Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to ladders and more specifically to auxiliary stands or supports for utilization with ladders where it is not possible or desirable to rest the top of the ladder legs against a vertical surface or roof edge guttering for support and the required work height is beyond the reach of a conventional step ladder.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to ladders and more specifically to auxiliary stands or supports for utilization with ladders where it is not possible or desirable to rest the top of the ladder legs against a vertical surface or roof edge guttering for support. It is also used where a step ladder is inadequate to reach the desired height such as picking fruit in an orchard, trimming tall hedges or doing other maintenance on trees and shrubs when the branches will not support the weight of a ladder and a worker. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The basic principle of free standing ladder supporting structures is well known in the art. An early device was described in U.S. Pat. No. 69,049 to Turner in 1867. Numerous improvements have been attempted since then but none have disclosed a unit that is relatively light weight and easy to move from one place to another over fairly rough and uneven ground and can be easily leveled for safe use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder that allows it to be sustained in a forward leaning mode without the tops of the ladder legs resting against a vertical wall, eaves troughs or tree or shrub branches. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder that is relatively light in weight and easily repositioned along a hedge for trimming, around a tree for picking fruit or other maintenance treatments, or along a wall for painting or other such activities. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder that can traverse rough or even ground and can be readily re-leveled at each work site. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder that is relatively inexpensive to construct. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder that is easy to disassemble into component parts for storage and shipping. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system for an extension ladder where the support bars are extendable to stabilize taller ladders and the wheels are easily removable or lockable when the system is in position for use. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system where the distal ends of the extendable support bars have rubber insulating boots to eliminate grounding of assembly. 
     Another object of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support is to provide a support system where an optional adjustable roof interfacing support or tree branch attaching bracket is provided for additional stability when such use is possible. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this invention, and be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support with an extension ladder mounted therein; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the Portable Orchard Ladder Support with an extension ladder mounted therein with retro-pressure bar ladder hold downs; 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial front view showing alternative ladder retention chains replacing retro-pressure bars; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of axle brace assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of axle brace assembly; 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial exploded side perspective view of axle brace assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of axle brace assembly; 
         FIG. 5A  is alternative front view of axle brace assembly replacing pivotal ladder support brackets with U-bolts; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an optional attachment for use with roof or tree support; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial side view showing stabilizer assembly with tube connector and extender; 
         FIG. 7A  is a partial side view showing stabilizer assembly with tube connector and extender with castor wheel removed and insulating boot added; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective rear view showing pivotal ladder support brackets and pivot pins; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial side view showing draw bar and attachment; and the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  2 A and  6  in broken lines is shown for illustration only and forms no part of this invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Portable Orchard ladder 
               
               
                   
                 Support 
               
               
                 11 
                 weldment 
               
               
                 12 
                 stabilizer bar 
               
               
                 13 
                 horizontal tube base 
               
               
                 14 
                 front extension tube 
               
               
                 15 
                 forward leaning tube base 
               
               
                 16 
                 rear wheel bar 
               
               
                 17 
                 rearward leaning tube base 
               
               
                 18 
                 ladder support bar 
               
               
                 20 
                 ladder support brace 
               
               
                 22 
                 transport wheel 
               
               
                 24 
                 windlass support bar 
               
               
                 26 
                 windlass assembly 
               
               
                 28 
                 windlass support brace 
               
               
                 30 
                 front cable 
               
               
                 31 
                 axle 
               
               
                 32 
                 axle brace assembly 
               
               
                 34 
                 trailer hitch 
               
               
                 36 
                 draw bar 
               
               
                 38 
                 strap cross-bar chain 
               
               
                 40 
                 castor wheel 
               
               
                 42 
                 bubble level 
               
               
                 44 
                 retro-pressure bar 
               
               
                 46 
                 leveling jack 
               
               
                 48 
                 cable to ladder connector 
               
               
                 50 
                 bar connector rod 
               
               
                 52 
                 turnbuckle 
               
               
                 54 
                 latch pin 
               
               
                 56 
                 ladder 
               
               
                 58 
                 angle iron bar 
               
               
                 59 
                 square hole 
               
               
                 60 
                 grommet seal 
               
               
                 62 
                 extender bar 
               
               
                 64 
                 steel strap cross-bar 
               
               
                 66 
                 steel strap 
               
               
                 68 
                 transport wheel brake assembly 
               
               
                 70 
                 pivotal ladder support bracket 
               
               
                   
                 and pivot pin 
               
               
                 72 
                 rear cable 
               
               
                 74 
                 insulating boot 
               
               
                 76 
                 tube connector 
               
               
                 78 
                 pivoting connector clamp 
               
               
                 80 
                 reach bar 
               
               
                 82 
                 roof support feet 
               
               
                 84 
                 pivot plate and lock 
               
               
                 86 
                 tree branch chains 
               
               
                 88 
                 reach bar slide 
               
               
                 90 
                 reach bar lock 
               
               
                 92 
                 pivotal bracket assembly 
               
               
                 94 
                 U-bolt 
               
               
                 96 
                 ladder retention chains 
               
               
                 98 
                 slidable ring 
               
               
                 100 
                 draw bar attachment hole 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DESCRIPTION 
     In order that the invention is fully understood it will now be described by way of the following examples in which Portable Orchard Ladder Support  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-9  with representative ladder  56  shown in phantom lines for illustration purposes only. Ladder  56  is not a part of this invention. Portable Orchard Ladder Support  10  is designed for ease of assembly and disassembly for minimum required storage space. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  axle brace assembly  32  is disclosed with angle iron bar  58  preferably approximately 42 inches in width made from a 3 inch by 3 inch angle of ¼ inch cold rolled steel. Affixed to each end of angle iron brace  58  are axles  31  for transport wheels  22 . There are two 1½ In. square holes  59  though the upstanding side of the angle, the bottom edge of which aligns with the top surface of the bottom side of angle iron brace  58 . Square holes  59  are toward each end of angle iron brace  58 . 
     Two weldments  11  are comprised of approximately 12 inch long by 1½ inch square horizontal tube bases  13  with approximately 6 inch long by 1½ inch square forward leaning tube bases  15  attached to the top surface of horizontal tube base  13  and leaning forward at approximately 45 degrees from the vertical. Forward leaning tube bases  15  are approximately centered on the 12 inch length of horizontal tube base  13 . Back ends of horizontal tubes  13  are slipped through square holes  59  from the front until they seat the back edge of forward leaning tube base  15  against the front edge of upstanding side of angle iron bar  58  and weldments  11  are then welded to angle iron bar  58 . Affixed to the top surface of the horizontal side of angle iron bar  58  just inside weldments  11  are two 1½ inch square rearward leaning tube bases  17  approximately 6 inches long leaning rearward at an angle of approximately 15 degrees. Also optional leveling jacks  46  can be placed under the ends of angle iron bar  58 . 
     There are friction transport wheel brake assemblies  68  mounted at either end adjacent to axles  31 . Axle brace assembly  32  also includes bubble level  42  mounted in the center of angle iron bar  58  on the top of its horizontal side. Also mounted to the back surfaces of angle iron bar  58  are two pivotal ladder support brackets and pivot pins  70  that replace the standard pivoting feet on standard extension ladders. These are shown in  FIG. 5  and in  FIG. 8  where a pivot pin is run through the normal mounting holes for standard ladder pivoting feet with various ladder angle set points. Alternatively conventional ladder feet could be left on a conventional extension ladder  56  and the ladder legs secured to angle iron bar  58  with standard U-bolts  94  and leveling jacks  46  added under each end of angle iron bar  58  as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     Transport wheels  22  are mounted on axles  31  that extend out from axle brace assembly  32 . Approximately 14 inch long by 1¼ inch square front extension tubes  14  are slipped into the front of 1½ inch square horizontal tube bases  13  with grommets seals  60  covering their sliding junctions and pinned in place with latch pins  54 . Approximately 5 foot long by 1¼ inch square tubing windlass support bars  24  are slipped into top opening of forward leaning tube base  15  with grommets seals  60  covering their sliding junctions and pinned in place with latch pins  54 . Windlass support brace  28  is an approximately 36 inch long by 1½ in square tube with the rearward face of the tube removed at each end by a sufficient length to allow brace  28  at its top end to slip over the sides of windlass support bar  24  and at its bottom end to slip over the distal end of front extension tube  14  with clearance holes for latch pins  54  used to secure the connections. Leveling jacks  46  are mounted on the under side of the distal end of front extension tubes  14  and windlass assemblies  26  slip over the distal ends of windlass support bars  24  again with the joints protected with grommet seals  60  and secured with latch pins  54 . 
     1¼ inch square tube stabilizer bars  12 , approximately 5 feet long, are slid into the back end of horizontal tube bases  13 , with the joints between stabilizer bars  12  and horizontal tube base  13  sealed with grommet seals  60  and secured with latch pins  54 . 1½ inch square tube rear wheel bars  16  approximately 8 inches long, slip over the back ends of stabilizer bars  12  and the joints between them and rear wheel bars  16  are sealed with grommet seals  60  and secured with latch pins  54 . Leveling jacks  46  are mounted on the under side of the distal end of rear wheel bars  16 . For taller ladders,  FIG. 7  shows an optional extension placed between the end of stabilizer bar  12  and rear wheel bar  16  by adding 1½ inch square tube connector  76 , approximately 8 inches long, to end of stabilizer bar  12  and inserting 1¼ inch square tube extender bar  62 , approximately 2 feet long, into rear of tube connector  76  and then sliding rear wheel bar  16  over the rear end of extender bar  62 . Tube connector  76 &#39;s joint with stabilizer bar  12  is sealed with grommets  60  and pinned in place with latch pins  54 . Rear wheel bars  16  have castor wheels  40  suspended from their rear end. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7A , rear wheel bars  16  can have insulating boots  74  stretched over their rear ends to provide insulation for Portable Orchard ladder support  10  for doing elevated electrical work where grounding might become an issue. 
     1¼ inch square tubing ladder support bars  18 , approximately 7 feet long, are slid into rearward leaning tube bases  17  with the joint between support bars  18  and rearward leaning tube bases  17  sealed with grommets  60  and pinned with latch pins  54 . At the top of support bars  18  are pivotally mounted retro-pressure bars  44  that clamp the ladder securely against ladder support bars  18  and can be held in place with a thumb screw device as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Alternatively, small ladder retention chains  96  are used with hooks to secure ladder  56  to distal ends of support bars  18  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     Ladder support braces  20  are approximately 30 inch long by 1½ in square tubes with the forward face of the tube removed at each end by a sufficient length to allow support braces  20  to slip over the sides of ladder support bars  18  at its top end and to slip over stabilizer bar  12  at the bottom end with clearance holes for latch pins  54  used to secure the connections. Ladder support bars  18  are connected with bar connector  50  at their top ends. 
     steel straps  66  are approximately 12 ft long and 1 inch wide and ⅛ inch thick and are connected to windlass support bars  24  at the junction of windlass support braces  28  and windlass support bars  24  at the bottom end and connect to steel strap cross-bar  64  which is connected to top step of base ladder at the top end by strap cross bar chains  38  on each end. Steel strap cross-bar  64  is approximately a 36 inch wide 1½ inch by 1½ inch angle iron. 
     Each windlass assembly  26  has an approximately 28 foot long front cable  30  wound around its core which extends from windlass assembly  26  to cable to ladder connector  48 . Cable to ladder connector  48  is comprised of two hooks that hook over the front and top of a step of a ladder in use well above ladder support bars  18 . The hooks extend downward to a cross-bar with eyes for snaps at each end for front cables  30  to attach to. Said cross-bar goes behind the ladder such that when the windlasses are drawn tight the ladder is supported equally on each side by front cables  30 . A second set of rear cables  72  drop from these connectors and are attached to the stabilizer bars  12  at slidable ring  98  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Rear cables  72  have turnbuckle  52  in the center to adjust the tension to a sufficient level as to reduce the bounce in Portable Orchard ladder Support  10  while it is supporting ladder  56  that is being climbed by a workman. 
     Draw bar  36  is shown in  FIG. 9  as a stepped steel bar approximately 3 inches wide and ⅛ inch thick that has a proximal end bent up at 90 degrees with a bolt hole centered in bent up proximal end that aligns with draw bar attachment hole  100  in the center of the upstanding side of angle iron bar  58  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  for connection to or disconnect from axle brace assembly  32 . Attached to the distal end of draw bar  36  with a step to match the pulling device hitch height, is a conventional trailer hitch  34  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     An optional attachment is shown in  FIG. 6  where pivotal bracket assembly  92  is used to support each leg of ladder  56  where either a roof or a large tree branch is available to provide additional stability. Pivotal bracket assembly  92  is comprised of pivoting connector clamp  78  attachable to the top of each leg of ladder  56 . Connector clamps  78  are U-shaped brackets with clamping means that tighten against the ladder legs and with pivot plates  84  pivotally mounted to the outside of connector clamps  78 . Pivot plate  84  has a 1¼ inch square tube reach bar slide  88  approximately 6 inches long attached to its outer surface. Reach bars  80  are 1 inch square bars, approximately 3 feet long and are slipped into reach bar slides  88  and secured in place with reach bar locks  90 . At the distal ends of reach bars  80  are pivotally attached skid resistant roof support feet  82  that automatically align themselves to the pitch of whatever roof they are put in contact with. Pivot plate  84  can be rotated to the appropriate angle such that reach bars  80  are parallel to the pitch of roof mount, if so desired. Optionally tree branch chains  86  can be used to secure the distal ends of reach bars  80  to a large branch on a tree. 
     Although this invention has been described by detailing a preferred embodiment with several optional attachments it is not intended to be limited to this set of materials and dimensions. Rather, the scope of this invention is defined by the following claims.