Patent ID: 9156411
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for securing a ladder to an exterior of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extending rail members being spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another, wherein each longitudinally extending rail member has a first end and a second end; at least a first pair of mounting brackets and at least a second pair of mounting brackets either: (i) fixedly attached to a portion of the vehicle or (ii) detachably attached to a portion of the vehicle, at least a first transverse cross member and a second transverse cross member, wherein each transverse cross member has a first end and a second end, and the first end, the second end, or both ends of the first transverse cross member and the second transverse cross member are in communication with the at least the first pair of mounting brackets or the at least the second pair of mounting brackets; at least one wagon cross member, wherein the at least one wagon cross member has a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end of the at least one wagon cross member are each in communication with at least one of the plurality of longitudinally extending rail members; and at least one cradle that is attached to the at least one wagon cross, the at least one cradle having: a body portion including a deep recess and the body portion being generally C shaped with an open side, a top end of the body portion having a terminal end forming an upper portion of the open side, a bottom end of the body portion having a terminal end forming a lower portion of the open side and being located substantially below the too end so that the open side is located between the too end and the bottom end, and an outwardly projecting arm extending cantilever from the bottom end beyond the top end so that the cantilever portion of the outwardly projecting arm forms a platform that a rung of a ladder can contact to assist a user in inserting the ladder into the open side of the generally C shaped cradle so that when a rung of the ladder is placed on the outwardly projecting arm the outwardly projecting arm guides the ladder under the too end and into the deep recess in a longitudinally forward direction, and wherein the deep recess prevents movement of the ladder in a longitudinally rearward direction and a longitudinally forward direction relative to the cradle while the ladder remains securely in the deep recess of at least one cradle; wherein the at least one wagon cross member includes the at least one cradle, and the at least one wagon cross member is slideable longitudinally along the plurality of longitudinally extending rail members while the first end, the second end, or both ends of the at least one wagon cross member are in communication with at least one of the plurality of longitudinally extending rail members so that when the ladder is placed in the at least one cradle, the at least one wagon cross member assists in moving the ladder longitudinally along the plurality of longitudinally extending rail members and unto the exterior of the vehicle; at least one restraining cross member, wherein the restraining cross member has a first end and a second end, and the first end, second end, or both ends of the at least one restraining cross member is in communication with at least one of the plurality of longitudinally extending rail members; and wherein the at least one restraining cross member is longitudinally stationary and the at least one restraining cross member further comprises a restraining arm, which is movable into contact with the ladder so that the ladder, when in the apparatus on the exterior of the vehicle is prevented from moving, and wherein a portion of the restraining cross member rotates.