The present invention relates generally to the field of ladders. More specifically, the present invention relates to a safety ladder device primarily comprised of a ladder frame, a plurality of ladder feet, a first outrigger, a second outrigger and at least one safety strap. The plurality of ladder feet may further be comprised of a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener, which allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization during use. Both outriggers preferably attach to each side of the top step of the ladder frame via a hinge that allows both outriggers to move freely. Thus, the outriggers can be positioned in a variety of angles to further stabilize the device. In addition, the at least one safety strap is positioned around the device such that it prevents a user from falling off the device, yet still allows the device to remain fully climbable. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
Ladders are regularly used to reach high places while cleaning, building and performing other tasks. However, ladders can be dangerous, as each year there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. caused by falls from ladders, with most ladder deaths coming from falls of 10 feet or less. In addition, falls from ladders are the leading cause of death on construction sites. Further, individuals may fall off ladders due to their inexperience or the instability of the ladder itself.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ladder. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ladder that provides stabilization when in use. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a safety ladder device that comprises safety mechanisms to prevent a user from falling off the device. Finally, there exists a long-felt felt need in the art for a safety ladder device that comprises safety mechanisms to prevent the death and serious injury of a user.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a safety ladder device. The device is primarily comprised of a ladder frame, a plurality of ladder feet, a first outrigger, a second outrigger and at least one safety strap. The plurality of ladder feet may further be comprised of a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener that allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization of the device during use. Both outriggers preferably attach to each side of the top step of the ladder frame via a hinge that allows both outriggers to move freely. Thus, the outriggers can be positioned in a variety of angles to further stabilize the ladder device. Each outrigger may also have a foot that has a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener, which allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization of the device during use. In addition, the at least one safety strap is positioned around the ladder device such that it prevents a user from falling off the device, yet still allows the device to remain fully functional and climbable.
In this manner, the safety ladder device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides an improved ladder that is safer and more stable than existing ladders known in the art. The outriggers of the device provide more stabilization to the ladder frame and the safety strap prevents a user from falling off the device, while still allowing a user to use the device in an unobstructed manner. Therefore, both the outriggers and the safety strap serve as safety mechanisms to prevent the death and serious injury of a user while using the device.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a safety ladder device that is primarily comprised of a ladder frame, a plurality of ladder feet, a first outrigger, a second outrigger and at least one safety strap. Each of the plurality of ladder feet may further be comprised of a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener that allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization of the device during use. Both outriggers preferably attach to each side of the top step of the ladder frame via a hinge that allows both outriggers to move freely. In this manner, the outriggers can be positioned in a variety of angles to further stabilize the device. Each outrigger may also have a foot that has a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener, which allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization of the device during use. In other embodiments, the outriggers may be of a fixed length or may be telescopic (i.e. adjustable length).
The device is further comprised of at least one safety strap. The strap is positioned around the ladder frame such that it does not obstruct a user's ability to climb the device, but still prevents a user from falling backwards off the device. Each safety strap is further comprised of an end piece that has a first vertical sidewall, a second vertical sidewall, an outside wall, a hinge and a lock. Each end piece engages the front surface and rear surface of the ladder frame to inhibit forward and/or backward movement of the strap. To further secure the strap to the ladder frame, a horizontal cross member is connected to either the first sidewall or the second sidewall via at least one hinge, wherein the hinge allows the cross member to open such that the end piece can be positioned around the front surface, rear surface and outside side surface of the ladder frame. Once positioned around the frame, the cross member can be closed via the hinge and locked via a lock that attaches to the first or second sidewall. As a result, the strap becomes immovable and cannot be removed from the device, even if a user falls and his or her weight contacts the strap.
Accordingly, the improved safety ladder device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a safer and more stable ladder-type device. Further, the outriggers of the device provide increased stabilization to the device. In addition, the safety strap prevents a user from falling off the device, while still allowing a user to use the device in an unobstructed manner. Therefore, both the outriggers and the safety strap serve as safety mechanisms to prevent the death and serious injury of a user while using the device.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from other embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved ladder. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved safety ladder device that provides more stabilization than existing ladders known in the art. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a safety ladder device that comprises safety mechanisms which prevent a user from falling off the device. Finally, there exists a long-felt felt need in the art for a safety ladder device that comprises safety mechanisms which prevent the death and serious injury of a user.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a safety ladder device. The device is primarily comprised of a ladder frame, a plurality of ladder feet, a first outrigger, a second outrigger and at least one safety strap. The plurality of ladder feet and a foot of each outrigger may further be comprised of a continuous opening that can receive a ground spike or fastener, which allows a user to secure the device to and/or into a nearby surface for stabilization of the device during use. Both outriggers are also preferably secured to each side of the top step of the ladder frame via a hinge that allows both outriggers to move freely. Thus, the outriggers can be positioned in a variety of angles to further stabilize the device. In another embodiment, the outriggers may be of a fixed length or may be telescopic (i.e. adjustable length) to allow the outriggers to be positioned in a variety of orientations.
The device is further comprised of at least one (but preferably multiple) safety strap that is positioned around the ladder frame, such that it does not obstruct a user's ability to climb the device, but still prevents a user from falling backwards off the device. Each safety strap is further comprised of an end piece that has a first vertical sidewall, a second vertical sidewall, an outside wall, a hinge and a lock, wherein the end piece engages the front surface and rear surface of the ladder frame to inhibit forward and/or backward movement of the strap while the strap is attached to the frame. To further secure the strap to the ladder frame, a horizontal cross member is connected to either the first sidewall or the second sidewall via at least one hinge that allows the cross member to open, such that the end piece can be positioned around the front surface, rear surface and outside side surface of the ladder frame. Once positioned around the frame, the cross member can be closed via the hinge and locked via a lock that secures to the first or second sidewall. As a result, the strap becomes immovable and cannot fall off of or be removed from the device, even if a user falls and his or her weight contacts the strap.
As a result, the improved safety ladder device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a safer and more stable ladder-type device. The outriggers of the device also provide for stabilization of the device. Further, the safety strap prevents a user from falling off the device, while still allowing a user to use the device in an unobstructed manner. Therefore, both the outriggers and the safety strap serve as safety mechanisms to prevent the death and serious injury of a user while using a ladder-type device.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Further, each outrigger 140, 160 may be comprised of a flat foot 149, 169 that has a continuous opening 1490, 1690 which can receive a ground spike 126 (as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the body 202 is fixedly-secured to each end piece 210, 220, and may be molded to each end piece 210, 220 during the manufacturing process. In an alternate embodiment, the body 202 may be removable from the first sidewall 212, 222, wherein the locking assembly 2162 remains in a locked position around the frame 110. In this manner, straps 200 that are obstructing an area of the device 100 or are unneeded can be removed, but also can be quickly reattached to the end piece 210, 220 which remains around the frame 110. It is contemplated that in this embodiment, the body 202 engages the first vertical sidewall 212, 222 of each end piece 210, 220 via a tongue 2020 that engages a groove 2120, 2220 located on each first sidewall 212, 222. In this manner, each tongue 2020 can be slid into each groove 2120, 2220, such that the body 202 is sufficiently secured to each end piece 210, 220 to prevent the body 202 from coming apart from each end piece 210, 220 in the event that a user falls on the body 202 of the strap 200. In another embodiment of the device 100, a kit is provided that comprises at least one outrigger 140, 160, at least one hinge 148, 168, and at least one strap 200 wherein the kit can be purchased by a user and retrofitted to any existing ladder device, or other suitable device as is known in the art.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “safety ladder device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the safety ladder device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the safety ladder device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the safety ladder device 100 as shown in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/208,680, which was filed on Jun. 9, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63208680 | Jun 2021 | US |