GB2420146A - Ladder stabiliser - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable ladder stabiliser comprises up to three points of contact with the ground, a twin-axis spirit level, and a plurality of ground engaging spikes. Preferably the stabiliser has two permanent legs and a detachable slide-on third leg. Preferably each leg is formed from a threaded shaft having a foot attached via a ball joint. A ladder is clamped within a ladder receptacle by a wedge member moved by manually actuated thumb screws.

Description

Product Overview - The Ladder Stabilizer Safety System This is the

revolutionary new safety system that enables you to place a ladder on a multitude of surfaces, without the need to adapt or modify your existing ladder at all, assured in the knowledge that you are safe from the usual hazards you may or indeed, as is invariably the case, may not be aware of.

These potential hazards come in many different forms, some of which are detailed below - Uneven ground Slippery surfaces Soft surfaces (such as grass) Inclined surfaces (either sloping along a linear or lateral plane) The biggest issue with all ladders on today's market is the footprint' at the base of the ladder. If you actually look at this closer, you will soon realise the enormity of the potential of what the Health and Safety Executive term as a Fall from Height'.

Every time you climb a ladder, you are actually putting yourself in a position of harm. Ladders account for up to 50 fatalities per year, and as many as 3300 visits to the Accident and Emergency Department per month. The reason for this is that the actual area of the ladder in contact with the ground is minimal, even on a truly flat surface.

From a statistical perspective, it could like likened to climbing up with only an area the size of a packet of matches in contact with the ground.

This is where The Ladder Stabilization Safety System really comes into it's own. It takes the surface area of the side of the matchbox and multiplies it 34 times per foot. This equates to a surface area of 102 matchboxes or 51 ladders.

The system is simplicity itself to use, and will work on an incline of up to and including a I in 5 slope.

Methodology Assess the area you wish to position the ladder for the task you have in mind.

Fit the uneven surface third stabilizing leg if required.

Place your ladder into the retainer track.

Tighten down the retainer bar using the thumbscrews.

Screw down the feet as far as is required to ensure a level platform.

Check the dual axis bubble level to ensure that you are completely level on all planes (if on soft ground, depress the additional spikes for further safety).

Key Features- (please refer to page 10 of this document) Fully adjustable stabilizer footing - This device works on a 20mm threaded adjustable shaft, which has a knurled handle at the top for ease of operation Fully adjustable soft ground' spike - This device can be used in conjunction with (FIG. 1) when the ladder is placed on a soft surface such as grass.

Ball joint - a 50mm diameter ball joint which will allow the footing to be used on a multitude of different surfaces. Attached to the ball joint is a metal footplate with a non-slip, treaded rubber panel on the underside.

Ladder retaining device - 2 finger screws' that wind down and drive a tapered wedge into the ladder receptacle, without the need to adapt or modify your existing ladder.

Slide-On additional stabilizer - The slide-on stabilizer is design for use with hard or uneven ground. It allows the operator to be able to address the issues of both linear and lateral slopes in the site area.

Two axis bubble level - This device, which is situated in the middle of the Ladder Stabilization Safety System, allows the operator to quickly and easily see if the device is level both on a linear and lateral plane. 2.

Product Overview - The Ladder Stabilizer Safety System This is the revolutionary new safety system that enables you to place a ladder on a multitude of surfaces, without the need to adapt or modify your existing ladder at all, assured in the knowledge that you are safe from the usual hazards you may or indeed, as is invariably the case, may not be aware of.

These potential hazards come in many different forms, some of which are detailed below - Uneven ground Slippery surfaces Soft surfaces (such as grass) Inclined surfaces (either sloping along a linear or lateral plane) The biggest issue with all ladders on today's market is the footprint' at the base of the ladder, If you actually look at this closer, you will soon realise the enormity of the potential of what the Health and Safety Executive term as a Fall from Height'.

Every time you climb a ladder, you are actually putting yourself in a position of harm. Ladders account for up to 50 fatalities per year, and as many as 3300 visits to the Accident and Emergency Department per month. The reason for this is that the actual area of the ladder in contact with the ground is minimal, even on a truly flat surface.

From a statistical perspective, it could like likened to climbing up with only an area the size of a packet of matches in contact with the ground.

This is where The Ladder Stabilization Safety System really comes into it's own. It takes the surface area of the side of the matchbox and multiplies it 34 times per foot. This equates to a surface area of 102 matchboxes or 51 ladders.

The system is simplicity itself to use, and will work on an incline of up to and including a I in 5 slope.

Methodology Assess the area you wish to position the ladder for the task you have in mind.

Fit the uneven surface third stabilizing leg if required.

Place your ladder into the retainer track.

Tighten down the retainer bar using the thumbscrews, Screw down the feet as far as is required to ensure a level platform.

Check the dual axis bubble level to ensure that you are completely level on all planes (if on soft ground, depress the additional spikes for further safety).

Drawing Description

The following drawing (1/4) details the component parts of the Ladder Stabilizer Safety System on one page. This comprises of the following.

A side elevation of the - Fully adjustable stabilizer footing (FIG. 1), together with the Ball joint (FIG.

3) and the Fully adjustable soft ground' spike (FIG. 2) and the Slide-On additional stabilizer (FIG. 5) Ladder retaining device (FIG. 4) A plan elevation of the - Chassis, stabilizer footing and the Two-axis bubble level (FIG. 6) Drawings 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4, show these individual items in isolation from their adjacent components. +

Ladder Stabilizer Safety System Unit (Note, It is to be assumed that unless otherwise stated, all mtonaIs are Lu bc constructed from either aluminium or an alloy for its strenqth. weiqht savinq end Jack of deterioration properties) Reference Component FIG. I Fully adjustable stabilizer footing This device works on a 20mm threaded adjustable shaft, which has a knurled handle at the top for ease of operation and a ball joint (FIG. 3) at the bottom to allow the footing to be used on a multitude of different surfaces. Attached to the ball joint is a metal footplate with a non-slip, treaded rubber panel on the underside. The rubber foot treading will allow for a good adhesion to a multitude of surfaces, whilst also providing some cushioning' and give' to the device. It will also help to dissipate any vibration from pursuits such as drilling into masonry, therefore reducing the risk of the ladder slowly vibrating away from the object wall. These footings, of which there are three on the device in total, are designed to work on a gradient of up to and including a I in 5 slope, both along a linear or lateral plane. They also increase the working footprint' of the base of the ladder, therefore increasing it's stability and reducing the risk of the ladder slipping away from under the operator.

FIG. 2 Fully adjustable soft ground' spike This device can be used in conjunction with (FIG. I) when the ladder is placed on a soft surface such as grass. The spike is either driven into the ground with a soft mallet/hammer or can be pushed into the ground with ones foot. It is 30mm in diameter and will extend in most normal operational positions, well past the stabilizer footing to ensure a solid platform from which to start. This component may be constructed from stainless steel.

FIG. 3 Ball joint At the bottom of the adjustable shaft is a 50mm diameter ball joint which will allow the footing to be used on a multitude of different surfaces. Attached to the ball joint is a metal footplate with a non-slip, treaded rubber panel on the underside. This component may be constructed from stainless steel.

FIG. 4 Ladder retaining device It is vitally important that this safety device works in conjunction with most or all types of ladder assembly on the market today, without the need to adapt or modify your existing ladder. With this element you have 2 finger screws' that wind down and drive a tapered wedge into the ladder receptacle. With the ladder in position, butted up against a pre-defined angle extrusion (approximately 75 degrees) in the base of the receptacle, as the tapered wedge moves down into the extrusion, it grips the base of the ladder. This means that you can use most makes of ladder with this device and it makes no difference if they are of metal or wooden construction.

FIG. 5 Slide-On additional stabilizer The slide-on stabilizer is design for use with hard or uneven ground. It allows the operator to be able to address the issues of both linear and lateral slopes in the site area. It also further increases the working footprint' of the base of the ladder, therefore increasing it's stability and reducing the risk of the ladder slipping away from under the operator.

FIG. 6 Two axis bubble level This device, which is situated in the middle of the Ladder Stabilization Safety System, allows the operator to quickly and easily see if the device is level both on a linear and lateral plane. This ensures that the ladder is placed in its optimum position and is perpendicular and vertical to the ground, no matter what the gradient.

Claims (6)

1. Claims 1. A Ladder Stabilizer that includes up to three points of contact

   with the ground at any one time so as to be fully flexible in both a linear and lateral plane, that is fully adjustable and is calibrated to work up to and including a I in 5 gradient guaranteeing a flat and level base in both a linear and lateral plane, that has an integral two axis bubble level for quick and accurate assessment of the orientation of the base, that can be used on a range of ladders, both metal and wooden, with no need to modify or adapt in any way and that can be used on both soft and hard surfaces with additional soft ground spikes included in the design.
2. 2. A Ladder Stabilizer as claimed in claim I where the ladder is truly vertical irrespective of the orientation/graduation of the ground that the Ladder Stabilizer is placed on (up to and including a I in 5 gradient) .
3. 3. A Ladder Stabilizer as claimed in claim I and claim 2 where the ground is hard/solid or soft.
4. 4. A Ladder Stabilizer as claimed in claim I that does not require the modification or adaption of the ladder to use it
5. 5. A Ladder Stabilizer as claimed in any proceeding claim, which is made from metals (aluminium, stainless steel, mild steel or alloys), plastics or rubbers, or from a combination of these materials.
6. 6. A Ladder Stabilizer substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.