Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Ladder – Supporting surface compensating means
Patent
1991-01-28
1992-06-16
Machado, Reinaldo P.
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Ladder
Supporting surface compensating means
182107, 182206, E06C 744, E06C 748
Patent
active
051218135
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to accessories for ladders, and more particularly accessories suitable for use with extension-type ladders.
The dangers of using ladders on uneven ground have long been recognized. A second problem arising when using ladders occurs when the ladder slips against the wall or surface upon which it rests. The present invention seeks to solve these safety problems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stabilizing leg for attachment to the rungs of a ladder, comprising a rigid leg member, and clamping means for clamping the leg member to a plurality of rungs of the ladder such that the leg member projects transversely to the rungs, the leg member being slidable longitudinally relative to said clamping means and being securable in a selected position by tightening the clamping means.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support for attachment to the stile of ladder, said support, in use, extending along the uppermost end of the ladder stile and comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced hooking portions, respective hooking portions being joined by rectilinear sections which are upright at normal ladder inclinations.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a stabilizing leg in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a support in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a ladder, showing the stabilizing leg and support when attached to the ladder;
The stabilizing leg shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a rigid leg member 3 consisting of two lengths of square tubing 5a, 5b lying parallel one to the other and spaced to define a parallel-sided slot 6 extending the length of the leg member 3. The lengths of square tubing 5a, 5b are fastened together adjacent their uppermost ends by a bolt 7, the lengths 5a, 5b being separated by a spacer mounted on the shank of the bolt 7 to provide the slot 6. A T-section foot piece 11 is centrally mounted between the lengths 5a, 5b at their lower ends by a bolt 13 which extends between the lengths 5a, 5b. Spacers (not shown) mounted on the bolt 13 at either side of the T-section foot piece 11 maintain the foot piece 11 in a central position between the lengths 5a, 5b, while permitting pivotal movement of the foot piece 11 about the shank of the bolt 13. The foot piece 11 is cut from a length of T-sectioned stock so that the base 11a of the foot piece is in the form of a plane plate. The pivotal mounting of the foot piece 11 allows the plate 11a to sit firmly on the ground at varying ladder inclinations.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rigid leg member 3 is clamped to the lower rungs 15 of a ladder by a plurality of U-bolts 17 mounted in the slot 6, the leg member 3 being located behind the rungs 15 and parallel to the stiles 18. The U-bolts 17 are inserted through the slot 6 from the front of the ladder so that the curved head portion of each U-bolt embraces a different one of the ladder rungs and the threaded sections of the bolt extend to the rear through the slot 6. The threaded ends of the U-bolt 17 project rearwardly to receive a fastening plate 21 to be secured by wing nuts 23. The wing nuts 23, when secured, clamp the rigid leg member 3 against the rear of the rungs and the curved head portions of the U-bolts against the front of the rungs thereby preventing movement of the stabilizing leg relative to the ladder. Preferably, the rear surface of each length 5a, 5b on each side of the slot 6 is serrated as shown at 25, with the inner surface of the plate 21 being similarly serrated, so that the plate 21 and thus the U-bolt 17 can be positively clamped against the leg member 3 in order to prevent any risk of accidental slippage. By loosening the wing nuts 23, sufficiently to free the plate 21 from the surface of the leg member 3, the leg member 3 can be slid longitudinally relative to the rungs between a
REFERENCES:
patent: 310218 (1885-01-01), Norton
patent: 1609257 (1926-11-01), Lazear
patent: 1705000 (1929-03-01), Brandt
patent: 2245306 (1941-06-01), Smith
patent: 2306797 (1942-12-01), Biery
patent: 4249638 (1981-02-01), Fernandez
patent: 4984655 (1991-01-01), Scherer
Altrone Innovations PTY. LTD.
Machado Reinaldo P.
LandOfFree
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