Abstract
A device is for securing a ladder against falling to one side. The device has a first reel and a second reel. The first reel has a first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder. The second reel has a second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder. A locking mechanism is for locking the elongated flexible connecting means. The device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder. A ladder mounted with the device and a method is for securing the ladder against falling to one side.
Claims
1. A device for securing a ladder against falling to one side, the device comprising: a first reel and a second reel, the first reel including a first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder, and the second reel including a second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder; a locking mechanism for locking the elongated flexible connecting means; wherein the device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a housing accommodating both reels.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated, flexible connecting means include free ends arranged to be attached to an anchor.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a resilient part and a rough surface, the resilient part being adapted for locking both elongated, flexible connecting means by fixingly pressing them against the rough surface.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking bail mountable along a ladder rung.
6. A ladder on which at least one device has been fitted, the device comprising: a first reel and a second reel, the first reel including a first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder, and the second reel including a second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder; a locking mechanism for locking the elongated flexible connecting means; wherein the device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder.
7. The ladder according to claim 6, wherein the at least one device has been fitted in such a way that the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder.
8. The ladder according to claim 6, wherein the ladder includes hollow rungs, and wherein the first, elongated, flexible connecting means has been run along one ladder upright of the ladder and through a hollow rung in one end portion of the ladder, and wherein the second elongated, flexible connecting means has been run along the ladder upright and through a hollow rung in the other end portion of the ladder.
9. The ladder according to claim 8, wherein the ladder includes a device according to on each ladder upright, each device comprising: the first reel and the second reel, the first reel including the first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder, and the second reel including the second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder; the locking mechanism for locking the elongated flexible connecting means; wherein each device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from the one end portion of the ladder, and wherein the elongated, flexible connecting means from each device has been threaded through a respective hollow rung.
10. A system for stabilizing a ladder, the system including a ladder on which at least one device has been fitted, the device comprising: a first reel and a second reel, the first reel including a first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder, and the second reel including a second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder; a locking mechanism for locking the elongated flexible connecting means; wherein the device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder, and wherein the system further including anchoring devices which can be secured to a surface and which can receive the ends of the elongated, flexible connecting means.
11. A method of securing a ladder on which at least one device has been fitted, the device comprising: a first reel and a second reel, the first reel including a first elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via one end portion of the ladder, and the second reel including a second elongated, flexible connecting means arranged to be run to an anchor via the second end portion of the ladder; a locking mechanism for locking the elongated flexible connecting means; wherein the device is mountable on the ladder in such a way that, in a position of use, the locking mechanism is accessible from one end portion of the ladder against falling to one side, wherein the method comprises: pulling the elongated, flexible connecting means out from the reels; securing the elongated, flexible connecting means to an anchor away from the ladder; and locking the elongated, flexible connecting means by means of the locking mechanism.
12. A device for securing a ladder against falling to one side, the device being arranged to let out two elongated, flexible connecting means and lock them, and the device being mountable on a ladder.
Description
[0037] In what follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described, which are visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows, viewed from the side, a device according to the invention with two reels inside and a locking handle attached to the front of the device in the locked state;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in the open state;
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a device according to the invention with a locking handle and elongated attachment holes which may be used in fitting to a ladder, and part of a ladder;
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a device according to the invention with two holes for two ropes passing each other in opposite directions, and a recessed rough surface;
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a ladder with devices according to the invention fitted on the outer sides of both ladder uprights, the ropes running through hollow rungs in the ladder;
[0043] FIG. 6 shows a stabilized ladder in a position of use against a wall;
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a stabilized extension ladder from the side in a position of use against a wall;
[0045] FIG. 8 shows, in a view from above, a cross section of a ladder with devices according to the invention fitted on both ladder uprights, and a longitudinal bail which is attached to the locking handles of the devices;
[0046] FIG. 9 shows a ladder with devices according to the invention fitted to the outer sides of both ladder uprights, the ropes running through eye bolts on the ladder;
[0047] FIG. 10 shows a ladder with two devices fitted to one ladder upright and in the same housing;
[0048] FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, viewed from one side;
[0049] FIG. 12 shows the embodiment of FIG. 11, viewed from the other side;
[0050] FIG. 13 shows, on a larger scale, the locking mechanism of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in the open state;
[0051] FIG. 14 shows the locking mechanism of FIG. 13 in the locked state; and
[0052] FIG. 15 shows a similar locking mechanism to that of FIGS. 13 and 14, but with two spaces with rough surfaces.
[0053] In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a device according to the first aspect of the invention. Like reference numerals indicate like or similar elements in the figures. The drawings are presented in a schematic and simplified form, and different elements are not necessarily to scale.
[0054] FIGS. 1 and 2 show, from the side, a device 1 comprising two reels 2 placed in a housing 30. A locking handle 13 is rotatably attached to the front of the housing 30, in the closed (FIG. 1) and open (FIG. 2) states. In the drawings, the housing 30 of the device 1 is shown transparently to show the reels 2. The locking handle 13 works in such a way that a protruding bottom side 14 rests movably against a resilient bail 15. When the locking handle 13 is being depressed, the resilient bail 15 is pressed against the two ropes 10 coming out of the openings 16 (shown in FIG. 4) of the device 1. These ropes 10 pass each other in opposite directions at the point where the locking handle 13 together with the bail 15 locks both ropes 10 against an underlying rough surface 17. This rough surface 17 is in its turn recessed into the housing 30 because the ropes 10 that are passing each other are not to be braked by the rough surface 17 when the locking handle 13 is open. The device 1 has elongated mounting openings 3 which may be used when fitting it to the side of the ladder upright 6 of a ladder 20. The ropes 10 are threaded through the guiding holes 5 of the device 1 before they can be pulled further up and down along the ladder upright 6.
[0055] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a device 1, with (FIG. 3) and without (FIG. 4) a locking handle 13, respectively. The device 1 has elongated mounting openings 3 which can be used when the device 1 is fitted to the side of the ladder upright 6 of a ladder 20. The device 1 can be attached through the elongated mounting openings 3 which are located at the top and at the bottom of the device 1, so that they can be adapted for ladders 20 having different distances between the hollow rungs 21 of the ladder 20. Said elongated mounting openings 3 may be integrated in the device 1 or formed in a fitting fitted thereto. The device 1 may be attached to the ladder 20 by inserting two rods, with stop nuts furthest out and threads at the other ends (not shown), through the elongated mounting openings 3 of the device 1 and into holes 4 extending through the ladder upright 6 and two hollow rungs 21. On the opposite side, two elongated sleeves, with internal threads and stop nuts furthest out (not shown), may be inserted into the holes 4 of the ladder upright 6 and the hollow rungs 21, possibly through mounting openings 3 in a second device 1 on the other side of the ladder 6. Sleeves may be screwed into threads on said rods inside the rungs 21. With this fitting method, the device 1 can be adapted for different widths of ladders 20. The ropes 10 are threaded through the guiding holes 5 of the device 1 before they may be pulled further up and down along the ladder upright 6 and may be threaded through one of the uppermost and one of the lowermost holes 4 of ladder rungs 21. If a device 1 fitted to both ladder uprights 6, ropes 10 from the second device 1 can be run through holes 4 in other ladder rungs 21 so that no two ropes 10 will be inserted into the same holes 4 in the ladder rungs. The ladder 20 is locked in position by using the locking handles 13 of the device 1. The ropes 10 are locked by a resilient bail 15 being depressed towards the ropes 10 coming out of two holes 16 in the device 1. FIG. 4 shows the most clearly how the two ropes 10 come out of respective holes 16 and intersect over the rough surface 17.
[0056] FIG. 5 shows a ladder 20 with devices 1 fitted to the outer sides of the ladder uprights 6 of the ladder 20. The ropes 10 run from the devices 1 up and down along the ladder uprights 6 and through the holes 4 of two of the lowermost and two of the uppermost hollow rungs 21. Both ends of the ropes 10 are then attached to snap hooks 8 on each side of the ladder uprights 6 of the ladder 20. The devices 1 are attached at an accessible height, whereby they may be locked and the ladder 20 stabilized before the ladder 20 is stepped onto. The device 1 is fitted to the ladder 20 through a hollow ladder rung 21. This is a different fitting method from that shown in FIGS. 1-4.
[0057] FIG. 6 shows the ladder 20 of FIG. 6 put up against a wall and stabilized by the ropes 10 on each side of the ladder uprights 6 of the ladder 20 having been pulled out from the ladder 20 in V-shapes away from the ladder 20. The ropes 10 with ring terminations 7 are attached to snap hooks 8 which are hooked, on one side of the ladder 20, into an eye bolt 9 mounted to the wall and, on the other side, into a suction cup 11 stuck to a window 12. The devices 1 include two rope reels 2 which are lockable by means of a locking handle 13. This means that the ladder 20 cannot fall forwards, backwards or to the sides. With the use of the device 1 for stabilization, there is therefore no need for an extra person standing at the bottom of the ladder as a counterweight and stabilizer, and the ladder 20 can be stabilized before the rung of the ladder 20 is stepped onto for the first time. The means required for making said device 1 can be dimensioned in relation to the weight of the ladder and user, or be made on the basis of different standard ladders and dimensioned in relation to an average weight of a person plus a good margin of safety. When the ladder 20 is being moved laterally, the locking handle 13 is opened and the device 1 with two reels 2 on one side will reel the ropes 10 in while, at the same time, the other device 1 with two reels 2 on the other side will pay the ropes 10 out. This makes the rope 10 always tight. The two reels 2 of each device 1 work independently of each other, so that if one reel 2 is in need of more or less rope 10, this does not affect the other reel 2.
[0058] FIG. 7 shows, viewed from the side, a stabilized extension ladder 20 which has been put up against a house wall. The devices 1 and ropes 10 have been fitted to the bottom part of the ladder 20. The ladder 20 is secured with ropes 10 out from the ladder to eye bolts 9 mounted to a wall. Any anchor can be used for hooking snap hooks 8 with ropes 10 into. The rope 10 with snap hooks 8 can be secured to walls, around poles, around corners, to masonry walls et cetera. Carrier suction cups 11, which are used for lifting glass, can be used as anchors on windows 12 and smooth surfaces (as in FIG. 2). As an anchor 9 on a wall, tie-down straps with grommets or the like can also be mounted, around all or parts of the building.
[0059] FIG. 8 shows, viewed from above, a ladder 20 with two devices 1 and also a longitudinal locking bail 18 fitted thereto and attached to the opening and locking handles 13 of both rope drums 2. The locking bail 18, which is attached along the ladder rung 21, will then operate the locking mechanisms of both devices 1 simultaneously. This locking bail 18 is attached to openings 19 in the locking handles 13 (see FIG. 3). The locking bail 18 is adjustable to be adaptable to ladders 20 of different widths. When a user steps onto the ladder 20, he/she will depress said locking bail 18, and all four ropes 10 from the two devices 1 will be locked simultaneously. Thereby the ladder 20 is locked in the desired position to the wall.
[0060] FIG. 9 shows a ladder 20 with devices 1 fitted to the outer sides of the ladder uprights 6 of the ladder 20. The ropes 10 run from the devices 1, up and down along the ladder uprights 6 and through the holes in eye bolts 22 at both end portions of both ladder uprights 6. Both ends of the ropes 10 are then attached to snap hooks 8 on each side of the ladder uprights 6 of the ladder 20. The devices 1 are attached at an accessible height, whereby they can be locked and the ladder 20 stabilized before the ladder 20 is stepped onto. The device 1 is fitted to the ladder 20 through a hollow ladder rung 21. This embodiment is also suitable for ladders 20 that do not have hollow rungs 21.
[0061] FIG. 10 shows a ladder 20 with two devices 1 fitted to one ladder upright 6 in the same housing. These two devices 1 may be regarded as a double device 23 with four reels 2. The double device 23 has a locking handle 13 which locks all four reels 2. The ropes 10 from one device 1 have been run along the ladder upright 6 to each end portion of the ladder 20 and through respective hollow rungs 21 to the other side of the ladder 20, where the ends 7 of the ropes 10 are attached to a snap hook 8. The ropes 10 from the other device 1 have been run along the same ladder upright 6 to each end portion of the ladder 20 and through respective eye bolts 22 mounted to the ladder 20, after which the ends 7 of the ropes 10 are attached to a snap hook 8. Thereby both end portions of both ladder uprights 6 can be secured against falls.
[0062] FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention. This embodiment is adapted for using reels 2 with belts, but the belts have been left out in the drawings for the sake of simplicity. The device 1 includes two reels 2 and a locking handle 13 for locking both belts of the device 1.
[0063] FIG. 12 shows the side of the device 1 that faces the ladder upright 6. Here, a lip 26 and a displaceable mounting bracket 27 are placed, arranged to be attached to each side of the ladder upright 6 when the device 1 is to be fitted. The device 1 is then tightened via the mounting opening 25. The mounting opening 25 is elongated, to be adaptable to ladders with different distances between the hole of the ladder rung 21 and the edges of the ladder upright 6.
[0064] The locking mechanism, which is shown on a larger scale in FIGS. 13 and 14, includes a toe 24 connected to the locking handle 13, a resilient part 15 and two parallel rough surfaces 17, between which there is space for two belts side by side to move when the locking mechanism is in the open state (FIG. 13). When the locking handle 13 is rotated, the toe 24 is rotated and presses on the resilient part 15, whereby the two rough surfaces 17 are pressed against each other (FIG. 14). Thereby the two belts are clamped between the two rough surfaces 17. This locking mechanism may also lock more belts, if more reels are placed next to each other.
[0065] FIG. 15 shows a similar locking mechanism, but with four rough surfaces 17 forming two gaps in two layers for belts. Thereby, for example, four belts may be locked in two layers. A control knob 28 ensures that both gaps are open when the locking mechanism is open, while it may be moved up into the resilient part 15 when the locking mechanism is locked.
[0066] It should be noted that all the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and persons skilled in the art may construct many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, reference numbers in brackets are not to be regarded as restrictive.
[0067] The use of the verb “to comprise” and its different forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article “a” or “an” before an element does not exclude the presence of several such elements.
[0068] The fact that some features are indicated in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used with advantage.
