SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR JOINING LADDERS IN MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS

Abstract

In illustrative embodiments, a modular telescoping ladder system may include structural parts that can be assembled into a variety of structures. The components of the telescoping ladder system may include at least two telescoping ladders that can be connected in several ways by incorporating as joining features into the ladder assemblies. To accomplish a coupling of two ladders, joining features can be added to each ladder that enable their connection. These features may be holes through which pins may be inserted to connect two or more ladders. These joining features may be added to an accessory component that allows the joining capability to be added to or removed from a given ladder, such that the ladder can include or not include these additional features. The telescoping ladder system may be assembled into a wide variety of assemblies based upon modules selected, including, double length ladders, A-frame ladders, or scaffolds.

Claims

1. A telescoping ladder system, comprising: two or more telescoping ladders; a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet removably coupled to legs at a first end of each of the two or more telescoping ladders; and a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins removably locked into one or more openings in the joining feet, wherein the first ends of the two or more telescoping ladders are pivotably coupled to each other by reversibly interlocking the joining feet with the plurality of lock pins.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a scaffold section; at least two scaffold hinges; and a lever, wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the scaffold section has telescoping support arms.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is fabricated from materials comprising at least one of a carbon fiber, an aluminum, a polymer, or a polymer carbon fiber composite.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one base stand, wherein the at least one base stand is coupled to a second end of at least one of the two or more telescoping ladders.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in a double length configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in an A-frame configuration.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in a scaffold configuration.

9. A method for providing a structure over a barrier from only one side without touching the barrier, comprising: establishing a telescoping ladder system on an approach side of a barrier, the telescoping ladder system comprising: two or more telescoping ladders; a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet configured to be removably coupled to legs at a first end of each of the two or more telescoping ladders; a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins configured to be removably locked into one or more joining features in the joining feet; and a lever; actuating the lever to rotate the a first ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier; deploying the first ladder over the barrier on the destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier; repositioning the lever to be accessible on the destination side of the barrier; actuating the lever to rotate the second ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier; and retrieving the second ladder from the approach side of the barrier.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein establishing a telescoping ladder system comprises restoring and deploying a stowed telescoping ladder system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the structure over the barrier comprises a physical arrangement of the first ladder on the destination side of the barrier and the second ladder on the approach side of the barrier, wherein the first ladder and the second ladder are assembled in an A-frame configuration.

12. The method of claim 9, the telescoping ladder system further comprising: a scaffold section spanning from the first ladder to the second ladder, the scaffold section comprising: a scaffold section; at least two scaffold hinges; and a lever, wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein repositioning the lever comprises moving the lever across the scaffold from being above the second ladder on the approach side of the barrier to being above the first ladder on the destination side of the barrier.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein actuating the lever comprises applying a downward force on the lever.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein deploying the first ladder over the barrier comprises moving and positioning the telescoping ladder system so that the first ladder can be lowered to the destination side of the barrier.

16. A method of traversing a barrier without touching the barrier utilizing a modular telescoping ladder system, the method comprising: establishing a modular telescopic ladder system on an approach side of the barrier; maneuvering a first ladder of the modular telescopic ladder system over the barrier onto a destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier while a second ladder remains on the approach side of the barrier; retrieving the second ladder from the approach side of the barrier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the modular telescopic ladder system comprises: two or more telescoping ladders; a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet having joining features and configured to be removably coupled to a first end of each of the two or more stiles of the telescoping ladders; a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins configured to be removably locked into one or more of the joining features; and a lever.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the modular telescopic ladder system further comprises: a scaffold section spanning from the first ladder to the second ladder, the scaffold section comprising: a scaffold section; a plurality of joining feet; at least two scaffold hinges; and a lever, wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein maneuvering the first ladder modular telescopic ladder system over the barrier comprises: using the lever to rotate the first ladder above the barrier; and positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the first ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein retrieving the second ladder comprises: using the lever to rotate the second ladder above the barrier; and positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the second ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises: stowing the modular telescopic ladder system into a compact assembly.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the modular telescopic ladder system further comprises: at least one base stand, wherein the at least one base stand is coupled to a second end of at least one of the two or more telescoping ladders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Those skilled in the art should more fully appreciate advantages of various embodiments of the invention from the following Description of Illustrative Embodiments, discussed with reference to the drawings summarized immediately below.

[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into a combined ladder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 1B illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into an A-frame ladder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 1C illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into a scaffold ladder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 2A shows the first ladder pivotably joined to the scaffold section via scaffold hinges with a single pivoting joint according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2B shows the first ladder pivotably joined to the scaffold section with the scaffold section and the second ladder to which it is rigidly mounted in a stable configuration as deployed over a fence, wall, or other such obstacle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 3A shows several views of the joining foot that includes primary joining features that enable two ladders to be joined together in the various configurations according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3B shows a pair of joining feet mated to one another for the combined ladder configuration according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows two ladders with joining feet installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails in the combined ladder configuration according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows two ladders with joining feet installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails in an A-frame configuration according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows two ladders with joining feet of the two ladders at an obtuse angle forming a scaffold configuration according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows two ladders with joining feet joined in such a way as to allow the two ladders to be folded together for stowage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 8A shows two ladders with joining feet installed, mated to a scaffold section in a stowed configuration according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 8B shows two ladders joined to a scaffold section via joining feet and scaffold hinges in a deployed configuration as a scaffold according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 9A shows a view of a scaffold hinge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 9B shows another view of a scaffold hinge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 10 describes a method of providing a structure over a barrier from only one side without touching the barrier according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 11 describes a method of traversing a barrier without touching the barrier utilizing a modular telescoping ladder system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] In illustrative embodiments, a telescoping ladder system may include structural parts that can be assembled into a variety of structures. The components of the telescoping ladder system may include at least two telescoping ladders that can be connected in several ways by incorporating as joining features into the ladder assemblies. To accomplish a coupling of two ladders, joining features can be added to each ladder that enable their connection. These features may be holes through which pins may be inserted to connect two or more ladders. These joining features may be added to an accessory component that allows the joining capability to be added to or removed from a given ladder, such that the ladder can include or not include these additional features. The telescoping ladder system may be assembled into a wide variety of assemblies, including, but not limited to double length ladders, A-frame ladders, or scaffolds. For users sensitive to the weight of a ladder system, the ability to remove features that are not always needed can be an advantage. In another embodiment, the weight of a ladder system can be minimized by fabricating the components of telescoping ladder system from at least one of a carbon fiber, an aluminum, a polymer, or a polymer carbon fiber composite.

[0043] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a ladder has side rails, sometimes called risers or stiles, joined by rungs. Ladders with collapsible designs may be built with telescoping side rails that allow the ladder to retract and stow in a more compact configuration than its deployed length. Such designs frequently are designed with the side rails being constructed of hollow tubes, with the bottom section of the ladder being made of the largest size of tube, such that subsequent ladder sections can telescopically retract into the base section.

[0044] To join such telescoping ladders together, it is advantageous to perform the coupling of the two ladders by joining the feet of each ladder together where the tubes are largest. With this approach, the combined ladder, when erected to perform upward climbing, has its largest size tubes in the middle of the ladder where the bending moments are the largest. This results in an overall stiffer and stronger ladder that is safer, easier and more comfortable to climb.

[0045] In some embodiments that include the ability to add or remove the joining features, such features can be added to an accessory that connects to the ladder in ways that bear the loads imparted by the expanded configuration. As several examples, such a connection can be accomplished with additional pins and holes, tongue and groove style connections, draw catch mechanisms, telescoping side rail or stile elements, and a cup sliding over the outside of a side rail or stile.

[0046] In some embodiments, the telescoping ladder system can be assembled to establish a structure that may be used to provide access to a destination side over a barrier from an approach side without touching the barrier. The telescoping ladder system may include two ladders and a scaffold section between the ladders. The scaffold section may include a lever that can be actuated to rotate the scaffold section and the second ladder so that the second ladder can be deployed over the barrier. Retrieval of the first ladder from the approach side is enabled by rotating the lever to lift the scaffold section and first ladder, allowing backward movement of the ladder system on the destination side of the barrier. Other mechanisms may be employed to exert pivoting forces between the pivoting elements to control deployment and retrieval. The telescoping ladder system may be retracted and stowed for convenient transportation.

[0047] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate some structural embodiments into which the telescopic ladders system may be assembled. FIG. 1A illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into a combined ladder 10 by coupling two ladders by joining the feet of each ladder together end to end where the tubes 40 (e.g., side rails, or stiles) are largest. The rungs 50 join the tubes 40 and can be stacked upon each other when the telescoping ladder is collapsed for stowage.

[0048] When the feet of each ladder are joined together end to end, the combined ladder 10 (e.g., double can be erected to perform upward climbing. In the combined ladder 10, a first ladder 113 is coupled to a second ladder 114 with a joining foot 100 on each tube where the tube is the largest. That is, the large end of each of the tubes of the first ladder 113 is joined to the corresponded large end of each of the tubes of the second ladder 114 by a joining foot 100.

[0049] The joining foot 100 includes primary joining features that enable two ladders to be joined together by inserting lock pins through predetermined holes when the joining features from a pair of feet are mated together with their respective holes oriented coaxially to one another as shown in FIG. 1A.

[0050] In some embodiments, a base stand 120 is reversibly attached to the ends of the tubes of the first ladder 113 to provide enhanced security in contact with the ground. The incorporation of base stand 120 into the combined ladder 10 assembly is optional, and the combined ladder 10 assembly may be assembled and operated without the base stand 120.

[0051] FIG. 1B illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into an A-frame ladder 20 by coupling two ladders at an acute angle. The first ladder 113 and second ladder 114 are coupled together by connecting the joining feet 100 at an acute angle. The joining feet 100 include the primary joining features that enable two ladders to be joined at an acute angle by inserting lock pins through predetermined holes that secure the joining feet 100 on the ladder tubes so that the first ladder 113 and second ladder 114 are oriented at an acute angle relative to one another as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0052] In some embodiments, the base stand 120 is reversibly attached to the ends of the tubes of the first ladder 113 and/or the second ladder 114 to provide enhanced security in contact with the ground. The incorporation of base stand 120 into the A-frame ladder 20 assembly is optional, and the base stand may be mounted to one or both the first ladder 113 and the second ladder 114, or the A-frame ladder 20 assembly may be assembled and operated without the base stand 120.

[0053] FIG. 1C illustrates the telescopic ladder system assembled into a scaffold ladder 30 by incorporating a scaffold section 109 into the telescopic ladder system. The scaffold 109 is coupled to the first ladder 113 with a single pivoting joint 112, and coupled to the second ladder 114 with joining feet 100. The coupling of second ladder 114 to the scaffold section with the joining feet 100 is rigid and fixed. The single pivot joint 112 between the first ladder 113 and the scaffold section 109 allows the rigid combination of the scaffold section 109 and the second ladder 114 to be rotated back toward the first ladder 113.

[0054] FIG. 2A shows the first ladder 113 pivotably joined to the scaffold section 109 via scaffold hinges with a single pivoting joint 112 enabled by joining the scaffold hinges to either the scaffold section 109 or the first ladder 113 with a single pin on each side, arranged coaxially. A lever 111 is mounted to the scaffold section 109 such that when the lever is pushed one way or the other, the scaffold section 109 and the second ladder 114 rigidly mounted to the scaffold section pivot 109 together about the axis of the pivoting joint 112. By operating the lever 111 while the assembly is positioned sufficiently close to a fence, wall, or other such obstacle, the second ladder 114 can be rotated down over the far side of the obstacle together with the scaffold section 109.

[0055] FIG. 2B shows the first ladder 113 pivotably joined to the scaffold section 109 with the scaffold section 109 and the second ladder 114 to which it is rigidly mounted in a stable configuration as deployed over a fence, wall, or other such obstacle 140. To retrieve the assembly from the approach side of the obstacle 140, the lever 111 can be rotated to lift the scaffold section 109 and second ladder 114 up again prior to moving the whole assembly backward. The assembly can also be retrieved from the destination side of the obstacle 140 by repositioning the lever 114 such that it will rotate the first ladder 113 to an upward position that enables the clearing of the obstacle 140 when moving further forward on the destination side. Readers skilled in the art will note that other means may be used to exert pivoting forces between the pivoting elements to control the assembly's configuration to deploy or retrieve the assembly over an obstacle 140.

[0056] FIG. 3A shows several views of the joining foot 100 that includes primary joining features 104 that enable two ladders to be joined together in the various configurations illustrated above in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2B. For example, the combined ladder 10 is assembled by inserting lock pins through holes 101 and 102 when the joining features 104 from a pair of feet are mated together with their respective holes oriented coaxially to one another as shown below in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4.

[0057] A-frame 20 and scaffold 30 configurations are assembled by inserting a lock pin 107 through hole 103 that is located in secondary joining feature 105 positioned along the body of the joining foot 100. The A-frame 20 and scaffold 30 configurations are enabled when the locking feet are positioned appropriately with respect to one another, as is shown in FIG. 5 (A-frame ladder 20) and FIG. 6 (scaffold 30).

[0058] An additional hole 106 on the joining foot 100 facilitates the locking of the joining foot 100 to the base of a ladder 108 by sliding the joining foot 100 over the base and pinning the foot in place with a lock pin inserted through hole 106, as shown in FIG. 8A.

[0059] FIG. 3B illustrates a pair of joining feet 100 mated to one another, for the combined ladder 10 (e.g., double length) configuration, with their joining features 104 aligned such that their holes 101 and 102 are oriented coaxially to one another, allowing a lock pin 107 to be inserted through each side to fully join a pair of joining feet 100.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows two ladders 108 with joining feet 100 installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails 40 (e.g., stiles). The primary joining features 104 of all the feet are coaxial aligned to enable lock pins 107 to be installed through holes 101, 102 in the joining features 104 to fully lock the foot pairs together to join the two ladders 108 in a double-length configuration 10.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows two ladders 108 with joining feet 100 installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails 40 in an A-frame configuration. In the A-frame configuration, a single side of the primary joining features 104 oriented for coaxial hole alignment are coupled with the locking pins 107, and the secondary joining features 105 and their holes 103 oriented coaxially to allow locking the ladders together in an A-frame 20 configuration with an acute angle between them.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows two ladders 108 with joining feet 100 of the two ladders at an obtuse angle for a scaffold configuration. Joining feet 100 are installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails 40 with an opposing single side of the primary joining features 104 oriented for coaxial hole alignment, with the secondary joining features 105 and their holes 103 oriented to enable the locking together of the two ladders at an obtuse angle for a scaffold configuration 30.

[0063] FIG. 7 shows two ladder assemblies 108 joined by the joining feet 100 and their joining features 104 in a compact stowed configuration that is ready for quick deployment to a double-length configuration 10. The joining feet 100 are installed at the base of each of their respective pairs of side rails 40 with one set of primary joining features 104 mated and pinned with locking pins 107, such that the assembly can be rapidly unfolded by pivoting the ladders 108 to an inline double-length configuration 10 and pinning the second set of primary joining features 104.

[0064] FIG. 8A shows two ladders 108 with joining feet 100 installed, mated to a scaffold section 109 in a stowed configuration. Additional scaffold hinges 110 enable one ladder to pivot 270 degrees from its stowed position in 8A to its deployed configuration as a scaffold as shown in FIG. 8B.

[0065] FIG. 8B shows two ladders 108 joined to a scaffold section 109 via joining feet 100 and scaffold hinges 110 in a deployed configuration as a scaffold 30. A single-pinned pivoting joint 112 enables deployment of the scaffold over a fence or barrier.

[0066] FIG. 9A shows a view of a scaffold hinge 110 coupled between two joining feet 100. The scaffold hinge 110 provides a single-pinned pivoting joint 112 around which a scaffold section 109 or another ladder 108 may rotate 270 degrees. The locking pin 107 interlocks into the scaffold hinge 110 and hole 101 to secure the scaffold section 109 to the joining foot 100.

[0067] FIG. 9B shows another view of a scaffold hinge 100 coupled between two joining feet 100. The upper joining foot 100 in FIG. 9A is rotated 270 degrees relative to it's position in FIG. 8B/9A for stowage. In this position the scaffold hinge 110 is positioned between lock pin through holes 102 when a ladder 108 is stowed adjacent to a scaffold section 109, as shown in FIG. 8A.

[0068] FIG. 10 describes a method of providing a structure over a barrier from only one side without touching the barrier.

[0069] At step 1010, a telescoping ladder system is established on an approach side of a barrier. The telescoping ladder system includes two or more telescoping ladders, and a plurality of joining feet. The plurality of joining feet are configured to be removably coupled to legs at a first end of each of the two or more telescoping ladders. The telescoping ladder system includes a plurality of lock pins. The plurality of lock pins are configured to be removably locked into one or more openings in the at least two scaffold hinges and the at least two pivoting joints. The scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders, and the telescoping ladder system includes a lever.

[0070] At step 1020, the lever is actuated to rotate the a first ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier. Actuating the lever includes applying a downward force on the lever. The downward force on the lever may be applied by a user's hand, or it may be applied by a rope, or some other tether to the lever.

[0071] At step 1030, the first ladder is deployed over the barrier on the destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier. Deploying the first ladder over the barrier may include moving and positioning the telescoping ladder system so that the first ladder can be lowered to the destination side of the barrier. The ladder system may require being forcefully moved in rough terrain in order to be positioned for lowering, e.g., deploying, the ladder on the destination side of the barrier.

[0072] At step 1040, the lever is repositioned to be accessible on the destination side of the barrier. Repositioning the lever may include moving the lever across the scaffold from being above the second ladder on the approach side of the barrier to being above the first ladder on the destination side of the barrier.

[0073] At step 1050, the lever is actuated to rotate the second ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier. Actuating the lever includes applying a downward force on the lever. The downward force on the lever may be applied by a user's hand, or it may be applied by a rope, or some other tether to the lever.

[0074] At step 1060, the second ladder is retrieved from the approach side of the barrier. Retrieving the ladder from the approach side of the barrier may involve using the lever to rotate the second ladder above the barrier, and then positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the second ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.

[0075] FIG. 11 describes a method of traversing a barrier without touching the barrier utilizing a modular telescoping ladder system.

[0076] At step 1110, a modular telescopic ladder system is established on an approach side of the barrier. Establishing the modular telescopic ladder system may include releasing the stowed ladder system and assembling the modules into the predetermined modular telescopic ladder system. The system may include two or more telescoping ladders, and a plurality of joining feet. The plurality of joining feet include joining features and may be configured to be removably coupled to a first end of each of the two or more stiles of the telescoping ladders. The system may also include a plurality of lock pins, and the plurality of lock pins may be configured to be removably locked into one or more of the joining features. The system may also include a lever.

[0077] At step 1120, a first ladder of the modular telescopic ladder system is maneuvered over the barrier onto a destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier while a second ladder remains on the approach side of the barrier. The maneuvering the first ladder modular telescopic ladder system over the barrier may include using the lever to rotate the first ladder above the barrier; and positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the first ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.

[0078] At step 1130, the first ladder is retrieved from the approach side of the barrier. Retrieving the second ladder may include using the lever to rotate the second ladder above the barrier, and positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the second ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.