Interlocking bucking hinge and ladder combination

Claim 2

A hinge comprising a first stack of platelike members and a second stack of platelike members, said first stack of platelike members comprising first links haVing first spacers disposed therebetween, and said second stack of platelike members comprising second links having second spacers disposed therebetween, a first end of said first links extending beyond a first end of said first spacers, and a first end of said second links extending beyond the first end of said second spacers, said first links having laterally eXtending portions extending laterally beyond the sides of said first spacers, said second links having laterally extending portions extending laterally beyond said sides of said second spacers and disposed between said laterally extending side portions of said first links, pivot means connecting said side portions of said first links to the laterally extending side portions of said second links, the ends of said first portion of said second links being adapted to engage the ends of said first spacers when said second links are swung into alignment with said first links, said first links and said second links defining a space between when said second links are swung into spaced parallel relation to said first links.

Claim 3

The hinge recited in claim 1 wherein a first channel member has spaced flanges and a web is provided, a second channel member having spaced flanges and a web is provided, said first portions of said first links are disposed between the flanges of said first channel and said first portions of said second links are disposed between the flanges of said second channel, and said channels are swingable from positions in alignment with each other to a position in spaced parallel relation to each other, the space between said channels being approximately equal to the width of a said flange on said channel whereby a third channel can be disposed between said first channel and said second channel when said channels are swung into spaced parallel relation with each other.

Claim 4

The hinge recited in claim 1 wherein said links are L-shaped and have a first leg comprising said first portion and a second leg comprising said second portion, said first leg of said first link being disposed between the flanges of said first channel, and said first leg of said second link being disposed between the flanges of said second channel, and said second leg of said first link extending beyond the said first leg in L-shaped relation, the said second legs of said first links being disposed between the said second flanges of said second channel, and said pivot means extending through said second legs of said first links and said second links.

Claim 5

The hinge recited in claim 3 wherein the first ends of said spacers terminate a distance from the ends of said links equal to twice the distance from said pivot to the edge of said links whereby the said second link engages said first spacers to hold said links in alignment with each other.

Claim 6

A hinge and ladder combination comprising, a foldable extension ladder having a plurality of substantially rigid relatively adjoining ladder forming sections, each of said sections including a pair of relatively spaced apart longitudinally extending side rails and at least one step-forming member extending transversely between said side rails and fixed thereto, said sections comprising a first section, a second section and a third section, each said section having a first side rail and a second side rail, the side rails of said ladder being made up of sections comprising the side rails of said first section, said second section, and said third section, said side rails of said first section, said second section and said third section each having a first end and a second end, the first end of the side rails of said first section being swingably connected to a second end of the side rails of said second section by means of first hinges, said second end of said second section being swingably connected to the first end of said third section by second hinges, said first hinges each comprising a plurality of first links held in spaced relation to each other by means of first spacers, and second links held together by means of second spacers, each said link being platelike in construction and being of substantially the same thickness as said spacers, each said link having a first leg and a second leg integrally joined together, thE first leg of said first links being fixed to the second end of said first section of said ladder, said first leg of said second links being fixed to said first end of said second section side rails, the distal ends of said second legs of said first links being pivotally connected to the distal ends of second legs of said second links, and pivot means connecting said distal ends together, the ends of said spacers being disposed from the ends of said first legs of said links an amount substantially equal to the distance said pivot means is from said edges whereby said first spacers engage said fist legs of said first links when said ladder is in unfolded position whereby the swinging of said first and said second sections relative to each other is limited.

Claim 7

A hinge and ladder combination comprising, a foldable extension ladder having a plurality of substantially rigid relatively adjoining ladder forming sections, each of said sections including a pair of relatively spaced apart longitudinally extending side rails and at least one step-forming member extending transversely between said side rails and fixed thereto, said sections comprising a first section, a second section and a third section, each said section having a first side rail and a second side rail, the side rails of said ladder being made up of sections comprising the side rails of said first section, said second section, and said third section, said side rails of said first section, said second section and said third section each having a first end and a second end, the first end of the side rails of said first section being swingably connected to a second end of the side rails of said second section by means of first hinges, said second end of said second section being swingably connected to the first end of said third section by second hinges, said first hinges each comprising a plurality of first links held in spaced relation to each other by means of first spacers, and second links held together by means of second spacers, each said link being platelike in construction and being of substantially the same thickness as said spacers, each said link having a first leg and a second leg integrally joined together, thE first leg of said first links being fixed to the second end of said first section of said ladder, said first leg of said second links being fixed to said first end of said second section side rails, the distal ends of said second legs of said first links being pivotally connected to the distal ends of second legs of said second links, and pivot means connecting said distal ends together, the ends of said spacers being disposed from the ends of said first legs of said links an amount substantially equal to the distance said pivot means is from said edges whereby said first spacers engage said fist legs of said first links when said ladder is in unfolded position whereby the swinging of said first and said second sections relative to each other is limited.

Claim 8

The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said third section is adapted to swing between said first section and said second section when said ladder sections lie in parallel planes.

Claim 9

The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said side rails are in the form of channels and said hinges are disposed between said channels.

Claim 10

A hinge comprising a group of first members and a group of second members, said first members being spaced from said second members, said first members and said second members being adapted to be connected to two spaced members to swingably connect said spaced members, each said first member and said second member having a gudgeon on the distal end thereof disposed in the space between said members, and pivot means extending through said gudgeons swingably connecting said first members to said second members, said groups of first members and second members comprise a first stack of platelike members and a second stack of platelike members respectively, said second stack of platelike members laterally spaced from said first stack, each alternate plate in each said stack having a projection extending toward the other said stack, a spacer between each two adjacent plates in each said stack forming stops for said first platelike members and said second platelike members, each said projection in said first stack being disposed between two adjacent plates in said second stack, and a pin passing through said gudgeons on the distal ends of said projections.

Claim 11

A hinge comprising a group of first members and a group of second members, said first members being spaced from said second members, said first members and said second members being adapted to be connected to two spaced members to swingably connect said spaced members, each said first member and said second member having a gudgeon on the distal end thereof disposed in the space between said members, and pivot means extending through said gudgeons swingably connecting said first members to said second members, said groups of first members and second members comprise a first stack of platelike members and a second stack of platelike members respectively, said second stack of platelike members laterally spaced from said first stack, each alternate plate in each said stack having a projection extending toward the other said stack, a spacer between each two adjacent plates in each said stack forming stops for said first platelike members and said second platelike members, each said projection in said first stack being disposed between two adjacent plates in said second stack, and a pin passing through said gudgeons on the distal ends of said projections.

Claim 12

The hinge recited in claim 8 wherein said platelike members are fixed to a first section and a second section of a ladder whereby said two sections are swingably connected together, said first section and said second section each having an end section swingably connected thereto, said end sections adapted to swing between the space between said first section and said second section when said ladder is folded, and said pin extends through each said section.

Claim 13

A ladder comprising a first intermediate section and a second intermediate section, first hinge means swingably connecting said first intermediate section to said second intermediate section, a first end section and a second end section, second hinge means swingably connecting said first end section to said first intermediate section, and third hinge means swingably connecting said second end section to said second intermediate section, said end sections being adapted to swing into parallel relation with said first intermediate section and said second intermediate section, said intermediate sections being adapted to swing into spaced parallel relation with each other providing a space to receive said first end section and said second end section whereby said sections are disposed in parallel planes, said sections being further adapted to swing into alignment with each other, and stop means limiting the swinging of said sections relative to each other when said sections are in alignment, said first hinge member, said second hinge member, and said third hinge member comprising said stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said sections relative to each other to hold said sections in alignment during use, said hinge means comprise a plurality of L-shaped links fixed to each said intermediate section, a plurality of spacers disposed between said L-shaped links providing stops, pivot means connecting said L-shaped links together whereby said end sections are disposed between said intermediate sections when said ladder is folded.

Claim 14

A ladder comprising a first intermediate section and a second intermediate section, first hinge means swingably connecting said first intermediate section to said second intermediate section, a first end section and a second end section, second hinge means swingably connecting said first end section to said first intermediate section, and third hinge means swingably connecting said second end section to said second intermediate section, said end sections being adapted to swing into parallel relation with said first intermediate section and said second intermediate section, said intermediate sections being adapted to swing into spaced parallel relation with each other providing a space to receive said first end section and said second end section whereby said sections are disposed in parallel planes, said sections being further adapted to swing into alignment with each other, and stop means limiting the swinging of said sections relative to each other when said sections are in alignment, said first hinge member, said second hinge member, and said third hinge member comprising said stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said sections relative to each other to hold said sections in alignment during use, said hinge means comprise a plurality of L-shaped links fixed to each said intermediate section, a plurality of spacers disposed between said L-shaped links providing stops, pivot means connecting said L-shaped links together whereby said end sections are disposed between said intermediate sections when said ladder is folded.

Claim 15

The ladder recited in claim 10 wherein said links connected to one intermediate section are co-planar with the spacers connected between the links attached to said other intermediate section whereby said links attached to one said intermediate section swing into engagement with said spacers between said other intermediate section when said ladder is extended.