EP1967688A2

EP1967688A2 - Ladder support

Info

Publication number: EP1967688A2
Application number: EP08250806A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adam Warren
Original assignee: Rapid Rail International Ltd
Current assignee: Rapid Rail International Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-08
Filing date: 2008-03-10
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: GB0804451D0; GB2447359A; GB0704545D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:
a. a body provided with pole receiving means;
b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;
c. pole securing means mounted on the body, and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the pole receiving means and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained within the pole receiving means; and
d. control means linked to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

wherein on application of a predetermined force to the control means the pole securing means is moveable from an open to a close configuration. Also provided is a ladder comprising such a support, a method of securing such a ladder in position relative to an anchored pole and a method of arresting the fall of a person climbing such a ladder.

Also provided is a support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:
a. a body;
b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;
c. pole securing means mounted on the body and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the support and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained in engagement with the support; and
d. control means coupled to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

wherein on application of a first predetermined force to the control means the pole securing means is moveable from an open to a closed configuration.

Description

Background to the invention

The present invention relates to a ladder support.
It is a commonplace problem that ladders have a tendency to slip when placed up against vertical surfaces. This is particularly dangerous when the ladder is long, the ground is unsuitable for gripping the base of the legs of the ladder, or the vertical surface is irregular or contoured. Many solutions have been offered to address this issue, including rubber feet or non-slip devices for use with the base of the legs of the ladder, extra stabilising legs to support the middle and upper portions of the ladder and attachment devices provided at the top of the ladder to facilitate secure attachment to the vertical surface. Each of these prior art solutions has been employed with varying levels of success. Non-slip devices for the base of the legs of a ladder are only appropriate and effective when used with suitable surfaces and are often difficult to retain in place on the legs of a ladder. Extra stabilising legs may be useful for applications such as decorating and the like where space is not an issue, however, the additional space required to accommodate the stabilising legs is often not available in other circumstances and such additional leg arrangements are cumbersome and unwieldy to handle. Finally, attachment devices provided at the top of the ladder to secure the ladder in place typically require that an individual climbs up the ladder (whilst the ladder is unsecured) before being able to operate the attachment device to secure the ladder in place. The attachment device must then be detached from the vertical surface and the user dismount from the ladder whilst the ladder is in an unsecured state.
A further consideration arises in the situation where, for example, a ladder is to be used to allow an individual to access the upper regions of a pole, such as a telegraph pole or the like. Not only is it important to stabilise the ladder so as to prevent slipping of the ladder once in place and before a user mounts the ladder, it is also necessary to ensure that the individual is safe in the event that they fall from the ladder as they may be working at some considerable height when using the ladder.
There is therefore a need for a device and method to allow a user to securely attach a ladder to a surface such as a pole or the like before climbing the ladder and which will arrest the fall of the user should they slip from the ladder during use.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art.
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:

a. a body provided with pole receiving means;
b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;
c. pole securing means mounted on the body, and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the pole receiving means and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained within the pole receiving means; and
d. control means linked to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

In this way, a ladder may be provided with such a support and the support used to engage with an anchored pole, such as a telegraph pole or the like, with which the ladder is to be used such that when the pole securing means moved to a closed configuration the ladder is secured in engagement with the pole. Achieving such securing of the ladder relative to the pole is achieved on application of a predetermined force to the control means. For example, the pole securing means may be moved into a closed configuration on application of a minimum predetermined force to the control means. The control means may be arranged such that the predetermined force is applied in any desired direction. However, preferably the control means is operable to move the pole securing means between the open and closed configurations on application of a predetermined force to the control means, such force being applied in a downwards direction.
In a further embodiment, the support further comprises retention means coupled to the pole securing means and adapted for engagement with the pole, wherein on application of force to the control means, the retention means is movable towards the pole.
The control means may be operable to move the retention means into contact with the pole on application of a further predetermined force to the control means. In this way, application of sufficient force to the control means will result in the retention means making contact with the pole and thus frictional forces will come into play between the pole and the retention means preventing the ladder from slipping relative to the pole.
The retention means may comprise protrusions adapted for engagement with the pole. Such protrusions may comprise teeth-like members or multi-pronged abutments which will become partially embedded within the surface of the pole thereby securing fixing the support (and thus the ladder) in place relative to the pole.
Alternatively, the retention means may comprise a cam or any other suitable retention means known to the skilled person and adapted for frictional engagement with the pole on application of said further predetermined force to the control means.
Whereas the pole securing means prevents the top of the ladder from slipping off the surface of the pole due to the pole being retained within the pole receiving means, the retention means is operable to prevent substantially vertical slipping of the ladder relative to the pole, for example as a result of the feet of the ladder slipping in a direction away from the base of the pole. The engagement of the retention means and pole prevents further slipping from occurring, the degree of slipping that is possible before the retention means engages the pole being minimised as the retention means has already been moved towards the pole on application of sufficient force to move the pole securing means between the open and closed configurations.
The pole receiving means may comprise any suitable means which when combined with the pole securing means is sufficient to retain the pole therein. For example, the pole receiving means may define an open channel such as a U-shaped channel or the like of sufficient dimensions to receive a pole therein.
The pole securing means may be moveable between an open configuration in which the open channel is unobstructed and a closed configuration in which the pole securing means obstructs the opening in the channel.
Preferably, the pole securing means is biased towards the open configuration.
The control means may be operable from the base of the ladder to move the pole securing means between the open and closed configurations. This has the advantage that a user may operate the control means to move the pole securing means into the closed configuration thereby retaining the pole within the pole receiving means before climbing the ladder. Thus, the user need not use the ladder until the ladder has been fully secured in place with respect to the pole.
The control means may be a manually operable cable. Thus, in use the ladder may be leaned against a pole such that the pole is received within the pole receiving means. The use may then pull downwards on the cable to move the pole securing means from an open to a close configuration, thereby retaining the pole within the pole receiving means. The ladder is now secured in place and the user may begin climbing the ladder. As a further safety precaution, the user should secure the end of the cable distal to the securing means to a jam cleat or the like, for example provided towards the base of the ladder. The user then attaches themselves to the rope using a conventional rope-grab or the like, such that should the user fall from the ladder the user's fall would be arrested by means of the rope-grab secured in place relative to the rope (which is secured to the ladder), thus applying further force to the control means and bringing the retention means into engagement with the pole, thereby preventing the ladder from slipping relative to the pole on falling of the user. The ladder is prevented from slipping off the pole during the fall of the user as the pole is securely retained within the pole receiving means.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:

a. a body;
b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;
c. pole securing means mounted on the body and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the support and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained in engagement with the support; and
d. control means coupled to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;

In one embodiment, the support further comprises adjustment means mounted on the body and releasably secured to the body so as to allow adjustment of its distance from the pole retention means.
A further aspect of the present invention comprises a ladder comprising a support according to a first aspect of the present invention. The support may be integral with the ladder, or alternatively, the support and ladder arrangement may comprise two or more separate components which are releasably engageable with each other.
A further aspect of the present invention comprises a method of securing a ladder in position relative to an anchored pole, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a support according to a first aspect of the present invention; and
b. applying a first predetermined force to the control means to move the pole securing means into a closed configuration.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of arresting the fall of a person climbing a ladder, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a support according to a first aspect of the present invention; and
b. applying a first predetermined force to the control means to move the pole securing means into a closed configuration.
c. applying a second predetermined force to the control means to move the retention means into engagement with the pole.

In order for the above method to operate as a ladder retaining system with the aforementioned secondary ladder securing system should the user fall from the ladder, the second predetermined force should be greater than the first predetermined force.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front and a first side of an embodiment of a support in accordance with the present invention in use with a pole and a ladder, with the pole securing means in the open configuration;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front and a second side of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the open configuration;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from the rear and the second side of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the open configuration;
Figure 4 is a perspective view from the rear and the first side of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the open configuration;
Figure 5 is a front view of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the open configuration;
Figure 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the closed configuration and the cam in frictional engagement with the pole;
Figure 7 is a front view of the embodiment of figure 1, with the pole securing means in the closed configuration and the cam in frictional engagement with the pole;
Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are rear, side, and front views, respectively, of the embodiment of figure 1 with the pole securing means shown in the closed configuration;
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the pole securing means of the embodiment of figure 1 in the open configuration;
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the pole securing means of the embodiment of figure 1 in the closed configuration with the can in frictional engagement with the pole;
Figure 11 is a perspective view from the front one side of a second embodiment of a support in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 12 is a perspective view from the back and one side of the embodiment of figures 11; and
Figure 13 is a view from above of the embodiment of figure 1 in use with a pole, with the pole securing means in the closed configuration.

Detailed Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 1 to 10, in which the same features are assigned the same reference numerals throughout the figures.
Support 10 is shown secured to a ladder 20 at an upper portion thereof, support 10 comprising pole receiving means in the form of a U-shaped member 30 which is dimensioned to allow a pole 40 to be received therein.
Pole securing means in the form of an arcuate member 50 is provided in engagement with U-shaped member 30 and is pivotable relative to U-shaped member 30 about pivot point 55 between an open configuration (shown in figures 1 to 4) and a closed configuration (shown in figure 8).
In the open configuration, U-shaped member 30 is open and support 10 may be removed from pole 40, whereas when arcuate member 50 is in the closed configuration, the opening in U-shaped member 30 is closed by arcuate member 50 and support 10 cannot be simply removed from pole 40 using a sliding or lifting action.
A cam 60 is provided in engagement with arcuate member 50 and is pivotable with arcuate member 50 relative to U-shaped member 30 such that when arcuate member 50 is moved from an open to a closed configuration cam 60 is moved into frictional engagement with pole 40.
A cable or rope 70 is provided attached to the cam 60 and arcuate member 50 arrangement via a pulley or lever assembly 80 such that pivoting of the cam 60 and arcuate member 50 arrangement relative to U-shaped member 30 may be effected by the application of downward force on rope 70.
Thus, in use, a ladder 20 is placed in position relative to pole 40 by arranging support 10 relative to pole 40 such that pole 40 is received within U-shaped member 30. Downward force is then applied to rope 70 to move arcuate member 50 about pivot point 55 from an open configuration to a closed configuration where arcuate member 50 closes the open side of U-shaped member 30, thereby retaining pole 40 within U-shaped member 30.
After arcuate member 50 has been moved into a closed configuration, further pivoting of arcuate member 50 relative to U-shaped member 30 results in cam 60 engaging the surface of pole 40.
Thus, a user would typically retain pole 40 within U-shaped member 30 by operating rope 70 to close the open side of U-shaped member 30 using arcuate member 50 thereby securing ladder 20 in place relative to pole 40. The user would then attach rope 70 to a jam cleat or the like located adjacent lower portion of ladder 20 before attaching themselves to the rope by means of a conventional rope-grab or the like before climbing ladder 20. Therefore, in the event that the user falls from ladder 20, the fall of the user would be arrested thereby exerting further downward force on rope 70 and moving cam 60 into frictional engagement with pole 40 and further securing ladder 20 in place relative to pole 40.
A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 11 to 13, in which the same features are assigned the same reference numerals throughout.
Support 110 comprises a body 111 on which ladder engagement means 112 adapted for engagement with a ladder 20 (not shown) in mounted. The ladder engagement means 112 may comprises any suitable means of releasably securing the support 110 to the ladder 20. However, in the embodiment shown in figures 11 to 13, the ladder securing means 112 comprises engagement portions 114 which, in use, extend around at least a portion of a rung of a ladder 20 in order to mount the support 110 on the ladder 20.
An arcuate member 150 is provided on body 110 and is pivotable relative to body 111 about pivot point 155 between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The support shown in figures 11 to 13 is shown in the closed configuration.
A cam 160 is provided in engagement with arcuate member 150 and is pivotable with arcuate member 50 relative to body 111 such that when arcuate member 150 is moved from an open to a close configuration cam 160 is moved into frictional engagement with pole 140.
A cable or rope 170 (not shown) is provided attached to the cam 160 and arcuate member 150 arrangement via a pulley or level assembly 180 such that pivoting of the can 160 and arcuate member 150 arrangement relative to body 111 may be effected by the application of downward force on rope 170.
An adjustment member 115 is mounted on body 111. Adjustment member 115 comprises a hollow sleeve 116 through which at least a portion of the body 111 extends in use, such that adjustment member 115 is slidably mounted on body 111. Both sleeve 116 and body 111 are provided with a number of apertures such that by aligning the apertures on both the sleeve 116 and body 111, the adjustment member 115 may be secured in place relative to body 111 at a desired position by inserting a pin such as a spring loaded pin or the like through the aligned apertures.
Adjustment member 115 is further provided with an extended portion 117 for contacting a portion of the surface of the pole 40 in use. Extended portion 117 extends away from body and is angled so as to extend towards cam 160.
Thus, in use, the adjustment member 115 is moved in to the desired position relative to body 111 and secured in place, the desired position being selected in dependence upon the pole to be received between the body 111, extended portion 117 and cam 160.
Once the adjustment member 115 has been secured in place, the ladder 120 is moved into position relative to pole 140 by arranging support 110 relative to pole 140 such that pole 140 is received between body 111, extended portion 117 and cam 160. Downward force is then applied to rope 170 (not shown) to move arcuate member 150 about pivot point 155 from an open configuration to a closed configuration thereby bringing cam 160 into frictional contact with pole 140. Cam 160 is retained in frictional contact with pole 160 by securing the rope 170 (not shown) to a jam cleat or the like located adjacent lower portion of ladder 120. Due to the angle at which extended portion 117 extends away from body 111, pole 140 is securely frictionally engaged between body 111, extended portion 117 and cam 160. Thus, ladder 120 (not shown) is securely held in place relative to pole 140.
Once the rope has been secured to a jam cleat or the like, a user would then attach themselves to the rope by means of a conventional rope-grab or the like before climbing ladder 120. Should the user fall from the ladder, the fall of the user would be arrested by action of the rope grab on the secured rope 170. This would result in increased downward force being applied to the arcuate member 150 thus bringing cam 160 into even closer engagement with pole 140 and further securing the ladder 120 in place relative to pole 140.
It will be appreciated that support 10, 110 may be provided integrally with ladder 20 at the point of manufacture or may be supplied separately and retrofitted to ladder 20.
Thus, the present invention provides a means of securing a ladder in place relative to an anchored pole before a user uses the ladder, as well as providing a fall arrest system for breaking the fall of a user who falls from the ladder during use.
Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort, for example, it will be appreciated that cam 60 could be replaced with an arrangement having multi-pronged abutments for engagement with the pole on application of further force to move the abutments into frictional engagement with the pole. The abutments may be of different sizes to allow a single support to accommodate secure engagement with poles of various dimensions.

Claims

A support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:
a. a body provided with pole receiving means;

b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;

c. pole securing means mounted on the body, and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the pole receiving means and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained within the pole receiving means; and

d. control means coupled to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;
wherein on application of a first predetermined force to the control means the pole securing means is moveable from an open to a closed configuration.
A support for securing a ladder to an anchored pole, the support comprising:
a. a body;

b. a ladder securing portion in engagement with the body and adapted to engage with a ladder;

c. pole securing means mounted on the body and moveable between an open configuration in which the pole is removable from the support and a closed configuration in which the pole is retained in engagement with the support;and

d. control means coupled to the pole securing means and operable to move the pole securing means between the open configuration and the closed configuration;
wherein on application of a first predetermined force to the control means the pole securing means is moveable from an open to a closed configuration.
A support according to Claim 2, further comprising adjustment means mounted on the body and releasably secured to the body so as to allow adjustment of its distance from the pole retention means.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means is operable from the base of the ladder to move the pole securing means between the open and closed configurations.
A support according to any preceding Claim, further comprising retention means coupled to the pole securing means and adapted for engagement with the pole, wherein on application of a force to the control means, the retention means is movable towards the pole.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means is operable to move the retention means into contact with the pole on application of a further predetermined force to the control means.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the force applied to the control means is in a downward direction.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the retention means comprises protrusions adapted for engagement with the pole.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the retention means comprises a cam.
A support according to any one of Claims 1 and 4 to 9, wherein the pole receiving means defines an open channel.
A support according to Claim 10, wherein the pole securing means is moveable between an open configuration in which the open channel is unobstructed and a closed configuration in which the pole securing means obstructs the opening in the channel.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the pole securing means is biased towards the open configuration.
A support according to any preceding Claim, wherein the control means is a manually operable cable.
A ladder comprising a support according to any preceding Claim.
A ladder according to Claim 14, wherein the support is integral to the ladder.
A method of securing a ladder in position relative to an anchored pole, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a support according to any one of Claims 1 to 13;

b. applying a first predetermined force to the control means to move the pole securing means into a closed configuration.
A method of arresting the fall of a person climbing a ladder, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a support according to any one of Claims 1 and 4 to 13;

b. applying a first predetermined force to the control means to move the pole securing means into a closed configuration; and

c. applying a second predetermined force to the control means to move the retention means into engagement with the pole.