GB2245302A

GB2245302A - Ladder stabilising attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2245302A
Application number: GB9012879A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence John Rowse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-08
Filing date: 1990-06-08
Publication date: 1992-01-02
Also published as: GB9012879D0

Abstract

The attachment includes a frame portion 1 having two pairs of spaced hooks, 7, 8, for engagement over the upper rungs of a ladder, and a spring 9 for drawing the hooks into engagement with the rungs. A pair of telescopically adjustable support arms 11, 12 extend to opposite sides of the frame 1 and carry friction caps 13, 14 at their free ends. <IMAGE>

Description

LADDER ATTACHMENT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an attachment for a ladder.

BACKGROUND Whilst most decorators and similar tradesmen feel relatively happy stretching to one side of a ladder with its top below waist level, many do-it-yourselfers tend to cling on to the ladder with its top at chin level. Since the ladder can only safely be rested against the wall at the sides of or below the window this restricts the reach of the user, which can make it extremely difficult to paint even a reasonable sized upstairs window for example.

An aim of this invention is to provide a ladder attachment which makes it easier for a user to reach the middle region of a window without having to stretch too far from the ladder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a ladder attachment intended to be fixed to the top of a ladder and including a pair of arms which, in use, extend to opposite sides of the ladder.

The arms are preferably each of adjustable length and they may have caps of friction material such as rubber at their ends.

Various means of fixing the device to the ladder may be employed, but a preferred arrangement comprises a pair of spaced hook means for engagement over two different rungs of the ladder and which are downwardly directed in use. Each hook means may comprise a pair of spaced hooks for engagement with opposite ends of the respective rung. For a more secure attachment a resilient member is preferably provided to engage a rung of the ladder and act between the attachment and that rung such as to draw the hook means into engagement with the respective rungs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of a ladder attachment of the invention, and Figure 2 is a more general view of the attachment in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the attachment includes a frame portion 1 which is formed of two flat parallel side bars 2, 3 which are joined by spaced cross bars 4 and 5. The upper ends of the side bars 2 and 3 are each formed into a loop to hold a transverse tubular member 6 at one side of the bars, and the opposite side of each bar 2, 3 carries a pair of spaced, downwardly directed hooks, 7 and 8. One end of a resilient tension spring 9 is secured to the mid point of the lower cross bar 5, and the opposite end of the spring 9 is formed into a hook 10.

Each end of the tubular member 6 telescopically receives an extension arm 11 and 12, each of which carries a rubber friction cap 13, 14 at its free end.

The extension arms may be held in any extended position by a simple tight frictional engagement, or they may be secured by twist lock devices 15 and 16 of known form which can each be rotated about the axis of the tubular member 6 to move a gripping member radially in and out of frictional engagement with the respective arms 11 or 12.

In order to prevent the extension arms 11, 12 from being inadvertently pulled out of the tubular member 6 the may each have one or more axial slot 18 (see Fig.

3) which receive an internal projection 19 on the interior of the tubular member 6. Thus, when the arms 11, 12 are extended to their maximum extent the projections 19 engage the ends of the slots 18 to prevent further extension.

In use, the hooks 7 and 8 are engaged over the top two rungs of a ladder L as shown in Fig. 2, and the spacing of the pairs of hooks is such that the device is capable of very little lateral movement relative to the ladder. The hook 10 of the spring 9 is engaged over the third rung down so that the spring 9 draws the hooks 7 and 8 into firm engagement with the respective rungs. The arms 11 and 12 are located behind the ladder and extend to opposite sides of the ladder. By adjusting the amount by which the arms project to each side of the ladder the spacing between the friction caps 13 ad 14 can be adjusted to the width of the window frame F so that the ladder can be placed directly in front of the window with the grips resting against the sides of the frame. A user can thus stand centrally of the window to carry out a painting or other maintenance operation.

The device can also assist is stabilising the ladder when the ladder is rested against a wall since the friction grips 13, 14 will contact the wall at widely spaced positions.

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Claims

CLAIMS 1. A ladder attachment intended to be fixed to the top of a ladder and including a pair of arms which, in use, extend to opposite sides of the ladder.
2. A ladder attachment according to Claim 1, in which the arms are each of adjustable length.
3. A ladder attachment according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the arms each have caps of friction material at their ends.
4. A ladder attachment according to any preceding claim, including a pair of spaced Wook means for engagement over two different rungs of the ladder and which are downwardly directed in use.
5. A ladder attachment according to Claim 4, in which each hook means comprises a pair of spaced hooks for engagement with opposite ends of the respective rung.
6. A ladder attachment according to Claim 4 or 5, in which a resilient member is provided to engage a rung of the ladder and act between the attachment and that rung such as to draw the hook means into engagement with the respective rungs.
7. A ladder attachment substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

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