GB2277115A - Ladder attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for attachment to a lean-to ladder, comprises: a support member 12, such as a platform or tray having means 23, 24 for mounting the support member on a rung 14 of the ladder. An extensible strut member 16 is pivotally connected by one end to the support member such as in use to depend therefrom, and has retaining means to retain the other end of the extensible strut member coupled to another, lower, rung 13 of the ladder. <IMAGE>

Description

LADDER ATTACHMENT DESCRIPTION Background to the Invention This invention relates to "lean-to" ladders i.e. of the kind that lean up against a wall and in particular to attachments therefor. Decorators, window-cleaners and like tradesmen, have long found it an irksome experience to carry about their person all the implements they need to perform their tasks whilst standing upon the rungs of a lean-to ladder, there being no convenient part of such a ladder upon which they can lay down their implements.

Furthermore, such lean-to ladders usually have rungs of narrow width which cause a user, e.g. the tradesman, to experience considerable pain on the soles of the feet (particularly between the heel and the ball of the foot) when standing upon the rungs for long periods.

It is desirable to provide a ladder attachment that can mitigate, if not overcome the aforesaid discomforting experiences and/or other disadvantages.

Brief Description of the Invention According to one aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus for attachment to a lean-to ladder, the apparatus comprising: a support member, means for mounting the support member on a rung of the ladder, an extensible strut member pivotally connected by one end to the support member such as in use to depend therefrom and, retaining means to retain the other end of the extensible strut member coupled to another, lower, rung of the ladder.

Preferably the retaining means comprises a lower rung engagement member that is pivotally connected to the said other end of the extensible strut member. Advantageously the retaining means additionally comprises a locking member co-operable with the lower rung engagement member such as to prevent its disengagement from the lower rung. In a preferred embodiment the lower rung engagement member is generally U-shaped and the locking member comprises a strip to extend across the limbs of the 'U' adjacent the free ends of the limbs.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises stop means to limit pivotal movement (in one direction or, in an alternative embodiment, in two opposite directions) of the lower rung engagement member relative to the said other end of the extensible strut member. Advantageously the stop means comprises a lip member integral with the lower rung engagement member and projecting upwardly of it for abutment of or by the extensible strut member at the limit of said pivotal relative movement.

The support member may comprise a generally planar platform upon which a ladder user can stand, or alternatively may comprise a receptacle into which the ladder user can accommodate his implements (e.g. tradesman's tools, brush, roller, paint container, cloths and the like).

Preferably the support member comprises two downwardly directed side plates opposite one another and the mounting means comprises a recess in the lower edge of each of these two opposite side plates, the recesses in use accommodating the first-mentioned rings of the ladder. Advantageously a plurality of recesses may be provided in each said lower edge to accommodate rungs of different dimensions and/or to provide for different positions (fore and aft extensions) of the support member relative to the plane of the ladder and/or to accommodate adjoining rungs of two sections of an extensible ladder.

Brief Description of the Drawings By way of non-limiting example, one embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a schematic, partly-sectioned perspective view of an inclined lean-to ladder carrying thereon an attachment according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic, exploded perspective view of parts of the attachment illustrated in Fig 1, Figure 3 shows schematically at A, B, C, D and E five alternative forms of support member to replace the support member 12 of Fig 1, and Figure 4 shows schematically a plurality of different rung cross-sections for a lean-to ladder with the attachment illustrated in Fig 1.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 is a ladder attachment 10 for releasable attachment to a lean-to ladder 15. The illustrated ladder attachment 10 comprises a support member 12 that is mountable on a selected rung 14 of the ladder 15, an extensible strut member 16 pivotally connected by one end 17 to the support member 12 such as in use to depend therefrom and, retaining means 20 to retain the other end 18 of the extensible strut member 16 coupled to another, lower, rung 13 of the ladder 15.

The support member 12 comprises two downwardly directed side plates 21,22 opposite one another, a recess 23,24 being provided in the lower edge of each of these two opposite side plates 21,22. The recesses 23,24 are shaped and dimensioned such that, in use, they accommodate the selected rung 14 of the ladder.

The extensible strut member 16 comprises two mutuallytelescopic tubes 16a,16b of rectangular (preferably square) cross-section and retainable in a minimum or a selected extended length by a generally strip-like element 25 having a handle portion 25a and a downwardly directed limb 25 engageable in aligned slots 26a,26b in the two tubes 16a,16b. The upper end 17 of the extensible strut member 16 is pivotally connected to the support member 12 adjacent its rear edge 27a, i.e. the edge that projects rearwardly of the inclined ladder 15 to be disposed between it and the wall against which the ladder is leaning. The pivotal connection is by a pivot pin 27b through the strut member 16, the pin being supported by depending tabs 27c cut out and bent down from a slot-like opening 27d in the upper surface of the support member 12.

The retaining means 20, which is to couple the extensible strut member 16 to the selected lower rung 13, comprises a generally U-section member 28 that is pivotally connected by its bight wall to the lower end of the extensible strut member 16. The generally U-section member 28 is dimensioned and arranged such that the depending limbs of the 'U' straddle the selected lower rung 13, one limb on each side and in close proximity to the rung so as to provide a tight, substantially non-rotational, close fit.

The retaining means 20 additionally comprises a locking member 29 co-operable with the lower rung engagement member 28 such as to prevent its disengagement from the lower rung 13. The locking member 29 may conveniently be a duplicate of the above-described generally strip-like element 25 having a handle portion 29a and an extending strip-like limb 29b insertable through slots 31 formed in the limbs of the generally U-shaped member 28 and to extend across the limbs of the 'U' adjacent their free ends, i.e. remote from the bight wall of the generally U-shaped member 28.

Stop means 30 are provided to limit pivotal movement (in one direction) of the member 28 relative to lower end 18 of the extensible strut member 16. The stop means 30 comprises a lip member 32 integral with the bight wall of engagement member 28 and projecting upwardly of it in a direction opposite its depending limbs, and at an angle of for example 105 to the bight wall, for abutment of or by the lower edge of a tube wall of the extensible strut member's lower telescopic tube 16k at the limit of said pivotal relative movement - which is defined by that abutment.A limit to pivotal movement of member 28 relative to strut member 16 in the opposite direction is provided by abutment between the bight wall itself and the lower edge of an oppposite tube wall of the extensible strut member's lower telescopic tube 16. The two limits provide a range of pivotal relative movement that, preferably, is of the order of 15 In use the support member 12 is mounted on rung 14 and extensible strut member 16 left to be loosely and automatically adjustable in length (as the member 16 and retainer means 20 are swung into position in the direction A of Fig 4) to permit the retaining means 20 to be slipped over the lower rung, preferably the next lower rung, 13 and be locked in attachment thereto by the locking member 29.

The support member 12 on rung 14 may be then angularly adjusted about the axis of rung 14, to adopt a desired angle to the vertical, by simply adjusting the effective length of extensible strut member 16 and locking it to that extension by inserting the extending limb 25b of the striplike element 25 into aligned apertures 26a,26b of the strut member's telescopic tubes 16a,16b. The upper level of platform 12 can thus be adjusted to a desired angle, e.g.

between 90 to 115r, to the vertical (as the effective length of strut member 16 is shortened), this adjustability being substantially irrespective of the angle of inclination of the ladder 15 as it leans up against the building, wall or other structure (e.g. from about 7" below to about 15 above the normal or recommended inclination of 30") and/or being substantially irrespective of the spacing between centres of adjacent rungs 13,14 (e.g. a 280mm or a 285mm spacing). It has been found that, with an lengths of approximately 23cm and 10cm for members 16a and 16b , the desired angle for platform 12 can be set by a relative movement of members l6a,l6b of only a few centimetres, e.g.

2 to 3 centimetres.

The support member 12 may comprise a generally planar platform upon which a ladder user can stand, or alternatively may comprise a receptacle into which the ladder user can accommodate his implements (e.g.

tradesman's tools, brush, roller, paint container, cloths and the like). Examples of various forms of support member are illustrated in Figs 3A, 3B and 3C. Fig 3A illustrates a support member 12A having an upturned lip 33 around the periphery of its planar top surface to serve as a tray that can support cans 34 of paint or other treatment fluids.

Fig 3B illustrates a support member 12B that has apertures 35 in its planar top surface 36 to accommodate the handles of various hand tools 37 and may also have a deep well or like receptacle 38 to accommodate more cumbersome tools (e.g. an electric drill). Fig 3C illustrates a support member 12C that has a shallow tray-like well or like receptacle 39 to serve as a paint tray.

In another modification, shown in Fig 3E, the support member 12E can have a plurality of recesses 23,24 in the lower edge of each of its side plates 21,22. These can serve to accommodate rungs of different dimensions and/or to provide for different positions (fore and aft extensions) of the support member 12E relative to the plane of the ladder. Alternatively or additionally, a pair of adjacent recesses ctn serve to accommodate adjoining rungs of two sections of an extensible two-part ladder (not shown). Such an accomodation or function can also be achieved with the further modification illustrated in Fig 3D which illustrates how the adjoining rungs 14a, 14k of two sections of an extensible two-part ladder (not shown) are accomodated in wider openings 23,24 in the side plates 21,22 of a support member 12D.

It will be appreciated that, for embodiments as shown in Figs 1 and 2, the load-bearing strengths required for extensible member 16 and for the adult-supporting platform 12 are substantially greater than those required for the extensible members and implement-supporting platforms 12A to 12C of Figs 3A to 3C.

The form and dimensions adopted for member 28 of the retainer means 20 and, more particularly, for the recesses 23,24 may be selected to suit the attachment to a wide variety of rung shapes. Conventional forms are the circular, square and D-section rungs - illustrated for convenience on a single ladder in Fig 4. This shows how even when the ladder is inclined, to incline the lower edge of square-section and D-section rungs, they can be still snugly accommodated within the member 28 and the recesses 23,24 of a support member that has its upper surface substantially horizontal.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. For example the shape of the sides 21,22 of the platforms may be different to those illustrated, and/or the upper end 17 of the extensible member 16 may be attached to the underside of a recess in the platform 12 rather than just beneath its upper surface. All such modifications and embodiments are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be deemed limited to the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for attachment to a lean-to ladder, the apparatus comprising: a support member, means for mounting the support member on a rung of the ladder, an extensible strut member pivotally connected by one end to the support member such as in use to depend therefrom, and retaining means to retain the other end of the extensible strut member coupled to another, lower, rung of the ladder.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a lower rung engagement member that is pivotally connected to the said other end of the extensible strut member.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the retaining means additionally comprises a locking member co-operable with the lower rung engagement member such as to prevent its disengagement from the lower rung.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the lower rung engagement member is generally U-shaped and the locking member comprises a strip to extend across the limbs of the 'U' adjacent the free ends of the limbs.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, and further comprising stop means to limit pivotal movement (in at least one of two opposite directions) of the lower rung engagement member relative to the said other end of the extensible strut member.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the stop means comprises a lip member integral with the lower rung engagement member and projecting upwardly of it for abutment of or by the extensible strut member at the limit of said pivotal relative movement.

7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the support member comprises a generally planar platform upon which a ladder user can stand.

8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the support member comprises a receptacle into which the ladder user can accommodate his implements (e.g.

tradesman's tools, brush, roller, paint container, cloths and the like).

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the support member comprises two downwardly directed side plates opposite one another and the mounting means comprises a recess in the lower edge of each of these two opposite side plates, the recesses in use accommodating the first-mentioned rungs of the ladder.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein a plurality of recesses are provided in each said lower edge to accommodate rungs of different dimensions and/or to provide for different positions (fore and aft extensions) of the support member relative to the plane of the ladder and/or to accommodate adjoining rungs of two sections of an extensible ladder.

11. Apparatus for attachment to a lean-to ladder, the apparatus being substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.