Extension ladder, ladder components and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000210-B2
Application number	US-202016990067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2020
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A ladder is provided having a base section and a fly section slidably coupled with the base section. The base section 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 fly section 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. The various rungs may be coupled with their associated rails in an offset relationship such that they are not centered along a longitudinal center axis line of the rails. A rung lock device may be used which includes an arm pivotally coupled with the base section and configured to selectively engage various rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in a desired position relative to the base section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 brace coupled to a lowermost rung of the first plurality of rungs and coupled with the first pair of spaced apart rails, the brace including:
an upper arm,
a first side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a first rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a second side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a second rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a first stop member located adjacent a distal end of the first side arm and configured to abut a lower end of a first rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, and
a second stop member located adjacent a distal end of the second side arm and configured to abut a lower end of a second rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, wherein the first stop member and the second stop member are configured to elastically deform to absorb energy responsive to a relative motion between the fly section and the base section.

2. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the fly section is arranged such that a rear surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails extends in a plane located between the first plurality of rungs and the second plurality of rungs.

3. The ladder of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of rungs are offset from a longitudinal centerline of the first pair of spaced apart rails towardasil a rear surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails.

4. The ladder of claim 3 , wherein the second plurality of rungs are offset towardasil the rear surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails relative to a longitudinal centerline of the second pair of spaced apart rails.

5. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein each the second plurality of rungs exhibit a larger upper surface area than do the first plurality of rungs.

6. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bearing component coupled with an end of one of the first pair of spaced apart rails and at least one other bearing component coupled with an end of one of the second pair of spaced apart rails.

7. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein a rear surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails is positioned along a line that is approximately half way between a front surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails and a rear surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails.

8. The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of feet, each foot being coupled with a lower end of a rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails.

9. The ladder of claim 8 , wherein each foot includes at least one body portion, a traction surface, and an engagement member selectively positionable relative to the at least one body portion.

10. The ladder of claim 9 , wherein the at least one body portion includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion being slidably coupled to the second body portion along a curved surface.

11. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein an overall depth of the ladder, measured from the rear surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails to a front surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails, is approximately 1.65 times, or less, of a distance from a front surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails to the rear surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails.

12. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first stop member is positioned on a first projecting portion extending from the distal end of the first side arm and wherein the second stop member is positioned on a second projecting portion extending from the distal end of the second side arm.

13. The ladder of claim 12 , wherein the first stop member and the second stop member comprise an elastomeric material.

14. The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the upper arm of the brace includes a concave surface matingly engaging a lower surface of the lowermost rung.

15. The ladder of claim 14 , wherein the brace further comprises a flange extending from the upper arm, wherein the flange is secured to the lowermost rung.

16. 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 brace coupled to a lowermost rung of the first plurality of rungs and coupled with the first pair of spaced apart rails, the brace including:
an upper arm,
a first side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a first rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a second side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a second rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a first stop member located adjacent a distal end of the first side arm and configured to abut a longitudinally-facing surface of a lower end of a first rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, and
a second stop member located adjacent a distal end of the second side arm and configured to abut a longitudinally-facing surface of a lower end of a second rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, wherein the first stop member and the second stop member comprise an elastomeric material.

17. The ladder of claim 16 , wherein the fly section is arranged such that a rear surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails extends in a plane located between the first plurality of rungs and the second plurality of rungs.

18. The ladder of claim 16 , wherein a rear surface of the second pair of spaced apart rails is positioned along a line that is approximately half way between a front surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails and a rear surface of the first pair of spaced apart rails.

19. The ladder of claim 16 , wherein the first stop member is positioned on a first projecting portion extending from the distal end of the first side arm and wherein the second stop member is positioned on a second projecting portion extending from the distal end of the second side arm.

20. 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 brace coupled to a lowermost rung of the first plurality of rungs and coupled with the first pair of spaced apart rails, the brace including:
an upper arm,
a first side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a first rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a second side arm extending down from the upper arm and toward a second rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails,
a first stop member located adjacent a distal end of the first side arm and configured to abut a lower end of a first rail of the second pair of spaced apart rails, and

a second stop member located adjacent a distal end of the second side arm and configured to abut a lower end of a second rai

Assignees

• Little Giant Ladder Systems Llc

Inventors

• Ballard Jay
• Smith Christian
• Jonas Gary
• Peterson Sean
• Russell Brian

Classifications

• E06C1/12 Primary

  extensible, e.g. telescopic · CPC title

• E06C7/06

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

• E06C7/46

  Non-skid equipment · CPC title