With Collapsible Prop Patents (Class 182/162)
  • Patent number: 11492850
    Abstract: A ladder comprises a front leg and a rear leg connected by a slider bracket. The slider bracket comprises a base and a track. The base comprises an aperture therein. The track extends away from the base and comprises a slot therein. The base is rotatably coupled to the front leg by a front pin in the aperture. The track is slidably coupled to the rear leg by a rear pin in the slot. When spreading the rear leg away from the front leg, the base pivots around the front pin as the rear pin slides in the slot of the track until the rear pin reaches the end of the slot in the track. The slot also may include a latch at the end of the slot that engages the rear pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: John E. Dickman
  • Patent number: 11187037
    Abstract: A collapsible ladder includes a first pair of legs and a second pair of legs, each of the first pair of legs and the second pair of legs is rotatably joined near tops thereof; a plurality of steps extending between one of the first pair of legs and one of the second pair of legs, each of the steps rotatably jointed about a mid-point thereof; a first vertical spar slidably connected to each of the steps near the mid-points thereof; a plurality of supports extending between a second one of the first pair of legs and a second one of the second pair of legs, each of the supports rotatably jointly about a mid-point thereof; and a second vertical spar slidably connected to each of the supports near the mid-points thereof. This configuration allows the ladder to be collapsed by raising the first and second vertical spars causing the steps and supports to fold about their mid-points permitting the first and second pair of legs to be generally folded/collapsed into a single column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Eddie Rafii
  • Patent number: 8360374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a frame having variable dimensions, comprising a plurality of telescoping legs arranged in first and second pairs, with each leg of said first pair being rotatably coupled together and each leg of said second pair being rotatably coupled together; and a scissor link mechanism coupled between the legs of said first and second pairs to vary a length of said plurality of legs in response to a distance between said first and second pairs varying. In one embodiment one end of each of said legs of said first pair is rotatably coupled together and one end of each of said legs of said second pair are rotatably coupled together. In this manner, the dimensions of the frame may be varied to accommodate support of a flexible body, such as a plastic bag, paper sack, fabric sack and the like to provide the same with a desired volume and/or an opening of the same with desired dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: John Truitt
  • Patent number: 8127890
    Abstract: A step unit includes right and left step frames and two steps coupled to the right and left step frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meyers, Paul F. Meyers
  • Patent number: 7182176
    Abstract: A foldable step stool includes pivotable front and rear leg units and steps coupled to the front leg unit. A utility tray pivots relative to the front leg unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Gibson, Paul K. Meeker
  • Patent number: 6536558
    Abstract: A folding ladder includes a first side rail and a second side rail, and at least one rung pivotally attached at its ends to the first and second side rails. The ladder further includes at least one diagonal locking member having a first portion pivotally attached at a first end to the first side rail and a second portion pivotally attached at a first end to a second end of the first portion and a second end pivotally attached to the second side rail. The locking member locks the folding ladder in a use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Harold E. Price
  • Patent number: 6378655
    Abstract: An accessory replacement front ladder leg assembly for use with the standard tripod stepladder consisting of an outer sleeve member having incremental penetrations disposed therein an inner sleeve member also having incremental penetrations that slides in and out of the outer sleeve member. The outer sleeve and inner sleeve members are locked together by a hitchpin when the incremental penetrations are aligned. The replacement leg is then adapted to the user's own tripod stepladder after removal of the tripod's front leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Trey Scott Campbell
  • Patent number: 5762163
    Abstract: The invention relates to platform step stools wherein a top step of the stool is movable from its top position to a position in alignment with the step below it to provide for a wider platform than a single step and in particular, to a particular single handle actuated locking mechanism for securing the top step both in its top and alignment height positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Cosco, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Kain
  • Patent number: 5757650
    Abstract: The disclosed is a method comprising the steps of displaying entirely a plurality of storehouse facilities in the form of a plan view; informing a storage abnormality when the actual storage location and stock condition are different from that displayed in parallel with displaying the stock condition at each instant; and correcting the stock condition at the time the storage abnormality is informed. Shelves are distinguished using displayed figures in accordance with shelves in which already stored, shelves still remaining empty, and shelves for which storage is prevented; and the stock condition of the storehouse facilities is displayed by specifying any of the facility on the displayed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomimasa Yamashita, Takio Okuno, Katsuhiro Hagino
  • Patent number: 4618027
    Abstract: A ladder comprises a pair of main stiles, a series of centrally-hinged rungs with ends articulated to the two main stiles, whereby the ladder can adopt a folded inoperative configuration in which the main stiles are alongside each other and an extended operative configuration in which the main stiles are spaced from each other, and means for stopping the ladder in the extended operative configuration. The main stiles are articulated together at their upper ends and the ladder further includes a single auxiliary stile articulated at its upper end to the two upper ends of the main stiles about an axis substantially perpendicular to the articulation axis of the two main stiles. The auxiliary stile is movable between a position alongside the two main stiles, corresponding to the folded inoperative condition of the ladder, and a position spaced from the main stiles, corresponding to the extended operative condition of the ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Castilia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Piretti
  • Patent number: 4569419
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a foldable stepladder constituted by:a first pair of two main uprights,a plurality of steps,a device for maintaining said steps in their unfolded configuration,a second pair of two auxiliary uprights,wherein the auxiliary uprights are articulated at one of their ends on the upper part of the main uprights and they are articulated on each other about a pin in their median part to present, in unfolded position of use, the form of a cross, said auxiliary uprights being connected from said mutual pivot point to the central upright by a connecting rod. The invention is more particularly applicable to the manufacture of foldable stepladders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Denyse Stoltz
    Inventor: Gerard Stoltz
  • Patent number: 4549632
    Abstract: A ladder wherein a plurality of rounds are pivotally and turnably mounted to and between the right stanchion and the left stanchion at proper spaces, and supporting arm levers are detachably fixed from both stanchions to the round by bolts or machine screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Alinco Incorporated
    Inventor: Shunsaku Inoue
  • Patent number: 4485892
    Abstract: A step stool has a top step that is foldable alongside a next lower step to form a large platform. The platform stool has a pair of hinged frame assemblies that are laterally spaced apart to embrace a plurality of uniformly ascending elevated steps disposed therebetween. A first step and a second step situated above the first step are journaled for pivotal movement to the frame assemblies. A pair of laterally spaced-apart step linkages support the first and second elevated steps. A third elevated step is supported between the frame assemblies. A pair of laterally spaced-apart platform linkages support the third elevated step in either a top position above the second step or a lower position alongside the second step. A pair of platform brackets can be mounted on the rear legs substantially adjacent to the second elevated step. The stool can further include a pair of latch assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Cosco, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Maloney, Charles E. Schroer
  • Patent number: 4428458
    Abstract: A foldable ladder of the type having laterally spaced-apart, substantially vertically oriented front side rails joined by a plurality of steps. A rear support, preferably in the form of laterally spaced-apart, vertically oriented legs, are movable away from the side rails to open the ladder and movable toward the side rails to close the ladder. The side rails and rear legs include hinges intermediate vertical ends thereof for permitting vertical collapsing of the ladder by the folding of the side rails and rear legs about their respective hinges. A storage container, which also doubles as an article support when the ladder is used, also forms a part of the instant invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Turbo Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Fiore, Louis S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4256200
    Abstract: A step ladder with rungs which can be retracted and transformed, without dismantling, into a folded ladder and an extension ladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Inventor: Gilbert Loix
  • Patent number: 4202428
    Abstract: A foldable ladder is disclosed having a central and two outer parallel support members or "stiles" and a plurality of steps connected between the central and the outer stiles. Each step is arranged to fold between an erected position, in which it extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the stile to which it is connected, and a storage position in which the step lies generally parallel to the central stile with the outer stile to which it is connected extending parallel to and in close juxtaposition with the central stile. Engaging means are provided adjacent the upper end of the central stile for holding cooperating engaging means of a supporting member such as another ladder section (forming an extension ladder) or a prop extending to ground (forming a step ladder).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Inventec International Limited
    Inventor: Ronald P. Hickman
  • Patent number: 4016954
    Abstract: A foldable ladder is disclosed having a central and two outer parallel support members or "stiles" and a plurality of steps connected between the central and the outer stiles. Each step is arranged to fold between an erected position, in which it extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the stile to which it is connected, and a storage position in which the step lies generally parallel to the central stile with the outer stile to which it is connected extending parallel to and in close juxtaposition with the central stile. Engaging means are provided adjacent the upper end of the central stile for holding cooperating engaging means of a supporting membersuch as another ladder section (forming an extension ladder) or a prop extending to ground (forming a step ladder).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: Inventec International Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Price Hickman
  • Patent number: 3978944
    Abstract: A foldable ladder is disclosed having a central and two outer parallel support members or "stiles" and a plurality of steps connected between the central and the outer stiles. Each step is arranged to fold between an erected position, in which it extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal direction of each stile to which it is connected, and a storage position in which the step lies generally parallel to the central stile with the outer stile to which it is connected extending parallel to and in close juxtaposition wit the central stile. Engaging means are provided adjacent the upper end of the central stile for holding cooperating engaging means of a supporting member such as another ladder section (forming an extension ladder) or a prop extending to ground (forming a step ladder). Finally, at least one strut is arranged on each side of, and extends outwardly from, the central stile to support the steps and outer stiles when the latter are in the erected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1976
    Assignee: Inventec International Limited
    Inventors: Ronald P. Hickman, Brian Anthony Luff, Edgar Ronald Rossell, Derek John Charles Bernard