GB2169639A - Ladder safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

A ladder safety device comprises a reinforcing member (1) and a backing member (2) with respective integral upstanding members (3,4), apertures (5) provided in the upstanding members (3), forwardly projecting screwthreaded rods (6) provided on the upstanding members (4) to pass through the apertures (5) and receive wing nuts (7) at their outer ends and pivot pads (8) provided adjacent the upper end of each upstanding member (4). In use of the device, an upper edge portion of a gutter is clamped between the reinforcing member (1) and the backing member (2) and a ladder can then be rested on the upper edge of the reinforcing member (1), the ladder engaging between the upstanding members (3) so that it cannot slide sidewardly with respect to the guttering. The guttering is protected by the reinforcing member (1) and the backing member (2) against distortion caused by the weight of the user applied to the guttering through the ladder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ladder safety device The invention relates to a ladder safety device.

When using ladders, particularly aluminium ladders, on houses with plastics guttering, there is a very real danger that the ladder will unduly distort the plastics guttering under the weight of a person on the ladder and/or that the ladder will slide sideways on the guttering due to the small friction therebetween with risk of severe injury to the user.

According to the invention a ladder safety device comprises a reinforcing member clampable to plastics guttering to stiffen the guttering against a load applied by a ladder and means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering.

Preferably the device comprises the reinforcing member, a backing member, each of the reinforcing member and the backing member being of elongate form, upstanding members projecting from each of the reinforcing member and the backing member and means to pull the upstanding members on the backing member towards the upstanding members on the reinforcing member to clamp a portion of the wall of the guttering between the reinforcing member and the clamping member, the upstanding members being provided at a separation such that a normal ladder can engage therebetween such that the upstanding members form the means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering once the device has been clamped to the guttering.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a ladder safety device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is an end view showing the device in use.

Referring to the drawings, a ladder safety device comprises a reinforcing member 1 and a backing member 2. The reinforcing member may, for example, be of 25mmX5 mm section and 700mm in length and has integral upstanding members 3 of 18mm height. The backing member 2 has integral upstanding members 4 of 1 10mum height. An aperture 5 is provided in each upstanding member 3 and a forwardly projecting screwthreaded rod 6 is provided on each upstanding member 4 to pass through a respective one of the apertures 5 and receive a wing nut 7 at its outer end. A pivot pad 8 is provided adjacent the upper end of each upstanding member 4. As shown only in Figs. 2 and 3, the rear face of the reinforcing member 1 is provided with a strip 9 of rubber and the forward face of the backing member 2 is provided with a strip 10 of rubber.In use of the device, as shown in Fig. 3, an upper edge portion of a gutter 11 is clamped between the rubber strips 9 and 10 by tightening the nuts 7 on the screwthreaded members 6 so that the upstanding members 3 pivot on the pivot pads 8 with respect to the upstanding members 4 and secure the device to the gutter 11. A ladder 12 can then be rested on the upper edge of the reinforcing member 1, the ladder engaging between the upstanding members 3 with small clearance so that it cannot slide sidewardly with respect to the guttering. The guttering is protected by the reinforcing member 1 and the backing member 2 against distortion caused by the weight of the user applied to the guttering through the ladder.

1. A ladder safety device comprising a reinforcing member clampable to plastics guttering to stiffen the guttering against a load applied by a ladder and means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering.

2. A ladder safety device according to claim 1, including a backing member for the reinforcing member, each of the reinforcing member and the backing member being of elongate form, upstanding members projecting from each of the reinforcing member and the backing member and means to pull the upstanding members on the backing member towards the upstanding members on the reinforcing member to clamp a portion of the wall of the guttering between the reinforcing member and the clamping member.

3. A ladder safety device according to claim 2, in which the upstanding members are provided at a separation such that a normal ladder can engage therebetween such that the upstanding members form the means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering once the device has been clamped to the guttering.

4. A ladder safety device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ladder safety device The invention relates to a ladder safety device. When using ladders, particularly aluminium ladders, on houses with plastics guttering, there is a very real danger that the ladder will unduly distort the plastics guttering under the weight of a person on the ladder and/or that the ladder will slide sideways on the guttering due to the small friction therebetween with risk of severe injury to the user. According to the invention a ladder safety device comprises a reinforcing member clampable to plastics guttering to stiffen the guttering against a load applied by a ladder and means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering. Preferably the device comprises the reinforcing member, a backing member, each of the reinforcing member and the backing member being of elongate form, upstanding members projecting from each of the reinforcing member and the backing member and means to pull the upstanding members on the backing member towards the upstanding members on the reinforcing member to clamp a portion of the wall of the guttering between the reinforcing member and the clamping member, the upstanding members being provided at a separation such that a normal ladder can engage therebetween such that the upstanding members form the means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering once the device has been clamped to the guttering. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a ladder safety device according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is an end view showing the device in use. Referring to the drawings, a ladder safety device comprises a reinforcing member 1 and a backing member 2. The reinforcing member may, for example, be of 25mmX5 mm section and 700mm in length and has integral upstanding members 3 of 18mm height. The backing member 2 has integral upstanding members 4 of 1 10mum height. An aperture 5 is provided in each upstanding member 3 and a forwardly projecting screwthreaded rod 6 is provided on each upstanding member 4 to pass through a respective one of the apertures 5 and receive a wing nut 7 at its outer end. A pivot pad 8 is provided adjacent the upper end of each upstanding member 4. As shown only in Figs. 2 and 3, the rear face of the reinforcing member 1 is provided with a strip 9 of rubber and the forward face of the backing member 2 is provided with a strip 10 of rubber.In use of the device, as shown in Fig. 3, an upper edge portion of a gutter 11 is clamped between the rubber strips 9 and 10 by tightening the nuts 7 on the screwthreaded members 6 so that the upstanding members 3 pivot on the pivot pads 8 with respect to the upstanding members 4 and secure the device to the gutter 11. A ladder 12 can then be rested on the upper edge of the reinforcing member 1, the ladder engaging between the upstanding members 3 with small clearance so that it cannot slide sidewardly with respect to the guttering. The guttering is protected by the reinforcing member 1 and the backing member 2 against distortion caused by the weight of the user applied to the guttering through the ladder. CLAIMS

1. A ladder safety device comprising a reinforcing member clampable to plastics guttering to stiffen the guttering against a load applied by a ladder and means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering.

2. A ladder safety device according to claim 1, including a backing member for the reinforcing member, each of the reinforcing member and the backing member being of elongate form, upstanding members projecting from each of the reinforcing member and the backing member and means to pull the upstanding members on the backing member towards the upstanding members on the reinforcing member to clamp a portion of the wall of the guttering between the reinforcing member and the clamping member.

3. A ladder safety device according to claim 2, in which the upstanding members are provided at a separation such that a normal ladder can engage therebetween such that the upstanding members form the means to resist lateral movement of the ladder with respect to the guttering once the device has been clamped to the guttering.

4. A ladder safety device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.