GB2227276A

GB2227276A - A rope ladder

Info

Publication number: GB2227276A
Application number: GB8901237A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Roger Butterfield
Original assignee: NORDIC Ltd
Current assignee: NORDIC Ltd
Priority date: 1989-01-20
Filing date: 1989-01-20
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-20
Also published as: GB2227276B; GB8901237D0

Abstract

A rope ladder (2) comprising a rope (4), a plurality of rungs (6) having transversely extending apertures (8) at each end, and a plurality of spacer members (12) for spacing the rungs (6) apart, the rope ladder (2) being such that the rope (4) passes through the apertures (8) in the rungs (6) and through the spacer members (12) so that the rope (4) is only provided with abutment means (10) at each of its ends. The abutments consist of knots the spacers may be tubes or balls. <IMAGE>

Description

A ROPE LADDER This invention relates to a rope ladder.

Rope ladders are well known. Some known rope ladders are of a complex construction and they are designed for use in emergency situations in ships and buildings.

Other known rope ladders are of a much simpler construction and they are basically designed as playthings for young children. One known rope ladder which is of a simple construction and which is designed for use as a plaything by young children comprises a rope and a plurality of rungs.

The rungs have transversely extending apertures at each end and the rope passes through the apertures. In order to keep the rungs spaced apart, the rope has to be knotted immediately beneath the aperture of each rung so that the rung then rests on the knot in the rope. Each rung requires two knots in the rope, one at each end of the rung. The knotting of the rope represents a time consuming operation which thus increases the manufacturing costs of the rope ladder.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem by reducing or removing the knots that are required in the rope.

Accordingly, this invention provides a rope ladder comprising a rope, a plurality of rungs having transversely extending apertures at each end, and a plurality of spacer members for spacing the rungs apart, the rope ladder being such that the rope passes through the apertures in the rungs and through the spacer members so that the rope is only provided with abutment means at each of its ends.

The abutment means will usually be knots in the rope. However, if desired, separate abutment means such for example as collar clamps may be employed.

The rope will usually be a single piece of rope.

If desired however two or more lengths of ropes may be joined together.

The rope may be of any desired material, length and thickness. Thus, for example, the rope may be made of twisted strands of hemp, flax, a plastics material, hide or wire. Other materials may also be employed.

Preferably the rungs are solid rungs. If desired however the rungs may be tubes.

The rungs may have serrated outer surfaces to provide grip for climbing the rope ladder.

The rungs will usually be made of a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate type of plastics material may be employed. The rungs may alternatively be made of other materials such for example as wood ancl metals if desired.

The spacer members may be tubes, ball members or other devices. The spacer members may be made of a plastics material or wood. Any suitable and appropriate type of plastics material may be employed. If desired, the spacer members may alternatively be made of other materials such for example as an appropriate metal.

Preferably the rungs and the spacer members are of different colours. The different colours can easily be provided as part of the rungs and the spacer members when the rungs and the spacer members are made of plastics material. The different colours give a good contrast between the rungs and the spacer members and this can be aesthetically pleasing to young children.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a known rope ladder for young children; Figure 2 shows a rope ladder in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 illustrates in more detail a rung used in the rope ladder shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows in more detail a spacer tube as used in the rope ladder shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a rope ladder 2 comprising a rope 4 and a plurality of rungs 6.

The rungs 6 have transversely extending apertures (not shown in Figure 1). These rungs 6 may be of the general type illustrated in Figure 3 which shows a rung 6 having transversely extending apertures 8. In the rope ladder 2 shown in Figure 1, the rope 4 has to be provided with knots 10. A knot 10 is needed immediately beneath the apertures 8 at each end of the rungs 6 as shown in Figure 1. Thus, in order to make the illustrated rope ladder 2 having five rungs 6, it is necessary to knot the rope 4 no less than ten times so that ten knots 10 are provided.

It is a time consuming and fiddley operation which incre:.

the cost of producing the rope ladder 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a rope ladder 2 in accordance with the invention. For ease of comparison and understanding, similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals and their precise construction and operation will not again be given.

In Figure 2, the rope ladder 2 additionally comprises a plurality of spacer members in the form of spacer tubes 12.

These spacer tubes 12 space the rungs 6 apart as shown. The rope 4 passes through the spacer tubes 12 in addition to passing through the apertures -8 in the rungs 6. In the rope ladder shown in Figure 2, it is only necessary to knot the rope twice so that only two knots 10 are required.

These two knots 10 are at each of the ends of the rope as shown in Figure 2.

The rope ladder 2 shown in Figure 2 can be made more quickly than the rope ladder 2 shown in Figure 1. The cost of the spacer tubes 12 is not significant and indeed the spacer tubes 12 can be differently coloured from the rungs 6 to give the rope ladder 2 shown in Figure 2 a pleasing aesthetic appearance which appeals to young children. The spacer tubes 12 can be folded individually about each other so that the rope ladder 2 shown in Figure 2 is still quite flexible and can be easily folded for storage when it is not in use.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to Figures 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example more or less of the rungs 6 may be employed.

In both Figures 1 and 2, it will be noticed that the space between the lowermost two rungs 6 is greater than the space between the other rungs. This is to enable a child to sit on the lowermost rung. If desired, all of the rungs can be equally spaced apart or, if desired, other rung spacings can be employed. Further, if desired, the knots 10 shown in Figure 2 could be replaced by other abutment means such for example as collar clamps or any other devices that provide appropriate abutments on which the lowermost rung 6 can sit. If desired, the rope ladder can be used for purposes other than for being played with by young children.

Further, the rope 4 could be in two or more sections which are joined together, for example at the illustrated apex 14.

The spacer tubes 12 may be replaced by spacer ball members with through holes for the rope (4). One, two or more of the spacer ball members may be used in place of each spacer tube 12. Other spacer devices may also be employed.

Claims

1. A rope ladder comprising a rope, a plurality of rungs having transversely extending apertures at each end, and a plurality of spacer members for spacing the rungs apart, the rope ladder being such that the rope passes through the apertures in the rungs and through the spacer members so that the rope is only provided with abutment means at each of its ends.

2. A rope ladder according to claim 1 in which the abutment means are knots.

3. A rope ladder according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the rope is a single piece of rope.

4. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims and which is made of twisted strands of hemp, flax, a plastics material, hide or wire.

5. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rungs are solid rungs.

6. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rungs have serrated outer surfaces to provide grip for climbing the rope ladder.

7. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rungs are made of a plastics material.

8. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spacer members are tubes or ball members.

9. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spacer members are made of a plastics material or wood.

10. A rope ladder according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rungs and the spacer members are of different colours.

11. A rope ladder substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawings.