GB2364734A

GB2364734A - Folding ladder stabilising system

Info

Publication number: GB2364734A
Application number: GB0017100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Richard Hendrik Veen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-13
Filing date: 2000-07-13
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0017100D0

Abstract

A stabilising system (2) includes inter-sliding bars (5, 8) held together in a required position by a fastening means (6), such as a wing nut, where the bars are attachable to the legs of an 'A' frame or folding ladder (1) by brackets (9) such that, in use, the ladder may be held in an open position. The system may be used in conjunction with adjustable ladder extension legs (3) which keep the ladder in the required position if it is standing on uneven, sloped or stepped ground.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> FOLDING LADDER STABILISER This invention relates to stabilising all well known folding or A-frame type step ladders, manufactured from wood, plastic or metal, being used on uneven or stepped surfaces. The invention makes use of linking two extention ladder legs (Pat. App. 0000333.5) by an adjustable inter sliding bar which when tightened prevents the folding ladder from collapsing while in use, on even, uneven or stepped surfaces. A further application, if the extention ladder legs are not required to stabilse the ladder, is to remove the fixing bracet from the ladder shelf (Pat. App. 00 15 924.4 and using an additional bracket linked to the inter sliding bar can be fixed to two legs and tightened to stop the folding ladder collapsing. Well known A-frame or folding ladders have well known folding metal arms that lock the ladders in the A-shape for mounting, or the top shelf locks over the ajoin#ing legs to secure the ladder when fully opened in the A-shape position. Most accidents occur because this locking system under indirect pressure is not secure.

This invention by modifying two ladder ex-tention legs (App. No. 00003335) with two additional wing nuts or similar well known securing system, allows two well known inter sliding bars with a central securing device to be attached to the ladder extention legs modified. The inter sliding bars can be secured at any width depending on the width of the A-frame or folding ladder. By fully tightening the securing device the ladder will not fold or collapse. A special embodiement of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig I shows a folding ladder I with well known locking device 2 to keep the ladder in the open position. Attached to the two legs of the ladder are two extention ladder legs 3 (App. No. 00003 3 3.5) which are modified at fig. 1. 4 to take two wing nuts fig, 2.12 to secure a well known inter sliding bar fig, 1.3 which have been secured in position on each ladder side. By tightening the knurled knob fig. 1.6 it will secure the inter sliding bar to the exact length to maintain the folding ladder in a fixed and secure open position. This can be seen in the crossection fig. 3 where by srewing down 6, plate 8 is forced against sliding plate 5 fig, 3. The end of the knurled knob fig. 3.6 has a rubber backed plate/disc I I which further secures the inte rsliding bars in a permanent fixed position until released for folding the ladder.

A further variation when the extention ladder legs are not required on an even surface, to secure the A-frame or folding ladder in a safe and secure open position, is to fit the sliding bar fig. 2.5 and 8 to two fixing brackets fig. 2.9 the inter sliding bars 5 and 8 are attached by screw and wingnut or similar fig. 2, 13 and 12. The brackets fig. 2.9 are attached to the unfolded legs of the ladders one side similar to fig. I and fastened by rubber backed knurled knob fig. 2. 10 the central knurled knob fig. 2.6 secures the inter sliding bar fig. 2.5 and 8.

By modifying the fixing bracket for the adjustable ladder shelf (App. No. 0015924.4) and supplying an additional bracket and extention ladder leg (App No. 0000333.5) a stabilising kit could be manufactured to stabilise all single, A-frame and folding ladders or else manufactured as individual units.

Referring to the drawings the folding ladder stabiliser fig. 1.5 and 6 and fig. 2.5 and 6 with brackets fig. 2.9, the unit is manufactured from a suitable material such as metal or an alloy. The inter sliding bars have a knurled knob fig. 2.6 to lock it in position to prevent the ladder fig. I from folding. At the same time by attaching the inter sliding bars to two extention ladder legs (App. No. 0000333.5) any folding or A-frame ladders can be stabilised in a safe perpendicular position on uneven, sloping or stepped surfaces.

Alternatively on an even surface an A-frame or folding ladder can be preventing from collapsing

by attaching the inter sliding bars, fig. 2.5 an 8, to two brackets fig. 2.9 or modified brackets supplied with the adjustable ladder shelf (App. No. 0015924.4) these two brackets are fastened to either leg of the opened ladder similar to fig. I the knurled knob fig. 1.6 is tightened to secure the ladder in the open position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A folding ladder stabilising system manufactured from a suitable material such as metal or alloy can be attached by means of modified extention ladder legs (Pat. App. 00003 3 3.5)or two separate well known brackets to any type of A-frame or folding ladder to stabilise the ladder on uneven, sloping, stepped or even surface is claimed.
2. Well known inter sliding bars with a well known rubber backed knurled knob fig. 3 and 2.6 as claimed in I is modified to fit and secure any A-frame or folding ladder in an open position, preventing the ladder from collapsing when attached to two well know brackets or two extention ladder legs (Pat. App. 0000333.5) is claimed.
3. As claimed in I and 2 a combination kit, of two extention ladder legs (Pat App. 0000333.5 modified to take the well know inter sliding bars and two modified brackets for the adjustable ladder shelf (Pat. App. 0015924.4, which can be used to stabilise A-frame or folding ladders or single ladders is claimed
4. As claimed in 1,2 and 3 a combination of well know inter sliding bars, knurled knobs and brackets which are fully adjustable in length and position on an A-frame or folding ladder to secure the ladder in an open position is claimed.