US2946398A - Collapsible metal ladder - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1960 P. J. MCNULTY COLLAPSIBLE METALLADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1958 INVENTOR. PATRICK J. MG NULTY M H. m ATTORNEY July 26, 1960 P. J. MCNULTY 2,946,398

COLLAPSIBLE METAL LADDER Filed April 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. PATRICK J. MO NULTY CZ/$1M H.

ATTORNEY 2,946,398 CGLLAPSIBLE METAL LADDER Patrick J. McNulty, 203 W. Highland'Ave. Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Apr. 14, 1958, set. No. 728,178

4 Claims. Cl. 182-95) The present invention is directed to a collapsible metal ladder, and more particularly to an escape ladder which may be collapsed into a relatively small volume and which may be immediately used in an emergency, such as a fire or the like.

--- .-The use of rope ladders as escape means from dwellings is gradually disappearing because of laws forbidding the use of such means. Further, rope ladders are prone to deteriorate with age. Moreover, such ladders are unsightly' and relatively bulky. Thus, their coiling into their non-use disposition produces an unattractive article.

The use of outside fire escapes and metal ladders, while providing the'best means for rapid escape in the case of a fire, is often too costly for many forms of residence.

This invention has as an object the provision of a novel collapsible metal ladder. 1

This .invention has as another object the provision of 'a collapsible metal ladder which may be stored within a container having a small volume.

. This invention has as yet a further object the provision of a collapsible metal ladder which may be hurled outside of the building through a window within a matter of a few seconds permitting the rapid exit of the occupant of a burning building.

This invention has as yet another object the provision of a collapsible metal ladder whose length may be adjusted to comply with different heights.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Y For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view revealing the collapsible metal ladder of the present invention disposed within its container in non-use disposition beneath the window of a dwelling.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, with parts being broken away, revealing the collapsible metal :ladder of the present invention in use disposition.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane suggested by the arrows 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4- is .a sectional view taken on the plane suggested by the arrows 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment of the collapsible metal ladder of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the ladder embodiment of Figure 5 in use, with the same being disposed outside the users window.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring initially to Figures 1 through 4 wherein like loop heads 40 of the eye bolts 30.

2,848,398 Patented July 26; 19 0 member having outwardly projecting end arms 22 and 24 whose outermost faces are generally parallel to .each

other and project generally perpendicularly forwardly from the wall 26. The bracket 18 also includes the center portion 28 which comprises a pairof spaced-parallel arms extending forwardly in the center part of the bracket 18. 1

The bracket 18 is secured to the wall 26 by eye bolts 30 which extend through the wall 26 and are secured in position by the nuts and washers 32.

The eye bolts 30 extend through the facing portions 34 and 36 of bracket 18, the facing portion 34 being disposed intermediate the end arm 22 and the center portion 28 and the facing portion 36 being disposed intermediate theend arm24 and the center portion 28. Washers 38 may be provided intermediate the closed The ladder 20 comprises a plurality of U-shaped links or rungs 42. Each of the U-shaped links 42 comprises a pair of vertical arms 44 having closed loops 46 at "their uppermost ends, which closed loops embrace the horizontal element 48.

The U-shaped links 42 are preferably formed from metal rod having some degree of resiliency so that the 26 may be. readily disposed in respect to thewindow.

sill 12 and the frame of the window 14, and may accom modate to'differences in contour in such window sill 12 and the frame of the window 14. The links 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d should be of sufficient size so that'the link which is disposed above the first upright, link in the ladder (which in the illustrated embodiment is link 420), projects outwardly from the outside of window sill 12 and the outside face of wall 26. This insures that the upright links 42 of the ladder 28 are spaced from-the outside face of the wall 26 enabling the user of the ladder to descend thereon and have sufficient clearance between the horizontal element 48 of each of the links 42 and the outside face of the wall 26 for his hands and feet.

The links 42a are secured to the heads 40 of eye bolts 30, the closed loops 46 of such link 42a being passed through the heads 40 of the eye bolts 30. In non-use, the ladder 28 is stored in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4, namely with the links 42 carried on the center portion 28 of bracket 18. Inasmuch as the links articulate in respect to each other this permits a relatively large number of links 42 to be carried on the center portion 28 of bracket 18.

The container 16 serves as a cover, and is preferably formed of sheet metal having inwardly projecting sides 50 and 52 which respectively frictionally engage the end arms 22 and 24 of bracket 18 at the outside faces thereof. Preferably, the end arms 22 and 24 should rise to a higher height than the center portion 28 in order that the container cover 16 is spaced above the links carried by the center portion 28 as shown in Figure 4.

' The length of the ladder 20 may be adjusted to meet specific requirements by removing or adding links 42.

Referring to the embodiment of the ladder of the present invention designated 60 shown in Figures through 8, .such ladder 60 comprises the container or cover 62,

bracket 64, andthe ladder per se 66.

80. The bolt 78 passes through the wall 26.

. A flange 82 for locking in position the container or cover 62'is carried juxtaposed to the base 70 on bolt 78, such flange 82 being intermediate the base 70 and the nut 80. The upper portion of the flange 82 is offset and receives a rim 84 from the container 62, retaining such container 62 in position. As shown in Figures 5 and .7, the container 62 is preferably formed of sheet 'metal and may comprise two pieces, namely the top 86 which is metallurgically joined as by welding to the side piece 88. The frictional engagement of the rim' 84 from the top piece 86 intermediate the fiange82 and the Therraised ends 74 of the arms 68 of bracket 64 are perforated with aligned openings to receive the pivot spindle 90. spindle 90 comprises a bolt having a head 92 and a "threaded end on which a nut 94 is received. A1terna-' In the illustrated embodiment the pivot tively, the pivot spindle 90 may have both of'its ends jthreaded, with each end threadably receiving a nut.'

' The ladder 66 comprises a plurality of U-shaped links or rungs 96. As with the ladder 20 of Figures 1 through "4, each of the U-shaped links 96 comprises a pair of vertical arms 98 having closed loops 100 at their uppermost ends (such uppermost ends being the ends of the links which are uppermost when the ladder is in use).

The closed loops 100 of each of the links 96 of the ladder 66 embraced the horizontal element 102 of the link immediately above it.

The first link 96a of the ladder 66 is'pivoted about Zthepivot spindle 90, with its closed loops 100 embracing such pivot spindle 90. v

1 The links 96 are received on the bracket 64 when the 'ladder is in non-use, as shown in Figure 5, with such links being disposed intermediate the raised ends 74 and 76 of the bracket 64.

The bracket 64 is preferably provided with inwardly curled-teeth 104 to facilitate in the anchorage of such bracket 64 to the wall 26 and to prevent pivotation of the bracket 64 about the bolt 78.

'base in the manner aforesaid provides for the positive 'securement of the cover 62.

In use, the cover 62 is raised and released from its frictional engagement with the flange 82. Thelinks 96 of the ladder 66 are then hurled through the window 14.

"The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible escape ladder formed entirely of metal the combination including a bracket, said bracket having a back, spaced forwardly projecting end arms, and a forwardly projecting center rung supporting portion disposed intermediate said end arms and spaced therefrom, a pair of eye bolts for passing through mating openings in the back of said bracket into a vertical supporting surface, a ladder formed of a plurality of articulated U-shaped link rungs, said link rungs having looped ends, with said looped ends of one link rung embracing the base of the adjacent link rung, with the looped ends of the first of said link rungs being secured within the heads of the eye bolts, said center rung supporting portion passing through said link rungs when the same are collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, and a cover disposed over said bracket and link rungs, when said link rungs are collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, said cover frictionally engaging the outside faces of the end arms.

2. A collapsible metal escape ladder in accordance with .claim 1 in which the link rungs adjacent the bracket are -of the same width asthe remaining'link rungs butare of smaller, length. a

3. A collapsible metal escape ladder in accordance with claim 1 in which the bracket is formed from a corrugated strip of sheet metal.

4. In a collapsible escape ladder formed entirely of metal comprising a bracket, said bracket being generally U-shaped, with the base of said U-shaped' bracket being juxtaposed to a vertical supporting surface, a bolt passing through an opening in the base of said U-shaped bracket into the vertical supporting surface, a pivot projecting from the arms of said U-shaped bracket, a ladder formed of a plurality of articulated U-shaped link rungs, said link ,rungs having looped ends, the looped ends of the first of said link rungs pivotably engaging said projecting pivot,

with arms of said U-shaped bracket passing through said link rungs when the same are collapsed in corrugated storage disposition, the uppermost surface of each of the arms of said U-shaped bracket being provided with raised ends between which the link rungs may be received on said arms, a cover disposed over said bracket and link rungs and seated on the raised ends of said bracket arms,

.a flange spaced from the base of the U-shaped bracket,

the cover including a rim which may be frictionally received intermediate said flange and the base of th U-shaped bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Grafi Aug.'1, 1882

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