Untitled record

Application filed August 18, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, James S. Nelson, of Springfield, county of Clark, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement 5 in Combined Wash-Bench and Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel and efficient wash bench or table capable of being converted into a step-ladder and io of being adjusted to serve as a support for the ironing-board.

To such end the invention consists in the construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being 15 had to the accompanying drawings,in which— ., Figure lisa perspective view of the parts arranged to provide a vertically-adjustablebench for supporting a wash-tub; Fig. 2, a perspective view, showing the parts converted into a 20 step-ladder; Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view of the parts adjusted into position for supporting an ironing - board, and Fig. 4 a • vertical sectional view of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numbers 11 25 and 2 2 indicate supporting legs or standards of equal length, each pair crossing and pivoted midway of their length by a bar or round, 3, which also serves as a connection for the respective pairs of legs' or standards. The 30 ends of the legs are connected, respectively, by bars or rounds'4, 5, 6, and 7, and the bar or round 7 passes through the end portions of two side pieces, 8, which are connected at the other ends by a bar or round, 9, and between 35 the bars or rounds 7 and 9 the side pieces are connected by broad strips 10 to form steps, while the ends of the side pieces which extend beyond the bar or round 7, as at 11, are connected by a broad strip, 12, which prd40 jects at one edge beyond the edges of the side pieces to constitute an offset or shoulder, 13. The inner edge of the side pieces, at the end portion opposite the extension 11, are provided with a series of notches,. 14, so. that 45 when the legs or standards are spread and the side pieces are uppermost, as in Fig. 1, the round 6 of the legs engages one of the notches of each side piece, thus constituting a bench for supporting, a wash tub or a table 50 or platform for anj⁷ appropriate purpose. If it is desired to change the height of this table or platform, the round 6 is properly adjusted to the notches for effecting this purpose. Thus, for example, if the round 6 be engaged with the notch nearest the round 7, the bench will 55 beat its highest elevation, while it can be lowered by changing the round 6 to any of the notches toward the connecting-round 9 of the side pieces. By inverting the structure from the position shown in Fig.l to that shown 60 in Fig. 3, bringing the side pieces against the floor, the rounds 4 and 5 are brought uppermost, and serve as a support for an ironingboard, 15, the said board being preferably inserted under the round 4 and resting upon 65 the round 5. The height of the ironing-board can be changed by adjusting the round 6 into the proper notches in the side pieces, which obviously spreads the legs farther apart or brings them nearer together, according to the 70 adjustment required.

The parts are converted into a step-ladder by simply folding the legs together, as in Fig. 2, to bring the round 4 under the offset or shoulder 13 of the step 12, the notched ex- 75 tremities of the side pieces then resting on the floor, and the legs and side pieces standing at an angle to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The round 4 coming under the offset of the step 12, all the parts are effectually 80 braced and the step-ladder held in a rigid condition, with no liability of accidental disarrangement. The several steps of the side pieces are arranged obliquely to the plaue of the edges of the side pieces, so that when the 85 structure is adjusted, as described, to produce a ladder, the steps will present horizontal flat surfaces for the feet. By disengaging the round from the notches the legs and side pieces can be folded compactly together, and thus 90 occupy but little space.

I am aware that a wash-bench has heretofore been constructed in such manner that it could be converted into a step-ladder; but I am not aware that such has been effected by 95 the construction and arrangement of devices shown and described by me.