GB2305458A

GB2305458A - Ladder stabiliser

Info

Publication number: GB2305458A
Application number: GB9618579A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Elliott; Kathleen Ann Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-20
Filing date: 1996-09-05
Publication date: 1997-04-09
Also published as: GB9519203D0; GB9618579D0

Abstract

An attachment for stabilising a ladder comprises a central arm (1), two extension arms (12, 13), and support means (32, 31). Each support means is in the form of two legs (33, 34) that are pivotally secured (at 35) to the extension arms. The attachment is mounted on the rungs of a ladder by means of the hook like members (2, 3).

Description

Improvements in and relating to Attachments for ladders.

This invention relates to attachments for ladders that is to say attachments which, when mounted on a ladder, increase both the stability and usefulness of the ladder.

It is well known that ladders are dangerous unless used with great care. The ladder has a very narrow base and this requires a user to take great care when ascending the ladder and when carrying out work up the ladder.

It has been proposed to increase the degree of safety of the ladder by attachments that are secured to the ladder adjacent the base thereof. Such attachments merely increase slightly the width of the base and do not materially increase the overall stability or usefulness of the ladder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a ladder which materially increases the stability and usefulness thereof.

According to the present invention an attachment for a ladder comprises an arm and means for releasably attaching the arm to the ladder in such manner that, when attached, the arm extends transversely to the length of the ladder.

The arm may comprise a central portion with extensions by means of which the effective length of the arm may be increased.

The extensions may be slidably mounted on the central portion and may be telescopically mounted thereon.

In one embodiment of the invention the central portion and the extensions Xre of a box-shaped cross section in a plane transverse to their lengths.

The central portion may carry means to limit movement of the extensions towards each other.

The extensions may be mounted on the central portion by means of circlets, and the central portion may have slots and the extensions pins that are engaged in the slots.

The means for releasably attaching the arm to the ladder may include rung engaging members which may be of hook-like form.

Preferably, the hook-like members comprise an upper set and a lower set, and at least one of the sets may be movable relatively to the other set.

The hook-like members may be supported by straps that are attached to the arm.

The straps may be slotted over a part of their lengths and in this case the movable set is attached to the straps by members that pass through the slots.

In another embodiment of the invention, the extensions carry support means that extend at right angles to the arms.

The support means may each have two legs that are secured together at one end which is itself fixed to the arms. Feet may be secured to the free ends of the legs.

By way of example only, embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment, Fig. 2 is an exploded view, in greater detail, of the first embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment, Fig. 4 is a side view of the second embodiment, Fig. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment attached to a ladder, and, Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of different ways of using the ladder and the attachment.

Referring first to Fig. 1 which shows a basic form of the attachment, it will be seen that the latter comprises a central arm 1 of a box section from which extend at right angles two spaced rung grippers or hook-like members 2, 3 by means of which the device is attached to a ladder as will be described in detail below. The members 2, 3 each comprise upper (as seen in Fig. 1) outwardly and downwardly curved hooks 5, 6 that are secured to straps 7, 8 respectively that are fixed, at their upper ends, to the central arm 1 at positions that are equidistant from the centre point along the length of the arm 1. Also carried by the straps 7, 8 are lower hooks 9, 10 of a form similar to that of the hooks 5, 6 but which extend outwardly and upwardly towards the hooks 5, 6.

The lower hooks 9, 10 are adjustable in position along part of the length of their respective straps 7, 8.

Conveniently, the straps may be slotted over that part of their length, the hooks 9, 10 being secured to the straps 6, 7 by bolts 11 which pass through holes in the lower hooks and then through the slots, the bolts carrying nuts which, when tightened, secure the hooks to the straps in desired positions. If desired , the upper hooks 5, 6 may also be adjustable in position relative to the straps in a manner similar to that just described in connection with the lower hooks 9, 10.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the central arm 1 carries two side arms 12 and 13 also of box section that extend laterally from the central arm 1 and are slidably mounted on the arm 1 in a manner such that they are able to increase the effective length thereof. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the side arms 12 and 13 are secured to the central arm 1 by means of circlets 14, 15 respectively that encircle the side arms 12, 13 and the central arm 1 as shown in Fig. 1. The outer wall 16 of the arm 1 is slotted longitudinally as at 17 and 18 to receive short studs fixed to the adjacent side walls of the arms 12, 13. This arrangement ensures that the central arm and the side arms form a rigid structure and also allows the side arms to be extended to a desired extent as will be explained below.

Once the side arms have been moved into a desired position, they are releasably held in those positions by any suitable means. Fig. 1 shows one way in which the side arms are held in position. The upper (as seen in Fig. 1) wall 18 of the arm 1 has a series of spaced holes disposed in two groups 19 and 20 and the side arms each carry a short length of chain 21 to which is secured a pin 22 that is inserted in one of the holes once the side arms have been moved to the desired positions.

Inward movement of the side arms 12, 13 is limited by a stop 23 secured in a centre position to the face 16 of the central arm 1.

The attachment is secured to a ladder by placing the rung grippers so that adjacent ladder rungs are located between the hooks the lower hooks then being moved towards the upper hooks until both upper and lower hooks engage the rungs. Alternatively, if both upper and lower hooks are movable then they can both be adjusted in position.If desired, the rung hooks may, if both upper and lower are movable, be detached from the straps, and inverted so that the hooks face upwardly and downwardly after which the grippers are secured again to the straps. That arrangement may facilitate the mounting of the atachment on a ladder.

When the attachment has been secured to the ladder, it will be appreciated that the arm 1 and the side arms 12, 13 now extend sideways with respect to the length of the ladder and can be rested against the surface of a wall. By extending the side arms 12, 13 with respect to the central arm 1 a greater degree of support can be imparted to the ladder whose stability is greatly increased thereby.

Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in exploded form and in greater detail. The stop 23 is fixed to the face 16 by screws 24. The inner ends of the side arms 12, 13 are closed by closure members 25, 26 held in position by screws 27. The circlets 14, 15 are secured to the arm 1 by screws 28.

Fig. 2 also shows in greater detail the way in which the pins 22 and chains 21 are fixed to the side arms 12. 13 Small plates 29 are bolted to the upper faces of the side arms and carry, at their outer ends the short lengths of chain 21 to which the pins 22 are secured.

Fig. 2 also reveals more detail of the rung hooks 2, 3. In the form shown in Fig. 2 , the upper hooks 5, 6 are integral with the straps and only the lower hooks 9, 10 are adjustable in position relative to the straps. The straps are slotted as at 30 enabling the positions of the lower hooks 9, 10 to be changed to accommodate rungs of differing spacings.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the side arms 12, 13 have, secured at their outer ends, additional supports 31 and 32. Each of those supports comprises arms 33 and 34 that are joined together at one and as at 35 and which extend at about right angles to each other. The junctions 35 are secured to the ends of the side arms in any suitable manner and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 blocks 44 are provided for that purpose. The blocks 44 are mounted on at the ends of the side arms 12, 13 by means of screws 45 and each block has a bore 46 to receive a spindle that forms part of the connection 35 between the arms 33 and 34. Feet 36 and 37 are secured to the outer ends of the arms 33 and 34 respectively and may be faced with a suitable anti-friction material.If desired, the feet may be attached to the arms by joints that permit the feet to move relative to the arms, for example, the feet may be secured to the arms by means of ball and socket type joints.

Preferably, at least one arm of each support is adjustable in length to enable irregularities in the surface against which the supports are to be rested and also to enable the supports to be rested on sloping surfaces, for example, roofs.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the arms 33 have telescoped portions 38 so that the lengths of those arms can be adjusted as desired.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Fig. 3 imparts greater stability to the ladder because of the wider support provided by the supports 31 and 32. The supports 31 and 32 also increase the ways in which the ladder can be used with safety.

For example, Fig. 4 shows the attachment mounted adjacent the upper end of a ladder 39. By adjusting the length of the arms 33 the ladder may be positioned at a distance from a wall 40 and thereby provide easier access to a roof 41.

Fig. 6 illustrates how the attachment may be used to support a ladder from a sloping roof 43. The length of the arms 33 is set so that the feet 36, 37 rest safely on the roof 43 while the length of those arms is adjusted to allow the ladder to clear the roof edge, In Fig. 7, the arms 33 are adjusted to allow them to rest against the two sides 46, 47 of a corner 48 of a building. A conventional ladder could not safely be used in the manner shown on Fig. 7.

It will be appreciated that the central arm 2 and the side arms 12 and 13 may be of cross sections other than rectangular, they my, for example be of a circular cross section in a plane transverse to their lengths and they may be telescoped together.

Furthermore, it will be understood that both of the arms 33 and 34 may be adjustable in length and their connection with the side arms 12 and 13 may allow them to be pivoted to suit a particular requirement, means being provided to lock the arms in the selected position.

Claims

Claims.

1. An attachment for a ladder comprising an arm and means for releasably attaching the arm to the ladder in such manner that, when attached, the arm extends transversely with respect to the length of the ladder.

2. An attachment as claimed in claim 1 in which the arm comprises a central portion with extensions by means of which the effective length of the central portion may be increased.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 2 in which the extensions are slidably mounted on the central portion.

4. An attachment as claimed in 3 in which the extensions are telescopically mounted on the central portion.

5. An attachment as claimed in any one of claims 2, 3 or 4 in which the central portion and the extensions are of boxshaped cross-section in a plane transverse to their lengths.

6. An attachment as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 in which the central portion carries means for limiting the movement of the extensions towards each other.

7. An attachment as claimed in claim 5 in which the extensions are supported on the central portion by means of circlets.

8. An attachment as claimed in claim 7 in which the central portion has slots, and in which the extensions have pins which are engaged in the slots.

9. An attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for releasably attaching the arm to the ladder includes rung engaging means.

10. An attachment as claimed in claim 9 in which the rung engaging means comprise hook-like members.

11. An attachment as claimed in claim 10 in which the hooklike members comprise an upper set and a lower set and in which at least one of the sets in movable relatively to the other.

12. An attachment as claimed in claim 11 in which the sets of hook-like members are supported by straps that are attached to the arm.

13. An attachment as claimed in claim 12 in which at least one of the sets of hook-like members is movable relatively to the straps.

14. An attachment as claimed in claim 13 in which the straps are slotted over apart of their length and in which the movable set is attached to the straps by means of members that pass through the slots.

15. An attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arm carries at each end support means that extend therefrom in a direction generally at right angles to the length of the arm.

16. An attachment as claimed in claim 15 in which the support means each comprise legs secured together at on end which is secured to the respective arm end.

17. An attachment as claimed in claim 16 in which at least one of the legs is adjustable in length.

18. An attachment as claimed in claim 17 in which feet are mounted on the free ends of the legs.

19. An attachment as claimed in claim 18 in which the feet are pivotally on the free ends.

20. An attachment for a ladder substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.