GB2232710A

GB2232710A - Device for stabilizing a ladder

Info

Publication number: GB2232710A
Application number: GB8913611A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Williams; Michael James Kitson
Original assignee: Barrie Barton Kitson
Current assignee: Barrie Barton Kitson
Priority date: 1989-06-14
Filing date: 1989-06-14
Publication date: 1990-12-19
Also published as: GB8913611D0

Abstract

A device for use in stabilizing an inclined ladder comprises a base member having an upstanding wall portion (15) on which a ladder support member (18) is swivellably mounted by studs (20) which extend through inclined slots and which is clamped by nuts on studs (20), said ladder support member (18) being provided with means for securing the ladder, which may be a pulley or guide (23) and a jamming cleat (27) through which extends a cord (24) provided with a hook (25) which can engage with a rung of a ladder to hold the ladder on the support member (15); and thus the ladder support member (18) can be positioned and clamped in a horizontal position when the base member (10) rests on an inclined surface. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR STABILIZING A LADDER This invention relates to a device for use in stabilizing an inclined ladder.

Fixed length or adjustable length ladders usually have a high length to width ratio and when placed in an inclined operative position against a support, for example a wall, they can be very easily overbalanced sideways by a person standing on the ladder leaning over too far to one side or the other of the ladder in an attempt to reach a location remote from a normal working position.

When a ladder is located on sloping or uneven ground it can be dangerous for a person to work at the top of the ladder and to ascend or descend the ladder if it cannot be maintained in a vertical inclined position as the ladder is liable to fall sideways and/or liable to have its bottom end move away from the support.

The present invention aims to provide a device which can maintain the bottom of the ladder in a fixed level position to stabilize the ladder and prevent it from tipping sideways and from moving outwards at its bottom end.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use in stabilizing an inclined ladder, comprising a base member provided on an upper side thereof with an upstanding wall portion, a ladder support member on which the bottom end of a ladder can be placed, means mounting the ladder support member on said upstanding wall portion for swivel movement relative thereto, means for securing the ladder support member to said upstanding wall portion in a desired swivelled position, and means for securing a ladder to said ladder support member.

Preferably the upstanding wall portion is provided with a pair of spaced apart oppositely inclined slots and the ladder support member is provided with two spaced apart bolts or studs each of which extends through a respective one of said slots, said bolts or studs being provided with a clamp nut or the like.

Preferably the means for securing a ladder to the ladder support member comprises a cord provided at one end with a hook for engaging a rung of a ladder, said cord passing around a pulley or guide provided on the ladder support member and extending through a jamming cleat provided on the ladder support member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a rear view of a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the device; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device; and Figure 4 is a side view of the device.

The stabilizing device has a base member 10 provided on its underside with feet 11 which are preferably formed of an elastomeric material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, or plastics material.

The base member 10 is triangular in plan view, although it may have any other desired shape, and is provided with a carrying handle 12.

The base member 10 is also provided with a plurality of apertures 13 which can be used for receiving means for fixing or anchoring it to the ground or other surface on which it is placed. The upper surface of the base member 10 is preferably provided with a non-slip surface. The base member 10 is preferably formed of metal, such as sheet steel.

Provided on the upper surface of the base member 10 is an angled bracket 14 forming an upstanding wall portion 15. Provided on the front side of the bracket 14 is a transverse upstanding portion 16. Provided in the wall portion 15 are two spaced apart oppositely inclined slots 17.

Mounted on the wall portion 15 is a ladder support member 18 which consists of an L-section member provided at each end with transverse walls 19 forming end stops. Secured to the vertical wall of the support member 18 are two transversely extending studs or bolts 20 which extend through the slots 17. Provided on the outer end of each stud or bolt 20 is a clamping nut 21 which can be hand tightened by a knob 22. It will be appreciated that when the clamping nuts 21 are slackened the support member 18 can be swivelled relative to the wall portion 15 in the plane of the wall portion 15, the studs or bolts 20 sliding along their respective slot 17.

Mounted on the ladder support member 18 is a pulley or guide 23 around which passes a cord 24. One end of the cord 24 is provided with a hook 25 and the other end is provided with a pull knob 26. The cord extends through a jamming cleat 27 mounted on the ladder support member 18. Preferably the jamming cleat 27 is of the type having two rotatable spring biassed jamming members between which the cord is passed and which will only allow the cord to move in one direction. It will be appreciated that a jamming device of a different type can be used.

In use of the stabilizing device the base member 10 is placed on the ground or support surface. The base member 10 is then anchored if desired by suitable means extending through the apertures 13. The nuts 21 are slackened by means of the knobs 22 and the support member 18 is swivelled so as to lie in a horizontal position.

The nuts 21 are then tightened to clamp the support member 18 to the upstanding wall portion 15. The bottom end of the ladder is placed on the support member 18, the hook 25 is engaged with a rung of the ladder and the cord 24 is pulled taut by means of the pull knob 26 and is held taut by the jamming cleat 27. Thus the bottom end of the ladder is securely held in a horizontal position and the ladder is ready for use.

In order to remove the ladder the cord 24 is disengaged from the jamming cleat 27 and the hook 25 is disengaged from the rung.

The ladder can then be lifted off the support member 18.

The base of the support member 18 can be provided with a nonslip pad or pads or surface on which the bottom of the ladder rests.

The user of the ladder can step onto the base plate 10 in order to get onto or off the ladder instead of having to stand on uneven or slippery or yielding ground.

It is possible for the support member 18 to be provided with an indicator for indicating a horizontal position of the member, e.g. a spirit-level indicator.

If whilst in operation one or both of the nuts 21 works loose and the support member 18 tends to tilt, the tilting movement is restricted by the transverse portion 16 which acts as a stop.

It is of course possible to physically pivotably connect the support member 18 to the upstanding wall portion 15 and to provide one or more studs or bolts on the support member 18 which extend through arcuate slots in the wall portion 15.

It is possible for the base member 10 and upstanding wall portion 15 to be integral.

Claims

1. A device for use in stabilizing an inclined ladder, comprising a base member provided on an upper side thereof with an upstanding wall portion, a ladder support member on which the bottom end of a ladder can be placed, means mounting the ladder support member on said upstanding wall portion for swivel movement relative thereto, means for securing the ladder support member to said upstanding wall portion in a desired swivelled position, and means for securing a ladder to said ladder support member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for mounting the ladder support member and for securing it to the wall portion comprises a pair of spaced apart oppositely inclined slots provided in said wall portion, two spaced apart bolts or studs provided on the support member, each of said bolts or studs extending through a respective one of said slots, and a clamp nut or the like provided on each of said bolts or studs.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which said means for securing a ladder to said ladder support member comprises a cord provided at one end with a hook for engaging a rung of a ladder, said cord passing around a pulley or guide provided on the ladder support member and extending through a jamming cleat provided on the ladder support member.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said base member is provided on its underside with feet.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the feet are formed of an elastomeric material.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base member is triangular in plan view.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base member is provided with a carrying handle.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base member is provided with a plurality of apertures for receiving means for fixing or anchoring the base member to the surface on which it is placed for use.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper surface of the base member is provided with a non-slip surface.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the ladder support member is L-shaped in crosssection and provided at each end with a transverse wall.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the ladder support member is provided with means for indicating when the member is in a horizontal position.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the ladder support member is pivotably connected to the wall portion and is provided with one or more studs or bolts which extend through an arcuate slot or slots provided in the wall portion.

13. A device for use in stabilizing an inclined ladder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.