Extension ladder, ladder components and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016123079-A1
Application number	US-201514930065-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

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; wherein the first plurality of rungs are offset towards a rear surface of the first pair of rails relative to a longitudinal centerline of the first pair of rails.

2 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of rungs are offset towards a rear surface of the second pair of rails relative to a longitudinal centerline of the second pair of rails.

3 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of rungs exhibit a substantially inverted cross-sectional triangular geometry.

4 . 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.

5 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of rungs exhibit a different cross-sectional geometry than the second plurality of rungs.

6 . The ladder of claim 1 , further comprising at least one rung lock device coupled with a rail of the first pair of rails, the rung lock device including a pivotal arm configured to selectively and consecutively engage at least two different rungs of the second plurality of rungs to maintain the fly section in at least two different positions relative to the base section.

7 . The ladder of claim 6 , wherein the pivotal arm is substantially positioned below the engaged rung of the second plurality of rungs.

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

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

10 . 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 rails.

11 . The ladder of claim 10 , wherein each foot includes at least one body portion, a fraction surface, and an engagement member selectively positionable relative to the at least one body portion.

12 . The ladder of claim 11 , 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 portion along a curved surface.

13 . 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; at least one rung lock device configured to selectively maintain the fly section in at least two different positions relative to the base section, wherein the at least one rung lock includes an arm pivotally coupled with a rail of the first pair of rails and being configured to selectively and consecutively engage a lower surface of each of at least two different rungs of the second plurality of rungs.

14 . The ladder of claim 13 , wherein the at least rung lock device is configured so that a majority of the at least one rung lock device is positioned below an engaged rung when the ladder is in an orientation of intended use.

15 . The ladder of claim 14 , wherein no part of the at least one rung lock device extends beyond an upper surface of the engaged rung.

16 . The ladder of claim 15 , wherein an upper portion of the arm includes an concave support surface.

17 . The ladder of claim 16 , wherein each of the second plurality of rungs includes an arcuate lower surface for substantially mating with the concave support surface.

18 . The ladder of claim 14 , wherein each of the second plurality of rungs exhibits a substantially inverted triangular cross-sectional geometry.

19 . The ladder claim 14 , wherein each of the first plurality of rungs is positioned closer to a rear surface of the first pair of rails than to a front surface of the first pair of rails.

20 . The ladder of claim 19 , wherein a rear surface of the second pair of rails is positioned along a line that is approximately half way between the front surface of the first pair of rails and the rear surface of the first pair of rails.

21 . 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, each of the first pair of rails having a front surface and a rear surface; 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, each of the second pair of rails having a front surface and a rear surface; the fly section being slidably coupled to the base section; wherein an overall depth of the ladder, measured from the rear surface of the first pair of rails to the front surface of the second pair of rails, is approximately 1.65 times, or less, of a distance from the front surface of the first pair of rails to a rear surface of the front pair of rails.

Assignees

• Wing Entpr Inc

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