GB2155983A

GB2155983A - Ladder steadying arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2155983A
Application number: GB08507145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Cox; Robert Hooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-20
Filing date: 1985-03-20
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: GB8407232D0; GB2155983B; GB8507145D0

Abstract

A ladder steadying arrangement is provided for rendering a ladder safe on a wide variety of ground surfaces. It comprises a support structure (1, 2) having a plurality of spaced-apart feet (4, 6, 8) for standing the support structure on the ground. Receiving means (10, 12) are mounted to the support structure and adapted to receive the feet of the ladder 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ladder steadying arrangement This invention relates to a ladder steadying arrangement for rendering a ladder safe on a wide variety of ground surfaces.

From the safety aspect, the most common risk is of the foot of the ladder slipping away from the building etc against which it is inclined. Presently known safety devices do not overcome this problem.

We have now devised a ladder steadying arrangement which is particularly effective in preventing the foot of the ladder slipping away from the building etc against which it is inclined, for a wide variety of different ground surfaces. Our ladder arrangement is also particularly effective in preventing twisting of the ladder about its length (such that one foot lifts off the ground), which is another common risk with conventional ladders.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a ladder steadying arrangement, comprising a support structure having a plurality of spaced-apart feet for standing the support structure on the ground, and means mounted to the support structure and adapted to receive the feet of the ladder. Preferably the feet of the support structure are spaced apart so as to lie to either side of the ladder and also to front and rear of the feet of the ladder. Preferably, there are three such feet, advantageously arranged with one behind the ladder and the other two in front of the ladder, one beyond either side. Preferably at least two of the feet are adjustable for height to enable the support structure to be levelled when the ground is uneven or on a gradient.

Preferably the support structure comprises a framework. With the prefered arrangement of three feet, the support structure may comprise in one embodiment, two frame arms pivoted together, one foot being positioned at the pivotal interconnection and the other feet being positioned at or adjacent the free ends of the respective arms. A pair of shoes forming the ladder receiving means are then mounted part-way along the respective arms. Ladders of different widths may be accommodated by pivoting the frame arms relative to each other until the shoes are at the corresponding spacing. The shoes are preferably pivotally mounted to the support structure, so as to allow for any desired angle of inclination of the ladder.

In another embodiment, the support structure comprises a peripheral framework having advantageously three feet disposed substantially equiangularly about its circumference.

The ladder receiving means comprises tray means extending across the peripheral framework. Fixing means may be provided to locate positively the feet of the ladder within the tray means.

The tray means may be pivotable with respect to the support structure to allow for any desired angle of inclination of the ladder.

Embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a ladder steadying arrangement according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a plan view of a ladder steadying arrangement according to a second embodiment; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ll-ll of Fig. 2.

The example of ladder steadying arrangement which is shown in Fig. 1 comprises a support structure formed of two arms 1,2 pivoted together and provided with three feet 4,6,8. Two shoes 10,12 are pivotally mounted to the respective arms and arranged to receive the feet, 22,24 of a ladder 20. The arms 1,2 are formed of hollow rectangular section steel oriented with the longer dimension vertical, and they are pivoted together by a joint 3 having components fitted into the ends of the arms 1,2. A threaded shaft 5 engaged through the joint 3 (forming the pivot pin), carries foot 4 at its lower end and is provided with an adjusting knob 7 at its upper end. The feet 6 and 8 are similarly carried by threaded shafts 9,11 respectively which extend through the arms 1,2 near their free ends as shown and are threaded to nuts e.g. 1 3 welded to the undersides of the arms.

Shafts 9,11 are provided with adjusting knobs 14,1 5 at their upper ends. The feet 4,6,8 are formed of high density rubber in the example shown and each may be arranged for a limited degree of pivoting relative to its shaft 7,9,11 by an appropriate ball-and-socket coupling of a ball-end of the shaft into the foot.

Each of the shoes 1 0,1 2 comprises two right-triangular plates spaced apart by strip pieces along their two sides which form the right angle. The two shoes may be formed by a 45 cut through an appropriate length of rectangular section steel, whereafter a strip piece is welded across an end of each triangular element. The bottom ends of the shoes 1 0, 1 2 are provided with pairs of brackets 1 0a, 1 2a pivotally coupled to pins 16,1 7 which are mounted through the arms 1,2 for swivelling movement. A securing strap 1 9 is provided for each shoe and may be cut from rectangular section steel.As shown, the straps 1 9 fit around the feet of the ladder and the shoes themselves and a locking bolt 21 (threaded through an end of each strap) bears against the shoe to clamp the ladder foot to the shoe.

Apertures 23 are formed through the arms 1,2 forwardly and rearwardly of the shoes 10,1 2: steel pegs (not shown) may be passed through these apertures and into the ground as an additional measure against slippage e.g.

on icy ground.

It will be appreciated that the ladder steadying arrangement is light in weight and easy to use. It will fit any size or type of conventional ladder, the two arms being pivoted relative to each other until the shoes are at the correct spacing for the width of ladder. Once the ladder feet are clamped into the shoes, the steadying arrangement (being light) does not significantly impede movement of the ladder from point-to-point, but removal can be readily effected when required.

A second embodiment is shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The support structure comprises a circular frame 25 which may be a metal, preferably aluminium, casting or plastics material moulding. The diameter is chosen such that apertures 26, preferably threaded, to accommodate shafts (not shown) for the feet and adjusting knobs, lie adjacent the framework. The base of the circular frame 25 may be left open or may be filled, as shown, to provide extra strength. Across the diameter of the circular frame 25 is a tray 27 having a pair of lips 28. In the embodiment shown, the tray and lips are formed or moulded integrally with the framework 25. However, in a further embodiment (not shown) the tray and lips may be a separate moulding which is mounted to the frame 25 either fixedly or pivotable with respect thereto.Screw clamps 29 are provided to hold the feet of the latter in the tray 27 against one of the lips 28. In the case where the tray is pivotable, the ladder feet can be fixedly attached within the tray and the tray pivoted to allow any desired angle of inclination of the ladder.

The feet may be adjusted to level the arms if the ground is uneven or on a gradient, particularly so that either the shoes are level with each other or the tray is level, and the ladder will not be inclined to one side or the other. In order to assist users of the arrangement, the tray or framework may be provided with one or more spirit levels, either built in or attached, to determine when the arrangement is level. The feet provide firm contact points, one to the rear of the ladder, the other two to the front of the ladder with one beyond either side. In particular, the ladder steadying arrangement is found to be effective in overcoming the risk of the bottom of the ladder slipping away and is further effective in preventing the ladder twisting (i.e. such that one foot of the ladder would lift from the ground).

Claims

1. A ladder steadying arrangement comprising a support structure having a plurality of spaced-apart feet for standing the support structure on the ground, and means mounted to the support structure and adapted to receive the feet of the ladder.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feet of the support structure are so spaced apart as to lie to either side of the ladder and also to front and rear of the feet of the ladder.

3. An arrangement as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there are three feet.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the feet are adjustable for height to enable the support structure to be levelled when the ground is uneven or on a gradient.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure comprises two frames arms pivoted together, one foot being positioned at the pivotal interconnection and another foot being positioned at or adjacent the free end of each of the arms.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ladder receiving means comprises a pair of shoes mounted part-way along the respective arms.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shoes are mounted pivotally to the support structure, so as to allow for any desired angle of inclination of the ladder.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support structure comprises a peripheral framework having three feet disposed substantially equiangularly about its circumference.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ladder receiving means comprises tray means extending across the peripheral framework.

1 0. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein fixing means are provided to locate positively the feet of the latter within the tray means.

11. An arrangement as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the tray means is pivotable with respect to the support structure to allow for any desired angle of inclination of the ladder.

1 2. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further compris ing at least one spirit level.

1 3. A ladder steadying arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1 or Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.