US3446309A

US3446309A - Roller mount for ladders

Info

Publication number: US3446309A
Application number: US554392A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph D Davis; John E Polley
Original assignee: JOHN E POLLEY; RALPH D DAVIS
Current assignee: JOHN E POLLEY; RALPH D DAVIS
Priority date: 1966-06-01
Filing date: 1966-06-01
Publication date: 1969-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-27

Description

May 27, 1969 R. D. DAVIS ET AL 3,446,309

ROLLER MOUNT FOR LADDERS Filed June 1, 1966 Ralph D. Davis John E. Po/ley IN VENTORS Atbmq:

United States Patent Fla.

Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,392 Int. Cl. E06c /32, 7/42; E04g 5/02 US. Cl. 182-429 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A roller mount particularly adapted for folding ladders including a caster-type wheel depending from a horizontal base. A first side plate is fixed to the base and projects vertically therefrom for engagement against one side of a ladder leg. A second plate is positioned laterally of the first plate so as to lie against the second side of a ladder leg, the second plate being free of the base and selectively movable toward the first plate so as to clamp a received ladder leg therebetween by front and rear sets of transverse bolts positioned both forward and rearward of the front and rear edges of the ladder leg so as to lie against these edges and further stabilize the mount relative to the leg.

The instant invention is generally concerned with ladders, and more particularly relates to an attachment in the nature of a roller mount which is releasably engageable with a leg of a folding ladder so as to, in conjunction with three similar mounts, increase the mobility thereof.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a roller mount which is uniquely adapted for releasable clamping engagement with a leg of a folding ladder, it be ing contemplated that four such mounts be used in each instance, so as to provide a ladder capable of being quickly and easily rolled from location to location.

Another important object of the instant invention resides in the incorporation of means whereby the roller mount can accommodate itself to various minor irregularities in the dimensions of a ladder leg without detracting from the positive clamped engagement necessary to provide a stable connection.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a roller mount for ladders which is of a relatively simple construction possessing a high degree of structural stability.

Basically, the roller mount of the instant invention comprises a caster wheel swivelly engaged with and depending from a base plate which in turn has two laterally spaced upwardly projecting clamping plates thereon. These clamping plates are to receive the lower end of a ladder leg therebetween with the vertical plates subsequently being drawn together in clamping engagement with the opposite sides of the leg so as to effect the desired affixing of the mount to the corresponding leg.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a conventional folding ladder having a roller mount, in accordance with the instant invention, aflixed to the lower end of each of the legs thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial elevational view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 in FIG- URE 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the roller mount of the instant invention. As will be appreciated from FIGURE 1, four such mounts are to be utilized in conjunction with a folding ladder 12, one being rigidly, although releasably, afixed to the lower end of each of the ladder legs 14.

Each of the roller mounts 10 includes a relatively large wheel 16 rotatably mounted between the depending sides 18 of a saddle 20 with the saddle 20 in turn having the fiat or bight portion 22 thereof swivelly affixed to an enlarged fiat mounting plate or base 24 by means of a suitable shaft and ball bearing connection 26 of any appropriate type used in conventional caster wheel units.

Each roller mount 10 includes a pair of laterally spaced vertically projecting

fiat clamping plates

28 and 29, these plates having parallel inclined front and rear edges generally conforming to the angle of inclination of the legs of a folding or step ladder. The outer clamping plate 28 has a laterally directed flange 30 which overlies the base 24 and is suitably bolted thereto by a pair of bolts 32, each provided with a suitable nut and lock washer 34. The inner plate 29, on the contrary, is a free floating plate not directly secured to the base. The corresponding ladder leg 14 is received between the

vertical clamping plates

28 and 29 which are of a length greater than the depth of the leg 14. Finally, the actual clamping of the leg 14, the lower end 36 thereof engaging the top of the base 24 directly over the wheel 16, is effected by front and rear pairs of clamping bolts 38. Each of the bolts 38 extends through the two spaced

plates

28 and 29 with the head 40 thereof engaged against the outer face of the outer plate 28 and with a suitable nut, preferably in the nature of a wing nut 42 for easy manual manipulation, threaded on the opposite end thereof into engagement with the outer face of the inner plate 29 whereby, upon a tightening of the nuts 42 on all of the clamping bolts 38, an inward drawing of the plate 29 will be effected and a corresponding rigid clamping of the lower end of the leg 14 achieved between the

plates

28 and 29. While a high degree of stability will be achieved through the engagement of the lower end of the leg 14 on the base plate 24 and the clamping of the

side plates

28 and 29 thereagainst, it is also contemplated that the forward and rear pairs of clamping bolts 38 be so located as to, whenever possible, engage directly against the edges of the leg 14.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, it will be appreciated that each of the

plates

28 and 29 has three sets of bolt-receiving holes 44, one adjacent the front edge, one adjacent the rear edge, and one just inward of the rear set. The three sets of holes 44 are of significance in enabling the use of the same mount 10 on both of the wider front ladder legs, using the front and rear sets of holes 44, and the narrower rear ladder legs, utilizing the front and intermediate sets of holes 44. In each instance, the holes 44 of each set are orientated on an inclined line generally corresponding to the angle of the ladder legs.

In order to provide the stability necessary when the ladder is actually being used, suitable conventional caster lock units 46 can be provided generally on the two mounts 10 associated with the front ladder legs. Further, while it is preferable that the plate 29 not have a mounting flange, with this plate 29 being free of the base 24 and acting so as to rigidly clamp the lower portion of the corresponding leg 14 to the single plate 28 which is in turn fixedly locked to the base 24, it is possible to also provide the plate 29 with a mounting flange and rely on an inward flexing of the

plates

28 and 29 to effect the desired clamping. In either arrangement, the

wing nuts 42 are positioned on the inside of the ladder so as to avoid any unnecessary projections which might scrape walls, etc.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique roller mount has been provided which mount, in conjunction with sufiicient similar mounts so as to accommodate all of the legs of a particular ladder, provides a convenient manner of facilitating the use, handling and moving of such ladder without in any way affecting the basic operation of the ladder or interfering with the use of the ladder in the manner of a conventional ladder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in conjunction with a folding ladder, a roller mount usable in conjunction with at least one similar mount, said mount being engageable with a leg of the ladder, said mount including a horizontal base for the supporting reception of the lower end of the ladder leg thereon, roller means, means rotatably mounting said roller means on said babse vertically therebelow, a pair of laterally spaced vertical plates positioned over said base and projecting upwardly therefrom for the reception of a base supported ladder leg therebetween, the lower edge of one of said plates being rigidly fixed to said base, and means for selectively drawing the second of said plates laterally toward said one plate for effecting the clamping of a ladder leg received therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively drawing the second plate laterally toward the one plate comprises at least two bolts engaged with and extending perpendicularly between said pair of laterally spaced plates, said bolts being laterally spaced from each other and defining, in conjunction with the plates, an upwardly opening socket for the reception of a ladder leg therein positioned in engagement with said horizontal base.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said second plate has a free lower edge independent of and movable relative to said horizontal base.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a second bolt located parallel to, above and slightly laterally offset from each of the first two bolts so as to present the upwardly opening socket at a slight inclination to generally conform to the angle of inclination of a folding ladder leg.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said plates each has three sets of bolt-receiving holes defined therein, said plates having generally vertical front and rear edges, said sets of bolt-receiving holes including a first set adjacent the front edge of each plate, a rear set adjacent the rear edge of each plate, and an intermediate set just inward of the rear set and substantially closer to the rear set than the front set for the accommodation of ladder legs of various depths.

6. The structure of claim 2 including a second bolt located parallel to, above and slightly laterally offset from each of the first two bolts so as to present the upwardly opening socket at a slight inclination to generally conform to the angle of inclination of a folding ladder leg.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said plates each has three sets of bolt-receiving holes defined therein, said plates having generally vertical front and rear edges, said sets of bolt-receiving holes including a first set adjacent the front edge of each plate, a rear set adjacent the rear edge of each plate, and an intermediate set just inward of the rear set and substantially closer to the rear set than the front set for the accommodation of ladder legs of various depths.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said second plate has a free lower edge independent of and movable relative to said horizontal base.

9. A ladder leg and roller mount therefor, said ladder leg including a lower portion having a fiat lower edge, front and rear edges, and opposed substantially planar faces, said mount including a base portion underlying, receiving and supporting the ladder leg lower edge, a first vertical plate rigid with said base portion and projecting vertically therefrom juxtaposed one of said ladder leg side faces, a second plate parallel to and laterally spaced from the first plate juxtaposed the second side face of said ladder leg, at least one bolt engaged with and extending between said plates immediately forward of the front edge of said ladder leg, and a nut operably threaded on said bolt for effecting a lateral movement of the second plate toward the first plate and a clamping of the ladder leg therebetween, a second bolt engaged with and extending transversely between said plates immediately rearward of the rear edge of said ladder leg, a nut operably threaded on said second bolt for effecting a selective movement of the second plate laterally toward the first plate and a clamping of the ladder leg therebetween, and a roller affixed to and depending from said base portion.

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein said second plate terminates in a lower edge independent of and freely movable relative to said base portion, said second plate lower edge being positioned in upwardly spaced relation to said base portion, and third and fourth bolts and cooperating nuts positioned above the first and second bolts and similarly extending transversely across the front and rear edges of said ladder leg for assisting in the clamping movement of the second plate toward the first plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,693 2/1914 McKinney 1630 2,371,460 3/1945 Needham 182108 1,171,569 2/1916 Wanda 1630 2,800,679 7/1957 Schultz 16-30 2,782,045 2/1957 Hulbert 16-30 1,017,799 2/ 1912 Read 1630 FOREIGN PATENTS 310,109 12/1955 Switzerland.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DORIS L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. c1. X.R. 161 31; 1s2-10s