GB2207453A

GB2207453A - Ladder support

Info

Publication number: GB2207453A
Application number: GB08817519A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Hughes
Original assignee: RONNOCO
Current assignee: RONNOCO
Priority date: 1987-07-28
Filing date: 1988-07-22
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Also published as: GB8717870D0; GB8817519D0

Abstract

A ladder support means 13 is attachable to the upper end of ladder 11, 12 and suitably grips an upright support, such as a telegraph pole 14. The support means in use, comprises two horizontally spaced limbs 16 extending outwardly from the ladder and from a horizontally extending outwardly from the ladder and from a horizontally extending part 15, so that the telegraph pole 14 can be wedged therebetween. The legs 11 of the ladder 11, 12 lie attachably along an upper surface 15a of the horizontally extending part 15, and since this horizontal surface 15a in inclined at a predetermined angle to the gripping limbs 16, the ladder is thereby presented at a suitable climbing angle to the telegraph pole 14. <IMAGE>

Description

IhlPROVEnlENTS IN OR RELATING TO LADDERS The present invention relates to a device for securing a ladder to a static object, particularly a telegraph pole, and for simplicity will be described in relation thereto.

Heretofore, when, for example, telephone engineers were repairing telephone lines, they would rest the uppermost part of the ladder against the telegraph pole. The consequence of such a small contact area and lack of any real grip of the ladder on the pole was that any small shift in weight by the engineer could result in the toppling of the ladder. Such potential incidents are now regarded as a serious problem, which is reflected by the safety regulations enforced by, for example, British Telecom, in which the ladder must how be securely bound to the pole. As will be appreciated, such securing can be difficult.

Furthermore, the engineer is put in the precarious position of climbing and binding an unsecured ladder, often using both hands.

Yet another problem with using ladders is judging the best angle at which to rest the ladder against the pole so that the ladder will be most secure for climbing. It is also disadvantageous that, for example, a telephone engineer often does not have the upper part of his ladder spaced at a comfortable working distance from the support.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

Broadly according to the present invention there is provided a ladder securing means attachable to the upper portion of a ladder and comprising first and second limbs which in use are horizontally spaced and extend outwardly away from the ladder such that a support against which the ladder is to lean may be received between said limbs and engage the innermost surfaces thereof.

Preferably the innermost surfaces of said limbs diverge in use outwardly away from said ladder such that the support may be wedged therebetween.

Preferably also, said innermost surfaces are formed from a frictional material, such as rubber, to give a better hold on the support.

Preferably also, the outermost ends of said limbs are parallel and coplanar such that they may engage a substantially planar supporting surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ladder support means attachable to a ladder and comprising a supporting surface for resting against at upright support, a member including an inclined surface which is disposed at a predetermined angle to said supporting surface,said inclined surface in.usereceiving a portion of the upper ladder such that said .sunnorting surface is in turin disposed at a nredetermined angle to said ladder.

Te second aspect of the invention is advantageously used in combination with the first aspect so as to provide a ladder securing means adapted for use with a wall corner or telegraph pole as a support and for presenting the ladder at the optimum climbing angle to the support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ladder is held on the inclined surface of the ladder securing means by a plurality of adjustable screw hooks which are anchored to the ladder securing means and hook round the upper rungs of the ladder.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a plan view of the upper end of a ladder with a securing means attached thereto; Fig 2 is a section through line II-II of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a section through line III-III of Fig 1.

Fig 1 shows the upper region of two different widths of ladder identified by pairs of legs 10 and 11 respectively, According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a ladder wherein the upper part thereof includes a ladder securing part comprising first and second limbs which in use are horizontally spaced and extend outwardly away from the ladder such that a support against which the ladder is to lean may be received between said limbs and engage the innermost surfaces thereof.

and a top rung 12. The ladder is attached at an angle to a securing means 13 which is used for gripping supports, in this case a telegraph pole 14. All description hereinafter will refer to the position of the assembly in Fig 1 as a reference working position in which the securing means 13 is perpendicular to the telegraph pole 14 and the ladder at an angle thereto.

Considered when in use, the securing means 13 comprises a horizontal elongate part 15 having an upper surface 15a inclined at 700 (Fig 2) to the horizontal and along which the ladder legs 10 or 11 lie. A pair of limbs 16 are integral with and extend outwards from the centre of the horizontal member 15. These limbs also diverge from each other as they extend outwards so as to present their first and inner surfaces l7aas an open wedge within which the telegraph pole 14 can be gripped, thus obviating the necessity for a person having to climb the ladder to secure the ladder to the support 14. The outermost ends of the limbs 16 are bent out from the centre of the open wedge so as to be parallel with each other and coplanar, thereby providing a further and second surface and adapting the securing means 13 for use also with a support such as the wall of a house.The advantage of the second surfaces 17b is that when they rest against a wall the upper portion of the ladder is spaced therefrom by the whole horizontal length of the limbs 16. As seen from Figs 1 and 3, the first and second surfaces17a andl7b are formed from a strip of rubber recessed into limbs 16 so as to provide a better grip with the support 14.

For extra strength, an arcuate web 18 is integrally formed between each limb 16 and elongate part 15 A boss 19 is formed on each web 18 at a 300 angle to the horizontal plane (with respect to Fig 1), and has formed therein boreholes 20 through which first adjustable screw-threaded hooks 21 extend. A second adjustable hook 22 is fixed to a bracket 23 at the centre of the horizontal member 15. These hooks 21 and 22 engage with one or more of the upper rungs (for example 12) to fix the Ladder to the securing means in the inclined position as shown in Fig 1. In this position (Fig 1) the first surfaces 17 of the securing means are wedged against the telegraph pole 14,thereby securing the ladder and presenting it to the support at an optimum climbing angle of 700.

As seen in Figs 1 and 3 a cavity 24 is provided in the horizontal member 1 5 between the two limbs 16, to reduce the weight of the device.

As will be appreciated, although a telegraph pole 14 is gripped between the inner surfaces 17a of the limbs 1they are also well adapted to grip other supports such as the corner of a house.

Claims

1. A ladder securing means attachable to the upper portion of a ladder and comprising first and second limbs which in use are horizontally spaced and extend outwardly away from the ladder such that a support against which the ladder is to lean may be received between said limbs and engage the innermost surf aces thereof.

2 Ladder utherein the upper part thereof includes a ladder securing part comprising first and second limbs which in use are horizontally spaced and extend outwardly away from the ladder such that a support against which the ladder is to lean may be received between said limbs and engage the innermost surfaces thereof.

3. A ladder securing means as claimed in claim 1 or a ladder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the innermost surf aces of said limbs diverge, in use, outwardly away from said ladder such that. the support may be wedged therebetween.

4. A ladder securing means as claimed in claims 1 or 3 or a ladder as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the innermost surfaces of the limbs are formed of a frictional material, such as rubber, to give a better hold on the supports.

5. A ladder securing means as claimed in any one of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein there is further provided a horizontally extending part including a horizontally extending and inclined surface which is disposed at a predetermined angle to said first and second limbs and which receives in use, an upper part of ladder thereon, so that when said first and second limbs engage the support, the ladder is presented at a suitable climbing angle.

6. S. ladder support means attachable to å ladder and comprising a supporting surface for resting against an upright support, a member including an inclined surface which is disposed at a predetermined angle to said surface, said inclined surface in use receiving a portion of the upper ladder such. that said supporting surface is in turn disposed at a predetermined angle to said ladder.

7. A ladder support substantially as described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.