EP3431700B1 - Stabilizing device for ladders - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an anti-tip device for ladders, in particular for leaning ladders, in the form of a stand widening according to the preamble of claim 1.

The term "ladder" is understood to mean ladders in the manner of leaning ladders, extension or step ladders or multi-purpose ladders.

A tilt protection of the type mentioned is a fork-shaped support arm on a stepladder according to the subject of the DE 76 20 451 U1 known. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the fork-shaped support arm is placed on the inside of the bars in the transport position, which is associated with the disadvantage of increasing the transport dimensions. Another disadvantage is that the anti-tip device cannot be used either on the left or right side of the ladder. This therefore does not allow it to be used as a step ladder in narrow stairwells, where - depending on the application - the tilt protection should only be activated on one side.

According to the latest standardization, it is required that leaning ladders in particular have a wider stand width than the known stand widths that go beyond the support spacing of the previously known stand widths.

In the case of ladders which have certain compact dimensions and which should be easily transportable, there is the problem that stand extensions are difficult to attach without significantly increasing the transport dimensions and the weight of the leaning ladder.

There are ladders known which have widened stands, which, however, are usually fixedly arranged at the respective end of the ladder.

However, this increases the transport size of the ladder in an undesirable manner and the ladder can no longer be transported through narrow staircases or set up there.

The JP 2013 177784 A discloses a tilt protection for leaning ladders according to the preamble of claim 1, with at least one extension arm that can be pivoted about a spar-fixed pivot bearing and that can be brought into contact with at least one spar from a laterally outwardly facing safety position into a transport position aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spar. The extension arm is designed as a folding extension arm, which consists of one extension arm pivotably mounted on the respective outer side of the spar, which is held pivotably and lockably on the respective outer side of the spar via several pivot bearings and swivel arms arranged in between. The disadvantage of this is that it is not possible to adjust the height of the extension arm steplessly in relation to a support surface
With the DE 10 2015 122 789 A1 or the DE 10 2014 117 975 A1 Further anti-tipping devices for ladders have become known, in which the anti-tipping device consists of horizontally pivotable folding arms which are arranged on the side of the spar and which can be folded out over the width of the ladder. The disadvantage of this arrangement is the enlargement of the transport dimensions of the ladder at the ends, because the ends of the bars are placed on an approximately U-shaped swivel frame. Another disadvantage is that the bars themselves no longer take on a support function, but rather the entire ladder weight has to be absorbed by the swing frame on the side of the bar.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a tilt protection for a ladder, in particular a leaning ladder after DE 76 20 451 U1 , so that the tilt protection does not significantly increase the transport dimensions of the leaning ladder.

Another task is that the anti-tip device is as easy to use as possible, works reliably and offers a stable extension of the stand for a leaning ladder, which can be used either on the right or left or on both sides of the stile.

To solve the problem, the invention is characterized by the technical teaching of claim 1.

The feature of the invention is that the stand widening of the ladder according to the invention is designed as a multi-articulated folding boom.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is preferred if the folding boom consists of a single boom arm, which can be pivoted outwards at an inclined angle with respect to the longitudinal side of the bar, beyond the clear dimension of the two parallel bars.

It is not necessary here for the bars to be parallel to one another.

In the case of certain types of ladders, it can be provided that the stiles themselves are already conical at the stile ends and form a first ladder widening.

It is therefore important in the invention that the folding boom according to the invention consists of one boom arm pivotably mounted on the respective outer side of the spar, which is held pivotably on the respective outer side of the spar via several pivot bearings and swivel arms arranged in between.

With the given technical teaching there is the advantage that the folding boom according to the invention can only be unfolded on one or the other outside of the spar, if necessary.

Another advantage is that the ladder can also be displayed on narrow stairs or in limited workspaces, because the folding boom can be swiveled out to one side, e.g. also the operation of a ladder in narrow stairwells.

A particular advantage is when the extension arm consists of an aluminum frame, because a low weight ensures high flexural rigidity and breaking strength.

In another embodiment it can be provided that the extension arm consists of a flat aluminum profile or a flat or hollow-profiled plastic material.

According to the invention it is provided that the folding boom is pivotably attached to the respective outer side of the spar of the leaning ladder via a four-joint arrangement and can be pivoted into the rest position in a pivoted up position so that in the rest position the extension arm is parallel to the outside of the respective Side of the leaning ladder is in contact.

This means that the transport dimensions of the ladder are not significantly increased with limited stand widening.

According to the invention it is provided that the cantilever arm according to the invention is fastened in a height-adjustable and lockable manner on the outside of the respective stile of the ladder.

If the ladder is carried on the side, it is to be avoided that the folding arm opens unintentionally and the four-joint arrangement swings out unintentionally.

For this purpose, there is a locking device which consists of a retaining clip fastened on the outside of the spar, which receives at least one pivot arm of the four-joint arrangement of the folding boom and clamps it there.

It is provided that the main pivot bearing of the folding boom, which is fastened on the side of the spar at the highest point, is lockable.

A clamping screw is used here which, with a corresponding operating button, makes the bearing non-rotatable in order to enable the four-joint arrangement to be locked.

Such a lock can be set up both in the rest position and in the working position of the folding boom.

The subject matter of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual patent claims, but also from the combination of the individual patent claims with one another.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing only one embodiment. Further features and advantages of the invention that are essential to the invention emerge from the drawings and their description.

• Figur 1: Seitenansicht einer Leiter in einer besonderen Ausführung als Gelenkleiter.
• Figur 2: Die Leiter nach Figur 1 in Draufsicht.
• Figur 3: Die Abbildung des unteren Teils der Leiter nach Figur 1 und 2, wobei die rechte Seite in Figur 3 die Arbeitsposition des Klappauslegers und die linke Seite die Ruheposition des Klappauslegers darstellt.
• Figur 4: Die schematisierte Darstellung des Ausklappvorgangs des Klappauslegers zwecks Erreichung der Ruheposition.
• Figur 5: die Seitenansicht auf einen Holm mit dem eingeklappten Klappausleger in Ruheposition.
• Figur 6: die Seitenansicht auf den Holm mit dem ausgeklappten Klappausleger in der Arbeitsposition.

Show it:

• Figure 1 : Side view of a ladder in a special design as an articulated ladder.
• Figure 2 : The ladder after Figure 1 in plan view.
• Figure 3 : The illustration of the lower part of the ladder according to Figure 1 and 2 , with the right side in Figure 3 the working position of the folding boom and the left side the rest position of the folding boom.
• Figure 4 : The schematic representation of the unfolding process of the folding boom for the purpose of reaching the rest position.
• Figure 5 : the side view of a spar with the folded boom in the rest position.
• Figure 6 : the side view of the stile with the folded out folding boom in the working position.

In the Figures 1 and 2 a special form of a ladder 1 is shown, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a multipurpose articulated ladder 2, which with a central swivel joint 3 enables the two ladder parts to be folded together in the central area.

The invention is not restricted to such a special multipurpose articulated ladder 2.

All leaning ladders and all other ladder types mentioned in the introduction can be used that are suitable for being set up with the lower side of the spar on a support surface and the upper side of the spar to come into contact with fixed contact surfaces. The ladder shown already has a ladder widening 4 formed by the exposed stile ends. Additional stiffening struts 26 can also be provided between the inside of the stiles 5, 6 and the lowest rung 9 in the area of the ladder widening 4.

The ladder widening 4 is improved by the folding arm 8 according to the invention as an additional anti-tipping device, whereby an additional, widened support of the ladder is provided.

The embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 accordingly does not limit the scope of the present invention. In particular, the anti-tipping device according to the invention can also be used in the manner of the stand widening shown on those ladders that do not yet have a ladder widening 4 on the end holder side.

In Figure 2 it is shown that the stand widening 7 according to the invention consists of a folding boom 8, which is in the right side of the Figure 2 Unfolded in working position and in the left side of the Figure 2 is folded up to the side of the left side of the bar 6 in the rest position as a folding boom 8 '.

The ladder consists in principle of two parallel bars 5, 6, which are connected to one another by rungs 9, the articulated ladder 2 still having end-side ladder extensions 4, which can also be omitted.

In Figure 3 the working position of the folding boom 8 according to the invention is shown on the right-hand side, which basically consists of an upper pivot bearing 10 fixed to the spar, on which one end of a pivoting arm 11 attaches, which is preferably held in a bracket-side retaining clip 20 or can be removed there.

The lower end of the swivel arm 11 is formed by a movable swivel bearing 12, which accordingly rests only loosely on the outside of the bar 5, 6.

At the pivot bearing 12, the upper end of a cantilever arm 13 continues, which at its lower end carries a foot 14 which is suitable for being supported on a support surface.

A pivot bearing 17 is arranged approximately in the lower third of the cantilever arm 13, on which one end of a pivot arm 15 is seated, the other end of which is received in a pivot bearing 16 fixed to the spar.

A bottom point 18 penetrating into the ground can also be used on each of the bars 5, 6, which can also be omitted.

Furthermore, the ends of the bars 5, 6 are closed by ladder shoes 19.

From the illustration on the left in Figure 3 it can be seen that the rest position of the folding boom 8 'is achieved in that the four-joint arrangement consisting of the pivot bearings 12, 16, 17 can be pivoted parallel and close to the respective spars 5, 6. This arrangement does not protrude beyond the width of the spars 5, 6, as can be seen from the Figures 5 and 6th results.

The rest position is locked by means of an elastomeric retaining clip 20 which is fastened to the outside of the spar and which is designed as an outwardly open U-profile and which clamps the first pivot arm 11.

To achieve the rest position based on the working position, the Figure 4 that first the first pivot arm 11 is pulled out of its retaining clip 20 and pivoted upward in the direction of arrow 21.

It then assumes its position 11 ', and at the same time the lower, second pivot arm 15 is also pivoted upwards via the pivot bearing 16 fixed to the spar and assumes the position 15'.

As a result, the extension arm moves into its position 13 '. The entire four-joint arrangement is pivoted upwards in the direction of arrow 21 until the rest position as shown in FIG Figure 4 (left side) has been reached.

Figure 4 shows as an embodiment that the height of the cantilever arm 13 and thereby the support length in the directions of arrows 23 can be adjusted and determined that the pivot bearing 12 is designed as a bolt that engages through an elongated hole 22 which is incorporated in the pivot arm 11. In this way, the cantilever arm 13 in the elongated hole 22 can be moved up and down in the arrow directions 24 with respect to the fixed pivot bearing 10 on the spar. The fixing takes place with a suitable locking device, which is designed as a locking screw 27.

In this way, the height adjustment of the cantilever arm 13 above the support surface 25 can be continuously adjusted and determined.

The Figure 5 shows the side view of a spar 5, 6 in the folded-up rest position. The same parts are provided with the same reference numbers. The two pivot arms 11 and 15 are fork-shaped and the ends of the forks hold the pivot bearings 10 and 16 fixed to the spar and also the loose pivot bearings 12 and 17 between them. This results in a particularly stable and torsion-proof mounting of the swivel arms 11, 13, 15. These can thus absorb high support forces and torque without bending.

This shows the Figure 6 , which represents the working position of the folding boom 8.

The pivot arms 11, 15 are designed as cranked forks in order to enable the extension arm 13 to be accommodated in the space between the pivot bearings 10, 16 on the spar without protruding beyond the pivot arms 11, 15.

The spar-fixed pivot bearings 10, 16 are according to Figure 5 and 6th designed as a U-shaped profiled bracket 28.

The effect of widening the stand is achieved in that, in the working position, the upper end of the cantilever arm 13 in the area of the pivot bearing 12 is pressed against the outside of the spar 5, 6 under load, thereby providing stable support against possible tipping over.

Drawing legend

1. 1. Leaning ladder
2. 2. Articulated ladder
3. 3. Swivel joint
4. 4. Broadening the ladder
5. 5th spar
6. 6. spar
7. 7. Stand widening
8. 8. Folding boom 8 '
9. 9th rung
10. 10. Upper swivel bearing (fixed)
11. 11. Swivel arm above
12. 12. Swivel bearing (movable)
13. 13. Extension arm 13 '
14. 14.Foot (for both spar and folding arm)
15. 15. Swivel arm down
16. 16. Lower pivot bearing (fixed)
17. 17. Swivel bearing (movable)
18. 18. Bottom tip
19. 19. Ladder shoe
20. 20. Retaining clip
21. 21. Direction of arrow
22. 22. elongated hole (in 11)
23. 23. Direction of arrow
24. 24. Direction of arrow
25. 25. Support surface
26. 26. Bracing struts
27. 27. Locking screw
28. 28. Bracket

Claims (8)

1. Stabiliser for ladders, in particular for simple ladders (1), having at least one cantilever arm (13) which is pivotable to be foldable about a pivot bearing (10) fixed to the side rail and in the state of the stabiliser mounted on a ladder, can be brought to rest on at least one side rail (5, 6) from a secure position pointing outwards laterally of the side rails (5, 6) into a transport position aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side rail, wherein the cantilever arm (13) is designed as a folding bracket (8) which consists of the one cantilever arm (13) which is mountsble to be pivotable on the respective side rail outer side and can be mounted to be pivotable and lockable on the respective side rail outer side via several pivot bearings (10, 12, 17) and pivot arms (11, 15) arranged therebetween, and wherein the cantilever arm (13) is attached to be pivotable on the respective side rail outer side of the side rail (5, 6) of the simple ladder (1) via a four-bar arrangement (10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17), wherein the four-bar arrangement (10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17) has an upper pivot bearing (10) fixed to the side rail, to which the one end of a first pivot arm (11) attaches, to the other end of which a first loose pivot bearing (12) attaches, in which the upper end of the cantilever arm (13) is received, wherein at a distance from the first pivot bearing (10) fixed to the side rail, a second pivot bearing (16) fixed to the side rail is attached to the outer side of the side rail (5, 6), in which the one end of a second pivot arm (15) is received, the other end of which is connected to the lower, pivotable part of the cantilever arm (13) via a second loose pivot bearing (17), wherein the height position of the cantilever arm (13) is adjustable and lockable in that the first loose pivot bearing (12) is formed as a bolt which engages through an elongated hole (22) which is incorporated in the first pivot arm (11), characterised in that locking of the cantilever arm (13) is effected via a locking screw (27).
2. Stabiliser according to claim 1, characterised in that the cantilever arm (13) is pivotable into the rest position into an upwardly pivoted position parallel laterally outwards on the respective side rail side of the simple ladder.
3. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that a locking device like a holding clip (20) is present which can be arranged on the side rail outer side and which receives in clamping manner one of the pivot arms (11) of the four-bar arrangement.
4. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least one pivot bar (12) of the four-bar arrangement is designed to be lockable.
5. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the width of the folding bracket (8) is less than or the same as the width of the side rail (5; 6) of a ladder, to which the stabiliser is attached in the mounted state.
6. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the two pivot arms (11, 15) are designed like a fork, respectively between the ends of the forks form the pivot bearings (10, 12, 16, 17).
7. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the pivot bearings (10, 16) fixed to the side rail consist of holding angles profiled in U-shape, the base limb is attached on the side rail outer side.
8. Stabiliser according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a foot (14) is arranged on the free, pivotable end of the cantilever arm (13).

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