GB2366270A

GB2366270A - Ladder rack

Info

Publication number: GB2366270A
Application number: GB0021742A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Greene
Original assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Current assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Priority date: 2000-09-04
Filing date: 2000-09-04
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-04
Also published as: GB0021742D0; GB2366270B

Abstract

A ladder rack, particularly for use on a vehicle, to facilitate the storage and retrieval of the ladders, comprises a board (1) for supporting the ladder including retaining hooks (2) and a retaining strap (3) for securing the ladder to the board. The board is secured to a rack boom (6) which extends perpendicularly to the board and is slidable along a rail member (14) by means of a boom trolley (13) such that the board may be moved from a storage position to a position clear of the storage area. In operation, on a vehicle, the board is pulled out to the side of the vehicle by use of a handle (8) and then rotated about the rack boom from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position for ease of retrieval.

Description

i5w I AIZOT L-AftftEP RACK The invention relates to a rack for the storage and retrieval of equipment, The rack may in particular but not exclusively be used for the storage and retrieval of a ladder provided on a vehicle.

A ladder for use in the field must be stored during transport. The most convenient position for storage of a ladder during transport is horizontally. However, due to limitations of space, the only storage space available is high up on the vehicle which is not easily accessible. Furthermore, retrieval of a stored ladder can require the assistance of a second person. The most convenient retrieval position is if the ladder is vertical.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for storing and retrieving a ladder which can be operated by a single person.

A ladder rack is described which allows for ease of storage and retrieval of a ladder which is mounted above head height on the rear of a vehicle. The skilled person will realise that such a ladder rack may find application in a static location, and may easily be adapted for storing a ladder below head height.

The invention is described below with reference to figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the ladder rack.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the ladder rack from another angle. Figures 3 to 6 show the ladder rack during operation.

With reference to figure 1 , a board 1 forms the basis of the movable section of the ladder rack. A pair of ladder retaining hooks 2 are mounted towards the centre of rotation of the board 1 which serve to hold the ladder in place on the rack by engagement with the rungs of the ladder. In the preferred embodiment the ladder retaining hooks engage with the rungs of the ladder and prevent motion of the ladder engaged therewith in a rearwards direction relative to the board 1 and in a direction out of the plane of board 1 A ladder retaining strap 3 is provided to hold a portion of the ladder against the board 1. The ladder retaining strap 3 is provided in two sections, each section having an end fixed to board 1 and an end having suitable means for fastening to the other section such a buckle, clips or hooks. Side members 4 are provided to restrict the lateral motion of a ladder in place on the rack.

It will be appreciated that a skilled person would readily select any of a variety of retaining means including those described above to hold the ladder onto board 1 The board 1 is fixed to rack supports 5 which run from front to back of the board 1 The rack supports 5 are in turn fixed to a rack boom , 6 which runs perpendicularly and beneath the rack supports 5. The longitudinal position of the rack supports in relation to the board 1 is chosen according to the weight distribution when the ladder is in place on the rack. Preferably, the rack supports 5 are fixed to the rack boom 6 in such a way that the centre of gravity of the rack supports 5, board 1 and ladder is not coincident with this fixing point. In this way, the balance of weight of the rack supports 5, board 1 and ladder assists in the rotation stage of operation of the rack.

The user of the ladder rack is provided with operating means at one side of the rack boom 6. The operating means consists of a sleeve 7 fixed to the rack boom 6, through which an operating handle 8 passes in a direction vertically perpendicular to the rack boom. The operating handle 8 has a stop pin 9 at the uppermost end to prevent the operating handle 8 sliding out of the sleeve 7. The sleeve 7 has a hole 10a to receive a handle securing sword pin S1. The operating handle 8 resides in two significant positions: the storage position and the operate position when the operating handle 8 is either raised or lowered respectively. The operating handle 8 is provided with sword pin holes 11, 12 towards the upper and lower ends. in order to secure the operating handle 8 in the storage position, the handle securing sword pin S I is engaged with the sleeve hole 1 Oa and lower hole 12. To secure the operating handle 8 in the operate position, the handle securing sword pin S1 is engaged with the sleeve hole 10 and the upper sword pin hole 11 .

The sleeve 7 is further provided with an extended portion which has a hole 10b to receive a slide securing sword pin S2. The slide securing sword pin S2 is used to secure the sleeve 7 to a rail bracket 15, thus securing the ladder rack in the storage position. This prevents the movable part of the ladder rack from moving, for example, during transit.

In relation to the operating handle 8, the opposite end of the rack boom 6 is secured to a boom trolley 13 in a way which allows the rack boom 6 to rotate about the central axis of the rack boom 6. This may be achieved by allowing the rack boom 6 to pass through a bearing set or bushes which are secured to the boom trolley 13.

The rotation of the rack boom 6 is restricted by stops which allows rotation of the rack boom 6 preferably through 901 only, allowing only movement of the board 1 between horizontal and vertical positions. The stops may of course be arranged so as to allow movement of the board 1 through any angI4, for instance from horizontal to 450 to the vertical. The lower portion of the boom trolley 13 is provided with means for engagement with a raised rail 14 such that the boom trolley 13 may move along the length of the rail and such that movement of the boom trolley 13 is restricted to the direction of the rail 14. Engagement of the boom trolley 13 with the rail 14 is preferably provided by set of wheels disposed about the upper and lower sides of the rail 14. The rail 14 is raised and runs in a direction parallel to and is located directly underneath the rack boom 6, and is secured by rail brackets 15 at each end of the rail to the securing surface upon which the ladder rack is to be mounted. In this way, the board 1 with a ladder mounted thereon is able to slide over the horizontal securing surface in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the surface.

The rail bracket on the operating handle 8 side of the ladder rack is provided with an extended portion with a sword pin hole 10c to eeceive the slide securing sword pin S2. The slide securing sword pin S2 may be simultaneously engaged with the sword pin hole 1 Oc and the sword pin hole 1 Ob provided in the extended portion of sleeve 7 in order to secure the ladder rack in the storage position.

Also provided is a rack rest 16 which takes the weight of the board 1 and ladder assembly when the ladder rack is in the storage position. The rack rest 16 is preferably secured to a rearward extension of the surface to which the rail brackets 15 are secured. Also, a ladder stop plate 17 may be secured to a forward extension of the surface to which the rail brackets 15 are secured, in order to prevent movement of the ladder in a forward direction. The ladder rack may be provided with a cover if the system is to be stored outside.

The operation of the ladder rack will now be described with reference to figures 3 to 6.

Figure 3 shows the ladder rack in the storage position. In this position the board 1 is parallel to the fixing surface and laterally positioned so that the rack boom 6 lies directly over the rail 14, and at which position the sword pin hole 10c provided on sleeve 7 is aligned with the sword pin hole 10b provided on the near-side rail bracket.

The slide securing sword pin S2 runs through these aligned holes, serving to secure the sliding section of the ladder rack, for instance during transport. The operating handle is held in the upper storage position by the operating handle sword pin S1.

In order to retrieve the ladder from the storage positiori, the operating handle sword pin S1 is removed and the operating handle 8 lowered into the operating position and secured with the operating handle sword pin S1. The slide securing sword pin S2 is removed. The operator then takes the weight of the ladder off the rack rest 16, as shown in figure 4, whereupon the operating handle 8 may be drawn towards the operator and thus bring the movable section of the ladder rack out over the securing surface. At a point when the ladder is clear of the securing surface, the operator rotates the ladder until vertical, as shown in figure 5. The rotation stage is assisted by the asymmetrical mounting of the rack supports 5 on the rack boom 6, so that the operator allows one side of the ladder to rotate under gravity, or automatically, into a vertical position.

When the ladder is in a vertical position, the retaining strap 3 is unfastened and the ladder lifted clear of the retaining hooks 2, as shown in figure 6.

In order to return a ladder to storage, the above procedure is reversed.

It will be appreciated that the ladder rack described above may be adapted to include automation at any stage of it's operation. For instance an electric motor or hydraulic ram could be included to enable the sliding motion of the boom trolley 13 and/or rotation of the rack boom 6. Under complete automation, the operational cycle of the ladder rack may be conducted from a remote control panel.

The weight of the ladder borne by the operator when moving the ladder from a horizontal position to a vertical one may be reduced by the inclusion of a spring which acts against the direction of rotation of the ladder during removal, and assists when returning the ladder to the storage position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 Apparatus for storage and retrieval of equipment, said apparatus comprising a holding means for holding the equipment in a su6stantially horizontal storage position, the holding means being operable to move the equipment generally within a horizontal plane away from the storage position to a point at which the holding means is rotatable towards a vertical plane for retrieval of said equipment from the holding means.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is specifically adapted for mounting on a vehicle, such as a lorry, van or car.
3. Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the holding means is adapted for holding a ladder.