Abstract:
A system and method for providing an improved ladder for enabling a user to climb up or down and forward or backwards movement relative to a surface. The system enables increased mobility and stability. The system can be designed in multiple ways which some of them have been shown in the present invention. The present invention clearly saves production time, keeping the user on the ladder while relocating, and it definitely more convenient and time saving to the user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation of appliction Ser. No. 10/171,100 fied Jun. 13, 2002, now abandoned 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to improvements in devices for enabling a user to climb up or down, forward or backwards relative to a surface. In particular, it relates to a new and improved system and method for providing a move-on ladder. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The systems and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for enabling efficient, effective and increased mobility forward or backwards movements relative to a surface while the user is on the ladder. The present invention clearly saves production time, keeping the user on the ladder while relocating, and it definitely more convenient and time saving to the user. 
   A variety of systems and methods have been unsuccessfully developed over the years for providing alternatives to walking while on the ladder. 
   It would be desirable to provide a ladder which enables the user great forward or backwards mobility, on a non smooth surface floor, without requiring the user to step down from it. 
   It would be desirable to provide a rungless ladder which contains less material and parts for increased economy and efficiency, which is lighter in weight for greater forward or backwards mobility and which provides a place holder to necessary working tools and materials. 
   Therefore, the present invention provides improved systems and methods for providing and efficient, effective and increased mobility, without requiring the user to step down from it, ladder. The inventions described herein satisfy these and other needs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved system and method for enabling the user forward and backwards mobility relative to a surface. The present invention can also be configured to facilitate an economical and efficient system. 
   More particularly, for example, in one embodiment—dual-ladder, of the present invention is provided to enable the user great forward or backwards mobility, on a smooth and non smooth surface floor, without requiring the user to step down from it. Further, the system includes pair of narrow ladders, one for each user foot, attached to the main frame and connected to each other by flat straps pivotally attaching pair of ladders to the pivotally rotating steering strap which attached to the pipe which is pivotally attached to the further legs of the system. To increase mobility the system further includes pair of wide rubber wheels which are attached to the bottom of each of the narrow ladders and pair of wheel which each of them attached to the further leg of the system. Weight on the narrow ladders prevent from wide rubber to function. The system allows the user to “Walk the ladder” by pushing one leg at a time. 
   Second embodiment—rungless ladder, of the present invention, a rungless ladder system, which contains less material and parts for increased economy and efficiency, is provided for enabling the user to climb up or down, forward or backwards movements relative to a surface and which provides a tray to necessary working tools and materials which telescopically expanded to required height. Further, the system includes a pair of pedals, each adapted to enable the user to slidably move along the track and to engage with or release from the track. Each of the pair of pedals includes a slidable-movement-enabling element, for enabling slidable movements of the pedal along the track responsive to user movement thereof. 
   Each pedal also includes a track-engaging element, for enabling the pedal to engage the track responsive to user movement of the pedal into a track-engaging position, and for enabling the pedal to release from engaging with the track responsive to user movement of the pedal to a track-releasing position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the main embodiment: dual-ladder. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the second embodiment: rungless ladder with telescopic tray, with a user shown in dashed lines, in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the third embodiment: poll wheel ladder. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the third embodiment: poll wheel ladder, which clearly shows the curvy shape of the polls and arm guides. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is directed to an improved system and method for enabling a user to climb up or down and step forward or backwards for movement while the user is on the ladder, relative to a surface, in an efficient and effective manner. The invention has 3 different models; the 1 st  one is called a dual-ladder system which enables the user great forward or backwards mobility, also on a non smooth surface floor. The 2 nd  model is called the rungless ladder system, which contains less material and parts than conventional ladder for increased economy and efficiency, for enabling the user to climb with a pedal on a track, up or down, and which provides tools tray which telescopically expanded to required height. The 3 rd  model is called a poll wheel ladder, by placing the polls on the front of the ladder and then pulling them back in a “ski” like movement and by that moving the ladder forward. The preferred embodiments of the improved system and method are illustrated and described herein by way of example only and not by way of limitation. 
   In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the drawing figures, and particularly in the preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, a system  100  is provided to enable the user great forward or backwards mobility, on a smooth and non smooth surface floor, without requiring the user to step down from it and without using his hands, constituting a dual-ladder. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, for example, the system  100  includes frame front struts  10 , pair of narrow rung sets  11  and ladders side support struts  22 . To increase mobility the system further includes pair of wide rubber wheels  18  which are attached to the bottom of each of the narrow rung sets  11 . Spring  17  pushes wide wheels  18  out when the weight on narrow rung sets  11  is released. Bi-folding strap  13  attached to the front struts  10  and ladder back pipes  21  by pins  12 . Bi-folding strap  13  has a middle lock  16  which attached to strap  13  by pin  15  which allows the ladder to be folded. Pair of conventional wheels  14  attached to the bottom of back pipes  21 . Flat strap  8 , which attached to the top of the rung, sets  11  by built-in pin  9 , connected to the middle strap  6  by pin  5 . Middle strap  6  is connected to support pipe  4  by pin  7 . Rubber cap  19  is located on the top of the ladder includes pin  20  which connects the strut  10  and the back pipes  21  and allows the ladder to be folded. Set of 4 vertical “T” shaped hinges  3 , located at the top and bottom of back pipes  21 , provide ladder frame support and connection between twp “A” shaped frames and these hinges  3  allow ladder parts to move freely in all the necessary direction, so the ladder can move forward and backwards. “T” shaped hinges  3  also allow support pipe  4  to rotate so straps  8  will be pull down when the ladder need to be folded. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  110  includes the pair of parallel and spaced-apart tracks  44 , and the support  30  comprises a frame support  48 . The frame support  48  is generally rectangular shaped, is comprised of a plurality of struts  50 , and includes a pair of bottom corners  52 , and a pair of wheels  54  at the bottom corners  52 . The pair of tracks  44  each includes a bottom portion  56 , and a pad  58  at the bottom portion  56  for stability. Each pad  58  further includes a plurality of spring-loaded wheels  60 , for flexibility in movement of the tracks  44 . When the user presses down on the pedals  66 , the spring-loaded wheels  60  are compressed down, preventing movement thereon. When the user lifts up on the pedals  66 , the spring-loaded wheels  60  are released from compression thereof, enabling slidable rolling movement thereon. The tracks  44  include plurality of hinges  62 , and the frame support  48  includes a plurality of hinge connectors  64 , each of which may comprises for example a pin engaging a rounded end of strut  50 , interconnecting the plurality of struts  50 , for enabling hingedly-connected movement of the system  110 , The hinges  62  of the tracks  44  and the hinged connectors  64  of the plurality of struts  50  enable the frame support  48  and the tracks  44  to which they are connected to pivot upon movement of the pedals  66  by the user, such that the user may move one side track  44  forward or backward, and then the other side track  44  forward or backward, as desired, to enable movement of the system  110 . The system provides pair of vertical telescopic struts  70  which connected to horizontal strut  74  by hinge connectors  72 . Horizontal strut  74  holds tools tray  68 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3–4 , in another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the system  120  includes double wheels  214  located at the bottom of each of the closer ladder leg of the “A” shaped frame  215  and a single wheel  208  is located at the bottom of the farthest legs of the “A” shaped frame  21 S. Round polls  202  located one on each said of the “A” shaped frame. Round polls guide  204  pivotally attached to the sides of the “A” shaped frame by pin  250 , best shown in  FIG. 4 . “Moon” shaped sandals  212  are located at the bottom of each of the rectangular parts of poll  210 . Top of each poll has a rubber handle  200 . A strap stopper  216  is located on the closer legs of the “A” shaped frame  215 . Spring  206  is located between the round pole  202  and the round polls guide  204 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , in a method for the use of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, called a dual ladder, the system  100  enables the user great forward or backwards mobility, on a smooth and non smooth surface floor, without requiring the user to step down from it and without using his hands. The user is “walking” system  100  by transferring his weight to one foot standing on one of the narrow rungs set and pushing the other narrow rungs set by other foot. User can travel forward or backward by pooling or pushing the “A” shaped frame by his hands. 
   Mobility of the ladder is provided by the fact that the system has plurality of wheels under every leg and privately connected hinge connectors systems. The system is foldable by releasing flat straps  8  from pins  9  and by pooling up middle lock  16 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a method for the use of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, called a rungless ladder, the system  110  enables a user to use the frame support  48  by pivoting the parallel and spaced-apart tracks  44  and moving the tracks  44  on the wheels  54  and the spring-loaded wheels  60  on the pads  68  to the desired position, with additional flexibility while moving the tracks  44  providing by the hinged connectors  62 , and then the user may support the tracks  44  on the pads  58 . To turn, the user may move one track forward in a big step, and move the other track accordingly to the desired position. The user may pull up, or push down the tray  68  with the telescopic bar  70  in relation to the user&#39;s height for convenience. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–4 , in a method for the use of another embodiment, called a poll wheel ladder, the system  120  enables a user to climb up or down and great forwards or backwards mobility by placing the polls on the front of the ladder, then pulling them back in a “ski” like movement, it pushes the ladder forward. The strap stopper  216  limits the polls  210  backwards movement and positions polls  210  in their lock position after which polls  210  provide ladder support because the closer wheels  214  can not function. “Moon” shaped sandals  212  are located at the bottom of each rectangle poll  210 , provides smooth and easy movement. The spring  206 , absorbs the different heights when the ladder is not on a level surface. This system is substantially safe because it is supported by four legs and two polls. The system allows optional addition of the electric motor, operated by built-in battery, to create forward and backwards mobility activated by remote control or switch. 
   In view of the above, it is apparent that the system and the method of the preferred embodiments of the present invention enhance substantially the effectiveness if enabling a user to be supported for enabling movement up, down, forward, and backwards in relation to a surface. The system and method further enable convenient. 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments identified herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions disclosed herein.