WO1996032563A1

WO1996032563A1 - Ladder brace

Info

Publication number: WO1996032563A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/000897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence William Hunter
Original assignee: Terence William Hunter
Priority date: 1995-04-13
Filing date: 1996-04-12
Publication date: 1996-10-17
Also published as: GB9507740D0; AU5284996A

Abstract

A ladder brace which can be attached to both sides of a ladder to stop it falling down or sideways in use, which consists of an upper member (7) e.g. a tube attached near the top of the ladder which is joined by a hinge (9) to a lower member (4) which is attached to the ladder near the bottom e.g. level with the lowest rung of the ladder, both members (4, 7) having an adjustable length so that when not in use they can be folded flat against the ladder and when the ladder is in use they can be extended and locked in position to form a base support between the ladder and the wall against which the ladder is leaning to provide a stable support.

Description

Ladder Brace

The present invention relates to a device for reducing the risks of ladders falling down or falling over sideways in use, more particularly, it relates to a device for ensuring the greater stability of ladders when they are used leaning against a wall and which device can also be used to convert a normal ladder into one which can be used free-standing.

Many accidents are caused every year by people falling off ladders and ladders slipping in use. A ladder leaning against a wall can slip away from the wall, slip side-ways or twist. Many devices are available for fixing or anchoring the base of the ladder so that it cannot move or slide. However, these devices are not fool-proof and the ladder can become unstable, for example, when a person using the ladder leans too far sideways. This is because the weight of the ladder and the person using it is between (a) the point of contact with the ground and (b) the wall. By moving the fulcrum or point of balance of the ladder to a point much closer to the wall and to either side, much greater stability is achieved.

A ladder also has limited use on uneven or sloping ground.

I have now devised a device for stabilising ladders which reduces these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a device for stabilising a ladder which, when the ladder is erected in normal use, comprises a first elongated member able to be pivotally attached to the lower part of the ladder and a second elongated member able to be pivotally attached to the upper pan of the ladder, the first and second elongated members having an adjustable length and being attached to each other by a hinge at the opposite ends to those to be fixed to the ladder.

By upper and lower part of the ladder is meant the upper and lower part when the ladder is in use. for ladders which come in two or more sections, upper and lower part of the ladder applies to the upper and lower pan of the lowest section which is in contact with the ground in use

Such a device is attached to both sides of a ladder The first and second elongated members can consist of tubes or rods of substantially circular cross-section or they can be struts of rectangular, square or other cross-section. An example of the elongated members can be extruded aluminium tube. The length of the elongated members can be varied, e.g. by the members consisting of two tubes, one of which can slide inside the other and which can be locked together at any appropriate extension. The tubes can be locked together by means of a pin passing through both tubes or by a clamp or other suitable method. The combined length of both members when fully extended should be substantially longer than the distance between the two points on the ladder to which the members are attached.

The fixing of the end of the elongated members to the ladder is preferably such that the member can move in at least two different directions, e.g. it is attached by a suitable hinged or universal joint.

In use, the device is attached to a ladder with the first elongated member attached near the bottom of the ladder or bottom of the lowest section of a ladder when the ladder has two or more sections and the second elongated member attached higher up the same section of the ladder.

The ladder is lent against a wall and the length of the elongated members adjusted until the join between the first and second elongated members is in contact with the ground between the bottom of the ladder and the wall preferably as close to the wall as possible and the two devices, one attached to each side of the ladder, and spaced apart. The length of the elongated members is then fixed. A particularly preferred configuration is when the angle made by a projection of each of the lower elongated members and the wall is approximately sixty degrees and the angle between the lower elongated member and the base of the ladder in the horizontal plane is approximately one hundred degrees that the so the lower elongated members and the base of the ladder approximately form a truncated equilateral triangle

A similar device is attached to the other side of the ladder. Preferably the join between the first and second elongated members, in contact with the ground, lies outside a line from the base of the ladder perpendicular to the wall Preferably the two devices, one attached to each side of the ladder, are connected together so they cannot move further apart; for example, by having an adjustable length strap or similar attachment, connecting them together. The invention also comprises a ladder having the aforesaid device attached to each side of it.

In ladders with hollow treads, e.g. made of aluminium, the shorter elongated member can be attached to the ladder at the lowermost tread by means of a threaded rod passed through the tread and a universal joint attached to each end of this rod onto which the two lower members are attached. Alternatively, the device can be fixed directly to the ladder stile, e.g. by a nut and bolt. Each of the longer elongated members can be similarly attached.

The join between the first and second elongated members can be by a simple hinge. The second, and longer, elongated member is preferably attached to the ladder a substantial distance from the ground. For stability purposes, the higher up the lower section of the ladder it is fixed, the more stable the ladder will be

When not in use, the device is preferably folded up and held against the ladder stile, e.g. by clips. In this position, the first and second elongated members are in a substantially straight line and are neatly folded away for ease of transportation, etc. The device can either be sold separately for attaching to existing ladders or ladders can be sold with the device attached.

A ladder fitted with the device of the invention attached to it can be free-standing as it will have a base which has a shape of a truncated triangle with the centre of gravity falling within the base.

In use, the device of the invention enables a ladder to be erected and stabilised, greatly reducing any risk of slipping either sideways or from the base sliding back, or of twisting The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a ladder incorporating the device in use. Fig. 2 shows a side view of a ladder incorporating the device in use. Fig. 3 shows a view of the device attached to a ladder in storage.

A ladder (1) has stiles (2) and rungs (3). The device of the invention comprises a first elongated member (4) which is attached to the ladder by means of a bolt with screw threads at its end passing through lowest rung (3 a) and a second elongated member (7) which is attached to the ladder by means of a bolt with screw threads at its end passing through a higher rung 3(b). Universal joints (5) and (8) are bolted to the end of the bolt and hold members (4) and (7) to the ladder. The elongated members (4) and (7) consist of two parts (4a) and (4b) and (7a) and (7b), consisting of hollow extruded aluminium tubes and (4b) can slide inside (4a) and (7b) can slide inside (7a). There are a series of holes in (4a), (4b), (7a) and (7b) so that a pin can be passed through holes in both sections to hold them in place. The length of (4) and (7) depends upon how far (4b) is slid inside (4a) and (7b) is slid in (7a). The tubes (4) and (7) are joined together by hinge (9).

In use, the ladder is erected, as shown in Fig. 2 with the hinge (9) substantially in contact with the ground and the length of (4) and (7) adjusted so the ladder is supported by the wall and the rods (7).

As shown in Fig. 1, the hinges (9) lie outside the lines from the base of the ladder (1) perpendicular to the wall. The two devices on either side of the ladder are attached together by strap (1 1) to prevent them moving sideways. Thus, the ladder is provided with a stable base wider than the ladder and will resist any sideways movement of the ladder

If the ladder tries to slide away from the wall, this will be prevented by the intrinsic structure of the device

The device of the invention will also function with a normal ladder as a free¬ standing ladder To store the ladder incorporating the invention the members (4) and (7) are unpinned and the hinge (9) moved towards the ladder until the rods (4) and (7) are substantially in a straight line with the stiles and can be retained by clips (12).

Thus a ladder can be made stable against sideways or backwards movement and a ladder can be modified so that it has a stable base, yet it is easy to store and transport and very little extra weight is added to the ladder.

One pair of devices can be kept and used with a range of different ladders, as required, as these can be easily attached and removed from a ladder.

Claims

1. A device for stabilising a ladder which, when the ladder is erected in normal use, comprises a first elongated member able to be pivotally attached to the lower part of the ladder and a second elongated member able to be pivotally attached to the upper part of the ladder; the first and second elongated members having an adjustable length and being attached to each other by a hinge at the opposite ends to those to be fixed to the ladder.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second elongated members consists of tubes or rods of substantially circular cross-section

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second elongated members consist of struts of rectangular, square or other cross-section.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the elongated members comprise two sections one of which sections is adapted to slide within the other section so as to enable the length of the elongated member to be varied, there being means to lock the two sections in position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the means to lock the two sections in position comprises a pin passing through holes in both sections.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the combined length of both members when fully extended is longer than the distance between the two points on the ladder to which the members are to be attached.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the first and second elongated members are adapted to be attached to a ladder by means of a universal joint

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the elongated members are made of extruded aluminium tube.

9. A ladder having attached to each side thereof a support which comprises a first elongated member pivotally attached to the lower part of that side of the ladder and a second elongated member pivotally attached to the upper part of that side of the ladder; the first and second elongated members having an adjustable length and being attached to each other by a hinge at their ends remote from the ends attached to the ladder.

10. A ladder as claimed in claim 9 in which the first and second elongated members consists of tubes or rods of substantially circular cross-section

1 1. A ladder as claimed in claim 9 in which the first and second elongated members consist of struts of rectangular, square or other cross-section.

12. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 1 1 in which the elongated members comprise two sections one of which sections is adapted to slide within the other section so as to enable the length of the elongated member to be varied, there being means to lock the two sections in position.

13. A ladder as claimed in claim 12 in which the means to lock the two sections in position comprises a pin passing through holes in both sections.

14. A ladder as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which the combined length of both members when fully extended is longer than the distance between the two points on the ladder to which the members are attached.

15. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 in which the first and second elongated members are attached to a ladder by means of a universal joint.

16. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15 in which the elongated members are made of extruded aluminium tube.

17. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16 in which the two devices, one attached to each side of the ladder, are connected together in use so they cannot move further.

18 A device as claimed in claim 17 in which the two devices, one attached to each side of the ladder, are connected together in use by means of an adjustable length strap or similar attachment, connecting them together.

19. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims of 9 to 18 in which the ladder has hollow treads, and in which the elongated members are attached to the ladder at the lowermost tread and at a tread near the top of the ladder by means of a threaded rod passed through the tread and a universal joint is attached to each end of this rod onto which two elongated lower members are attached one on each side of the ladder.

20. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims of 9 to 19 in which the elongated member attached to the lower part of the ladder is shorter than the elongated member attached to the upper part of the ladder.

21 A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 20 in which when not in use, the device is folded up and held against the ladder stile so that in this position, the first and second elongated members are in a substantially straight line and are folded away for ease of transportation.