GB2532236A

GB2532236A - Ladder and scaffold tower anchoring device

Info

Publication number: GB2532236A
Application number: GB1420120.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Austin James
Original assignee: BPS ACCESS SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: BPS ACCESS SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-12
Filing date: 2014-11-12
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Also published as: GB201420120D0

Abstract

The ladder has an anchoring device that comprises a stabiliser bar 3 and one or more anchoring spikes 4. The spikes are pivotally mounted to the stabiliser bar, such that they are movable between a stowed position and an open position, and are securable in either position. The stabiliser bar may be connected to the base of two vertical side members 1 that form the ladder, and the length of the stabiliser bar may be wider than the width of the rungs 2. The spikes may comprise perpendicular metal plate section extending from a first end to a second tapered end. The spikes may also be pivotally mounted by a rivet 5 and secured by a scaffold clip, pin or a nut and bolt 6. The spikes can be located on one or both faces of the stabiliser bar, and the ladder may also form part of a scaffold tower.

Description

Ladder and Scaffold Tower Anchoring Device The present invention relates to ladders and scaffold towers and in particular to a ladder or scaffold tower incorporating an anchoring device.

Ladders and scaffold towers are well known. A typical ladder comprises two vertical side members or rails that are connected by a set of rungs. A typical scaffold tower comprises a peurality of frame pieces, including at least one ladder frame piece, at least one diagonal brace bar, at least one horizontal brace bar, a platform, and multiple fasteners.

One problem with existing ladders and scaffold towers is that of instability. A ladder that is inclined at an angle shallower than about fifteen degrees to the vertical may lose its grip on the ground, causing it to slip backwards during use. Alternatively, in cases where the ground is uneven and/or the user is overbalancing or overstretching from the ladder or scaffold tower, the ladder or scaffold tower may become unbalanced and may topple sideways. Such incidents can result in serious injury to the user, and/or other people in the vicinity.

Certain products have been developed to alleviate the instability problem. For example, whereas standard ladders typically rest on the ground on two feet formed at the base of the two vertical side members, certain ladders are provided with a horizontal stabiliser bar at the base of the ladder between the two feet of the ladder, allowing the weight on the ladder to be evenly distributed along the length of the bar, providing some additional stability. Such stabiliser bars may also be incorporated into the base of scaffolding, towers.

A number of ancillary products, such as rubber mats, stands, anti-slip devices and stabilisers, have also been developed which may be used in conjunction with a standard ladder or scaffold tower. Many of these products are designed to be placed under the feet of a standard ladder or scaffold tower and generally provide stability by having a high-friction surface, for example by employing non-slip materials such as rubber, and/or having a textured surface with ridges or grooves. Other of these products are designed to be placed adjacent to the feet of a standard ladder or scaffold tower and secured to the ground. For example, US 2006/0254856 describes one such device comprising a generally L-shaped horizontal board with a vertical spike welded to its base, designed so that the spike can be hammered into the ground.

However, there are certain disadvantages with the products that have been developed to date. In particular, it is generally inconvenient for the ladder user to store and transport these additional stability devices, and such devices can easily be misplaced. As a result, the ladder user often tends to use the, ladder without such ancillary devices. Moreover, certain or the products may not provide sufficient stability for certain shapes and sizes of ladders or scaffold towers.

Therefore, there remains a need for an improved ladder or scaffold tower incorporating an anchoring device.

The present invention sets out to provide an anchoring device for incorporation into a ladder or scaffold tower in order to overcome or at least alleviate the problems described above.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ladder comprising two vertical side members, a plurality of rungs spanning the two vertical side members, and an anchoring device, wherein the anchoring device comprises a stabiliser bar and one or more anchoring spikes, wherein the anchoring spikes are pivotally mounted to tne, stabiliser bar by means of a pivoting element, and wherein the anchoring spikes are movable between a first stowed position and a second open position, the anchoring spikes being secured in the first stowed position and/or in the second open position by means of a securing element.

The present inventors have found that this particular arrangement provides a!adder with improved stability that is also easy and convenient to use, since, unlike previous ladder arrangements, the anchoring device forms a permanent fixture on the ladder. In particular, the arrangement of the anchoring spikes means that they can be easily placed in a convenient stowed position when the ladder is stored or transported, and simply moved into an open position once the ladder is ready to be used.

Within the context of this specification the word "comprises" is taken to mean "includes, among other tnings". It is not intended to be construed as "consists of only".

Within the context of this specification, the term "about" is interpreted to mean optionally ±20%, preferably optionally rk10%, more preferably optionally ±50/0.

The vertical side members of the ladder may be made of any suitable material that has sufficient rigidity for the intended purpose. For example, the vertical side members of the ladder may be formed from metal, such as steel or aluminium. Preferably, the anchoring device comprises a stabiliser bar and one, two, or three anchoring spikes. More preferably, the anchoring device comprises a sta iliser bar and one or two anchoring spikes. Most preferably, the anchoring device comprises a stabiliser bar and two anchoring spikes.

The stabiliser bar preferably connects the two feet of the two vertical side members. Preferably, the length of the stabiliser bar is at least the same as the length of the rungs. More preferably, the length of the stabiliser bar is greater than the length of the rungs. For example, the length of the stabiliser bar is preferably from about 700 mm to about 1200 mm. In this preferred embodiment, since the stabiliser bar is wider than the distance between the two vertical side members of the ladder, it extends outwards from each of the vertical side members, thus providing additional stability. The width of the stabiliser bar is preferably at least 15 mm to about 40 mm, and more preferably about 25 mm.

When in the open position, the anchoring spike or spikes may be pushed or hammered into the ground in order to stabilise the ladder. Accordingly, each anchoring spikes is preferably of a suitable shape and material to facilitate its penetration into the ground. Preferably, each anchoring spike is formed from metal, such as steel or aluminium.

In one embodiment, the anchoring spike comprises an elongate metal plate having a first end, and two edges extending from the first end to form a second tapered end. Thus, the anchoring spike is of a generally triangular shape. In this embodiment, the first end of the elongate metal plate generally has a width of from about 15 mm to about 40 mm, and preferably of about 25 mm. The length of the elongate metal plate is preferably from about 100 mm to about 200 mm, and more preferably of about 140 mm. The second tapered end of the elongate metal plate forms a pointed tip which facilitates penetration of the anchoring device into the ground. The angle between the two edges at the second tapered end of the elongate metal plate is an acute angle, and is preferably from about 5° W about 20°, and more preferably from about 5° to about 10°.

In another embodiment, the anchoring spike comprise two elongate metal plate sections, each section having a first end, and two edges extending from the first end to form a second tapered end. The two elongate metal plate sections are arranged substantially at right angles to one anotner and attached along one edge of each section, each plate tapering towards this attached edge. In this embodiment, the first end of each elongate metal plate section generally has a width of from about 15 mm to about 40 mm, and preferably from about 18 mm to about 22 mm. The length of each elongate metal plate section is preferably from about 100 mm to about 200 mm, and more preferably of about 140 mm. The tapered ends of the two elongate metal plate sections forms a pointed tip which facilitates penetration of the anchoring device into the ground. The angle between the two edges at the second tapered end of each elongate metal plate section is an acute angle, and is preferably from about 5° to about 20°, and more preferably from about 5° to about 10°. In one convenient embodiment of the invention, the anchoring spike is formed from a single generally triangular-shaped metal plate which is bent to form the two metal plate sections which are generally perpendicular to one another. This arrangement is particularly useful in that the anchoring spike has higher strength and rigidity and may act to prevent movement in more than one direction.

The pivoting element may use any suitable mechanism to attach the anchoring spikes to the stabiliser bar and allow pivoting of the anchoring spikes. For example, in one embodiment, the pivoting element is a rivet.

The securing element may use any suitable mechanism to secure the anchoring spikes to the stabiliser bar in the first stowed position and/or in the second open position. For example, in one embodiment, the securing element is a scaffold dip or scaffold tower pin. In another embodiment, the securing element is a nut and bolt Where the securing element is:a scaffold clip, a scaffold tower pin, or a nut and bolt, two holes are typically provided in the stabiliser bar to allow for the securing of the anchoring spike in the two different positions. Preferably, the pivoting element pivotally attaches the first end of the anchoring spike to either the front face or the back face of the stabiliser bar.

Where more than one anchoring spike is provided, the anchoring spikes may be mounted on the same face of the stabiliser bar, or the anchoring spikes may be mounted on different faces of the stabiliser bar. For example, where two anchoring spikes are provided, in one embodiment of the invention, the two anchoring spikes are mounted on the same face of the stabiliser bar. In another embodiment of the invention, two anchoring spikes are provided, and the two anchoring spikes are mounted on opposite faces of the stabiliser bar.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a scaffold tower comprising one or more ladder frame pieces, wherein at least one ladder frame piece is a ladder as described above. A typical scaffold tower may comprise two or more ladder frame pieces. In one embodiment of the invention, at least two ladder frame pieces of the scaffold tower are ladders as described above. In this embodiment, the scaffold tower will be particularly stable, since it will be anchored to the ground via two separate ladder frame pieces on different sides of the scaffold tower. In this embodiment, the vertical side members of one or more of the ladder frame pieces of the scaffold tower are preferably made from ribbed metal tubing. This provides for better grip than plane tubing. Alternatively or in addition, one or more rungs of the ladder frame pieces of the scaffold tower may optionally be provided with a ribbed surface.

For the purposes of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments; however it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

By way of example, embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of the ladder of the invention with the anchoring spikes in the stowed position; Figure 2 shows a photographic view of the lower part of another embodiment of the ladder of the invention with the anchoring spikes in the stowed position; Figure 3 shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder of the invention as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder of the invention as shown in Figure 2 with the anchoring spikes in the open position, Figure 5 shows a shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder of the invention as shown in Figure 2 with the anchoring spikes in use in the open position and anchored into the ground; Figure 6 shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of an alternative embodiment of the ladder of the invention with the anchoring spikes in the open position; Figure 7 shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder of the invention as shown in Figure 6 taken from the opposite side of the ladder; Figure 8 shows a photographic view of an enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder of the invention as shown in Figure 7 with the anchoring spikes in the stowed position.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the ladder comprises two vertical side members 1 having permanently fixed rungs 2. The two vertical side members 1 of the ladder are connected at their base by stabiliser bar 3 which extends outwards beyond the two vertical side members to minimise lateral movement of the ladder. Two anchoring spikes 4 are pivotally attached to the stabiliser bar by means of rivets 5. The anchoring spikes 4 are secured in the first stowed position using nut and bolt arrangements 6. In use, the nut and bolt arrangements 6 may be disengaged, the anchoring spikes 4 pivotally moved into an open position around rivets 5, and the nut and bolt arrangements 6 then used to secure the anchoring spikes 4 in the second open position by engagement with the holes 7. After use, the nut and bolt arrangements 6 may again be disengaged, the anchoring spikes 4 pivotally moved into the first stowed position, and the nut and bolt arrangements 6 used to secure the anchoring spikes 4 back in this stowed position.

Figure 2 shows in closer detail the base section of another embodiment of the ladder of the invention. In this embodiment, two anchoring spikes are provided and are secured to opposite faces of the stabiliser bar by means of scaffold clips. An enlarged area of one end of the stabiliser bar of the ladder as shown in Figure 2 is provided in the photograph of Figure 3 which shows in detail the scaffold clip which secures an anchoring spike to the stabiliser bar.

During storage and transport of the ladder, and when manoeuvring the ladder into position, the anchoring spike is placed in the stowed position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Once the ladder is in position where its use is required, the user can conveniently move the anchoring spike into the open position as shown in Figure 4, and the anchoring spike can be pushed into the ground to securely anchor the ladder as shown in Figure 5.

A further embodiment of the ladder of the invention is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the anchoring spike is formed from two metal plate sections that are perpendicular to one another. The anchoring spike is shown in the open position from the two different sides of the stabiliser bar in Figures 5 and 6, and in the closed position in Figure 7.

The above described embodiments have been given by way of example only. It will of course be understood that many variations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims A ladder comprising two vertical side members, a plurality of rungs spanning the two vertical side members, and an anchoring device, wherein the anchoring device comprises a stabiliser bar and one or more anchoring spikes, wherein the anchoring spikes are pivotally mounted to the stabiliser bar by means of a pivoting element, and wherein the anchoring spikes are movable between a first stowed position and a second open position, the anchoring spikes being secured in the first stowed position and/or in the second open position by means of a securing element.
A ladder according to claim 1, wherein the vertical side members are be comprise a metal, optionally wherein the metal is steel or aluminium.
A ladder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the anchoring device comprises a stabiliser bar and one, two, or three anchoring spikes.
A ladder according to claim 3, wherein the anchoring device comprises' a stabiliser bar and two anchoring spikes.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stabiliser bar connects the two vertical side members at the base of the vertical side members.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the length of the stabiliser bar is greater than the width of the rungs, optionally wherein the width of the stabiliser bar is from about 700 mm to about 1200 mm.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each anchoring spike comprises a metal, optionally wherein the metal is steel or aluminium.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one anchoring spike comprises an elongate metal plate having a first end, and two edges extending from the first end to form a second tapered end.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one anchoring spike comprises two elongate metal plate sections arranged substantially at right angles to one another, each section having a first end, and two edges extending from the first end to form a second tapered end.
10. A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pivoting element a rivet.
A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the securing element comprises a scaffold clip, a scaffold tower pin or a nut and bolt.
12. A ladder according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the anchoring device comprises more than one anchoring spike, and the anchoring spikes are mounted on one face of the stabiliser bar.
A ladder according to any of cairns 1 to 11, wherein the anchoring device comprises more than one anchoring spike, and the anchoring spikes are mounted on both faces of the stabiliser bar.
14. A scaffold tower comprising one or more ladder frame pieces, wherein at least one iadder frame piece is a ladder according to any, of claims 1 to 13.
15. A scaffold tower according to claim 14, wherein tne vertical side members of one or more of the ladder frame pieces of the scaffold tower comprise ribbed metal tubing, and/or one or more rungs of the ladder frame pieces of the scaffold tower comprises a ribbed surface.
16. A ladder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A scaffold tower substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.