US2282133A - Supporting attachment for ladders - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1942.

K. W. HORTON SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT FOR A LADDER.

Filed July 9, 1940 Y 8 n W P m .t A m MH .W

Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS KennethW. Horton, Defreestvllle, N. Y.

Application July 9, 1940, Serial No. 344,541

9 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a supporting attachment for a ladder on which a workman may stand in an erect and comfortable position.

When work is to be performed by a workman at an elevation from the ground, he usually stands on a rung of a ladder in carrying out a painting or other operation. The rung is, of course, usually round and creates a strain upon the foot. Furthermore, the workman commonly stands with his shins against the next higher rung of the ladder, and when such contact is continued for any length of time it results in a disease known as perioditis.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a support comprising a platform which is firmly supported on spaced rungs of a ladder on which a workman may stand in an erect and natural position and without strain on the feet. i

A further object of my invention is the provision of a support of the foregoing character in which the platform is fixed with respect to the ladder on which it is mounted and with no tendency of the platform to move with respect thereto.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a supporting attachment of the foregoing character comprising a platform the top supporting surface of which is substantially level notwithstanding the fact that the ladder on which it is mounted may stand at an inclination to the vertical.

Other novel features of my invention will appear in the specification and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ladder to which the support embodying my invention is attached;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting attachment in folded condition;

Fig. 3 is a front view, and

Fig. 4 is an end view.

Like reference characters throughout the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, 10 indicates, generally, a ladder comprising the usual side pieces II and rungs 12 to which the attachment embodying my invention may be applied. Such attachment comprises a platform indicated generally at 13, preferably including twospaced indicate like parts boards, a relatively wide board I4 for supporting the soles of the feet of the workman and a relatively narrow board I! for supporting his heels.

While I have illustrated the boards I4 and I5 other suitable material. The wide board I is preferably disposed at the back of the ladder where it does not interfere with a workman in ascending or descending the ladder.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the boards l4 and 15 are secured in spaced parallel relation by metal straps l6 secured to and extending across the bottom of the boards I and I5, preferably at or near the ends of the boards and secured thereto as by bolts H. The straps ii are bent upwardly at their ends as at l8 and extend above the upper surface of the boards. The intermediate portions of the straps I are curved upwardly as at I! into the space between the two boards, the interior. of the curved portion [9 extending above the top surfaces of the two boards which preferably lie in substantially the same plane. The two boards of the platform are suillcient-ly spaced to receive-a rung of the ladder and'when the attachment is mounted on such rung, the curved portions I! of the straps l6 receive a given rung and the upper portion of the rung extends above the top surface of the platform and is received in the arch of the shoe of the workman whose heel engages the board I! whil the sole engages the board ll of the platform thereby preventing slipping. Said rung is thus incorporated in said platform and forms a part of the platform.

Pivoted to the upstanding ends l8 of the straps l6 are two supporting straps 20 each of which is preferably formed of a continuous strap of steel which is pivoted at its end as at 2| to the upstanding end of the strap It. The intermediate portions of the straps are provided with hooks 22 which are adapted to engage a rung.l2l of the ladder.

Preferably the upstanding ends 18 of the straps l6 at one end of the attachment extend above the corresponding ends at the opposite end of the platform. In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the bent ends at the left hand end of the platform as viewed in Fig. 1, extend above those at the right hand end of the platform. By forming the upstanding ends l8 in the foregoing manner, the supporting straps 20 at the right hand end as viewed in Fig. 1, may. first be folded against the platform and the supporting straps 20 at the left hand end then folded down against the other strap in parallel relation thereto thereby making it possible to fold the parts into a compact position to facilitate shipment or handling.

In the standard ladder the rungs are arranged one foot apart. When the ladder is leaning against a building or other support, it usually is arranged at an angle of about 15 to the vertical. The platform and supporting elements are so constructed that the top surface of the platform is approximately level when mounted on a ladder thus inclined so that there is no tendency for a workman to slip thereon. The foregoing result is accomplished by offsetting the supporting hooks 22 from the rung of the ladder on which they are hung a suflicient distance so that the angle formed by the line Joining the center of the hooks to the center of the rung I will form with the line extending between the centers of rungs HI and I2! substantially the same angle as that which the ladder makes with the vertical which, under the assumed conditions, is approximately 15. The surface of the platform, however, may be adjusted by providing additional openings 24, as viewed in Fig. 1 for the reception of the pivot 2| thereby changing the inclination of the top surface of the platform to bring it to a level position in case the inclination of the ladder is changed.

To install the supporting attachment embodying my invention in position on a ladder it is only necessary to elevate the straps and hook them on a desired rung of the ladder with the next lower rung received in the curved portions IQ of the straps II. In such position it is impossible for the platform to move backwardly or forwardly. At the same time it is not possible for it to move or sway laterally as the straps 20 suspend the attachment from spaced positions on the next higher rung.

With the hooks on the straps 20 engaging a first rung of a ladder and the next lower rung received in the space between the boards 14 and I5, a workman may stand erect thereon with the arches of his shoes engaging the lower rung and he may work as freely as though he were standing on the ground without danger of the tilting or swaying of the platform. While he will ordinarily work with his heels engaging the board l5 and the soles of his shoes engaging the board It, it will be obvious that he may, if desired, stand in the reversed position with his face away-from the ladder.

By supporting the platform and the person standing thereon, on adjacent rungs the load may properly be distributed between adjacent rungs of a ladder.

It will be noted that the hooked'straps attached to the platform exert a downwardly directed force on the rung above the platform which combined with the loops over the next lower rung combine to prevent the platform positively from tilting, swinging, or swaying to the side thereby providing a stable platform on which a workman may stand.

The supporting attachment embodying my invention may readily be moved from one position -to another on the ladder without the use of any tools or equipment whatever.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation.

claims may be made without departing from the Hence,- changes within the purview of the appended 1. In a supporting attachment for a ladder, a

platform comprising spaced boards, straps extending across the bottom of said boards and attached thereto for securing the same in spaced relation and bent upwardly at their ends across the edges of said boards, the bent ends of the strap at one end of said platform extending higher than those at the other end, and supporting straps pivotally attached to the ends of said first straps and provided with hooks for attachment to a second rung of said ladder whereby said pivotally mounted straps may be folded over each other and lie substantially parallel.

2. In a device of the character described, a supporting platform for a ladder comprising two spaced boards between which a rung of said ladder is received, first supporting members secured to and extending underneath and transversely of said platform, second supporting members attached to the forward ends of said first supporting members and extending to and supported upon the next higher rung of the ladder, and third supporting members attached to the rear ends of said first supporting members and extending to and supported upon said next higher rung.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting platform for a ladder comprising two spaced boards between which 9. runs of said ladder is received, two spaced's'upporting members extending underneath and attached to said platform, said members being bent upwardly between said boards and engaged with a rung of said ladder, second supporting members attached to the forward ends of said first supporting members and extending to and attachable to said next upperrungof said ladder and third supporting members attached to the rear ends of said first supporting members and extending to and enaageable with the next upper rung of said ladder.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting platform for a ladder comprising two spaced boards between which a rung of said ladder is received, first supporting members secured to and extending underneath and transversely of said platform, second supporting members attached to the forward ends of said first supporting members and extending to and supported upon the next higher rung of the ladder, and third supporting members attached to the rear ends of said first supporting members and exderneath said platform.

6. In a supporting attachment'f'or a ladder, a platform comprising two boards spaced sufficiently to receive a rung of an associated ladder, two first supporting members extending transversely beneath said platform and bent upwardly into the space between said boards, and engageable with the rung between said boards and forming a support therefor, and two second supporting members pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of said first supporting members and attachable to the next higher rung of said ladder.

7. In a supporting attachment for a ladder, a platform comprising two boards spaced sumciently to receive a'rung of an associated ladder, two first supporting members extending transversely beneath said platform and bent upwardly into the space between said boards and engageable with the rungbetween said boards and forming a support therefor, and two second supporting members pivotally attached to the front and rear ends of said first supporting members and provided at intermediate portions with open hooks engageable with a next higher rung of said ladder.

8. In an attachment for a ladder, a support ing platform comprising two boards spaced apart substantially the same distance as the diameter of a rung of the laddenthe front board being supporting members secured to said boards and extending transversely underneath the same, and four other supporting members attached to the respective ends of said first members which extend underneath the platform for attaching said platform to an upper rung of a ladder whereby a user may ascend and descend the ladder without interference with said platform.

9. In a device of the character described,. a

20 rung of saidladder.

KENNETH W. HORTON.

narrower than the rear board, at least two first

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