GB2434826A

GB2434826A - Portable safety ladder.

Info

Publication number: GB2434826A
Application number: GB0602401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian James Watts
Original assignee: Laing Orourke PLC
Current assignee: Laing Orourke PLC
Priority date: 2006-02-07
Filing date: 2006-02-07
Publication date: 2007-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-07
Also published as: GB0602401D0; GB2434826B

Abstract

A portable safety ladder 2, particularly for use in providing access to a flatbed trailer, has a mounting bracket (12, figure 1) that can slide relative to stiles 4 of the ladder. A handrail 40 is supported on the mounting bracket so that it is moved to the correct height relative to the platform to provide a secure handhold. The mounting bracket may carry a clamp 30 that can be moved between a released and an engaged position to engage with a side rave 14 of a vehicle.

Description

1/7 2434826

Description

Safety Ladder

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to portable ladders for access to elevated platforms. The invention particularly addresses the problems of accessing flat bed trailers.

Background art

[0002] A ladder is a convenient, portable and repositionable solution to the problem of access to elevated locations.

[0003] Safety has always been an issue associated with the use of ladders.

When a ladder is used for access to a platform there is a serious risk of falling particularly when the user transfers from the ladder to the place of landing or platform against which the ladder has been set. If not properly secured, the feet of the ladder may kick out at the bottom. When the climber transfers his weight to one side to move onto the platform the ladder may be pushed sideways.

[00041 If the ladder is used as a working base, then it is recommended that a worker stay at least four rungs from the top of the ladder, so that the uprights or stiles provide some lateral support for his hands.

[0005] Traditionally access by a worker to a flat bed trailer is by clambering up using the side bars of the chassis for assistance or by propping a conventional ladder against the side of the vehicle. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (2005 No. 735) give effect as respects Great Britain to Directive 2001 /45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No L195, 19.7.2001, p.46), amending Council Directive 89/655/EEC (OJ No L393, 30.12.89, p.13) concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work. This new law requires employers to make risk assessments of work situations like this. Such assessments reveal that there are accidents where a driver has to mount a flat bed trailer to check a load, secure it or assist in unloading.

These accidents are caused by the lack of a safe means of accessing the trailer. 2/7

[0006] Some vehicles, particularly agricultural vehicles and heavy construction equipment are provided with permanent fixed ladders usually for driver access to a cab of the vehicle.

[0007] It has also been suggested to provide storable steps at a vehicle tailgate.

An example is shown in GB 2384812 A (ROBERT SORRELL AND JANET SORRELL) 06.08.2003 06.08.2003. Sorrell steps are stored in a fixed position on the tailgate and cannot be moved to any location where access might be required. The drop is fixed. The need for hand support is recognised and telescopic tubes are provided at each side at the top of the steps. Inner tubes can be raised within outer tubes and locked in position so as to provide safety handles.

Disclosure of the invention

Technical problem [0008] There is a demand for a safety ladder that is lightweight and can be stowed on a vehicle for use to provide access at any location around the sides of a flat bed and to cope with a range of trailer heights. The ladder must provide a secure handhold to the user. Set up to secure the ladder against slippage must be straightforward and preferably avoid the need for complex manoeuvres particularly to set up the safety features such as a hand rail. A single system for use with trailers at varying heights would avoid the need for a fleet operator to maintain a range of equipment.

Technical solution [0009] A ladder having two spaced stiles with rungs therebetween, a mounting bracket having an upper plate adapted to be supported on an edge of a platform, the mounting bracket being coupled to one of the stiles by support means slidably mounted to a track in said stile, and an elongate handrail mounted to the mounting bracket.

[0010] It will be appreciated that various mechanisms may be provided for securing the mounting bracket to a side rave of a trailer. Preferably the mounting bracket is coupled to both stiles and comprises a clamp member at each side of the mounting bracket movable from a release position to an engaged position in which the clamp member engages in a side rave of a vehicle to secure the ladder in position. The clamp members can then be 3/7 locked in the engaged position by locking means in which a ratchet plate fixed to the mounting member and the clamp member is pivotally mounted to the mounting member and carries a pawl for engagement with teeth formed on the ratchet wheel.

Advantageous effects [0011] A safety ladder as described could be part of the standard equipment of a tractor so that it could be deployed safely by the driver regardless of the particular type and height of trailer to which the tractor was hitched in order to gain access anywhere around the flat bed.

[0012] By mounting the handrail to the mounting bracket, it can be guaranteed that the first end of the handrail will be just at the right height above the platform to provide support when a climber transfers his weight to the platform. This provides a simple and straightforward solution to the need to have a secure handhold at a safe height typically at least 950 mm above the place of landing.

Brief description of the drawings

[0013] In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: [0014] Figure 1 shows a perspective view from one side of a first embodiment of a portable ladder in accordance with the invention in a stowed condition; [0015] Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the opposite side of the portable ladder of Figure 1 in a deployed condition; and [0016] Figure 3 shows a front view of the ladder in the deployed condition.

Mode(s) for carrying out the invention [0017] A portable ladder 2 has two spaced stiles 4 with rungs 6 therebetween.

The stiles 4 have a box section and, at least in the upper part, are modified to provide a track 8 which accommodates a slider 10.

[0018] A mounting bracket 12 is provided in order to secure the ladder to an edge 14 of a platform to which the ladder 2 is intended to provide access. In this case the platform is the flat bed of a trailer 16 and the edge 14 is the side rave of the trailer. 4/7

[0019] The mounting bracket 12 is an L-shaped member having an upper plate adapted to rest on an upper surface of the trailer platform. A rubber gasket 22 is provided along an under surface of the upper plate 20. The bracket 12 also has a front plate 24 with outwardly turned flanges 26. The front plate lies behind the rungs 6 of the ladder and the flanges 26 extend outwardly of the stiles 4. Each flange 26 carries a slider 10 mounted to it.

The sliders 10 are shaped so that they can slide in the tracks 8 on either side of the stiles 4 and provide means for supporting the mounting bracket 12 on the stiles 4. The mounting bracket 12 can therefore be pivoted from a stowed position as shown in Figure 1, with the front plate parallel to the edges of the stiles4, to a deployed position as shown in Figure 2 by rotating the mounting plate about the sliders 10 within the tracks 8.

[0020] A clamp 30 is pivotally mounted to each flange 26 so that the clamp can be moved from a release position as shown in Figure 1 to a locked position as shown in Figure 2. Each clamp is moved by means of a clamp handle 32. The flanges 26 also each carry a respective toothed ratchet plate 34. A pawl 36 is mounted to a ratchet lever 38 on each clamp handle 32. When the ratchet lever 38 is squeezed to the clamp handle 32, the pawl 36 is moved out of engagement with the teeth on the ratchet plate. When the lever is released, the pawl 36 engages with the ratchet plate 34 to hold the clamp 30 in the locked position.

[0021] The clamps 30 are V shaped members. This type of clamp can be connected to all types of side raves, whether they have a channel (as shown), angle or inverted channel configuration.

[0022] An elongate handrail 40 has one end 42 formed as a rectangular handhold portion of about 950 mm in length. A second stabilising end 44 of the handrail 40 terminates in a collar 46 that engages round the adjacent stile 4. The stabilising end 44 supports the handrail 40 as it slides up and down when it is being positioned and prevents it rocking inwardly when in use.

A support plate 48 projects from the handrail 40 intermediate the ends 42, 44 to enable the handrail 40 to be coupled to the mounting bracket 12 and to move with it along the track 8 as the mounting bracket is adjusted to the appropriate height. Because the handrail moves with the mounting 5/7 bracket 12 and the mounting bracket sits on the surface of the trailer platform, the handhold portion is always at the appropriate height above the landing place to support the user and provide a secure handhold.

Deployment [0023] During transport of the portable safety ladder 2 described, the mounting bracket 12 can be slid down the tracks 8 so that the collar 46 of the handrail 40 is close to a foot of its adjacent stile 4. The front plate 24 of the bracket 12 then lies flat against the edges of the stiles. In this stowed condition the ladder can be carried on a trailer or in a cabin of the tractor of a vehicle with only the clamps 30 projecting.

[00241 When the ladder is to be deployed, it can be picked up by the user in a conventional manner with a hand on each stile 4. The ladder could also be picked up using the clamp handles directly. The ladder can then be positioned by initially resting the upper plate 20 of the mounting bracket on the platform. This will hold the mounting plate at the right height and the user can allow the ladder to slide relative to the sliders 10 in the tracks 8 until the feet of the stiles 4 touch the ground.

[0025] Once the upper plate 20 is taking the weight of the ladder, the user can transfer his grip to the clamp handles and ratchet levers 38 on each side of the ladder and rotate the clamps 30 into position in engagement with the side rave 14. Once the clamps are correctly engaged the levers 38 are released locking the clamps in position. As the clamps are brought into engagement with the side rave the gasket 22 is compressed to ensure that the mounting bracket 12 is firmly secured to the vehicle.

[0026] The bottom of the ladder 2 can then be pulled forward to set the ladder at the correct angle. The engagement of the stiles 4 with the mounting bracket 12 effectively determines the angle of inclination of the ladder and prevents the bottom of the ladder from kicking out. No additional steps are required to set the handrail 40 at the correct height and position.

Variations [0027] A mounting system has been described where the bracket is coupled to both stiles. This provides symmetry and balance. However, it will be appreciated that a single-sided mounting would be possible. Other ways 6/7 of clamping the ladder in position and locking the clamps in engagement with the side rave 14 could be used.

[0028] Although this type of ladder is particularly suitable as standard equipment for tractors which may be used with a variety of trailers, it will be understood that the ladder can equally be used with other vehicles that have the same access problems or with fixed platforms. 7/7

Claims

Claims 1. A ladder having two spaced stiles (4) with rungs (6)

therebetween, a mounting bracket (12) having an upper plate (20) adapted to be supported on an edge (14) of a platform, the mounting bracket (12) being coupled to one of the stiles (4) by support means (10) slidably mounted to a track (8) in said stile (4), and an elongate handrail (40) mounted to the mounting bracket (12).

2. A ladder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket (12) is coupled to both stiles (4).

3. A ladder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting bracket (12) comprises a clamp member (30) movable from a release position to an engaged position in which the clamp member engages in a side rave (14) of a vehicle to secure the ladder in position.

4. A ladder as claimed in claim 3, wherein a clamp member (30) is provided at each side of the mounting bracket (12).

5. A ladder as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein locking means (34, 36, 38) are provided to lock the clamp member (30) in the engaged position.

6. A ladder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises a ratchet plate (34) fixed to the mounting member (12) and wherein the clamp member (30) is pivotally mounted to the mounting member (12) and carries a pawl (36) for engagement with teeth formed on the ratchet wheel.

7. A ladder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handrail (40) is mounted to the mounting bracket (12) at an intermediate position along the length of the handrail such that a first end (42) that projects upwardly alongside the stile to provide a handhold and a second end (44) is supported by the stile.

8. A ladder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.