Ladder safety stabilizer

Abstract

A ladder safety stabilizer is a telescopically adjustable device that attaches to the rung of a ladder on one end and to the building that the ladder is leaning against at the other end to prevent the feet of the ladder from sliding while a user is climbing, and to provide a second stabilization point in addition to the feet of the ladder to provide greater ladder stability, increased safety, and reduced accident risk.

Claims

1. A ladder safety stabilizer, consisting of: an elongated shaft, including: a proximal end; a distal end; a length; wherein said length is measured from said proximal end to said distal end; wherein said length of said elongated shaft is adjustable; a support mount, including: a plurality of spaced mounting holes; wherein said support mount is connected to said distal end of said elongated shaft and is adapted to be releasably attached to a support structure; and a ladder mount, including: at least one ladder connector member; at least one fastener member adapted to pass through one of said spaced mounting holes of said support mount to releasably connect said ladder safety stabilizer to said support structure; wherein said ladder mount is connected to said proximal end of said elongated shaft and is adapted to be releasably attached to a ladder; wherein said ladder safety stabilizer is adapted to be connected between said ladder and said support structure to increase the stability of said ladder when in use; wherein said support mount is formed as an elongated flat plate adapted to be placed upon a flat surface of said support structure; wherein said ladder mount is pivotally connected to said proximal end of said elongated shaft, said elongated shaft includes an adjustment connector adapted to releasably hold said ladder mount at a chosen angle to said elongated shaft; wherein said at least one ladder connector member is formed as a hook member adapted to releasable connect with a rung of said ladder; wherein said elongated shaft includes an adjustment connector formed as a bolt and wing nut; wherein at least one spaced ladder connector member includes two spaced bolt apertures and a bolt member is adapted to pass through said two spaced bolt apertures such that said at least one spaced ladder connector member is adapted to be releasably connected to said rung of said ladder; wherein said at least one ladder connector member curls downward to facilitate receiving releasably connected said rung of the ladder; and wherein said at least one fastener member is selected from the group consisting of at least one screw, at least one bolt, or at least one nail.

2. An improved ladder assembly, consisting of: an elongated ladder, including: two elongated side rails; wherein said two elongated side rails are spaced and parallel to one another; and a plurality of rungs; wherein said rungs are spaced from one another and respectively connected between said two elongated side rails; and a ladder safety stabilizer, comprising: an elongated shaft, including: a proximal end; a distal end; a length; wherein said length is measured from said proximal end to said distal end; wherein said length of said elongated shaft is adjustable; a support mount, including: a plurality of spaced mounting holes; wherein said support mount is connected to said distal end of said elongated shaft and is adapted to be releasably attached to a support structure; and a ladder mount, including: at least one ladder connector member; at least one fastener member adapted to pass through one of said spaced mounting holes of said support mount to releasably connect said ladder safety stabilizer to said support structure; wherein said ladder mount is connected to said proximal end of said elongated shaft and is adapted to be releasably attached to one of said rungs of said elongated ladder; wherein said support mount is formed as an elongated flat plate adapted to be placed upon a flat surface of said support structure; wherein said ladder safety stabilizer is adapted to be connected between said elongated ladder and said support structure to increase the stability of said elongated ladder when in use; wherein said ladder mount is pivotally connected to said proximal end of said elongated shaft; wherein said elongated shaft includes an adjustment connector adapted to releasably hold said ladder mount at a chosen angle to said elongated shaft; wherein said elongated shaft includes said adjustment connector formed as a bolt and wing nut; wherein said at least one ladder connector member is formed as a hook member adapted to releasable connect with a rung of said ladder; wherein at least one spaced ladder connector member includes two spaced bolt apertures and a bolt member is adapted to pass through said two spaced bolt apertures such that said at least one spaced ladder connector member is adapted to be releasably connected to said rung of said ladder; wherein said at least one ladder connector member curls downward to facilitate receiving releasably connected said rung of the ladder; wherein said at least one spaced ladder connector member curls downward to facilitate receiving releasably connected said rung of the ladder; and wherein said at least one fastener member is selected from the group consisting of at least one screw, at least one bolt, and at least one nail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a ladder safety stabilizer, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a ladder safety stabilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a ladder safety stabilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating ladder safety stabilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the improved ladder assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(6) The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a ladder stabilizer device and more particularly to a ladder safety stabilizer as used to improve the stabilization of the ladder in relation to the structure being climbed.

(8) Generally speaking, a ladder safety stabilizer is a telescopically adjustable device that attaches to the rung of a ladder on one end and to the building that the ladder is leaning against at the other end to prevent the feet of the ladder from sliding while a user is climbing, and to provide a second stabilization point in addition to the feet of the ladder to provide greater ladder stability, increased safety, and reduced accident risk.

(9) Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating ladder safety stabilizer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(10) Ladder safety stabilizer 100 is adapted to be connected between ladder 205 and support structure 170 to increase the stability of ladder 205 when in use. Ladder safety stabilizer 100 will prevent the feet of ladder 205 from sliding outward when ladder 205 is placed on a smooth surface as well as limiting the inward bowing of a long ladder 205, such as a tall extension ladder 205, when the span between the top contact point between the ladder and support structure 170 and the bottom contact point (feet) of ladder 205 is considerable. It should be noted that the overall length of ladder safety stabilizer 100 may vary depending on need. A third advantage of ladder safety stabilizer 100 is that stability from having the top of ladder 205 slide laterally is also increased. On very tall ladders 205, using more than one ladder safety stabilizer 100 at different heights will greatly increase safety from having unwanted ladder 205 movement.

(11) Ladder safety stabilizer 100 preferably comprises elongated shaft 102 having proximal end 103, distal end 104, and length 105 that is measured from proximal end 103 to distal end 104 with length 105 of elongated shaft 102 being adjustable, support mount 115 including a plurality of spaced mounting holes 116 at distal end 104 of elongated shaft 102 that is adapted to be releasably attached to support structure 170, and ladder mount 125 including at least one ladder connector member 126 that is connected to proximal end 103 of elongated shaft 102 and is adapted to be releasably attached to ladder 205.

(12) Referring now to FIG. 2, is a side view illustrating ladder safety stabilizer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1

(13) In this view, the proper angle at which to place ladder safety stabilizer 100 is shown, though different circumstances may dictate a few degrees variation from horizontal. Using more than one ladder safety stabilizer 100 may be advantageous at greater heights. The height that ladder safety stabilizer 100 is placed may vary by extending or retracting elongated shaft 102. The lower that ladder safety stabilizer 100 is placed to the ground surface or to the bottom rung 215 of ladder 205, the greater the extension length should be, and then the length should be locked by fastener member 117 which is adapted to pass through one of the plurality of spaced mounting holes 116 of support mount 115 to releasably connect ladder safety stabilizer 100 to support structure 170. Fastener member 117 is chosen from a group of fasteners consisting of screws, bolts, and nails but may also be a pin and wire spring latch. Support mount 115 is formed as elongated flat plate 118 adapted to be placed against a flat surface of support structure 170 and fastened to support structure 170.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 3, is a top view illustrating ladder safety stabilizer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(15) Elongated shaft 102 is formed from two telescoping shaft members 106 each that include a series of lock apertures 107 therethrough and releasable lock member 108 that is adapted to releasably engage respective lock apertures 107 of the two telescoping shaft members 106 to thereby releasably hold elongated shaft 102 at a chosen length. Ladder mount 125 is pivotally connected to proximal end 103 of elongated shaft 102 and elongated shaft 102 includes adjustment connector 109 adapted to releasably hold ladder mount 125 at a chosen angle to elongated shaft 102.

(16) At least one and preferably two ladder connector members 126 that are formed as hook members 128 that are adapted to releasably connect with the same chosen rung 215 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) of ladder 205. Each of the two spaced ladder connector members 126 includes two spaced bolt apertures 129 and bolt member 130 that is adapted to pass through the two spaced bolt apertures 129 such that each of the two spaced ladder connector members 126 are able to be releasably connected to rung 215 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) of ladder 205 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). Elongated shaft 102 includes adjustment connector 127 formed as bolt and wing nut 110. The two ladder connector members 126 that are formed as hook members 128 curl downward to facilitate receiving releasably connected said rung of the ladder.

(17) Referring now to FIG. 4, is a perspective view illustrating improved ladder assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(18) Improved ladder assembly 200 may comprise ladder 205 having two elongated side rails 210, spaced and parallel to one another and attached together via a plurality of perpendicularly spaced rungs 215, ladder safety stabilizer 100 comprising elongated shaft 102 including proximal end 103, distal end 104, and length 105 measured from proximal end 103 to distal end 104 with the length of elongated shaft 102 being adjustable, support mount 115 including a plurality of spaced mounting holes 116 that is connected to distal end 104 of elongated shaft 102 that is adapted to be releasably attached to support structure 170, and ladder mount 125 that includes at least one ladder connector member 126 that is connected to proximal end 103 of elongated shaft 102 and adapted to be releasably attached to one of rung 215 of the elongated ladder 205. Ladder safety stabilizer 100 is adapted to be connected between the elongated ladder 205 and support structure 170 to increase the stability of ladder 205 when in use.

(19) At least one fastener member 117 is adapted to pass through one of the plurality of spaced mounting holes 116 of the support mount to releasably connect ladder safety stabilizer 100 to support structure 170. Fastener members 117 is/are chosen from a group of fasteners consisting of screws, bolts, and nails. Support mount 115 is formed as elongated flat plate 118 adapted to be placed upon a flat surface of support structure 170.

(20) Elongated shaft 102 is formed from two telescoping shaft members 106, the inner elongated shaft 102 including a series of lock apertures 107 passing cross-wise through the center and the outer telescoping shaft members 106 having one set of two aligned lock apertures 107 positioned such that releasable lock member 108, which is adapted to releasably engage respective lock apertures 107 of the two telescoping shaft members 106, can thereby releasably hold elongated shaft 102 at a chosen length. Ladder mount 125 is pivotally connected to proximal end 103 of elongated shaft 102 and includes adjustment connector 109 adapted to releasably hold ladder mount 125 at a chosen angle to elongated shaft 102. Adjustment connector 109 may be formed as bolt and wing nut 110 but may be formed as a pin and wire spring latch.

(21) Ladder connector member 126 is/are formed as hook members 128 adapted to releasably connect with rung 215 of ladder 205. The spaced ladder connector members 126 include two spaced bolt apertures 129, and bolt member 130 adapted to pass through the two spaced bolt apertures 129 such that the at least one spaced ladder connector members 126 is adapted to be releasably connected to rung 215 of ladder 205. There are preferably two spaced ladder connector members 126.

(22) Ladder safety stabilizer 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

(23) The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.