Ladders with integrated support, ladder components and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10584532-B2
Application number	US-201514661504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2015
Priority date	Mar 18, 2014
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A ladder is provided having a first assembly and a second assembly slidably coupled with the first assembly. The first assembly includes a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. the second assembly includes a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails. A support apparatus is coupled with the first assembly and includes one or more arms that are pivotally displaced from a refracted position to a deployed position responsive to displacement of the first assembly a specified distance relative to the second assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ladder comprising:
a first assembly comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails;
a second assembly comprising a second pair of spaced apart rails a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails, and a pair of feet, each foot of the pair of feet being coupled with an associated rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, the second assembly being slidably coupled to the first assembly;
a stand-off apparatus coupled with the first assembly, the stand-off apparatus comprising a first arm having a first end pivotally coupled with an upper portion of a first rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails and a second arm having a first end pivotally coupled with an upper portion of a second rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm is pivotally displaced from a retracted position to a deployed position responsive to displacement of the first assembly a specified distance in a first direction relative to the second assembly;
wherein, when in the retracted position, each of the first arm and the second arm is positioned between a first rung of the first plurality of rungs and a second rung of the second plurality of rungs, and wherein, when in the deployed position, a second end of the first arm extends rearwardly from the ladder;
a first actuating mechanism associated with the first arm, the first actuating mechanism including:
a first engagement arm pivotally coupled to the first rail of the first pair of rails on a first side thereof;
a first pull arm coupled with the engagement arm and located on a second side of the first rail of the first pair of rails and between the rails of the first pair of rails; and
a first cable coupled between the first pull arm and the first arm;
wherein, the first engagement arm assumes a first rotational position and engages a surface of a first rail of the second pair of rails when the first arm is in a retracted position and wherein the first engagement arm assumes a second rotational position and is disengaged from contact with the first rail of the second pair of rails when the first arm is in the deployed position.

2. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first arm is positioned adjacent the first rail of the first pair of rails when the first arm is in the retracted position and wherein the second end of the second arm is positioned adjacent the second rail of the first pair of rails when the second arm is in the retracted position, wherein the first arm and the second arm are displaced from their deployed positions to their retracted positions responsive to displacement of the first assembly a specified distance in a second direction, opposite the first direction, relative to the second assembly.

3. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of spaced apart rails exhibits a first width between the first rail and the second rail, and the second end of the first arm and the second end of the second arm exhibit a second width when the first arm and the second arm are in their deployed positions, the second width being at 1.5 times the first width.

4. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to selectively prohibit movement of the first arm from the retracted position to the deployed position.

5. The ladder of claim 4 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking arm positioned adjacent the first arm, the locking arm being selectively displaceable between a first position and a second position.

6. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising
a second actuating mechanism associated with the second arm, the second actuating mechanism including:
a second engagement arm pivotally coupled to a second rail of the first pair of rails on a first side thereof;
a second pull arm coupled with the engagement arm and located on a second side of the second rail of the first pair of rails and between the rails of the first pair of rails; and
a second cable coupled between the second pull arm and the second arm.

7. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising a first spring having a first end coupled with the first rail of the first pair of rails and a second end coupled with the first arm.

8. The ladder of claim 7 , further comprising a second spring coupled between the first cable and the first pull arm.

9. The ladder of claim 8 , wherein the first arm includes a first, arcuate section and a second, substantially straight section.

10. A ladder comprising:
a base section comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails;
a fly section comprising a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails, the fly section being slidably coupled to the base section;
a stand-off apparatus coupled with the fly section, the stand-off apparatus comprising a first arm coupled with a first rail of the second pair of rails and pivotally displaced between a first position, wherein the first arm is positioned between a first rung of the first plurality of rungs and a second rung of the second plurality of rungs, and a second position wherein a substantial portion of the first arm extends out of a volume defined by the second pair of rails;
wherein the stand-off apparatus is configured to automatically deploy the first arm from the first position to the second position upon displacing the fly section a predetermined distance relative to the base section in a first direction, and wherein the stand-off apparatus is configured to retract the first arm from the second position to the first position upon displacing the fly section relative to the base section in a section direction opposite the first direction until the fly section is at a predetermined position relative to the base section; and
a locking mechanism configured to selectively prohibit pivotal movement of the first arm from the first position to the second position regardless of a position of the fly section relative to the base section.

11. The ladder of claim 10 , wherein the stand-off apparatus further includes a second arm coupled with a second rail of the second pair of rails and pivotally displaced between a first position, wherein the second arm is positioned between the first rung of the first plurality of rungs and the second rung of the second plurality of rungs, and a second position wherein a substantial portion of the second arm extends out of the volume defined by the second pair of rails.

12. The ladder of claim 11 , wherein the first arm pivots between its first position and its second position independent of the pivotal displacement of the second arm.

13. The ladder of claim 10 , further comprising an actuating mechanism associated with the first arm, the actuating mechanism including:
an engagement arm pivotally coupled to the first rail of the second pair of rails on a first side thereof;
a pull arm coupled with the engagement arm and located on a second side of the first rail of the second pair of rails; and
a cable coupled between the pull arm and the first arm.

14. The ladder of claim 13 , further comprising a first spring having a first end coupled with the first rail of the second pair of rails and a second end coupled with the first arm.

15. The ladder of claim 14 , further comprising a second spring coupled between the cable and the pull arm.

Assignees

• Wing Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Moss N Ryan
• Peterson Sean R
• Russell Brian B
• Jonas Gary M

Classifications

• E06C7/02

  Extending means (for ladders mounted on undercarriages or vehicles E06C5/00) · CPC title

• E06C7/48

  Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects {(ladders attachable to structures such as poles E06C1/34)} · CPC title

• E06C1/12 Primary

  extensible, e.g. telescopic · CPC title

• E06C7/423

  Ladder stabilising struts · CPC title