Walkthrough and standoff mechanisms for ladders, ladders incorporating same and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11788352-B2
Application number	US-202217961834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2022
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A ladder and ladder accessory are provided including an accessory that may be coupled to the ladder in multiple configurations and serve multiple purposes. In one embodiment, a pair of components are each selectively coupled with associated rails of a ladder in a first, stored state, and a second, walkthrough state. When in the walkthrough state, the components extend upwards from and above the rails so that a user may gasp the components and step between the components when transitioning from the ladder to an elevated surface (e.g., a roof) or vice versa. In another embodiment, the components may be coupled to the ladder such that they extend in a direction that is substantially transverse to a plane through which the rails extend. When in this transverse orientation, the components may be used as a stand-off device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ladder comprising:
a first assembly comprising including a first pair of rails and a first plurality of rungs coupled to the first pair of rails;
a second assembly including a second pair of rails and a second plurality of rungs coupled to the second pair of rails;
a pair of hinges rotatably coupling the first assembly with the second assembly;
at least one bracket positioned on a laterally outer side surface of a first rail of the first pair of rails;
at least another bracket positioned on a laterally outer side surface of a second rail of the first pair of rails;
at least one transverse bracket coupled to the first rail, the second rail, or both the first rail and the second rail;
a first component releasably coupleable with the at least one bracket in at least two different positions including a storage position and a walkthrough position;
a second component releasably couple with the at least another bracket in at least two different positions including a storage position and a walkthrough position;
wherein the first component is configured for releasable coupling with the at least one transverse bracket and the second component is configured for releasable coupling with the at least one transverse bracket; and
a coupling component extending between the first component and the second component when the first component is coupled with the at least one transverse bracket and when the second component is coupled with the at least one transverse bracket.

2. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the coupling component is a v-shaped component.

3. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein when the first component is coupled with the at least one transverse bracket, the first component extends substantially transverse to a plane in which the first rail and the second rail extend.

4. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component each include an end cap having an engagement surface.

5. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein when the first component and the second component each include a first arm and a second arm telescopingly coupled with the first arm.

6. The ladder of claim 5 , wherein the first component and the second component each include an engagement member pivotally coupled with the second arm, the engagement member being selectively lockable in two different positions relative to the second arm.

7. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component each have a length extending in a common plane with the first rail and the second rail regardless of whether the first component and the second component are in their respective walkthrough positions or storage positions.

8. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising a lock pin coupled with the first component and configured to engage a first opening formed in a least one of the first rail or the at least one bracket when rail is in the walkthrough position.

9. The ladder of claim 8 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the lock pin into engagement with the first opening.

10. The ladder of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of actuator members pivotally coupled with the lock pin.

11. The ladder of claim 10 , wherein the pair of actuator members includes a first member positioned on a first side of an arm of the first component and a second member on an opposing side of the arm of the first component, wherein when the first member and the second member are displaced towards each other, a free end of the lock pin retracts relative to the at least one bracket.

12. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first assembly includes a first pair of inner rails slidably coupled with the first pair of rails and wherein the second assembly includes a second pair of inner rails slidably coupled with the second pair of rails.

13. The ladder of claim 12 , further comprising a third plurality of rungs coupled between the first pair of inner rails and a fourth plurality of rungs coupled between the second pair of inner rails.

14. A ladder, comprising:
a first rail;
a second rail;
a plurality of rungs coupled to and extending between the first rail and the second rail;
a first stabilizer releasably coupleable with the first rail via a first bracket or via a first transverse bracket; and
a second stabilizer releasably coupleable with the second rail via a second bracket or via a second transverse bracket;
wherein the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer are respectively lockable relative to the first rail and the second rail in at least a storage position, and a walkthrough position via the first bracket and the second bracket;
wherein the first stabilizer and second stabilizer are respectively lockable relative to the first rail and the second rail in transverse positions respectively defined by the first transverse bracket and the second transverse bracket;
wherein in the walkthrough position, the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer extend upward beyond respective top ends of the first rail and the second rail; and
wherein in the transverse positions, the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer extend backwards in a first plane substantially transverse to a second plane in which the first rail and the second rail extend.

15. The ladder of claim 14 , further comprising a bracket oriented parallel to the first plane and coupleable with the first stabilizer when the first stabilizer is in the transverse position.

16. A ladder, comprising:
a pair of spaced apart rails having ends;
a plurality of rungs coupled to the pair of spaced apart rails;
a stabilizer accessory including a first component, a second component, a first bracket, and a second bracket;
an engagement member pivotally coupled with the first component and selectively lockable relative to the first component, via a locking mechanism, in a first engagement position or a second engagement position;
wherein the locking mechanism includes a biased locking pin extendable into a first opening or a second opening to respectively lock the engagement member in the first engagement position or the second engagement position;
wherein the first component and the second component are respectively lockable to the first bracket and to the second bracket in a first position, wherein in the first position the first component and the second component are adjacent to the pair of spaced apart rails with the ends of the pair of spaced apart rail s extending beyond the first component and the second component; and
wherein the first component and the second component are respectively lockable to the first bracket and to the second bracket in a second position, wherein in the second position the first component and the second component extend beyond the ends of the pair of spaced apart rails.

17. The ladder of claim 16 , wherein the first component and the second component are lockable in a third position with the first component and the second component positioned rearward of a plane in which the pair of spaced apart rails is positioned.

Assignees

• Little Giant Ladder Systems Llc

Inventors

• Clark Wesley V
• Moss N Ryan

Classifications

• E06C1/32 Primary

  Ladders with a strut which is formed as a ladder and can be secured in line with the ladder · CPC title

• E06C1/12 Primary

  extensible, e.g. telescopic · CPC title

• E06C1/18

  with supporting struts formed as ladders {(E06C1/32 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E06C7/06

  Securing devices or hooks for parts of extensible ladders · CPC title

• E06C7/081

  Rungs or other treads comprising anti-slip features · CPC title