GB2297350A

GB2297350A - Ladder stand-off

Info

Publication number: GB2297350A
Application number: GB9601394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jamie Bull; Belisario Schiavone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-01-25
Filing date: 1996-01-24
Publication date: 1996-07-31
Also published as: GB9601394D0; GB9501796D0

Description

CORNER LADDER STAY The present invention relates to ladder attachments, and is particularly concerned with an attachment allowing a ladder to be used against a corner of a building.

When a ladder is used to gain access to an edge of a roof, for example to attend to guttering maintenance, a generally horizontally extending spacer is attached to the upper end of a ladder, so that in use the end of the stay remote from the ladder engages the flat surface of the wall below the eave. In such circumstances, if the stay is not used then the upper end of the ladder rests directly against the wall, then the width of the soffitt makes access to the gutter difficult by causing the ladder user to lean back away from the ladder.

However, such a ladder stay is ineffective for gaining access to a corner of a roof, since the stay or the upper end of the ladder must rest against the corner of the building rather than against a flat wall area.

An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved ladder stay which allows the ladder to be safely and securely supported against the corner of a building.

According to the present invention, there is provided a ladder stay which is attachable to an end of a ladder, and includes a spacing portion extending away from the ladder so as to be positioned generally horizontally in use, the end of the spacer portion remote from the ladder being formed with engagement means to bear against a non-planar surface.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises two engagement surfaces arranged in orthogonal planes, so as to be able to engage the exterior surfaces of the walls of a building at a corner of the building.

In an alternative embodiment, to allow the stay to be used to support the ladder against a pole or tree, the engagement means may include a substantially semicircular bearing surface, facing away from the ladder. The substantially semicircular bearing surface may be provided in an adapter block, fixable between the orthogonal engagement surfaces. A retaining strap may be provided, releasably fixed at its ends to the spacer portion and extending round the pole or tree.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, the engagement means may comprise a flexible and preferably substantially inextensible element extending between two points fixed on the spacer portion at its end remote from the ladder. Such an arrangement allows the flexible engagement means to conform to the surface against which it is placed to support the upper end of the ladder.

The present invention will now be explained in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a ladder stay; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a ladder stay.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a ladder stay 1 having a generally rectangular frame 2, comprising a pair of upper and lower crossmembers 2a and 2b and a pair of uprights 2c and 2d, and a generally trapezoidal spacer portion 3. The frame 2 is provided with four hooks 4 to engage the ladder rungs, the hooks 4 being arranged in pairs at the ends of the crossmembers 2a and 2b, respectively. The hooks in each pair are spaced apart across the frame by a distance W so as to fit between the stiles of a ladder. In use, two hooks 4a of the upper crossmember 2a engage a rung of the ladder adjacent its upper end, and the two hooks 4b of the lower crossmember 2b engage the next rung down the ladder.A retaining device such as a strap or shock cord 5 may be attached to the lower crossmember of the frame, and may pass round a rung of the ladder to prevent upward movement of the frame relative to the ladder, thus securing the frame 2 in place.

The spacer portion shown in the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a pair of side arms 3a and 3b which extend in a plane generally perpendicular to the frame 2, the side arms 3a and 3b diverging in the direction away from the frame 2. The angle between the plane of the frame 2 and the plane of the spacer portion 3 is such that, when the ladder is stood against a building at the correct standing angle of approximately 15 degrees to the vertical, the spacer portion lies in a generally horizontal plane.

At their ends remote from the frame 2, the side arms 3a and 3b of the spacer portion carry pads to engage the wall or structure against which the ladder is supported. In the embodiment shown in the Figure, a first pair of pads 6 are arranged on intumed end portions 7 of the side arms 3a and 3b, the pads 6 being aligned so as to be able to engage a flat surface, as is the case with a conventional ladder stay. Extending from the free ends of the end portions 7 are a pair of return portions 8, which extend back towards the frame 2 and form between them an angle of 90 degrees. A pair of pads 9 are arranged on the return portions 8, the pads 9 being able to engage the walls of a building on each side of a right angle corner.

The pads 6 and 9 are preferably of a non-slip material such as rubber or plastics material.

Extending between the return portions 8 is a flexible element 10, which is preferably of a flexible but substantially inextensible material such as a chain, rope or webbing strap.

Attachment points such as eyelets (not shown) may be provided on the end portions 7 or on the return portions 8, to permit a securing strap to be attached to the spacer portion 3 and passed round a slender object such as a pole or tree against which the ladder is supported, to secure the upper end of the ladder in place.

In using the ladder stay on a building, the hooks 4a and 4b are first placed over the rungs of the ladder adjacent its upper end, and the optional strap or shock cord 5 is passed round a lower rung to secure the frame 2 in place on the ladder. The ladder is then offered up to the building, either to a flat wall part or to a corner. In the case of a flat wall, the pads 6 engage the wall in the same way as a conventional stay. When the ladder is needed to be supported at the corner of the building, the pads 9 situated on the return portions 8 of the spacer portion 3 engage respective walls of the building on either side of the corner. Thus the upper end of the ladder is supported firmly against movement relative to the building.

In using the ladder stay of Figure 1 to support a ladder against a pole or tree, the ladder is then offered up to the pole or tree so that the pole passes between the return portions 8 and the flexible element 10 engages the rounded surface of the pole. Clearly on larger diameter trees the pads 9 may engage the tree at spaced parts of its periphery. Once the operative has climbed the ladder, a securing strap may be passed round the tree and fixed to the spacer portion 3 to secure the ladder, particularly if the operative is to spend a considerable interval working at height.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a second construction of a ladder stay. In this embodiment, the frame 2 and hooks 4a and 4b correspond to those of Figure 1, and will not be described again in detail. The spacer portion is formed by a central strut extending away from the upper crossmember 2a of the frame 2, and having a pair of divergent arms 12a and 12b at its free end. The angle A included between the arms 1 2a and 1 2b is approximately 90 degrees. The free ends of the arms 1 2a and 1 2b are extended in a pair of end sections 13, which are substantially parallel to the crossmembers 2a and 2b of the frame 2.

Bearing pads 9 and 6, similar to those of Figure 1, are attached to the opposing faces of arms 1 2a and 1 2b, and to the faces of the end sections 13 remote from the frame 2, respectively. Eyelets 14 may be fixed to the arms 1 2a and 12b, or to the end sections 13, to provide attachment points for a securing strap.

The use of the stay is substantially as described in relation to the embodiment of Figure 1, save that when the stay is offered up to a tree, the tree is held between the arms 12a and 12b, but at a distance from the frame 2 which depends on the diameter of the tree.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the spacer portion may be provided with pivoting sections supporting the pads 6 and/or 9, to allow the pads to adapt their angles to the surface against which they are placed. Such pivoting sections, it is foreseen, will swing about generally vertical axes when in use. Alternatively a ball type joint may be used to allow greater freedom of movement.

The spacer portion 3 may also be provided with means, such as a tray or the like, on which tools, paint etc may be placed during work.

While it is envisaged that the stay will be formed from metal bar or strip, it is possible to form the ladder stay from wood, or from synthetic materials such as for example glass-reinforced plastics.

Claims

1. A ladder stay which is attachable to an end of a ladder, and includes a spacing portion extending in use away from the ladder so as to be positioned generally horizontally, the end of the spacer portion remote from the ladder being formed with engagement means to bear against a non-planar surface.

2. A ladder stay according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises two engagement surfaces arranged in orthogonal planes, so as to be able to engage the exterior surfaces of the wails of a building at a corner of the building.

3. A ladder stay according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement means includes a substantially semicircular bearing surface, facing away from the ladder.

4. A ladder stay according to Claim 3, wherein the substantially semicircular bearing surface is provided in an adapter block, which is fixable between the orthogonal engagement surfaces.

5. A ladder stay according to Claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises a flexible and preferably substantially inextensible element extending between two points fixed on the spacer portion at its end remote from the ladder.

6. A ladder stay according to any preceding Claim, wherein attachment points are provided on the spacer portion to releasably secure a retaining strap.

7. A ladder stay substantially as described herein, with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.