Ladder safety device

Abstract

The ladder safety device may comprise a top cap cover and a top step guard. The ladder safety device may be a safety device configured for use on a step ladder. The top cap cover may be operable to cover a top cap of the step ladder and may be adapted to prevent a worker from stepping onto the top cap. The top step guard may be operable to block access to a top step of the step ladder and may be adapted to prevent the worker from stepping onto the top step. The top cap cover may be configured to hold tools and supplies. The top cap cover and the top step guard may be retained on the step ladder by a plurality of straps.

Claims

1. An integrated ladder safety device, comprising: a top cap cover adapted to cover a top cap of a step ladder, the top cap cover including a rear wall, a front wall, a cap wall, a gradient wall, and a top wall, the top wall being inclined such that the top wall is not suitable as a step; a plurality of material holders coupled to the top wall and configured to hold tools and supplies; and a top step guard directly coupled to the top cap cover, the top step guard including a step blocking panel configured to cover a top step of the step ladder and prevent access to the top step; and, wherein the top cap cover further comprises left and right side walls to cover lateral sides of the top cap cover; and wherein at least one of the plurality of material holders comprises a magnetic retention feature to attract metallic items.

2. The ladder safety device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of material holders comprise one or more hand tool pockets, screwdriver holders, tool chuck holders, or parts holders, and wherein the front wall includes a measuring tape configured to measure a dimension of an item, and wherein at least one of the top cap cover or the top step guard comprises a warning message comprising text, graphics, or both indicating that use of the top cap or the top step as a step is unsafe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an in-use view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric front view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is an isometric rear view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top cap cover;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top cap cover;

(6) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top cap cover;

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top cap cover;

(8) FIG. 7 is an isometric front view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top step guard;

(9) FIG. 8 is an isometric rear view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top step guard;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the top step guard;

(11) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, across Line 10-10 as shown in FIG. 1; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a detail view of a ladder safety device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an individual strap.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

(13) 100 ladder safety device 200 top cap cover 202 rear wall 204 rear hook 206 rear aperture 208 front wall 210 front aperture 212 cap wall 214 gradient wall 216 top wall 220 material holder 222 paint can holder 224 nested ring 226 hand tool pocket 228 screwdriver holder 230 tool chuck holder 232 parts holder 234 magnetic retention 236 measuring tape 240 left side wall 242 right side wall 250 top step guard 252 step blocking panel 254 guard retention hook 256 guard attachment rod 258 interposer 270 plurality of straps 272 individual strap 274 buckle 276 length adjuster 280 warning message 290 first subset 292 second subset 900 step ladder 902 top cap 904 top step

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) The present invention is directed to a ladder safety device (herein described as the invention) 100. The invention 100 may comprise a top cap cover 200 and a top step guard 250. The invention 100 may be a safety device configured for use on a step ladder 900. The top cap cover 200 may be operable to cover a top cap 902 of the step ladder 900 and may be adapted to prevent a worker from stepping onto the top cap 902. The top step guard 250 may be operable to block access to a top step 904 of the step ladder 900 and may be adapted to prevent the worker from stepping onto the top step 904. The top cap cover 200 may be configured to hold tools and supplies. The top cap cover 200 and the top step guard 250 may be retained on the step ladder 900 by a plurality of straps 270.

(15) The top cap cover 200 may comprise a rear wall 202, a front wall 208, a cap wall 212, a gradient wall 214, and a top wall 216. The top cap cover 200 may couple to the top cap 902 of the step ladder 900 to prevent the use of the top cap 902 as a step. The rear wall 202 may be a vertically oriented panel located at the rear of the top cap cover 200. The bottom of the rear wall 202 may comprise a rear hook 204. The rear hook 204 may curve towards the front of the step ladder 900 and upwards such that the rear hook 204 may grasp the bottom rear edge of the top cap 902. The bottom of the rear wall 202 may comprise a plurality of rear apertures 206 such that a first subset 290 of the plurality of straps 270 may couple to the bottom of the rear wall 202.

(16) The front wall 208 may be a vertically oriented panel located at the front of the top cap cover 200. The front wall 208 may be shorter in height than the rear wall 202. The bottom of the front wall 208 may comprise a plurality of front apertures 210 such that the first subset 290 of the plurality of straps 270 coupled to the rear wall 202 may couple to the bottom of the front wall 208 after passing under the top cap 902. The first subset 290 of the plurality of straps 270 coupled to the rear wall 202 and to the front wall 208 may retain the top cap cover 200 on the top cap 902.

(17) The cap wall 212 may be a horizontally oriented panel located at the bottom of the top cap cover 200. The cap wall 212 may rest upon the top cap 902 when the top cap cover 200 is in place on the step ladder 900. The rear edge of the cap wall 212 may be coupled to the rear wall 202 on the bottom half of the rear wall 202. The front edge of the cap wall 212 may couple to the top edge of the gradient wall 214.

(18) The gradient wall 214 may couple the cap wall 212 to the front wall 208 and may be oriented at an angle such that the gradient wall 214 matches the slope of the front of the top cap 902. The bottom of the gradient wall 214 may be coupled to the bottom of the front wall 208.

(19) The top wall 216 may couple the top of the front wall 208 to the upper half of the rear wall 202. The top wall 216 may be inclined such that the top wall 216 is not suitable as a step.

(20) In some embodiments, the top cap cover 200 may comprise a left side wall 240 and a right side wall 242 to cover the left and right sides of the top cap cover 200.

(21) The top wall 216 may comprise a plurality of material holders 220. The plurality of material holders 220 may be configured to hold the tools and the supplies at the top of the step ladder 900.

(22) The plurality of material holders 220 may comprise a paint can holder 222. The paint can holder 222 may be a vertically oriented well that passes through the top wall 216. The paint can holder 222 may be sized to hold a quart paint can. The paint can holder 222 may comprise one (1) or more nested rings 224 that fit into the bottom of the paint can holder 222. The paint can holder 222 may be inserted into and removed from the paint can holder 222. The nested rings 224 may be operable to change the diameter of the bottom of the paint can holder 222 such that the paint can holder 222 may hold containers of different sizes. As a non-limiting example, a combination of the nested rings 224 may configure the paint can holder 222 to hold a beverage container.

(23) The plurality of material holders 220 may comprise one (1) or more hand tool pockets 226. The hand tool pockets 226 may be configured to hold one (1) or more hand tools. As non-limiting examples, the one hand tool pockets 226 may hold pliers, wrenches, utilities knives, flashlights, and clamps.

(24) The plurality of material holders 220 may comprise one (1) or more screwdriver holders 228. Each of the screwdriver holders 228 may comprise a vertically oriented aperture and may be operable to hold screwdrivers in a vertical orientation.

(25) The plurality of material holders 220 may comprise one (1) or more tool chuck holders 230. Each of the tool chuck holders 230 may be a vertically oriented well sized to hold a tool chuck and comprising a central aperture. Drills may be held in the tool chuck holders 230 by placing the tool chucks of the drills into the tool chuck holders 230 with the drill bit extending down through the central aperture.

(26) The plurality of material holders 220 may comprise one (1) or more parts holders 232. The parts holders 232 may be bins for holding components such as nuts, bolts, screws, nails, hooks, and hinges.

(27) Any or all of the plurality of material holders 220 may comprise a magnetic retention 234. The plurality of material holders 220 with the magnetic retention 234 may comprise a magnet within the plurality of material holders 220 to attract metallic items and may reduce the likelihood of the metallic items being dropped.

(28) The top cap cover 200 may comprise a measuring tape 236 located on the front wall 208. The measuring tape 236 may be a ruled strip coupled to the front surface of the front wall 208. The measuring tape 236 may be operable to measure a dimension of an item held against the measuring tape 236.

(29) The top step guard 250 may cover the top step 904 and may be adapted to prevent the worker from using the top step 904. The top step guard 250 may comprise a step blocking panel 252. The step blocking panel 252 may be a rectangular panel that may be suspended in front of the step ladder 900 such that the step blocking panel 252 blocks access to the top step 904.

(30) The top step guard 250 may comprise a guard retention hook 254. The guard retention hook 254 may project rearwards and then upwards from the rear of the step blocking panel 252. The guard retention hook 254 may detachably couple to the bottom of the top step 904 such that the step blocking panel 252 is retained on the top step 904 while the top step guard 250 is pulled upwards. A guard attachment rod 256 may be a cylindrical rod that is located on the rear side of the step blocking panel 252. The guard attachment rod 256 may be laterally oriented. The guard attachment rod 256 may be separated from the step blocking panel 252 by an interposer 258. The top step guard 250 may be pulled upwards by a second subset 292 of the plurality of straps 270. The second subset 292 of the plurality of straps 270 may loop around the guard attachment rod 256 and may pass through the plurality of front apertures 210 of the top cap cover 200.

(31) The plurality of straps 270 may be operable to retain the top cap cover 200 and/or the top step guard 250 on the step ladder 900. An individual strap 272 selected from the plurality of straps 270 may comprise a fastener such that the individual strap 272 may be coupled to form a loop and decoupled to open the loop. As a non-limiting example, the fastener may be a buckle 274. In some embodiments, the individual strap 272 may comprise a length adjuster 276 to tighten and loosen the individual strap 272. In some embodiments, the individual strap 272 may be made of an elastic material such that the individual strap 272 may tighten the coupling where the individual strap 272 is used.

(32) The top cap cover 200, the top step guard 250, or both may comprise one (1) or more warning messages 280. The warning messages 280 may display text, graphics, or both which indicate that the use either the top cap 902 or the top step 904 as a step is unsafe.

(33) In use, the top cap cover 200 may be placed on the top cap 902 of the step ladder 900 by hooking the rear hook 204 under the rear of the top cap 902, lowering the top cap cover 200 such that the cap wall 212 rests on top of the top cap 902, and coupling the first subset 290 of the plurality of straps 270 between the plurality of rear apertures 206 and the plurality of front apertures 210 along a path that is under the top cap 902. The top step guard 250 may be coupled to the front of the step ladder 900 to block access to the top step 904 by hooking the guard retention hook 254 under the front of the top step 904, pulling up on the top step guard 250, and coupling the second subset 292 of the plurality of straps 270 between the guard attachment rod 256 on the top step guard 250 and the plurality of front apertures 210 on the top cap cover 200. Tools and supplies may be placed into the plurality of material holders 220 on the top cap cover 200 for accessibility while working from the step ladder 900.

(34) The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the invention 100 may vary upon manufacturing. The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.