WO2008113123A1

WO2008113123A1 - Ladder safety rail

Info

Publication number: WO2008113123A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000387
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Whitfield
Original assignee: David Whitfield
Priority date: 2007-03-20
Filing date: 2008-03-18
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

A ladder safety rail comprising a rigid safety rail adapted to surround the sides and rear of a worker adjacent their mid length whilst the worker is on a ladder in order to prevent the worker of falling sideways or rearwards off the ladder; there being one or more rigid frame members extending downwardly from the rail to two or more positions on the ladder at different heights and below the safety rail; there being means to secure the frame on the ladder at said two or more positions below the safety rail; the securing means and frame being shaped so as not to interfere with the worker whilst standing within the confines of the safety rail with the safety rail adjacent the mid length of the worker and furthermore the frame being shaped so as not to prevent climbing or decent of the ladder by the worker to or from a position whereat the safety rail lies about a position adjacent the mid length of the worker.

Description

Ladder Safety Rail

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ladder safety rail and in particular a device for attachment to a stepladder, ladder or extension ladder which provides a fall prevention barrier.

Background of the Invention

For many years tradesmen, home handypersons and others have utilised stepladders, ladders and extension ladders in order to perform work with their hands at positions which are otherwise inaccessible from ground level.

Unfortunately it is often the case that work which is carried out whilst standing on a ladder is best performed by utilising two hands and hence a worker must balance themselves on a ladder. Working on a ladder whilst not secured to the ladder or an adjacent stable structure is dangerous as it is easy to lose one's balance particularly if both hands are occupied working and particularly if for example the work involves body movement such as hammering or unexpected potential body movements such as occur for example when a drill bit suddenly penetrates through a surface being drilled.

Object of the Invention

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for temporary or permanent attachment to a ladder which device incorporates a fall prevention barrier or at least provides the market with an alternative to existing ladders and ladder accessories.

Short Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a ladder safety rail comprising a rigid safety rail adapted to surround the sides and rear of a worker adjacent their mid length whilst the worker is on a ladder in order to prevent the worker of falling sideways or rearwards off the ladder; one or more rigid frame members extending downwardly from the rail to two or more positions on the ladder at different heights and below the safety rail; means to secure the frame on the ladder at said two or more positions below the safety rail; the securing means and frame being shaped so as not to interfere with the worker whilst standing within the confines of the safety rail with the safety rail adjacent the mid length of the worker, the frame being shaped so as not to prevent climbing or decent of the ladder by the worker to or from a position whereat the safety rail lies about a position adjacent the mid length of the worker.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first ladder safety rail with integral work platform in accordance with the present invention and;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second ladder safety rail with integral work platform in accordance with the present invention

Preferred Mode of Carrying out the Invention

According to the embodiment of figure 1 there is disclosed a ladder safety rail structure comprising a safety rail 1 adapted to surround the sides and rear of the mid length of a worker (not shown) on a ladder (not shown). It will be. observed that the safety rail 1 is open at the front and is of a profile approximating that of a squared off letter "U". The safety rail is supported at the preferred position in relation to a ladder (not shown) by a frame which in this case comprises two tubular rods 2 and 3 extending downwardly from the rear 4 of the rail on either side thereof and at an angle of less than 90° thereto when viewed from the side.

It will be observed that a work platform 5 is attached to the tubular rods beneath their mid length. The front edge 6 of the work platform is provided at either side (only one shown) with platform hooks 7 adapted to be hooked over the rungs of a ladder (not shown). The lower extremities of tubular rods 2 and 3 are provided with a substantially U-shaped linear channel member 8 extending transversely between the two rods with the open side 9 of the channel facing forwards.

It will be appreciated that the depicted safety rail may be secured on a ladder (not shown) by engaging channel 8 with a first rung (not shown) of the ladder at a desired height and then engaging platform hooks 7 (only one shown) about a second rung (not shown) of the ladder which second rung lies above said first rung. It should be appreciated that alternate securing means apart from hooks 7 and Channel 8 may be devised without departing from the scope and intendment of the present invention and in order to accommodate different types of ladders having different types of rungs or steps. Furthermore the spacing of hooks 7 and Channel 8 and consequently their fixing points to rods 2 and 3 may be varied or provided with adjustment in order to accommodate the ladders having differing rung or step spacing.

As will be appreciated from the depicted embodiment the centre of gravity of the structure comprising the present invention lies substantially rearward (or to the right with reference to figure 1) of a line extending from channel member 8 to hooks 7 and consequently the structure will maintain itself in position on a ladder without the risk of hooks 7 moving forward or channel member 8 moving rearward so as to unintentionally disengage the structure from a ladder during use. Any likely motion of a worker standing on platform 5 or leaning on safety rail 1 will similarly tend to enhance the engagement of the structure with a ladder rather than release same. This of course is largely due to the angle between the safety rail and the linear tubular rods when viewed from the side being substantially less than 90°.

The lateral spacing of rods 2 and 3 from each other permits a worker to climb in and out of the safety rail structure during initial assent or subsequent decent of the ladder.

The inclusion in the safety rail structure of work platform 5 greatly enhances the area upon which a worker may stand and hence the safety and mobility of the worker whilst using the structure. The safety rail structure could however be constructed without work platform 5 by incorporation of hooks 7 on substantially horizontal spaced apart aims (not shown) extending forwardly from each of tubular rods 2 and 3. This lastmentioned embodiment however would leave only the conventional rungs or steps of the ladder for the worker to stand upon.

According to the embodiment of figure 2 there is disclosed an alternate ladder safety rail structure wherein the safety rail itself is comprised of three different components being a right side rail 10, a left side rail 11 and a rear rail component 4. The rear rail component 4 is pivotally attached adjacent its first end 12 adjacent the upper extremity of right-hand frame member 13 and lockable to the upper extremity of left- hand frame member 14 by way of locking mechanism 15 provided on the rear rail component 4. It will furthermore be appreciated that in this embodiment right-hand frame member 13 and left-hand frame member 14 are fabricated as a unitary substantially U-shaped member and hence are joined adjacent their lower extremities. The frame member in this instance is fabricated from square section tubular steel as are the right and left side rails, 10 and 11, and opening rear rail component 4. A work platform 5 is additionally provided in the embodiment of figure 2 as in the embodiment of figure 1. In this embodiment downward facing hooks 19 are provided for engagement with a rung (not shown) on a ladder (not shown) in place of the Channel 8 of the embodiment of figure 1. It will be appreciated and that the work platform 5 of the embodiment of figure 2 may be pivotally affixed at 16 and 17 to left-hand frame member 13 and right-hand frame member 14 in order to facilitate flat storage of the device when not in use. To this end side rails 10 and 11 may also be affixed to their respective frame members in such a manner that they may pivot to facilitate flat storage although it is desirable that a locking mechanism 18 be provided in order to maintain the side rails in position with respect to their respective frame members during use.

It will be appreciated that many other designs of safety rail structures apart from that depicted in figure 1 may be designed without departing from the scope and intendment of the present invention. For example the shape of the safety rail itself may be varied as may the configuration of the tubular rod or rods comprising the frame. The means of attachment of the composite structure to a ladder may be varied and may be designed to be readily removable or alternatively may incorporate more permanent fixing means. The structure may be fabricated from a variety of known materials including steel, aluminium or thermoplastic materials or a combination thereof.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A ladder safety rail comprising a rigid safety rail adapted to surround the sides and rear of a worker adjacent their mid length whilst the worker is on a ladder in order to prevent the worker of falling sideways or rearwards off the ladder, one or more rigid frame members extending downwardly from the rail to two or more positions on the ladder at different heights and below the safety rail; means to secure the frame on the ladder at said two or more positions below the safety rail; the securing means and frame being shaped so as not to interfere with the worker whilst standing within the confines of the safety rail with the safety rail adjacent the mid length of the worker; the frame being shaped so as not to prevent climbing or decent of the ladder by the worker to or from a position whereat the safety rail lies about a position adjacent the mid length of the worker.

2. The ladder safety rail in accordance with claim one hereof werein there are two spaced apart substantially parallel frame members.

3. A ladder safety rail in accordance with claim one hereof wherein there are two spaced apart substantially parallel frame members terminating at their upper extremities adjacent the safety rail and joined and their lower extremities adjacent the lowermost securing means

4. A ladder a safety rail in accordance with claim one hereof wherein there is provided a work platform affixed to the one or more rigid frame members below the rail at the height of the higher securing means and being of a substantially planar horizontal shape suitable for a worker to stand upon.

5. A ladder safety rail in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein each of the securing means comprise a pair of spaced apart hooks; each pair of hooks being adapted to hook over one rung of a ladder.

6. A ladder safety rail in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein each of the securing means comprise a pair of spaced apart hooks; each pair of hooks being adapted to hook over one rung of a ladder; the upper pair of hooks being rearward facing and the lower pair of hooks being downward facing.

7. A ladder safety rail in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the rigid safety rail comprises a back and right and left sides which are independent of each other and each attached adjacent the upper extremities of one or more of two frame members.

8. A ladder safety rail in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the rigid safety rail comprises a back and right and left sides which are independent of each other and each attached adjacent the upper extremities of one or more of two frame members; the back of the safety rail being a pivotally attached to the first frame member and releaseably attached to the second frame member.

9. A ladder safety rail in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the lower securing means maintain the lowermost extremities of the frame member or members relatively close to an adjacent ladder rung and the uppermost securing means maintaining a significant spacing of the frame member or members from an adjacent ladder rung so that the frame member or members of the ladder a safety rail structure diverge from a ladder as they extend upwardly thereby providing room for a worker to position themselves between the ladder and the rear of a safety rail positioned adjacent the top of the frame member or members.