GB2318607A

GB2318607A - Ladder attachment bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2318607A
Application number: GB9722227A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Longmire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-23
Filing date: 1997-10-21
Publication date: 1998-04-29
Also published as: AUPO316696A0; GB9722227D0

Abstract

A ladder attachment 35 and removable step 14 comprising a first elongated leg 15, a linearly extending intermediate body 21 attached thereto at an angle, and a wedging leg 25 extending from an undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21. The intermediate body 21 linearly extends further beyond the connection to the wedging leg 25 to form an extension arm 31 that forms part of a support means able to support an article or person. The wedging leg 25 has a substantially flat second surface 26 generally opposing a first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 but laterally offset and extending in a plane which is at an acute angle to the plane of the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15. The ladder attachment 35 is able to be mounted and retained on a ladder by the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 engaging a front facing surface of one of the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder and the second surface of the wedging leg 25 able to engage a rear surface of an adjacent rung 42 extending between the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder so that the engagement of the first and second surfaces 16,26 on the front facing surface of the longitudinal stringer and the rear surface of the rung respectively provide a wedge locking effect. The relative angle of the plane of the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 relative to the plane of the front surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 is important in order to obtain the wedging effect. The most effective angle is 45{ although it may be up to 5{ more or less.

Description

A LADDER ATTACHMENT This invention relates to an ladder attachment for removably attaching to a ladder a support means able to support an article or a person.

Ladders and particularly extension ladders are used by painters and trades people in order to reach high areas on buildings and structures. In order to save time the painter needs to have a container of paint near the top of the ladder. It is known to hook a handle of a paint tin onto a rung of the ladder. The attaching hook would usually be located near the centre of the rung as the side supports of the ladder do not usually provide enough room for the tin to hang near the side. In this position the painter can be hindered by the hook or the hook can damage the painter's hand and as the painter moves up the ladder the hook could be kicked loose or impede.the firm grip of the painter's foot on the rung.

Also, good balance is required so as to facilitate the use of both hands to a task. If balance cannot be achieved by the feet and toes alone the user will need to gain balance by extra means. This usually means forfeiting partial or total use of one hand or arm to the task or leaning against rungs with shins or knees.

Another problem is the length of time that a painter must stand on a ladder and the need to reach away from the ladder in order to minimise the number of times the ladder needs to be moved. Extension ladders generally only have thin circular or D-shaped cylindrical rungs. The small diameter cylindrical rungs allow for narrow longitudinal stringers to support the ends of the rungs. The overall slimness of the ladder facilitates sliding of two or three extension parts of the ladder longitudinally adjacent each other to decrease the size of the ladder when not in use and to allow for easy transport. However when using such a ladder over a length of time the painters' weight must be supported on the small diameter cylindrical rungs by a small part of the foot. Step ladders are preferred by painters in that they provide a broad step on which to stand and thereby allow easy balancing of the painter over a long period of time. However extension ladders cannot comprise steps as the bulkiness and weight of such a ladder makes it impractical.

It is known to have a ladder attachment which comprises a hook that hooks over a rung of a ladder. However this only generally locates the bracket and allows for movement of the bracket and any container or holder attached to the bracket relative to the ladder. In particular a hook does not stop rotation around the axis of the rung of the ladder.

It is also known to have ladder attachments which engage two adjacent rungs of a ladder. However this results in a large cumbersome apparatus which often impedes the user of the ladder particularly when climbing up past the attachment. Also generally the apparatus is prevented from rotating past a particular position when it engages both rungs but it does not provide a stable secure single positioning of the apparatus.

Another type of a ladder attachment includes clamps or screws which engage a stringer of the ladder. This generally complicates the apparatus and is the weakest point of the apparatus. Further the clamp or screws generally are only useable on wooden ladders.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a means for supporting articles on a ladder which can be attached to a rung or step of a ladder while not impeding the user of the ladder.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for supporting both feet from toe to heel in a stable position by providing a detachable platform which can be attached to a rung of a ladder while not impeding the user of the ladder.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a ladder attachment for removably attaching a step or container to a ladder rearwardly of the ladder relative to a user of the ladder, the attachment comprising an elongated leg having a first surface; a wedging leg having a second surface; and an intermediate body connecting and locating said elongated leg relative to said wedging leg so as to have the first and second surfaces laterally offset to each other but substantially in planes at least partially opposing each other, wherein the ladder attachment is able to be mounted and retained on a ladder by the first surface of the first body engaging a front facing surface of one of the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder and the second surface of the second body able to engage a rear surface of an adjacent rung extending between the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder so that the engagement of the first and second surfaces on the front facing surface of the longitudinal stringer and the rear surface of the rung respectively provide a wedge locking effect.

The invention also provides a ladder attachment for removably attaching a support means to a ladder formed by two longitudinal stringers and a plurality of rungs or steps fixed therebetween, the ladder attachment comprising: an elongated leg having a first surface able to engage a front facing surface of the ladder being a surface facing the user of the ladder; and a wedging leg spaced from and connected to the elongated leg by an intermediate body such that the wedging leg extends substantially longitudinally relative to the elongated leg and has a second surface extending substantially in a plane at an acute angle to the plane of the first surface of the elongated leg whereby in use the first surface is able to engage the front facing surface of the ladder while the second surface of the wedging leg is able to engage the back surface of a rung such that a wedge lock effect holds the ladder attachment in place on the rung.

The attachment of the invention is thereby able to attach a support means to a ladder while not hindering the user of the ladder since the attachment is attached at the extreme ends of the rung of the ladder. Further the attachment is removably held on the rung of the ladder and it is able to be removed and attached to any rung as required. More particularly the attachment provides stability by preventing rotational movement around the rung of the ladder to which it is attached.

The ladder attachment can include the first and second surfaces of the elongated and wedging legs extending substantially in converging planes such that in position on a ladder the planes intersect in a line substantially parallel to the axis of the rung. The angle between the planes of the first and second surfaces can be about 45" wherein the angle between the first surface of the elongated leg and an upper planar surface of the intermediate body is about 104 -105 The offset of the second surface of the wedging leg relative to the first surface of the elongated leg can be achieved by the intermediate body attaching to and extending outwardly from a side of the elongated leg and the wedging leg extending in a plane from the intermediate body substantially parallel to plane of the extension of the elongated leg and laterally offset thereto.

The wedge lock effect is variable based on the weight exerted on the intermediate body by the intermediate body spacing the first surface of the elongated leg and second surface of the wedging leg such that in use the top of the rung of the ladder to which the ladder attachment is attached cannot engage the intermediate body. The weight of the user of the ladder attachment will ensure firmer fitting of the ladder attachment on the ladder rung.

The elongated leg is preferably sized and connected to the intermediate body such that in use parts of the elongated leg at opposite ends engage the front facing surface of a stringer of the ladder above and below respectively of the rung to which the ladder attachment is attached so as to assist in limiting rotation of the ladder attachment around the axis of the rung. The torsional forces will be limited by the extension of the elongated leg due to the movement of the torsional point of rotation away from the rung of the ladder.

The elongated or wedging legs may include resilient parts so as to provide resilient engagement of the first or second surfaces on the longitudinal stringer or rung and the elongated leg, intermediate body and wedging leg can be formed as an integral article.

In one preferred form of the invention the ladder attachment can include an extension arm extending rearwardly relative to the elongated leg for attachment of a support means such that in use the support means is located rearwardly of the rung to which the ladder attachment is attached. The support means may form a removable step having two spaced attachment brackets which are substantially mirror images such that a first ladder attachment is able to engage one side longitudinal stringer of a ladder and a rung of the ladder adjacent the respective longitudinal stringer and the second ladder attachment is able to engage the other longitudinal stringer and the same rung of the ladder at an adjacent end and a tread plate is attached between the respective attachment brackets rearwardly of the respective elongated legs thereby forming a removable step that can be attached to any except the top two rungs of the ladder and extends rearwardly of the rung.

In order that the invention is more readily understood a particular embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a right hand ladder attachment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front end view of a left hand ladder attachment being a mirror image of the ladder attachment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the ladder attachment of Figure 2 in location on a ladder.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the left hand ladder attachment of Fig. 2 mounted on a two part extension ladder.

Figure 5 shows a cutaway side elevation of a second embodiment of a removable step according to the invention including the left hand ladder attachment of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a cutaway side elevation of a third embodiment of a removable step according to the invention including a left hand ladder attachment in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the removable step of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a ladder attachment 11 comprising a first elongated leg 15, a linearly extending intermediate body 21 attached thereto at an angle, and a wedging leg 25 extending from an undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21. The intermediate body 21 linearly extends further beyond the connection to the wedging leg 25 to form an extension arm 31 that forms part of a support means able to support an article or person.

The intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31 are formed by a single continuous aluminium angle having an L-shaped cross-section with the elongated leg 15 formed by a separate aluminium angle having an L-shaped cross-section. The wedging leg 25 is a solid aluminium part having shape and sufficient size to be able to provide an unyielding wedging effect.

A right hand ladder attachment in accordance with the invention as shown in Figure 1 is able to be fitted to a right hand side of a ladder as determined by a user standing on a ladder in a normal position when the ladder is leaning against a wall. For a right hand ladder attachment 11 the L-shape of the aluminium angle forming the intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31 and the L-shape of the aluminium angle forming the elongated leg 15 are back to back and therefore facing outwardly but rotationally translated relative to each other such that the undersurface 22 of the aluminium angle forming the intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31 is at an obtuse angle to a first surface 16 formed by the undersurface of the aluminium angle forming the elongated leg 15.

The wedging leg 25 is a triangular prismatic wedge extending from and along a plane perpendicular to the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21 and parallel but laterally offset to the plane of extension of the elongated leg 15. The wedging leg 25 narrows to a vertex of the triangular prismatic wedge at the end of the wedging leg 25 distal from end connected to the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21. The wedging leg 25 has a substantially flat second surface 26 generally opposing the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 but laterally offset and extending in a plane which is at an acute angle to the plane of the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15.

In use, the ladder attachment 11 can be fixed to a ladder having a plurality of rungs 42 extending in between longitudinal stringers 41. Each longitudinal stringer 41 has a front or forward facing surface 43 which is a surface facing away from a wall when the ladder is in its normal useable position against a wall and facing the user of the ladder. The ladder attachment 11 is placed over the end of a single rung 42 and located such that the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 is able to engage the front surface 43 of the longitudinal stringer 41 of the ladder while the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 of the ladder attachment 11 is able to engage an upper back surface of the rung 42 adjacent the longitudinal stringer 41 resulting in the ladder attachment 11 being substantially wedge locked into position and thereby held on the ladder. However, the first surface 16 and second surface 26 are spaced by the intermediate body 21 such that the rung 42 is unable to engage the under surface 22 of intermediate body 21 when in position.

The wedging effect occurs since the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 is linear and able to slide along the front surface 43 of the longitudinal stringer 41 of the ladder and the second surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 is in a plane at an acute angle to the plane of the first surface 16 and the two planes intersect above the under surface 22 of the intermediate body. The two surfaces 16, 26 are sufficiently spaced so that in use in one position the first surface 16 is engaging the front surface 43 of the longitudinal stringer 41 and the second surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 is just engaging a rear surface of the rung 42 adjacent the longitudinal stringer 41. However upon further downward exertion of the ladder attachment 11 the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 slides further down the front surface 43 of the longitudinal stringer 41 and the rung 42 slides further up the second surface 26 of the wedging leg 25. The distance between the inner surface 26 that is contacting the upper rear surface of the rung 42 relative to the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 is decreasing so as to provide a tighter fit and therefore a wedge locking effect. Clearly the effectiveness of the wedging effect is dependent on the frictional engagement of the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg on the rear surface of the rung 42 and the relative angle of the inner surface 26 ofthe wedging leg 25 to the first surface 16 ofthe elongated leg 15.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an integral support means to form a removable step 14 comprising a right hand ladder attachment 11 and a left hand ladder attachment 12 with a tread plate 52 extending therebetween.

The right hand bracket 11 and left hand bracket 12 are substantially mirror images with the elongated leg 15 of each being on the respective outer side of the intermediate body 21.

Thereby the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 of the right hand ladder attachment 11 is able to engage the front surface 43 of the right hand ladder stringer 41 of the ladder with the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 being laterally offset to the left of the elongated leg 15 so as to be able to engage an upper rear surface of the rung 42 of the ladder adjacent the right hand ladder stringer 41. Similarly the left hand ladder attachment 12 has the elongated leg 15 on the outer side of the intermediate body 21 so that the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 is able to engage the front surface 43 of the left hand longitudinal stringer 41 of the ladder with its respective inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 being laterally offset to the right of the elongated leg 15 and connected to the intermediate body 21 such that it is able to engage an upper rear surface of the rung 42 adjacent the left hand longitudinal stringer 41.

The tread plate 52 comprises 3 mm aluminium sheeting extending between and attaching to the inwardly extending portions of the L-shaped aluminium angle forming the respective connecting arms 21 and extension arms 31 of each of the right and left hand attachment brackets 11 and 12.

As shown in Figure 5, one form of the removable step 13 has a hooked rear end 55 extending from the rear of the tread plate 52 at right angles to the tread plate to a vertex with an inwardly extending tail so that the step 13 can be hung by the vertex of the hooked rear end 55. This form of support means is particular advantageous for use on the recommended third rung from the top of an extension ladder which when a standard ladder is at the recommended angle of about 75O is only some 300 mm away from the wall. It is therefore necessary for the aluminium angle forming the intermediate body and extension arm is 300 mm long that the hooked rear end 55 of the tread plate does not extend beyond the end of the extension arm which would prevent correct positioning of the removable step 13 on the third top rung of an extension ladder.

The relative angles of the parts are important in order to provide optimal performance.

Generally the recommended angle of a ladder when in use against a wall is 74 -75 or a rise of 4:1. Therefore the angle of the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21 relative to the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 should be at 104 -105 for providing an extension arm 31 extending horizontally when the ladder attachment 11 is placed on a ladder inclined at the recommended angle of approximately 74 -75 However the angle between the first surface 16 and the undersurface 22 may be less than 104 -105 so that if the ladder is located at an incorrect angle such as a steeper angle the extension arm 31 will extend horizontally or slightly downwards so the person standing on the tread plate 52 fixed between the two extension arms 31 would be leaning into the ladder rather than leaning dangerously away from the ladder.

If the undersurface 22 is located horizontally the recommended angle of the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 relative to the undersurface 22 is at approximately 1200.1210 However this can be at any angle greater than or equal to 90" If the angle is 90" or less then a wedging effect will not be effectively attained. It should be understood that it is the relative angle of the plane of the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 relative to the plane of the front surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 that is important in order to obtain the wedging effect. The most effective angle is 45" although it may be up to 5 more or less.

The 45" angle between the first and second surfaces 16, 26 and the 1200.1210 angle of the undersurface 22 relative to the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 are important in being able to release the ladder attachment from the ladder. As the relative angle of the first and second surfaces decreases to 40 and less it becomes harder to release the ladder attachment after use. 450 between the first and second surfaces 16, 26 has been found to provide a reasonable wedging effect while still being readily releasable.

The relative spacing of the first surface 16 and the inner surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 is also important to obtain the wedging effect. By ensuring that the spacing is sufficient relative to the ladder on which it is to be used the under surface 22 of the intermediate body 21 does not engage the rung 42 on which the ladder attachment 11 is mounted and thereby the wedging effect is the prime action and the first surface 16 under surface 22 and second surface 26 does not merely act as a hook over the rung 42 but is fixedly wedged on the rung 42.

In order to fit most standard ladders the distance of the wedging leg 25 from the elongated leg 15 along the intermediate body 21 is 35 mm. The first surface 16 extends 110 mm below the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21 and extends beyond the under surface 22 of the intermediate body 21 to improve the stability of the ladder attachment when fixed in position. In particular the elongated leg 15 extends above and below the under surface 22 of the intermediate body 21 such that in a wedged position along the front surface of a side stringer 41, the elongated leg 15 extends above and below the rung 42 on which it is attached. In this way the torsional rotation axis is moved away from the rung 42 to the ends of the elongated legs 15 thereby further assisting the positioning of the ladder attachment 11 and prevention of rotation of the ladder attachment 11 around the axis of the rung 42.

The wedging leg 25 extends for 80 mm at an angle to and for a maximum distance of 70 mm away from the aluminium angle forming the intermediate body 21 and extension arm 3 1. As well as having a second surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 angled at 1200.1210 to the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21 the wedging leg 25 includes a rear surface at an acute angle to the undersurface 22 of the intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31 such that the distal end of the wedging leg 25 to the intermediate body 21 subtends an angle of about 13 -15 As shown by Figure 4 this is advantageous in use of the ladder attachment with extension ladders having one or more extension parts which are able to be movably slid along behind the front part of the extension ladder and where the wedging leg 25 engages the upper rear surface of a rung 42 of a front part of the extension ladder while fitting in front of and clearing a rung 42A of a rear part of the extension ladder.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of a removable step 14 comprising a variation of a right hand ladder attachment. The ladder attachment 35 is very similar to the ladder attachment 12 and the numerals identifying similar parts are retained constant. The primary difference between the ladder attachment 35 and the ladder attachment 12 of the first embodiment is that the elongated leg 15 and intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31 are not formed by L-shaped brackets but instead are formed from sheet material which are joined by intermediate sheet 23 extending along the side edge of the elongated leg 15 and the side edge of the intermediate body and extension arms 21 and 31. The intermediate sheet 23 has cut aways where it is not joined to the elongated leg 15 or intermediate body 21 and extension arm 3 1. By the sizing of the intermediate plate 23 and connection along the entire lengths of elongated leg 15, intermediate body 21 and extension arm 31, a stronger unit is obtained. Further, there is no requirement for the duplication of material of the L-shaped brackets used in the first embodiment of the attachment bracket 12. All of the parts of the removable step 14 can be welded together to form an integral removable step. The parts of the ladder attachment 35 may be cast in aluminium in three parts and welded or otherwise fixed together or cast in a single unit. Alternatively the attachment bracket could be made in suitable plastics by injection moulding.

In use the front edge 53 allows easy placement of the removable step 14 on any required rung 42 other than top two rungs of an extension ladder. This edge also allows easy alighting onto the step since it does not protrude substantially in front of the rung. A user merely places the removable step 14 over the rung 42 and allows contact of the first surface 16 of the elongated leg 15 along the front surface of the ladder stringer 41. Downward movement allows engagement of the second surface 26 of the wedging leg 25 to a rear surface of the rung 42. Exertion of a downward force such as the weight of the user on the tread plate 52 increases the wedging effect so as to provide a wedge lock effect.

Removing the removable step 14 merely requires lifting the front edge 53 of the removable step so that the elongated leg 15 can slide along the front of the side stringer 41 of the ladder so as to increase the distance between the contact points of the second surface 26 and the first surface 16 of elongated leg 15 so as to decrease the wedging effect and allow easy removal.

It should be evident from the description hereinabove that the present invention provides an improved ladder attachment and an improved removable step which avoids most if not all the disadvantages of the prior art. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A ladder attachment for removably attaching a step or container to a ladder rearwardly of the ladder relative to a user of the ladder, the attachment comprising an elongated leg having a first surface; a wedging leg having a second surface; and an intermediate body connecting and locating said elongated leg relative to said wedging leg so as to have the first and second surfaces laterally offset to each other but substantially in planes at least partially opposing each other, wherein the ladder attachment is able to be mounted and retained on a ladder by the first surface of the elongated leg engaging a front facing surface of one of the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder and the second surface of the wedging leg able to engage a rear surface of an adjacent rung extending between the two longitudinal stringers of the ladder so that the engagement of the first and second surfaces on the front facing surface of the longitudinal stringer and the rear surface of the rung respectively provide a wedge locking effect.

2. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces of the elongated and wedging legs extend substantially in converging planes such that in position on a ladder the planes intersect in a line substantially parallel to the axis of the rung.

3. A ladder attachment as defined in claim 3 wherein the angle between the planes of the first and second surfaces is about 45"

4. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the angle between the first surface of the elongated leg and an upper planar surface of the intermediate body is about 105

5. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the offset of the second surface of the wedging leg relative to the first surface of the elongated leg is achieved by the intermediate body attaching to and extending outwardly from a side of the elongated leg and the wedging leg extending in a plane from the intermediate body substantially parallel to plane of the extension of the elongated leg and laterally offset thereto.

6. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate body spaces the first surface of the elongated leg and second surface of the wedging leg such that in use the top of the rung of the ladder to which the ladder attachment is attached cannot engage the intermediate body and the wedge lock effect is variable based on downward force exerted on the intermediate body.

7. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongated leg is sized and connected to the intermediate body such that in use parts of the elongated leg at opposite ends engage the front facing surface of a stringer of the ladder above and below respectively of the rung to which the ladder attachment is attached so as to assist in limiting rotation of the ladder attachment around the axis of the rung.

8. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the elongated or wedging legs include resilient parts so as to provide resilient engagement of the first or second surfaces on the longitudinal stringer or rung.

9. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongated leg, intermediate body and wedging leg form an integral article.

10. A ladder attachment for removably attaching a support means to a ladder formed by two longitudinal stringers and a plurality of rungs or steps fixed therebetween, the ladder attachment comprising: an elongated leg having a first surface able to engage a front facing surface of the ladder being a surface facing the user of the ladder; and a wedging leg spaced from and connected to the elongated leg by an intermediate body such that the wedging leg extends substantially longitudinally relative to the elongated leg and has a second surface extending substantially in a plane at an acute angle to the plane of the first surface of the elongated leg whereby in use the first surface is able to engage the front facing surface of the ladder while the second surface of the wedging leg is able to engage the back surface of a rung or step such that a wedge lock effect holds the ladder attachment in place on the rung or step.

11. A ladder attachment as defined in claim 10 wherein the elongated leg includes a surface which in use is able to engage a front facing surface of a ladder stringer while the second surface of the wedging leg engages the back surface of a rung or step so as to assist limiting the rotation of the ladder attachment around the axis of the rungs.

12. A ladder attachment as defined in any one of the preceding claims including an extension arm extending rearwardly relative the elongated leg for attachment of a support means such that in use the support means are located rearwardly of the rung to which the ladder attachment is attached.

13. A removable step having two spaced attachment brackets according to any one of the preceding claims and which are substantially mirror images such that a first ladder attachment is able to engage one side longitudinal stringer of a ladder and a rung of the ladder adjacent the respective longitudinal stringer and the second ladder attachment is able to engage the other longitudinal stringer and the same rung of the ladder at an adjacent end and a tread plate is attached between the respective attachment brackets rearwardly of the respective elongated legs thereby forming a removable step that can be attached to any rung of the ladder and extends rearwardly of the rung.

14. A ladder attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

15. A removable step substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.