Folding ladder

Claim 2

A folding ladder, comprising a plurality of ladder sections formed for securing in end to end relation to provide a ladder; hinge means on said ladder sections formed for holding same in such end to end relation and permitting folding together of said ladder sections in accordion fashion; retaining means on said ladder sections formed for selectively securing same in unfolded relation; each of said ladder sections having spaced side rails, a plurality of parallel rungs operatively connected between said side rails with freedom of movement to permit swinging of the side rails between an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous for use as a ladder and a relatively flattened position so as to facilitate said folding together in accordion fashion; said side rails being oblong in cross-sectional aspect with the longer dimension of the oblong normal to the plane of said rungs when said side rails are in said operative position and parallel and adjacent to said plane when said side walls are in said flattened position; said side rails having relatively narrow walls joined by a wider wall; and said rungs being formed with a pivotal connection to one of said relatively narrow walls.

Claim 3

A folding ladder as described in claim 1, and wherein said side rails are in the shape of elongated channels having top and bottom flanges and a connecting web, and said rungs have a pivotal connection to said top flanges.

Claim 4

A folding ladder as described in claim 2, and wherein said pivotal connection comprises a flattened portion at each end of each rung, and slots in said top flanges formed for slidably receiving said flattened portions, said flattened portions being bent in a reverse curve so as to peRmit said swinging movement of said side rails between said operative and flattened positions.

Claim 5

A folding ladder as described in claim 3, and wherein said rungs are of tubular form with flattened ends to provide said flattened portions.

Claim 6

A folding ladder as described in claim 2, and wherein said hinge means is formed to permit said swinging movement only when said side rails are in said flattened position and to prevent said swinging movement when said side rails are in said operative position.

Claim 7

A folding ladder as described in claim 5, and wherein locking means is provided on said ladder sections formed for releasably securing said side rails against said swinging movement.

Claim 8

A folding ladder, comprising a plurality of ladder sections formed for securing in end to end relation to provide a ladder; hinge means on said ladder sections formed for holding same in such end to end relation and permitting folding together of said ladder sections in accordion fashion; retaining means on said ladder sections formed for selectively securing same in unfolded relation; each of said ladder sections having spaced side rails, a plurality of parallel rungs operatively connected between said side rails with freedom of movement to permit swinging of the side rails between an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous for use as a ladder in a relatively flattened position so as to facilitate said folding together in accordion fashion; said side rails being oblong in cross-sectional aspect with the longer dimension of the oblong normal to the plane of said rungs when said side rails are in said operative position and parallel and adjacent to said plane when said side walls are in said flattened position; said side rails having relatively narrow walls joined by a wider wall; and said rungs being formed with a pivotal connection to one of said relatively narrow walls; locking means on said ladder sections for selectively securing said side rails in said operative position; said locking means comprising elongated restraining members releasably connecting said side rails against said swinging movement when in said operative position; said rungs being positioned in substantially a common plane; said side rails being oblong in cross-sectional aspect with the longer dimensions of the oblong normal to said plane when said side walls are in said operative position and parallel and adjacent to said plane when said side walls are in said flattened position; quick release fasteners on said retaining members and said side rails for providing releasable connection therebetween; said restraining members being connected between said side rails in spaced relation to the operative connections of said side rails to said rungs; said side rails being in the shape of elongated channels having top and bottom flanges and a connecting web; said rungs having a pivotal connection to said top flanges; and said restraining members being releasably connected between said webs.

Claim 9

A folding ladder, comprising a plurality of ladder sections formed for securing in end to end relation to provide a ladder; hinge means on said ladder sections formed for holding same in such end to end relation and permitting folding together of said ladder sections in accordion fashion; retaining means on said ladder sections formed for selectively securing same in unfolded relation; each of said ladder sections having spaced side rails, a plurality of parallel rungs operatively connected between said side rails with freedom of movement to permit swinging of the side rails between an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous for use as a ladder in a relatively flattened position so as to facilitate said folding together in accordion fashion; said side rails being oblong in cross-sectional aspect with the longer dimension of the oblong normal to the plane of said rungs when said side rails are in said operative position and parallel and adjacent to said plane when said side walls are in said flattened position; said side rails having relatively narrow walls joined by a wider wall; and said rungs being formed with a pivotal connection to one of said relatively narrow walls; locking means on said ladder sections for selectively securing said side rails in said operative position; said locking means comprising elongated restraining members releasably connecting said side rails against said swinging movement when in said operative position; said rungs being positioned in substantially a common plane; said side rails being oblong in cross-sectional aspect with the longer dimensions of the oblong normal to said plane when said side walls are in said operative position and parallel and adjacent to said plane when said side walls are in said flattened position; quick release fasteners on said retaining members and said side rails for providing releasable connection therebetween; said restraining members being connected between said side rails in spaced relation to the operative connections of said side rails to said rungs; said side rails being in the shape of elongated channels having top and bottom flanges and a connecting web; said rungs having a pivotal connection to said top flanges; and said restraining members being releasably connected between said webs.

Claim 10

A folding ladder as described in claim 7, and wherein said restraining members are flexible and are attached at one end to one of said side rails, and quick release fasteners are carried on the other of said side rails and are formed for engaging the free ends of said restraining members and pulling the latter taut.

Claim 11

A ladder construction, comprising a pair of spaced side rails, a plurality of rungs having operative connection to said side rails and extending in parallel spaced relation therebetween, said side rails each having a depth exceeding its width, said operative connections being formed to provide for selective movement of said side rails into an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous in form with said depth normal to said rungs for use as a ladder and a relatively flattened position with said depth aligned with said rungs for storage; said operative connections being formed to provide pivotal movement between said rungs and said side rails between said operative and flattened positions; said operative connections each comprising a curved tongue on an end of one of said rungs slidably engaged in a slot formed in the adjacent one of said side rails.

Claim 12

A ladder construction, comprising a pair of spaced side rails, a plurality of rungs having operative connection to said side rails and extending in parallel spaced relation therebetween, said side rails each having a depth exceeding its width, said operative connections being formed to provide for selective movement of said side rails into an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous in form with said depth normal to said rungs for use as a ladder and a relatively flattened position with said depth aligned with said rungs for storage; said operative connections being formed to provide pivotal movement between said rungs and said side rails between said operative and flattened positions; said operative connections each comprising a curved tongue on an end of one of said rungs slidably engaged in a slot formed in the adjacent one of said side rails.

Claim 13

A ladder construction as described in claim 9, and wherein each of said tongues is formed to engage said side rails and prevent removal of said tongue from said slot.

Claim 14

A ladder construction, comprising a pair of spaced side rails, and a plurality of rungs having operative connection to said side rails and extending in parallel spaced relation therebetween, said side rails each having a depth exceeding its width, said operative connections being formed to provide for selective movement of said side rails into an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous in form with said depth normal to said rungs for use as a ladder and a relatively flattened position with said depth aligned with said rungs for storage, said side rails comprise elongated channel members having relatively narrow top and bottom flanges connected by a wider web, and wherein said operative connections are formed to provide pivotal movement between said rungs and side rails between said operative and flattened positions, with locking means provided on said sidewalls for releasably securing the parts in said operative position, said locking means comprises a restraining means releasably connecting said side rails so as to prevent said pivotal movement from said operative position toward said flattened position, said restraining means comprises a plurality of elongated flexible members, a plurality of quick release fasteners formed for releasably connecting said elongated flexible members between said side rails and said operative connections each comprise a curved tongue on an end of one of said rungs slidably engaged in a slot formed in the adjacent one of said side rails, said slot being formed in said top flanges of said sidewalls.

Claim 15

A ladder construction, comprising a pair of spaced side rails, and a plurality of rungs having operative connection to said side rails and extending in parallel spaced relation therebetween, said side rails each having a depth exceeding its width, said operative connections being formed to provide for selective movement of said side rails into an operative position wherein said side rails are continuous in form with said depth normal to said rungs for use as a ladder and a relatively flattened position with said depth aligned with said rungs for storage, said side rails comprise elongated channel members having relatively narrow top and bottom flanges connected by a wider web, and wherein said operative connections are formed to provide pivotal movement between said rungs and side rails between said operative and flattened positions, with locking means provided on said sidewalls for releasably securing the parts in said operative position, said locking means comprises a restraining means releasably connecting said side rails so as to prevent said pivotal movement from said operative position toward said flattened position, said restraining means comprises a plurality of elongated flexible members, a plurality of quick release fasteners formed for releasably connecting said elongated flexible members between said side rails and said operative connections each comprise a curved tongue on an end of one of said rungs slidably engaged in a slot formed in the adjacent one of said side rails, said slot being formed in said top flanges of said sidewalls.