AU2008281329A1

AU2008281329A1 - Securing device for a ladder

Info

Publication number: AU2008281329A1
Application number: AU2008281329A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leslie Harold Campbell; Robert Francis Nagle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-02
Filing date: 2008-08-04
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: WO2009015437A1

Description

WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 1 SECURING DEVICE FOR A LADDER Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a securing device for a portable ladder. Background of the Invention Portable ladders may be leaned upright against a stable raised structure so as to enable 10 user ascent to the structure. Examples of raised structures may include parts of dwellings (during or post-construction) such as eaves with or without gutters, purlins, beams, brickwork, pipes, and concrete framework. If the ladder is not secured to the structure against which it leans, the ladder may be 15 unstable and at risk of toppling sideways or backwards from the structure during use. Also the bottom feet of the ladder may slide backwards away from the structure causing the top end of the ladder to drop to the ground. Such ladder movements can be quite dangerous and may result in user injury or even death where the user falls from a raised height. 20 Thus it would be advantageous to provide a device which could reduce, limit, overcome, or substantially ameliorate some or all of the aforesaid problems or disadvantages associated with the use of portable ladders. 25 Moreover, it would be advantageous.to provide a device which can secure a portable ladder to a raised structure without requiring a user to first climb the ladder. Disclosure of the Invention 30 The invention provides a securing device .for securing a portable ladder, said securing device comprising: - holding means by which the device is adapted to hold the ladder, and WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 2 securing means for securing the ladder to a securing portion of a structure, the securing .portion having a front surface facing the ladder and a rear surface facing away from the ladder, wherein a user may secure the ladder to the securing portion prior to ascending the ladder. 5 The securing means may comprise a hook member adapted to extend in front of the front surface, over the top of the securing portion, and down behind the rear surface. The hook member may comprise: 10 - a front part adapted to extend in front of the front surface of the securing portion, and - a rear part adapted to extend down behind the rear surface of the securing portion. In one form the front part may be contiguous with the rear part. The front part may comprise a front panel, and the rear part may comprise a rear panel which extends down 15 and back at an acute angle from the front panel. The hook member may include one or more catching tabs projecting forward from the rear panel. The front and rear panels may be integrally formed. In another form the hook member further comprises an intermediate part extending 20 between the front and rear parts and adapted to extend over the securing portion. The intermediate part is preferably adjustable to allow adjustment of thd distance between the front and rear parts. The front part may comprise a front panel, the rear part may comprise a rear panel, and 25 the intermediate part may comprise: - a first intermediate panel extending back from the front panel, and - a second intermediate panel extending forward from the rear panel, the second intermediate panel being adapted to overlie or underlie the first intermediate panel and be slidably engageable therewith so as to allow adjustment of the distance 30 between the front and rear panels. The front panel and first intermediate panel may form an integral front piece, and the rear panel and second intermediate panel may form an integral rear piece which is formed separately from the front piece.

WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 3 Alternatively, the front part may comprise a front panel, the rear part may comprise a rear panel, and the intermediate part may comprise: - a first intermediate panel extending back from the front panel, and 5 - a second intermediate panel extending forward from the rear panel and being substantially shorter in length from front to back than the first intermediate panel, the second intermediate panel being adapted to underlie the first intermediate panel and be engageable therewith, and - a down panel extending down from the front of the second intermediate panel, 10 the down panel being adapted to extend down in front of the securing portion. One or more catching tabs may project forward from the rear panel. The hook member may include padding for contacting the securing portion. 15 The front panel and first intermediate panel may form an integral front piece, and the rear panel, second intermediate panel, and down panel may form an integral rear piece which is formed separately from the front piece. The holding means may comprise two sidepiece holding members for holding respective 20 side-rails of the ladder. At least one of the sidepiece holding members may be adjustable. The sidepiece holding members may each comprise a sliding bracket adapted to slide along the front panel. The holding means may comprise a rung grasping member adapted to grasp a rung of the ladder. The rung grasping member may comprise an adjustable rung hook. 25 In another embodiment the invention provides a method of securing a ladder to a securing portion of a structure, said method comprising clamping to a rung and side rails of the ladder a securing device according to any one of the preceding claims and leaning the ladder against the structure with the hook member over the top of the securing portion. 30 Brief Description of the Drawings By way of example only, various embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 4 Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of a securing device according to the present invention for a portable ladder; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the device of Figure 1 as assembled; 5 Figure 3 an isometric view of the device of Figure 2 being used to secure a ladder to a gutter; Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view of a second embodiment of a securing device according to the invention; Figure 5 is an isometric view of the device of Figure 4 as assembled; 10 Figure 6 is an isometric view of the device of Figure 4 assembled in an alternative arrangement to Figure 5; Figure 7 is an isometric view of an alternative rear piece designed to be used with the device of Figure 4. 15 Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to. Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a securing device (generally designated 2) for a portable ladder 36. 20 The securing device 2 comprises a main bracket portion 3 which is laser cut from 2mm thick steel sheet and then bent to form a front panel 4, rear panel 6, and rung hook flange 8. The rear panel 6 extends back and down at an angle of about 45*from the front panel 4 and the rung hook flange extends at 90* to the front panel. A slot 10 is cut in the rung hook flange 8 and a notch 12 is formed in the rear panel 6. The notch 12 outlines the 25 position of a rung hook flange of an identical securing device (not shown) which is cut adjacently from the steel sheet. The front panel 4 defines a pair of apertures 24, 25 which have the form of square holes. The securing device 2 has a steel rung hook 14 cut and formed from 1.6mm thick steel 30 sheet. The rung hook 14 is slidably secured to the rung hook flange 8 by a coach bolt 18, thumb nut 16, and related washers 17. The thumb nut threads on to the bolt 18 which passes through slot 10 and an aligned hole 19 in the rung hook 14. The base of the rung hook 14 has a pair of guide flanges 13 projecting downwardly and inwardly from WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 5 respective sides. The guide flanges are adapted to guide forward and backward sliding of the rung hook 14 with the flange 8 engaged therebetween. The securing device 2 has a pair of steel sliding brackets 20, 22, formed from 1.6mn 5 thick steel sheet. Each sliding bracket 20, 22 has a respective slot 26, 27 and an offset flange 31, 32 respectively. The sliding brackets 20, 22 are slidably secured to the front panel 4 by respective coach bolts 33, 34, washer arrays 35, and thumb nuts 28, 30. The thumb nuts are screwed on to their respective bolts 33, 34 which pass through respective aligned square-hole apertures 24, 25 and slots 26, 27. The brackets 20, 22 each have a 10 pair of guide flanges 21 projecting inwardly and backwardly from top and bottom sides, the guide flanges being adapted to guide sideways sliding of the brackets 20, 22 with the front panel 4 engaged therebetween. The washer arrays 35 comprise a central rubber washer 15 which is a force-fit onto the 15 respective bolt 33, 34 and a steel washer 23 on each side of the rubber washer. The rubber washer grips the thread of the bolt and so keeps it captive in its respective hole 24, 25. Figure 3 shows the device 2 being used to secure a portable ladder 36 (which may be an 20 extension ladder, although not illustrated as such) to a securing portion 37 of a structure 29. The structure 29 is a building and the securing portion 37 in this instance is the front wall of a rainwater gutter 9. The ladder 36 has several rungs 38 interconnecting a pair of side-rails 40. The first stage in the securing process used in Figure 3 involves mounting the device 2 so that it holds on to the ladder 36 by: 25 1) Loosening thumb nut 16 to enable sliding of the rung book 14; 2) Sliding the rung hook 14 along slot 10 away from the front panel 4; 3) Loosening thumb nuts 28, 30 to enable sliding of the brackets 20, 22; 4) Sliding brackets 20, 22 out to respective sides of the front panel 4 as allowed for by respective slots 26, 27; 30 5) Bringing the front surface of the front panel 10 into contact with rear flanges 39 of the ladder side-rails 40; 6) Bringing the slidable base of the rung hook 14 up into contact with the undersurface of a ladder rung 38; WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 6 7) Sliding the rung hook 14 along the flange 8 and towards the front panel 4 so that the rung hook 14 grasps the rung 38 (although the top rung is grasped as seen in Figure 3, it is envisaged that lower rungs may also be suitable in various situations); 8) Tightening the thumb nut 16 to lock the position of the rung hook 14; 5 9) Sliding the brackets 20, 22 in towards the respective ladder side-rails 40 so that the flanges 31, 32 contact and project in front of the outer portions 120 of rear flanges 39 of the side-rails 40; 10) Tightening the thumb nuts 28, 30 to lock the brackets 20 and 22. 10 The second stage in the securing process involves securing the ladder 36 to the gutter 9 by: 1) Lifting the ladder 36 into an upright position so that the main bracket 3 is raised above the front wall 37 of the gutter; and 2) Lowering the ladder 36 so that the main bracket portion 3 is hooked over the 15 front wall 37 of the gutter, whereby the front panel 4 extends in front of the front surface (front face) of the securing portion 37 (front wall of the gutter) and the rear panel 6 (which extends down and back at an acute angle from the front panel 4) passes down and behind a rear surface (rear face) of the securing portion 37 (front wall of the gutter). 20 Once secured, the hook member of the securing device limits forwards, backwards, sideways, and rotational movements of the ladder, thereby reducing the possibility of a user falling when standing on or climbing the ladder. 25 Use of the device may also provide an advantage in distributing the load across a greater surface area of the gutter front wall, thereby limiting gutter distortion. Two catching tabs (not shown in the device of Figures 1 to 3, but equivalent to features numbered 112 & 114 in the component 101 of Figure 7) preferably project forward from 30 the front surface of the rear panel 6 towards the rear surface of the securing portion. The tabs are preferably provided as an additional safety measure to catch on an in-turned upper lip which is commonly present as a feature .on the top of the front wall of such gutters and thus further prevents the rear panel from sliding forward over the securing portion of the gutter.

WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 7 Figures 4 and 5 show as the second embodiment an alternative securing device 41 adapted for securing to securing portions which have a greater depth from front to back than the front wall of a gutter. Such surfaces may include pipes, purlins, beams, tubing, 5 brickwork, and concrete walls. The alternative securing device 41 includes a main front piece 43 and a main rear piece 45. The front piece 43 is cut from a 2mm thick steel sheet and then bent to form a front panel 42, first intermediate panel 44, and rung hook flange 46. The first intermediate 10 panel extends back substantially perpendicularly from the front panel and defines a pair of parallel slots 82, 84 adjacent respective sides of the intermediate panel. The rung hook flange 46 also defines a slot 47, and the front panel 42 defines a pair of square apertures 78,80. 15 The main rear piece 45 is cut from 2mm thick steel sheet and then bent to form a second intermediate panel 48 and rear panel 50. The second intermediate panel 48 defines a pair of first square apertures 86, 88 adjacent respective sides towards the front edge, and a pair of second square apertures 90, 92 adjacent respective sides towards the rear panel 50. 20 The second intermediate panel 48 is slidably secured beneath the first intermediate panel 44 by thumb nuts 94, 96. The thumb nuts 94, 96 screw on to respective coach bolts 98, 100 which pass through respective aligned slots 82, 84 and apertures 86, 88. The bolts 98, 100 are held captive by washer arrays 95 in the manner described above for washer arrays 35. 25 The second intermediate panel 48 may have a pair of guide flanges (not shown) projecting upwardly and inwardly from respective sides, the guide flanges being adapted to guide forward and backward sliding of the first intermediate member 44 therebetween. 30 As with the above-described first embodiment, the alternative device 41 includes a steel rung hook 52 formed from 1.6mm thick steel sheet. The rung hook 52 is slidably secured to the rung hook flange 46 by thumb nut 54. The thumb nut screws on to bolt 56 which passes through slot 47 and an aligned aperture in the rung hook 52. The rung hook 52 operates in the same manner as that for the first embodiment.

WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 8 Like the device 2 in Figure 2, the alternative device 41 also comprises a pair of steel sliding brackets 58, 60, formed from 1.6mm thick steel sheet. Each sliding bracket 58, 60, has a slot 62, 64 and an offset flange 66, 68 respectively. The sliding brackets 58, 60 5 are slidably secured to the front panel 42 by respective thumb nuts 70, 72. The thumb nuts are screwed on to respective bolts 74, 76 which pass through respective aligned apertures 78, 80 and slots 62, 64. The first stage in the securing process for the device 41 involves mounting the device 41 10 so that it holds on to the ladder. When holding on to the ladder, the device 41 affords a degree of slack to enable securing of the ladder to the structure at a range of ladder angles and for a range of securing portion configurations. The initial part of the first stage in the process corresponds to steps 1) - 10) as described 15 above for the device 2, whereby equivalent features in the alternative device 41 are now referred to instead of those which were referred to in device 2. In addition, the first stage in the securing process for the alternative device 41 involves further steps 11) to 14). All steps 1) - 14) of the first stage are described below: 1) Loosening thumb nut 54 to enable sliding of the rung hook 52; 20 2) Sliding the rung hook 52 along slot 47 away from the front panel 42; 3) Loosening thumb nuts 70, 72 to enable sliding of the brackets 58, 60; 4) Sliding brackets 58, 60 out to respective sides of the front panel 42 as allowed for by respective slots 62, 64; 5) Bringing the front surface of the front panel 42 into contact with rear surfaces of 25 ladder side-rails 40; 6) Bringing the slidable base of the rung hook 52 up into contact with the undersurface of a ladder rung 38; 7) Sliding the rung hook 52 along the flange 46 and towards the front panel 42 so that the rung hook 52 grasps the rung 38; 30 8) Tightening the thumb nut 54 to lock the position of the rung hook 52; 9) Sliding the brackets 58, 60 in towards the respective ladder side-rails 40 so that the flanges 66, 68 contact and project in front of the outer portions 120 of the rear flanges of the side-rails 40; 10) Tightening the thumb nuts 70, 72 to lock the brackets 58, 60; WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 9 11) Loosening the thumb nuts 94, 96 to enable sliding of the rear piece 45; 12) Sliding the rear piece 45 along slots 82, 84 towards or away from the front panel 42 so that the distance between the front panel 42 and the rear panel 50 is a little larger than the estimated distance from front to back of the securing portion; 5 and 14) Tightening the thumb nuts 94, 96 to lock the rear piece. The second stage in the securing process for device 41 preferably involves securing the ladder 36 to the structure by: 10 1) Lifting the ladder 36 into an upright position so that the front and rear panels are raised above the securing portion of the structure; and 2) Lowering the ladder 36 so that the front and rear pieces 43 and 45 are hooked over the securing portion of the structure, whereby the front panel 42 extends in front of a front surface of the securing portion 37, the first and second intermediate 15 panels 44, 48 pass over the securing portion, and the rear panel 50 extends down behind a rear surface of the securing portion 37. Once the second stage is completed the ladder is secure for climbing. As an additional safety measure if desired, the user may ascend the ladder in order to unlock and then slide 20 the rear panel 50 forward into abutment with the rear surface of the securing portion. The rear panel is then locked in this position in order to secure the ladder more firmly to the structure. Referring to Figure 6, the alternative device 41 is shown assembled in a different 25 arrangement to that shown in Figure 5. In Figure 6 the rear piece 45 has been rotated 1800 about a vertical axis so that the rear panel 50 is now at the front of the rear piece 45 and the second intermediate panel 48 extends back therefrom. As with the arrangement of Figure 5, the second intermediate panel 48 in the Figure 6 30 arrangement is slidably secured beneath the first intermediate panel 44 by thumb nuts 94, 96. However, the respective bolts 98, 100 which pass through respective slots 82, 80 and on to which the thumb nuts 94, 96 are screwed, pass through aligned apertures 92, 90, rather than apertures 86, 88.

WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 10 The Figure 6 arrangement enables securing of the device 41 to securing portions having a relatively shorter width (narrower) from front to back when compared with the relatively wider securing portions for which the arrangement of Figure 5 would be more suitable. 5 However, in some instances the arrangement of Figure 6 will not be suitable for securing to relatively narrow surfaces. For example, when attempting to secure the Figure 6 arrangement to a securing portion such as a front wall of a gutter 37, the second intermediate panel 48 extending beyond the front wall of the gutter may abut the rear wall of the gutter or the inclined roof, thereby blocking forward movement of the front panel 10 42 into a position which places it in close proximity to or against the front wall of the gutter. In such instances it may be desirable to use an alternative rear piece 101 such as that shown in Figure 7 instead of the rear piece 45 shown in Figures 4 to 6. Figure 7 shows the alternative rear piece 101 comprising a bracket which is laser cut from 15 2mm thick steel sheet and then bent to form a down panel 102, second intermediate panel 104, and rear panel 106. The second intermediate panel 104 extends back at about 1000 to the down panel 102 and defines a pair of square apertures 108, 110 adjacent respective sides. The rear panel 106 extends down substantially perpendicularly from the second intermediate panel 104 and has a pair of catching tabs 112, 114 projecting forward from 20 its front surface towards the down panel 102. Two strips of padding 116, 118 (dashed outline) are affixed to the undersurface of the bracket. The second intermediate panel 104 is secured by the thumb nuts 94, 96 beneath the first intermediate panel 44 at a position towards the back end of the slots 82, 84, with the rear 25 panel 106 being located behind the down panel 102. The thumb nuts 94, 96 screw on to respective bolts 98, 100 which pass through respective aligned slots 82, 84 and apertures 108,110. Securing the ladder to the front wall (securing portion 37) of the gutter involves lifting the 30 ladder 36 into an upright position so that the alternative rear piece bracket 101 is raised above the securing portion 37 of the gutter. The ladder 36 is then lowered so that the rear piece bracket 101 is hooked over the securing portion 37, whereby the down panel 102 extends in front of a front surface of the securing portion, the second intermediate panel WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 11 104 passes over the securing portion 37, and the rear panel 106 extends down behind a rear surface of the securing portion 37. Because the alternative rear piece bracket 101 is fastened to the front piece 43 at a 5 position which is near the back end of the front panel slots 82, 84, it is the down panel 102 rather than the front panel 42 which is positioned in close proximity to, or against, the front surface of the securing portion. This results in the front panel 42 and ladder being secured further in front of the securing portion 37 than when the ladder is able to be secured to a structure using a device 41 as in Figure 6. 10 For each embodiment, the sliding brackets 20, 21 or 58, 60 may be reversed such that the flanges 31, 32 and 66, 68 respectively are outwardly directed in order to capture the inner portions 122 of the rear flanges 39 of the ladder side rails 40. This is potentially useful for extension ladders where the sliding brackets might otherwise foul on the lower half of 15 the ladder. When not in use the securing device may remain clamped to any rung of the ladder allowing for easy storage and transportation of the device with the ladder. If the device is to be transported on an extension ladder, the sliding brackets may be clamped against the 20 inside of the ladder sidepieces. Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without 25 departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example, the main components of the securing device may be made from a suitable plastics material if desired. It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as 30 "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of another feature or features.

Claims

1. A securing device for securing a portable ladder, said securing device comprising: - holding means by which the device is adapted to hold the ladder, and 5 - securing means for securing the ladder to a securing portion of a structure, the securing portion having a front surface facing the ladder and a rear surface facing away from the ladder, wherein a user may secure the ladder to the securing portion prior to ascending the ladder. 10

2. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein the securing means comprise a hook member adapted to extend in front of the front surface, over the top of the securing portion, and down behind the rear surface.

3. A securing device according to claim 2 wherein the hook member comprises: 15 - a front part adapted to extend in front of the front surface of the securing portion, and - a rear part adapted to extend down behind the rear surface of the securing portion.

4. A securing device according to claim 3 wherein the front part is contiguous with the rear part, the front part comprises a front panel, and the rear part comprises a rear 20 panel which extends down and back at an acute angle from the front panel.

5. A securing device according to claim 4 wherein the front and rear panels are integrally formed. 25

6. A securing device according to claim 3 wherein the hook member comprises an intermediate part extending between the front and rear parts and adapted to extend over the securing portion.

7. A securing device according to claim 6 wherein the intermediate part is adjustable 30 to allow adjustment of the distance between the front and rear parts.

8. A securing device according to claim 7 wherein the front part comprises a front panel, the rear part comprises a rear panel, and the intermediate part comprises: - a first intermediate panel extending back from the front panel, and WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 13 - a second intermediate panel extending forward from the rear panel, the second intermediate panel being adapted to overlie or underlie the first intermediate panel and be slidably engageable therewith so as to allow adjustment of the distance between the front and rear panels. 5

9. A securing device according to claim 8 wherein the front panel and first intermediate panel form an integral front piece, and the rear panel and second intermediate panel form an integral rear piece which is formed separately from the front piece. 10

10. A securing device according to claim 6 wherein the front part comprises a front panel, the rear part comprises a rear panel, and the intermediate part comprises: - a first intermediate panel extending back from the front panel, and - a second intermediate panel extending forward^ from the rear panel and being 15 substantially shorter in length from front to back than the first intermediate panel, the second intermediate panel being adapted to underlie the first intermediate panel and be engageable therewith, and - a down panel extending down from the front of the second intermediate panel, the down panel being adapted to extend down in front of the securing portion. 20

11. A securing device according to claim 10 wherein: - the front panel and first intermediate panel form an integral front piece, and - the rear panel, second intermediate panel, and down panel form an integral rear piece which is formed separately from the front piece. 25

12. A securing device according to any one of claims 2 to 12 wherein the hook member includes one or more catching tabs projecting forward from the rear panel.

13. A securing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hook 30 member includes padding for contacting the securing portion.

14. A securing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding means comprise two sidepiece holding members for holding respective side-rails of the ladder, wherein at least one of the sidepiece holding members is adjustable. WO 2009/015437 PCT/AU2008/001112 14

15. A securing device according to claim 14 wherein the sidepiece holding members each comprise a sliding bracket adapted to slide along the front panel. 5

16. A securing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holding means comprise a rung grasping member adapted to grasp a rung of the ladder.

17. A securing device according to claim 16 wherein the rung grasping member comprises an adjustable rung hook. 10

18. A securing device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

19. A securing device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to 15 Figures 4 to 6.

20. A method of securing a ladder to a securing portion of a structure, said method comprising clamping to a rung and side rails of the ladder a securing device according to any one of the preceding claims and leaning the ladder against the structure with the hook 20 member over the top of the securing portion.