GB2107379A - Ladder attachment brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for use in pairs has a base plate (20) and flanges (21, 22) at right angles thereto, all for engaging three sides of a ladder stile. The base plate also has a slot (25) by which the bracket also engages a ladder rung. Once mounted on the stile the bracket is secured by a clamp (23, 24). The bracket has means for carrying a cross bar (30); either on an aperture or groove (33). In use a bracket is mounted on each stile so that each engages the same rung. The cross bar extends through the bracket and carries wall engageable means such as wheels (38), to space the top of the ladder from a wall and stabilize the ladder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ladder attachment brackets This invention relates to brackets for securing a ladder attachment to a ladder.

It is known to provide an attachment for a ladder comprising an elongate cross bar with a wheel at each end for abutting a wall against which the ladder is placed. Hereinafter said attachment is referred to as an attachment of the type aforesaid. A disadvantage of an attachment of the type aforesaid is that it is attached to one or a pair or rungs and it is an object of this invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided in combination a ladder attachment of the type aforesaid and a pair of bracket members each for engagement with the same rung of a ladder and for location on the opposed stiles, clamp means to secure each bracket to the respective stile and means associated with each bracket to receive the transverse bar of the ladder attachment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket for use in pairs comprising a base part with a slot therein for engaging a ladder rung, lateral wall members which with the base member locate around at least three faces of a ladder stile, clamp means for securing the bracket to the stile, and means to receive the cross bar of a ladder attachment of the type aforesaid.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the bracket according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified bracket mounted on a ladder.

Referring to the drawings, a bracket 10 is secured to each stile 11, and to a rung 12 of a ladder to provide a means for receiving a ladder attachment 13 of the type aforesaid.

Each bracket is a mirror image of the other so only one need be described in detail.

The bracket has in effect, a base plate 20 of greater length than breadth. Two flanges 21,22 extend from one side of the base plate transverse of the longitudinal plane and are parallel and spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of a ladder stile 11 of rectangular section. A clamp plate 23 is mounted on a bolt 24 passing through one of said flanges 21, so that the bracket can be tightened against the stile 11.

Thus, the bracket and clamp plate can engage three sides of the stile.

The base plate has a U-shaped slot 25 which is adapted to engage a rung 12 of the ladder. This slot is located at a position between the two flanges 21, 22 and extends longitudinally of the base plate opening at the end of the base plate which has the flange 21 mounting the clamp plate 23.

One flange 22 is thicker than the other and has a transverse through aperture 26 to receive a cross bar 30 of the ladder attachment. Means is provided to retain the cross bar against lateral movement once it is mounted in the brackets, for example by pins inserted in to aligned holes 31 in the bar 30 and flange 22.

The clamp plate 23 and flange 22 may have extensions 23A, 22A respectively parallel to the base plate 20 to engage the fourth side of the stile.

The bracket may be metal or moulded plastics material such as nylon with threaded inserts therein for the clamp bolt 24.

In a modification of the bracket, Figure 3, the cross bar is carried in a deep groove 33 of substantially U-shape. This slot lies transversely of the base plate and opens in a direction away from the slot 25. This groove 33 may have a protrusion 34 on one of its limbs to obstruct inadvertent removal of the ladder attachment cross bar 30. The protrusion 34 is on the limb adjacent to the stile engaging end because in use, with the ladder lying at an angle as shown in Figure 3, that limb of the groove will be above the bar 30 and consequently the protrusion 34 will overlie the bar.

A bar clamp is also or alternatively provided to more firmly retain the bar 30 in the groove 33. This clamp comprises a plate 35 located in the slot and pivotally mounted on a bolt 36 which when retracted draws the plate 35 against the side or limb of the slot (as shown dotted in Figure 3) for entry of the bar, but when extended into the slot causes the plate 35 to pivot across the groove 33 to overlie the bar 30 (as shown).

The cross bar may be a single bar or a multiple bar having a centre portion and two extension pieces for telescopic engagement with the centre portion as illustrated in Figure 2. The cross bar carrries wall engageable members at its ends, such as wheels 38.

The wheels may be mounted directly on to the ends of the cross bar so that the bar forms their axles, or they may be, as shown in Figure 2 carried on arms 39 which locate in tubular ends 40 to lie at right angles to the cross bar.

It is also possible to provide two half cross bars (not shown) each for location in a bracket to extend laterally away from each other leaving a clear space between the brackets. This is possible particularly with the bracket as described in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 because the aperture 28 has a considerable length and can carry the half bar without undue stress. The end of the half bar remote from the wheel carrying and terminates in an enlarged head which abuts the side of the flange 22.

The brackets 10 are fitted to the ladder with the base plate 20 against the inside face of the rung support 11, and the rung-engaging slot 25 of each bracket engaging the same rung 13, which is preferably the second top rung of the ladder. The clamp plate 23 of the stile engaging part of each bracket is tightened against the stile 11 and the ladder is then in a condition to receive the ladder attachment 12.

This is most conveniently done while the ladder is flat and on its back, i.e. so that the ladder attachment is mounted on top of the ladder.

Claims (6)

1. In combination a ladder attachment of the type aforesaid and a pair of bracket members each for engagement with the same rung of a ladder and for location on the opposed stiles, clamp means to secure each bracket to the respective stile and means associated with each bracket to receive the transverse bar of the ladder attachment.

2. A bracket for use in pairs comprising a base part with a slot therein for engaging a ladder rung, lateral wall members which with the base member locate around at least three faces of a ladder stile, clamp means for securing the bracket to the stile, and means to receive the cross bar of a ladder attachment of the type aforesaid.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2, in which the means to receive the cross bar comprises a trans verse aperture.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 2, in which the means to receive the cross bar comprises a transverse groove.

5. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a base plate and two flanges extend ing therefrom at right angles to locate around three faces of a ladder stile, one flange having the clamp means to engage the stile and the other flange having the cross bar receiving means.

6. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore de scribed, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.