GB2261906A - Method and apparatus for securing ladders and/or staging for roof work - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an upright ladder (51) extending up the side of a building (50) and a transverse ladder, plank or other like support member (54) extending generally parallel to a roof. The two ladders are releasably secured together by force transmitting means, for example chains (45), of adjustable length. The lower end of the upright ladder rests on the ground against an obstacle (53). The lower end of the transverse ladder rests in an abutment member (3, 4) which is in contact with the upright ladder. When a load, for example a scaffolder, bears upon the transverse ladder, the upright ladder is urged continuously towards both the building and the transverse ladder thus increasing the stability of the apparatus. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING LADDERS AND/OR STAGING FOR ROOF WORK This invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing ladders and/or staging for roof work.

There are thousands of accidents every year in which people fall from a roof or a ladder whilst trying to work on the roof. It is conventional to erect an upright ladder resting against the guttering of a roof and then place a hook ladder over the ridge of the roof so that it extends along the roof, alongside the upright ladder. The user than steps across from the upright ladder to the hook ladder.

The aim of the invention is to provide a new way of working on a roof, and new apparatus for doing so, which it is believed are safer than the existing way and apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an upright ladder extending upwards and a transverse ladder, plank, staging or other like support member (hereinafter referred to as ladder) extending generally parallel to a roof, the transverse ladder being secured to the upright ladder.

Preferably the transverse ladder is releasably secured to the upright ladder.

The transverse ladder is preferably secured to the upright ladder so as in use to be continually urged towards the upright ladder. The transverse ladder is preferably urged towards the upright ladder by biasing means. The biasing means is preferably in tension, and may be flexible. The biasing may comprise a chain, rope, wire or the like.

An intermediate, abutment, member is preferably interposed between the upright ladder and the transverse ladder. A second intermediate member (or part of the abutment member) is preferably placed under the end of the transverse ladder adjacent the upright ladder. The abutment member may have a generally L-shaped section in use.

Preferably the upright and transverse ladders are held together by force-transmitting means, comprising said biasing means, which preferably has adjustment means which are adjustable so as to vary the force in the force-transmitting means. The adjustment means preferably comprises tensioning means which preferably comprises an elongate flexible member provided with a pair of securing means each of which is adapted to secure a portion of the elongate member to a part of one of the respective ladders. The securing means is preferably attachable to a plurality of regions along the longitudinal length of the flexible member. A pair of force-transmitting means is preferably provided.

Preferably all of the securing means are identical and interchangeable.

The adjustment means is preferably a screw-thread adjustment which alters the effective length of the force-transmitting means. Alternatively the tensioning means could be a ratchet means, for example a cable and ratchet.

There is preferably first bracing means which extends across the width of the upright ladder near the top end of the upright ladder and which serves to stiffen the top end of the upright ladder. The bracing means may be attached to the securing means.

There may be second bracing means which extends across the width of the transverse ladder near the bottom end of the transverse ladder and which serves to stiffen the bottom end of the transverse ladder. The bracing means may be attached to the securing means.

Alternatively the second bracing means may be attachable to the transverse ladder, and may indeed be part of the securing means which secures the biasing means to the transverse ladder. There may be three bracing means.

Preferably the first and second bracing means are identical. Most preferably the first and second bracing means are interchangeable. Either or both of the bracing means may be replaced by securing means.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a kit adapted to connect a ladder (serving as an upright ladder) to another ladder, plank, staging, or other like support member (serving as, and hereinafter referred as, a transverse ladder), the kit comprising force-transmitting means attached to a pair of securing means adapted to be secured to the upright ladder and the transverse ladder respectively, thereby securing the two ladders together.

Preferably all of the securing means are identical and interchangeable.

The kit preferably includes adjustment means adapted to alter the tension in the force-transmitting means.

The kit also preferably includes a wheel or roller or the like to be releasably secured to the transverse ladder.

The kit also preferably includes first bracing means adapted to be secured to the top end of the upright ladder to stiffen it.

The kit may include second bracing means adapted to be secured to the bottom end of the transverse ladder to stiffen it. Preferably the first and second bracing means are identical and most preferably they are interchangeable.

The kit may also comprise a box adapted to store and/or transport the other components of the kit.

Preferably one or more structural panels of the box comprise abutment means adapted to transfer force from the transverse ladder to the upright ladder.

According to a third aspect the invention comprises a method for securing ladders and/or staging for roof work comprising erecting an upright ladder adjacent a roof, placing a transverse ladder, plank, staging, or like support member (hereinafter referred to as transverse ladder) on the roof next to the upright ladder, and securing the two ladders together.

Preferably the upright ladder and transverse ladder are placed in line.

The method also preferably includes connecting force-transmitting means (preferably tensioning means) to the upright ladder and to the transverse ladder.

Preferably the tension in the tensioning means is adjusted, most preferably so as to just raise the end of the transverse ladder spaced from the upright ladder off the roof by a few inches (or centimetres).

The method may include the step of attaching a wheel or the like to the transverse ladder and running the transverse ladder out over the roof on the wheel.

Preferably an intermediate, or abutment, member is interposed between the upright ladder and the transverse ladder.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows schematically the use of the invention; Figure 2 shows details of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a kit for use with two ladders so as to enable the arrangement of Figures l and 2 to be achieved.

A kit 1 is shown in Figure 3 and comprises a box 2 having a top and bottom panel 3 and 4 and a rectangular side frame 5; a brace attachment 6 comprising first and second interengageable struts 7 and 8 each of which has first attachment means 9; a pair of second attachment means 10; and a wheel unit 11.

The top and bottom panels 3 and 4 have a projecting stud 12 at each corner of their inner faces, and these studs locate in the corners 13 of the frame 5 when the box is assembled (as shown at dotted lines 13'). The two panels 3 and 4 are connected together by flexible webs 14, each have a shoulder strap 15, and each have latch members 16. The frame 5 has a pair of latch members 17 complementary to the latch members 16 and the frame 5 can be placed between the panels 3 and 4 and the latch members 16 and 17 coupled together so as to form a closed box having a pair of shoulder straps 15. One of the side walls of the frame 5 is of slightly shallower depth than the other walls and this ensures that when the box 2 is assembled there is an air vent which enables its contents, and the box itself, to dry.The box 2 is of course appropriately sized to carry the wheel unit 11, the brace attachment 6, and the pair of attachment means 10.

The wheel unit 11 comprises a length of L-section angle iron 18 having a wheel 19 rotatably mounted at one end, and an open-ended slot 20 provided at that same end. A length of elastic rope 21 is also secured to the angle iron 18 and carries at its free end a knot 22. In use the angle iron is fitted against the perpendicular faces of one of a ladder's parallel longitudinal side members and held fast there by wrapping the elastic rope 21 about the side member and latching the knotted end of the rope in the slot 20.

The wheel 19 is rotatably mounted by means of a bolt 23 which projects through the angle iron 18 and in use engages the end face of the longitudinal side member of the ladder and assists in locating the wheel unit 11.

Figure 2 shows the attachment of the wheel unit to a ladder. The angle iron 18 may have a plurality of holes to enable it to be semi-permanently screwed or bolted to a ladder.

The first brace strut 7 comprises a length of rectangular section metal strip 24 having a flange 25 at one end, the flange 25 having a retro-turned lip 26 extending generally parallel to the strip 24. The lip 26 has a built-up screw-threaded socket 27 (for example a nut welded to the lip) which receives an L-shaped screw-threaded clamping member 28 adapted to clamp a portion of a ladder to a portion 29 of the strip spaced apart from, and opposite, the lip 26.

An eye 30 is rotatably mounted on the flange 25 and a screw threaded shaft 31 of another eye 32 extends through the aperture of the eye 30 and is received in a screw-threaded through-bore of a further eye 33. The eye 30 is over-sized for its shaft 31 and can accommodate angular movement therebetween. A D-ring 34 is coupled to the eye 32 and has a releasable screw-threaded closure pin 35. The eye 33 effectively acts as a handle to enable the effective length of the shaft 31 to be varied by rotating the eye 33.

The second brace strut 8 has generally the same structure as strut 7, and similar components have been given similar reference numerals in Figure 3. The main differences are that the flange 25 is a little shorter (so that the lips 26 are aligned) and the strip 24 has a hoop 36 welded to it.

In use the strip 24 of the strut 7 overlays the strip 24 of the strut 8 and is received in the hoop 36, the brace 6 thereby having a variable width.

Each attachment means 10 comprises a L-shaped bracket 37 having a pair of opposed Limbs 38 and 39 joined by a transverse portion 37'. One of the limbs, limb 38, has a built-up screw-threaded socket 40 which receives an L-shaped screw-threaded clamp member 42 which extends through it. The clamp member 42 is adapted to clamp a part of the ladder to a portion 43 of the other limb opposite the socket 40. A bolt 41 passes through a hole in the limb 38. The portion 37' has a hole 44 which is an alternative attachment point for the bolt 41. A two-foot length of chain 45 is held to the bracket 37 by the bolt 41.

The use of the kit 1 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The user takes a ladder 51 and places it against a building 50 with about three rungs of the ladder extending above the edge of the roof 52 of the building. The base of the ladder 51 is secured in a conventional way, for example by lodging it against an obstacle 53, bolting it to the ground, or parking a vehicle against it.

The user than takes his second ladder, ladder 54, and clamps the two attachment means brackets 10 to the longitudinal side members of the ladder at a position about 2 feet from one end of the ladder. The wheel unit 11 is then temporarily tied to the other end of one of the longitudinal side members of the ladder 54, with its bolt 23 held against the end, and its L-section nestling against the perpendicular sides of the side member. The knot 22 of the elastic rope 21 is latched in the slot 20 to secure the end of the rope 21.

The user then temporarily attaches the brace 6 to the ladder 54, purely as a way of carrying it up the first, upright, ladder 51.

The box 2 is dismantled and the two panels 3 and 4 slung over the user's shoulder, using the straps 15.

The user then carries the second ladder 54, and the panels 3 and 4 up the upright ladder 51, places the panels 3 and 4 on top of each other adjacent the ladder 51 and in line with it, and pushes the ladder 54 up the sloping roof 52 on its edge (with the ladder's rungs extending generally vertically), using the wheel 19. When the transverse ladder is fully run out the user flips it onto its side so that both longitudinal side members engage the roof and so that the transverse ladder is in line with the upright ladder. With practice this can be done in a single movement.

The user then rests the bottom end of the transverse ladder 54 on top of the panel 3 and raises the panel 4 to interpose it between the bottom end of the transverse ladder and the upright ladder, as seen in Figure 2.

The brace 6 is removed from the transverse ladder 54 and fitted to the top of the upright ladder, as seen in Figure 2. The sliding fit of the strip 24 in the hoop 36 allows the brace to be fitted to ladders of a variety of widths.

The user then opens the D-rings 34 by unscrewing the pins 35 and takes the chains 45 and introduces into the D-rings whichever chain link can be comfortably stretched to reach it. After closing the D-rings with the appropriate links 5 attached the user then takes up the slack in the chains by rotating the eyes 33. Then once the slack has been taken up the user further tensions the chains by rotating the eyes 33, typically until the far end of the transverse ladder lifts off the roof by a few inches. This further tensioning usually takes about eight full turns, but the number will obviously vary with the pitch of the screw thread of the shafts 31. Since the eyes 30 are over-sized the shafts 31 can effectively be pivoted relative to the eyes 30 to accommodate ladders of different widths.

The eyes 30 are pivotable relative to the flanges 25.

The user then steps over the top of the upright ladder 51 onto the transverse ladder. The user's weight tends to tension the chains even more, which tends to pull the upright ladder further in towards the building.

The brace 6 stops the top of the ladder 51, beyond the last rung, from twisting under the torque of the two chains which tend to twist the longitudinal side members in opposite senses.

The attachment means 10 may be replaced by a second brace attachment similar or even identical to the brace attachment 6. The second brace attachment fits onto the transverse ladder in the same way that the brace attachment 6 fits onto the upright ladder.

Using the second brace attachment alleviates any problem of the ladder twisting under torque as described above. The two brace attachments may be interchangeable. A second brace is advantageous over attachment means 10 if the transverse ladder is of the kind having longitudinal side members with a U shaped cross-section. Although attachment means 10 could be used on such a ladder, using a brace attachment gives a firmer and more positive attachment.

It will be appreciated that the order of the steps discussed above can be varied.

The brackets 37 can be modified to clamp onto the sides of a plank, with the clamp member 42 on top of the plank, by taking the bolts 41 out of their holes and using them to attach the chains 45 to the brackets via alternative holes 44. When used on a plank the chains then still extend to the sides of the plank.

The embodiment described has the advantages of allowing the user to work in the region of the roof beyond, and in line with, the end of the transverse ladder. This region is referenced as number 55 in Figures 1 and 2. This is not possible with a hook ladder since it has no "free" region beyond its far end. The present invention does not trap slates beyond the end of the transverse ladder. Furthermore, the present invention does not need a ridge to hook onto.

It will be appreciated that the transverse ladder could be a telescopic or extending ladder, or a plank.

The fact that the two ladders are rigidly secured together also serves to assist in securing the upright ladder. The upright ladder can no longer skid sideways on the guttering of the roof.

The present invention can be used on many kinds of roofs where hook ladders cannot, for example on hip roofs, lean-to roofs, conservatory, green house, or other glass roofs, very long roofs which cannot be reached with a hook ladder, and up a roof to a window in the roof, especially a gable window.

The kit forms a convenient box in which the other components of the kit can be easily carried by one man. At least some of the walls of the box have a dual function.

The chain 45, brace 6, and oversized eyes 30 allow the kit to be used on practically all ladders, whatever their width.

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus adapted to facilitate access to a roof comprising an upright ladder extending upwards and a transverse ladder, plank, staging or other like support member (hereinafter referred to as ladder) extending generally parallel to a roof, the transverse ladder being secured to the upright ladder.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the transverse ladder is releasably secured to the upright ladder.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transverse ladder is secured to the upright ladder so as in use to be continually urged towards the upright ladder.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which an intermediate, abutment, member is interposed between the upright ladder and the transverse ladder.

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which an intermediate member, or second intermediate member (or part of the abutment member) is provided under the end of the transverse ladder adjacent the upright ladder.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the abutment member has a generally L-shaped section in use.

7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the upright and transverse ladders are held together by force-transmitting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 in which the force-transmitting means has adjustment means which are adjustable so as to vary the force in the force-transmitting means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 in which the adjustment means comprises tensioning means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the adjustment means comprises an elongate flexible member provided with a pair of securing means each of which is adapted to secure a portion of the elongate member to a part of one of the respective ladders.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 in which the securing means is attachable to a plurality of regions along the longitudinal length of the flexible member.

12. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which there is bracing means which extends across the width of the upright ladder near the top end of the upright ladder and which serves to stiffen the top end of the upright ladder.

13. An apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A kit adapted to connect a ladder (serving as an upright ladder) to another ladder, plank, staging, or other like support member (serving as, and hereinafter referred to as, a transverse ladder), the kit comprising force-transmitting means attached to a pair of securing means adapted to be secured to the upright ladder and the transverse ladder respectively, thereby securing the two ladders together.

15. A kit according to claim 14 which includes adjustment means adapted to alter the tension in the force-transmitting means.

16. A kit according to claim 14 or claim 15 which includes a wheel or roller or the like to be releasably secured to the transverse ladder.

17. A kit according to any one of claims 14 to 16 which includes bracing means adapted to be secured to the top end of the upright ladder to stiffen it.

18. A kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A method for securing ladders and/or staging for roof work comprising erecting an upright ladder adjacent a roof, placing a transverse ladder, plank, staging, or like support member (hereinafter referred to as transverse ladder) on the roof next to the upright ladder, and securing the two ladders together.

20. A method according to claim 19 in which the upright ladder and transverse ladder are placed in line.

21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20 which includes connecting force-transmitting means to the upright ladder and to the transverse ladder.

22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21 in which the force in the force-transmitting means is adjustable.

23. A method according to claim 22 in which the force in the force-transmitting means is adjusted so as to just raise the end of the transverse ladder spaced from the upright ladder off the roof by a few centimetres.

24. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 23 which includes the step of attaching a wheel or the like to the transverse ladder and running the transverse ladder out over the roof on the wheel.

25. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 24 in which an intermediate, or abutment, member is interposed between the upright ladder and the transverse ladder.

26. A method substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.