Patent Application
20120312635
This invention relates generally to devices which prevent unauthorized access to ladders. More particularly, it relates to a modular device that attaches to a ladder obstructing access preventing children from accessing the rungs of the ladder.
Ladders create an attractive nuisance because young children perceive ladders as obstacles or toys which are to be climbed upon but the ladders present dangers that are not fully comprehended by young children including falls and access to dangerous and equally enticing areas such as swimming pools or spas. While parental supervision and fences can help prevent accidents, ladder guards can provide an additional layer of safety by deterring a child's attempt to climb.
Previous attempts at preventing unauthorized use of ladders include ladder rung covers and complex folding rung mechanisms. These devices and methods, however, can be cumbersome, difficult to use, complex and/or prohibitively expensive.
Ladder rung covers are generally single panels that are clamped, bolted or strapped or hinged to the ladder. The guards block access to the rungs, preventing a person from using the ladder. The cover's size weight and fastening mechanisms can make it unwieldy and cumbersome for a person to attach and remove and once removed, must be secured in a safe location to prevent stumbling upon or damage.
Folding ladder rung mechanisms also can prevent unauthorized access, however such mechanisms can be expensive to construct and maintain with multiple moving parts. Such mechanisms are not readily adaptable to existing ladders, thus require entire replacement of the ladder.
Thus there exists a need for a ladder guard that can easily be attached or detached by an adult, but prevent small children from accessing the ladder, that possesses no moving parts, can be adapted to existing ladder systems, and once removed can be left in or near the ladder without presenting a danger to others.
The disclosed ladder guard is secured between the rungs and stringers of the ladder to prevent use of the rungs as footholds or handholds and deter ascension of the ladder, especially by children. The invention is comprised of a compressible material of a desired resiliency allowing an adult to deform the invention for insertion or removal between two adjacent stringers. The left and right sides of the invention completely or partially surround the left and right stringers of the ladder to deter the invention's dislodgment by the would-be ladder user.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings illustrate an invention that enables an individual to restrict access to a ladder, especially to restrict a child's access.
The modular guard 10 is placed between two adjacent rungs 4 of the ladder 2 to prevent a small child from easily climbing the ladder 2. The module 10 is modular and the number of units can be increased or decreased depending upon the number of rungs 4 of the ladder 2 needing to be obstructed. Preferably, each unit is constructed of a resilient foam material. The height of each unit is sized to fit the intended ladder, or can be cut to fit by the end user to fit the particular ladder's rung spacing.
Insertion or removal of the modular unit 10 requires compression of a side 12 or 14 or portion thereof of the unit 10. The material each unit 10 is constructed of provides sufficient resistance to compression such that a typical small child would not possess sufficient strength to dislodge the unit 10, but is sufficiently compressible or flexible to allow an adult to compress and dislodge the unit 10 with moderate force. Here a portion of the left side 12 is compressed. The compressed portion 13 allows the unit 10 to rotate about the right stringer 8 and subsequently be removed.
The left invagination 30 begins at the left surface 12 and extends inward terminating at a left cylindrical surface 40. Likewise the right invagination 32 begins at the right surface 14 and extends inward terminating at a right cylindrical surface 42. The cylindrical surfaces 40, 42 and indentions 30, 32 extend from the top surface 20 to the bottom surface 22. The cylindrical surfaces 40, 42 are shown here as having a circular cross-section forming a cylindrical shaped aperture extending from the top surface 20 to the bottom surface 22, but may alternatively have other cross section including an elliptical cross section, that form a complimentary fit with the stringers of the ladder.
The recessed portions 50 allow the upper surface 20 of a first unit to mate with the bottom surface 22 of a second unit without significant deformation, discouraging a person from using the upper surface 20 as a handhold or foot hold to climb.
The ladder guard invention's preferred construction from a compressible foam material creates a device that is lightweight, buoyant and durable. Such characteristics allow it to be used as a toy or otherwise handled roughly with a minimal concern for damage to the unit or injury to others.
