AN IMPROVED LADDER SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract

A ladder safety device (100) is usable for holding and stabilizing a ladder in a safe and stable manner while being used, by way of securing a ladder relative to continuous horizontal guttering at the edge of a building. The device (100) locks to the gutter by way of locking jaws (130), (160) and is secured to the side rail of a ladder by way of an adjustable locking bar (140). Improvements to the initial design include an adjustable jaw (134) for clamping different thicknesses of gutter or other support material, selectable jaw strips (164a) to accommodate different types of gutters, and a ratcheting height adjustment carriage (150) for the locking bar (140) to accommodate different sizes of ladder rails.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A ladder safety device comprising: a ladder locking bar mounted upon a ratcheting variable height carriage, the ratcheting variable height carriage further comprising: a carriage body slidably inserted within a body of the ladder safety device, the body of the ladder safety device presenting internal and opposed ratcheting matrices proximate the carriage body; the carriage body presenting at least one ratcheting tooth positioned to interface with at least one ratcheting matrix; and the at least one ratcheting tooth located on at least one outwardly biased compression tab; an over-center mandible jaw with an adjustable crown; and a maxilla jaw with a replaceable surface; wherein the at least one ratcheting tooth and ratcheting matrices interact to allow motion of the variable height carriage in one direction, but compressing the tabs is required to allow motion of the carriage in an opposite direction.

3. The ladder safety device of claim 2, the adjustable crown further comprising: a threaded socket within the mandible jaw; and a threaded adjustment bolt upon which the crown is mounted.

4. The ladder safety device of claim 3, the mandible jaw further comprising a receiving cradle and at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle.

5. The ladder safety device of claim 4, the at least one selectable mandible strip being fastened to the receiving cradle by a mandible clip extending over and around the strip and interfacing with the cradle.

6. The ladder safety device of claim 2, the adjustable crown further comprising: a mandible socket with edges; a selectable mandible strip insertable within the mandible socket; and a clip positionable over and around the selectable mandible strip such that edges of said clip interface with the edges of the mandible socket.

7. The ladder safety device of claim 6, the mandible jaw further comprising a receiving cradle and at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle.

8. The ladder safety device of claim 7, the at least one selectable mandible strip being fastened to the receiving cradle by a mandible clip extending over and around the strip and interfacing with the cradle.

9. The ladder safety device of claim 2, the mandible jaw further comprising a receiving cradle and at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle.

10. The ladder safety device of claim 9, the at least one selectable mandible strip being fastened to the receiving cradle by a mandible clip extending over and around the strip and interfacing with the cradle.

11. A ladder safety device comprising: a ladder locking bar mounted upon a ratcheting variable height carriage; an over-center mandible jaw with an adjustable crown, said mandible jaw further comprising: a receiving cradle; at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle; and; a clip extending over and around the strip and interfacing with the cradle; said adjustable crown further comprising: a threaded socket within the mandible jaw; and a threaded adjustment bolt upon which the crown is mounted; and a maxilla jaw with a replaceable surface; wherein the clip, by extending over and around the mandible strip and interfacing with the receiving cradle, fastens the mandible strip to the receiving cradle.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A ladder safety device comprising: a ladder locking bar mounted upon a ratcheting variable height carriage, an over-center mandible jaw with an adjustable crown; and a maxilla jaw with a replaceable surface; the adjustable crown further comprising: a mandible socket with edges; a selectable mandible strip insertable within the mandible socket; and a clip positionable over and around the selectable mandible strip such that edges of said clip interface with the edges of the mandible socket.

15. The ladder safety device of claim 14, the mandible jaw further comprising a receiving cradle and at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle.

16. A ladder safety device comprising: a ladder locking bar mounted upon a ratcheting variable height carriage, an over-center mandible jaw with an adjustable crown, the mandible jaw further comprising a receiving cradle and at least one selectable mandible strip interfacing with the receiving cradle; and a maxilla jaw with a replaceable surface; wherein the at least one selectable mandible strip is fastened to the receiving cradle by a clip extending over and around the strip and interfacing with the cradle.

17. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an improved ladder safety device according to one embodiment of the invention, the carriage in a lowered position.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the ladder safety device of FIG. 2, taken along line III-III, the crown of the mandible jaw being set at a first position.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ladder safety device of FIG. 3, the crown of the mandible jaw being set at a second position.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ladder safety device of FIG. 1, taken along line V-V.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an improved ladder safety device according to one embodiment of the invention, the carriage in a raised position.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the ladder safety device of FIG. 6, taken along line VII-VII.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a partial section of the cradle and locking bar raise/lower mechanism, in a low position.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a partial section of the cradle and locking bar raise/lower mechanism, in a high position.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the improved ladder safety device with the maxilla strip removed.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the improved ladder safety device of FIG. 10.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the improved ladder safety device with a first alternate maxilla strip installed.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the improved ladder safety device of FIG. 12.

[0026] FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the improved ladder safety device with a second alternate maxilla strip installed.

[0027] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the improved ladder safety device of FIG. 14.

[0028] FIG. 16 is an exploded view of an alternate jaw construction for both the mandible and maxilla jaws.

[0029] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the jaws of FIG. 16.

[0030] FIG. 18 is an alternate perspective view of the jaws of FIG. 16.

REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The following reference numbers are used consistently throughout the Application: [0032] 100-one embodiment of a ladder safety device according to the present invention; [0033] 110-body of the ladder safety device; [0034] 112-body ratchet teeth matrix; [0035] 120-handle; [0036] 122-handle pivot; [0037] 130-mandible jaw, [0038] 131-linkage between mandible jaw and handle; [0039] 132-mandible jaw body; [0040] 133-mandible jaw pivot; [0041] 134-mandible jaw adjustment bolt; [0042] 135-jaw socket; [0043] 136-adjustable crown; [0044] 140-locking bar; [0045] 142-leaf locks; [0046] 146-lock springs; [0047] 150-lock carriage; [0048] 152-carriage ratchet tooth; [0049] 154-carriage tab; [0050] 156-ratchet springs; [0051] 158-carriage spring; [0052] 160-maxilla jaw; [0053] 162-maxilla cradle; [0054] 164a-first alternate maxilla strip; [0055] 164b-second alternate maxilla strip; [0056] 230-alternate mandible jaw; [0057] 235-mandible cradle; [0058] 236-selectable mandible strip; [0059] 238-mandible attachment clip; [0060] 262-alternate maxilla cradle; [0061] 264-third alternate maxilla strip; [0062] 268-maxilla attachment clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0063] With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the ladder safety device is herein described. It should be noted that the articles a, an, and the, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0064] As shown in the FIGS. 1-4, the device indicated generally at (100) features a body (110) with a handle (120) pivotably mounted (122) on one side thereof (to be defined as the front). A mandible jaw (130) is likewise pivotably mounted upon the body and defines a back of the ladder safety device. A locking bar (140) extends through an upper portion of the body (110) and is mounted within a carriage (150).

[0065] As can be seen in FIG. 3, a linkage (131) connects the handle (120) to the mandible jaw (130) and forces it open about the jaw pivot (133). Jaw body (132) terminates at crown (136), which interfaces with the gutter against maxilla (138). Crown (136) is mounted upon an adjustment bolt (134) which may be used to draw crown (136) into or out of a socket (135) within the mandible body (132). This motion then allows a space to be formed between crown (136) and maxilla (160) (FIG. 4) which may be used to accommodate different sized and thicknesses of gutter. The use of adjustment bolt (134) and its threaded interface with crown (136) also allows for different shaped crowns to be utilized.

[0066] A further improvement to the mechanism is the mounting of adjustable locking bar (140) on carriage (150), shown in FIGS. 1, 5-9. In use, the locking bar 47 may slide to either side of the device and can then secure the ladder on either side of the safety device. The locking bar (140) is held in position by the interaction of two opposed leaves (142). The leaves (142) are angled to oppose motion of the locking bar (140) in one of the two possible directions unless the opposing leaf (142) is forced against the provided spring (146). The locking bar (140) may also be raised and lowered relative to the safety device (FIGS. 1 and 6) and secured in position, thereby being able to be adjusted up or down to secure ladders of varying rail widths. This raise-and-lower mechanism is a carriage (150) into which the locking bar (140) and its assembly are mounted. The carriage (150) has at least one ratchet tooth (152) that interfaces with a body ratchet tooth matrix (112) to secure the carriage (150) in a desired position and prevent accidental raising of the carriage (150). In use, the carriage (150) starts are an uppermost position and is pushed downwards, with the direction of the ratchet teeth and against spring pressure (158), until the locking bar (140) interfaces with a ladder rail. The ladder rail prevents further downward motion. To raise the carriage (150) and release the ladder rail, biased tabs (154), on which the at least one tooth (152) is located, are squeezed inwards, releasing the at least one carriage tooth (152) and allowing upwards motion assisted by the spring (158). Springs (156) return the tabs (154), and the associated teeth (152), into the engaged position. It should be noted that the spring pressure may be provided by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material forming the tabs (154) themselves.

[0067] The third improvement is the use of a maxilla cradle (162) which secures any of alternate maxilla strips (164a), (164b) to adjust the maxilla (160) to receive different shapes of gutter, shown in FIGS. 10-15. Maxilla (160) is manufactured with cradle (162) defining a negative space containing retention structures. Strips (164a), (164b) are manufactured to fit within the negative space defined by cradle (162) and to comport with standard gutter designs. In this manner, the strips (164a), (164b) may be selected for a particular job and may also be replaced after wear or damage.

[0068] Jaw adjustability may be accomplished by providing an alternate attachment structure for selectable strips, as is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The mandible (230) may be constructed with a cradle or socket (235) which would receive a selectable mandible strip (236). This mandible strip (236) could then be secured with a securement clip (238) which could extend over and around the strip (264) and clip into the walls or edges of the cradle (235). This structure may be utilized for the maxilla as well, with selectable strips (264) secured to a maxilla cradle (262) through a similar clip paradigm (268)

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0069] While devices as described and illustrated will be found very effective in achieving the objects for which the invention has been devised, it will be understood that the embodiment described is illustrative only and may be subject to many modifications of constructional detail and design, as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Either of the described improvements may be utilized independently of the others, as may the use of any two in tandem, however the use of all three in conjunction with each other is preferred.