US2599169A - Ladder bracket - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1952 F. B. FINNEY LADDER BRACKET Filed Jan. 13, 1951 Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER BRACKET Fay B. Finney, Platteville, Wis.

Application January 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,923

This invention relates to ladder brackets and has for its principal object the provision of a new and improved bracket of this type.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a bracket attachable to a ladder and engageable with a vertical wall to position the top of the ladder outwardly from the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket, for supporting the top of a ladder away from the wall, arranged so that stresses placed on the ladder by the bracket will be mainly on the rails of the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket for supporting the top of a ladder away from the wall, which is attachable to and detachable from the ladder without the use of any tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which is of light weight but nevertheless is Strong enough to support loads as heavy as may be carried safely by the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket that is strong and capable of withstanding hard usage without damage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which can be manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will be apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow, reference being had to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the bracket supporting a ladder away from a vertical wall;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the ladder and bracket; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the maintenance of building structures, it is frequently advantageous to support a ladder outwardly from the structure so as to better enable the workmen to perform their duties. Thus, for example, when working on the over-hanging gutters of a building, it is definitely advantageous to space the upper end of the ladders a considerable distance outwardly from the building so that a plank or stage supported by the ladder will lie outside of the gutter to permit a workman to work on the gutter conveniently. In many instances, such as in painting, tuck pointing and the like, it is advantageous to support a boatswains chair or a reel chair somewhat outwardly from the building so that a workman may move upwardly and downwardly along the wall during the course of his work. The present inven- 7 Claims. (Cl. 228-60) 2 tion provides a bracket suitable for these purposes.

From the standpoint of safety, it is obviously advantageous to support the stresses placed on the ladder directly on the rails of the ladder rather than upon the rungs, and the bracket of the present invention is arranged to do this. Furthermore, it is arranged so that it may be attached to and detached from the ladder without the use of tools of any kind.

In its preferred form, the bracket of the present invention comprises an arched structure having a horizontal and a generally vertical section joined together by an arcuate section. A cross bar is fixed at the end of the horizontal section and contains shoes or skids adapted to engage the wall of the building. The vertical section contains cross bars fixed thereto and adapted to engage the rails of a ladder, the upper one of the two cross bars containing loops through which the ends of the rails are projected to hang the bracket on the ladder. A latch is provided for engagement with a rung of the ladder to draw the lower cross bar snugly against the rails of the ladder, thereby to lock the bracket securely in place on the ladder. Suitable brace members are provided to add rigidity and durability to the structure.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, it will be seen that the bracket of the present invention comprises a main member having a substantially horizontal section I, an arcuate section 2, and a substantially. vertical section 3. Disposed in juxtaposition to this main member is a reinforcing arch 4 fixed to the horizontal section I adjacent the end thereof, and to the vertical section 3 somewhat upwardly from the end thereof. Brace members 5 extend between the main member and arch and are fixed thereto to stiffen the assembly.

Fixed to the outer end of the section l is a cross bar 6 reinforced by a plate 1 and containing shoes 8 adapted to engage a wall surface to support the bracket thereagainst. Braces 9 extend from the ends of the cross bar 6 to the section I to hold the member rigid.

Section 3 of the main member contains an upper cross bar I0 and a lower cross bar l I, each of which is preferably somewhat shorter than .the cross bar 6. Brace bars I 2 extend between the section I and the ends of cross bar H3. The main member, arch 4 and cross bars 5, l0 and II, and braces 9 and I2 may all conveniently be formed of light weight, high tensile strength tubing and secured together by welding.

Mounted upon the cross bar I0 are clevis like loops l3 having eyes through which the cross bar I!) extends loosely to permit sliding the loops thereon, thereby to adjust the bracket to ladders of difierent widths. As will be seen in Fig. 1,

the side rails [4 of the ladder are extended through the loops l3 and the bracket lowered thereon until these loops engage the upper rung l5 of the ladder thereby to hang the bracket thereon.

Lower cross bar H contains suitable post-like members I6 fixed to its ends in any convenient manner as by welding, and serving to limit lateral movement of the bracket with respect to the ladder. Mounted upon the section 3, between the prevent the bracket from sliding off of the lad-.

der by engaging under the top rung thereof. Since the post 24 projects outwardly from the main member, when the bracket is being placed upon the ladder, loops 13 are threaded over the rails and the bracket then rotated, around bar 1'0 as a pivot, 'suffi'ciently to move section 3 away from the rungs far enough to permit post 23 to clear the top rung. longitudinally of the ladder to bring loops i3 against the top rung, after which the bracket is rotated in a reverse direction to position section 3 against the ladder rungs.

With the bracket mounted on the ladder as above, section 3 lies along the rungs of the ladder, and the rails i4 thereoiregister with and bear-against the crossbar l i. Collar i'i is rotated and moved longitudinally to register the tongue IS with a rung of the ladder thereby to draw the crossbar H tightly against the rails to secure the bracket on the ladder. Fixed to the ends of crossbar l6 and to arch 4 is a V-shaped brace 25, which may be a tube or rod, that holds the bar rig-id so that the bracket and ladder may be handled as a unit.

As will be seen in Fig. 1, the upper end of the ladder is supported outwardly from the wall structure a distance depending upon the length *o'fsection l of the bracket. This distance may be varied within the teachings of the invention; however, spacing theladder approximately three feet from the wall has been found to be satisfactory in most instances. With a pair of ladders equipped with these brackets and spaced er-suitable distance apart, a plank 29 may be laid across the horizontal sections 1 and supported thereby to enable a workman to travel between the ladders. In order that this plank may be moved farther from the'building and in juxtaposition to the ladder, a horizontal extension member 2i and supporting post 2'2 therefor, fill in the drop causedby arch 2 of the main member and permit the plank to be supported with its outer edge substantially in engagement withthe ladder. This is advantageous when the bracket is being used to form a sca'irolding to support a workman working upon a gutter. In order to insure that a scafiold so formed will be stable, it is desirable to have the cross bar 6 of The bracket is then moved considerable length so as to space the shoes 8 apart on the wall. I have found that if the length of cross bar 6 is substantially the same as the distance from the wall to the ladder or to the supporting post 2|, the bracket will hold the ladder firmly against lateral movement and scafi'olds formed as above will be very stable. With theseproportions the bracket and ladder can be handled easily.

If a stage or boatswains chair is to be used with the bracket, it may be supported conveniently by a hook 23 engaging the arch 4 at a junction pointer the brace members 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

A suitable cable or rope depending from the hook will support the device below the bracket at a convenient. distance outwardly from the wall of theflbuilding.

When composed of light weight materials, such as alloy steel tubing, the bracket is of moderate weight and 'its' presence at the top of the ladder does not seriously interfere with movements of the ladder as required in the course of the work. Although light, the bracket is strong enough to support weights up to the maximum that can be carried safely by the ladders and rugged enough to withstand the hard usage to which it is subjected.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describing a preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example as there are many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire to have protected'by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed 'is:

l. A bracket for holding the top of a ladder outwardly from a vertical wall, comprising: a tubular member having a section adapted to lay alongside the rungs of the ladder and a second section disposed at an oblique angle to the first section; a cross bar fixed on the free end of said second section; shoes "fixed on the ends 0 1" said cross for engaging the wall; a pair or vertically spaced apart cross bars fixed on said first section for engaging the rails of the ladder; loops on the upper one of said latter cross bars for encircling the rails of the ladder and engaging the top rung thereof to support the bracket on the ladder; and a latch on said first section for engaging a rung of the ladder to lock the bracket thereon.

2. A bracket as specified in claim 1, in which the loops are slidably mounted upon the cross bar to accommodate the bracket to' ladders of various widths.

3. A bracket as specified in claim 1, in which the latch is slidable longitudinally of said first section to accommodate the bracket to ladders having different distances between rungs.

4. A bracket as'speci'fied in claim '1, in which a post projects from the tubular member and is positioned to extend under the rung of the ladder, engaged by the loops to prevent the bracket from sliding off the ladder.

5. A bracket for holding the top of a ladder outwardly from a vertical wall, comprising: a main member having a horizontal section and a vertical section, which sections are joined together by a long radius arcuate section; a cross bar'fixe'd on the free end of said horizontal section; shoes fixed on said cross bar for engaging 5 the wall; brace members extending between said cross bar and horizontal section; a second cross bar fixed on the vertical section at the junction thereof with said arcuate section; loops disposed on said second cross bar for engaging the rails and top rung of a ladder to support the bracket thereon; brace members fixed to the free ends of said second cross bar and said horizontal section; a third cross bar fixed on said vertical section near'the free end thereof; posts on said third cross bar for positioning the free end of said vertical section laterally with respect to the ladder; an arch fixed to said vertical section at said third cross bar and to said horizontal section near the first cross bar; brace members fixed to said arch and to the horizontal arcuate and vertical sections of said member; and a latch slidably fixed on said vertical sectionfor engaging a rung of the ladder to draw the third cross bar against the ladder rails and thereby secure the bracket on the ladder.

6. A bracket as specified in claim 5, in which a V brace is fixed to the cross bar on which the loops are mounted and to the arch to hold that cross bar rigid.

7. A bracket as specified in claim 5, having an extension of the horizontal section disposed in line therewith and over the arcuate section and supported by a post rising from the arcuate section to receive and support a plank for forming a scafiold.

FAY B. FINNEY.

REFERENCES CITED v The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,848 Johnson Oct. 23, 1923 2,101,245 De Franco Dec. 7, 1937 2,503,351 Otterson Apr. 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 748,371 France Apr. 10, 1933

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