FR2716923A1 - Improvements relating to a ladder device. - Google Patents

Abstract

A ladder device comprises a primary ladder (1) and a support ladder (2). The support ladder is mounted on a removable support foot. The support foot has means of contact with the ground, placed in laterally spaced positions on each side of the support ladder (2). The support ladder (2) and the primary ladder (1) are interconnected by a hinged support (4) which allows relative pivotal movement of the ladders, and which is adapted to hold the ladders in a predetermined relative pivot position. The hinged support (4) is securely and removably attached to the support ladder (2). A spacer (5) extends between the two scales, the spacer (5) being connected to one of the two scales by means of a removable connector (6).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO A LADDER DEVICE

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  The present invention relates to a ladder device, and

  more particularly to a combined ladder device.

  A combined ladder has previously been proposed which includes a primary ladder part (which may include an extendable ladder) to which is connected for relative pivot movement, a support ladder part, the support ladder part being movable up to '' at a position forming an acute angle with the primary scale to support the primary scale in a ready-to-use position. The support ladder is also connected to the primary ladder by means of spacers * which prevent the two parts of the ladder from moving too far from each other. The support ladder is also provided with a wide support leg having a width greater than the width of the ladder, in order to give

stability to the device.

  Existing combined ladders of this type pose a problem due to the fact that the ladder incorporates very specific components into a

combined scale.

  The present invention seeks to provide a ladder device

  improved and more flexible to use.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a combined ladder device comprising a primary ladder and a support ladder, the support ladder being removably mounted on a support foot, this foot comprising means for contact with the ground, placed in laterally spaced positions on each side of the support ladder, the support ladder and the primary ladder being interconnected by a hinged support allowing the pivoting movement of the ladders, and suitable for retaining the ladders in a predetermined relative pivot position, the hinged support being removably attached to the support scale, a spacer extending between the two scales, the spacer being connected to one of the two scales by means of a

removable connector.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an "ordinary" extendable ladder is modified to become a combined ladder by addition of components, and without substantial modification of the "ordinary" ladder. There is therefore no need to manufacture nor to store the specific components of the old combined ladder. A substantially "ordinary" ladder can be converted into a combined ladder according to the invention, simply by connecting to the ladder

  "ordinary" the support leg, the hinged support and the spacer.

  As a result, the means of contact with the ground are placed at the appended ends of an elongated element, the elongated element being

  connected to the uprights of the support ladder by removable fasteners.

  It is convenient for each removable attachment to comprise clamping means having, at one end, a hook adapted to engage on part of the upright of the support ladder, and being associated with the other.

  end to a fastener designed to secure the elongate member.

  It is advantageous that the fixing element is provided with means for fixing to the lower end of the support ladder, in order to prevent the elongated element from moving axially up the ladder. Preferably the hinged support comprises an extruded part defining a channel dimensioned to receive in a sliding manner a

support ladder.

  Means are advantageously provided for deforming the extruded part so that the opposite sides of the channel are fixed against the

support ladder.

  Preferably, the extruded part defines two channels which are interconnected by a relatively narrow neck, a nut and a bolt passing through the neck, the nut being able to be tightened to deform the neck and

thus deforming said channel.

  It is convenient for the support to define a passage to guide the primary ladder in an axial sliding movement relative to the support ladder and to define a cavity suitable for receiving a bar of the primary ladder in order to retain the latter in a position of

  predetermined pivot relative to the support scale.

  It is advantageous that the connector which removably connects the spacer to one of the scales comprises an elongated extruded part

  adapted to slide in position along the upright of said ladder.

  Preferably, the ends of the extruded part are cut at an angle of about 35 'with respect to the alignment of the transverse to the axis of the extruded part, the extruded part comprising a channel having lips turned towards the inside, the lips facing inwards being dimensioned so that, when the extruded part is moved to be in alignment with the upright of the ladder, the lips are deformed by the upright and serve to retain

  the extruded part in the predetermined position.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a set of spare parts is provided to form a combined ladder device as described above, the set of pieces comprising a support leg and means for detachably fixing the foot. support to a support scale, a hinged support and a spacer provided with a connector for removably connecting the spacer to a

amount of scale.

  In order to better understand the invention, and to make other characteristics of it appreciated, we will now describe the invention, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view side of a ladder according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged street showing the foot of the support ladder provided with a support foot; FIGURE 3 is a side view of a fastener used to securely hold the support leg in position; FIGURE 4 is a side view of a clamping means intended for use with the fastener of Figure 3; FIGURE 5 is a top view of the clamping means of Figure 4. FIGURE 6 is a side view on an enlarged scale showing the support leg in position; FIGURE 7 is a top view of a support &hinge; FIGURE 8 is a side view of the hinged support of Figure 7 when mounted in position; FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the hinged support in the assembled ladder of Figure 1, with parts in section for the sake of clarity of illustration; FIGURE 10 is a view illustrating the spacer connection support on an upright, and FIGURE 11 is a partial view in cross section through an upright and a spacer connection support part,

illustrating a part of the spacer.

  Referring first to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the present invention includes a combined ladder, which can be used in the same manner as a previously proposed combined ladder, the combined ladder being formed of two ladder elements an ordinary extendable ladder and additional components. It is thus envisaged that the components necessary to transform an ordinary extendable ladder into a combined ladder of the invention can be sold in spare parts, or, alternatively, that a combined ladder can be sold in the assembled state, but can be immediately disassembled by a

  prospective customer to form an ordinary extendable ladder.

  Referring first to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a combined ladder according to the present invention comprises a primary ladder 1, which can be a single ladder as illustrated, or which can be

  associated with another ladder to form an extendable ladder.

  The combined scale of FIG. 1 also includes a support scale 2.

  The support ladder 2 is designed so that it can be used in combination with the primary ladder 1 to form a conventional extendable ladder. If the primary scale 1 is provided with another scale associated with it to form an extendable scale, the three scales can then combine to form a scale

extendable to three scales.

  The support ladder 2 is provided with a support leg 3 detachably connected, which will be described in more detail below in detail.

referring to Figures 2 to 6.

  The primary ladder and the support ladder are inclined towards each other, to provide mutual support, and are interconnected by means of a hinged support 4. The hinged support 4 will be described below. with more details by referring to Figures 7 to 10. A spacer 5 connects the two scales to prevent them from moving away. The spacer is connected to the primary scale 1 by means of a spacer connection support 6 which will be described below in more detail with reference to Figures 10 and 11, and the other end of the spacer 5 is connected to the support ladder 2 by means of a nut and a bolt 7 or by means of a rivet passing through a

  small opening provided for this purpose in the support scale 2.

  Turning now to Figures 2 to 6, a support leg 3 is provided, comprising an elongated element 8, typically made of aluminum or the like, carrying at each of its ends, a nozzle 9 of rubber or the like coming into contact with the ground , each end piece 9 extending below the lower edge of the elongate element 8. The end pieces 9 engage on the ground in positions spaced towards

  the inside of each side of the support ladder.

  The elongate element 8 is removably attached to each upright 10 of the support ladder 2 by means of a fastening element 11 and an associated clamping means or bolt 12 having substantially the shape of a "U" . Each fastening element 11 comprises a vertical part 13 adapted to engage on the front face of the elongated element 8, and a projecting lower part 14 adapted to extend below the elongate element 8. The part 13 is provided with suitable openings to receive the threaded ends 15 of the bolt 12 having substantially the shape of a "U". As can be seen in Figure 5 the closed end of the bolt 12 in the shape of a "U" is bent outside the plane of the bolt to form a hook 16. The hook 16, as seen more clearly in Figure 6 , is adapted to engage on the rear edge of the upright 10 of the ladder 2, while nuts 17 are provided on the threaded ends 15 of the bolt 12 in the shape of #U ", the nuts being so tight to bring the fixing element 11 in firm contact with the elongated element 8, thus firmly fixing the elongated element 8 in position on the upright 10 of the ladder 2. It can be seen that the part 14 of the fixing 11 which extends to the below the elongated element 8 is provided with a projecting end piece 18 which engages on the lowest part of the upright 10 of the support ladder 2, thus ensuring that the fixing element i1 is in the correct position, and preventing the fixing element -I da from moving axially up the ladder As can be seen, the end pieces 9 are placed in laterally spaced positions on each side of the support ladder 2, in contact with the ground and give the support ladder 2 the necessary degree of stability. The figures, to 10 illustrate the hinged support 4 which connects those to chelies. The support allows the relative axial movement of one ladder relative to the other, so that the two ladders can be used in the manner of a conventional extendable ladder, and also allows relative pivoting movement, so that the ladders can be moved relative to each other by pivoting to

  come in the position illustrated in figure 1.

  The hinged support 4 comprises a first element 20 comprising an extruded aluminum part, which defines a first rectangular passage 21 passing through it, designed to be able to slide on the

  amount provided at the upper end of the support ladder 2.

  The first passage 21 is connected to a second triangular sensiblexent passage 22 by a relatively narrow "neck" 23. A bolt 24 passes through the neck and is provided with a nut 25 which can be tightened. When the nut is tightened, the width of the neck 23 is reduced and the side walls of the passage 21 are brought into attachment with one another, thus allowing the extruded part 20 to be firmly fixed in position on the upright of the ladder 2. A hinged plate 26 is connected to the extruded part by means of a rivet 25a; it is space in the main body of the extruded part 20 to form a channel for receiving an amount of the primary scale 1. The hinge plate 26 forms towards its upper edge and on one side, a cavity 27, which is best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cavity 27 being adapted to receive a bar 23 which is located on primary scale 1, for

  retain the primary ladder 1 in the position illustrated in Figure 1.

  It can be seen that the extruded part 20 effectively defines a zone 28a, one of the walls of which can be defined by an element of material with a high coefficient of friction 29, such as rubber, held in position by the extruded part 20, through which the amount of Primary scale 1 can smooth freely when this scale is

  substantially aligned with the secondary scale 2.

  The lower part of the plate 26 can rest on the top of a bar of the support ladder to prevent the hinged support 4 from

  move along i'-cheile support.

  It must therefore be seen that the hinged support 4 serves to guide the primary ladder relative to the secondary ladder in an axial sliding movement, as in a conventional extendable ladder, but also gives a means c to connect the two ladders when they have -, ivotated one with respect to the other, the scales then being locked in position one with respect to the other with a predetermined relative opening angle. It should be noted that the cavity 27 has a base part which comfortably receives the square bar 28 which is on the primary ladder 1 to prevent any unwanted movement

of the primary scale 1.

  Now considering Figures 10 and 11, the end of the spacer 5 which is not connected to the support ladder 2 by means of the rivet or the bolt 7 is connected to a support for the spacer connector

  so as to be able to pivot by means of a rivet or a pin 30.

  The spacer connector support 6 comprises an extruded part having substantially the shape of a channel with lips 31, 32 turned inwards, adapted to slide along the amount of the primary ladder 1 to a position predetermined. The support 6 can be cut from an extruded piece, so that the two ends of the support 33, 34 are parallel to each other, but make an angle of about 35 'relative to a line 34a transverse to the axis of the extruded part. This allows the extruded part forming the support 6 to tilt relative to the axis of the ladder upright to facilitate axial depiacement of the support along the ladder upright. The elongated axis of the support can then be brought into alignment with the axis of the ladder upright, thereby securely fixing the support in position

  and preventing any other movement of the support.

  The lips 31, 32 facing inwards can be dimensioned so that, when the support is moved to a position in which the axis of the support is aligned with the axis of the upright of the ladder, the lips are slightly distorted in order to

  securely fix the support in position.

  As mentioned above, the primary scale can be joined by another scale which can slide axially relative to the scale

  primary, thus giving an expandable combined ladder.

  The described ladder can be sold in the assembled state, as described. The support leg can be easily disassembled, the hinged support can also be easily disassembled, and the spacer and spacer connector support can also be easily disassembled, so that the ladder components can be used as a classic extendable ladder. Alternatively, the product can be sold in the form of a classic extendable ladder, with a set of spare parts for processing

on a combined scale.

  Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications can

be brought to it.

Claims (8)

  1. Combined ladder device comprising a primary ladder (1) and a support ladder (2), the support ladder (2) being removably mounted on a support leg (3), the support leg (3) comprising ground contact means (9) placed in positions spaced laterally on each side of the support ladder (2), the support ladder (2) and the primary ladder (1) being interconnected by a hinged support (4 ) which allows the ladders to pivot and which is adapted to maintain the ladders in a predetermined relative pivot position, the hinged support (4) being detachably fixed on the support ladder (2), a spacer (5) s extending between the two scales, the spacer (5) being connected to one of the two scales at by means of a removable connector (6).   2. Device according to claim 1, in which the means (9) for contact with the ground are located at opposite ends of an elongated element (8), the elongated element (8) being connected to the uprights (10) of   the support ladder (2) by removable fasteners.   3. Device according to claim 2, wherein each of the removable fasteners comprises clamping means (12) having at one end, a hook (16) adapted to engage on part of the amount of the support scale (2) , and being associated, at the other end, with a fixing element designed to fix the element elongated (8).   4. Device according to claim 3, in which the fixing element has means for engaging on the lower end of the support ladder (2), in order to prevent the elongated element (8) from becoming   move axially up the ladder.   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hinged support (4) comprises an extruded part (20) defining a channel dimensioned in a sliding manner.   to receive an amount of the support scale (2).   6. Device according to claim 5, in which the means 24 are provided. 25) to deform the extruded part (20), so that the opposite ribs of the channel are fixed against the upright of the ladder support '2).   7. Device according to claim 6, in which the extruded part (20) defines two channels (21, 22) which are interconnected by a collar 4 (23). a nut (25) and a bolt (24) spanning the neck,. '' crcu zouvant to be tight to deform the neck, and thus deforming said channel.   : .. device according to ': no one from any of claims 5 to 7, in   a-cuei! s support: 4.) -éfiJ.ir zassaSe to guide the primary scale A) in a movement ie smoothing axial with respect to the support scale (2), and defines a cavity adapted to receive a bar of the primary scale (1), in order to retain the primary scale (1) in uDe   pivot position predetermined with respect to the support scale (2).   9. Device according to any one of the preceding revendicatiowar, in which the connector (6) which connects in a removable manner. along the amount of said 4chell '. 10. Device according to claim 9, in which the extruded ends are cut at an angle of approximately 35 'with respect to the axis of the transverse part to the axis of the extruded part, the extruded part. comprising a channel having lips: 31, 32) facing inwards, the lips facing inwards being dimensioned so that, when the extruded part is   moves to be aligned with the ladder upright. 1es-   lips (31, 32) are deformed by the upright and serve to retain the   extruded part in predetermined position.   11. A set of spare parts to form a device   Combined ladder according to any one of the claims   above, comprising a support leg (3) and means for removably fixing the support leg to a support ladder (2), a hinged support (4) and a spacer (5) provided with a connector (6) for   removably connect the spacer (5) to a post on a ladder.