U.S. patent application number 10/599361 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for safety device for a ladder.
This patent application is currently assigned to Arvo POLDMAA. Invention is credited to Arvo Poldmaa.
Application Number | 20070267251 10/599361 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35056249 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070267251 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Poldmaa; Arvo |
November 22, 2007 |
Safety Device for a Ladder
Abstract
A bracket arrangement (11) for removable attachment to the upper
regions of a ladder (12) is disclosed. The bracket has a pair of
laterally spaced apart arms (18) for adjustably rotatable
attachment to respective sides (16) of the ladder. The arms extend
generally away from the ladder towards a roof (14) of a building
when the ladder is used against the side (15) of said building to
gain access to the roof. The angle between the arms and the plane
of the ladder is adjustable to suit varying conditions of use. The
bracket has a pair of braces (23), each attached to respective
sides of the ladder and adjustably rotatable about the point at
which each is attached and extending from the ladder on respective
sides thereof for locking each respective arm of the bracket so as
to maintain each arm in predetermined angular relationship with
respect to the plane of the ladder. The bracket has a cross member
(19) extending at least between the free ends or free end regions
of each arm for placement against the roof of the building.
Inventors: |
Poldmaa; Arvo; (Hawks Nest,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD L.L.P.
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
POLDMAA; Arvo
16 Moola Street
Hawks Nest, NSW
AU
POLDMAA; Kathleen
16 Moola Street
Hawks Nest, NSW
AU
POLDMAA; Robyn
16 Moola Street
Hawks Nest, NSW
AU
POLDMAA; Daniel
16 Moola Street
Hawks Nest, NSW
AU
|
Family ID: |
35056249 |
Appl. No.: |
10/599361 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 24, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU05/00438 |
371 Date: |
March 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06C 7/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/107 |
International
Class: |
E04G 5/02 20060101
E04G005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2004 |
AU |
2004901630 |
Claims
1. A bracket arrangement for removable attachment to the upper
regions of a ladder, wherein the bracket has a pair of laterally
spaced apart arms for adjustably rotatable attachment to respective
sides of the ladder, the arms extending generally away from the
ladder towards a roof of a building when the ladder is used against
the side of said building to gain access to the roof, wherein the
arms are so shaped, that they extend not in parallel arrangement
from the ladder, but diverge, so as to provide inherent bracing by
such geometric arrangement, and wherein the angle between the arms
and the plane of the ladder is adjustable to suit varying
conditions of use, the bracket having a pair of braces, each
attached to respective sides of the ladder and adjustably rotatable
about the point at which each is attached and extending from the
ladder on respective sides thereof for locking each respective arm
of the bracket so as to maintain each arm in predetermined angular
relationship with respect to the plane of the ladder, the bracket
having a cross member extending at least between the free ends or
free end regions of each arm for placement against the roof of the
building, wherein the cross member is adapted to prevent the
bracket, and hence the ladder, moving sideways during use.
2. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the end or
end region of each brace remote from the ladder, is connected to
the corresponding free end region of each respective arm, or is
located elsewhere along the length of the arm, being connected
thereto in adjustably rotatable fashion.
3. A bracket arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the angular
relationship of each component and hence the overall geometry of
the arrangement is determined by-having one or more points for
affixing each component to the other, along either any or all of
the stile of the ladder, the arm, or the brace, to allow for
adjustment as required.
4. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means to
prevent the bracket, and hence the ladder, moving sideways during
use, and to protect the roof sheeting at the point of contact, are
provided by the cross member having a replaceable anti-slip
cover.
5. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cross
member is provided with means to allow it to be temporarily affixed
to the roof by having a series of holes or slots therethrough, so
as to allow a screw or other fixing means to be located
therethrough for temporarily affixing the cross member to the
roof.
6. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a further
plate is provided extending at right angles to the said cross
member which gives greater flexibility in finding suitable
positions for attachment.
7. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, in which the pair of
arms and the pair of braces associated therewith are affixed to the
ladder with removable pins inserted through holes in the ends of
the arms and braces where they are to be attached to the ladder,
the pins passing through corresponding holes in the stiles forming
the sides of the ladder.
8. A bracket arrangement according to claim 7 in which the pins are
secured by being split pins or are affixed with clips or the
like.
9. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, in which the pair of
arms and the pair of braces associated therewith are affixed to the
ladder by means of clamps affixed either around the styles, or
around the rungs, at least the outer reaches thereof to avoid
difficulty in otherwise using the rungs of the ladder.
10. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, in which the
bracket is for use with ladders having hollow rungs, and there is
provided a rod or hollow tube which extends between the respective
ends or end regions of the arms and braces where they to be
attached to the ladder, and which is caused to pass through one of
the hollow rungs of the ladder.
11. A bracket arrangement according to claim 10, in which one such
rod or tube passes through one rung for connection to respective
ends of the arms, whilst another passes through another rung, for
connection to respective ends of the braces.
12. A bracket arrangement according to claim 10 in which suitable
means, for removably securing the end regions of the rods or hollow
tubes to the respective arms or braces as the case may be is
provided.
13. A bracket arrangement according to claim 12 in which the ends
of the rods or tubes are threaded, either externally or internally
to accommodate a nut in the former case, or a screw in the latter,
for joining the rod or tube with the respective arms and
braces.
14. A bracket arrangement according to claim 12, in which the means
of removably interconnecting the rod or tube with the arms or
braces is provided by means of an expanding bolt or screw
arrangement, where tightening a bolt or screw causes material such
as rubber or elastic material around the screw or bolt which is
located in a hollow end of the rod or tube, to expand and engage in
locking arrangement with the interior of the hollow portion.
15. A bracket arrangement according to claim 1, in which the two
arms and the braces are all identical, whilst the material for the
cross-member as well as the two rods or tubes required to connect
each respective pair of arms and braces through the rungs of the
ladder, is cut from a common length of material according to the
size of ladder to which the bracket is to be fitted, thereby
greatly reducing the cost of manufacture.
16-18. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a safety device for a ladder and
in particular a safety device in the form of a support bracket
attached to a ladder for temporary securement to the roof of a
house to prevent the ladder from being dislodged when the ladder is
being used against the house.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Although the following description refers to ladders
generally, no limitation is intended thereby. Any related device
including, but not necessarily limited to, step ladders, fixed
length ladders, extension ladders, trestles, work platforms or
scaffolding, requiring a ladder like element to be placed against a
building, is also contemplated. Again, although the following
description refers primarily to conventional houses or buildings
having a gutter mounted on a conventional fascia, no such
limitation is intended, and any analogous use of a ladder whether
against a gutter or otherwise is meant to be included, where by
suitable adaptation, the invention may be so employed.
[0003] Of necessity, ladders are used on a variety of surfaces and
in many instances the ground or surface on which they are used is
uneven, sloped or stepped. This in itself makes the ladder prone to
movement when a person stands on any of the higher rungs of the
ladder, especially if the ground is soft or otherwise less stable
than expected. Although some surfaces against which a ladder can be
placed or leant do provide a degree of frictional contact to
prevent sideways slippage, eg rough brick work or render, contact
of a ladder against a gutter is especially problematic, as the
ladder to gutter contact is often a relatively slippery one, being
inherently metal to metal (or metal to plastics in some cases).
[0004] It should be noted that whilst it might be preferable to
avoid leaning the ladder against a gutter at all, this is usually
the only suitable way of gaining access to the roof above, if the
person using the ladder requires to have such access. In other
words using a ladder against a gutter in many instances simply
cannot be avoided. However, it would also be useful if the ladder
did not in fact contact the gutter at all, especially if the gutter
is made of plastics or formed from aluminium, as the gutter may be
damaged.
[0005] In any event, even when used on stable level ground there is
still an inherent risk of the ladder, especially when used over
longer reaches, sliding sideways when it is leant against a gutter,
especially in situations where there might be sudden weight
transference or over-reaching by the person concerned. Even the
very mode of gaining access to the roof area means the ladder may
be moved sideways as the user takes his weight off the ladder and
steps onto the roof, or much more dangerously steps from the roof
onto the ladder, which might unexpectedly move away.
[0006] It would therefore be extremely advantageous to provide a
simple temporary means of providing a safe way to prevent the
ladder from moving sideways along the gutter or otherwise moving
sideways in such situations, which is itself relatively easy to use
and economical. It would also be advantageous if such means also
meant that the ladder itself was not actually resting on the
gutter.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has therefore been conceived out of
the need to provide a relatively inexpensive temporary but safe
bracket arrangement for use in the vicinity of a gutter or edge of
the roof, whereby a ladder or similar device can be restrained from
sideways movement, preferably whilst keeping the ladder from
actually contacting the gutter. In other words, a support bracket
designed to allow a ladder to be safely used to gain access to a
roof of a building or the like (or otherwise supported as if it
were leant against the gutter), preventing it from moving either
sideways and/or downwardly, is thus contemplated. At the very
least, the invention provides an alternative to presently known
methods of restraining the movement of ladders when used against
buildings and/or reducing damage caused from ladders placed against
gutters.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a
bracket arrangement for removable attachment to the upper regions
of a ladder, the bracket having a pair of laterally spaced apart
arms for adjustably rotatable attachment to respective sides of the
ladder, the arms extending generally away from the ladder towards a
roof of a building when the ladder is used against the side of said
building to gain access to the roof, the angle between the arms and
the plane of the ladder being adjustable to suit varying conditions
of use, the bracket having a pair of braces, each attached to
respective sides of the ladder and adjustably rotatable about the
point at which each is attached and extending from the ladder on
respective sides thereof for locking each respective arm of the
bracket so as to maintain each arm in predetermined angular
relationship with respect to the plane of the ladder, the bracket
having a cross member extending at least between the free ends or
free end regions of each arm for placement against the roof of the
building.
[0009] The end or end region of each brace remote from the ladder,
is preferably connected to the corresponding free end region of
each respective arm, or may be located elsewhere along the length
of the arm, being preferably connected thereto in adjustably
rotatable fashion. It will also be understood that not only the
angle itself may be adjusted by the angular relationship of each
component, but also the overall geometry may be determined by
having one or more points for affixing each component to the other,
along either any or all of the stile of the ladder, the arm, or the
brace, to allow for adjustment as required.
[0010] Preferably the cross member has a replaceable anti-slip
cover to provide means to reduce the likelihood of the bracket (and
hence the ladder itself) moving sideways during use, and to protect
the roof sheeting at the point of contact.
[0011] With advantage, the cross member may be provided with means
to allow it to be temporarily affixed to the roof by having for
example a series of holes or slots therethrough, to allow a screw
etc to be located therethrough for temporarily affixing the cross
member to the roof. Alternatively, and with advantage, a further
plate may be provided extending at right angles to the said cross
member which will give greater flexibility in finding suitable
positions for attachment. This follows when one considers that most
metal roofs for example are affixed in such a way that the fixing
screws form rows across the roof (ie in the general direction of
the cross member, being affixed to battens) and a plate extending
perpendicular thereto, in this case perpendicular to the cross
member which will be generally parallel with such rows of screws,
will give greater flexibility in simply allowing one screw to be
removed from the roof and replaced through the plate for re-fixing
into the batten of the roof, thereby securing the plate and hence
the bracket and ladder from sideways movement.
[0012] The pair of arms and the pair of braces associated therewith
may be affixed to the ladder in one of several ways. For example in
one embodiment, they may be affixed with removable pins inserted
through holes in the ends of the arms and braces where they are to
be attached to the ladder, the pins passing through corresponding
holes in the stiles forming the sides of the ladder. The pins may
be secured in one of several ways, being themselves split pins, or
affixed with cir-clips or the like.
[0013] Alternatively, the arms and braces may be affixed to the
ladder by means of clamps affixed either around the styles, or
around the rungs, at least at the outer reaches thereof to avoid
difficulty in otherwise using the rungs of the ladder.
[0014] With advantage, a preferred embodiment for use with ladders
having hollow rungs, provides for a rod or hollow tube which
extends between the respective ends or end regions of the arms and
braces where they to be attached to the ladder, and which is caused
to pass through one of the hollow rungs. One such rod or tube will
pass through one rung for connection to respective ends of the
arms, whilst another will pass through another rung, (generally an
adjacent rung,) for connection to respective ends of the
braces.
[0015] This is achieved by having any suitable means for removably
securing the end regions of the rods or hollow tubes to the
respective arms or braces as the case may be. For example, the ends
of the rods or tubes may be threaded, either externally or
internally to accommodate a nut in the former case, or a screw in
the latter for joining the rod or tube with the respective arms and
braces.
[0016] One especially useful means of removably interconnecting the
rod or tube with the arms or braces is provided by means of an
expanding bolt or screw arrangement, where for example tightening a
bolt or screw causes material such as rubber or elastic material
around the screw or bolt which is located in a hollow end of the
rod or tube, to expand and engage in locking arrangement with the
interior of the hollow portion.
[0017] Advantages follow from this particular arrangement in that
it is not necessary to provide threaded rods or tubes having
different lengths, as all that is required is to provide rods or
tubes of sufficient length to be used in the widest ladders, the
user simply cutting the rod or tube to the appropriate length for
use with his own ladder.
[0018] Thus in one simple preferred embodiment, the two arms and
the braces may all be identical, whilst the material for the cross
member as well as the two rods or tubes required to connect each
respective pair of arms and braces through the rungs of the ladder,
may be cut from a common length of material according to the size
of ladder to which the bracket is to be fitted, thereby greatly
reducing the cost of manufacture etc..
[0019] Preferably, bracing, for example in the form of a pair of
cross braces is utilised to brace the arms when they extend from
the ladder in generally parallel arrangement. Alternatively, and
with advantage, the arms themselves may be so shaped, that they
extend not in parallel arrangement from the ladder, but for
example, diverge, so as to provide inherent bracing by such
geometric arrangement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention may be better understood from the following
non-limiting description of one or more preferred embodiments, in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a ladder and bracket
combination according to one aspect of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention in
which the arms and braces of the bracket are in generally parallel
arrangement and are secured to the ladder by means of a tube
passing through respective rungs of the ladder;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the
invention in which the arms and braces of the bracket are in
generally parallel arrangement and are secured to the ladder by
means of clamps about the styles of the ladder;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention in
which the arms and braces of the bracket are in generally parallel
arrangement and are secured to the ladder by means of clamps
located on respective rungs of the ladder;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the
invention in which the arms and braces of the bracket are divergent
arrangement to provide inherent self bracing are secured to the
ladder by means of a tube passing through respective rungs of the
ladder;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the
invention in which the arms and braces of the bracket are divergent
arrangement to provide inherent self bracing are secured to the
ladder by means of clamps about the styles of the ladder;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG.
10;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention in
which the arms and braces of the bracket are divergent arrangement
to provide inherent self bracing are secured to the ladder by means
of clamps located on respective rungs of the ladder; and
[0033] FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG.
12;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Referring generally to the figures, where like components of
the various embodiments are numbered in like manner, there is a
safety bracket generally referenced 11 for a ladder 12, the purpose
of which is to prevent the ladder 12 from making contact with the
edge region 13 of a roof 14 mounted above a wall 15 of a structure
such a building, shown schematically in FIG. 1. The edge region 13
may be a gutter, fascia etc not specifically illustrated. The
bracket 11 is located so as to also prevent, or at least assist in
preventing, sideways movement of the ladder 12, thereby increasing
the inherent safety for someone who might use the ladder 12.
[0035] The ladder 12 has styles 16 supporting rungs 17 in known
fashion.
[0036] The bracket 11 comprises a pair of arms 18, which in the
embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 7 extend in parallel arrangement from the
ladder 12, whilst in FIGS. 8 to 13 are in divergent arrangement. A
cross member 19 extends between the free end regions 20 of the arms
18 (in the case of FIGS. 2 to 7 actually extending beyond the end
regions 20). A soft cover 31 may be located about the cross member
19 to protect the roof 14 in use. In the various embodiments shown
in FIGS. 8 to 13, the arms 18 will be self bracing by virtue of
their divergent relationship, whereas in the former embodiments of
FIGS. 2 to 7, a pair of cross braces 21, 22 are provided.
[0037] A brace 23 is provided is provided to keep the respective
arm 18 in a locked position as required. In the case of FIGS. 2 to
7, this brace 23 extends from a position on the ladder 12 to a
point 24 along the length of the arm 18, whereas in FIGS. 8 to 13,
the braces 23 are coterminous with the free ends 20 of the arms 18,
at which location the cross member 19 is also joined with the arms
18.
[0038] The methods by which the respective arms 18 and braces 23
are affixed to ladder will now be described. In the embodiments of
FIGS. 2-3 and 8-9, the fixing is by means of tubes 25 made to pass
through the centres of respective rungs 17, for connection to
respective ends of the arms 18 and braces 23, the tubes 25 capable
of receiving expandable bolts 26 which are inserted through
corresponding holes in the arms 18 and braces 23 so that upon
expansion of the bolts 26, the arms 18 and braces 23 are held
between the head of the bolts 26 and the tubes 25.
[0039] In the embodiments of FIGS. 4-5 and 10-11, the arms 18 and
braces 23 are affixed to the styles 16 of the ladder 12 by means of
clamps 27 which are tightened onto the styles 16 by bolts 28 in
known manner.
[0040] On the other hand, in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 7 and
12-13, the arms 18 and braces 23 are affixed to the respective
rungs 17 of the ladder 12 by means of clamps 29 suitable for that
arrangement. Again the clamps 29 may be tightened on the rungs 17
by means of bolts 30.
[0041] A plate 32, as shown in FIG. 12 may be utilised with any of
the other embodiments. The plate 32 is provided with holes 33 for
fixing at various locations to the roof 14 by means of screws not
shown as described above.
[0042] It will be understood, that variations in the geometry of
these arrangements may be easily made by providing one or more
fixing points along any or all of the styles 16 of the ladder 12,
the arms 18 or the braces 23 of the bracket 11, as required to give
greater flexibility for use of the bracket 11 on ladders 12 of
different sizes, or for use in relation to rooves 14 of different
pitches etc.
[0043] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many
modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments
described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention.
[0044] Throughout the specification the word "comprise" and its
derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive
meaning unless the context requires otherwise.
* * * * *