NL2028175B1 - Multi-piece ladder bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-piece ladder which comprises a first piece (1) comprising two siderails (11) and a cross-member (12) therebetween; a second piece (2) comprising two siderails (21) and a 5 cross-member (22) therebetween, each siderail (21) comprising a guide member (23); and two brackets (3), each bracket (3) comprising a sidewall (31), a recess (33a) and a guide; wherein each bracket (3) is connected to a respective siderail (11) of the first piece (1), wherein the second piece (2) is received or receivable between the sidewalls (31) of the brackets (3), and is pivotable, relative to the first piece (1), between a first configuration 10 wherein the first and second pieces (1, 2) are substantially parallel, and a second configuration wherein the second piece (2) is pivoted to a predetermined angle relative to the first piece (1), and wherein the predetermined angle is limited by the receipt of the cross- member (22) of the second piece (2) in the recesses (33a), and the abutment of a side of each siderail (21) of the second piece (2) against the cross-member (12) of the first piece 15 (1), and wherein the guide member (23) of each siderail (21) of the second piece (2) interacts with the guide in the respective bracket (3) to guide the cross-member (22) of the second piece (2) into the recesses (33a) when moving the first and second pieces (1, 2) from the first configuration to the second configuration. 20

Description

MULTI-PIECE LADDER BRACKET This invention relates generally to ladders. More specifically, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a bracket for a multi-piece ladder.

Multi-piece ladders, for example two-pieces ladders or stepladders, allow ladders to be used freestanding, i.e. without the ladder resting against or being secured to a structure. Typically, in multi-pieces ladders, two pieces, or sections, are pivotably connected to one another via hinges. The hinges are often at or towards an uppermost end of one or more of the pieces. Each hinge may be connected directly to a siderail, or stile, of each piece, or connected indirectly to a siderail of each piece via a bracket. The lowermost ends of the pieces are openable such that the ladder can stand freely, and a user can climb up one or either side. Over time, this configuration of ladder becomes worn, for example due to oxidisation of the hinges when used outside, or damage to the ladder causing misalignment of the hinges. Opening the ladder can therefore become difficult. When the siderails of the ladder have brackets connected thereto, these are usually also located proximal to the uppermost end. The brackets generally have a guide and channel arrangement, to maintain alignment of the pieces of the ladder when they are opened and closed. When the ladder is opened, the guides move along the respective channels. This provides limits as to how far the two pieces may be opened. However, over time the brackets often become deformed, or the channel becomes partially blocked, and so opening and closing the ladder becomes difficult. Hinges or brackets connected directly to the siderails are typically screwed, bolted or riveted thereto. Alternatively, the brackets are often overmoulded to the siderails. Such processes increase assembly times, but also mean that the multi-piece ladders must be transported in a fully assembled state, increasing the risk of damage. Furthermore, permanently or semi-permanently connecting the hinges and/or brackets to the side of the ladder reduces the possibility of replacing or repairing individual parts of the ladder, as they cannot be disconnected. It is also known to produce ladders wherein upon opening, an upper rung of one of the pieces is received in recesses in the brackets, the brackets being connected to the other piece. In this way the ladder may be secured in an open position. However, opening the ladder requires accurate placement of the rung in the recesses, slowing down operations using the ladder. Also, incorrect insertion of the rungs into the recesses may lead to the ladder being unsafe during use.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a multi-piece ladder which overcame the aforementioned limitations.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides a multi-piece, or multi-section, ladder comprising a first piece, or section, comprising two siderails, or stiles, and a cross-member, for example a step or rung, therebetween.

The ladder further comprises a second piece, or section, comprising two siderails, or stiles, and a cross-member, for example a step or rung, therebetween, each siderail comprising a guide member.

The ladder further comprises two brackets, each bracket comprising a sidewall, a recess and a guide.

Each bracket is connected to a respective siderail of the first piece.

The second piece is received or receivable between the sidewalls of the brackets, and is pivotable, relative to the first piece, between a first configuration wherein the first and second pieces are substantially parallel, and a second configuration wherein the second piece is pivoted to a predetermined angle relative to the first piece.

The predetermined angle is limited by the receipt of the cross- member of the second piece in the recesses, and the abutment of a side of each siderail of the second piece against the cross-member of the first piece.

The guide member of each siderail of the second piece interacts with the guide in the respective bracket to guide the cross-member of the second piece into the recesses when moving the first and second pieces from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Receipt of the cross-member in the recess may prevent movement of the second piece relative to the first piece, in the direction parallel to the siderails of the second piece.

Advantageously the cross-member of the second piece enters into the recesses easily, without requiring the user to manually guide the cross-member into the recesses.

Further advantageously receipt of the cross-member in the recess provides a firm connection between the first and second pieces to reduce the risk of the ladder not properly entering into the second configuration.

Further advantageously the second piece does not need to be permanently, or semi-permanently, connected to the bracket.

Each guide may be provided by an upper edge of the respective bracket.

The upper edge may have a stepped profile whereby the guide member moves from an upper position to a lower position when moving the first and second pieces from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Each guide may be provided by one or more edges of each bracket.

The guide member may be cylindrical in shape and may slide or be slidable across the edges of the respective bracket.

Each bracket may further comprise an abutment member, in which the recess is comprised, such that each siderail of the second piece is received or receivable between the abutment member of the respective bracket and the cross-member of the first piece.

The predetermined angle may be further limited by the abutment of the second piece against the abutment members of the brackets. A side of each siderail of the second piece may abut the abutment member when the first and second pieces are in the first configuration. The siderails may be manufactured using extruded metal, for example aluminium. The cross-members may be manufactured using extruded metal, for example aluminium. Each abutment member may comprise an abutment plate. The abutment plate may comprise an oblique portion. The oblique portion may be orientated such that the respective siderail of the second piece abuts or is adjacent the oblique portion when in the second configuration. The abutment plate may comprise a parallel portion which is substantially parallel to the respective siderail of the first piece, such that a side of the respective siderail of the second piece abuts the parallel portion when in the first configuration.

The brackets may be mounted to inside-facing surfaces of the siderails of the first piece. The second piece may be located, in use, between the brackets. The second piece may be inserted between the brackets, the first piece, and the abutment portions in a downwards direction, wherein insertion is limited by a guide member abutting an upper surface of the bracket.

A second aspect of the invention provides a bracket for use with a multi-piece ladder, one bracket being connectable to each siderail of a first piece of the multi-piece ladder, each bracket comprising a sidewall, a recess and a guide, configured such that a second piece of the multi-piece ladder is receivable between the sidewalls of the two brackets, and is pivotable, relative to the first piece, between a first configuration where the first and second pieces are substantially parallel, and a second configuration where the second piece is pivoted to a predetermined angle relative to the first piece, the predetermined angle being limited by the receipt of a cross-member of the second piece in the recesses, and the abutment of a side of each siderail of the second piece against a cross-member of the first piece, and wherein a guide member of each siderail of the second piece interacts with the guide in the respective bracket to guide the cross-member of the second piece into the recesses when moving the first and second pieces from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “may”, “and/or”, “e.g.”, “for example” and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present. Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

Examples of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section view of a multi-piece ladder in a first configuration; and Figure 2 is a section view of the multi-piece ladder in a second configuration. Referring to the figures there is shown a multi-piece, or multi-section, ladder, herein referred to as a ‘ladder’ and which in this example is a two-piece ladder. The ladder has a first piece, or section 1, and a second piece, or section 2.

The first piece 1 has two siderails, or stiles 11, and a cross-member 12 therebetween. In this example the cross-member 12 is a step, or rung, of the ladder. In this example, the cross-member 12 is a step located near to the uppermost end of the ladder, for example the upper-most step. In this example the siderails 11 are parallel.

The second piece 12 has two siderails, or stiles 21, which, in this example, are parallel. In this example a cross-member 22 extends between the siderails 21 of the second piece 2. In this example the cross-member 22 of the second piece 2 is a step, or rung, of the ladder. In this example, the cross-member 22 is a step located near to the uppermost end of the ladder, for example the upper-most step.

Whilst in this example the cross-members 12, 22 are steps, either or both cross-members 12, 22 may be bars, or rods, or other elongate members, which are not intended to be used as steps.

Figures 1 and 2 are side, sectional, views of the multi-piece ladder. Therefore, only one of each pair of siderails 11, 21 is visible. In addition, the sectional views of Figures 1 and 2 are taken through the cross-members 12, 22 such that inside surfaces of the illustrated siderails 11, 21 are visible (the inside surface being the surface that faces inwardly towards the other siderail 11, 21).

The ladder has two brackets 3 (although only one bracket 3 is shown in the side views of Figures 1 and 2). Each bracket 3 has a sidewall 31 and an abutment member 32. Each bracket 3 is connected to one of the siderails 11 of the first piece 1. In this example each bracket 3 is connected to the inside surface of the respective siderail 11.

In this example the sidewall 31 of each bracket 3 is a flat plate. The sidewall 31 of each bracket 3 is attached to the inside surface of the respective siderail 11, and an edge of each sidewall 31 is substantially aligned with a side of each inside surface of the respective 5 siderail 11. In this way, the sidewall 31 passes across the inside surface of the siderail 11 and extends beyond the side of the inside surface opposite to the side which is substantially aligned with the edge of the sidewall 31.

The abutment member 32 of each bracket 3 extends from an edge of the sidewall 31 opposite to the edge which is substantially aligned with the side of the insider surface of the siderail 11. The abutment member 32 of each bracket 3 extends in a substantially perpendicular direction to the sidewall 31 and towards the other bracket 3 (that is, the abutment member 32 extends inwardly from the sidewall 31). The abutment member 32 of each bracket is a plate which is bent such that a lower portion 32a of the abutment member 32 is at an oblique angle to an upper portion 32b of the abutment member 32.

Each siderail 21 of the second piece 2 is received or receivable between the sidewalls 31 of the brackets 3, and between the abutment members 32 or the brackets 3 and the cross- member 12 of the first piece 1. In this way outside surfaces of the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 are adjacent inside surfaces of the sidewalls 31, a surface of each siderail 21 of the second piece is adjacent a surface of the abutment member 32, and another surface of each siderail 21 of the second piece 2 is adjacent the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1. The second piece 2 is pivotable, relative to the first piece 1, between a first configuration, as shown in Figure 1, and a second configuration, as shown in Figure 2. In the first configuration the first and second pieces 1, 2 are substantially parallel (or put another way, the siderails 11 of the first piece 1 are substantially parallel to the siderails 21 of the second piece 2). In this example, in the first configuration each siderail 21 of the second piece 2 abuts the upper portion 32b of the respective abutment member 32. In the second configuration the second piece 2 is pivoted to a predetermined angle relative to the first piece 1. The predetermined angle is limited by the abutment of the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 against the lower portion 32a of the abutment members 32 of the brackets 3, and the abutment of the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 against the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1.

A user may climb the ladder in either of the first or the second configuration. If the ladder is used in the first configuration, a lower end of the ladder rests on a support surface and an upper end rests against a structure. If the ladder is used in the second configuration, the ladder is used as a step-ladder, with the lower ends of both the first and second pieces 1, 2 resting upon a support surface.

The first and second pieces 1, 2 of the ladder are manufactured using any suitable material, for example wood, extruded metal, for example aluminium, or extruded plastic. The brackets 3 are manufactured using any suitable material, for example wood, metal, for example aluminium, or plastic. The brackets 3 are connected to the siderails 11 of the first piece using any suitable method, for example using screws, bolts, rivets, adhesive, overmoulding or welding.

In this example, each sidewall 31 has a first, upper edge. In this example the first, upper edge has a step 31a partway along, the step 31a forming an oblique angle between a first upper edge portion 31b which is parallel to, and lower than, a second upper edge portion 31c. Each sidewall 31 has a second edge 31d which extends substantially perpendicularly to the first upper edge portion 31b of the first edge. The second edge 31d is straight. The abutment member 32 of each bracket 3 extends from a third edge 31e of the sidewall 31. The upper portion 32b of each abutment member 32 is substantially parallel to the second edge 31d of the sidewall 31, and the lower portion 32a of each abutment member 32 is angled such that it extends away from the second edge 31d. The third edge 31e of the sidewall 31 follows the bent shape of the abutment member 32, such that the abutment member 32 is attached to the third edge 31e along the entire length. Each sidewall 31 has a fourth, lower edge. At a first side 31f the lower edge extends substantially perpendicular to the second edge 31d. At a second side 31g the lower edge extends substantially perpendicular to the third edge 31e, such that the second side 31g of the lower edge is substantially perpendicular to the lower portion 32a of the abutment member 32 and forms an oblique angle with the first side 31f of the lower edge.

In this example the abutment member 32 of each bracket 3 has a hook portion, for example a hook plate 33. The hook plate 33 extends from the lower portion 32a of the abutment member 32 and is spaced from, and parallel to the sidewall 31. The hook plate 33 comprises, or defines, a recess 33a which is shaped to conform to the shape of the cross- member 22 of the second piece 2. The distance between the sidewall 31 and the hook plate 33 of each bracket is greater than the width of each siderail 21 of the second piece 2. As explained further below, this allows a siderail 21 of the second piece 2 to be positioned between the sidewall 31 and the hook plate 33.

In this example, when the brackets 3 are attached to the first piece 1 the second edge 31d of each sidewall 31 is substantially adjacent to a side of the respective siderail 11 such that the sidewall 31 extends over the inner surface of the siderail 11. The sidewall 31 of each bracket 3 has an aperture therethrough for the passage of the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1. The abutment members 32 of each bracket 3 extend towards one another.

Each bracket 3 provides a substantially enclosed space between the first piece 1 of the ladder (particularly the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1), the sidewall 31, the abutment member 32 and the hook plate 33, for receipt of the respective siderail 21 of the second piece 2. In this example, each siderail 22 of the second piece 3 has a guide member 23 extending from an outside surface of the respective siderail 21 (the outside surface being the surface that faces away from the other siderail 21). In this example the guide member 23 is cylindrical and is located above the cross-member 22. In this example, to assemble the second piece 2 with the first piece 1, which has the brackets 3 attached, the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 are inserted into the substantially enclosed space defined by the respective bracket 3 and the first piece 1. The end of the second piece 2 which is distal to (i.e. opposite to) the guide member 23 is inserted first, which, in this example, is the lowermost end.

The second piece 2 is inserted until each guide member 23 abuts the step 31a on the upper edge of the sidewall 31 of the respective bracket 3. The abutment of the guide member 23 and the bracket 3 prevents the second piece 2 from being inserted further.

Therefore, while the ladder is maintained in an upright orientation, the second piece 2 is secured to the ladder.

The second piece 2 is removed from the ladder by moving the second piece 2 in the opposite direction until each siderail 21 of the second piece 2 is completely removed from the respective enclosed space.

In this example, when the ladder is in the first configuration (as shown in Figure 1) the second piece 2 is restrained laterally by the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 31 of the brackets 3. The second piece 2 is restrained in the direction perpendicular to both the cross- member 22 and the siderail 21 by abutment of the siderails 21 with the upper sides 32b of the abutment members 32 on one side, and abutment of the siderails 21 with the cross- member 12 of the first piece 1 on the other side.

In this example, the ladder is moveable from the first configuration to the second configuration by moving the lower ends of the first and second pieces 1, 2 apart.

When the first and second pieces 1, 2 are moved apart the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 are pivoted about the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1. Each guide member 23 moves along the step 31a of the upper surface of the sidewall 31 of the respective bracket 3, such that the cross-member 22 of the second piece 2 is guided into the recess 33a of the corresponding hook plate 33. In this way the upper surface acts as a guide.

Advantageously the cross-member 22 of the second piece 2 is guided into the recess 33a of the corresponding hook plate 33 by the user simply moving the pieces 1, 2 apart, without the need for the user to manually guide the cross-member 22 into the recesses 33a. This means that the ladder can be moved into the second configuration more efficiently and with less that the ladder is incorrectly moved into the second configuration, which could render the ladder unsafe during use. When in the second configuration (as shown Figure 2) the second piece 2 is restrained laterally by the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 31 of the brackets 3. The siderails 21 of the second piece 2 abut the lower sides 32a of the abutment members 32 on one side, and the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1 on the other side, to maintain the second piece 2 at an oblique angle relative to the first piece 1. Abutment of the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 against the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1 advantageously aids in distributing forces between the first and second pieces 1 2, when a user climbs the ladder. In the second configuration the cross-members 22 of the second piece 2 are received inside the recesses 33a of the hook plates 33. The oblique angle of the second piece 2 relative to the first piece 1 is determined by the angle of the lower portion 32a of the abutment member 32 relative to the upper portion 32b {or more specifically relative to the siderail 11 of the first piece 1). In the second configuration each guide member 23 of the second piece 2 is located at an elbow created by the step 31a and the first side 31b of the upper surface of the 26 sidewall 31 of each bracket 3. The ladder is moveable from the second configuration to the first configuration by moving the lower ends of the first and second pieces 1, 2 together. When the first and second pieces 1, 2 are moved together the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 are pivoted about the cross-member 12 of the first piece 1. Each guide member 23 moves along the step 31a of the upper surface of the sidewall 31 of the respective bracket 3, such that the cross-member 22 of the second piece 2 is guided out of the recesses 33a of the hook plates 33 and the siderails 21 of the second piece 2 are guided into abutment with the upper sides 32b of the abutment members 32. Advantageously the first and second pieces 1, 2 of the ladder are securable in the first and second configurations, and moveable therebetween, with no permanent connection between the first and second pieces 1, 2, or between the second piece 2 and the brackets

3. Therefore, the second piece 2 can simply be removed from the substantially enclosed spaces defined by the brackets 3 and the first piece 1. This means that the first and second pieces 1, 2 can be used individually, ar that either of the first or second pieces 1, 2 can be replaced, maintained or repaired. This also means that either of the first or second piece 1,

2 may be replaced with a first or second piece which has different dimensions, for example a longer first piece 1. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned example are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, either of the first or second piece 1, 2 may be extendable, or may have another piece connected thereto.

By way of another example the brackets 3 may be connected to outside surfaces of the siderails 11 of the first pieces 1 and the second piece 2 may only be restrained laterally by the siderails 11 of the first piece 1. By way of another example, there may be a limiter inserted into each siderail 21 of the second piece 2 after the second piece 2 has been assembled into the substantially enclosed spaces defined by the brackets 3 and the first piece 1. Each limiter protrudes in an outward direction, similar to the guide members 23, and is located underneath the brackets 3. In this way, the second piece 3 is prevented from being disassembled from the ladder without first removing the limiters.

Furthermore, this ensures that only the cross-member 22 of the second piece 2 which is between the limiter and the guide members 23, is engaged with the recesses 33a in the brackets 3. In this way the limiter increases the safety of the ladder, by preventing separation of the first and second pieces 1, 2 and by ensuring correct assembly into the second configuration.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims (8)

CONCLUSIONS A multi-section ladder comprising: a first section comprising two side rails and a transverse member therebetween; a second portion comprising two side rails and a transverse member therebetween, each side rail comprising a guide member, and two brackets, each bracket comprising a side wall, a notch, and a guide; wherein each bracket is connected to a respective side rail of the first part, the second part being or can be received between the side walls of the brackets, and being tiltable relative to the first part, between a first configuration in which the first and second parts are substantially parallel, and a second configuration in which the second part is tilted by a predetermined angle relative to the first part, and the predetermined angle is limited by the accommodation of the transverse element of the second part in the notches, and a side of each side rail of the second part abutting the transverse member of the first part, and wherein the guide member of each side rail of the second part cooperates with the guide in the respective bracket to position the transverse member of the second part in the guide notches when the first and second parts are transferred from the first configuration to the second configuration. A multi-piece ladder according to claim 1, wherein each guide is provided by an upper edge of the respective bracket, the upper edge having a stepped profile, the guide element moving from an upper position to a lower position when the first and second parts of the first configuration are transferred to the second configuration. A multi-piece ladder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each bracket further comprises a stop element of which the notch forms part, in such a way that each side rail of the second part is or can be received between the stop element of the respective bracket and the transverse element of the first part. A multi-section ladder according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined angle is additionally limited by the abutment of the second section against the stop elements of the brackets. A multi-section ladder according to claim 3 or 4, wherein one side of each side rail of the second section abuts the stop member when the first and second sections are in the first configuration. A multi-section ladder according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each stop element comprises a stop plate, the stop plate comprising an inclined portion oriented in such a way that the respective side rail of the second portion abuts, or adjacent to the oblique portion when in the second configuration. A multi-section ladder according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein each stop element comprises a stop plate, the stop plate comprising a parallel portion which is substantially parallel to the respective side rail of the first portion, in such a manner that one side of the respective side rail of the second member abuts the parallel member when in the first configuration. 8. Bracket for use with a multi-section ladder, one bracket connectable to each side rail of a first section of the multi-section ladder, each bracket comprising a side wall, a notch, and a guide, in a configured such that a second portion of the multi-piece ladder is receivable between the side walls of the two brackets, and is tiltable relative to the first portion, between a first configuration in which the first and second portions are substantially parallel, and a second configuration in which the second part is tilted through a predetermined angle with respect to the first part, the predetermined angle being limited by the accommodation of a transverse element of the second part in the notches, and the abutment of one side of each side rail of the second part against a transverse element of the first part, and in which a guide element of each side rail of the second part cooperates with the guide in the respective bracket, in order to guide the transverse element of the second part in the notches when the first and second parts transition from the first configuration to the second configuration.