GB2488762A

GB2488762A - Ladder bracket for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2488762A
Application number: GB1103602.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-02
Filing date: 2011-03-02
Publication date: 2012-09-12
Also published as: GB201103602D0

Abstract

A ladder bracket comprises an elongate ladder support member 1 and a pair of clamping arms 2, 3. The clamping arms co-operate in a hinge arrangement (4, Figure 2) with one another to engage a tubular structure within the arms, and wherein the elongate ladder support member 1 forms part of the hinge arrangement also as shown in Figure 2. The bracket is suitable for securing a ladder to a scaffolding tube. The bracket may include a locking arrangement (5, 6 Figure 3) to prevent unauthorised removal of the ladder.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

NIGELJAMES

FOR

LADDER BRACKfI

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ladder bracket, more particularly a ladder bracket for attaching a ladder to scaffolding.

Backqrund With increasing numbers of property owners intent on improving their homes and commercial premises scaffolding is a common sight. Typically erected about a property it may be left in place for some months before work is finished on the property.

The scaffolding is typically constructed of metal tubular scaffolding poles and wooden boards and typically the first level is some 3 to 4 metres from ground level.

Accordingly users of the scaffolding will need to reach this height on a frequent basis as they undertake work on the property. Long ladders are therefore typically used and leant against the poles. Moving such ladders is not easy and rarely done, which means that the ladders may be left in place for some months.

This presents many risks, such as vandalism, theft, the dangers of movement of the ladder in general and due to sabotage.

Prior Art

In light of the above mentioned problems a number of solutions have been proposed, including the following: Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 452 744 SPURLING et al A device for attaching objects to scaffolding comprising: a body, comprising an open-sided channel so sized as to accommodate a portion of an object to be secured; an arm, moveably mounted to the body, and capable of defining a scaffolding pole-receiving aperture between said arm and said body, and movable from a first position in which a scaffolding pole may be positioned within the pole-receiving aperture and a second position in which a scaffolding pole is secured within the pole-receiving aperture, releasable locking means, to lock said arm in said second position; A al e and wherein said channel and pole-receiving aperture are configured such that, in use, a scaffolding pole secured with the pole-receiving aperture occludes at least a portion of the open side of the channel, thereby securing the portion of the object within the channel.

International patent application WO 2008 031 162 LARARD A clamp assembly for securing a ladder to a support including two clamping arms which are connected or connectable to each other and positionable about the support so that the clamping arms abut a substantial section of the support, at least one of the clamping arms has a recess formed in a clamping side to accommodate the support or part thereof; a fastening member to engage and fix one clamping arm to the other clamping arm; and a securing member to attach to the ladder, the securing member is fixed to one of the clamping arms wherein in use the two clamping arms oppose each other to clamp the support between the clamping arms with the clamping sides of each of the clamping arms abutting a substantial section of the support and the securing member is positionable to attach to the section of the ladder thereby securing the ladder to the support.

United Kingdom patent application GB 137 889 HENSON A safety device for securing ladders to buildings and the like, characterised by a hooked clip bar adapted at one end to embrace the ladder side and having at the other end an extension adapted to bear against the face of the spout, gutter trough, scaffold pole, or other part, a separate clamp adapted toengage said spout, gutter trough, scaffold pole, or other part, and a thumbscrew or like device adapted to firmly' secure said clamp and clip bar together and to said spout, gutter trough, scaffold pole, or other part, substantially as herein set forth.

United Kingdom patent application GB 2 432 394 STEPHENS et al A ladder safety device for securing a ladder to a structure against which the ladder is placed having means for securing the device to the structure and means for restraining the movement of the ladder at least in one direction relative to the structure, said means including at least one member which is displaceable between an operative position in which it restrains the movement of the ladder and an inoperative position.

lnternational patent application WO 8 302 796 SMITH An attachment for a-ladder, the attachment comprising elongate cross bar means whose length is greater than the width of the ladder, means for attaching the cross bar to the ladder, means at the ends of the cross bar to carry elongate support members for secured length-adjustable location in said means (it), characterised in that the cross bar can be mounted on the upper or lower ends of the ladder respectively and the support member carries wall engageable means or ground-engageable means respectively.

However none of the above solve all the problems highlighted above. The present invention in contrast provides a simple, effective and transferrable solution.

Summarypf the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a ladder bracket including at least two segments able to form a clamp about an independent part, said bracket supporting a swivelably mounted member.

In use the bracket is passed through the rungs of a ladder and clamped over a tubular member such as a scaffold pole. The member is to the reverse side of the ladder from the pole, with the member preventing the ladder sides or rungs from movement.

In this way a ladder may be locked into place and protected from accidental movement, vandalism or theft.

The member is ideally an arcuate bar in part or whole disposed to surround or hold or prevent movement of a ladder's sides. This bar is typically ideally wider than the ladder and preferably is perpendicular to the ladder sides in use.

In this way the ladder sides are prevented from passing the bar and where the bar follows the lines of the ladder sides the bar holds the ladder in place close to the clamped segments.

The bar is mounted in a swivel fashion in order that the bar may travel in an arc about where it is attached to the segments and thereby relate more effectively to the ladder at whatever angle the ladder is disposed at when resting against the part or scaffolding.

The bar may not be detached from the bracket in preferred embodiments. Ideally it is held within a sleeve integrated in the bracket.

The bracket is ideally provided in two parts so that the parts may be clamped together for instance by an independently provided padlock or other locking device.

Typically these parts will be hinged in relation to one another, more particularly it is envisaged that the segments will have a hinge between them, in which hinge the bar will be situated.

Preferably the bracket is constructed in a high tensile steel. One part of the bracket is provided with a perforated clip or tab and the other is provided with a lacuna through which the tab passes.

An independently provided padlock is then engaged over the tab and through its perforation so that the tab may not exit the lacuna on the other part.

Other means of attachment of the two segments and/or member may additionally be envisaged, such as were the member to be a chain or flexible portion in part or whole and the segments are disposed to prevent ladder movement by engaging ladder sides or rungs when clamped.

In such embodiments or further embodiments the member may be disposed to engage two rungs ideally close to the ladder sides. The clamp may act to close or tighten the member, in addition to or as well as clamping the segments.

Yet further embodiments of the member may have additional clamps or attachment points so as to attach to the segments or part in order that the ladder sides may be held in place by the member.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of the bracket; Figure 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment; Figures 3 show front views of the two segments of the bracket; and Figures 4 show two side views of the segments and a front view of the member of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Descrjption of Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The preferred embodiment is pictured with a solid bar like member 1 and two segments (2, 3). These segments 2/3 are formed with an arcuate side profile in order that the segments may be clamped over a tubular structure such as a scaffold pole (not shown).

The member is located in a hinge 4 between the segments (2, 3), in order that at least one part of the member is located in a section of the hinge 4 that is formed in one segment 2, and another part is situated in another section of the hinge 4 that is formed in the other segment 3.

One segment holds a tab 5 which extends in use through the hole, slit or lacuna 6 so that a padlock or other not pictured locking mechanism may be used to prevent the tab 5 returning through the lacuna 6.

The whole bracket is ideally constructed of aluminium alloy in order that it is light and not prone to rusting or weathering as it will be almost entirely left in exterior locations.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A ladder bracket including at least two segments able to form a clamp about an independent part, said bracket supporting a swivelably mounted member.
2. A bracket according to claim I wherein the member is an elongate bar.
3. A bracket according to claims I or 2 wherein the segments have a hinge between them, in which hinge a length of the member is situated.