BACKGROUND
Each year, falls from ladders lead to thousands of emergency room visits. Ladders are necessarily used on construction sites and around the house to enable access to a wide variety of fixtures and construction projects. Unfortunately, even a slight difference in elevation between the legs of a ladder can produce unsteadiness leading to a loss of balance and an injury producing fall. An adjustable and easily deployable ladder stabilizer will improve the safety of projects requiring the use of a ladder.
SUMMARY
In one aspect the present disclosure provides a ladder stabilizer having: a rigid lateral support, the lateral support formed from at least one hollow tube, the hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
- a first extension arm having a first end and a second end, the first extension arm first end positioned within the first end of the hollow tube;
- a second extension arm having a first end and a second end, the second extension arm first end positioned within the second end of the hollow tube;
- a support beam secured to the rigid lateral support;
- a step plate secured by a hinge to the support beam;
- a first leg having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first leg pivotally secured to the first extension arm;
- a second leg having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first leg pivotally secured to the second extension arm.
In another aspect, the present disclosure describes a ladder stabilizer wherein the rigid lateral support includes at least two hollow tubes and each hollow tube has a radius of curvature. The extension arms are configured with a corresponding radius of curvature such that the extension arms may be received within the curved hollow tubes. Typically, each curved hollow tube of the rigid lateral support receives only one curved extension arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of the ladder stabilizer in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the ladder stabilizer in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the ladder stabilizer in a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the ladder stabilizer with the step plate in the deployed position and extension arms retracted.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the ladder stabilizer with the step plate in the deployed position and extension arms in the deployed position.
FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of the ladder stabilizer with one leg deployed and the step plate collapsed.
FIG. 7 is a back perspective view of the ladder stabilizer with the step plate in the deployed position, the legs deployed and extension arms retracted.
FIG. 8 is a back perspective view of the ladder stabilizer with the step plate in the deployed position, the legs deployed and extension arms deployed.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support beam.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a retaining pin.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a foot suitable for attachment to the bottom of each leg.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the stabilizer installed on a step ladder.
FIGS. 13 and 14 depict a step plate in the deployed position and a latching mechanism for securing a step plate to a ladder rung or step.
FIG. 15 depicts a step plate in the downward position as when the ladder stabilizer is in a stored position.
FIGS. 16A and 16B depict one suitable pivoting joint used to permit movement of stabilizer legs from the stored to the deployed position with FIG. 16A depicting the deployed position and FIG. 16B depicting the stored position.
FIG. 17 depicts one embodiment of the foot carried at the end of each leg of the stabilizer.
FIGS. 18 and 19 depict the pivoting joint in the deployed position with retaining pins securing the leg at a desired length and the extension arm in the retracted position.
FIGS. 20A and 20B depict left and right extension arms.
FIG. 21 depicts the pivoting joint of FIGS. 16A and 16B as installed on the ladder stabilizer with one pivoting joint in the stored position and one in the deployed position.
FIG. 22 depicts the pivoting joint of FIGS. 16A and 16B as installed on the ladder stabilizer with one leg in the partially deployed/stored position but rotated to a position ready for rotation of the leg from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane.
FIG. 23 is a close up view of area A in FIG. 21.
FIG. 24 depicts one pivoting joint in the stored position and the opposing leg in the deployed position but with the extension arm retracted.
FIG. 25 depicts the relative planes corresponding to the stored and deployed positions of the legs.
FIG. 26 is a back perspective view of the ladder stabilizer with the step plate in the deployed position, the legs deployed, extension arms deployed and a rigid lateral support in the form of a single hollow tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The drawings included with this application illustrate certain aspects of the embodiments described herein. However, the drawings should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements and the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Throughout this disclosure, the terms “about”, “approximate”, and variations thereof, are used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation or error for the device, system, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects. Finally, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
FIGS. 1-8 depict ladder stabilizer 10 in collapsed configuration, partially deployed configuration and deployed configuration. To provide for the desired stability, ladder stabilizer 10 is configured to extend beyond the width of the ladder 5 being used. Ladder 5 may be an extension ladder, a step ladder or other ladder configuration. As known to those skilled in the art, ladder 5 has at least one pair of legs 9 and at least two rungs 7.
Ladder stabilizer 10 has a rigid lateral support 12 formed from at least one hollow tube 14. Although shown as a round tube, hollow tube 14 may have any cross-sectional geometry. Additionally, hollow tube 14 may be substantially straight or have a radius of curvature. In most embodiments, ladder stabilizer 10 will utilize two hollow tubes 14a, 14b each having a radius of curvature. Each hollow tube 14a, 14b has a first end 16 and a second end 18. Typically, rigid lateral support 12 will include each hollow tube 14 and a support beam 40.
As depicted in FIGS. 4-5, to provide enhanced stabilization in the deployed position, a first extension arm 20 is positioned within hollow tube 14a. First extension arm 20 has a first end 22 and a second end 24. First end 22 passes through first end 16 of hollow tube 14a. The length of first extension arm 20 may vary depending on whether or not rigid lateral support 12 has one or two hollow tubes 14. Typically, first extension arm 20 will have a length equal to at least 30% of hollow tube 14a. More commonly, first extension arm 20 will have a length at least equal to and preferably greater than 50% of hollow tube 14a. Thus, when in the stored or collapsed configuration first end 22 is positioned to the interior of hollow tube 14a and second end 24 extends beyond first end 16 of hollow tube 14a. The outside diameter or outside cross-sectional geometry of first extension arm 20 corresponds to the inside diameter/cross-sectional geometry of hollow tube 14a and is sized to provide a snug fit without excess play between the two components. When hollow tube 14a has a radius of curvature, first extension arm 20 will have a corresponding radius of curvature to permit smooth passage of first extension arm 20 through hollow tube 14a.
First end 22 of extension arm 20 optionally carries at least one and typically two locking buttons 23. Locking buttons 23 are biased outwards by a spring, not shown. When moved to the extended or deployed position as depicted in FIG. 8, locking button(s) 23 will extend outwards through optional holes 25 in tube first end 16 thereby securing extension arm in the deployed position.
A second extension arm 30 has a first end 32 and a second end 34. First end 32 passes through second end 18 of hollow tube 14b. The length of second extension arm 30 may vary depending on whether or not rigid lateral support 12 has one or two hollow tubes 14. Typically, second extension arm 30 will have a length equal to at least 30% of hollow tube 14b. More commonly, second extension arm 30 will have a length at least equal to and preferably greater than 50% of hollow tube 14b. Thus, when in the stored or collapsed configuration first end 32 is positioned to the interior of hollow tube 14 and second end 34 extends beyond second end 18 of hollow tube 14b. The outside diameter or outside cross-sectional geometry of second extension arm 30 corresponds to the inside diameter/cross-sectional geometry of hollow tube 14b and is sized to provide a snug fit without excess play between the two components. When hollow tube 14b has a radius of curvature, second extension arm 30 will have a corresponding radius of curvature to permit smooth passage of second extension arm 30 through hollow tube 14b.
First end 32 of extension arm 30 optionally carries at least one and typically two locking buttons 33. Locking buttons 33 are biased outwards by a spring, not shown. When moved to the extended or deployed position as depicted in FIG. 8, locking button(s) 33 will extend outwards through optional hole(s) 35 in tube second end 18 thereby securing extension arm in the deployed position.
Locking buttons 23 and 33 are one suitable configuration for retaining extension arms 20, 30 in the deployed and stored positions. However, other suitable configurations would also include cotter pins, t-handle pins and/or other pins passing through holes in the same location as locking buttons 23, 33 and holes 25, 35.
In one embodiment, the diameter of first and second extension arms 20, 30 may range to be about 0.75″ to about 1″ with lengths ranging between about 30 inches and about 50 inches. When extension arms 20, 30 have a bend or curvature configuration, the radius of the curvature may range between about 20 inches and about 30 inches, i.e. the curvature would provide a full circle having a diameter between about 40 inches and about 60 inches. When extension arms 20, 30 are fully deployed in the curved configuration, arms 20, 30 define an arc ranging from about 90° to about 180°. When extension arms 20, 30 are in a straight configuration, the length of each arm may range between about 40 inches and about 60 inches. The lateral extension of arms 20, 30 will typically be between about 1.75 times the width of the bottom step of ladder 5 and about 2.5 times the width of the bottom step of ladder 5. In other words, the distance from leg 50 to leg 60 in the deployed position will be about 1.75 times the width of ladder 5 at bottom rung 7 to about 2.5 times the width of ladder 5 at bottom rung 7. Finally, when in the partially stored or stored position, i.e. the legs are still pointed toward the surface of the ground but extension arms 20, 30 have been retracted, the arc defined between receiver 26 and receiver 36 may range from about 45° to 80°. More typically, this arc will be about 60°. See FIG. 4. Typically, in the deployed configuration, with extension arms 20, 30 fully extended, the arc will be about 110° to about 180°.
As best seen in FIGS. 1-5, a support beam 40 enhances the structural rigidity of hollow tube 14. If two hollow tubes 14a, 14b are used, then both hollow tubes 14a, 14b are typically secured to the second side 48 of support beam 40. Tube 14 or tubes 14a, 14b may be secured to support beam 40 by any convenient method including welding, bolting or riveting. When using curved hollow tubes 14a, 14b, the first side 46 of support beam 40 optionally has a radius of curvature corresponding to that of curved hollow tubes 14a, 14b. Support beam 40 also carries a step plate 42. In one embodiment, a hinge 44 secures step plate 42 to beam 40. Hinge 44 may permit rotation of step plate 42 through 180°. Alternatively, to enhance securement of step plate 42 to a rung of ladder 5, hinge 44 may limit step plate to 90° of movement such that step plate 42 projects directly outward (horizontal) from beam 40 in the deployed position, as shown in FIG. 7, and may drop downward when in the collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Alternatively, step plate 42 may be secured to support beam 40 or hollow tube 14 in a fixed manner.
One example of a mechanism for securing step plate 42 to ladder rung or step 7 is depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14. As depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14, latching mechanism 80 includes a first end 82 which engages a hook or loop 84 carried by step plate 42. Additionally, latching mechanism 80 will typically include a locking or securing mechanism 86 at second end 88. While several latching mechanisms will be suitable, an i-bolt bailing latch or toggle latch as depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 is particularly useful for securing step plate 42 to ladder rung 7.
To permit use of ladder stabilizer 10 with a wide variety of ladders, each extension arm 20, 30 carries a height adjustable leg 50, 60. Each height adjustable leg 50, 60 has a series of holes 58, 68 passing through each leg. Holes 58, 68 are located near first ends 52, 62 of each leg 50, 60. Thus, legs 50 and 60 are adjustable in height to accommodate different types of ladders 5. Additionally, the independent adjustment of legs 50, 60 accommodates uneven surfaces. Typically, legs 50 and 60 may be adjusted in increments of 1 inch to five inches by removal and replacement of pins 70. In one embodiment, the diameter of first and second legs 50, 60 may range between about 0.75″ to about 1″ with lengths ranging between about 20 inches and about 35 inches. Legs 50 and 60 are preferably sized to pass through receivers 26, 36. As discussed above with regard to retaining extension arms 20, 30 in the desired location, the retention of each leg 50, 60 at the desired height may alternatively be achieved with spring biased locking buttons carried by each leg 50, 60 at locations corresponding to holes 58, 68. Thus, with legs 50, 60 positioned at the desired height, locking buttons extend through holes 28, 38 located in receivers 26, 36 respectively. Thus, retention configurations suitable for securing ladder stabilizer 10 at the desired height include but are not limited to pins 70, which may be in the shape of a t-handle pin, cotter pins, spring biased buttons or other similar device which pass through holes 58, 68 and 28, 38 thereby engaging legs 50, 60 and receivers 26, 36 as depicted in FIGS. 6-8
With reference to first extension arm 20, in one embodiment, a first receiver 26 is secured to second end 24 of first extension arm 20. First receiver 26 is sized to receive first end 52 of first leg 50. In one embodiment, first receiver 26 permits rotational movement of leg 50 from the stored position shown in FIG. 3 to the deployed configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
In another embodiment a separate suitable pivoting mechanism is used in connection with receivers 26, 36 as depicted in FIGS. 6, 16, 18-19 and 21. Pivoting joint 90 includes as an integral component receiver 26, 36 or supports receivers 26, 36 as separate but attached components. Pivoting joint 90 also provides for movement of legs 50, 60 from the stored position of FIGS. 2 and 3 to the deployed position of FIGS. 7 and 8. Typically, legs 50 and 60 are preferably sized to pass through receivers 26, 36 when pivoting joint 90 is aligned in the deployed position, i.e. pivoting joint 90 aligns with the vertical plane B of the deployed position.
As depicted in FIGS. 16A and 16B, pivoting joint 90 includes a tang 91 which can be placed within second ends 24, 34 of extension arms 20, 30. Thus, tang 91 is rotatably received within extension arm 20, 30. Tang 91 may have one hole 93 or a pair of holes 93a, 93b. To secure pivoting joint 90 in deployed position after rotating of tang 91, a retaining pin 70 or other conventional device passes through holes 29 in second end 24 and holes 39 in second end 34 and through the desired hole 93 of tang 91 or 93a,b depending on configuration. Removal of pin 70 and rotation of joint 90 to the stored position followed by replacement of pin 70 passing through one of holes 93, 93a, 93b and holes 29, 39 secures pivoting joint 90 in the deployed position. As an alternative to securing pivoting joint 90 in the stored position with pin 70, legs 50, 60 may engage one another thereby retaining both legs in the stored position. When in the stored positions with legs 50, 60 substantially parallel to one another, legs 50, 60 define a horizontal plane C. When in the fully deployed position, legs 50, 60 each define a vertical plane B.
Pivoting joint 90 has sufficient resistance to retain the desired position, i.e. deployed or stored. Following rotation of pivoting joint 90 on tang 91 to the stored horizontal plane C position, the configuration of pivoting joint 90 retains pivoting joint 90 at an angle relative to a receiver 26, 36, referred to as the stored angle. The stored angle is selected to allow each leg 50, 60 to be adjacent to one another in the stored position. See FIG. 2. Typically, the angle relative to receiver 26, 36 will be about 45°; however, this angle may vary depending on the size of stabilizer 10 and degrees of arc defined by stabilizer 10 when fully stored. Pivoting of pivoting joint 90 from the stored position to the partially deployed/partially stored position, i.e. each leg remains in the horizontal plane C, and back to the fully stored position requires application of sufficient force to legs 50, 60 to allow legs 50, 60 to move from the stored angle position relative to receivers 26, 36 to a position where legs 50, 60 are aligned with receivers 26, 36. See FIGS. 21-23. Thus, when fully deployed receiver 26, leg 50 and the associated pivoting joint 90 define a vertical plane B. Likewise, when fully deployed receiver 36, leg 60 and the associated pivoting joint 90 define a vertical plane B. Both legs 50, 60 may be in the same vertical plane B.
Receiver 26, 36 is generally a hollow body with at least one pair of opposed holes 28, 38 on each side of the hollow body. As noted above, when using pivoting joint 90, receivers 26, 36 may be integral with pivoting joint 90 as depicted in FIGS. 21-23. Note: either portion of pivoting joint 90 may define receiver 26, 36. Thus, the portion of pivoting joint 90 carrying tang 91 may be extended sufficiently to also act as a receiver. In either case, pivoting joint 90 will typically have an interior diameter sufficient to allow for passage of legs 50, 60 completely through pivoting joint 90. Thus, with first end 52 of leg 50 positioned within first receiver 26 and with one of holes 58 aligned with opposed holes 28, a pin 70 passing therethrough will secure leg 50 to first receiver 26 at a selected height. The foregoing description assumes that legs 50 and 60 are solid rods; however, hollow rods or tubes will perform satisfactorily. When using hollow rods or tubes, holes 58 in leg 50 will also be pairs of opposed holes. The securement of leg 60 to extension arm 30 corresponds to the foregoing discussion. Thus, first end 62 of leg 60 is placed within second receiver 36 and secured at the desired height by a pin 70 passing through a pair of opposed holes 38 in pivoting receiver 36 and a corresponding hole 68 passing through leg 60. See FIGS. 7 and 19.
Each leg 50, 60 terminates in a foot 56, 66. As depicted in FIG. 11, foot 56, 66 may be of a ball and socket type configuration thereby allowing foot 56, 66 a degree of free movement, i.e. pivotable or flex movement, to accommodate uneven surfaces. Additionally, each foot may provide for further height adjustment of each leg 50, 60 by a threaded connection 59, 69 between foot 56, 66 and legs 50, 60. However, each foot may be of other configurations.
As depicted in FIG. 17, each foot 56, 66 may have a recess 57 to permit better storage of legs 50, 60 in the stored position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, when in the horizontal plane C corresponding to the stored position, each foot 56, 66 may engage the opposing leg 60, 50 providing a more compact storage configuration while also retaining legs 50, 60 adjacent to one another. In one embodiment, recess 57 is sized to receive opposing leg 50, 60 and provide a friction fit with the opposing leg for enhanced retention thereby frictionally securing one leg 50, 60 to the other. In another embodiment, each foot 56, 66 is made from a compliant material. Any convenient thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer or rubber which deflects sufficiently when molded into the shape of foot 56, 66 will perform adequately in this configuration. Thus, the radius of recess 57 may be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of legs 50, 60. Optionally, a strap may also be used to secure legs 50, 60 in the horizontal plane C.
In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 10, pin 70 is configured to preclude an inadvertent loss of engagement. In this embodiment, pin 70 has a body 72, a first end 74, a second end 76, at least one hole 77 retaining a spring biased ball 78 and a biasing spring, not shown, within body 72. The biasing spring applies pressure, directly or indirectly, to ball 78 thereby forcing ball 78 outward against the edges of hole 77. To relieve pressure against ball 78 and permit removal of pin 70 from holes 28, 58, application of pressure against a button 73 within handle 71 compresses the biasing spring and allows ball 78 to at least partially drop back into body 72.
To further explain the nature of ladder stabilizer 10, FIGS. 1-3 depict ladder stabilizer in a collapsed position. In FIGS. 1-3, step plate 42 projects downward and extension arms 20, 30 are fully stored within hollow tubes 14a, 14b. Additionally, pivoting receivers 26, 36 have been rotated such that legs 50, 60 are now in substantially the same plane defined by rigid lateral support 12. In the collapsed position, legs 50, 60 are typically set to their highest position thereby precluding ends 52, 62 from projecting outward from pivoting receivers 26, 36.
FIGS. 4-8 depict the transition from the collapsed position to the fully deployed position. The steps for deploying ladder stabilizer 10 may be carried out in almost any order. The following is merely exemplary of one possible method. To set up ladder stabilizer 10 for use, one will move step plate 42 to an outwardly projecting position, i.e. horizontal or parallel to the ground, as depicted in FIGS. 4-5 and 7-8. Additionally, each leg 50, 60 will be rotated by turning pivoting receivers 26 and 36 from the collapsed position to a position which is 90° to the plane defined by rigid lateral support 12. If rung 7 of ladder 5 is at a height different from the height of deployed ladder stabilizer, then pin 70 can be removed and the height of each leg adjusted as needed to place step plate 42 in contact with rung 7.
Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art. As such, the foregoing description merely enables and describes the general uses and methods of the present invention. Accordingly, the following claims define the true scope of the present invention.
Patent Grant
11851950
