GB2129478A - Step ladder with movable step(s) - Google Patents

Abstract

Upper step(s) 27, 28, 29 pivot from a horizontal position to an upright position so that a person may stand on the step below the pivoting step(s) in a vertical position without interference from the upper step(s). This allows one to stand on the step ladder with one's back to it without discomfort. To pivot horizontal step 28, the front end is lifted so that lip 33 disengages from pin 31 on front frame member 17. The step is then pushed back so that slot 37 moves relative to rod 32 which extends between the two rear frame members 16. The step may then be pivoted so that it hangs down from its rear. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ladder The present invention relates to a ladder in particular a step ladder which may be of use to interior decorators and handymen.

A problem frequently arises in using a step ladder to decorate a wall. One can either arrange it parallel to the wall in which case one has to twist one's body through a right angle or facing from the wall and stand on the steps with one's back to the ladder in which case the upper layer of steps touches the back of one's legs and makes standing on the step ladder uncomfortable and difficult.

The present invention provides a device in the form of a step ladder comprising a plurality of steps, at least one upper step of which is movable between two positions, in a first position the movable step being arranged generally horizontal so that it may be stood upon and in a second position being moved away from the first position whereby a person using the step ladder may stand on the step below said movable step without interference from said movable step. In practice, if there are, for example, three steps then the upper two steps may be made so as to be movable in this way between a horizontal position and a generally vertical position so that in use, if it is desired to stand on the bottom step of the step ladder with one's back to the steps, the upper two steps may be folded to the vertical position to allow one to comfortably stand on the bottom step.Similarly one may fold the middle step to the horizontal position and stand on that whilst the upper step remains in the vertical position and if one then wishes to stand on the top step then that can be folded to the horizontal position.

The step ladder may therefore be used either as a conventional step ladder or as a step ladder in which the upper steps may be folded away from the horizontal.

Although the step ladder may comprise only three steps, in an alternative arrangement, the step ladder may. have the conventional number of steps spaced at a generally conventional distance from one another.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a general arrangement of the step ladder according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of one of the steps showing how it is mounted to the ladder, and, Figure 3 is a side view of the step ladder of Figure 1 in use in an alternative configuration.

Referring to Figure 1 the step ladder 10 comprises two side frames 11, 12 constructed of L-section metal rod and each comprising upper and lower cross bars 1 3, 14 respectively which extend horizontally and upright bars 16, 17 which extend, when the ladder is extended and in use generally upright but sloping back at an angle of 20 . The two side frames 11, 12 are joined across the back of the step ladder 10 by horizontal frames 18, 19 and there may also be provided a diagonal frame member 21 extending between the left hand side of the upper frame 1 8 and the right hand side of the lower frame 1 9. Pivoted to the rear of the upper horizontal frame 18 is a leg member in the form of two upright frame members 23, 24 and a lower horizontal frame member 26.Three steps are provided 27, 28 and 29, the upper step 27 being hinged at its rearward edge adjacent the upper horizontal frame 18 and the intermediate step 28 and lower step 29 also being pivoted at their rear edges in a manner to be described with reference to Figure 2. In use, the steps 27, 28, 29 may be pivoted from their horizontal position shown in Figure 1 to a generally upright position in which they lay in the plane of the frame members 1 8, 16 and 19.

Referring to Figure 2 in which the means of pivoting the steps 27, 28, 29 is shown, it will be seen that there is provided on each upright frame member 17, a horizontal extending pin 31, the pins being provided on opposite frame members 1 7 horizontally in line with one another and extending inwardly towards one another.

Horizontally disposed with respect to each pair of pins 31 is provided a horizontal rod 32 which is mounted to and extends between opposite frame members 1 6.

It will be understood that there are a pair of pins 31 and rod 32 for each step 27, 28, 29.

Each step 27 to 29 includes, attached to its front surface, a metal 'T' section 30 which includes a lip 33 which extends downwardly below the lower surface of the step so as to provide a surface which may engage with the respective pins 31. Towards the rear end of the lower face of each step there is provided a bracket 34 in which the rod 32 is engaged, the brackets being formed of bent metal and being screwed to the underside of the steps by screws 36 and providing an elongate slot 37 in which the rod 32 is mounted. The slot has a front end 38 and a rear end 39.

In normal use the step 27 to 29 is arranged horizontally in a position in which the pin 31 engages with the rear end of the lip 33 and the rod 32 is disposed at the rear end 39 of the slot 37. If it is wished to pivot the step to a generally upright position, the front end of the step is lifted so as to disengage the lip 33 and pins 31, is pushed rearwardly so that the slot 37 moves whereby the rod 32 moves relatively to the slot 37 from the rear end 39 to the front end 38, in which position the front end of the step has moved backwardly sufficiently to clear the pins 31 and may then be pivoted downwardly. To assist in this manoeuvre, a hand or finger hole 42 may be provided through the front end of the step.

In use, therefore, the step ladder 10 is placed adjacent a wall to be painted or otherwise treated, with the front face of the ladder parallel to and spaced a short distance from the wall. The rear frame comprising members 23, 24, 26 is pivoted to the position shown in Figure 1 to suitably support the step ladder 10. Assuming that all the steps 27, 28, 29 are mounted in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1, and it is intended to work at some height on the wall, then one can climb up steps 29, 28 and stand on step 27 facing the wall and carry out whatever work is required. A tray 51 is provided on which the paintpot or other tools may be rested and the tray 51 is mounted telescopically to the frame by leg 52.

If it is then desired to work on a lower part of the wall, the person may get off the ladder and move the top step 27 to the generally upright collapsed position by lifting the fornt end of the step 27 to disengage the lip 33 from the pins 31, pushing back the step 27 and allowing the step to pivot downwardly to rest generally in the plane of the frame members 16, 1 8 and 19. The person may then climb onto the step 28 and stand on that without the encumberance of the upper step 27.

The arrangement of the step ladder of the invention described is particularly convenient since it allows one to work at a variety of heights defined by the different steps without the encumberances of the upper steps being in position while standing on one particular step. The steps whose dimensions are approximately 10" deep by 24n wide provide a large area on which to stand which cannot be provided by a conventional step ladder arrangement. Furthermore, the angle between the frame members 1 6, 17 and the vertical, 204, is much steeper than can be used in a conventional step ladder and this means that it is generally not necessary to move the step ladder towards and away from the wall as one works at a different height.Although the step ladder is designed so that one can arrange it with the front face of the step ladder adjacent the wall and parallel to the wall and therefore stand on the selected step 27, 28 or 29 with one's back to the frame member 18, one can of course alternatively arrange the step ladder sideways on to the wall in a more conventional arrangement.

It is suggested that approximate dimensions of the step ladder are as follows. Distance between frame member 1 6, 17 approximately 10" (25 cm), distance between frame members 1 7 approximately 24" (60 cm), distance between ground and step 29 when horizontal, and between steps 29 and 28 and 28 and 27 when horizontal, approximately 9 28 (23.75 cm), total height of step ladder (excluding tray 51) approximately 32" (80 cm).

In a particular preferred arrangement, the means for hinging the rear frame 25 to the remainder of the step ladder 10, which is provided at the frame member 18 may allow the frame 25 to pivot either to the angle shown in Figure 1 or alternatively to a position in which the frame 25 extends generally at right angles to the plane of the remainder of the ladder. It will be understood from the dimensions mentioned above that when the steps 27,28, 29 are folded down to their generally upright position they form a generally continuous surface planar with the frame members 1 6, 1 8 and 1 9. Using this arrangement, and with the frame 25 arranged at right angles, the apparatus may be used as a support for a ladder on a staircase. This arrangement is shown in Figure 3. In this case the frame members 1 6 and 19 are supported on an upper step 56 and the frame member 26 of frame 25 is supported on a lower step 57, the measurements being arranged so that, with conventional stair spacing, the plane of the frame members 16, 18 and 19 is generally horizontal. In this way a ladder 58 may be mounted safely on the platform formed by the folded steps 27, 28, 29.

The frame members of the ladder may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as aluminium, steel which may be galvanised or painted. The steps 27, 28, 29 are most conveniently formed of plywood, chipboard, or plastic. The various frame members may be bolted, riveted, welded together or joined together by sleeves.

Claims (9)

1. A step ladder comprising a plurality of steps, at least one upper step of which is movable between two positions, the movable step in the first position being arranged generally horizontal so that it may be stood upon and in the second position being moved away from the first position whereby a person using the step ladder may stand on the step below said movable step without interference from said movable step

2. A step ladder as claimed in claim 1 in which in said second position said movable step is arranged vertically.

3. A step ladder as claimed in claim 2 in which said movable step is pivoted adjacent its rear edge by pivot means.

4. A step ladder as claimed in claim 3 in which the pivot means comprises a generally horizontal axial member engaging with at least one elongated slot, the axial member being mounted so as to extend between opposite frame members and the elongated sockets being provided on the movable step.

5. A step ladder as claimed in claim 4 in which the opposite frame members incoprorate inwardly disposed pins, and the edge of the movable step remote from the pivot incorporates means to cooperate with the pins to maintain the step in the horizontal position.

6. A step ladder as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for engaging with the pins comprises a "T" section metal strip which extends along the edge of the step opposite the edge carrying the pivot.

7. A step ladder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which there are more than two steps, all of the steps above the bottom step being movable between said two positions.

8. A step ladder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 in which there is provided a tray mounted to a rod which may be extended upwardly so as to mount the tray at a predetermined height.

9. A step ladder as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.