US1731234A - Ladder - Google Patents

Description

M. BAUER Oct. 15, 1929.

LADDER Filed May 11. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v Muff/x7 Bauen,

Z BY 6% %TTORNEY5 5 M. BAUER LADDER Filed May 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1: W4 1 I 1 I I T INVENTOR M0/7'7/7 5670a; BY 5 iTTORNEYS Oct. 15,1929. M. BAUER LADDER Filed May 11, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Mar/7'0 Bauzr M. BAUER Oct. 15, 1929.

LADDER 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 11 w n R 1 0% M m5 [.R E I V n v N A Patented Oct. ,15, 1929 MARTIN BAUER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO LADDER Application filed May 11, 1927. Serial No. 190,454.

The present invention relates tocertain improvements in ladders adapted to support painters scaffolds and the like. The principal feature of the invention lies in the provision of a ladder, which without adjustment will permit the scaffolds to be so placed, by a single operator, as to render entire surfaces readily accessible throughout their vertical extent. In explanation of this feature, it is to be understood as a premise, that fully 85% of frame houses are constructed with either a 16 or 18 foot studding. Allowing two feet for the foundation wall, and another foot for the upper and lower joists or plates, it follows that the most favorable arrangement of scaffoldingis one which will permit the painter, without unnecessary readjustment, to cover the vertical distance of 17 or 19 feet between the foundation walls and roof. Consequently, each of my improved ladders, of

which two will ordinarily be used, will include a scaffold jack extending forwardly of the ladder at, say, five or six feet from the ground, a rearwardly extending jack 5 or 6 r feet above the lower jack, anda second rearwardly extending jack from 2 or 3 feet above the other. The lower jack is placed forwardly of the ladder in order to bring the operator close to the wall, while the upper jacks are placed rearwardly of the ladder in order to maintain a better balance and. to obviate the necessity of providing extended spacers between the upper end of theladder and the wall. In the case of a 16 foot studding, scaffolding would need to be arranged only on the lowest and intermediate jacks of the two ladders, while in the case of an 18 foot studding the top jacks would also be utilized.

While the ladders explained above are adapted to support the scaffolding in such a.

position and folded into the plane of the ladder so as to be out of the way.

Vith these general features in view I shall now proceed to describe my invention in an illustrative embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a general view showing a pair of my improved ladders in operative position to receive the scaffolding, also a single ladder as extended with the jacks rendered inoperative.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lower or base portion of an extensible ladder according to my invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of Figure 2 taken between the rails. 5

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. V

Figure 5 Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the upper extension section of the ladder. v

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of Figure is a section on the line 5-5 of l 6 taken between the rails.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6. b

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig ure 7.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 7. I

Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 01 Figure 7. 1 f

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the upper or'extension section of the ladder showing both of the upper jacks, one being represented in operative position and the other in inoperat1ve position. i V

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of Figure 12 taken between the rails.

Figure 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of Figure 18, and 5 Figure 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Referring first of allto the general asse1nbly of the ladder, 2O denotes the lower or base section comprising rails or stiles 21 and 22,

and rungs 23. The upper ends of the rails are provided with brackets 24 and 25, extending forwardly of the rails and serving to mount roller-s26. The inner surfaces of the rails are provided with longitudinal grooves as at 27, and into these grooves take lugs 28 secured to the extension portion 29 of the ladder adjacent its lower end. The upper portion of section 29 is guided between rollers 26 and rungs 23 of the bottom section. The section 29 comprises side rails 30 and 31 and rungs 32. Sheaves 33 and 34, through which is reeved a rope 35, are secured adjacent the top and bottom of the main and extension sections in the manner well understood in the art so that the two are longitudinally adjustable. On a base 36, secured to two adjacent rungs 32, is a pawl member 37 adapted to engage rungs 23 to retain the sections in the desired relation. Pawl 37 is pivoted to base 36 by means of a stud 36 secured to the latter. A spring 39 loosely coiled on a hub 40 engages with one end the stud 41 on pawl 37. The upper end of the spring, in order to vary its force, may be selectively positioned behind lugs 42 formed on a plate 43 secured to member 36. The spring tends to force the segment 37 in the direction of the arrow (Figure 7) so that it takes the position illustrated, its movement being limited by the contact of finger 44 with rung 32. Finger 45 is thus adapted to engage a selected rung 23, but may be brought out of such en gagement through manipulation of cord 46 in the usual manner.

Although the upper jacks extend in the opposite direction to the lower jack, their structure is the same so that a description of onewill apply to all. Referring then to Fig ures 12 and 13, the jack therein illustrated comprises a cross member 47 formed of angle iron, and secured to each end of this cross or mounting member is a cap 43 having axially extending pins 48 serving as trunnions. These trunnions are received in bearings formed in hubs 49 of plates 50 which are fixed to the inner surfaces of the rails. Secured to the center portion of cross piece 47 is a tongue or supporting element 51, preferably in rectangular relation thereto, and this relation is rigidly maintained by a plate 52 connecting the two. A brace member 53 is pivoted at one end to the free extremity of tongue51. This brace is likewise preferably formed from an angle bar, one of the sides of which is extended beyond the other to form an car 54 adapted to engage in a slot 55 in a specially constructed rung 56. The end 57 of the other side of brace 53 abuts against rung 56 so that'when the parts are in the described relation, tongue 51 is securely blocked in operative position. A latch 58 engages a recess 59 of the brace to lock it in engagement with rung 56. This rung consists of an angle bar rigidly secured between the rails and reinforced by members 64 and It will be noted from Figure 12 that cross piece 47 of the upper jack which is in operative position, is upwardly bowed at its central portion. l Vhen the acl: is brought into inoperative position, this how, of course, extends rearwardly. Hung 56 is forwardly 0ft set or bowed at its central portion, so that due to the described relation of the parts, tongue 51 may swing entirely within the bounding planes of the rails. The ends of the rung 56, which serve as treads, are thus enabled to be disposed in line with the other rungs, thus obviating the possibility of a inisstep. The ends of cross piece 47 are provided with filling pieces or treads 60, which are presented when the jack is in inoperative position. l fhen the jack is to be brought into inoperative position, brace 53 may be folded back along tongue 51 and retained in this position by a wing of anut 61 secured to the lower surface of plate 52, Figure 15. its shown, nut 61 is frictionally controlled so as not to be accidentally released. A similar nut 62 is arranged in the olfset portion of rung 56, so as to engage a flange 63 on the underside of tongue 51. From the above, it will be seen that no matter in what manner the ladder is handled, the parts will always be maintained in their adjusted positions.

The parts of the three jacks have been designated by the same reference characters. The above description has been made with particular reference to Figure 12, which shows the upper jacks. It will be understood, however, that the same description applies to Figure 6, the only difference being that in the latter case the bowed or offset portions of elements-47 and 56 will extend respectively forwardly and rearwardly, and brace 53 will. necessarily be somewhat longer.

In order that the surface directly in front of the top end of the ladder may be easily reached, it is desirable to space this end somewhat from the supporting surface. I accordingly provide the upper spacers, asparticularly illustrated, in Figures 13 and 14. These spaces each consist of an angle bar 65 provided at one end with a pointed element 66, the point of which is backed up'by a collar to limit its penetration. The other end of the spacer is pivoted by means of a rivet 67 to a plate 68 securely fastened to a rail of the ladder. The downward movement of member 65 is positively limited by a clip 69 on plate 68, but it is desirable that the upward movement of this member from its normal extended position be not positively limited. This possibility of movement is desirable to permit the ladder to adjust itself relative to the points 66 when it is on uneven or soft ground. It is obvious that otherwise, the spacers would either be bent or the wall surface would be scratched. On the other hand,

if a free upward movement of member 65 were permitted, it would often happen that in raising the ladder, it would fall back into derstood.

inoperative position shown in dotted lines Figure 13. Consequently, I have provider a friction oint between member and plate 68. As will be seen from Figure 14, plate 68 is dished at 70 away from the plane of member 65. Rivet 67 is suificiently shrunk to spring this dished portion somewhat so that a considerable resistance is given to the movement of member 65. Rotatable clips 71 are provided on the top rung to retain members 65 in inoperative position.

From the above description and with particular reference to Figure 1, the manner Oil practicing my invention will be readily un- In Figure 1, an 18 foot studding hasbeen assumed, and all the jacks are in operative position. As shown, a plank is supported 011 the lower and uppermost jacks. The ladder at the extreme right is shown with the jacks in inoperative position, so as to be entirely out of the way of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, claim: 1

1. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extending scafi'old jack intermediate the base and central portion 01" the ladder, and a rearwardly extending jack ad-' jacent the top of the ladder, said jacks including mounting members extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs.

2. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extending scaffold jack intermediate the baseand central portion of the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting members extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs.

8. In combination with a plural rail ladder,

a frontwardly extending scaffold jack intermediate the base and central portion of the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting members extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs, the mounting members of said top jacks being positioned as alternate rungs.

at. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extending scaffold ack intermediate the base and central portion of ,the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting members extending between the rails in'permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs, the mounting members of said top jacks being spaced by substantially two to three feet.

5. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a frontwardly extending scaiiold jack inter mediate the base and central portion of the ladder, and a rearwardly extending jack adjacent the top of the ladder, said jacks 1neluding mounting members extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs and brace means releasable to permit them to swing into the plane of the rails.

6. In combination with a plural rail ladder,

a frontwardly extending scaiiold ack intermediate the base and central portion of the ladder, and a pair of rearwardly extending jacks spaced longitudinally of the ladder adjacent its upper end, said jacks including mounting members extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs and brace means releasable to permit them to swing into the place of the rails. I

7 In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising a cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a rung, a tongue extendingfrom said cross piece in operative relation to the ladder, and means to secure said tongue in such posit-ion said means being releasable and said tongue being adapted upon such release to swing to ward the ladder; and a rung having an offset portion in the swinging path or said tongue to permit said tongue to swing within the bounding planes of said rails, the ends oi said rung being in the plane of the other rungs.

8. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising a cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a run a ton ue extendin substantially reetangularly from the central portion of said cross piece in operative relation to the ladder, and means to secure said tongue in such position, said means being releasable and said tongue being adapted upon such release to swing toward the ladder; and a rung in the swinging path of said tongue having an oii'set central portion to receive said tongue within the bounding planes ofsaid rails, the ends of said rung being in the plane of the other rungs.

9. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising a cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a rung, a tongue extending from said cross piece in operative relation to the ladder, a brace pivoted at one end to the free end of said tongue and engageable at its other end with an adjacent rung oi? the ladder to maintain said tongue in operative position, said brace being releasable from said rung and foldable along said tongue whereby the two may be swung toward the ladder; said adjacent rung having an offsetportion to receive said tongue and brace within the bounding planes of said rails, the ends of the ioo said rung being in the plane of the other rungs.

10. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a rung having its central portion oil'- set toward one face of the ladder, its end portions being in the plane of the other rungs, and a scaffold jack, said jack comprising a cross piece disposed between the rails of the ladder to serve as a rung, the central portion 01" said cross piece being o'fl'set toward the other face of the ladder, a tongue secured to the oi'fsetportion of said cross piece and extending within the plane of the rails and within the offset portion of said first named rung, a pivotal mounting for said cross piece whereby said tongue may be swung into angular operative relation to the ladder, and means to maintain the tongue in such relation. 7

11. In. combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising a cross piece pivoted between the rails to serve as a rung, a tongue extending from said cross piece in rigid connection therewith and adapted to swing from the plane of the rails into operative relation to the ladder, means to secure said tongue in operative position, and treads on said cross piece at each side of said tongue presented in operative position when the tongue is in inoperative position.

12. In combination with a plural rail ladder, a scaffold jack comprising an angle bar, pivoted between the rails to serve as a rung, a tongue extending from the central portion of said cross piece in rigid connection therewith and adapted to swing from the plane of the rails into operative relation to the ladder, means to secure said tongue in operative position, and filler pieces in the end portions of said angle bar presented as treads when the jack is inoperative.

13. In combination with a plural rail eX- tension ladder comprising upper and lower sections, a rearwardly extending jack adjacent the top of the upper section and a frontwardly extending jack on saidupper section below the first-mentioned jack, said jacks being adapted to support a pair of scaffold planks in suitable vertically spaced working relation, said jacks including mounting menu'- leers extending between the rails in permanent connection therewith and serving as rungs.

lin testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'MARTIN BAUER.

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