Jan. 1 1924 O. H. STEGEMAN STEPLADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17 1923 om ESfegemm Jan. 143 1924 O. H.A STEGEMAN STEPLADDER Filed Jan. 1'7 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ilE Patented dan. l.,
OTTO H. STEGEMAN, OF STBATFORD, CONNECTCUT.
STEPLADDER. y
Application filed January 17, 1923. Seria No. 613,150.
To all 107mm t may concern.'
Be it known that l, OTTO H. STEGEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of Stratford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stepladders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de-V scription 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 certain new and useful improvements` in step ladders and the primary object thereof is to provide a ladder which is of strong construction, while still light in weight7 and which also effectually resists collapse of the parts when subjected to pressure. l
The invention further aims to provide novel means for connecting the steps tothe front legs and for bracing the same, as well as for bracing the rear legs so that the parts will be strong and will resist any collapsing tendency.
Still further, the invention aims to provide novel jointed means for` holding the front and rear legs in extended or operative position.
The invention further resides in the details of construction and combination of parts now to be fully described and later claimed and has still further and other objects which will be later set forth and manifested in the course of the following description.
In the drawings:
Figure 1, is a side elevation oftheinvention, showing the ladder in operative position; Y
Figure 2, is a front elevation parts being broken away and shown in section; Y
Figure 3, is an enlarged section online 3 3 of Figure l;
Figure 4, is an 4 4 of Figure l;
Figure 5, is an 5-5 of Figure 1;
Figure G, is an 6-6 of Figure 1.
Figure 7, a section on line 7-7 of Figure 5.
Thefront legs 1 are formed of metal of C-shape in cross section while the rear legs enlarged section `on line enlarged section on line enlarged section online u 2 are also formed of metal of corresponding cross-section, but of less width and thickness than that of the front legs.
Thetop platform 3 as shown in Figure 4, has downwardly anged sides 4 and ends 5 the corners of which are braced by L-shaped clips G. that are riveted in position.Angle bars 7 and 8 are rivetedtothe top 3 and the side flanges 4 thereof so as to strengthen and bracethese parts.
The upper and lower ends of the front legs have U-shaped reinforcingmembers 9 and 10 secured thereto and which extend across the open sides of the legs. Similar U-shaped reinforcingmembers 11 are secured to the lower ends of the rearlegs,
while rectangular reinforcing members 12V are secured to legs. A
Pairs ofspaced angle plates 13 are secured to the under face oftop 3 and trans versely thereof, and receive the upper ends of the front legs therebetween and to which they are rivetedy as indicated at 14, and also receive the upper ends of the rear legs and to which they are pivoted bypins 15.Rubber feet 16 and 17 are secured to the lower ends of the respective front andrear legs 1 and 2.
For the purpose of holding the front and rear legs in spread oroperative position links 18 and 19 are pivoted at their outer ends, to the front and rear legs and are pivoted together at 2O adjacent their inner ends.Member 18 has an upwardly facingnotch 21 adjacent its inner end to receive afinger 22 which is `formed by reducing the inner end of thelink 19 and curving same to one side so as to be received in slot 2l.Finger 22 thus limits the downward movements ofthe links and retains same in true horizontal alinement as depicted in Figure 1 of the drawings.
Thesteps 23 are each formed of longitudinally corrugated channel bars to not onlyv strengthen same but to also afford roughened treads. Angle plates 24 are riveted to the ends of the steps and in turn are connected to U-shapedmembers 25 that are riveted at 25 to the front legs, by means ofbolts 26, the latter extending through thefront legs, through theinturned flanges thereof, through the members 25 Y and through the angle plates 24. In this manner all of the parts are rigidly secured together and held firmly in position.
Thetop 3 and each of the steps is held by substantially V-shaped braces 27, the
the upper ends of the rear braces being formed of channel form and having folded flattenedcentral parts 28 and folded flattened ends 32', the flattened centers and ends being each riveted within the interiors of the top and steps and also within the front legs.
rllhe rear legs have across-brace 30 of C-cross-section between its ends and which is secured by angle clips 3l and connecting straps 32 to therear legs 2. Inclinedbraces 33 having folded flattened inner ends are riveted to opposite sides .ofcross brace 30 by rivets 3l the latter common to each inner end of the fourbraces 33, the inner ends of the latter being superimposed upon each other, while the outer ends of thebraces 33 are also flattened and riveted within therear legs 2. In this manner the rear legs are braced in a strong and simple manner, since'therivets 31 serve to connect all of the four braces to thebrace 30. Each brace by virtue of yits folded and flattened portions is materially strengthened and affords an effective riveting part of triple thickness of the metal. y
Between the downwardly flanged sides et of theplatform 3 and theangle bars 7 anl S arestrips 34 and 35 preferably of steel, these strips being firmly clamped between said sides and bars by therivets 36 and 37. These steel strips not only strengthen the structure but, by their resiliency, prevent permanent bends or distortions in the aluminum.
Thesteps 23 have downwardly turnededges 38 which are bent and folded so as to encasesteel strips 39, which latter have the same function as the strips 34 and What is claimed is l. In a step ladder, legs of C-cross-section, U-shaped reinforcing members secured to the legs and extending across the open sides thereof, longitudinally corrugated steps of U-crosssection, angle clips secured to the interiors of the steps at the ends thereof and abutting said members, and means to secure the clips to the members.
2. In a step ladder, legs of C-cross-scction, U-shaped reinforcing members secured to the legs and extending across the open sides thereof, longitudinally corrugated steps of' U-cross-section, angle clips secured to the interiors of the steps at the ends thereof and abutting said members, and fastenings extending through the legs, through the in turned side edges thereof, through the meinbers and through the clips to secure all of the parts together.
3. In a step ladder, legs of C-cross-section, U-shaped reinforcing members secured to the legs and extending acrossthe open sides thereof, longitudinally corrugated steps of Ucrosssection, angle clips secured to the in- -teriorsV `of the steps at the ends thereof and abutting said members, means to secure the 4clips to the members, and braces of channel form having folded flattened central parts and folded flattened ends secured within the steps and legs respectively.
4t. In combination with the front legs and steps of a stepladder, rear legs of channel form, a. cross brace of channel form secured to the rear legs, pairs of channel bracesron opposite sides of the cross-brace having folded flattened ends the outer ends of the braces being secured to and within the legs and the inner ends thereof being arranged in superimposed order and m ahnement on opposite sides of the cross brace, and fastenings passed through all of the inner ends ofthe braces and through the crossfbrace.
5. In combination with the front legs and steps of a stepladder, rear legs, a cross brace connecting the rear legs, upper and lower braces of channel form having folded flat ends the outer of which ends are secured to the legs and the inner of which ends are ar ranged in superimposed order and in alinement on opposite sides of the cross-brace, and means passed through all of the inner brace ends and through the cross brace to secure the parts together.
6. In a step ladder, a top having downwardly flanged sides and ends, Vangle bars bracing the sides, channelled front and rear legs, reinforcing 'members connected to the legs at the tops thereof and extending across the open sides thereof, transverse angleplates secured'to the top and receiving 'the i upper ends of the legs therebetween, and means to connectthe legs and members to the angle plates.
7. In a step ladder, a 'top having downwardly flanged sides and ends, angle bars bracing the sides, channelled front and rear legs, reinforcing members connected to the legs at the tops thereof and extending across i thc open sides thereof, transverse angleplates secured to the top and receiving the upper ends of the legs therebetween, means to connect the legs and members to the angleplates, and a channel brace having folded flattened ends secured within the front legs and having a folded flattened central part secured to the under face of the top.
In testimony whereof I affixmy signature hereto.
OTTO I-I. STEGEMAN.