US909315A - Ladder. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. MYERS.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1908.

909,31 5. Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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lllTlE HUBERT A. MYERS, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909 Application filed January 9, 1908. Serial No. 409,975.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ladders; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to ladders, and has for its object to provide a truss for the step of the ladder which will at the same time brace the middle of the step and hold the risers of the ladder against the step ends; and to provide a truss of this kind which may be easily and cheaply manufactured and easily assembled.

Another object is to provide adjustable folding braces whereby the legs of the ladder may be held in place at different angles from the ladder.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step ladder showing my improved device applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the adjustable locking means for the folding braces; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking means closed 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

The drawing shows my invention as applied to a step ladder, 1. A wire rod, 3, is passed around the risers, 2, ol the ladder, 1, the ends thereof being brought beneath the center of the step, 4, and passed inwardly through the ends of a small link, 5, and formed into hooked ends, 6, embracing the wire rod, 3, near its mid point, the distance between said mid. point and said link being such that they are drawn well under and away from the edges of the step. The outer loop ends, 7, of the wire rod are placed around the risers at or just lower than the ends of the steps, and a wedge, not shown, may be driven between the steps and said midpoint, and said link until the wire is fully tightened. This wedge is then followed by a block, 8, which remains i'irmly in place between the wire rod and the step, as shown, and forms means to hold the rod tight and to support the central point of the step. The combination thus shown forms a very effective truss, not only for supporting the middle point of the step, but also for holding the risers of the ladder firmly against displacement from the ends of the steps. The construction shown is found to be very efficient and can be easily placed on the step ladder.

Each riser is provided at its upper end with an angle plate, 9, to which plates are pivoted the legs, 10, of the ladder, the back being provided with the usual diagonal braces, 11, and the cross braces, 12. A shelf, 13, is provided with rearwardly extend ing side pieces, 14, by which said shelf is pivoted between the legs, 10, as at the pivots, 15. In order to adjust the angle between the legs, 10, and the risers, 2, and to permit the latter to be folded, I provide separate folding braces, composed of members, 16, and 17. Near one end of the member, 16, is pivotally secured, as by means of the rivet, 18, a clamp, 19, said clamp consisting of a plate having a body portion, 20, each end of which is bent laterally to form side members, 21, of a housing, 22, the extreme edge of said side members being again laterally bent as shown. At each end of the housing, 22, the clamp, 19,'has plate extensions, 23, adapted to resiliently press against the member, 17, slidably received in the housing 22. The plate, 23, is inclined as at 24 and is adapted to be engaged by the beveled head, 25, of the stud, 26, passing through the member, 167

It is obvious that when the members, 16 and 17, are in alinement with each other, that the heads, 25, will bear against the plate, 23, and press the same firmly in engagement with the member, 17, thus locking the members, 16 and 17 against longitudinal movement with respect to each other. When the members, 16 and 17, are turned at an angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 3, the beveled heads, 25, will no longer cause the plate, 23, to press against the member, 17, thus leaving the member, 17, free to move within the housing, 22, whereby the length of the folding members may be adjusted.

The leg 10 being pivotally connected with the risers 22 renders it possible by means of the adjustable folding brace to adjust the angle between one leg and its riser to be less or greater than the angle between the other leg and corresponding riser, whereby the lower end of one leg may be placed higher than the lower end of the other leg to accommodate for unevenness in the floor or other place, where the ladder is placed.

When it is desired to fold the ladder, the

folding members are bent downwardly, the shelf 13 is folded between the legs, 10, and the legs, 10, are folded against the risers.

It is thought that the operation and advantages of my invention will be understood without further explanation.

While in this description I have described minute details, I do not limit myself to these, as the same may be eatly varied Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In combination, a pair of risers and a step therebetween, a rod passed around and connecting said risers, the ends of said rods being passed through a link and hooked over said rod, and means supported by said rod and supporting said step.

2. In a step ladder, in combination, a pair of risers and a step therebetween, a rod passed around and connecting said risers, the ends of said rod being passed through the ends of a link and hooked over said rod at a oint substantially midway its ends, and a block on said rod and said link between said ends and supporting said step.

3. In a step ladder, a folding brace comprising a pair of members, a housing pivoted to one of said members and adapted to slidably receive said other member, and means to cause said housing to clamp said lastnamed member.

4. In a step ladder, a folding brace comprising a member having a housing pivoted thereon, resilient extensions on said housing, a second member adapted to be slidably received by said housing, and means carried by said first-named member to press said resilient extension against said second member.

5. In a folding brace, a member having a supporting piece pivoted thereto, said supporting piece comprising a plate having a body portion bent to "form a housing, said plate having resilient extensions at the end of said housing, a second member received by said housing, beveled lugs on said firstnamed member adapted to press against said resilient extensions, and flanges on the sides of said extensions to limit the movement of said lugs, said extensions being beveled for contact with'said lugs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUBERT A. MYERS.

Witnesses JAS. S. BAKER, E. E. GAsKILL.

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