US2585150A - Ladder step - Google Patents

Description

D. F. M GILL LADDER STEP Feb. 12, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l uw/fikvraR DANlE-L F: MGlLL M/ X Filed Nov. 30, 1946 fl TTURA/E W5 Feb; 12, 1952 D. F. M GlLL LADDER STEP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1946 /Z/E/\/7 UF DANIEL F'. McGlLL EM MMJ/M flT TERA/5x451 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE LADDER STEP Daniel F. McGill, Portland, Greg. 7 v Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,334

4 Claims- (01. 504-415) This invention relates to a ladder step and has particular reference to an auxiliary flat step for use on ladders having round or narrow rungs.

Ladders with round or narrow rungs are uncomfortable to stand on and do not provide a suitable supporting surface for buckets andsmall articles frequently used on a ladder. Although the conventional step ladder is made with flat steps and possesses therequisites of comfort and convenience in supporting such objects, it is necessarily heavy and awkward to handle and consequently its height is quite limited if it is to be manipulated by one person. The general object of the present invention isto provide an auxiliary flat step for use with a ladder having narrow rungs in order to obtain the comfort and convenience of a step ladder in a light weight and relatively inexpensive rung ladder of simple construction. Other objects are to provide an auxiliary step which may be placed upon any rung of the ladder to form a fiat supporting surface which is strong and solid when so placed but which may readily be moved from one rung to another as desired, to provide a step which is adjustable for use on ladders of different widths and on ladders having rails of diiferent sizes, to provide a flat step which is directly supported by the ladder rung, and to provide eflicient and novel means for'removably securing the auxiliary step in place without the use of special fixtures which would be awkward to adjust and likely to catch in a persons clothing.

The present auxiliary step comprises a pair of end brackets for holding a flat step plate on a ladder rung. The brackets have horizontally extending portions which may themselves constitute an extensible step plate or which may be adapted to slidably receive the ends of a separate step plate for relative movement in installing and removing the device and for providing length adjustment to fit ladders of different widths. These brackets also include upstanding guide channels to embrace the legs or rails of the ladder to prevent the step plate from rocking on the rung. Sliding wedges or other clamping means are contained in the upstanding channels to fit the difierent thicknesses of rails on ladders on which the device may be used. The auxiliary step may be maintained rigidly in a fixed position by the action of the wedges or clamps, but the device .may readily be moved from one step to another when desired. 9

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the construction and combi nation of parts illustrated by way of example in two preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of auxiliary stepin placeon a narrow rung ladder;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the ladder and step shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view with certain parts shown in section;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one brackets;

Figure 5 is a perspective viewof the board or step plate which rests ,upon the ladder rung;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of adjustable ladder step;

Figure '7 is a front elevation view of the construction shown in Figure 6; H v

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the construction shown in Figure 6; and v Figure ,9 is a sectional view takenon the line 99 of Figure 6.'

In the drawings the numeral l0 indicates a pair of legs or side rails, interconnected by a series of round rungs l l in the form of the usual lightweight ladder which is often built to considerable height. The rungs H are not necessarily round, but to illustrate the purpose of the present invention they are shown as being relatively narrow whereby they are uncomfortable to stand upon for a long period of time, and, of course, lacking in a flat supporting surface for pails and other equipment frequently used on ladders. The rails Ill in such ladders are of various standardized dimensions in diiferent parts of the country, having proportions approximately as shown and they may be spaced in parallel relation or they may converge toward the top of the ladder. In a tapering ladder the rails are usually curved at their lower extremities to provide a broad base of support so that in the upper part of the ladder the rails are substantially parallel. The present auxiliary step can beapplied to ladders with either parallel or converging rails.

The embodiment illustratedin Figures 1 to 5 comprises a flat board or step plate !3 and a pair of brackets 14 for holding the step plate in a fixed position on the ladder rung. The brackets 14 may take various forms but as illustrated they are provided with horizontal inwardly extending of the end flanges 15 forming two opposed channels which together constitute a socket for slidably receiving an end of the step plate It. The step plate may secured in one of the brackets [4 if desired, but in the present illustration it is slidably received in both brackets to providea telescopic length adjustment at each end of the step.

Thus, as shown in Figure 2 the brackets l4 may be moved close together on the step plate for use on relatively narrow ladders or at the narrow top of a tapering ladder, or the parts may be extended out to a maximum width adjustment for use on unusually wide ladders or near the wide bottom of tapering ladders. The brackets l4 have upstanding guide channels IE to receive the ladder rails and approximately the minimum width adjustment of the device is illustrated by the positions of these rail channels shown in broken lines at l6a in Figure 2. The flanges l5 then substantially abut each other as indicated at I So and the ends of the step plate extend throughout the length thereof, the combined length of the flanges l5 being approximately equal to the length of the step plate. When the device is fully extended it is capable of reaching from the left-hand guide channel I6 to the righthand position indicated in broken lines at 5b without pulling the step plate too far out of the brackets. The horizontal parts of the brackets thereby form continuations of the supporting surface offered by the step plate I 3 to provide a flat step from rail to rail on top of the ladder rung.

Each guide channel I6 has a substantially vertical front flan e l1 and a sloping back flange I8 set at an angle corresponding approximately to the usual slope of the ladder in use. The bracket I4 is preferablvformedfrom relatively heavy gauge sheet metal whereby-the various an les and flanges are sufficiently stiff-to provide a ri id non-rocking support for the step on a round ladder rung or on one edge or corner of a rectangular rung. a

A wedge member '20 is arranged to flt between the vertical front flange l1 and the front surface of the ladder rail to snugly engagethe ladder rail between the inner surface of the wedge and the back'flange I8. as clearly shown in Figure 3. Means are provided for retaining the wedge in place while, at the same time, permitting vertical sliding movement, this meansin the present embodiment constituting a screw 2| secured in the wedge member and passing through a vertical slot 22 which is wide enough to loosely receive the shank of the screw but not wide enough to allow the head to pass therethrough. Thus, the wedge members 20 may be raised to release the brackets from the ladder rails, but when they are allowed to drop by gravity they fall into snug wedging positions to allow for adjustment for various size rails and to prevent relative movement between the brackets and the rails. The slot 22 has ample length to accommodate sufiicient vertical movement of the wedge to grip ladder rails of difi'erent thickness. When the wedge is dropped in place as shown in Figure 3, it will be seen that the step i3 is thereby rigidly supported against rocking movement on the ladder rung, and that the frictional engagement with the ladder rails. prevents the brackets from being accidentally released therefrom.

When it is desired to remove the. auxiliary step, it is only necessary to lift both wedges 20 and move the upright channels, I 6 inwardly to the relative positions shown at lGa to clear the ladder rails, whereupon the device is immediately entirely free of the ladder. The maximum width adjustment of the device is limited only by the necessity for having adequate bearing for the ends of the step plate in the respective bracket channels IS. The variation in the length of the step in this manner is adequate for use with 4 I most conventional sizes of ladders, but the dimensions and proportions may, of course, be altered to suit the type of ladder with which the device is to be used.

The step plate 13 may be made of plywood which will not split lengthwise when supported by line contact on a round rung, or it may be made of a light-weight metal casting or stamping having sufficient strength for the purpose.

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate a modified all metal construction in which the end brackets themselves telescope together to form a step plate of Variable length which will accommodate itself to ladders of different widths. In this construction there are two parts 30 and 3| which telescope together to form a flat, variable length step plate. The part 30 has channel edges 32 slidably receiving the similarly shaped channel edges 33 of the part 3!. Longitudinal and transverse raised ridges 34 are formedin the part 30'to stiffen the member and to provide a nonslip tread on its supporting surface, and similar ridges are raised on the lower or under side of the part 3| as shown in Figure 9, so as not to interfere with the sliding fit of the two parts. The stiffness provided by these ridges, if properly formed, enables these two parts to be made of sheet metal and still have sufficient strength to prevent bending over a ladder rung on which the step is supported. The length of the parts 30 and 3| is such that when they are telescoped together the step may be applied to the narrowest ladder on which it is intended to be used, While at the same time being capable of sufli cient extension to fit a wide ladder without separating the two parts. It is preferred that the two parts should telescope at least several inches on the widest ladder on which the step is to be used.

Each of the parts 30 and 3| carries at its outer end a bracket 49 adapted to embrace one of the rails of the ladder to hold the step steady and rigid in a substantially horizontal position on a round or angular rung. Each bracket 40 comprises an upstanding plate 4| to abut the inside surface of the ladder rail, a substantially vertical front plate or flange 42 .and an inclined rear plate or flange 43 conforming with the slope of the ladder as it is generally used. The plate 4| and the flanges 42 and 43 are shown to be formed from the same piece of sheet metal used to make the telescoping step portion, so that these parts will all be integral, but other forms of construction having sufficient strength and rigidity will suggest themselves.

The vertical front flange 42 carries a nut 44 held in position behind an opening in the flange to receive a thumb screw 45. The nut 44 is preferably secured by some means such as a spot weld directly to the flange 42, but if the latter is of sufficiently thick material the threads may be formed directly therein without the use of a nut. The clamp screw 45 is provided with a reduced end 46 which is peened over or riveted to confine a pair of spaced washers 4! loosely engaging 0pposite faces of a clamping plate 48 which is adapted to be tightened against the front face of the ladder rail. This clamping plate is formed with a central part 49 perpendicular to the screw 45 and substantially parallel with the front flange 42, and end portions 50 disposed parallel with the inclined rgar flange 43, so that when the screw is tightened the end portions will lie fiat against the ladder rail as shown in Figure 8. This clamping means is intended to take the place of the sliding wedges 28 shown in the first embodiment, and it is to be understood that either form of clamping means may be used in either of the two step constructions herein described. In either case the clamping means has enough adjustment to accommodate ladder rails of different thickness and is intended to clamp the rail with sufficient firmness to avoid accidental disengagement therefrom and to hold the step firmly in a horizontal position to prevent rocking on the rung. Still other clamping arrangements capable of fulfilling these conditions may be employed.

By using two auxiliary steps on a conventional rung ladder the advantages of a step ladder are combined with the advantages of a rung ladder to provide greater utility and convenience than either type of ladder possesses in itself. One of the steps may be used to stand on and the other used to support articles being used. Both steps may readily be moved up and down from time to time as the work requires. The device is of particular advantage in working above the height ordinarily attainable on the usual step ladder.

Various other changes will occur to persons skilled in the art for providing different equivalent means of length adjustment in the step and different rail clamping means in the end brackets, and all such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims are included in the invention.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A ladder step comprising a step plate, a pair of brackets carried by said plate at opposite ends thereof and adjustable therewith to vary the distance therebetween, each of said brackets having an integral upturned end portion to engage the inside face of a ladder rail, each of said upturned end portions having front and back flange portions to extend over the front and back faces of the ladder rail, one of said flange portions extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to said brackets and the other upwardly extending flange portion diverging from the first flange portion, and a wedge slidable between each of the flanged portions extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to said brackets and the adjacent ladder rail to hold said step plate in a substantially horizontal position on a ladder rung.

2. A ladder step comprising a pair of members interconnected for relative lengthwise movement to form a variable length step plate, each of said member having a transverse integral upturned end portion to engage the inside face of a ladder rail, each of said upturned end portions having front and back flange portions to extend over the front and back faces of the ladder rail, one of said flange portions extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to said members and the other upwardly extending flange portion diverging from the first flange portion, and a clamping member bearing against the said flange portion extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to said members to engage the ladder rail and clamp it against the other flange portion.

3. A ladder step comprising a pair of interconnected brackets, each of said brackets having an integral upturned end portion to engage the inside face of a ladder rail, each of said upturned end portions having front and back flange portions to extend over the front and back faces of the ladder rail, one of said flange portions extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to the said members and the other flange portion extending upwardly and diverging from the first flange portion, a member bearing against the said flange portion extending upwardly at an angle approximately normal to said brackets to engage the ladder rail and clamp it against the other flange portion, and said brackets being movable toward and away from each other.

4. A ladder step comprising a pair of members interconnected for relative lengthwise movement to form a variable length flat step, each of said members comprising a flat plate having downwardly and inwardly turned side edge portions to form a double channel cross section of greater longitudinal stiffness than said plate, a transverse upturned integral end portion on each plate to stiffen the plate transversely and engage the inside face of a ladder rail, integral front and back confronting flange portions connected with the front and back edges of said upturned end portion to project over the front and back faces of the ladder rail, and a clamping member bearing against one of said flange portions to engage the ladder rail and clamp it against the other flange portion, said clamping member and other flange portion having vertically extended flat bearing surfaces to clamp the ladder rail securely and rigidly over extensive areas of its front and back faces for a distance above the step.

DANIEL F. MCGILL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 335,051 Ayres Jan. 26, 1886 1,285,817 Sklar Nov. 26, 1918 1,597,555 Tolmie Aug. 24, 1926 1,714,028 Knuth May 21, 1929 2,103,603 Voigt Dec. 28, 1937 2,182,475 Herline Dec. 5, 1939 2,237,216 Dubreuil Apr. 1, 1941 2,389,157 Kotteman Nov. 20, 1945 2,415,327 Yothers Feb. 4, 1947 2,488,633 Linder et a1 Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS umber Country Date 29,775 Australia Nov. 24, 1931 536,146 France Feb. 7, 1922

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