Patent ID: 8215452
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: B60R,E06C

Abstract:
1. An extendable ladder configured to extend a second ladder segment relative to a first ladder segment, the ladder comprising: the first ladder segment comprising a first beam and a second beam, wherein each of the first beam and the second beam comprises at least a first leg and a second leg with the first leg and the second leg being joined lengthwise to form an angle between the first leg and the second leg, one or more rungs connected to and extending between the first leg of the first beam and the first leg of the second beam, and one or more mounting arms extending from either or both of the first and second beams one end to the first or second beam and the one or more mounting arms configured at another end to be permanently mounted to a surface whereby the beams can pivot with respect to the one or more mounting arms to vary an angle formed between the one or more mounting arms and the beams; the second ladder segment comprising a third and fourth beam, wherein each of the third beam and the fourth beam respectively comprises at least a first leg and a second leg with the first leg and the second leg of the third beam being joined lengthwise to form an angle and the first leg and the second leg of the fourth beam being joined lengthwise to form an angle, and one or more rungs connected to and extending between the first leg of the third beam and the first leg of the fourth beam; and at least two slider cups, a first slider cup being mounted to the first beam and a second slider cup being mounted to the second or third beam, wherein each of the first and second slider cups respectively comprises a first wall and a second wall being positioned in parallel planes and directly connected by at least a third wall passing through a plane generally perpendicular to the first and second walls, the first wall of the first slider cup being mounted to either or both of the first leg and the second of the first beam, the third wall of the first slider cup being adjacent to the second leg of the first beam, and the first wall of the first slider cup being positioned in a plane parallel to the second leg of the first beam and being separated from the second wall of the first slider cup by a first gap created by a space between the first wall and the second wall of the first slider cup, whereby the second leg of the third beam and the second leg of the first beam are positioned within the first gap, the slider cups respectively further comprise a fourth wall that is directly connected at a first edge to the first wall and that extends from the first wall in a direction toward the second wall and a second edge of the fourth wall so that the first gap of the first slider cup and a second gap of the second slider cup is formed between the second edge of the fourth wall and the second wall, the fourth wall further has a third edge directly attached to the third wall and a fourth edge generally parallel to the third edge and adjacent to the first wall; whereby the ladder can be moved from a generally vertical orientation to an angled orientation of between at least 60 degrees and approximately 90 degrees measured from a horizontal orientation, and whereby extending the second ladder segment from the first ladder segment causes the second leg of the third beam to slide within the first gap.