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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12546165-B2
Application number	US-202318486940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2023
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

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 pair of rails including a first rail and a second rail, the first rail having a first rear surface, the second rail having a second rear surface; a plurality of rungs coupled to and extending across the pair of rails; at least one bracket directly attached to and extending between the first rear surface and the second rear surface, wherein when the pair of rails is supported by a vertical support surface, the at least one bracket is configured to be positioned between the first and second rear surfaces and the vertical support surface; and a pair of components, each having an arm member and a mating bracket positioned at an end of the arm member, the mating bracket being slidably attachable to a rear side of the at least one bracket in a standoff configuration; wherein, when in the standoff configuration, the pair of components is positionable against a support structure at points of contact wider than the first rail and the second rail, and the pair of components is positioned rearwardly offset from the at least one bracket.

2 . The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lock assembly configured to attach at least one component of the pair of components to the at least one bracket.

3 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the arm member of each component of the pair of components is a first arm member; and each component of the pair of components further comprises a second arm member telescopingly coupled to the first arm member, and an arm lock assembly, the arm lock assembly being configured to maintain a position of the first arm member relative to the second arm member.

4 . The ladder of claim 3 , wherein the arm lock assembly comprises a sleeve coupled with the first arm member.

5 . The ladder of claim 4 , wherein the arm lock assembly comprises a lever pivotally coupled with the sleeve.

6 . The ladder of claim 5 , wherein the arm lock assembly comprises an engagement pin coupled with the lever, the engagement pin being insertable into at least one opening defined in the second arm member.

7 . The ladder of claim 6 , wherein when the engagement pin is inserted into the at least one opening, the first arm member is positionally locked relative to the second arm member.

8 . The ladder of claim 6 , wherein when the engagement pin is retracted from the at least one opening, the first arm member is slidably adjustable relative to the second arm member.

9 . A ladder, comprising:
a pair of rails defining an overall width, each rail of the pair of rails having a rear surface; a plurality of rungs coupled to the pair of rails; a first component and a second component, each including a first arm, a second arm, a component bracket, and a lock assembly, the lock assembly being configured to positionally lock the first arm relative to the second arm; a bracket directly attached to and positioned on the rear surface of at least one rail of the pair of rails, wherein the component bracket of the first component and the component bracket of the second component are simultaneously slidably engageable with the bracket; wherein the first component and the second component are coupleable to the bracket in a plurality of stand-off configurations corresponding to a plurality of locked positions of the first arms relative to the second arms, wherein the first component and the second component extend laterally outward from the pair of rails wider than the overall width in each position of the plurality of locked positions.

10 . The ladder of claim 9 , wherein the component bracket comprises a slot sized and shaped to engage corresponding portions of the bracket.

11 . The ladder of claim 9 , further comprising actuator members to releasably couple the component bracket and the bracket.

12 . The ladder of claim 11 , wherein the actuator members include squeeze handles to release the component bracket and the bracket.

13 . The ladder of claim 9 , wherein the bracket is directly coupled with each rail of the pair of rails.

14 . The ladder of claim 9 , wherein the bracket is positioned at a height of an uppermost rung of the plurality of rungs.

15 . A ladder comprising:
a pair of spaced apart outer rails, each having a front surface and a rear surface; a plurality of outer rungs coupled to the front surfaces of the pair of spaced apart outer rails and extending between the pair of spaced apart outer rails, wherein the rear surfaces of the pair of spaced apart outer rails are configured to face away from a user climbing the plurality of outer rungs; a pair of spaced apart inner rails slidably coupled with the pair of spaced apart outer rails; a plurality of inner rungs coupled to and extending between the pair of spaced apart inner rails; a transverse bracket directly attached to and extending between both of the rear surfaces of the pair of spaced apart outer rails; a pair of stabilizers, each stabilizer of the pair of stabilizers being simultaneously slidably attachable to the transverse bracket in a stand-off configuration extending laterally outward beyond the pair of spaced apart outer rails, wherein the pair of stabilizers comprises a bracket defining a slot configured to receive at least a portion of the transverse bracket.

16 . The ladder of claim 15 , wherein the pair of stabilizers each comprise a pair of telescopingly coupled arms.

17 . The ladder of claim 15 , wherein each stabilizer of the pair of stabilizers includes a component bracket engageable with the transverse bracket.

Assignees

• Little Giant Ladder Systems Llc

Inventors

• Clark Wesley V
• Moss N Ryan

Classifications

• E06C7/081

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

• E06C7/006

  Devices for preventing access · CPC title

• E06C7/46

  Non-skid equipment · CPC title

• E06C7/06

  Securing devices or hooks for parts of extensible ladders · 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