GB2443827A

GB2443827A - Ladder support

Info

Publication number: GB2443827A
Application number: GB0622933A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hague
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-17
Filing date: 2006-11-17
Publication date: 2008-05-21
Also published as: GB0622933D0

Abstract

A ladder support comprises a component 206 that engages a lower rung 403 of a ladder, and a component 207 that can pivot about component 206 and engages with an upper rung of the ladder. Component 206 also applies force onto the ground 405, and the ladder stiles 402, and the two components 206,207 define a substantially triangular structure. When force is applied to the support by a person climbing the ladder friction with the ground is increased and thereby the base of ladder is prevented from slipping away from the wall 404. The support may include downward-pointing sharp projections 304, such as teeth (fig 5a, 501) or nails (fig 5b, 503), and these projections may also: be tungsten-carbide tipped; be removable; and be angled slightly toward the base of the ladder. To prevent the components 206,207 from becoming accidentally disengaged by movement of the ladder each may include an opening to be hooked over a ladder rung and this can have lips (fig 6, 104,105) with angled edges (fig 6, 601,602) so that the component must be rotated to an appropriate angle to engage it with the ladder. The two components may be joined by a pivot (fig 7, 708) and one of the components (fig 1, 113) may be adjustable in length and substantially vertical when in use.

Description

Apparatus for Supporting a Ladder

Technical Field

The present invention relates to apparatus for supporting a ladder.

Background of the Invention

Ladders are commonly used in domestic, commercial and industrial situations. Often, it is necessary to have a person standing at the bottom of a ladder holding it steady, to prevent slippage. This is a particular issue when working on slippery, wet, or icy ground.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for supporting a ladder, having: apparatus for supporting a ladder, having: a first component engagable with a lower rung of a ladder; and a second component pivotable about said first component and engagable with an upper rung of said ladder, wherein one of said components also applies force onto the ground, and the combination of ladder stiles, said first component and said second component defines a substantially triangular structure.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; Figure 3 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; Figure 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; Figures 5a & 5b show alternative configurations of gripping portions; FP1 01 2GBOO Figures 6a & 6b show detail of first component 101; and Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Figure 1 An example of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. A first component 101 and a second component 102 are shown. First component 101 is configured to engage with a low rung of a ladder. An opening 103 is provided which is defined by lips 104 and 105. This opening is configured to engage with a lower rung of a ladder when in use. In alternative embodiments alternative means of engaging a lower rung are utilised.

Attachment means 106 is provided to allow first component 101 and second comoonent 102 to be joined toaether. In the oresent embodiment. attachment means 106 comprises blocks 107 and 108 and pins 109 and 110.

Second component 102 is insertable between pins 109 and 110 in a variety of positions. As a result of the variety of positions, a variety of angles of the second component 102 relative to first component 101 can be created, thus the two are pivotable about each other. A gripping portion 111 is also provided, which in this embodiment comprises a plurality of teeth.

Second component 102 comprises a support portion 112, an upright portion 113 and means for adjustment in the region 114. In alternative embodiments, the configuration of support portion 112 is different, and can be any arrangement suitable for engaging with an upper rung of a ladder. In this embodiment, upright portion 113 comprises two substantially parallel columns and 116 which are sandwiched around a third substantially parallel column 117. The columns 115 and 116 are attached to support portion 112, in this example by screws. Columns 115 and 116 are adjustably attached to column 117 by means of a series of pins such as pins 118 and 119. Thus, region 114 allows adjustment by placing pins 118 and 119 into different holes such as holes 120 and 121 and positioning column 117 further or less far between columns 115 and 116. In alternative embodiments, second component 102 is FP1O12GBOO a telescopic component and the means of adjustment is any means suitable for securely fixing second component 102 at a variety of lengths.

Second component 102 is receivable in to attachment means 106 on first component 101. In the present embodiment, attachment means 106 is attached to first component 101 by screws.

In alternative embodiments, a plurality of pins such as pins 109 and 110 are provided defining a series of clots such as slot 122 as part of attachment means such that a series of alternative positions are provided which are able to receive second component 102. In this embodiment only one position is shown, at slot 122.

In this embodiment, gripping portion 111 which comprises a plurality of teeth are tungsten carbide tipped. In alternative embodiments, any suitably durable material is used. In the oresent embodiment, the ariooina oortion 111 formed by the sharp projections (teeth)is point substantially downwards but are angled slightly in the direction illustrated by arrow 123, ie towards the position at which the first component is engagable with the ladder.

Figure 2 An example of an embodiment of the present invention when in use is shown in Figure 2. A ladder 201 comprising rungs such as 202 and 203 and stiles 204 and 205 is shown supported by apparatus according to the present invention. First component 206 is seen engaged with a lower rung of ladder 201. Second component 207 is seen engaged with an upper rung of ladder 201. In this example, first component 206 is engaged with the lowest rung of the ladder, but in alternative embodiments an alternative low rung is used.

When ladder 201 is in use, and weight is transmitted on to the rungs second component 207 transmits the downward force towards the ground. In this embodiment, the force is transmitted from second component 207 to first component 206, through a gripping portion before reaching the ground. In alternative embodiments, second component 207 may continue directly to form a gripping portion and contact with the ground.

FP1O12GBOO The presence of first component 206 prevents second component 207 from slipping away from the bottom of the ladder. In the preferred embodiment, second component 207 is substantially vertical when in use so as to maximise transmission of downward force.

Figure 3 A rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 is shown in Figure 3.

First component 206 is seen interacting with second component 207. First component 206 is engaged with lower rung 301 of ladder 201. Second component 207 is engaged with upper rung 302 of ladder 201. In this embodiment second component 207 has a single upright column and does not have an adjustment region of the same type as described with reference to Fiqure 1. It is adjustable by alternative means.

Attachment means 303 is seen receiving second component 207.

Gripping portion 304 is shown which is in contact with the ground when in use.

Figure 4 A side view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 4. A ladder 401 is shown and in particular a stile 402 can be seen forming a substantially triangular shape in combination with first component 206 and second component 207. In this diagram it is shown that first component 206 is hooked over a low rung 403 of ladder 401. In this example, a single lip is defined. Further detail of a two-lipped design is described with reference to Figure 6.

Gripping portion 208 is shown which points downwards and slightly towards where first component 206 is engaged with low rung 403 of ladder 401.

In a preferred embodiment, first component 206 and second component 207 are made from metallic material such as aluminium or steel. In alternative embodiments, they are made from wood and some components can be made from durable plastic.

FPIO1 2GBOO As a person climbs ladder 401 their weight exerts force downwards which (without the present invention) could cause ladder 401 to slip thus taking the base of the ladder further from the wall 404 and possibly causing the person to fall. With apparatus according to the invention in place, when the user climbs ladder 401 the weight exerted downwards causes gripping portion 111 to grip more firmly with the ground 405 thus increasing friction between the apparatus and the ground and significantly reducing the likelihood of ladder slippage.

Figure 5 Two possible configurations of gripping portion 111, 208 are shown in Figure 5. Figure 5a shows a series of teeth such as tooth 501 and tooth 502.

These teeth are desiQned to increase friction with the qround and are made from durable material, in a preferred embodiment tungsten carbide tipped.

Figure 5b shows an alternative configuration of a gripping portion whereby a series of nails such as nail 503 and nail 504 have been hammered through first component 101, 206 such that their tips contact with the ground and increase friction.

In a further alternative embodiment, a series of teeth are provided which are individually removable and replaceable. For example, each tooth has a screw thread is secured to the first component by a respective nut.

Figure 6 A possible configuration of the lips as part of first component 101 which engage with a ladder are shown in Figure 6a. First lip 104 and second lip 105 are seen to have angled edges 601 and 602. In this embodiment, component 101 is made from sheet metal such as steel or aluminium.

Because the edges 601 and 602 are so angled component 101 must be at an appropriate angle to allow it to be hooked over a rung of a ladder.

Once hooked over a ladder rung, the angle of edges 601 and 602 inhibits the ladder rung from passing through the opening if movement of the ladder.

FP1O12GBOO occurs. Component 101 is shown inverted in Figure 6a. Because of the angled edges 601 and 602, component 101 must be rotated slightly in order to engage it with a rung of the ladder.

Figure 6b is a diagram of the view from above of component 101 as shown in Figure 6a. The angled edges 601 and 602 can in this diagram be seen to clearly define an angled opening 603.

Figure 7 An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 7. In this embodiment first portion 701 is of similar construction to first portion 101 shown in Figure 1. However, second portion 702 is constructed to have a similar arrangement of lips 703 and 704 defining an angled aperture 705 as fh firt rnmnnnpnt hs whicth i described with reference to Ficiure 6.

In addition, attachment means about which second component 702 is pivotable relative to component 701 comprises a first pin support post 706, a second pin support post 707 and a pin 708.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the entire apparatus shown must be twisted to an angle for engagement with a ladder.

In alternative embodiments, a combination of embodiments shown in Figure 7 and that shown in Figure 1 is employed such that, for example a second component of the type described with reference to Figure 1 is pivotably connected to a first component in the manner described with reference to Figure 7 by a pin and one or more pin support posts.

Claims

FP1O12GBOO Claims 1. Apparatus for supporting a ladder, having: a first

component engagable with a lower rung of a ladder; and a second component pivotable about said first component and engagable with an upper rung of said ladder, wherein one of said components also applies force onto the ground, and the combination of ladder stiles, said first component and said second component defines a substantially triangular structure.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gripping portion configured such that when force is applied onto the ground from the apparatus it increases the friction between the apparatus and the ground.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said gripping portion comprises a plurality of sharp projections configured to grip the ground.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sharp projections are teeth.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sharp projections are tungsten carbide tipped.
6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sharp projections are angled so that their tips point substantially downwards and slightly towards the position at which the first component is engagable with the ladder.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first component has means for preventing said ladder from becoming accidentally disengaged.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first FP1O12GBOO component hooks over a lower rung of said ladder.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first component has two lips defining an opening which hooks over a lower rung of said ladder.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said opening is angled.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component is adjustable to a plurality of heights.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component is substantially vertical when in use.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component has means for preventing said ladder from becoming accidentally disengaged.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said second component has two lips defining an opening which hooks over a upper rung of said ladder.
15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said opening is angled.
16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and second component are pivotally joined.
17. A ladder supported by apparatus according to any preceding claim.
18. Apparatus for supporting a ladder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.