AU4289497A - A securing device for a ladder - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant(s): Address for Service: ANTHONY WILSHIRE CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: A SECURING DEVICE FOR A LADDER

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 ::i a: ill d;

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This invention relates to a securing device for a ladder to restrict movement of the ladder when placed in a desired location. In particular the invention is specifically concerned with preventing a ladder from falling over and injuring a person using the ladder.

The use of a ladder can frequently be a hazardous procedure. A ladder can often fall over due to a person leaning backwards or to one side of the ladder. Most people lean on a ladder to avoid having to reposition the ladder.

Further, a speculative placement of a ladder may decrease the amount a person needs to lean for the ladder to fall over. Safe placement of a ladder can-often be difficult due to the surface being slippery or/and inclined.

t Treaded feet have been placed on the ends of the ladder to try and reduce incidents of the ladder moving on the ground where it has been placed. However, only a y limited amount of success has been achieved by using these feet.

It is an object of this invention to overcome some of the above disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Accordingly, the invention resides in a securing 25 device for a ladder including a base for placement on a surface, a pair of shoes extending from the base for receiving stiles of the ladder, and ladder restraining means associated with the shoes wherein the restraining means restricts movement of the ladder relative to the base.

The base may be a substantially flat plate. The base- may be of a size that reduces the likelihood of the j ladder falling sideways and/or backward. The underside of base may be provided with a non-slip coating. A 4 35 number of holes may extend through the base. A number of J corresponding pegs may be able to be placed through the holes and driven into the surface to increase stability 3 of the securing device.

A number of outriggers may be connected to the base to also improve stability. Preferably the outriggers are able to extend from at least the sides and the rear of the base. The outriggers may have a pad that contacts the ground. The height of the pad may be adjusted relative to the base. The underside of the pad may be provided with a non-slip coating. Suitable fastening means may be used to connect the outriggers to the base.

The shoes may be pivotally mounted or fixed to the base. The shoes may be of a depth that sufficiently accommodates ends of, the stiles of the ladder.

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suitable depth would be 10 centimeters.

A tether may be connected to the shoes. Preferably i the tether is a chain. The chain may be wrapped around a rung of the ladder to prevent the ladder from being removed from the shoes.

The restraining means assists in preventing backward rotational movement of the ladder. The restraining means restricts rotational movement of the ladder by acting on at least one stile of the ladder. Preferably, the restraining means accs on both stiles simultaneously.

In an embodiment where the shoes are pivotally mounted to the base, the restraining means may restrict 25 pivotal movement of the shoes thereby restraining movement of the ladder located with the shoes. The !i .restraining means may be a ratchet mechanism that is iconnected to the pivotally mounted shoes to allow the ladder to be rotated in one direction when the ratchet j mechanism is engaged.

In an alternative embodiment where the shoes are rigidly mounted to the base, the restraining means may restrict 'rotational movement of ladder within the shoes.

The restraining means may include a locking cam that locks the ladder in position within the rigidly mounted I, shoes' to restrict rotational movement of the ladder. Embodiments of the securing device for a ladder will .i 4 be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: SFigure 1 is a plan view of a securing device for a Iladder according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the securing device for a ladder according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the securing device for a ladder according to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an outrigger.

Figure 5 is a front view of the outrigger of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side view of the outrigger of Figure 4 Figure 7 is a plan view of a securing device for a ladder according to one further embodiment of the s :15 invention.

Figure 8, is a front view of the securing device for a ladder according to Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a right side view of the securing device .for a ladder according to Figure 7..

Figure 10 is a section side view of the securing device for a ladder alongthe line X-X of Figure 7 Figures 1 to 3 show a securing device 10 for a J- ladder, the device having a .base 11 with two pairs of upwardly extending -legs 12,13 and 14,15. A pin 16 extends between the legs of each pair to rotatably mount a shoe S17 and 18 to the legs. The two shoes 17 and 18 have an aperture in which stiles of the ladder are located when the securing device 10 is in use. The underside of the base 11 is substantially flat.

The underside of the base 11-is provided with a non-slip.

Sfinish to assist in preventing movement of the securing device 10 after it has been position at a desired S. location.

Three holes 19, 20 and 21 extend through the base 11. Three pegs 22, 23 and 24 can be placed through the corresponding holes. The pegs 22, 23 and 24 are used when the base 11 is located on penetrable surface to it-- .5 further assist in preventing movement of the securing device.

device rigger 25, shown in figures 4 to 6, A number of outriggers h outrigers 25 are can be attached to the base 11. The outriggers 25 are usuall used when pegs 22, 23 and 24 cannot be inserted into the surface. However, the outriggers 25 can be used into the surface. However, 23 and 24 to provide more in conjunction with pegs 22, 23 and 24 to provide more stability to the securing device 10.

Each outrigger 25 has an attachment arm 26.

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Eachourge lt s located on the base 11 to flange containing a slot is located on the base 11 to fasten one end of the attachment arm 25. Three flanges 2 and 2 with hree coresponding slots (not shown) 27, 28 and 29 with three co s a gs t t t *are located on the base 11. A pad 30 is attached to the opposite end of the attachment arm 26 that attsurfacet oppositeend of around-engaging sdrface the base 11 The pad 30 has a round-engaging that is provide with a non-slip finish.

MA bolt 31 and two nuts 32 and 33 are usd a the pad to the attachme ar 26. The nuts 32 and 33 are rotated to adjust the height of the pad reatie to the attachent ar 26. The height of the pad 26 is usually attachment arm 26.

adjusted when the ground is inclined. r 34 eferringto figures ito 3, a connecting rod 34 extends ferreen t nd is connected to both of the shoes 17 and 18. The shoes 17 and 18 are therefore able to rotate simultaneously. form of a ratchet A restraining means in the form of a mechanism is attached to each of the shoes 17 and 18 to restrict tation of the shoes 17 and 18 to, one rotational direction. The ratchet mechanism comprises a t elocated on each shoe 17 set of ratchet teeth 35 that are located each se and lP, and an associated catch 36 foreah set of ratchet teeth 35- The catches 36 are rotatably mounted ratchet teeth 3.their corresponding to the base 11 and are able to engage their o responding Sset of ratchet teeth 35. A linking rod 37 extends between the catches 36 to enable simultaneous rotation of the catches 36. teh en :he catches 36 canbe moved.between a teeth engaging The catches 36 can t

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i position where pivotal movement of the shoes can be in one direction only and a non-teeth engaging position where the shoes are free to move in both directions. The ladder is'prevented from moving backwards relative to the base when the catches are in the teeth engaging position.

When the ladder in no longer required, the catches 36 are moved to the non-teeth engaging position to reposition or remove the ladder.

For additional security, a length of chain 38 is welded to each of the shoes 17 and 18. A pair of hooks 39 and 40 for capturing, a link of the chain 38 is also provided on the shoes 17 and 18. The chain 38 can be passed around a rung of the ladder and over the hooks 17 and,18 to prevent removal of the ladder from the shoes 17 and 18.

Figures 8 to 11 show a further embodiment of a securing device for a ladder. Like numerals have been used to describe like components to those shown in the.

first embodiment. In this embodiment, the shoes 51 and 20 52 are rigidly mounted to the base 11. A rear side 51A and 52A of each of the shoes 51 and 52 is tilted inwardly.

A restraining mechanism in the form of locking cams 53 and 54 are rotatably mounted within each of the shoes 25 51 and 52. A coupling rod 55 extends. between and is joined to the locking cams 53 and 54 to enable the locking cams 53 and 54'to be pivoted simultaneously.

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lever 56 is attached to the coupling rod 55 to pivot the locking cams between a locking. position and unlocking 30 position. A locking chain 57 is provided to hold the lever 56 in the locking position.

The locking cams 53 and 54 engage with the stiles of the ladder when the locking cam 53 and 54 is in the locking position. This forces the stiles of the ladder .to abut against the rear sides 51A and 52A of the shoes 51 and 52 to prevents backward movement of the ladder relative to the base 11.

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i It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit' or scope of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A securing device for a ladder including a base for placement on a surface, a pair of shoes extending from the base for receiving stiles of the ladder, and ladder restraining means associated with the shoes wherein the restraining means restricts movement of the ladder relative to the base.

2. The securing device of claim 1 wherein the shoes are pivotally mounted to the base.

3. The securing device of claim 2 wherein the restraining means includes a ratchet mechanism having at least one set of ratchet teeth and an associated catch. The securing device of. claim 3 wherein a respective 15 said ratchet mechanism is associated with each said shoe; i 5. The securing device of claim 4 wherein the catches are connected by.a linking rod. The securing device of any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein a connecting rod extends between and joins the shoes. The-securing device of claim 1 wherein the shoes are rigidly mounted to the base. 2 8. The securing device of claim 7 wherein the restraining means includes a locking cam mounted for pivotal movement within a least one said shoe. S'9. The securing device of claim, 8 wherein a said Slocking cam is mounted within each said shoe. The securing device of claim 9 wherein the locking cams are connected by a linking rod.

11., The securing device of claim 10 wherein a lever is i attached to the linking rod pivot the locking cams.

12. The securing device of any one of the preceding S claims wherein holes extend through the base and pegs can be placed through holes and driven into the surface.

13. The securing device of any one of. the preceding claims wherein outriggers are attached to the base.

14. The securing device of claim 13 wherein the outriggers includes an attachment arm and a pad. The securing device of claim 14 wherein the pad is I 5 adjustable in height relative to the attachment arm

16. The securing device of any one of the preceding claims wherein a tether is provided for holding the stiles of the ladder within the shoes.

17. A securing device as substantially herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings DATED this 27m day of October 1997 ANTHONY. WILSHIRE By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. 4