VEHICLE LADDER MOUNTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The instant invention, the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System, is comprised of a rail assembly, a plurality of support assemblies, one or more security assemblies, and one or more accessory assemblies. The rail assembly of the instant invention is comprised of two parallel rails connected by a plurality of cross-member assemblies. The instant invention can be easily adapted, augmented, and modified because of the structure of the aluminum channel. The design of the instant invention allows for multiple configurations as the rail can be attached to the punched pattern in many configurations via a bolt-nut combination. The instant invention is also comprised of assemblies that can be used to stack ladders on a vehicle. The instant invention is also comprised of an inclined ladder rack assembly and accessory attachments such as the shovel holders, beacon support, and inclined beacon support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective and side view of the inclined embodiment of ladder mounting system mounted onto a utility truck.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the rail used in the rail assembly showing the quad-channel embodiment. This figure also illustrates how a plurality bolts can be inserted into and arranged along the channels of the rails.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of the assembly of a rail assembly using the quad-channel embodiment of the rail. FIG. 3b shows the rail assembly using the quad-channel embodiment of the rail from the top. FIG. 3c shows the rail assembly using the quad-channel embodiment of the rail from the side.

FIG. 4 shows the attachment of accessories, a support “L,” to the quad-channel embodiment of the rail. FIG. 4a is an exploded view of the attachment of the support “L.” FIG. 4b is a perspective view showing the support “L” attached.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the attachment a cross-member bracket to the quad-channel embodiment of the rail in order to install a cross-member for construction of a ladder rack assembly.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment of the quad-channel embodiment of the rail to any generic object.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view illustrating the attachment of the quad-channel embodiment of the rail to rail or beam to a generic horizontal object. FIG. 7a shows a horizontal attachment and FIG. 7b illustrates a vertical attachment to a generic horizontal object.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the use of a quad-channel union that is used to join two sections of quad-channel rail.

FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the attachment a cross-member bracket to the quad-channel embodiment of the rail and illustrating how the cross-member bracket may be offset allowing for tapered ladder rack assemblies to accommodate objects with varying widths.

FIG. 10 a shows an assembly drawing of a roller assembly to a quad-channel rail. FIG. 10b shows a top view of a roller assembly attached to a quad-channel rail. FIG. 10c shows a side view of a roller assembly attached to a quad-channel rail.

FIG. 11 shows the installation of a UHMW pad into a quad-channel rail and shows how the male slot formed by the UHMW pad is accepted by the female slot of the quad-channel rail.

FIG. 12 shows an expanded view of the relationship between the bolts used in the ladder rail support system and the small channels formed by the rail in a dual-channel rail.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the crossbar assemblies and its connection to a side rail of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system in a dual-channel rail system.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system in a dual-channel rail system.

FIG. 15 a is a side view of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system; FIG. 15b is a front view of the corner subassembly of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system; FIG. 15c is a side view of the corner subassembly of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system; FIG. 15d is a top view of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the inclined rail assembly of the ladder mounting system using a bracket support.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the inclined embodiment of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting system.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inclined rail assembly using a dual column support.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inclined rail assembly using an inverted “Y” column support.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ladder rail support system with the dual ladder configuration.

FIG. 21 is a top and side view of an embodiment of the ladder rail support system with the dual ladder configuration.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ladder rail support system with the slanted ladder configuration.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the inclined embodiment of the rail assembly of the ladder mounting configuration.

FIG. 24 a is a perspective and expanded view of the ladder rail support system comprising the inclined long beacon support; FIG. 24b is a perspective and expanded view of the ladder rail support system comprising the inclined short beacon support.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of vehicles showing a sampling of arrangements of the ladder rack system and illustrates how the ladder rack assembly may be adapted to any manufacturer's ladder rack system and on any body-style of vehicle.

Claims

1) A support rail comprised of a. an elongated rail with an essentially “L” shaped cross section,b. a plurality of square channels formed by the elongated rail wherein the square channels are formed along the length of the rails,c. wherein the square channels can accept the head of a bolt at the ends of the square channels,d. wherein the square channels prevent the rotation of the bolt, ande. wherein the head of the bolt is incapable of being removed from the square channel except at the ends of the square channels at the end of the rails.

2) A support rail as described in claim 1 wherein all components of the support rail are manufactured from aluminum.

3) A support rail as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of square channels are comprised of four square channels with two square channels are formed on each of the two outside sides of the “L,” that is, the sides of the “L” that form an reflex angle to each other.

4) A support rail as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of square channels are comprised of two square channels wherein the two square channels are formed on one of the outside sides of the “L,” that is, the sides of the “L” that form an reflex angle to each other.

5) A vehicle ladder support system comprised of a. a rail assembly,b. a plurality of support assemblies,

6) A vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 5 wherein the rail assembly is comprised of a. one or more support rails wherein the support rails are elongated members with an essentially “L” shaped cross section and where the side of the rails form a right angle,b. two or more cross-members,c. a means to connect the cross-members to the rails, andd. a roller assembly

7) A vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 wherein a. the one or more rails are a pair of ladder rails,b. wherein the right angles formed by the pair of ladder rails face each other,c. wherein the rails form a plurality of square channels along the length of the rails, andd. wherein the means to connect the cross-members to the rails are a plurality of bolts inserted into one or more of the plurality of the square channels and positioned along the square channels, ande. wherein the plurality of bolts are used with a cross-member brace plate and nuts to secure the rails together.

8) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 wherein the support assemblies can affix ladder mounting system to a vehicle via the support assemblies.

9) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 wherein all components are manufactured from a metallic material.

10) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 wherein all components are manufactured from aluminum.

11) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 further comprising a. one or more security assemblies, andb. one or more accessory assemblies.

12) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 6 further comprising one or more anti-slip pads.

13) The vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 12 wherein the one or more anti-slip pads are manufactured from a polymeric material.

14) The method of using a vehicle ladder mounting system comprised of i. affixing a rail assembly, a plurality of support assemblies, one or more security assemblies, and one or more accessory assemblies to the roof a vehicle, andii. placing a ladder onto the vehicle mounting system by sliding the ladder onto the ladder mounting system.iii. securing the ladder to the vehicle ladder mounting system using one or more security assemblies.

15) The method of using a vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 14 wherein the rail assembly is comprised of a plurality of rails, a plurality of cross-members, and a plurality of side flanges.

16) The method of using a vehicle ladder mounting system described in claim 15 wherein the support assemblies are further comprised of a plurality of vertical supports or a “Y” support.