GB2222197A - Folding ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

The ladder is extendible from a compact stored disposition to the elongate extended position shown, in which each of a series of transverse rungs 11 is connected to the next rung by a pair of stiles 12, one at each end of the rungs. The rungs and the stiles are both of decreasing length from a first location along the length of the ladder (such as an end thereof) to a second location along the length. Successive stiles are hinged to one another by the rungs and each unit of a pair of equal length stiles and one rung may be folded to lie coplanar with, and inside the next adjacent unit, for storage purposes. The ladder may be attached to a building by spring clips connected to a rod, or, as shown, by connection to an extensible rod 14-16, one end 15 of which may be pointed. The folded ladder may be stored in a cabinet attached adjacent a window, either inside or outside. <IMAGE>

Description

Folding Ladder This invention relates to folding ladders, and is applicable particularly, but not exclusively to ladders for use in escaping from a building which is on fire.

According to the invention, there is provided a folding ladder which is extendible from a compact stored disposition to an elongate usable disposition, including a plurality of transverse rungs each joined to the next rung by a pair of longitudinal side members, one at each end of the rungs, in which the rungs are of decreasing length from a first location along the length of the ladder to a second location along the length thereof, and in which the longitudinal members are of decreasing length from the first location to the second location, and in which the successive longitudinal members are hinged to each other by means of the rungs, whereby each unit comprising a pair of substantially equal length longitudinal members and one rung may be folded to lie coplanar with, and inside, the next adjacent unit in the stored disposition.The first location may be one end of the ladder, especially the upper end, and the second location the other end thereof; alternatively, the first location may be an intermediate position and the second location one end of the ladder.

Preferably an end of the ladder comprising the larger units is adapted to be fastened to a building and, in use, to depend therefrom. The longitudinal members may be rigid and the ladder is conveniently made of metal.

The upper end of the ladder may be fastened to a bar which can extend across an opening such as a window, through which access is provided from the interior of the building to the top of the ladder. The bar may be of extendible length (that is, telescopic) so as to span a range of widths of opening. When the ladder and the bar are stored within the building, one end of the bar may be pointed to facilitate breaking glass in the opening. The other end of the bar may have a transverse pad for pushing out any remaining glass from the opening.

The upper end of the ladder is conveniently fastened to such a bar, or other anchorage for the ladder, by means of chains connecting to the ends of the uppermost rung.

Alternatively, the upper end of the ladder may be provided with releasable spring clips, to be clipped onto a transverse rod fastened to the building just below the opening (either inside or, preferably, outside the building).

The ladder is conveniently stored in a box fastened to the building just below the opening (again, either inside or, preferably, outside the building).

To help in use of the ladder, it may be spaced from the building by spacers provided on the ladder, extending towards the building from the plane of the extended ladder.

Varlous embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a folding ladder according to the invention in a stored disposition; Figure 2 shows the ladder in an extended usable disposition; Figure 3 is a side elevation of part of the ladder shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a window and of a box for storing the ladder; Figure 5 is an elevation of an extendible bar shown attached to the ladder in Figure 2; Figure 6 is an end elevation of part of a building, a bracket fastened thereto, and part of the ladder; Figure 7 is a front elevation of the bracket shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a front elevation of part of the ladder shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is an end elevation of an alternative bracket to that of Figure 6;; Figure 10 is a front elevation of the bracket shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a side elevation of the ladder shown in Figure 9; and Figure 12 is a schematic view, similar to that of Figure 2, of an alternative embodiment of folding ladder according to the invention.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings (in which like parts are denoted by like reference numerals), a folding ladder 10 is usable typically for escaping from a building which is on fire. However, the ladder according to the invention could be used for other, non-emergency use such as m boats or for occasional access to attics or the like.

Referring to Figure 1, the ladder 10 comprises a succession of similar units, each consisting of a transverse rung 11 and a pair of longitudinal side members or stiles 12 fastened to the opposite ends of each rung 11. The ends of the stiles 12 remote from each rung 11 are pivoted to the next adjacent rung 11. This may be accomplished by making each rung 11 of an outer tube and a longer bar or inner tube extending therethrough. The stiles 12 of one ladder unit are welded to the ends of the outer tube and the stiles 12 of the next ladder unit are welded to the ends of the inner bar or tube. Alternatively, each rung 11 may be a simple rod, passing through the inner pair of stiles 12 and welded to the outer pair of stiles 12. The stiles 12 are usually, but not necessarily rigid, such as of flat steel bar stock.

In successive units, the rungs 11 and stiles 12 are progressively shorter from one end of the ladder 10 to the other, to the extent that each unit can be rotated about the rung 11 thereof to lie coplanar with and inside the next adjacent unit. Thus the ladder 10 may be folded into a very compact and narrow disposition for storage, as shown particularly in Figure 1. To use the ladder, the upper end is fastened and the units are pivoted about the rungs 11 until the ladder 10 is extended, as shown in Figure 2. The ladder may be fastened with the wider end uppermost or with the narrower end uppermost.

If the ladder 10 is to be stored inside a building, for emergency escape through an opening in the wall of the building, such as a window, the ladder 10 may be stored in a metal box 18 fastened to the inside wall (as shown in Figure 4) or recessed in that wall. The ladder may conveniently be suspended from its upper end by a pair of slightly splayed chains 9, fastened at one end to a bar 13 and at the other end to upper ends of a pair of stiles 12. The bar 13 may be tubular and telescopic, so as to span a range of window widths, the length of the bar 13 being set by clamping screws 14 (shown in more detail, with the bar extended, in Figure 5). If the window has a width greater than the length of the bar 13, then brackets 18a may be fixed to the window cill so that the bar 13 can be extended for its opposite ends to engage through these brackets.One end of the bar 13 is formed with a point 15, to be used for breaking glass in the window, and the other end has a transverse pad 16, which can be used to push broken glass from the window.

Use of the ladder 10 is facilitated by pairs of spacers 17 (see Figure 3) at selected positions along the ladder 10, which are arranged to engage the outer face of the building. These spacers 17 are pivotted to the stiles 12 and project at right angles to the plane of the respective unit to which they are attached.

If preferred, the ladder 10 may be stored outside the building in the metal box 18 fastened to the wall, or recessed in the wall, just below the opening, similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 6,7 and 8, the top unit of the ladder 10 may be pivoted to a transverse member 18 of T-shaped cross section, which supports the ladder and acts as a spacer from the building.

The head of the T is slid endways into a bracket 19 held to the face of the building by screws 20.

In a further embodiment shown in Figures 9,10 and 11, a plate 21 is held to the wall by screws 22 and has a V-shaped rod 23 extending outwardly therefrom. The top unit of the ladder 10 has a pair of releasable spring clips 24, which can be clipped onto the rod 23.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the ladder again comprises a succession of similar units, each comprising a transverse rung 11 and a pair of stiles 12 fastened to opposite ends of the rung. In successive units, the rungs and stiles become progressively longer from one end 25 of the ladder to an intermediate portion 26 thereof; the rungs and stiles then become progressively shorter from the intermediate portion 26 to a further portion 27 (which may be an end portion or an intermediate portion from which the rungs and stiles then become progressively longer). The use of the embodiment of Figure 12 permits ladders with a greater vertical extent to be provided (suitable as escape ladders from a second floor or higher storey).

Various modifications of the illustrated embodiments are passible. For example, hand grips may be provided at intervals on one or more opposed pairs of stiles.

As a further safety feature, a hoop or the like may be provided fixed to a building wall near the upper end of the ladder, typically such that the ladder, when extended, passes through the hoop. Alternatively, such a hoop may be provided attached to opposed stiles.

In a further modification of the invention, a retaining pin, bolt or the like may be provided so as to pass through at least some opposed pairs of stiles.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A folding ladder which is extendible from a compact stored disposition to an elongate usable disposition, including a plurality of transverse rungs each joined to the next rung by a pair of longitudinal side members, one at each end of the rungs, in which the rungs are of decreasing length from a first location along the length of the ladder to a second location along the length thereof, and in which the longitudinal members are of decreasing length from said first location to said second location, and in which the successive longitudinal members are hinged to each other by means of the rungs, whereby each unit comprising a pair of substantially equal length longitudinal members and one rung may be folded to lie coplanar with, and inside the next adjacent unit in said stored disposition.

2. A folding ladder according to claim 1, wherein the first location is one end of the ladder and the second location is the other end thereof.

3. A folding ladder according to claim 2, wherein said one end is adapted to be fastened to a building and, in use, to depend therefrom.

4. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the longitudinal members are rigid and the ladder is of metal.

5. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper end of the ladder is fastened to a bar which can extend across a building opening such as a window.

6. A folding ladder according to claim 5, wherein the bar is of extendible length.

7. A folding ladder according to claim 5 or 6, wherein one end of the bar is pointed.

8. A folding ladder according to claim 7, wherein the other end of the bar has a transverse pad thereon.

9. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper end of the ladder is provided with chains by means of which the uppermost rung of the ladder may be fastened to an anchorage secured to a building.

10. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper end of the ladder is provided with releasable spring clips, arranged to be secured onto a transverse rod fastened to a building just below a window opening.

11. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 10, which is provided in a storage box to be fastened to a building just below a window opening.

12. A folding ladder according to any of claims 1 to 10, which is provided with spacers on the ladder, arranged to extend towards the building from the plane of the ladder.

13. A folding ladder which is extendible from a stored disposition to an elongate usable disposition, the upper end of the ladder being fastened to a telescopic bar.

14. A folding ladder substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying. drawings.