AU2007100560A4 - Device to improve the capabilities of ladders - Google Patents

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Innovation Patent Device to increase the capability of ladders The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

Specification Content List Specifications General Page 2 Specifications Pages 3 Conclusion Page 6 The Claims Page 7 Abstract Page 8 Drawings Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8A Ladder Pivot Bracket Page 9 Stair Leg Page Adjustable Foot Page Adjustable Foot Page Top Bracket Page Multi Surface Stabilizing Bracket Page 11 Spanning Bracket Page 11 Roof Arm Clamp Page 12 Figure 8B Roof Arm Page 12 Figure 8C Adjustable Base Page 12 Figure 9 Step Stair Assembly Page 13 Figure 10 Bottom Levelling Stabilizing Bracket Assembly Page 13 Figure 11 Spanning Bracket Assembly Page 14 Figure 12 Roof Arm Assembly Page

SPECIFICATION

GENERAL

Most people would agree that using a conventional ladder for some tasks without specialised equipment, is most difficult those who have occasionally used a ladder would have, at least, experienced a feeling of insecurity possibly caused by shift at the base when over reaching, vibration by activity causing the packing to dislodge, the support surface is uneven or the ladder is not level. Other difficulties are encountered when cleaning painting around wide windows under the eaves above the ground floor as well as transferring from the ladder to the roof vice-versa.

The invention addresses these problems by structuring A) A leg adjustable to equal the stair or step rise.

B) The base support wider than ladder to increase stability.

C) A slotted hole in the bracket to cater for varying ladder widths.

D) The feet are raised or lowered to conform to flat, uneven, or sloping surfaces.

E) A spirit bubble level is set into base support to indicate level.

F) Two extended brackets to span windows up to three metres wide to allow cleaning painting from an extension ladder.

G) Two arms extended to rest on any type of roof to improve the stability at the top of the ladder.

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SPECIFICATION

The purpose of this device, the pivot bracket (Figure l) is to improve the capacity of existing new ladders varying in widths, sections, heights materials when used in conjunction with the associated equipment (Figures 2,3,4,5,6,7,8A,8B 8C) Pivot Bracket (Figure l) Two required for base two for top Material Die moulded aluminum.

Three metal thread screws, springs washers nuts 12mm x6mm plated steel.

General The pivot brackets, common part, when permanently bolted to each side of the base or top of a ladder used with the associated equipment is designed so that the pivot pin is vertical when the recommended leaning angle is correct.

Description The pivot bracket is placed in position either on the inside or outside of a side support with the round section hard against the base or top, centered clamped, leaving sufficient room to drill two seven millimetre holes using the bracket as a template.

Next position tighten both bolt, remove the clamp, drill the remaining hole bolt.

Repeat the procedure until all pivot brackets are positioned.

Stair Step Assembly Stair Leg (Figure2) 1 Required Material Aluminum Rod Short Fixed Foot (Figure4) 1 Required Threaded plated steel twelve mm. Diameter.

Moulded Round Foot Composite Adjustable Foot (Figure3) Threaded plated steel twelve mm. Diameter.

Moulded Round Foot Composite General A simple arrangement of a leg, an adjustable foot a short fixed foot converts a conventional ladder, fitted with pivot brackets, to use on stairs or steps of varying rises to the left or right while ensuring that the ladder remains level is presented.

Description The stair step assembly consists of a fixed foot screwed home into the right hand tapped hole of the pivot bracket at the base of the ladder the stair leg into the left. The adjustable foot is then screwed in or out of the stair leg until the difference between the feet is the same as the rise. At which stage the ladder will be level vice versa for rises to the left.

Assembly figure 9 Example Rise to the right.

Page 3 Stabilizing Bracket Assembly Stabilizing bracket (Figure) 1 Required Material Extruded aluminum square fifty mm. X three mm.

Aluminum fiat bar fifty mm. X six mm.

Adjustable Foot (Figure3) Threaded Plated steel twelve mm. Diameter Moulded Round Foot Composite.

General The stabilizing Bracket assembly is responsible for, substantial increased stability, provision to cater for ladders of varying width, means to indicate when the ladder is level, the correct recommended leaning angle adjusting to flat, uneven or sloping surfaces.

Description Substantial stability increase is due to the following two factors.

1) The stabilizing bracket is approximately three times longer than say a four hundred millimetre wide ladder.

Note The slotted hole is the same width as the diameter of the neat round hole thereby permitting the use of ladders varying in width while restricting lateral other movements.

2) The four adjustable feet are inserted in the base, the bracket is positioned over the pivot pins held in place, then by raising or lowering the feet moving the ladder base in or out a bubble spirit level, (not illustrated) set in the centre of the top face of the bracket will indicate when the ladder is level at the recommended leaning angle.

Window spanning brackets assembly Spanning Bracket (Figure 2 Required Material Extruded square section aluminum 50mm x 3mm.

Strengthening Bar (Figure 7) 2 Required Material Flat aluminum section 50mm x 6mm.

Short fixed foot (Figure 4) 2 Required Material Threaded stem plated steel 12mm x diameter Round foot composite.

General Most people agree that cleaning painting around, over under the eaves of wide windows above the ground floor is difficult at times insecure so any means to simplify the task would be of benefit. To this end the spanning brackets have been designed to be attached to the top of extension ladders varying in width extending to span windows up to three metres wide.

Description The spanning brackets have the end that is positioned over the pivot pins reduced to twenty five millimetres, for a length of five hundred fifty millimetres a support welded at the open end so that when assembled, with a short fixed foot in each extremity, the extension ladder is equiped to span windows up to three metres wide.

Page 4 Note When the extension ladder is fully laden at the recommended leaning angle the force imparted by the feet on the wall is relative to that angle. Accordingly the spanning brackets manufactured from a comparatively light section are able to support this load.

Assembly Figure 11 Example Spanning three metre window Roof Arm Assembly Roof Arm Clamp (Figure 8A) 2 Required.

Material Composite Roof Arm (Figure 8B) 2 Required.

Material Extruded square section Aluminum 37mm x 3mm Adjustable Arm Base (Figure8C) 2 Required.

Material Threaded stem plated steel 12mm Diameter Foot Composite.

General Transferring from an extension ladder to a roof vice versa, especially on a two story building, is difficult at times insecure owing to the lack of stability at the top.

To reduce the effect of these problems two roof arm assemblies attached to the top of the ladder are moved until the top rung of the ladder is above the eaves then both arms brought to rest on the roof.

Description The roof arm assemblies comprising three main components (clamp, arm base) are positioned over the pivot pins the ladder extended until the top rung is above the eave. Each arm is moved in an arc away from the ladder sides, past the edge over the roof then the clamping action is applied.

Note When a conventional ladder is used to access the roof, the top rung is usually situated well above the eave to provide a hand grip while stepping, sideways around, off on the ladder. Alternatively an Aluminum rod screwed into each pivot pin would provided hand grip access through the ladder compared to stepping sideways around.

The design of roof arm assemblies have been considered to embrace inclined, flat, corregated steel, composite tile roofs.

Assembly Figure 12 Example Inclined roof access Page Conclusion The assemblies, comparatively easy to secure release are put in place at ground level.

The term "held" refers to a screw washer combination inserted in the end of the washer having a diameter larger than the pivot pin.

The design allows two assemblies to be used simultaneously if required E.G. Stabilizing bracket assembly 10 spanning bracket assembly I 1 Stabilizing bracket assembly 10 roof arm assembly 12 Following all relevant tests, some dimensional material changes may be necessary.

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