi-Y tion when no force other than that exerted by the weight of the ladder is being exerted downwardly Von the ladder f assembly. When anradditional force is exerted downwardly on theY ladder assembly, compression springs 26 will yield and the assembly will be'lowered to the ground. Thus, compression springs 2,6 form a bias means interthe ladder will not move inadvertently when the ladder is in use and in its anchored position.

At times it is desirable-that ladder assembly 14 be kept in its lowered or anchored position regardless of whether the ladder is supporting the weight of a person. Therefore, it has been found advisabley to provide a fastening means for selectivelyV lockingrthe ladder assembly in kits anchored position. p v

Referring tothe drawings, a lever 52 Yis'mounted-between ladder uprights 18 and 19 fixed to a tubular mem- Vber 56, tubular member 56 encircling a shaft 57 secured posed between body 10 and the innerladder support 1761 normally urging the latter to a raised or riding position.

VThe outer ladder support 17 includes a pair of ladder legs S27-and 33 pivotally mounted to ladder uprights 18 and 19 Vat pivot connections 34 and 36. To strengthen the upper end ofthe ladder assembly 14, a channel shaped bracket 37 is included ,in the assembly, legs 38 of the bracket being welded to the ladder uprightsv as at 39 and pivot connections 34 and 36 extending through the legs of the bracket near theelbow portion thereof.

' Fixed between and connecting each ladder leg is a pair of horizontal step elements 41. The horizontal step elements preferably are selected so as to possess a Vsubstantial support area so that a person using .the ladder may readily balance-himself. As Ycan best be seen in Fig. 3, these step elements 4are secured Vto the ladder legs by welding each end of the step element to a suitable couplingy sleeve 42, which in turn may be fastened to each Y. ladder leg by suitable means suchv as screws 43. From Ythe foregoing, it will be apparent that ladderflegs32 andV 33, together with the horizontal-step elements 41, will pivot las a unit about pivot connections 34 and 36.V

- vationthan the pivot connection- betweenY links 44 and 46 with ladder legs 32 and 33, YsoY that when inner ladder ,support'16 is raised from anchored position to riding position, links 44 and 46 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the free end of outer ladder support 17 will beV pulled inwardly toward inner thatwhen inner ladder support 16 isfully raised, outer` .Y fladde'r support V17 willY be completely retracted Ywith its lower end lyingV adjacent'inner ladder support 16. .-Thus, means have been provided, comprising'links 44 and 46,'wh'ereinthe free or unpivoted end of themouter 1 lladdersupportrirs swungjpositivelyl-inwardly toward the innerladder supportI innresponse to movementpl' theYV innerladder-,support upwardly toa riding or free posiupright 18 is a latch member 58. Lever 52 can Ybe pivoted from a release position, shown in Fig. 1, to a locking position, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein latch pins 53 abut the underside of shelf 7 and arm 52 Vengages latch member 58. AV suitable coill spring, such as spring 59, with one of its ends fastened to tubular member 56 and the other of its ends fastened to ladder upright V19, is provided to urge lever 52 to the position shown in Fig. l.

From the foregoing, it willbe apparent that there has been provided a stock transfer truck and ladder assembly having a number of desirable features. Through the use 'of Va collapsible type stepladder, a ladder has been included which affords maximum ease in ascending and descending'but which takes up a amount of space when theladderisV not in use. The ladder is car- 'ried at one end Vof the stock transfer truck, so thata "ment of the inner ladder support ofthe assembly to a riding position is accompanied automatically by movement of theouter ladder support member ofthe assembly inwardly, so that theladder assembly is'in a collapsed state. By including a bias means, as lrepresentedfby compression spring Y26, a means has been provided which f serves automatically to collapse the ladder when the ladder is not in use. aY novel fastening means for-locking the ladder in its lower extendedposition when itis convenient to do so.

T upwardly along said *upright portion and slidably mountedl It is claimed and desired to secure byfvLetters Patent:

V1.7A stock transfer truck comprising a body ,having annpright portion at one end thereof, wheel support Y for said gbody, an inner ladder support member extending thereon* for -reciprocation between an anchor position wherein .'themember contacts thev ground and; aY ridingVY ladder s'upport16.I YThe pivot .connections are so placed position wherein the member is raised clear-of the ground,

an outer Vladder support member including a ladder step' y element pivotedv to said inner ladder vsupport memberY p at an upper externiityA thereof for movement of the free endY of sadrouter ladder Vsupport member'toward and away from said inner. ladderV support member, and means interposed between vsaid body and outer ladder support member positively swinging said outerY ladder support j Ymember'Y toward, and away from V,said inner ladderjsupport member in response to movement of said inner ladder suption. Conversely, i when',V the inner ladder supportV Vis .75

,Portr member ftofsaid ridingV and anchor positions, respective1y. VY Y Y Y Still further.there has been provided Y 2. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion at one end thereof, wheel support for said body, an inner ladder support member extending upwardly along said upright portion and slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder sup port member at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member, means interposed between said body and outer ladder support member positively swinging said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member in response to movement of said inner ladder support member to said riding and anchored positions, respectively, and bias means between said body and inner ladder support member normally urging said inner ladder support member to said riding position.

3. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion at one end thereof, wheel support for said body, an inner ladder support member extending upwardly along said upright portion and slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder support member at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member, and a link pivotally connected to said body and said outer ladder support member at a point intermediate its ends operable to swing said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member in response to movement of said inner ladder support member to said riding and anchor positions, respectively.

4. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion at one end thereof, wheel support for said body, an inner ladder support member extending upwardly along said upright portion and slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder support member at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member, a link pivotally connected to said body and said outer ladder support member at a point intermediate its ends operable to swing said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member in response to movement of said inner ladder support member to said riding and anchor positions, respectively, and bias means between said body and inner ladder support member normally urging said inner ladder support member to said riding position.

5. The stock transfer truck of claim 4 which further comprises fastening means for selectively locking said inner ladder support member in said anchor position.

6. A stock transfer truck comprising a body having an upright portion at one end thereof, wheel support for said body, a pair of ladder uprights extending upwardly along said upright portion and each slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the uprights both contact the ground and a riding position wherein the uprights are both raised clear of the ground, a ladder leg pivotally mounted to each ladder upright for movement of its free end toward and away om said ladder upright, at least one horizontal step element fixed between and connecting the ladder legs,

said ladder uprights and ladder legs simultaneously engaging the ground when said uprights are moved to said anchor position so as to provide a four-point support for said step element, and means interposed between said body and at least one of said ladder legs positively swinging said ladder legs toward and away from said ladder uprights in response to movement of said ladder uprights to said riding and anchor positions, respectively.

7. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising an inner ladder support member extending upwardly along an upright portion of said ground supported structure and slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member contacts the ground and a riding position wherein the member is raised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladder step ele ment and pivoted to said inner ladder support member at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said -outer ladder support member toward and away vfrom said inner ladder support member, and means interposed between said ground supported structure and outer ladder support member positively swinging said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member in response to movement of said inner ladder support member to said riding and anchor positions, respectively.

8. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising an inner ladder support member' extending upwardly along an upright portion of said ground supported structure and slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the member is raised clear of the ground, an outer ladder support member including at least one ladder step element and pivoted to said inner ladder support member at an upper extremity thereof for movement of the free end of said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member, means interposed between said ground supported structure and outer ladder support member positively swinging said outer ladder support member toward and away from said inner ladder support member in response to movement of said inner ladder support member to said riding and yanchor position, respectively, and bias means between said ground supported structure and inner ladder support member normally urging said inner ladder support member to said riding position.

9. A ladder assembly for a ground supported structure comprising a pair of ladder uprights extending upwardly along an upright portion of said ground supported structure each slidably mounted thereon for reciprocation between an anchor position wherein the uprights both contact the ground and a riding position wherein the uprights are both raised clear of the ground, a ladder leg pivotally mounted to each ladder upright for movement of its free end toward and away from said ladder upright, at least one horizontal step element fixed between and connecting the ladder legs, said ladder uprights and ladder legs simultaneously engaging the ground when said uprights are moved to said anchor position so as to provide a four-point support for said step element, and means interposed between said ground supported structure and at least one of said ladder legs positively swinging said ladder legs toward and away from said ladder uprights in response to movement of said ladder uprights to said riding and anchor positions, respectively.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,377,043 Samuelson May 29, 1 945 2,630,961 Burg Mar. 10, 1953 2,707,585 Hoey May 3, 1955

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