Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Ladder – With spacer means
Patent
1984-11-19
1986-10-07
Machado, Reinaldo P.
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Ladder
With spacer means
182107, 182121, E06C 748
Patent
active
046154124
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for use in resting an upper part of a ladder against a wall, for example to increase stability or to provide a stand off to support the ladder in a more useful working position, such as with its top free in front of a window or to enable the user to reach a gutter or other projecting architectural feature.
Conventionally, such devices are mounted on the top two rungs of a ladder and project laterally at the back of the ladder and rearwardly into abutment with the wall. It follows that when the device is fitted to the upper section of an extendible ladder below the top two rungs, the device interferes with the rungs on a lower section of the ladder when the ladder is retracted, thereby preventing complete retraction of a ladder.
In accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, a device for use in resting an upper part of a ladder against a wall comprises a frame which is provided with means for mounting the frame on at least one rung of the ladder, the frame having first parts extending away from one another, in use, transversely across respective ones of the ladder stiles and second parts extending rearwardly from the first parts, in use, at the sides of the ladder and carrying means for abutment with a wall, characterised in that the mounting means and first frame parts are so arranged that, in use, the first parts cross the ladder stiles on the front climbing side of the ladder and when the device is mounted a few rungs down from the top of an upper section of an extendible ladder at a position below guide furniture on a lower ladder section when the ladder is retracted, the frame can ride past the lower section and guide furniture upon extension and retraction of the ladder.
A device of this construction is of particular utility when used on a conventional extendible ladder as it may be fitted at any position on the upper ladder section without interfering with any part of the lower ladder section or sections upon full retraction of the ladder. The frame may be arranged to be sufficiently spaced from the front and sides of the stiles of the ladder section to which it is fitted, to enable it to clear the stiles of one or more lower ladder sections and the hooks or other guide furniture on one or more lower ladder sections for guiding the stiles of the next upper ladder section. Alternatively, the frame mounting means may incorporate a degree of slack enabling the frame to ride over the guide furniture.
The frame is strengthened if the second parts of the frame are interconnected so that the frame completely surrounds a ladder to which it is fitted.
When working from a ladder, the user has one position at any given height from which to work, i.e. a particular rung. This means that the ladder has to be moved to avoid over-reaching sideways and the attendant risks. Also, if a ladder is used for a protracted period, the rungs are very uncomfortable and only minor relief is derived from using "D" rungs or square rungs.
In order to overcome this problem the second parts of the frame may incorporate staging whereby, in use, a user may stand on the staging. The staging may be at one side of the frame to support one or both feet of the user, but the arrangement is preferably symmetrical with staging at both sides of the frame. The staging provides greater comfort for the user and provides him with a wider reach.
Although the frame may be substantially rigidly mounted on a ladder, at least the rearwardly projecting parts of the frame may be pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis, in use parallel to the rungs of a ladder on which the device is mounted, so that these parts may be folded towards the back of the ladder, and a tension member may then be connected to these parts and arranged to engage a part of a ladder above the device to restrain the pivotally mounted parts in their rearwardly projecting working position.
The tension member is preferably flexible and may be a chain, rope etc. which is arranged to be secured to a rung and/or stile of a ladder above the
REFERENCES:
patent: 960565 (1910-06-01), Levander
patent: 2597902 (1952-05-01), Roketa
patent: 3072218 (1963-01-01), Peters
patent: 4121692 (1978-10-01), Morawski
patent: 4280590 (1981-07-01), Polizzi
patent: 4311207 (1982-01-01), Lurry
LandOfFree
Ladder rest device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Ladder rest device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ladder rest device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-639055