GB2336618A - Safety base for ladders - Google Patents

Abstract

A ladder stabilising base 1 together with an angularly adjustable restraining means 9 provides secure level mounting for ladder feet. The adjustable restraining means is vertically raised and guided at one end on posts 6 and slidingly guided 8 at the other end. There is a quick latching and unlatching means 7 for conveniently setting the restraining means horizontal. The base 1, separate from the ladder, has features such as downward-pointing flanges 3 and compressible pads 4 that allow it to grip the ground. There may be the option of placing weights preferably on removeable flat plate extensions 2 to increase security. There may be elastic cords passing over the bottom rung and through holes 10 in the receptacle for holding down the ladder base when erecting it. There may be a level indicator 11 and a ladder angle guide.

Description

1 1 1.

SAFETY BASE FOR LADDERS This invention relates to the safe use of ladders.

2336618 There are more injur ies caused by people working from ladders than anything else in the building trade and in the DIY sector. These injuries often occur when the bottom end of a ladder has not been made stable. Any movement here can cause loss of balance of the user and also loss of confidence. The Government is keen to reduce these injuries and is promoting safety awareness.

The present invention provides a stable base, whatever the ground, together with an adjustable restraining means providing angular displacement thus giving level mounting, so that both ladder feet share the load equally whatever the slope. Thus the ladder is held in the placed position with both legs sharing the load, and will not slide or wobble or twist. Moreover, the present invention provides for a quick latching and unlatching means for conveniently setting the adjustable restraining means horizontal. There may be the option of placing weights preferably but not exclusively on removeable flat plate extensions to hold more securely the said means in the desired position. Furthermore, the same means can be used to aid erection of the ladder by one man, by restraining the lower end near the desired position while he walks underneath the extended ladder, raising it to its working position.

One such embodiment but not the only embodiment is described below by way of example of the invention, with reference to the accompanying Figure 1 and with some details, variations and alternatives shown in Figures 2 to 4.

There is a Base Plate (1) which may have extended ends (2) on which can be placed any heavy object such as oil drums, tubs of water, sandbags, etc. These weights add to the holding-down force on the Base Plate. The front and rear of the Base Plate may have folded-down edges (3) that wifl either grip on rough terrain or sink into soft ground. Underneath may be a pad or pads (4) of compressible material that may be initially proud of the folded edges but may compress under weight to give a friction hold on smooth hard ground. The Base Plate may be sufficiently flexible to allow the ladder weight to provide increased grip by deflecting the Base Plate. There may also be provided a hole or holes (5) in the Base Plate for insertion of a stake if so desired. The folded edges may have elastomeric edging strips (12) that protect for example a patio surface from being marked.

Rigidly mounted on the Base Plate is one or more Rods (6) fitted with a jamming wedging or Latching Means (7), wflich means permits the positioning of the restraining means at any convenient position yet can be tripped by relatively light manual downward force when the load is removed. Mounted on this Rod or these Rods for guidance and sliding between two Uprights (8) is a Receptacle, Trough with open or closed ends, or Location Means (9) which holds the ladder.

2.

In use, the Base Plate (1) is placed on uneven ground, the base of the ladder (not shown) is mounted in the Receptacle (9) and the ladder top is placed against the vertical surface, a wall for example. The jamming means (7) underneath one end of the Receptacle is then lifted or adjusted so that both of the ladder feet are in contact with the Receptacle (9), which thus is automatically jammed at the required angle.

Figure 2 shows that to assist and assure the operation of the jamming means (7), such means may be offset so that its own weight \mill cause the locking side to droop. Additionally or alternatively spring or springs (13) may be used. Where springs are thus used, they may be seated upon a lower lip (14) of the Receptacle or against the Base means (1) as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment variation where there is a locating means separate from the rods used for jamming, such as a vertical post (15). This may be of light section and be allowed to deflect until it contacts the jamming means (7), which being connected to the said Rods (6) will then stiffen the assembly. Also there may be an elastomeric or other edging strip (16) to flange (17), which prevents movement of the Receptacle against the Base by high friction. Alternatively, there may be an elastomeric pad on the Base, into which the flange (17) seats.

To further improve positive jamming, the Rod or Rods may be threaded which, while not giving the totally stepless adjustment given by plain rods, are close enough to such operation while giving much more positive jamming. To release the jamming means, the free side is depressed, which is only possible if there is minimal weight bearing upon it.

Another embodiment variation shown in Figure 4 has the same jamming or latching adjustment means but may have the Receptacle (9) pivoted at one end (19) and the Rods (18) also pivoting (20) at the Base. The Receptacle may be located by for example Guide (15) as shown in Figure 3 working in a slotted hole in the receptacle, or lip (21) or (14) as shown in Figures 1 and 2, Other variations may dispense with the jamming means and employ nuts on the threaded Rods or other means to lock the said Receptacle in place.

Weights may be placed as described above to make the ladder more secure. Furthermore, where a long ladder is to be erected, the ladder feet can be placed on the Receptacle with the ladder horizontal and extended, and elastic cords hooked into four holes, two at each side, (10) which may either be in the Receptacle or Base Plate, with the said cords passed for example over or attached to the bottom rung of the ladder. The base of the ladder now has weight to hold it down as erection proceeds. In this way, only one person is needed. These cords can be left in place during use of the ladder as an additional safety feature. Alternatively, the cords may be attached to single holes at each end of the Base or Receptacle.

As an additional feature there can be mounted on the Receptacle a level indicating device (11) to allow the Receptacle to be set level before the ladder is placed in it.

Another additional feature is a guide indicating recommended ladder angle, either in written or chart form, or by a physical device that points the recommended angle.

For compactness, if the weight placement means are side extensions (2) to the Base Plate they can be detachable, for example by using locking lugs or bolts, which makes for easy storage, transport and handling. In some situations they could be dispensed with, for example on soft ground where the ladder weight will provide all the downward force required. The side extensions are preferably flat and may have friction pads or other restraining aid such as serrations or teeth underneath to increase the grip.

Claims (30)

1. A ladder support comprising a base member and a location means for the foot of the ladder, said means being angularly adjustable in the vertical plane.

2. A ladder support comprising a base member and a location means for the foot of the ladder, said means being angularly adjustable in the vertical plane and releasably held in position by latching or engaging means.

3. An adjustable means placeable underneath a ladder and in use providing a horizontal seat and or restraint for and in line with the ends of the stiles of the said ladder.

4. An adjustable means as claimed in claims 1 and or 2 placeable underneath a ladder and in use providing a horizontal seat and or restraint for and in line with the ends of the stiles of the said ladder.

5. A means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 where the ends of the ladder stiles may include articulated feet.

6. A means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 where the ladder seat and or restraint is a trough which may have open or closed ends.

7. A means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 where the ladder seat and or restraint includes flexible or elastic means attachable to the ladder.

8. A means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 with means for additional weight placement.

9. A means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 with means for additional weight placement, said means being in the form of extensions releasably attached to or forming part of the base member.

10. A means as claimed in claims 8 or 9 where the extensions are flat plates which may have friction material underneath.

11. An adjustable ladder stabilising means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 and having features that grip, bind with, jam against, or sink into, and or are held to, divers surfaces and which also may have non-marking features.

12. A means as in claim 11 with flanges holes protrusions and or friction means and or placements for holding-down means and or position fixing means.

13. An adjustable means as described heretofore and releasably attachable to or forming part of or articulated with a ladder.

14. A ladder support where the stile location means is raisable and guided at one end and is guided but not pivoted at the other end.

15. A ladder support where the stile location means is ra'isable and guided by pivoted supports at one end and pivoted at the other end.

16. A ladder support where the stile location means is raisable at one end and pivoted at the other end.

17. A ladder support as in any of claims 1 to 16 Mere there are guiding and or latching members permitting the positioning substantially horizontally of the said stile location means regardless of the ground.

18. A ladder support as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 where releasable jamming and or latching is achieved by an engagement member locking with or engaging against a receiving support member and held in position by weight, self-weight, offset, spring means, or any or all of these.

19. A ladder support whose angular displacement is settable by latching means.

20. A ladder support whose angular displacement is changable by use of a quick release means.

21. A ladder support whose angular displacement is steplessly adjustable.

22. A ladder support whose angular displacement is settable by use of serrations threads or ratchet means.

23. A means separate from a ladder comprising a base means of relatively large area and an adjustable means that allows the ends of the ladder stiles to be held at the same level.

24. A flexible ladder support means that permits different restraining features to work suitably on whatever ground the said means is placed.

25. An elastic means for holding down the bottom end of a ladder, thus easing its erection and use by one person.

26. A means as claimed in any of the preceding claims herein that includes a level indicating means.

27. A means as claimed in any of the preceding claims herein that includes a ladder angle indicating means.

28. A means as claimed in any preceding claim herein and having any or all of the features claimed herein.

29. A ladder safety means or support substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

30. An adjustable support for use With any temporarily-erected access means and substantially as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings herein.