EP2194224A1

EP2194224A1 - Protection device for ladders

Info

Publication number: EP2194224A1
Application number: EP09177580A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fernando Ballet Martinez; Jordi Lop Pratdesaba; José Javier Ortega Monton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-01
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Also published as: ES2345237B1; ES2345237A1

Abstract

The security device for ladders of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a body (1) engageable with a step (2) of the ladder (3), said engageable body (1) being provided with a holding element (4), which permits to hold a security rope (5) to a post (6), and a fixing element (7) in which the upper end of said security rope (5) is fixed.

It permits the operator that uses the ladder to be completely protected from the moment he/she begins to climb the ladder.

Description

The present invention refers to a security device for ladders, particularly to be used when the ladder rests against a post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ladders are used to access specifically to suitable places. One use of the ladders is for accessing to elevated points of posts.
Currently, when the ladders are used with posts, the ladder rests against the post, then the operator climbs the ladder to the desired position to do the work, moment in which the operator is tied to the post by a rope to prevent an accidental fall.
Once the desired work is done, the operator is untied from the post to go down the ladder.
Therefore, the operator is not tied when he/she climbs and goes down the ladder, which involves a serious risk of accidental fall.
Hence, it is apparent the need of a security device that permits the user to be secured always, from he/she begins to climb the ladder until he/she goes down the ladder, and also when he/she works at the top of the ladder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the security device of the invention said drawbacks can be solved, presenting other advantages that will be described.
The security device for ladders of the present invention is characterised in that it comprises a body engageable to a step of the ladder, said engageable body being provided with a holding element, which permits to hold a security rope to a post, and with a fixing element in which the upper end of said security rope is fixed.
Thanks to this feature, the operator that uses the ladder is completely protected from the moment he/she beings to climb the ladder.
According to a preferred embodiment, said holding element is a protrusion, around which said security rope passes. Furthermore, said fixing element can be a ring or a snap.
Preferably, said engageable body is a folded plate that defines a U-shaped cross section, the step of the ladder being housed inside said folded plate, and it comprises an abut element at is rear part in contact with the post, that can be a rubber sheet.
Advantageously, said engageable body comprises an associated movable element that engages with an adjacent step of the ladder, so that it remains engaged with the ladder with an increased security.
Said movable element comprises preferably a groove, inside which slides a pin, integral with the engageable body, to adjust the position of said movable element to the distance between the engageable body and the step in which said movable element engaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what has been described some drawings are attached in which, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitative example, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

Fig. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the security device of the present invention; and
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the security device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As it can be seen in the figures, the security device of the present invention comprises a body 1 that can be engaged to a step 2 of a ladder 3.
This engageable body 1 is, according to the embodiment shown, a folded plate so that it defines a U-shaped cross section, inside which the step 2 of the ladder 3 is housed.
This engageable body 1 comprises a holding element 4, which preferably is a protrusion placed at the upper frontal part of said engageable body 1. The end of the holding element 4 is to hold a security rope 5 that is placed in contact with said holding element 4.
Said security rope 5 runs along almost the whole ladder 3. Particularly, the rope 5 is fixed at its upper end to a fixing element 7, that can be e.g. a ring or a snap, and the lower end of the security rope 5 is fixed to a lower step (not shown) of the ladder 3.
As it can be seen in greater detail in Fig. 2, the security rope 5 passes behind the post 6 against the ladder 3 rests.
To obtain a steady engagement of the engageable body 1 with the ladder 3, this engageable body 1 comprises a movable element 9, whose position can be adjusted to the distance between two adjacent steps 2 of the ladder 3, so that the lower end of said movable element 9 remains engaged to the step 2 placed under the engageable body 1.
The adjustment of the position of said movable element 9 is done by a pin 11 that slides along a groove 10 provided in said movable element 9. This pin 11 comprises means to lock its sliding movement, as can be e.g. a screw or the like.
To prevent an accidental sliding of the ladder 3 with respect to the post 6, the engageable body 1 comprises at its rear part an abut element 8, formed by a rubber sheet with a grooved or rough surface.
To use the security device of the present invention, first the operator places a security rope 5 around his/her waist, in a conventional way, by snaps and a slide- and fall-prevention device (not shown).
Then, when the operator in on the floor, he/she fixes the upper end of the rope 5 to the engageable body 1 by the fixation element 7. Then, the ladder 3 is rested against the post 6, and the operator passes the security rope 5 around the post and around, at least partially, the holding element 4, so that the ladder 3 remains fixed to the post 6.
Therefore, when the operator begins to climb the ladder 3 he/she is already secured to the post 6, preventing any possibility of accidental fall, as he/she works in the post and when he/she goes down the ladder.
Even though reference is made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is apparent for a person skilled in the art that the described security device is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details cited can be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Security device for ladders, characterized in that it comprises a body (1) engageable to a step (2) of the ladder (3), said engageable body (1) being provided with a holding element (4), which permits to hold a security rope (5) to a post (6), and with a fixing element (7) in which the upper end of said security rope (5) is fixed.
Security device according to claim 1, wherein said holding element is a protrusion (4), around which said security rope (5) passes.
Security device according to claim 1, wherein said fixing element (7) is a ring or a snap.
Security device according to claim 1, wherein said engageable body (1) is a folded plate that defines a U-shaped cross section, the step (2) of the ladder (3) being housed inside said folded plate.
Security device according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said engageable body (1) comprises at its rear part in contact with the post an abut element (8).
Security device according to claim 5, wherein said abut element is a rubber sheet (8).
Security device according to claim 1, wherein said engageable body (1) comprised an associated movable element (9) that is engaged in an adjacent step (2) of the ladder (3).
Security device according to claim 7, wherein said movable element (9) comprises a groove (10), inside which a pin (11) integral with the engageable body (1) slides to adjust the position of the movable element (9) to the distance between the engageable body (1) and the step (2) in which said movable element (9) engages.