Abstract: A folding staircase for use in a door opening having a threshold. The folding staircase has a pair of stringers that have an upper end and a lower end that is adapted for contacting a ground surface. The stringers are spanned by at least one tread. A hinge is connected to a floor near the door opening and a threshold plate pivotally connected thereto is movable between a use position and a stowed position. The staircase may be provided with a lifting mechanism that biases the staircase and threshold plate toward their stowed positions. The lifting device provides a variable force that provides more rotational force when the staircase would require a user to bear more of its weight and less force when less of the weight of the staircase would be borne by a user.

Abstract: A folding leg for a stepladder is disclosed. The folding leg allows the width of the stepladder base to be narrowed when in the stored orientation and widened while in an in-use orientation.

Abstract: The assembly includes a first arcuate tube attached to a ladder. A second arcuate tube is slidably disposed in the first arcuate tube. A lock subassembly is disposed on the first arcuate tube for limiting movement of the second arcuate tube relative to the first arcuate tube. A step lever extends along the first arcuate tube and is coupled with the lock subassembly. A first flange and a second flange each extend radially from the first arcuate tube. An actuating member defines a cam surface abutting the second flange. A bar extends through the flanges and attaches to the actuating member. The step lever attaches to the actuating member to move the actuating member and cause the cam surface to slightly deform the first arcuate tube about the second arcuate tube and engage the second arcuate tube. A foot is pivotably disposed at each end of the second arcuate tube.

Abstract: A hydraulically adjustable walker including a frame that includes a plurality of telescoping legs and a leg adjustment assembly that includes at least one valve and at least one tube that delivers hydraulic fluid into the legs and allows a user to control the length of each leg. The legs of the walker are hydraulically adjustable, so that the front legs may be shortened and the back legs extended, or two side legs shortened and the two opposing side legs extended, so as to allow the walker to be securely placed on two different steps.

Abstract: A ladder includes a leveler engages a bottom of each side rail for 1) causing extendable legs to move to a level ground-engaging position, 2) causing the legs to lock when both legs engage the ground, and 3) causing the extendable legs to move to a centered/retracted position when lifted from the ground. The leveler includes pawls, links, pinions, and a shaft forming a four-bar linkage for selectively moving the pawls inward to the disengaged position when the pinion and shaft are each freely rotatable, but selectively moving the pawl outward into locking engagement when the shaft resists movement due to ground engagement by both legs. The leveler can be constructed to attach to an inside of the side rails, thus facilitating pre-assembly.

Abstract: The device is used to level and stabilise a ladder 100 having mutually-spaced rungs 101, 103 extending between a pair of substantially parallel side rails 102. The device includes a pair of extensible hydraulic rams 1 secured to lower ends of respective side rails linked by a conduit establishing a fluid passageway between the rams. A fail-to-safe manually-operable valve is normally closed to hydraulically isolate the rams from each other. A backplate 10 is fixed to each side rail 102 to provide mutually-spaced upper and lower ram attachments 3 and 4. The upper ram attachment 3 includes a pivotal connection which attaches the ram to the backplate for angular movement in the plane of the ladder. The lower ram attachment 4 includes a pair of stays containing L-shaped slots arranged to hold the ram in an angular position relative to the backplate. The slots are also arranged to raise the stays when the rams are moved inwards to a stowed position.

Abstract: A device (10), such as a ladder, scaffold, piece of furniture or a support for any other appliance has at least two legs (12;14), each of which has a slidable leg part (30;32) slidably positioned with respect to another part (18;20) of the device to form a leg having an adjustable length. A locking structure (34;36) is arranged to prevent movement of each of the slidable leg parts (30;32) with respect to said other part (18;20) of the device in a locked state of the locking structure (34;36), and to allow movement of each of the slidable leg parts (30;32) with respect to said other part (18;20) of the device in an unlocked state of the locking structure (34;36). A flexible member (38) interconnects the slidable leg parts (30;32) and is arranged such that it pulls the locking structure (34;36) into the unlocked position when strained under the action of gravity acting on at least one of the slidable leg parts (30;32).

Abstract: An adjustable support device (10) for a structure, including an arcuate support bar (26) terminating in feet (28) for engagement with a ground surface. Two spaced apart locking mechanisms (30) are pivotally connected to the structure. The arcuate support bar (26) extends between engagement rods (36a, 36b) of the locking mechanisms (30). The locking mechanisms (30) are pivotally moveable between a first position, in which a stop member (38) prevents further pivotal movement in one direction such that the engagement rods (36a, 36b) are positioned to allow the arcuate support bar (26) to slide freely over the engagement rods (36a, 36b), and a second position, when weight is applied to the locking mechanisms (30). In the second position, the engagement rods (36a, 36b) lock against the arcuate support bar (26) to prevent sliding movement there through for supporting the structure in a required orientation.

Abstract: A leveling system for household appliances comprises appliance feet which are arranged at the underside of the household appliance and which are adjustable in height at least partly by an actuation member and therefore make it possible to adjust the height of the household appliance and/or to adapt to unevenness in floors. According to the invention, the actuation member is a traction element and the appliance feet which are adjustable in height by the traction element have, in each instance, a cylindrical housing which is fastened to the underside of the household appliance and in which there is arranged a piston which carries the appliance foot plate, and the piston has a receptacle for the height-adjustable arrangement of the shaft of an appliance foot plate.

Abstract: A support for supporting a structure on a surface, comprising at least one support element, each support element comprising a piston, a cylinder in which the piston is moveable, and a braking means for maintaining the piston in a position that is stable relative to the cylinder, wherein the piston and the cylinder are arranged so that a loading associated with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element, and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates the braking means.

Abstract: A channel with sliding clamp and rod arrangement for leveling a ladder comprising a base unit of a hollow rectangular shape adapted to fit over the leg of the ladder. The base unit has interior walls spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the ladder leg. Each of the walls has formed thereon a plurality of spaced splices that slop outwardly and downwardly away from the ladder leg. A clamp member comprises a generally rectangular block that has formed thereon sloping splices that fit into the grooves or spaces between the splices of the base unit. Clamp member has a bore that adjustably and securely retains a support rod, which has a swivel foot at one end. The end of the clamp member that is to be placed adjacent the ladder leg and the opposing interior surface of the base unit have a substantially V-shaped configuration to insure slip free purchase against the ladder leg.

Abstract: Stepladder support apparatus is used to support the rung side of a stepladder and includes a support member positioned next to the stepladder and one or more open-topped receptacles connected to the support member between its top end and bottom end to receive and support the lower end of the rung side of a stepladder.

Abstract: A ladder leveling device that is free-standing and is not installed, or fixed to, the existing ladder (80). Simple, one-person operation of device provides quick convenient way to establish a level and stable work surface over non-level ground, allowing the safe mounting of most common ladders onto device frame (10). Trough (12) provides safe and secure positioning of ladder on top of leveled device. Range of device support, leg (25), adjustment is adequate to provide for safe use on common residential stairs. Infinite adjustment of supports allows precise leveling. Inclinometer (40) displays precise, accurate device-leveling information for safety and ease of operation. All-terrain footing devices (30) provide sturdy use on various ground types.

Abstract: Stepladder support apparatus for use with a stepladder to allow the stepladder to be positioned on an uneven surface and maintain the rung side of the stepladder at an elevated position includes a support member having a top end and a bottom end. Rung engagement members are attached to the support member for engaging and supporting one or more rungs of the stepladder. The bottom end of the support member extends below the lower end of the rung side of the stepladder when the rung engagement members engage and support a rung or rungs of the stepladder.

Abstract: A hydraulic earth leveling machine has a pair of legs, and cross pieces to connect the legs together. The hydraulic earth leveling machine is attached to a ladder by clamps on the cross pieces. The legs of the hydraulic earth leveling machine telescope; and, as long as there is the weight of the ladder only, the legs freely telescope so the ladder can be set vertically regardless of the slope or obstacles of the terrain. Fluid cylinders within the legs move freely with only the weight of the ladder, the fluid flowing back and forth between the two cylinders to allow motion of the two legs. When additional weight is added to the weight of the ladder, fluid pressure causes control valves to close and prevent fluid flow from either fluid cylinder, so the hydraulic earth leveling machine is locked and stable. The legs have feet that grip the ground to assist in stabilizing the ladder.

Abstract: A ladder leveler attachment formed of two preassembled leg assemblies, each having protruding bolts for direct and easy attachment to the ladder side rails, and a drive rod slidably engaging both assemblies. Each assembly has an elongated housing and an elongated, slidably interfitting base plate, the two components forming pockets for retaining protruding attachment bolts. Inside each housing is a gear, and a gear rack having closed ends forming gear stops. Swivel feet are detachably secured to hoop feet, being shiftable from a lowered, generally horizontal position to a vertical, edge-engaging position alongside the leg housing.

Abstract: A ladder leveling device having a pair of hydraulic cylinder/piston units to be secured at the outside lower ends of the ladder side rails in a manner so that the piston rods of the units extend as ladder supports. The working chambers of the units are in fluid communication with each other through a valved passageway which, when open, allow both piston rods to adapt to an irregular supporting surface while the ladder is oriented in a vertical plane. Upon closure of the passageway to isolate the working chambers of the respective units, the piston rods act as rigid extensions of the ladder side rails. Valving of the passageway is effected by a actuating member extending between the side rails in the region of a lower ladder rung so that the member may be depressed to close the passageway by one ascending the ladder in simply stepping on the actuating member.

Abstract: An automatic levelling device for attachment to a ladder to allow the ladder to be used on an uneven supporting surface. The levelling device includes a downwardly opened U-shaped tubular member which guidably supports therein a ball chain connecting element. Slidable within the open ends of the tubular member and attached to opposite ends of the connecting element are extendable legs.A locking means is connected to the tubular member and is adapted to cooperate with the ball chain to provide positive locking of the chain when the extendable legs are in the proper position to maintain the ladder in a vertical orientation. The ball chain when locked in the locking means can not be unlocked unless weight is removed from both supporting legs.

Abstract: A leveller for a ladder has a pair of sliding legs telescopically engagable in respective up-right tubes (which may constitute the stiles of the ladder or separate tubes to be fixed to the stile of a ladder), and a substantially uniform continuous flexible ligament such as a wire rope fixed to upper regions of the legs and extending between the tubes and engaging with a support guide means which is fixed relative to the ladder structure or relative to the other apparatus on which the levelling device is mounted. When loaded, the ladder transmits its load through the support guide means to tension the ligament but when the load is removed (for example by subsidence of the ground beneath one of the legs) tension is released from the ligament allowing it to slide over the support guide means to cause rapid readjustment of the relative vertical positions of the ladder to compensate for variations in ground level, whereby the ladder is maintained in its desired attitude.

Abstract: An automatic ladder leveling apparatus includes a pair of extension members and a relatively stiff, cable-like semi-flexible elongated member. Each extension member is disposed adjacent to one side rail of the ladder for slidable movement equally freely in either direction therealong. The semi-flexible elongated member has a middle portion which makes only one pass across the ladder between its side rails. The middle portion of the elongated member extends through the lowest rung of the ladder. Opposite end portions of the elongated member extend in opposite directions from its middle portion and along the side rails of the ladder above its one lower rung where they attach to the respective extension members at locations between their opposite ends thereof. A block is disposed in the lowest rung of the ladder and has a portion between the middle portion of the elongated member and an upper portion of the rung.

Abstract: An automatic self-leveling ladder having a leveling leg axially slidably mounted within the bottom of each member of a pair of spaced vertical rung supporting members for automatically compensating for unevenness in the support surface. A rack is fixed to each of the legs and is engaged by a gear located within each of the legs that is mounted on an end of a stub shaft. A locking device is fixed on each of the rung supporting members and engages the gears upon application of the weight of the ladder on the legs to lock the legs in a selected leveling position. The stub shafts extend inwardly from the rung supporting members and are located within a complementary sized tubular telescoping member which serves as the bottom rung of the ladder. One of the stub shafts is fixed to the tubular member so the member rotates with the shaft. The shafts are joined by a spring steel strip to rotate the shaft in unison and to compensate for torsional forces exerted on the two stub shafts when in locked positions.

Abstract: There is provided a self-leveling ladder which is particularly useful on uneven surfaces. The ladder includes an attachment generally U-shaped in form having parallel tubes which are secured to the bottom portion of the legs of the ladder and a tubular bridging mechanism connecting the parallel tubes. Legs are received in the bottom portion of each parallel tube and a plurality of balls are received in the bridge portion and the top portion of the tubes. The balls act to transfer the force from one leg to the other so that when the bottom of the legs are placed on different levels the ladder will automatically level itself.

Abstract: In a self levelling ladder base of the type wherein each leg of the base has a rack and pinion assembly, the pinions being interconnected by a shaft, and a tab interfering with the pinions to prevent their rotation as weight is placed on the ladder, automatic locking means are provided to retain the tab in interfering engagement subsequent to the weight being removed, thereby increasing the operational safety of the ladder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-locking level support primarily for ladders and the like, the support being adjustable to fit ladders of different widths.