Patent ID: 6672427
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: E06C

Abstract:
A ladder base stabilizer device comprising stabilizer members for attachment to or forming part of a ladder assembly having main uprights but no opposing back uprights, said ladder assembly comprising upper and lower ends, two primary stile members, and rung members extending between said stile members, said stabilizer device being adapted to stabilize said ladder assembly against moving or slipping on surfaces of varying slope or contour while the ladder assembly is in service without needing to adjust the lengths of said stabilizer members each time the ladder assembly is repositioned, said stabilizer device comprising:a strut member for connection to an associated primary stile member of said ladder assembly at a location between the upper and lower ends of said ladder assembly; each strut member comprising telescoping upper and lower arm portions and a lock assembly whereby said arm portions can, alternatively, be slid relative to one another to adjust the length of said strut member or be locked to fix the length of the strut member; and, further wherein the lower arm portion of each strut member comprises a foot element adapted to rest on a surface, and also wherein the upper arm portion of each strut member comprises at least a portion of a hub unit which connects the upper arm portion to the associated primary stile member so as to enable limited compound rotary movement of said strut member relative to said primary stile member consistent with maintaining a predetermined angular rotation of the strut member relative to the primary stile member, wherein said hub unit comprises a hub and spring assembly to enable said limited compound rotary movement wherein a first component, which is bolted to the ladder assembly and comprising a first portion of a spring chamber holding a spiral hub spring with one end of the hub spring being fixed in position in the spring chamber, mates with a second component fitting rotatably over the first component to form a second portion of the spring chamber, said second component being attached to the associated strut member and to the other end of the hub spring such that relative rotation of the first and second components tensions the hub spring, and further wherein the hub and spring assembly includes end stops within said hub and spring assembly to prevent further movement beyond predetermined operating positions.