Ladders, mechanisms and components for ladders, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11346154-B2
Application number	US-202016820286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Oct 5, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

Ladders and ladder components are provided including feet for ladders configured for securement of the ladder to a supporting surface, adjustable leg members for ladders, bearing members for ladders, and adjustment mechanisms for ladders. In one embodiment, an adjustment mechanism may include a first pair of spaced apart rails, a pair of adjustable legs having a first end hingedly coupled to one of a pair of adjustment mechanisms and a second end coupled with a foot. The adjustment mechanisms may be slidably coupled with the rails and in one embodiment, each adjustment mechanism is selectively displaceable along a length of its associated rail only when upward force is absent from the adjustment mechanism, the upward force being defined in a direction from a lower end of the associated rail towards the adjustment mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ladder comprising:
a first assembly having a pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between, and coupled to, the pair of spaced apart rails;
a pair of feet, each foot of the pair of feet being coupled to an associated rail of the pair of spaced apart rails and including a body portion and an engagement pad, the body portion having a bottom surface, a front surface, and a pair of fingers, the engagement pad being positioned beneath the bottom surface of the body portion and extending below the pair of fingers;
wherein each finger of the pair of fingers includes a substantially horizontal portion protruding outward from the front surface and a substantially vertical portion that extends downward from the substantially horizontal portion below the bottom surface and that has a blunt bottom end;
wherein an open-faced slot is formed between and spaces apart the substantially horizontal portions and the substantially vertical portions of the fingers of the pair of fingers;
wherein the body portion of each foot includes a plate member, the bottom surface being positioned on the plate member; and
wherein the open-faced slot is formed in the plate member and the engagement pad.

2. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the open-faced slot is sized and configured to receive a body portion of a fastener.

3. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the open-faced slot is sized and configured to receive a body portion of a nail or a screw.

4. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising a second assembly having a second pair of spaced apart rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between, and coupled to, the pair of second pair of spaced apart rails, the first assembly being slidably coupled with the second assembly.

5. The ladder of claim 4 , further comprising at least one bearing member coupled to a first rail of the pair of rails, the bearing member having a body portion disposed within a channel of the first rail and an elongated L-slot formed within the body portion, the elongated L-slot matingly and slidingly receiving a first rail of the second pair of rails.

6. The ladder of claim 5 , wherein the elongated L-slot includes a lateral shoulder.

7. The ladder of claim 6 , wherein the lateral shoulder is angled relative to a lateral axis extending through each of the first pair of rails substantially parallel to a longitudinal extension of a rung of the first plurality of rungs.

8. The ladder of claim 6 , wherein the lateral shoulder is arcuate.

9. The ladder of claim 8 , wherein the lateral shoulder curves along a radius, the radius extending from an axis substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis, the radius being approximately 100 inches.

10. The ladder of claim 9 , wherein the lateral shoulder exhibits a length of approximately 3.5 to approximately 4 inches.

11. A ladder comprising:
a first assembly having a pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between, and coupled to, the pair of spaced apart rails;
a pair of feet, each foot of the pair of feet being coupled to an associated rail of the pair of spaced apart rails and including a plate member, an engagement pad, and a pair of fingers each including a horizontal portion that extends outwardly from the plate member and bends to a vertical portion at least partially covering a front surface of the engagement pad, wherein the horizontal portions and the vertical portions form an open-faced slot between the pair of fingers and extending through the engagement pad, and wherein the engagement pad extends lower than the vertical portions of the pair of fingers.

12. The ladder of claim 11 , wherein the plate member includes a pair of side portions bent upward to attach to the associated rail.

Assignees

• Little Giant Ladder Systems Llc

Inventors

• Major Aaron Bruce
• Maxfield Bradley Scott
• Jonas Gary M
• Russell Brian B
• Moss N Ryan

Classifications

• E06C7/426

  Height adjustable supports for receiving both ladder feet · CPC title

• E06C7/50

  Joints or other connecting parts · CPC title

• E06C7/423 Primary

  Ladder stabilising struts · CPC title

• E06C1/12

  extensible, e.g. telescopic · CPC title

• E06C7/44

  Means for mounting ladders on uneven ground · CPC title