Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Safety device for ground-supported ladder
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-19
2004-10-19
Thompson, II, Hugh B. (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Safety device for ground-supported ladder
C182S214000, C248S210000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06805221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ladder positioning system and more particularly pertains to safely and efficiently supporting a user while painting or maintaining a building.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of ladder positioners of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, ladder positioners of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of supporting painters through conventional methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,847 to Lufkin relates to mobile supports. U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,047 to Larson relates to ladders incorporating retractable ground spikes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,757 to Horowitz relates to a collapsible ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,906 to Henderson relates to a movable ladder support assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,960 to Wilson relates to a ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,184 to Sherry relates to a roof skid. U.S. Pat. No. 1,160,721 to Kessler relates to a roof ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 294,319 to Hofele relates to a folding fire escape ladder. U.S. Pat. No. 907,401 Prouty relates to a ladder. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,759 to Jacobs relates to a mobile ladder-scaffolding system.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a ladder positioning system that allows safely and efficiently supporting and protecting a user from falls or injury while painting or maintaining a building.
In this respect, the ladder positioning system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of safely and efficiently supporting a user while painting or maintaining a building.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved ladder positioning system which can be used for safely and efficiently supporting a user while painting or maintaining a building. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ladder positioners of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved ladder positioning system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved ladder positioning system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a ladder. The ladder has generally vertically positionable elongated parallel side rails. The runs connect the side rails. The side rails have pairs of lower eye-bolts. The lower eye-bolts extend outwardly from the side rails. The lower eye-bolts extend laterally aligned with the rungs. The lower eye-bolts are adjacent to most of the rungs at the upper extent of the ladder. The ladder and the side rails have an upper end and a lower end. An intermediate extent is provided between the upper and lower ends.
End caps are provided. The end caps are removably positionable over the lower ends of the side rails. Each end cap and the lower end of each side rail have aligned horizontal apertures. A removable pin is provided for securement purposes. Each end cap also has a stake. The stake extends downwardly. In this manner lateral slippage of the end caps, side rails and ladder is abated. The end cap may also be configured to have a rubber based foot for using with the ladder when on flat, hard surfaces.
Provided next is an inverted L-shaped bracket. The L-shaped bracket is couplable at an essentially common height to a building to be painted or maintained. The L-shaped bracket has an upper plate. Bolts are provided through the plate. The bolts are attachable to an upper extent of a building to be painted or maintained. The L-shaped bracket has a lower vertical section. The lower vertical section has upper eye-bolts. The upper eye-bolts are attachable to a horizontal extent of a building to be painted or maintained. A spacer is provided. The spacer creates a space between the vertical section and a horizontal extent.
An L-shaped cover is provided next. The L-shaped cover has an upstanding resilient finger. The upstanding resilient finger is removably positionable in the space between the vertical section of the L-shaped bracket. The L-shaped cover has a horizontal extent and a vertical extent. In this manner the inverted L-shaped bracket and upper eye-bolts may be covered when not in use. In this same manner the inverted L-shaped bracket and upper eye-bolts may be exposed when in use.
A pair of turnbuckles is provided next. Each turnbuckle has a central section. The central section is of a variable length. Each turnbuckle also has an upper end section and a lower end section. A pair of J-shaped hook is provided. Each J-shaped hook has a lower end. The lower end is threadedly coupled to the upper end of the turnbuckle. Each J-shaped hook has an upper hook-shaped end. The upper hook-shaped end is removably coupled to an upper eye-bolt. A pair of short chains is provided. Each short chain has an upper end. The upper end is threadedly coupled to the lower end of the turnbuckle. Each short chain has a lower hook-shaped end. The lower hook-shaped end is removably coupled to a lower eye-bolt. In this manner the ladder may be secured to a building during use.
Also provided is a strap. The strap has a central section. The central section is positionable around the back of a user. The strap also has opposed ends. The opposed ends have hooks. The hooks are removably coupled to a pair of lower eye-bolts above the pair of lower eye-bolts coupled to the turnbuckles. In this manner a user may be secured to the ladder during use.
Further provided is a pair of asymmetrical turnbuckles. The asymmetrical turnbuckles are for use in painting or maintaining a building when the inverted L-shaped brackets have associated upper eye-bolts at varying heights such as at an end of a house. Each asymmetrical turnbuckle has a central section of a variable length and an upper end section and a lower end section. A pair of alternate J-shaped hooks is provided. One alternate J-shaped hook
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is elongated and one alternate J-shaped hook is not elongated. Each alternate J-shaped hook has a lower end. The lower end is threadedly coupled to the upper end of the asymmetrical turnbuckle. An upper hook-shaped end is provided. The upper hook-shaped end is removably coupled to an upper eye-bolt. A pair of short chains is provided. Each short chain has an upper end. The upper end is threadedly coupled to the lower end of the asymmetrical turnbuckle. A lower hook-shaped end is removably coupled to a lower eye-bolt. In this manner the ladder may be secured to a building during use.
Provided last is a horizontal rail. The horizontal rail is securable to an upper extent of a building to be painted or maintained. The horizontal rail is secured with a coupler assembly. The coupler assembly is removably joining the ladder to the rail. The coupler assembly has an upper section. The upper section has rotatable wheels. The rotatable wheels ride in the rail for shifting the ladder during use. Alignable apertures are provided. The alignable apertures extend through the wheels and rail. A pin is provided. The pin is removably received within the alignable apertures. The coupler assembly has a lower section. The lower section has a pivotal clamp. The pivotal claim provides for the removable securement to a rung of the ladder. A hinge is provided between the upper and lower sections. In this manner limited t
Dutkiewicz Edward P.
Thompson II Hugh B.
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