Combined Stepladder and Platform

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combined stepladder and platform, which may be used as a stepladder, scaffold or workbench.

Background to the Invention

Stepladders are conventionally used in the building industry, in the home and in warehouses and stockrooms for a variety of applications, such as joinery, painting, cleaning, repair work, DIY, stock retrieval and other tasks.

The nature of some of the tasks undertaken while using a stepladder is such that it is desirable that a platform is also provided. For certain tasks, such as painting, wallpapering, hedge trimming, or other similar tasks, the platform may be used as a scaffold upon which the user can stand while working. The scaffold allows the user to move along the wall that is to be painted or papered, or along the hedge which is to be trimmed. For other tasks, such as joinery, the platform may be used as a workbench upon which tools and work materials may be placed. The workbench may also act as a support to allow the user to carry out his work at a convenient working height. It is therefore desirable to provide a stepladder that incorporates a platform, which may be used as a scaffold or a workbench.

A number of combination platform ladders are known in the art. United States Patent No. 4,519,476 describes a detachable top to be used with a folding ladder. The ladder may be converted into structures such as a workbench, table, or stepladder. The top is fitted over and around the rails of the ladder after conversion to a workbench. One disadvantage of this device is that the top is a separate component and must be attached and detached in order to convert the ladder between stepladder and workbench configurations. Another disadvantage is that the detachable top is not intended for use as a scaffold.

E2006/000026

2

United States Patent No. 5,332,062 describes a combination scaffold ladder device having a scaffold connected to a parallel ladder structure by means of a top step and a pair of extendible spreaders or braces. The scaffold ladder may be converted into a flat horizontal platform by extending a pair of support members (in the form of partial steps) attached to side members of the parallel ladder structure. One disadvantage of this device is that it may not be used as a ladder and a scaffold platform simultaneously, as the steps of the ladder are not accessible when the device is in a scaffold configuration.

It is also desirable to provide a stepladder that may be easily converted for use as a stepladder or as a scaffold or workbench. In addition, it is desirable to provide a stepladder that may be easily stored.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stepladder that incorporates a platform, which may be used as a scaffold or a workbench. It is another object of the present invention to provide a stepladder that may be easily converted for use as a scaffold or workbench. It is a further object of the invention to provide a stepladder that may be stored easily.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a stepladder, comprising a ladder portion having a pair of substantially parallel side rails and at least one transverse step disposed therebetween; a back portion having a pair of substantially parallel side rails and a substantially planar platform member associated therewith, wherein said back portion is hingedly attached to said ladder portion at a top end thereof; and at least one brace element disposable between said ladder portion and said back portion at the lower ends thereof, for locking the stepladder in an open position; and characterised in that said ladder portion further comprises an upper ladder portion pivotably associated with said ladder portion at the top end thereof and the stepladder is tiltable in the open position to bring the planar platform member into a substantially horizontal position, and the upper ladder portion is pivotable away from the ladder portion to act as a support for one end of the planar platform member in said substantially horizontal

position, the other end of said platform being supported in said substantially horizontal position by the brace element or elements.

One advantage of the stepladder of the present invention is that it incorporates a platfoπn that may be used as a scaffold or a workbench. Another advantage of the stepladder of the present invention is the ease and simplicity with which the stepladder may be converted for use as a scaffold or workbench. In contrast to prior art devices, the present invention requires only one simple action or step to be taken in order to convert the device from stepladder to scaffold or workbench.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the ladder portion comprises at least two steps and the upper ladder portion comprises side rails, and at least one of the steps is disposed between the side rails of the upper ladder portion. A particular advantage of this embodiment is that the device may be used as a ladder and as a scaffold or workbench platform simultaneously, that is, at least one step of the ladder portion is accessible when the device is in a scaffold (or workbench) configuration. Thus, where the platform is to be used as a scaffold, a user may climb to the scaffold platform by means of the at least one step disposed within the upper ladder portion. Where the platform is to be used as a workbench, tools and work materials may be allowed to remain on the workbench platform while the upper ladder portion is used as a conventional stepladder.

According to another embodiment, the ladder portion further comprises retaining means for releasably retaining the upper ladder portion, such that when the retaining means is released, the upper ladder portion is pivotable away from the ladder portion to act as a support for the planar platform member. An advantage of this arrangement is that the upper ladder portion is restrained from accidental disengagement from the side rails of the ladder portion.

According to a further embodiment, the stepladder is foldable into a closed position in which the ladder portion and the back portion are substantially parallel to one another, and the or each brace element is foldable for movement of the stepladder into the closed

position. One advantage of this embodiment is that the stepladder takes up substantially less space in the closed position and may therefore be stored easily.

Alternatively, the brace element may be hingedly attached to the main ladder portion and releasably attachable to the back portion of the stepladder, such that in the closed position the brace element lies between the ladder portion and the back portion substantially parallel thereto. The arrangement could also be reversed, so that the brace element is hingedly attached to the back portion and releasably attachable to the main body portion.

Preferably, the brace element is releasably attachable to the back portion by engagement of locking means provided at one end of the brace element with complementary locking means provided on said back portion.

In one embodiment, said locking means comprises a catch pivotably mounted at one end of the brace element; and a return spring associated with the catch to bias the catch into a locking position; and said complementary locking means comprises a stop block provided on the back portion of the stepladder; wherein the catch is shaped to engage the stop blocks in said locking position. The catch may be formed at one end with a release lever, such that the catch is disengageable from the stop block by actuation of the release lever against the spring bias.

According to yet another embodiment, the stepladder further comprises tension means attachable between the ladder portion and the upper ladder portion to prevent slipping of a lower end of the upper ladder portion away from the ladder portion when the stepladder is in the scaffold position.

Embodiments of the stepladder of the present invention will now be described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stepladder according to the present invention, in an open position for use as a ladder;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stepladder of Figure 1, in a scaffold position for use as a platform;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the stepladder of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a detail of the stepladder of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the detail shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a left side perspective view of a second embodiment of the stepladder of the invention, in the closed position;

Figure 7 is a left side perspective view of the stepladder of Figure 6, in the open position for use as a ladder; Figure 8 is a bottom end perspective view of the stepladder of Figure 6, in the scaffold position for use as a platform;

Figure 9 is a left side perspective view of the stepladder of Figure 6, in the scaffold position;

Figure 10 is an exploded view of the components of the stepladder of Figure 6; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism for the brace element of the stepladder of Figure 6; and

Figure 12 is a left side elevation view of the stepladder of Figure 6, in the closed position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of the invention provides a stepladder 1, comprising a ladder portion 2, having a pair of substantially parallel side rails 3 and transverse intermediate steps 4 disposed therebetween over a portion of its longitudinal extent. The stepladder further comprises a back portion 5 having a pair of substantially parallel side rails 6 and a substantially planar platform member 11 associated therewith. The back portion 5 is attached to the ladder portion 2 at a top end 8 thereof by hinges 23. The back portion further comprises a transverse intermediate strut 7 extending between the side rails 6. The stepladder 1 further comprises foldable brace elements 9 disposable between said ladder portion 2 and said back portion 5 at the lower ends 10 thereof, for locking the stepladder 1 in an open position as shown in Figure 1.

The stepladder may be used in the conventional way by arranging the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 at an angle to one another, and locking them in place relative to one another by arranging the foldable brace elements 9 to extend therebetween in a strut-type bracing configuration. The steps 4 of the ladder portion 2 may then be safely climbed by a user. This configuration or position is referred to throughout the description as the open position of the stepladder.

The stepladder is characterised in that the ladder portion 2 comprises, in addition to the structure including side rails 3 and steps 4, an upper ladder portion 12 pivotably attached by hinges 24 to the ladder portion 2 at the top end 8 thereof. The upper ladder portion 12 includes side rails 25 and transverse intermediate steps 4.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the stepladder 1 is further characterised in that the stepladder is tiltable in said open position to bring the planar platform member 11 into a substantially horizontal position, and the upper ladder portion 12 is pivotable outwards, that is, away from said back portion 5 and said ladder portion 2, to act as a support for one end of the planar platform member 11 in said substantially horizontal position. In this position, the brace elements 9 act as a support for the opposite end of the planar platform member 11. When the planar platform member is in this substantially horizontal position, the stepladder may be used as a scaffold or as a workbench. This configuration or position is referred to throughout the description as the scaffold position of the stepladder. It will be appreciated that in order to convert the stepladder for use as a scaffold or workbench, only one simple action or step must be taken by the user, that is, the upper ladder portion 12 must be pivoted outwards to act as a support for said planar platform member 11.

In one embodiment, the angle at which the brace elements 9 are disposed between the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 may be selected to provide the stepladder with optimum stability in the scaffold position. Optimum stability is achieved when the brace elements 9 enclose an acute angle with the ladder portion 2 and an obtuse angle with the back portion 5. An arrangement of this kind may be achieved by the brace elements sloping upwards from the ladder portion 2 towards the back portion 5 in the open position according to Figure 1, as compared with the horizontal disposition of the

elements illustrated. The platform may then be foreshortened, to terminate where the brace elements are connected to the back portion, to avoid a user standing on a cantilevered-out platform region.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ladder includes five intermediate steps 4, two of which are disposed between side rails 3 of the main ladder portion 2, and three of which are disposed between side rails 25 of the upper ladder portion 12. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, differing numbers of steps may be provided. A particular advantage of this arrangement is that the device may be used as a ladder and as a scaffold or workbench platform simultaneously, since the three intermediate steps 4 disposed between the side rails of the upper ladder portion 12 are accessible when the device is in the scaffold position. Where the platform 11 is to be used as a scaffold, a user may climb to the scaffold platform by means of the three intermediate steps 4 disposed within the upper ladder portion 12. Where the platform 11 is to be used as a workbench, tools and work materials may be allowed to remain on the workbench platform 11 while the upper ladder portion 12 is used as a stepladder in the conventional way.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the stepladder further comprises a pair of retaining straps 22 attached between a step 4 of the upper ladder portion 12 and a step 4 of the ladder portion 2. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, when the stepladder is in the scaffold position, the upper ladder portion 12 is prevented from slipping outwards, that is, away from the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 by means of the straps 22. The straps 22 represent tension means to prevent slipping of a lower end of the upper ladder portion away from the ladder portion when the stepladder is in the scaffold position.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the ladder portion 2 further comprises retaining means 14 for releasably retaining the upper ladder portion 12, such that when the retaining means 14 is released, the upper ladder portion is pivotable outwards to act as a support for the planar platform member 11. Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the retaining means 14 comprises a spring-biased pin 15 which is be inserted through co-aligned openings 16 and 17 in the side rail 3 of the ladder portion and the side rail 25

of the upper ladder portion 12, respectively, to retain the side rails of the upper ladder portion in close proximity to the side rails 3 of the ladder portion. To release the retaining means, the pin 15 is withdrawn a sufficient distance from the opening 17 in the side rail of the upper ladder portion to allow it to be disengaged from the side rail 3. This allows the upper ladder portion to be pivoted outwards to support the planar platform member 11 in the scaffold position of the stepladder.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the stepladder 1 is foldable into a closed position in which the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 are substantially parallel to one another, and the brace element 9 is foldable with the stepladder in the closed position. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the brace element comprises a pair of struts 9, each having two portions and foldable at a hinge 18 between the two portions, and a pair of locking devices 13. When closed, the locking devices are capable of holding the struts 9 straight to lock the stepladder 1 in an open position. When the stepladder is to be closed (that is, folded), the locking devices 13 may be released to allow the struts 9 to fold at their hinge points 18.

In the embodiment shown, each locking device 13 comprises a catchplate 19 disposed on one portion of the strut 9 and a spring-biased slidable latch element 20 and an actuator 21 disposed on the other portion of the strut 9. When the actuator 21 is slid in a direction away from the catchplate 19, the latch element .20 is disengaged from the catchplate, thus allowing the strut 9 to fold at the hinge 18. The ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 of the stepladder 1 may then be moved towards one another into a substantially parallel arrangement, so that the stepladder is closed or folded for storage. To lock the stepladder in the open position, the actuator 21 is held away from the catchplate, and the two portions of the strut 9 are moved so that a 180-degree angle is formed therebetween, that is, the struts are straightened. The actuator is then released and the latch 20 moves under spring bias to engage the catchplate 18 on the opposing portion of the strut. The struts are thereby held straight and the stepladder is locked in the open position until the locking devices are disengaged as described above.

In an alternative embodiment, the struts 9 are not hinged, but are substantially rigid over their entire length. The rigid struts may be hinged to the ladder portion and latchable to the back portion, or vice versa, to lock the stepladder in the open position.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 12 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the invention provides a stepladder 1, comprising a ladder portion 2, having a pair of substantially parallel side rails 3 and transverse intermediate steps 4 disposed therebetween over a portion of its longitudinal extent. The stepladder further comprises a back portion 5 having a pair of substantially parallel side rails 6 and a substantially planar platform member 11 associated therewith. The back portion 5 is attached to the ladder portion 2 at a top end 8 thereof by hinges 23. The back portion further comprises two transverse intermediate struts 7 extending between the side rails 6. As described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5, the stepladder is characterised in that the ladder portion 2 comprises, in addition to the structure including side rails 3 and steps 4, an upper ladder portion 12 pivotably attached by hinges 24 to the ladder portion 2 at the top end 8 thereof. The upper ladder portion 12 includes side rails 25 and transverse intermediate steps 4. The stepladder 1 further comprises a brace element 9, for locking the stepladder 1 in an open position as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 12, the side rails, steps and struts are formed from aluminium and are hollow in profile. Each of the side rails 3, 6, 25 is provided with rubber end-caps or feet 43. The platform 11 is formed from plywood.

The stepladder may be used in the conventional way by arranging the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 at an angle to one another, and locking them in place relative to one another by arranging the brace element 9 to extend therebetween as shown in Figure 7. The steps 4 of the ladder portion 2 may then be safely climbed by a user. This configuration or position is referred to throughout the description as the open position of the stepladder.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, the stepladder 1 is further characterised in that the stepladder is tiltable in said open position to bring the planar platform member 11 into a substantially horizontal position, and the upper ladder

portion 12 is pivotable outwards, that is, away from said back portion 5 and said ladder portion 2, to act as a support for one end of the planar platform member 11 in said substantially horizontal position. In this position, the brace element 9 acts as a support for the opposite end of the planar platform member 11. When the planar platform member is in this substantially horizontal position, the stepladder may be used as a scaffold or as a workbench. This configuration or position is referred to throughout the description as the scaffold position of the stepladder.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 12, the ladder includes five intermediate steps 4, two of which are disposed between side rails 3 of the main ladder portion 2, and three of which are disposed between side rails 25 of the upper ladder portion 12. A particular advantage of this arrangement is that the device may be used as a ladder and as a scaffold or workbench platform simultaneously, since the three intermediate steps 4 disposed between the side rails of the upper ladder portion 12 are accessible when the device is in the scaffold position. Where the platform 11 is to be used as a scaffold, a user may climb to the scaffold platform by means of the three intermediate steps 4 disposed within the upper ladder portion 12. Where the platform 11 is to be used as a workbench, tools and work materials may be allowed to remain on the workbench platform 11 while the upper ladder portion 12 is used as a stepladder in the conventional way.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 12, the stepladder further comprises a pair of retractable retaining wires 22 attached between the upper ladder portion 12 and the ladder portion 2. As shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, when the stepladder is in the scaffold position, the upper ladder portion 12 is prevented from slipping outwards, that is, away from the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 by means of the wires 22. The wires 22 act as tension means to prevent slipping of a lower end of the upper ladder portion away from the ladder portion when the stepladder is in the scaffold position. When the stepladder is in the closed position, the wires 22 are automatically retracted into the body of the ladder so that they do not pose a safety hazard to the user.

As shown in Figure 12 and as previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, the ladder portion 2 further comprises retaining means 14 for releasably retaining the upper

ladder portion 12, such that when the retaining means 14 is released, the upper ladder portion is pivotable outwards to act as a support for the planar platform member 11.

As previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, and as shown in Figures 6 and 12, the stepladder 1 is foldable into a closed position in which the ladder portion 2 and the back portion 5 are substantially parallel to one another.

Referring to Figures 6 to 10, the brace element 9 comprises a frame 30 and a substantially planar member 31 associated therewith. The brace element 9 is hingedly attached at one end 32 to the main ladder portion 2 by means of hinges 33. In the embodiment shown, the hinges are provided at a central portion of a step 4 of the main ladder portion 2. In alternative embodiments, however, the brace element 9 may be wider and the hinges may be provided on the side rails 3 of the ladder portion 2. The other end 34 of the brace element 9 is provided with locking means 35 engageable with complementary locking means 36 provided on the back portion 5 of the stepladder 1. When the locking means 35 provided on the brace element 9 are engaged with the locking means 36 provided on the back portion 5, the brace element 9 locks the stepladder 1 in an open position.

The locking means 35 is shown in further detail in Figure 11. A pair of catches 37 are provided at one end 34 of the brace element 9 and are arranged at either side of the frame 30. Each catch 37 is pivotably mounted on a spindle 38 secured to the brace element 9. A return spring 41 is associated with each catch 37 to bias the catch into a locking position. A rollpin stop 50 is provided on each side of the brace element to limit the rotation of the catch under spring bias. A stop block 39 is provided at either side of the back portion 5 of the stepladder, and the catches 37 are shaped to engage the stop blocks. Complementary camming surfaces 40 are provided on stop blocks 39 and catches 37.

To operate the locking means, the brace element 9 is pivoted downwards when the stepladder is in the open position, so that the catches 37 are brought into contact with the stop blocks 39 provided on the back portion. The brace element is pushed downwards into position so that the camming surfaces 40 slide over one another as the

catches 37 pivot against their spring bias and engage the stop blocks 39 as shown in Figure 11.

Each catch is formed at one end with a release lever 44. A release bar 42 is mounted between the ends 45 of the release levers 44, To release the locking means, the user pushes the release bar against the spring bias to disengage the catches 37 from the stop blocks 39, while lifting the brace element 9 upwards and away from the back portion 5 of the ladder. Advantageously, the release bar 42 may be operated by the user with his foot.

In another embodiment, wheels may be provided at a lower end of the main ladder portion 2 to allow the stepladder to be easily moved and manoeuvred from place to place. In yet another embodiment, the side rails 25 of the upper ladder portion 12 may extend upwardly beyond the top of the side rails 3 of the main ladder portion 2. The extended portions of the side rails 25 may serve as hand rails when a user is climbing the stepladder, or when the stepladder is used as a scaffold.

The words "comprises/comprising" and the words "having/including" when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components. but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.