Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06C—LADDERS
  • E06C7/00—Component parts, supporting parts, or accessories
  • E06C7/48—Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06C—LADDERS
  • E06C7/00—Component parts, supporting parts, or accessories
  • E06C7/16—Platforms on, or for use on, ladders, e.g. liftable or lowerable platforms
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06C—LADDERS
  • E06C7/00—Component parts, supporting parts, or accessories
  • E06C7/48—Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects
  • E06C7/484—Supports specially adapted for use with a wall opening, e.g. windows
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06C—LADDERS
  • E06C7/00—Component parts, supporting parts, or accessories
  • E06C7/50—Joints or other connecting parts

Definitions

• This invention relates to a device for attachment to a ladder, said device being of the kind disclosed in my prior Patent Number 1074780.
• a device for use in conjunction with a ladder comprising an elongate cross-bar whose length is greater than the width of the ladder, said cross-bar comprising a central tubular member and a pair of outer wall-e ⁇ gageable members telescopically mounted in the central member and adjustably locatable therein, and having attachment means for securing the cross-bar to a rung of a ladder, whereby the wall engageable members are located transversely beyond the ladder.
• the attachment means includes at least one hook- shaped member and at least two U-shaped brackets which are threaded at their end and carry a removable abutment plate thereon, and the wall-engageable members are wheels.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a modification of or improvement in the invention set forth in my patent aforesaid, whereby the device may be fitted more securely and more easily to the ladder, so that, in use, the ladder is more stable and safer.
• a ladder attachment comprising an elongate cross-bar whose length is greater than the width of the ladder said cross-bar comprising a central tubular member and a pair of outer wall-engageable members telescopically mounted in the central member and adjustablly locatable therein and attachment means mounted in the cross-bar for securing the cross-bar to at least two rungs of the ladder, said attachment means comprising at least one hook-shaped member for engaging one rung and a pair of tumbuckles which at one end are mounted on the cross-bar and at their other end have hooks for engaging another rung, such that the cross-bar lies between said two rungs.
• a platform assembly which includes a framework having recesses for engagement with the two rungs of the ladder below the level of the ladder attachment and supporting a platform member the structure also including support means connecting the platform assembly to the cross-bar.
• said support means comprises a pair of struts connected to the platform member and to bracket means mounted on the cross-bar.
• the platform member is pivotal upwardly relative to the ladder and the struts are slidably located in the bracket means.
• the platform member has a width approximately three times the width of the ladder.
• the or each first hook-shaped member engages over an upper rung of the ladder, and the hooks on the tumbuckles pass below the next lower rung and are brought into firm engagement therewith by turning the screw-threaded sleeves of the tumbuckles.
• a spacer device for spacing the top of a ladder from a wall comprising a pair of plates engageable with the ladder sides at or adjacent the top of the ladder and carrying means which abut a wall when the ladder is placed thereagainst so that the top of the ladder is spaced from said wall.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder in combination with a device as disclosed in my Patent Number 1074780; and Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the ladder attachment according to the invention mounted on a ladder and also a platform unit according to the invention in use in conjunction with the ladder attachment;
• Fig. 3 is a side view corresponding to Fig 2;
• Fig. 4 is a plan view of the platform;
• Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a spacing device used while fitting the ladder attachment to a ladder; and Fig. 6 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 5.
• the known device consists generally of a tubular cross-bar comprising a central tubular member 1 having at each end a telescoping bar 2 carrying a rubbertyred 3.
• the bar 1 has a pair of fixed hook-shaped members 4 which engage over the second top rung 5 of the ladder 6.
• the bar 1 is secured in position by a pair of removable U-shaped brackets 7 which embrace the rung 5 and straddle the bar 1, and whose legs project through holes in clamping plates 8 and receive clamping wing nuts, not shown.
• the device may cant relative to the ladder, or the ladder may rock relative to the device and make the ladder unstable. Also, as the U-bolts are detachable, these and the clamping plates and wing nuts can be easily lost .
• Figs 2 and 3 the hook-shaped members 4A engage over the top rung 5A, and the U-shaped brackets are replaced by a pair of tumbuckles 9.
• the latter are connected at their upper ends to a sleeve 10 carried on the central part of the bar 1A, and, at their lower ends, they have hooks 11.
• the sleeve 10 is freely rotatable.
• the turnbuckle sleeves 13 are turned by hand to shorten the tumbuckles and bring the hooks 11 firmly into engagement with the rung 12.
• the bar 1A carries a pair of generally elongate R-shaped pins 13 each attached to a chain secured to the bar.
• Each R-pin is used to secure the respective telescopic bar 2A to the bar 1A, for this purpose, the bar 1A has a series of through holes 14 and each telescopic bar 2A has a through hole which can align with any one of the holes 14 so as to extend the desired length from the bar 1A.
• the straight leg of the R-pin is pushed through the aligned holes and the bent part tightly engages the outer face of the bar 1A .
• the telescopic bars have a maximum spread between their wheels 3A of, e.g. 2.4m and a minimum of e.g. 1.4m.
• lugs 15 Mounted at each end of bar 1A may be a pair of lugs 15; these are optional, hut if the platform assembly 30, hereinafter described, is to be used in conjunction with the ladder attachment, these lugs 15 are required.
• the lugs are welded to the bar 1A to lie at an angle to the vertical when the attachment is in use; the lugs extend upwards and 'rearwards' i.e. away from the wall against what the ladder is placed .
• Each pair of lugs 15 has two pins 16 passing through them, the lower pin carrying a roller 17.
• Each pin terminates at one end in a ring 18 and the other end carries a nut 19.
• One ring 18, the lower one, is located inwards and carries a clasp 20 for attachment of a safety harness; the other ring extends outwards and can carry a pulley block by which goods can be hoisted from the ground to a person working on the ladder.
• the device is much more firmly secured to the ladder than hitherto.
• the clamping force is also in that direction, as distinct from the known arrangement in which the clamping force is transversely from front to rear of the ladder.
• the hook-shaped members 4A, the tumbuckles 9 and the R-pins 16 are all anchored to the bar 1A, so that there is virtually no possibility of them being lost.
• the hook-shaped members 4A may be secured to the bar 1A by nuts, so that their height can be adjusted, if necessary. Preferably however, they are welded to the bar 1A.
• the hooks 11 on the tumbuckles 9 may be fitted to the rung 12 the other way round, so that the shank of the hooks pass in front of the rung 12 and the hooked portions project, rearwardly.
• the ladder attachment may be used with or without a platform assembly which is releasably attached to the ladder, as will now be described.
• the platform assembly 30 includes a platform 31 having a support framework which includes side members 32 having slots 33 for engaging a pair of rungs 34 below the level of the ladder attachment.
• the upper slot is right-angled to give a bayonet-joint effect for secure fitment.
• the sides 32 are laterally adjustable by means of a turnbuckle 35 so that they can be pressed close against its inner face of the ladder sides.
• the platform 31 is hinged at 36 to the support framework so that it can be tilted upwards to overlie the next higher rung of the ladder; this is to allow a person to climb past the platform after which the platform can be kicked back into the framework for the person to stand on it.
• the platform lies horizontal when the ladder is at an angle of 70° to the horizontal.
• a pair of support struts 37 are also provided.
• the lower end of each strut carries a threaded bolt 38 which is bent to engage in a hole in the "rear" end of the platform, i.e. the end remote from the ladder.
• the strut is secured by a split pin 39 passed through a hole therein.
• a split pin 40 is located in a hole in a strut above the lugs as a precautionary measure to prevent the possibility of the strut moving downwards out of the gap.
• a split pin 41 is placed in a hole in the strut below the lugs to prevent upward movement of the strut and consequently tilting of the platform 31.
• the platform 31 has a width of about 1 metre and a pair of wings 43 at each end extend forward to a depth of 1 ⁇ 2 metre. This leaves a central gap 44 on the ladder side of the platform so that the wings extend forwardly of each side of the ladder.
• the platform 31 has a upstanding surround 45 which is recessed 46 at two places along the rear wall so that the surround does not foul the ladder sides when the platform is tilted upwards.
• the ladder attachment and the platform assembly are preferably made of aluminium.
• the ladder attachment and platform can be fitted to the ladder either before the ladder is raised, i.e. when it is on the ground, or after the ladder is raised.
• the ladder is either set at a shallow angle of say 50 and supported from slipping so that a person can carry the attachment up the ladder and secure it to the rungs, after which the person can descend and the ladder raised to its working angle of 70° .
• a spacer device can be temporarily mounted to the top of the ladder so as to space the ladder from the wall and allow fitment of the attachment.
• a suitable spacer is illustrated in Figs 5 and 6 and consists of a pair of metal plates50 which slide over the ends of the ladder sides.
• a shaft 51 is mounted between the sleeves and has a turnbuckle 51A so that the sleeves can be heightened against the ladder.
• the shaft also carries a pair of pivotal cross pieces 52.
• a handle 53 is located at one end of the cross pieces and an axle 54 carrying wheels 55 is located at the other end.
• the ladder attachment can now be fitted as follows, having first set the exterior bars 2A are set at the desired width position in the bar 1A . A person then carries the attachment to the top of the ladder and the attachment is hooked on to the top rung 5A, (if a pulley is readily available the attachment can be hoisted up the ladder, using the ladder sides as rails) The tumbuckles 9 hang down on their sleeve 10 and can be easily located under the next lower rung 12, after which the tumbuckles are tightened. The spacer can then be removed. The platfrom assembly is then carried up the ladder and the framework sides 32 lowered on to the appropriate rungs. The sides are then pressed against the ladder sides by adjusting the turnbuckle 35.
• the struts 37 are located within the lugs 15 of the ladder attachment, and the upper pin 40 inserted into the struts so that they hang down from the attachemnt and the bolt 38 is length adjusted if necessary before being connected and secured to the platform 31.
• the platform is then tilted upwards, which causes the struts 37 to slide upwards between their lugs, and the person climbs above the plarform, kicks it down and inserts the lower pins 41 into the struts.
• the platform is then ready for use. If the user is wearing a safety harness the straps thereof can be clipped to each harness clasp 20. Alternatively, a strap can be passed throught the clasps 20 round the front of the ladder, and the ends can be attached to the users harness. If the ladder attachment and platform assembly are to be mounted on the ladder while it is lying on the ground, the ladder is placed at 90° to the wall with the top of the ladder close to the wall. Thus, when the ladder attachment is fitted (to the underside of the ladder), the top can be raised and the ladder gradually rolled up the wall by means of the wheels 3A.
• a person can move about the platform and can stand at one side or the other, due to the stability given to the ladder by the ladder attachment and the secure fixing by which the platform assembly is mounted. on the ladder. Consequently a far greater area is within the user's reach than would be the case if the person was standing on the ladder rungs.
• the struts 37 not only connect the platform to the ladder attachment, but also act as side barriers for the further protection of a person standing on the platform.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ladders (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26276401

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (16)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (29)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1981
  • 1981-05-13 GB GB8114650A patent/GB2080869B/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-06-26 US US06/277,829 patent/US4440263A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1981-07-01 EP EP81302984A patent/EP0045140B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-07-01 DE DE8181302984T patent/DE3175607D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1981-07-28 AU AU73781/81A patent/AU547589B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1981-07-28 BR BR8108722A patent/BR8108722A/pt unknown
  • 1981-07-28 WO PCT/GB1981/000146 patent/WO1982000491A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1981-07-28 JP JP56502503A patent/JPS57501332A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-07-29 ES ES81504389A patent/ES8204042A1/es not_active Expired
  • 1981-07-29 NZ NZ197877A patent/NZ197877A/xx unknown
  • 1981-07-30 CA CA000382913A patent/CA1175398A/en not_active Expired
• 1982
  • 1982-03-23 DK DK130482A patent/DK130482A/da not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1982-03-26 FI FI821075A patent/FI69341C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1982-03-26 OA OA57645A patent/OA07050A/xx unknown
  • 1982-03-29 NO NO821038A patent/NO155982C/no unknown
  • 1982-03-30 RO RO82107091A patent/RO88414A/ro unknown

Patent Citations (8)

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