US2963104A - Conductor spreaders and ladder hangers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1960 W. F. ROTH CONDUCTOR SPREADERS AND LADDER HANGERS Filed July 14, 1958 ATTORNEY in-Fig.4; and n I Fig. dis a transverse sectional'view, enlarged, taken Unite States Patent 9 CONDUCTOR SPREADERS AND LADDER HANGERS William F. Roth, Jenkintown, Pa. Philadelphia Electrio Company, 1000 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 5, Pa.)

Filed July 14, 1958, Ser. No. 748,508

" Claims. (Cl. 182-46) It is the principal object of the present invention to w provide a conductor spreader and ladder support bracket which is particularly adaptable for use with the three-wire secondaries currently employed, and which serves to separate and retain the secondary wires in separated condition so as to prevent contact thereof, while at the same time providing a ladder support bracket or hanger.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid which reduces the likelihood of shock hazard while at the same time providing an adequate support.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid which is light in weight, suitable for attachment to ladders now in use, and may be readily attached to and detached from such ladders, as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid with which the tendency of side slippingof a ladder supported thereby is ,greatly reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid in which the spreader and support bracket is of light weight nonelectrical conductive material, while at the same time having adequate strength.

' Other objects and advantageous features of the inve 'tion will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description,'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodirnent' of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional; view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; p p Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspectiveof another preferred embodiment of 'the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a, side 'elevational view of the structure shown approximately on the line 6-.-6 of Fig; 4.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that varia i fiss ens .e sh ss s an be m s th ture disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the upper portion of a ladder is shown at 10 having the usual parallel side rails 11 and transversely disposed connecting rungs 12. Each of the side rails, for the use of the conductor spreader and ladder hanger of the present invention therewith, is provided with a plurality of openings 13, three being shown. The three secondary or service wires are shown at 14a, 14b and 140, in their customary vertical arrangement, and conventionally either the wire 14;: or the wire 14b is grounded with a potential of nominally volts between each of the ungrounded Wires and grounded Wire, and a potential of nominally 240 volts between the two ungrounded wires.

In the form of the present invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the conductor spreader and ladder hanger bracket preferably includes an elongated plate l5 of nonelectrical conductive material and for this purpose marine plywood, and fiberglass impregnated with synthetic resin, have been found suitable. The plate 15 is preferably of substantially uniform thickness with opposite parallel side faces 16, an upper edge face 17, a lower edge face 18 substantially parallel to the edge face 17, and a front edge face 19.

Oppositely disposed with respect to the edge face 19 a plurality of inclined edges 20, 21 and 22 are provided preferably of the same inclination, and a plurality of inclined edges 23, 24 and 25 are provided, preferably at a greater inclination than the edges 20, 21 and 22. The edges 20 and 23, 21 and 24 and 22 and 25 extend in meeting or intersecting relation and the intersections can be rounded or fileted to provide a plurality of sockets 26, 27 and 28 for each of the three service wires 14a, 14b and 14c. Between the respective pairs of serration providing edges 20, 21 and 22 and 23, 24 and 25 side marginal connecting edges 29 are provided and upper and lower side marginal edges 30 and 31 are provided to complete the edge opposite to the front edge face 19.

The sockets 26, 27 and 28 are preferably disposed in a common plane and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plane is preferably in downwardly diverging relation to the plane of the edge 19 to accommodate the tilting of the ladder 10 with its lower end resting on the ground or other horizontal support.

The plate 15 is preferably provided with a plurality of openings 33, three being shown, for alignment with the openings 13 of the ladder rails 11 and for the reception of bolts 34 on which wing nuts 35 are mounted for detachably securing the plates 15 in position on the ladder 10 and with one of the side faces 16 in engagement with the outer side faces of the rails 11.

As illustrated, two plates 15 are preferably employed, one being secured to each of the rails 11.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, in the form of the invention there shown for attachment to the ladder 10, the elongated plate 15 preferably has tWo sections 15a and 15b disposed at an angle to each other in a plane. The plate 15 is also of substantially uniform thickness with opposite parallel side faces 16, an upper edge face 17, a lower edge face 18 and a front acute angled edge face 19'.

Oppositely disposed with respect to the portion of the edge face 19' of the section 15a, inclined edges 20, 21

a and 22 and inclined edges 23, 24 and 25 are provided as 3 the plane can be substantially p'arallel to the plane of the edge 19'.

The section 15b has a plurality of openings 33 for alignment with the openings 13 in the ladder rails 11 for the reception of bolts 34 on which wing nuts 35 are mounted for detachably securing the plates 15' in position on the ladder and with one of the side faces 16 in engagement with one of the outer side faces of the rails 11.

The angular disposition of the sections a and 15b accommodates the tilting of the ladder It} with its lower end resting on the ground or other horizontal support.

The plate 15' can be provided with an edge stiffener 36, aligned with the edge 19, and comprising a section of angle iron having one of its flanges secured to the outer side face of each of the plates 19' by suitable fasteners such as screws or rivets 37.

As illustrated, two plates 15' are preferably employed, one being secured to each of the rails 11 by the bolts 34 and wing nuts 35.

The mode of use will be apparent from the foregoing.

It can be noted that with the plates 15 or 15 secured to the ladder 10, in an upright or vertical position, with the sockets 26, 2'7 and 28 or 26', 27 and 28' engaging the wires 14a, 14b and 140, respectively, the wires 14a, 14b and Me will be spread at their desired or normal vertical spacing, free from likelihood of contact with each other or with the user and that the ladder 10 Will be effectively supported in tilted position for use.

Adequate support against side slipping will also be provided.

If desired the plates 15 or 15' can be readily detached so that the ladder 10 is not restricted for only a special character of use.

The plates 15 or 115 in position do not furnish any substantial obstruction to the normal use of the ladder.

The ladder It} with the plates 15 or 15 secured thereto can be readily hooked onto or unhooked from the service wires 14a, 14b and Me, as desired.

I claim:

1. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a plurality of recesses along one longer marginal edge with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

2. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a first side marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

3. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a first side marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane inclined with respect to at least a part of said first marginal edge, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

4. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a first marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets be ing disposed in a common plane parallel to at least part of said first marginal edge, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

5. In combination with a ladder having spaced vertical side rails, spaced parallel plates secured to sides of each of said rails at the upper ends thereof and extending from the plane of the ladder in the same direction, each of said plates having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with one of parallel electrical conductors, said sockets being disposed in a common plane in spaced relation to said rails.

6. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical noneonductive material having a plurality of recesses along one longer marginal edge with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane and said plane being inclined with respect to an opposite upwardly extending edge of the plate, and members for attaching said plate to a ladder.

7. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a plurality of recesses along one longer marginal edge with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, the margins of each of said recesses being disposed at an acute angle with respect to each other, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

8. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a first side marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, the margins of each of said recesses being disposed at an acute angle with respect to each other, said sockets being disposed in a common plane, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder.

9. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material, said plate having a plurality of connected non-aligned sections in a common plane, said plate having a first side marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder, one of said sections having said sockets therealong and the other of said sections having said attaching means therealong.

10. An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical nonconductive material having a plurality of connected nonaligned sections in a common plane, said plate having a first side marginal edge with a portion for disposition in parallel relation to the rail of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets each for engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane, and means for attaching said plate to a ladder, the upper of said sections having said sockets therealong and the lower of said sections having said attaching means therealong, and said plate having a stiffening member extending therealong in spaced relation to said sockets along the first side marginal edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,067 Leach et a1 June 26, 1934 1,994,369 Risser Mar. 12, 1935 2,788,167 Morrison Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 680,797' Germany Sept. 7. 1939

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