GB2311089A

GB2311089A - Detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors

Info

Publication number: GB2311089A
Application number: GB9605109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth Philip Bristow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-12
Filing date: 1996-03-12
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-12
Also published as: GB2311089B; GB9605109D0

Abstract

A ladder safety cradle with anchors provides a secure platform for ladder operaters that is detachable and can be used on differing ladders. The cradle is secured to the top two rungs of a ladder by means of adjustable clamps 10 and can be set up in two configurations, configuration A for close access to a horizonal or vertical plane, by securing the diagonal brace 13 to the cantilever tie 17 middle cross brace 19 by means of a couple 18 and slot keys 15, then locating the top rail struts 20 into the pair of anchor hooks that are fixed permanently to a building and configuration B when access is required over projections on a vertical plane, by securing the diagonal brace to the cantilever tie end cross brace 21 with the couple and slot keys then locating the cantilever tie struts into the pair of anchor hooks provided.

Description

DETACHABLE LADDER SAFETY CRADLE WITH ANCHORS This invention relates to a detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors.

Ladders are primaraly used to reach high areas that cannot be accessed within arms length, for the purposes of maintaining walls, windows and cleaning gutters. Ladders are generally erected by placing the base of the ladder on flat ground and should be inclined at 70" from the horizontal, with the top of the ladder resting against a wall or vertical plane.

Ladders can be, however, by the very nature of their use by untrained or unsupervised single operators be unsafe. Ladders can be unstable when placed on uneven ground, used at less than 70" from the horizontal with heavy loads and can become increasingly unstable during gusting or strong winds, particularly when the ladder is unsecured at the top.

According to the present invention there is provided a detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors comprising a ridged frame consisting of two adjustable clamps the means by which the safety cradle is releasably secured to a ladder, a top rail that is fixed horizonaly between the two adjustable clamps to form the ridged frame and is also the means by which the ladder safety cradle is secured to a vertical or horizonal plane for close proximity access, by locating each end of the top rail into anchor hooks permanently fixed to the plane at locations required.

A detailed accumulation of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows in perspective, the detachable ladder safety cradle; Figure 2 shows in perspective, the detachable ladder safety cradle secured to a ladder; Figure 3 shows in perspective, the detachable ladder saftey cradle in configuration A with anchors, in operation for use C; and Figure 4 shows in perspective, the detachable ladder safety cradle in configuration B with anchors, in operation for use D.

Refering to the drawings the safety cradle comprises two adjustable clamps 10 with locking nuts or similar means 11, the means by which the safety cradle is releasably secured to a ladder, a fixed top rail 12, a pivoting diagonal brace 13, a pivoting cantilever tie 14 with two sprung slot keys 15, the means by which the cantilever tie and diagonal brace are secured together and two anchor hooks 16 (per location to be accessed) permanently fixed to a vertical plane at the required height by expansion bolt or similar means (not shown).

In order to secure the detachable safety cradle as shown in figure 1, to a ladder as shown in figure 2, the safety cradle is offered up to the underside of the ladder and the loops on the top of the upper clamps 10 and generally fitted over the upper most ladder rung, the loops on the lower clamps 17 are then fitted under the next lower ladder rung. Because the pitch between rungs may vary on different ladders, there is a linear adjustment provided between upper and lower clamps. The lower clamps are then moved towards the upper clamps by hand until the clamps are secure over the rungs, the lock nuts 11 or similar are then tightened to ensure the integrity of the clamps over the rungs.

In order to operate the detachable ladder safety cradle in configeration A for close access to a horizontal plane or a vertical plane as shown in fig 3, firstly the safety cradle is secured to a ladder as described above, secondly the couple 18 on the end of the pivoting diagonal brace is lowered downward over the middle cross brace 19 of the pivoting cantilever tie and secured by inserting the two sprung slot keys 15 into the two slots provided in the couple. The ladder and safety cradle is then offered up to and over the two anchor eyes , the struts 20 provided on each end of the top rail are then located within the anchor hooks 16 by pulling the ladder with safety cradle carefully downwards. The alternative location of the anchor hooks 23 shown on fig 3, are for horizontal access.

In order to operate the detachable ladder safety cradle in configeration B as shown in fig 4 where distance is required between the vertical plane and ladder, firstly the safety cradle is secured to a ladder as described above, secondly the couple on the end of the pivoting diagonal brace is lowered downward over the end cross brace 21 of the pivoting cantilever tie and secured as above with the two sprung slot keys. The ladder and safety cradle is then offered up and the struts 22 on each end of the pivoting cantilever tie are located within the anchor hooks as previously described.

To detach the safety cradle from the anchor hooks, the operator lifts the ladder and safety cradle assembly carefully backwards and upwards to disengage the struts out of the anchor hooks.

To detach the safety cradle from the ladder, the steps describing the sequence to secure the safety cradle to a ladder are carried out in reverse.

Claims

1 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors comprising a ridged frame consisting of two adjustable clamps the means by which the safety cradle is releasably secured to a ladder, a top rail that is fixed horizonaly between the two adjustable clamps to form a ridged frame and is also the means by which the ladder safety cradle is secured to a vertical or horizonal plane for close proximity access, by locating each end of the top rail into anchor hooks permanently fixed to the plane at locations required.

2 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein there is provided a secondary means for securing the detachable ladder safety cradle to a vertical plane for remote access, consisting of a pivoting cantilever tie anchored to the middle of the adjustable clamps and a pivoting diagonal brace anchored to the adjustable clamps below the top rail with a catchment provided at the end, the means by which the diagonal brace is releasably secured to the pivotal cantilever tie, the detachable ladder safety cradle is secured to a vertical plane by locating both ends of the cantilever tie into the anchor hooks provided.

3 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the adjustment means is provided in the adjustable clamps to suit varing pitches between rungs on different ladders.

4 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the aperture in the anchor hooks is an inverted "T" shape to assist arrestment of detachable safety cradle struts.

5 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the anchor hooks when fixed to a vertical plain can be used for both configerations of the detachable ladder safety cradle.

6 A detachable ladder safety cradle with anchors substantially as discribed herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.