Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Q12~a
STAIR-LADDER PLATFORM
This invention relates to a portable stair
platform for use with a ladder.
Stairs are well-known to be awkward places in
which to work from, be it decorating or carrying out
general maintenance to adjoining walls and ceilings.
When undertaking such tasks, the standard method'
used is a scaffold board bridged across two ladders
pitched a~ different heights along the run of the
staircase. This is not only very unstable, but does
not enable the user to reach high ceilings and walls.
Purpose built towers are available on the market
which are more stable than the makeshift method, but
are not completely movement free, are very large and
relatively expensive. When in use, stairwells are
blocked rendering them and whole floor areas ou't of
use. Moreover, when not. in use these towers are very
bulky to store and not designed with ease of transport
in mind.
Stair ladders can also be purchased, but are very
limited in their application. One must not work above
a certain point, thus limiting the heights which can be
reached.
According to a first. aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a stair-ladder platform
device which is collapsible for transportation and
storage and comprises a ladder support platform and a
support member pivotally attached to the ladder support
platform by a pivotal coupling, the ladder support
platform having a recessed portion to receive the
support member in the collapsed state of the device,
the parts being arranged such that, when assembled and
in use with the ladder support platform substantially ,
horizontal and the support member substantially
vertical, an upwardly-facing surface area of the
support member abuts a downwardly-facing surface area
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of the ladder support platform, the pivotal coupling
and the surface areas being arranged to tend to
maintain substantially a right angle between the
abutting parts even when weight is applied to the
ladder support platform, and wherein the pivotal
coupling is adapted to allow the support member to be
displaced to a position in which it is received in th'e
recessed portion of the ladder support platform for
storage and/or transport.
Advantageously, when the device is assembled and
in use, the pivotal coupling is such as to prevent
pivoting of the support member substantially beyond the
vertical in that angular direction which is towards the
underside of the ladder support platform but whilst
allowing pivoting of the support member in the other
direction so as to allow the device to be collapsed for
transportation or storage.
According to a second aspect of the present
invention, which may be additional to or alternative to
2o the first aspect, there is provided a stair-ladder
platform device which is collapsible for transportation
and storage and comprises a ladder support platform and
a support member pivotally attached to the platform by
a pivotal coupling, the parts being arranged such that,
when assembled, and in use with the ladder support
platform substantially horizontal and the support
member substantially vertical, an upwardly-facing
surface area of the support member abuts a downwardly-
facing surface area of the ladder support platform, the
pivotal coupling and the surface areas being arranged
to tend to maintain substantially a right angle between
the abutting parts even when weight is applied to the
ladder support platform, and the pivotal coupling being,
,I
such as to prevent pivoting of the support member
substantially beyond the vertical in that angular
direction which is towards the underside of the ladder
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support platform but allowing pivoting of the support
member in the other direction so as to allow the ~.evice
to be collapsed for transportation or storage.
Advantageously, there is provided a surface area
of the support member which surface area, when the
device is assembled and in use with the ladder support
platform substantially horizontal and the support ,
member substantially vertical, abuts an opposing
surface area of the ladder support platform, the
to pivotal coupling being located above the abutting
surface areas so as to prevent pivoting of the support
member about a fulcrum defined by the abutting surface
areas substantially beyond the vertical in that angular
direction which is towards the underside of the ladder
support platform but allowing pivoting of the support
member in the other direction so as to allow the device
to be collapsed for transportation or storage.
The opposing surface areas may be additional to or
replace the upwardly- and downwardly-facing surface
areas described above. The planes of the opposing
surface areas are oriented so as to have at least a
vertical component, and in some embodiments are
substantially vertical. This arrangement provides
additional stability for the stair-ladder platform when
assembled and in use.
In a preferred embodiment, the pivotal coupling is
such as to allow the support member to slide relative
to the ladder support platform when the device is being
assembled or collapsed. In one suitable form of
pivotal coupling, the coupling comprises engagement
means carried by one of the support member and the
ladder support platform, which engagement means is
slidably engageable in a pair of substantially parallel
't elon ate uides
g provided along the length of the other
of the support member and the ladder support platform.
The elongate guides may be formed on the inner faces of
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a pair of ladder stops, one being provided along either
edge of the ladder support platform. This arrangement
provides the advantage that a rigid platform may be set
up simply by sliding the support member relative to the
ladder support platform from an initial, compact
configuration, in which the support member and the
ladder support platform are substantially parallel anc~.
adjacent, to an intermediate configuration in which the
support member is still parallel to, but overhangs, the
l0 ladder support platform, to a final, working
configuration, in which the support member is pivoted
downwardly so that a surface area of the support member
abuts a surface area of the ladder support platform in
such a way that substantially all weight applied to the
ladder support platform is borne by the abutting
surface areas and not by the pivotal attachments.
Alternatively, the engagement means may be located
at one end region of the ladder support platform and
the elongate guides may be formed along the edges of
the support member.
In a further alternative embodiment, the pivotal
coupling may be releasable, thereby enabling the
support member to be released from its initial
configuration relative to the ladder support platform
and re-attached in the final, working configuration.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the
support member is provided at one end with a transverse
bar, and both inner faces of the ladder stops on the
ladder support platform are provided with an elongate
guide adapted to receive one end each of the transverse
bar. The support member and the ladder support
platform can be separated from each other by applying a
relative twisting motion when the stair-ladder platform
'' is in its intermediate configuration so as to disengage
the ends of the transverse bar from the elongate
guides. Because of the way in which the respective
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surface areas of the support member and the ladder
support platform abut each other when the stair-ladder
platform is in its final, working~configuration, it is
not possible to apply this twisting motion when the
stair-ladder is in use, thereby ensuring good
stability. This embodiment provides the advantage that
the support member and the ladder support platform ma~Z '
be manufactured separately, for example by way of
injection moulding, thereby reducing manufacturing
costs. Advantageously, the inner faces of the ladder
stops are provided with a lip or bulge in the region
above the elongate guides. This lip or bulge serves
firstly to retain the support member in the recess of
the ladder support platform when the stair-ladder
platform is in the collapsed state of the device, and
secondly to prevent the support member from being
inserted incorrectly, since the lip or bulge will only
allow the support member to pivot fully between the
collapsed state and the fully-assembled state when the
support member is positioned so that its aforementioned
surface area will correctly abut the aforementioned
surface area of the ladder support platform.
Instead of a sliding arrangement, the support
member may be attached to the ladder support platform
by a simple pivot arrangement, the support member being
swung about an~angle in the region of 270° from the
initial position to the final position.
Although embodiments of the present invention are
inherently stable in use because of the way that the
abutting surface areas of the support member and the
ladder support platform are designed, in combination
with the pivotal coupling, to form a rigid interface
under applied weight, it is possible to provide an
additional locking means for added safety. This
locking means may comprise a clip or turnkey or the
like mounted at one end of the ladder support platform
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and adapted to be releasably secured to the support
member when the stair-ladder platform is in its
assembled state by engaging with a hole provided in the
support member.
The stair-ladder platform is advantageously
adapted to extend, in use, over no more than two
stairs. In other words, the respective lengths of the
support member and the ladder support platform are such
that when the stair-ladder platform is erected, the
to base of the support member rests on a first stair
going, and the ladder support platform rests on the
going of the stair no more than two above the first.
This embodiment of the present invention is
particularly stable in use.
Embodiments of the invention featuring the
recessed portion in the ladder support platform of the
first aspect may advantageously comprise a base which,
when the device is assembled and in use, is located at
the lower end of the support member, and is shaped so
that, when the device is in a collapsed state for
transportation or storage, the base closes one end of a
channel defined in the ladder support platform by the
recessed portion.
The base can provide additional stability for the
stair-ladder platform device when assembled, and
enables the device to adopt a neat and compact
configuration when collapsed, since the base may be
shaped and sized so as to form a closure panel which is
substantially flush with the cross-section of the
ladder support platform and the support member when
these are in the collapsed state. The base may be non-
pivotally or pivotally attached to the support member.
In some embodiments of the present invention,
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there is provided a base pivotally attached to the
support member, which base, when the device is
assembled and in use with the ladder support platform
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and the base substantially horizontal and the support
member substantially vertical, an upwardly-facing,
surface area of the base abuts a downwardly-facing
surface area of the support member, the pivotal
coupling and the surface areas being arranged to tend
to maintain substantially a right angle between the
abutting parts even when weight is applied to the
ladder support platform.
The base helps to provide additional stability for
the stair-ladder platform as a whole.
According to a third aspect of the present
invention, which may be additional to or alternative to
the first and second aspects, there is provided a
stair-ladder platform which is collapsible for
transportation and storage and comprises three parts:
i) a ladder support platform, ii) a support member
pivotally attached to the platform and iii) a base
pivotally attached to the support member, the parts
being arranged such that, when assembled for use, a
first surface area of the support member abuts a
surface area of the ladder support platform and a
second surface area of the support member abuts a
surface area of the base, the pivotal attachments and
the surface areas being arranged to tend to maintain
substantially a right angle between each pair of
abutting parts'when weight is applied to the ladder
support platform.
In one embodiment, the support platform is
attached to the support member in such a way that the
support member traverses through an angle in the region
of 270° in going from its collapsed to its assembled
condition.
According to a fourth aspect of the present
'' invention, which may be additional to or alternative to
the first, second and third aspects, there is provided
a stair-ladder platform device which is collapsible for
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transportation and storage and'comprises a ladder
support platform and a support member pivotally
attached to the platform, wherein~the support member is
provided with a height adjustment in the form of a
telescopic mechanism.
A telescopic mechanism is to be understood in this
context as one in which the support member comprises ~at
least two parts which may be reciprocated without
relative rotational movement of the parts (although it
l0 is envisaged that a rotational mechanism, such as a
worm screw, may be used to generate the reciprocal
motion). Such a telescopic height adjustment allows
the stair-ladder platform to be set quickly and
accurately for different sizes of stair riser.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention,
which may be additional to or alternative to the first,
second, third and fourth aspects, there is provided a
stair-ladder platform which is collapsible for
transportation and storage and comprises two parts: i)
a ladder support platform and ii) a support member
pivotally attached to the platform, there being a
height adjustment in the form of a jacking mechanism,
or other screw-threaded mechanism, activated by one or
more handles.
Embodiments of the stair-ladder platform can be
used in conjunction with a wide range of general
purpose ladders incorporating height and width-
adjusting methods for use with variable stair sizes,
for example domestic, institutional or industrial stair
types. These embodiments can be quickly retracted for
compact storage and transportation and can be adapted
to be constructed from any suitable material, including
wood, strengthened aluminium, pressed steel or even
'' suitable plastics.
Preferably, the parts are arranged such that, when
assembled for use, the support member has a surface
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area which abuts a surface area of the ladder support
platform, the pivotal attachment and the surface areas
being arranged to tend to maintain substantially a
right angle between the abutting parts when weight is
applied to the ladder support platform.
In addition, there may be provided a ladder
support platform adjustment to accommodate different',
widths of going on stairs, for example in the form of a
manually-guided mechanism or a jacking mechanism, or
other screw-threaded mechanism, activated by one or
more handles. Alternatively or in addition, a
telescopic mechanism may be used.
Further aspects and alternatives will be apparent
from the following descriptions:
Fig. 1 shows in perspective one example of the
stair-ladder platform with a ladder in use.
Fig. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the
stair-ladder platform of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the example
shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 folding into its closed,
portable/storage position.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the example
shown in Figs. 1-3 in its closed, portable/storage
position.
Fig. 5 illustrates the underside of the example
shown in Figs.~l-4.
Fig. 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of the
platform and ladder stops.
Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken
substantially in the plane of the line 7-7 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 8 shows in perspective an alternative example
of a stair-ladder platform.
Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view taken
'' substantially in the plane of the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the underside
of the example shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in its closed,
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portable/storage position.
Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of an alternative
foot member as an integral part of the example shown in
Figs. 8-10.
Fig. 12 shows a plan view of the underside of the
example shown in Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a further , '
alternative example.
Fig. 14 shows a cross-sectional view taken
substantially in the plane of the line 14-14 in Fig.
13.
Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the underside
of the example
shown in Figs.
13-14.
Fig. 16 shows a rear plan view of the example of
a
stair-ladder platform shown in Figs. 13-15.
Fig. 17 shows in perspective an alternative base
applied to the
stair-ladder
platform shown
in Figs.
13-16.
Fig. 18 shows in perspective a further alternative
example of a stair-ladder platform.
Fig. 19 shows a cross-sectional view taken
substantially
in the plane
of the line
19-19 in
Fig. 18.
Fig. 20 shows.a front plan view of the
stair-ladder platform shown in Figs. 18 and 19.
Fig. 21 shows an alternative positioning of the
height handles
applied to
the example
shown in Fig.
13
with the gearing
mechanism shown
in Fig. 19.
Fig. 22 shows in perspective a further alternative
example of a stair-ladder platform with an alternative
height adjusting
method applied
to the example
shown in
Fig. 2.
Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the example
shown in Fig. 22.
Fig. 24 shows in perspective a further alternative
example of a stair-ladder platform.
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Fig. 25 shows a perspective view of the example
shown in Fig. 24 in its partially folded position.
Fig. 26 shows a perspective view of the example
shown in Figs. 24-25 in a position prior to
closure/storage.
Fig. 27 shows a perspective view of the example
shown in Figs. 24-26 in a closed transportation
position.
Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the example
shown in Fig. 24.
Fig. 29 shows in perspective a further alternative
example of a stair-ladder platform comprising a ratchet
mechanism.
Fig. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the example
shown in Fig. 29.
Fig. 31 shows in perspective a further alternative
example of a stair-ladder platform comprising a screw
mechanism.
Fig. 32 is a cross-sectional view of the example
shown in Fig. 31.
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates one
embodiment of the stair-ladder platform, comprising a
platform 1 with integral ladder stops 2 and a vertical
support member 3 pivotally attached by hinges 9, best
shown in Fig. 2. A support-to-platform stop 15 fixed
to the vertical support 3 abuts the platform 1 at right
angles to the said member as also shown in Fig. 7. A
base 4 is pivotally attached by hinges 14 to the
support 3 on the sides opposite to the platform hinges
9. The support-to-base stop 13 abuts the base 4 at
right angles, the opposing forces of hinges 9 and 14
along with oppositely fixed support stops 15 and 13
effecting a rigid structure best shown in Fig. 7.
Wing-nutted height adjusters 5 are connected by
threaded sleeves 19 and wingnut stops 18 to adjustable
feet 16 (as shown in Fig. 7) to enable the platform 1
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to be aligned horizontally on a stair going 11. A
spirit level 8 may be provided to assist alignment.
The edge of platform 1 opposite to the platform hinges
9 is butted against a stair riser 10 (see Fig. 1).
Buffers 6 located on the outer edge of the platform 1
and the base 4 are to protect the surface abutted by
the stair-ladder platform. A non-slip rubber stair
grip 17, best shown in Fig. 5,.grips the stair going 11
when the ladder 12 is positioned on the non-slip ladder
l0 grip 7 (as shown in Fig. 6) and pitched against the
wall of the staircase and weight applied.
After use, the ladder 12 is removed and the
stair-ladder platform is pivotally collapsed about its
pivoted axis 9 and 14 as shown in Fig. 3 to a compact
stowed position, best shown in Fig. 4.
The stair-ladder platform can be placed anywhere
within a staircase by following the procedures above.
A second embodiment of the stair-ladder platform
can best be seen in Fig. 8. This alternative
embodiment comprises a platform la with integral ladder
stops 2 and a vertical support 21 pivotally fixed by a
bar-hinged support strut 31 to a recessed metal slide
plate 32, best shown in Fig. 9. The support 21 pivots
on a bar hinge 30 parallel to the platform la, best
shown in Figs. 9 and 12, to the vertical, with hinged
base 22 pivotally attached by hinges 23 abutting the
support/base stop 36 at right angles with the base 22
and support 21, as best shown Figs. 8 and 9. The
support 21 can be moved towards or away from the stair
riser 10 within the width-adjusting support guide 24,
best shown in Fig. 8. The recessed metal slide plate
32 slides within metal plate guides 38, best shown in
Fig. 10. Wing-nutted bolts 34 fixed through holes in
the metal slide plate 32 are guided within recessed
bolt guides 20 (see Fig. 9) to a desired position and
locked.
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A non-slip rubber grip 17 sits firmly on the stair
going 11 with the leading buffered edge 6 of the platform
la opposite to the support member abutting the stair
riser 10 as shown in Fig. 1.
A height adjusting handle 25 activates a jack
gearing 27 within a housing 26 which in turn rotates a
height-adjusting worm 28 clockwise or anti-clockwise
depending on the desired platform height.
There is provided a threaded coupling 29 fixed to
bar hinge support strut 31. The coupling 29 travels in
an upward or downward direction along the worm thread 28
when the height adjusting handle 25 is turned. A rubber
worm stay 35 is provided to maintain the parallel
separation between the worm 28 and the support 21, as
shown in Fig. 9. An integral spirit level 8 can be
provided to assist horizontal alignment.
When not in use, this example of a stair-ladder
platform can be pivotally returned to the compact
transportation/storage position about its axis as shown
in Fig. 10, with a retaining strap 37 in place.
A further addition to this example set out above is
an alternative integral rigid support foot 33
incorporating plastic protection buffers 6 and a non-slip
rubber stair grip 17, best shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
In addition, or as an alternative to the above
examples, a further embodiment is described as follows.
Referring to Fig. 13, there is provided a platform lb for
supporting a ladder 12 with integral ladder stops 2 and
two vertical leg supports 41 joined by cross members 40,
and pivotally attached by a bar hinge 55 passing through
each vertical leg support 41 and fixed with locking
collars 51 onto a width-adjusting slide plate 50 best
shown in Fig. 16.
The vertical leg supports 41 are pivoted parallel to
the platform lb, best shown in Fig. 15, to the
CA 02201270 2005-03-04
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vertical, as in Fig. 13, with the uppermost edge of the
vertical leg supports 41 abutting the underside of the
width-adjusting slide plate 50 at right angles. The base
foot 45 is fixed as an integral member to adjustable legs
44 so as to sit firmly on the stair going 11.
The leg supports 41 can be adjusted to fit stair
goings of varying widths. The width-adjusting means
comprises the metal slide plate 50 guided within a
slide plate guide 49, wing-nutted bolts 34 fixed through
drilled holes in the metal slide plate 50 and locating
recessed bolt guides 48, which incorporate a metal slide
plate for ease of action, best shown in Fig. 14.
The height adjusting handles 25a are guided within
handle slots 39 best shown in Fig. 13. The desired
position on the stair going 11 is set by wing-nutted
bolts 34.
The height adjusting mechanism comprises two
vertical leg supports 41, each housing adjustable legs 44
and a height adjusting mechanism in the form of worms 54
locked in position by locking collars 47 abutting the
upper enclosed face of support leg 41. The worm
continues to a further set of locking collars 46 and in
turn through to the two adjusting handles 25a. Along the
worms 54 are provided worm couplings 52 which travel up
or down the worms 54 depending on the direction of
rotation of adjusting handles 25a. The worm couplings 52
are bolted to adjustable legs 44, thus raising or
lowering the said members on rotation of the adjusting
handles 25a. This in turn brings platform lb to the
horizontal. An integral spirit level 8 may be provided
to assist alignment. When not in use, this stair-ladder
platform can be pivotally returned to position shown in
Fig. 15.
A further addition to the example set out above is
an alternative hinged foot 22 as best shown in Fig. 17
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attached by base hinges 23 to the base foot 45, the
underside of which abuts the base surface forming'a
rigid structure-when weight is applied.
Fig. 18 illustrates an additional embodiment of
the stair-ladder platform, comprising a platform 1c for
supporting a ladder 12, a support member 59 pivotally
attached by a bar hinge 55 passing through drilled
holes in each portion of a vertical leg support 59,
best shown in Figs. 19 and 20. These in turn are
locked into a width-adjusting slide plate 73 by bar
collars 51. The slide plate 73 slides within slide
plate guides 74. V~ling-nutted bolts 34, located through
drilled holes in slide plate 73, sit on a recessed
metal slide plate 48 for ease of action.
The width-adjusting handle 60, when rotated, turns
worm 70 within a handle guide 65 and is kept in
position by locking collars 63. The worm coupling 69,
located along the worm 70, is fixed to the slide plate
73 and in turn adjusts the slide plate 73 to the
desired position, which in turn is set by wing-nutted
bolts 34. A worm receiver 72, with a worm stay 71, is
provided to maintain the worm 70 parallel to the
platform 1c, as shown in Fig. 19.
The height adjustment comprises a vertical leg
support 59 pivotally attached, as described above, to
slide plate 73~, encasing an adjustable leg 58 fixed to
a worm coupling 68. The worm coupling 68 travels up
and down the worm 67, when handle 61, fixed through the
vertical support 59 and locked in position by locking
collars 64, is rotated in either a clockwise or an
anti-clockwise direction. There is provided for this
action gearing wheels 66a and 66, best shown in Fig.
19. Gearing wheel 66a is fixed to the handle 61 and
gearing wheel 66 is fixed to the worm 67. The integral
base foot 62 in turn is raised or lowered so as to
effect a horizontal alignment of platform 1c on the
CA 02201270 2005-03-04
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stair going 11. A spirit level 8 may be provided to
assist alignment. When not required for use, this
stair-ladder platform may be collapsed by carrying out
the above sequence in reverse. It is important to note
that when the distance between strings of staircases is
relatively wide, e.g on institutional/industrial
stairs, the stair-ladder platform does not need to be
butted up against the stair string. The platform can
be placed anywhere on the stair going and the ladder
pitched anywhere within the platform, not necessarily
against the ladder stops, to attain the recommended 75°
pitch.
Fig. 22 illustrates an additional embodiment of
the stair-ladder platform comprising a platform ld with
integral ladder stops 2d and a support member 75
pivotally attached by hinges 9d to platform ld. A
support-to-platform stop 15d fixed to the support
member 75 abuts the platform ld at right angles to the
said member 75 as shown in Fig. 23. The height
adjusting mechanism comprises a vertical support member
75 pivotally attached as described above to the
platform ld encasing an adjustable leg 76 fixed to a
worm coupling 77. The worm coupling travels up and
down the worm 78 when handle 79, fixed through the
vertical support member 75 and locked in position by
locking collars 80, is rotated in either a clockwise or
an anti-clockwise direction. There is provided for this
action gearing wheels 80 and 81 as shown in Fig. 23. A
base foot 82, which is pivotally attached to adjustable
leg 76 by hinges 83 (best shown in Fig. 22) is in turn
raised or lowered so as to effect horizontal alignment
of the platform ld on the stair going 11. A spirit
level 8d may be provided to assist alignment. The
support-to-base stop 13d abuts base 82 and support leg
76 at right angles.
The edge of the platform ld opposite to the
, ,
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platform hinges 9d is butted against the stair riser 10
as in Fig. 1. Buffers 6d located on the outer edge of
platform ld and base 82 provide protection for the
surface abutted by the stair-ladder platform. A non-
slip rubber stair grip 17d grips the stair going 11
when the ladder 12 is positioned on a non-slip ladder
grip 7d as shown in Fig. 22 and pitched against the ,
wall of the staircase and weight applied.
After use, the ladder 12 is removed and the stair-
ladder platform is pivotally collapsed about its
pivoted axis 9d and 83 in the manner shown in Figs. 3
and 4. It is important to note that the opposing
forces of the oppositely fixed hinges 9d and 83 along
with the oppositely fixed support stops 13d and 83 form
a rigid structure when weight is applied.
A further embodiment of the stair-ladder platform
is shown in Figs. 24-28. This alternative example
comprises a platform le with integral ladder stops 2e
incorporating pivot slide guides 84. A vertical
support member 85 with an integral pivot bar 86
attaches to the platform le within the pivot slide
guides 84, enabling the support member 85 to slide from
a storage position best shown in Fig. 27 through to an
operating position shown in Fig. 24 by pulling said
member away from its housing in the manner illustrated
in Figs. 25 and 26. The support member 85 abuts the
underside of platform 1e (as shown in Figs. 24 and 28)
at right angles with the integral pivot bar 86 stopping
at the end of the pivot slide guides 84 (as shown in
Figs. 24 and 28). An additional locking means may be
provided in the form of a turnkey 121 mounted at one
end of the ladder support platform le and received by a
hole 120 located in the support member 85. The
abutting edge of the support member 85 rests within a
recess 87 on the underside of the platform le as shown
in Figs. 24 and 28.
U
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Encased within the support member 85 is provided a
height adjusting mechanism in the form of an adjustable
leg 88 fixed to a worm coupling 89. The worm coupling
89 travels up and down a worm 90 when a handle 91,
fixed through the support member 85 and locked in
position by locking collars 92, is rotated in either a
clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction. There is ,
provided for this action gearing wheels 93 and 94 as
shown in Fig. 28. The integral base foot 95 in turn is
raised or lowered so as to achieve horizontal alignment
of the platform le on the stair going 11. A spirit
level may be provided to assist alignment. The edge of
the platform le opposite to the pivot bar 86 is butted
up against the stair riser 10 as in Fig. 1. Buffers 6e
located on the outer edge of the platform 1e and the
base foot 95 are provided to protect the surface
abutted by the stair-ladder platform. A non-slip
rubber stair grip 17e grips the stair going 11 when the
ladder 12 is positioned on a non-slip ladder grip 7e
(as shown in Fig. 24) and pitched against the wall of
the stairwell and weight applied. A support-to-
platform stop 96 may be provided for additional
stability.
After use, the above sequence is carried out in
reverse so as to bring the stair-ladder platform into a
configuration allowing compact storage and/or
transportation.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention
comprising a ratchet-type height adjustment is shown in
Figs. 29 and 30. The support member 105 includes an
adjustable leg 108, which leg is provided with a
ratchet section 100. A pawl 101 is mounted on the
support member 105 in such a way that the leg 108 may
be telescopically extended from and retracted into the '
support member 105 by activating the pawl 101.
A further alternative embodiment of the present
-19-
invention comprising a screw-type height adjustment is
shown in Figs. 31 and 32. The support member 1151
includes an adjustable leg 118, which leg is provided
with a screw thread 110 which engages with a
complimentary screw thread 111 provided inside the-
support member 115. The leg 118 may be extended from
and retracted into the support member 115 simply by
rotation. For additional security, a locking nut 112
may be provided.
