Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Ladder and platform – Platform with ladder as support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-30
2003-10-28
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Ladder and platform
Platform with ladder as support
C182S120000, C182S122000, C248S210000, C248S238000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06637548
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A personal stand, including a platform and a load sensitive pliant suspender, easily adapted for use with an extension ladder. The platform's collar and a suspender secure or moor the personal stand's portable platform to the ladder. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the greater the load applied to the platform, the more rigidly and securely the attachment is affixed to the ladder. Importantly, the suspender remains pliant, until sufficient load is applied to cause the suspender to become rigid. Pliancy of the ungirded suspender allows the user of the attachment to move the attachment, with a single hand, while balancing on one of the ladder's rungs. Platforms can include traction enhancers and will have an upper surface area greater than the user's tracks. Methods of using the personal stand are also within the ambit of the present invention.
2. Description of the Previous Art
a) U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,700—Bell enables a ladder jack. As best shown in the '700 Patent's FIG. 2 or this Application's
FIG. 17
, Bell's ladder jack mandates the use of two ladders (44) and their respective rungs (46). The combination of a first arm (14), a first hook (30), a first flexible member (16) of first ladder (44) and a second arm (14), a second hook (30) and a second flexible member (16) of second ladder (44) are required to support the workman's platform (50) between the two ladders (44). As shown in the '700 Patent, Bell's arm (14) cannot simultaneously furnish footing for both the workman's feet. Only when using two ladders, two arms, two hooks and two flexible members in combination with the extension of the workman's platform over each of arms communicating with their respective rungs can Bell generate synchronously footing for the workman's feet. Additionally and importantly, the workman's platform (50) is not attached directly to any rung of any ladder. Instead, the workman's platform (50) rests on the arms (14) communicating with each ladder (44). Further, Bell's flexible member (16) is connected to the arm (14) rather than the workman's platform (50). And as enabled, Bell's arm's hook (30) does not traverse as least one-half of the length of Bell's rung (46) to which the arm (14) is coupled.
b) U.S. Pat. No. 1,206,243—Peterson discloses a fruit picker's ladder. The '243 Patent teaches a rigid securing hook (32) for attaching the Peterson platform (30) to his upright. Peterson also mandates what appears to be upside-down Y members (36) and (38) that are attached to base members (11) and (12) instead of platform (30) that provides footing for the fruit picker. Based upon Peterson's disclosure, members (36) and (38) in combination with hook members (34) control the sway of Peterson's upright, i.e., fruit picker's ladder. Thus, Peterson's members (36) and (38) pull down rather than suspend, since members (36) and (38) are attached to ground level base members (11) and (12). Importantly, Peterson could have selected to utilize pliant suspenders, with his platform (30), at the time of his invention, but instead he utilized a rigid securing hook (32) to attach his platform (30) to his upright.
c) U.S. Pat. No. 1,920,552—Dollerhide discloses a plate that rests on the lower rung of the ladder. Dollerhide's plate utilizes two sturdy U-hooks to engage the rung above the plate. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 1,920,552 teaches the U-shaped rods are manufactured of metal. The Dollerhide device cannot be readily adjusted to the horizontal level position.
d) U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,987—Harding educates those skilled in the art to hinge a rigid hanger to the foot supporting platform. Harding's apparatus cannot be readily adjusted to the horizontal level position. The device further includes cleats to prevent horizontal movement of the platform. U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,987 also mandates the use of a flat spring and rivet combination for securing the hanger to the upper rung of the ladder.
e) U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,727—Picone enables a ladder platform with a rigid hook extending therefrom toward a rung superior to the platform. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,727 requires the single and rigid hook to be pivotally mounted to the platform. Picone's device cannot be readily adjusted to the horizontal level position. And further, according to Picone's disclosure, his hook incorporates his unique guard mechanism for preventing the hook from disengaging its rung, as weight is applied to his platform.
f) U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,523—Berkley shows a scaffold attachment for ladders. Berkley's attachment mandates a horizontal plate attached to the rung as well as a vertical plate mounted to his horizontal plate. Both of his plates are manufactured of unyielding aluminum. And for Berkley's invention to function, a hook which engages the ladder's rung must be pivotally attached to Berkley's vertical plate. Moreover, Berkley's device cannot be readily adjusted to the horizontal level position.
g) U.S. Pat. 5,836,420—Markey, Jr. teaches those skilled in the art to make a one piece sturdy frame that, among other things, has a pair of upwardly extending arms which include a pair of prefabricated curvatures at their apex for hooking onto the rung. U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,420 mandates a substantially square platform be attached to the lower area of Markey's frame. Simultaneously there must be at least one ladder's rung between the lower area and the upper area of Markey's frame. And finally, Wood, hard plastic or metal is used to manufacture Markey's platform.
h) U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,265—Skaggs shows a ladder platform with a rung securing mechanism. Skaggs'disclosure commands that a pair of brackets are bolted to the foot platform. Those brackets further include arcuate elements for hooking the rung. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,265 also teaches that set screws and clamps secure the arcuate members to the rung.
i) U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,338—Chapman enables a ladder stand. Chapman's disclosure exudes rigidity. His steel foot plates are attached to steel rods having steel hooks which can be attached to the ladder's rung.
j) U.S. Pat. No. 151,429—Pritchard is directed to an improvement in firemen's ladders. Pritchard teaches that platforms should be permanently hinged to the rungs of the ladder. Additionally and importantly, U.S. Pat. No. 151,429 also mandates that at least two chains are simultaneously as well as terminally mounted to both the ladder and the platform.
k) U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,312—Stolworthy discloses an extension ladder. The Stolworthy ladder mandates utilization of the combination of a pair of platforms. Moreover, each platform is supported by a pair of rigid braces which also include hooks for engaging the ladder's lower rung. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 1,450,312 dictate that Stolworthy's platforms must also include a pair of chains. Additionally, each chain must have its hook securely fastened to the ladder's upper rung to steady Stolworthy's braced platform.
l) U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,665—Newman enables an adjustable ladder platform. Newman's platform is rigidly secured to the ladder by his side members. The apparent unique feature of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,665 is his ratcheting mechanism to facilitate the angling of his platform.
m) U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,809—Panicci discloses a safety platform unit for ladders. Panicci requires mirror image torque arms to support his platform member. Each of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,809 torque arms include a unique locking mechanism which engages the ladder's rung to secure the Panicci platform to the ladder.
n) U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,808—Spait, et. al., dictates a slidable ladder adaptable platform that is permanently attached to the ladder. To practice Spait, et. al., the user slides the platform up-and-down the ladder's rungs.
o) U.S. Pat. No. 362,747—Higgins en
Lev Bruce A.
Pearce Kenneth F.
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