US2439185A - Ladder attachment step - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1948. c. J. PAT-T 85 LADDER ATTACHMENT STEP Filed Dec. 7, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Ap' 6, 1948. c. J. PATT LADDER ATTACHMENT STEP Filed Dec. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. 27nd J 1 422 Patented Apr. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE- LADDER ATTACHMENT STEP Conrad J. Patt, Chicago, 11!.

Application December '7, 1945, Serial No. 633,278

This invention relates to improvements in a step attachment for ladders.

In using ladders, especially in performing work, the operator stands upon the rung, and if such a position is maintained for any considerable length of time, the arches of the feet become tired and often injured to such an extent that it is necessary for the workman to stop his work to get relief, as the entire body is supported by the arches.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved attachment or step, which may be readily attached to the ladder, and upon which step the operator may stand instead of upon the rung.

attachment, or support of this character that may be attached to any ordinary ladder.

A further object is to provide an improved attachment of this character that will be compact with respect to the ladder and which will not project too far beyond either side of the ladder as to interfere with the easy handling of the tools or implements employed by the user.

A still further object is to provide an improved attachment of this character which is provided with improved means for detachably and securely mounting the attachment in position, so that it will not swing out of position, or be tilted, no matter in which position the users foot engages or steps upon the same. I

A further object is to provide an improved attachment of this character which is provided with improved adjustable securing or fastening means, thereby adapting the same for use with ladders having varying distances between the rungs.

A further object is to provide an improved attachment of this character, which will be of a comparatively light, simple and durable construction, readily applied or disengaged, and effective and eflicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty, in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of theseveral parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder, having applied thereto an attachment constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, a portion of one of the rails or sides of the ladder being broken away.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective View of the at 4 Claims. (Cl. 304-315) A further object is to provid an improved step I tachment or step, as taken from the rear thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 4. I

Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing in full lines one of the fasten: ing or securing means for the attachment, in engagement with one of the ladder rungs, and in dotted lines the position of the parts when adjusted to a ladder in which the rungs are of a greater distance apart,

Referring to the drawings, thenumeral Ill designates a ladder of the ordinary construction which is provided with the usual rungs H.

The attachment or step embodies a flat body portion I2 constructed of any suitable material and of any desired shape but of a size to be inserted between the side rails of the ladder and of any desired width. I The step is supported'b brackets having a flat portion or arm I 3 that contacts the lower face of the step, and the step is fastened thereto by means of suitable fastening devices I4, such as bolts or the like, any number of which may be provided.

One end of the portion I3 is shaped to form an upright I5 and the other end-is preferably bent back upon itself as at It and then downwardly as at Il, which latter portion I1 is spaced from the upright I5.

A body member I 8 is provided with a downwardly opening hook shaped end I9, the extremity of which portion abuts the portion I! of the member I3, and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by means of a fastening device 28. The lower end of the upright I5 contacts the face of the body member I8 remote from the end of the latter, and is secured or fastened thereto in any suitabl manner, such as by means of a fastening device M. In the portion of the body member I8 beyond the end of the upright I 5,

I there is provided a slot 22, which may be of any desired length. A hook shaped member 23 is slidably attached to the rear face of the body portion 58, preferably by means of a screw 24, which passes through the slot and carries a thumb nut 25, so that by loosening the nut, the hook shaped member 23 may be adjusted lengthwise of the body member I8 as shown in Figure 3, or if desired or necessary, the hook shaped member'23 may be inverted and still be adapted for adjustment lengthwise of the body member I8, as shown in Figure 5.

Preferably two of the brackets thus formed are secured to the step I2, and the hook shaped portions I9 are disposed intermediate and spaced from th front and rear edges of the step, preferably so as to be substantially midway therebetween, and the brackets are located substantially adjacent the ends of the step.

In use the hook shaped portions I!) are engaged over one of the rungs H, and the step or attachment IE will project between the side rails of the ladder and beyond the front and rear of the rung II. The body member 58 is of a length greater than the distance between adjacent rungs, so that when the step I2 is attached to one rung, the hook shaped member 23 will engage over another rung. The member 23 is adjusted by loosening the nut 25, to be adjusted to firmly hold the attachment in position and the thumb nut 25 is then tightened. The attachment will then form a step or support upon which the user may stand and being thus secured in position, will not tip or rock. The slot 22 permits of adjustment of the member 23, to compensate difference in the spaces between rungs of difierent ladders. 7

If desired the thumb nut 25 may be loosened and the member 23, turned around or inverted as shown in Figure 5, so as to engage under the runs H. 1n either position of the member23, it will also serve to prevent the step from rocking upon the rung to which it is fastened and will also prevent the bracket from swinging away from the ladder.

The simplicity of construction permits of ready attachmen nd e achment and also f cilitates in adjustment lengthwise or? the ladderfrom one rung to another.

The width of the step is also such that it will notproject beyond the front of the ladder so far as to be in the way, or to render it inconvenient for the user to handle his tools or implements, or to ascend or descend the ladder.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope or" the claims, without departing from the spiritof this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Anattachment for ladders, embodying a bracket comprising an upright member, the upper e d of which is shaped to form a downwardly opening rung-engaging hook, a substantially L- shaped member, one portion of which engages the top of the hook intermediate the ends of the former, the other end of the L-shaped member engaging and secured to said upright member, the free end of the said portion being bent-back upon itself and secured to said hook, means securing the upright member to another ladder rung, and astep secured to the bracket to project between the side members of the ladder and for a substantial distance on each side of the first said ladder me. s id brack t; beinsdisncsed in close mo e imitr to the l dder.

2. An a achm nt for la ders comprising an L- shaned bra ket in luding an upright. l and an arm adapted to extend in a substantially horizontal manner above a rung of a ladder, a, second L- shaped bracket including an upright leg and an arm adapted to extend in a, substantially horizon- 4 tal manner above the same rung of the ladder, a plate-like step secured to said arms so as to overlie said rung, a body member depending from the first bracket arm, a rung-engaging hook carried by the upper end of said body member, means securing said hook to the first arm and maintaining the hook intermediate the ends of the first arm, means securing the lower portion of the body member to the first bracket leg, a second body member depending from the second bracket arm, a rung-engaging hook carried by the upper end of the second body member, means securing the second book to the second bracket arm and maintaining the second hook intermediate the ends adjacent the lower portion of the second body member, and means adjustably securing the sec ond hook-shaped member to the second body member.

3, In an attachment for a ladder, a bracket including an upright portion and an arm extending substantially at right angles to said upright portion adapted to extend transversely over a rung of a ladder, a fiat step secured to said'arm and having a width substantially coextensive with the length of said arm, a body member, a hook for engaging said rung carried by the upper end of body member and arranged intermediatethe ends of said arm, means securing said hook to said arm to maintain a mid-portion'of the step over said rung, means securing the lower portion of said body member to said bracket, a hookshaped member, and means adjustably securing the hook-shaped member to said body member.

4. In an attachment fora ladder, a bracket including an upright part and an arm extending substantially at right angles to said upright part, a step secured to said arm adapted to be arranged between uprights of a ladder with an intermediate portion of the step overlying a rung of the ladder, a body member, a hook for engaging said rung carried by the upper end of said body member, means securing said hook to said arm, means securing a lower portion of the upright part of the bracket to saidbody member, and a hook-shaped member adjustably mounted on said body member for engaging another rung of the ladder.

CONRAD J. PATT..

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France .4 Dec. 19, 1929 Number Number

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