GB2528232A

GB2528232A - System for hanging a ladder

Info

Publication number: GB2528232A
Application number: GB1407222.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edwin Sims-Hilditch; Daniel John Allen
Original assignee: Neptune Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Neptune Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-24
Filing date: 2014-04-24
Publication date: 2016-01-20
Also published as: GB201407222D0

Abstract

The system comprises a first element 1 for fixing to a ladder, the first element having a fitting 3 for engaging a wall mounted screw, the system further comprising a second element 2 with a hook 4 for hanging on a rail and a fitting 6 for engaging the fitting on the first element. The fitting on the second element may include a stud having a head 10 and neck 8 portions. The fitting on the first element may be an orifice 5 with an elongated notch 7 extending away from it. The hook may be on the opposite side of the second element to the fitting. The system may have a supplementary fastening system for securing the first and second elements. Also claimed is a ladder comprising the system, wherein the first element is screwed to the ladder.

Description

System for Hanging a Ladder

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a system for hanging a ladder. The invention also concerns a ladder comprising such a system.

Background of the Invention

Ladders may be provided for decorative or functional purposes. They may be used in kitchens to access high shelves or libraries to access books. Typically a ladder will need to be used in more than one location and therefore cannot be permanently fixed to the wall. Ladders may be simply leant against a wall, in which case there is a danger that they may slip, or they may be temporarily fastened to the wall, for example by hooking them onto a rail on the wall. For example, ladders may have a hook shape on the end of the ladder so that the ladder can be hung.

It is known to hang items, such as pictures, on a wall using a screw in the wall and a fitting on the item that fits over the screw head and locks into position. However, such a system is not compatible with a ladder designed to be hooked onto a rail. A ladder with a hook cannot be hung on a screw because, even if a fitting to hang on the screw were provided on the ladder, the hook on the ladder would get in the way.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved system for hanging a ladder.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a system for hanging a ladder, the system comprising a first element for fixing to the ladder, the first element comprising a fitting for engaging with a wall-mounted screw, the system further comprising a second element, the second element comprising a hook for hanging on a rail and a fitting configured to engage with the fitting on the first element such that when the second element and the first element are so engaged the ladder can be hung on a rail using the hook.

Such a system permits the ladder to be hung on a screw, or similar fitting, on a wall or to be hung on a rail by attaching the hook to the ladder. By providing a hook with a screw head-like attachment on the reverse side, a more versatile ladder hanging system is created. The fitting on the second element is generally in the form of a dummy screw head. That is, the form of the fitting mimics the geometry of a screw protruding from a wall. It will be appreciated that some variability is possible though and that the key features of the fitting may be a neck portion that mimics the protruding section of the screw and a head portion that mimics the screw head. However, for example, the neck portion does not require any screw thread and the head portion does not require any grooves for screwdrivers.

Preferably the fitting on the seoond element comprises a stud having a head portion and a neck portion.

It will be appreciated that fittings for engaging with wall-mounted screws are known in the art. A typical system may comprise a keyhole shaped orifice comprising a circular portion through which the screw head is inserted and an elongated notch extending from a side of the circular portion along which the screw is slid. The elongated notch is positioned such that the weight of the latter acts to push the screw along the notch away from the circular portion. Since the elongated notch has a width smaller than the diameter of the screw head, the screw head cannot fit out through the notch and the ladder is thus held firmly. It will be appreciated that other shapes are possible, for example a square hole and rectangular notch or two bars between which the screw slides. Such variations are known to the skilled person. Preferably the fitting on the first element comprises an orifice and an elongated notch extending away from the orifice, and the fitting on the second element comprises a stud having a neck portion having a diameter less than the width of the elongated notch and a head portion having a diameter greater than the width of the elongated notch and less than the diameter of the orifice.

Since in most cases the ladder will be hung off a wall-mounted screw or a rail in the same orientation, the hook is preferably on the opposite side of the second element to the fitting on the second element.

The system may comprise a secondary fastening system for securing the second element in place when it is engaged with the first element. For example, such a secondary fastening system may comprise a threaded hole in the first element and a hole through the second element such that, when the second element is engaged with the first element a bolt passing through the hole in the second element can be threadedly engaged with the hole in the first element. Such a secondary fastening system is particularly useful in situations where the ladder may be carried in orientations where the weight of the second element may cause it to disengage from the first element.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is also provided a ladder comprising a system according to the first aspect of the invention, the first element being securely fastened to the ladder. Preferably the first element is fastened to the ladder by screws. The ladder is preferably suitable for use in a kitchen or library.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the ladder of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the system of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the front side of a first element forming part of a system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the back side of the first element of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front view of the first element of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a back view of the first element of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a side view of a second element forming part of the system according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the second element of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a top view of the second element of Figure 5; and Figure 8 shows a back view of the second element of Figure 5.

Detailed Description

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 a first element 1 of a system for hanging a ladder comprises a fitting 3 for engaging with a wall-mounted screw. The fitting 3 comprises an orifice 5 and an elongated notch 7 extending away from the orifice 5.

The element 1 also comprises a threaded hole 9 and two holes 11 for fastening the first element 1 to a ladder, for example using screws. The length 15 of the first element is mm and width 17 is 15 mm. The length 19 of the fitting is 18 mm and the length 21 of the orifioe 5 and notch 7 combined is 15.5 mm. The separation 23 between the centre-point of the top end of the notch 7 and the threaded hole 9 is 23.25 mm.

In Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 a second element 2 comprises a hook 4 and a fitting 6. The fitting 6 is in the form of a stud and comprises a neck 8 and a head 10. The element 2 further comprises a through-hole 12. The length 14 of the element 2 is 62.50 rum and the depth 16 of the hook 4 is 32 mm. The thickness 18 of the element 2 is 3mm. The neck 8 has a height 20 of 2.50 nun and the head 10 has a height 22 of 2.5 mm. The diameter 28 of the neck 8 is 4.5 mm and the diameter 30 of the head 10 is 9 mm. The fitting 6 is a distance 26 of 24.25 mm from the top of the element 2 and the through-hole 12 is a distance 24 of 23.25 mm from the centre of the fitting 6. The width 32 of the second element 2 is 15 mm.

In use the first element 1 is fitted to a ladder using screws passing through the holes 11. The ladder can then be hung on a wall-mounted screw by passing the head of the screw through the orifice 5 and sliding it up behind the notch 7 until the body of the screw rests at the top of the notch 7. The weight of the ladder keeps the screw in the notch 7. Ii the ladder is then to be hung on a rail the ladder is removed from the screw and the second element 2 is engaged with the first element 1 by inserting the head 10 through the orifice 5 and sliding the head 10 up behind the notch 7 so that the neck 8 is resting at the top of the notch 7. The dimensions 23 and 24 and the diameter 28 of the neck 8 are such that in this position the threaded hole 9 is aligned with the through-hole 12. The second element 2 can therefore be secured to the first element 1 with a bolt passing through the through-hole 12 and into the threaded hole 9. Thus a secondary fastening system secures the second element 2 to the first element 1. With the second element 2 thus secured, the ladder is hung on a rail using the hook 4.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or

elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A system for hanging a ladder, the system comprising a first element for fixing to the ladder, the first element comprising a fitting for engaging with a wall-mounted screw, the system further comprising a second element, the second element comprising a hook for hanging on a rail and a fitting configured to engage with the fitting on the first element such that when the second element and the first element are so engaged the ladder can be hung on a rail using the hock.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the fitting on the second element comprises a stud having a head portion and a neck portion.
3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the fitting on the first element comprises an orifice and an elongated notch extending away from the orifice, and the neck portion has a diameter less than the width of the elongated notch and the head portion has a diameter greater than the width of the elongated notch and less than the diameter of the orifice.
4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the hook is on the opposite side of the second element to the fitting on the second element.
5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein comprises a secondary fastening system for securing the second element in place when it is engaged with the first element.

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6. A ladder comprising a system according to any preceding claim, the first element being securely fastened to the ladder.
7. A ladder according to claim 6 wherein the first element is fastened to the ladder by screws.
8. A system for hanging a ladder substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
9. A ladder substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.