Portable,folding stepladder

[57] ABSTRACT

A portable stepladder comprising: a stepladder with a row of steps or treads supported by side posts, and a rear support whose upper end is pivotally connected with the related upper end of the stepladder along a horizontal axis, both said stepladder and said rear support being longitudinally split into two sections hinged with each other and both hinge connections lying in a common plane to allow the stepladder structure to be folded-up into its closed condition.

Claims, 6 Drawing Figures

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PATENTE0JHL1OI973

3.744,591

SHEET 1 6F 2

Fig.1 Fig-2

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PATENTED JUL ίο 1973

3.744.591

SHEET 2 OF 2

Fig-3 Fig-4 Fig.6

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3,744,591

PORTABLE, FOLDING STEPLADDER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to portable stepladders and more particularly to a stepladder structure comprising a stepladder with a row of steps or treads supported by side posts, and a rear support whose upper end is pivotally connected with the related upper end of the stepladder, to be swung from an outwardly inclined or open position, wherein the stepladder is supported by it, to a closed position against the stepladder.

The structure according to the invention is particularly suitable for small, lightweight, easily handled and compact stepladders for households, offices, shops and like uses.

As is well known, all heretofore available stepladders substantially consist of a metal or wooden structure, whose weight and sizes are at times rather troublesome.

Thus, one purpose of this invention consists in the provision of a portable stepladder of the above defined type, which can be longitudinally folded-up to minimize its overall dimensions.

A further purpose of the invention consists in the provision of a lightweight and easily handled portable stepladder structure.

The portable stepladder structure according to the invention comprises: a stepladder with a row of steps or treads supported by side posts, and a rear support whose upper end is pivotally connected with the related upper end of stepladder along a horizontal axis, and thus adapted to be swung from a closed position to an open position, relative to stepladder, said structure being characterized in that both the stepladder and its rear support are longitudinally split into two sections hinged with each other, and that both hinge connections lie in a common plane, to allow said stepladder structure to be longitudinally folded-up when in its closed condition.

A further feature of stepladder structure according to the invention consists in that both sections of the stepladder proper, that may be made of suitable plastics or of a light alloy, have a monocoque carrying structure, whereby the rear support is enclosed within said monocoque sections when the stepladder is closed and folded-up.

The above and further features of the invention will be disclosed in the following description of a preferred embod-iment of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stepladder structure according to the invention, in its open position.

FIG. 2 shows the same stepladder structure of FIG. 1 in its closed and folded-up condition.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of stepladder structure as shown in the FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line V—V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line VI—VI of FIG. 2.

Referring now to said drawings, the stepladder structure according to the invention substantially comprises the stepladder 10 proper (see FIG. 1) and a rear support 11 whose upper end is pivotally connected with the related upper end of stepladder 10 along a horizon tai axis, being thus adapted to be swung from a closed position, wherein it lies flat against said stepladder 10, to the open position as shown in FIG. 1.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the stepladder 10 proper is longitudinally split into two sections 12 and 13 that are hinge connected with each other as at 14, 15 and 16 (FIG. 2). Similarly, the rear support 11 is longitudinally split into two sections, also hinged with each other, the hinge connections of the stepladder and of the rear support lying in the same plane, to allow the whole stepladder structure, when in its closed condition, to be longitudinally folded-up, thus minimizing its overall size.

In more detail, each stepladder section 12 or 13 of the considered embodiment, which may be made of suitable molded plastics or of a pressed light alloy, shows a monocoque structure. Openings 17 are formed in each rectangularly shaped stepladder section, whereby to define in each one of the sections 12 or 13, longitudinal side posts 18 and 19 respectively, which are connected with each other by horizontal crossmembers or treads 20. As can be seen, the openings 17 of a stepladder section are adjacen t to related openings 17 of the contiguous section in order to have all treads of both sections accurately aligned with one another.

As shown in the FIG. 5, all outer posts 18 and inner posts 19 are hollow, with a C-shaped cross-section, and an also C-shaped metal reinforcing member 21 is inserted into, and fastened to each post while it is being molded or pressed.

As shown in the FIG. 4, the individual steps 20 are also hollow shaped, with the treads slightly inclined upwardly.

In the considered example, the rear support 11 conversely consists of two tubular members 22 and 23, respectively, having oval cross-sections, each tubular member being pivotally connected at its upper end with a metal reinforcing shape 21 corresponding to stepladder section 12 and 13, respectively, by a pin 24,25 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) which is fastened crosswise to said metal shapes 21.

Said two tubular members 22 and 23 of the rear support are additionally connected with each other by a cross member consisting of two sections 26 and 27, respectively, which are pivotally connected with each other as in 28, i.e. at a point lying at the same longitudinal plane about which the stepladder sections 12 and 13 are folded-up.

From what has been stated above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it can be readily inferred that the stepladder structure according to the invention, can be longitudinally folded-up, while enclosing within it, thanks to its particular monocoque design, the also folded-up rear support 1, as clearly shown in the FIGS. 2,5 and 6 of accompanying drawing. Thus, an unusually lightweight and serviceable stepladder structure is obtained, which can be easily handled and that has a very small overall size in its closed and folded-up condition.

The stepladder may be made of a suitable reinforced plastics, for good appearance, and may also comprise a number of steps different from that shown in the drawings as a non restrictive example only.

As previously stated — also as a non restrictive example only — the stepladder is monocoque shaped and is made of molded plastic. However, as can be readily appreciated, a stepladder according to the novel inventive

3,744,591 idea might be made in a variety of other manners substantially equivalent to that disclosed.

Thus, e.g., the stepladder might consists of two longitudinally foldable sections, with both side posts suitably shaped to accommodate the tubular members or posts of the rear support within them.