Abstract:
A device for transporting a ladder has first and second frame positions, the lower ends of which are pivotally mounted on an axle that also mounts a wheel for rolling along the ground. The upper ends of the frame portions are moveable toward and away from each other allowing the device to collapse for storage. A hook is mounted on the upper end of each of the frame portions for attachment to adjacent rungs of the ladder. A strap connects the upper ends of the frame portion to prevent them from separating from each other beyond a given distance.

Description:
The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of our co-pending application filed May 3, 2006 and assigned Ser. No. 11/416,694. The present application is a device for transporting long objects having at least one wheel and a structure for supporting an elongate object, such as a ladder. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Those involved in the service and construction industries are frequently required to deliver ladders and other long objects, such as long boards, pipe and the like to a work site. Service personnel often work alone and as a result, the task of moving long heavy ladders, pipe, and other awkward elongate material must be undertaken by one person. Even when there are several people on the same work site, the task of transporting elongate material may fall to a single individual. Frequently, the elongate material must be removed from a roof or side rack of a vehicle, which is a difficult task in itself. 
     Not only is the task of moving long heavy objects difficult, injuries occur when one strains to obtain and maintain control of a long heavy object. It would be desirable therefore to provide a device which will simplify the transporting of long heavy objects. 
     The fire fighting industry has a great need for a transportation aid. A fire crew called to a large fire is often blocked from parking near the area by earlier arriving vehicles. The fire fighters are then required to transport heavy equipment, including ladders, to the scene while wearing heavy protective clothing. 
     Also, every piece of equipment to be transported to a fire must be carried on the fire truck. Preferably, the truck carries every piece of equipment that the fire fighters may need, and unfortunately, many pieces that may not be needed for any particular emergency. For all practical purposes, there is no space on a fire truck for another piece of equipment. It would therefore be further desirable to provide a transporting device which would collapse to occupy as little space as possible so as to be readily transportable along with the ladder or other elongate material on an emergency vehicle or fire truck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a transporting device for transporting a ladder or the like over ground. The device includes first and second frame members with each of the first and second frame members having an upper end and a lower end. An axle extends through the lower ends of the first and second frame members such that the frame members are independently pivotable about the axle. A wheel is also mounted on the axle such that the frame member is moveable across the underlying ground. 
     At the upper end of the first frame member is a first hook for removably receiving a first rung of a ladder and at the upper end of the second frame member is a second hook for removably receiving a second rung of the ladder. A connector extends between the first and second frame members, with the connector being longitudinally collapsible such that the upper ends of the first and second frame members are moveable towards and away from each other with the maximum separation between the upper ends of the two frame members being limited by the length of the connector. 
     In one embodiment, the first hook has a generally U-shaped configuration, with the outer ends of the U defining a fixed open end. The parallel side members that define the upper ends of the U define a channel for receiving the rung of a ladder. In similar manner, the second hook also has a U-shaped configuration with parallel side members defining a fixed open end between which another rung of the ladder is received. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a removable pin is extended through the distal ends of the parallel arms of the second hook for retaining the second rung in the second hook. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first and second frames is longitudinally compressible with a latch for latching the frame member in the extended position. The frame member can be latched into the extended position for transporting a piece of equipment such as a ladder or the parts can be unlatched and collapsed and the second ends of the frame members folded together to permit storage of the device in a place where space is limited. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the present invention will be had after a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a transporting device in accordance with the invention having a first frame member in an extended position and the second frame member in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the transportation device shown in  FIG. 1  with the first frame member extended and the second frame member retracted as is shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another side elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  with both frame members in their extended position and the device attached to a ladder; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the frame members showing the releasable latch for releasably retaining the frame member in an extended position; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged isometric view showing a retaining pin for locking one of the hooks around the length of a rung of a ladder; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts the device of  FIG. 1  attached to a ladder for transporting by an operator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  6 , a transporting device  10  is used to carry an elongate ladder  12  having first and second parallel side members respectively. Extending between the side members, one of which 14 is visible in  FIG. 3 , are a plurality of equally spaced parallel rungs  16 - 16 . The spacings between the rungs  16 - 16  are usually about a foot, although the spacings may differ, the spacings are usually within an inch of one another from one manufacturer to another. The side members  14  are generally parallel to each other but the distance between the side members may expand towards one end to provide a wider base when the ladder is placed against the ground. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , The ladder  12  may be an extension ladder that includes an extension  17  as depicted having side members (not numbered) and rungs (not numbered) as shown. 
     To transport the ladder  12 , the device  10  includes a first frame member  18  and a second frame member  20 . The first frame member  18  has parallel spaced apart elongate side members  22 ,  24  with each of the side members  22 ,  24  having a lower end and an upper end. The upper ends of the side members  22 ,  24  are joined together by a crossbar  26  which rigidly retains the side members  22 ,  24  in parallel orientation such that the side members  22 ,  24  and crossbar  26  define an inverted U-shaped configuration. The side members  22 ,  24  are longitudinally collapsible to thereby reduce the overall size of the frame member  18 . In the preferred construction, the first frame member  18  is formed from a first length of tubing having a linearly extending central portion that corresponds to the crossbar  26 . At opposite ends of the central portion (crossbar  26 ) are ninety degree curves  30 ,  32  that lead into parallel end portions  34 ,  36  respectively with the end portions  34 ,  36  being substantially equal in length. Each of the end portions  34 ,  36  is telescopically received in tubular first and second telescopic portions  38 ,  40  respectively. The end portion  34  plus the associated telescopic portion  38  forms side member  22  and end portion  36  plus the associated telescopic portion  40  forms side member  24 . The first and second telescopic portions  38 ,  40  have tubular configurations with the inner diameters thereof about one-eighth inch larger than the outer diameter of the end portion  34 ,  36  received therein to thereby allow the end portion  34 ,  36  to be easily telescoped into and out of their corresponding telescopic portions  38 ,  40 . Preferably, the upper ends  35 ,  37  of the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  are swedged so that the inner diameter of the upper ends  35 ,  37  is only a few thousandths of an inch larger than the outer diameter of the corresponding end portions  34 ,  36 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , between each of the end portions  34 ,  36  and their corresponding telescopic portions  38 ,  40  are manually releasable latches  42 ,  44  of which latch  42 , depicted in detail in  FIG. 4 , is representative of both. Each of the latches  42 ,  44  therefore includes a central V-shaped spring  46  having outer ends  48 ,  50  that are urged away from each other. At the ends  48 ,  50  of the spring  46  and directed axially away from each other are pin  52 ,  54  each of which is generally cylindrical in shape and oriented so as to be substantially coaxial to the other. The distal ends of each of the pins  52 ,  54  are hemispherical as shown to facilitate unlatching of the pins  52 ,  54  with respect to the telescopic portions  38 . Extending through diametrically opposite portions of the first length of tubing  28  near the lower ends of the end portions  34 ,  36  are a pair of diametrically opposite transverse holes  56 ,  58 , each of which has a diameter sized to slideably receive one of the pins  52 ,  54  of the V-shaped spring member  46 . Similarly, at the upper end of the first and second telescopic portions  38 ,  40  are diametrically opposed transverse holes  60 ,  62  which also have diameters sized to slideably receive the distal ends of the pins  52 ,  54 . The parts are assembled together with the pins  52 ,  54  fitted within the transverse holes  56 ,  58  of the first length of tubing  28  such that when the holes  56 ,  58  are aligned with the holes  60 ,  62  the distal ends of the pins  52 ,  54  will also extend through the holes  60 ,  62  thereby releasably latching each of the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  in the extended position to its associated end portion  34 ,  36  of the first length of tubing  28 . To release latch  44 , the distal ends of pins  52 ,  54  are compressed together by using one&#39;s fingers until the distal ends of pins  52 ,  54  slip out of holes  60 ,  62  in the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  thereby allowing the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  to move relative to the associated end portions  34 ,  36 . 
     At the lower end of the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  are second pairs of diametrically opposed transverse holes  64 ,  65 ,  66 ,  67  all of which are aligned so as to rotatably receive an elongate central axle  68 , which is retained between the lower ends of the telescopic portions  38 ,  40  by retaining pins  70 ,  72  at the distal ends of axle  68 . 
     The second frame member  20  also includes parallel spaced apart side members  74 ,  76  and a crossbar  78  that extends between the upper ends of the side members  74 ,  76 . In the preferred embodiment, the second frame member is formed by a second length of tubing having an elongate central portion that corresponds to the crossbar  76  at the ends of which are curves  82 ,  84  that curve the end portions  86 ,  88  ninety degrees with respect to the crossbars  78  and retain the end portions  86 ,  88  parallel to each other with the end portions  86 ,  88  being approximately equal in length. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the side members  74 ,  76  are also longitudinally compressible and include first and second telescopic portions  90 ,  92  the upper ends of which telescopically receive the end portions  86 ,  88  of the second length of tubing. The first and second telescopic portions  90 ,  92  are retained in the extended position by manually releasable latches  94 ,  96 , each of which is substantially identical to the latch assemblies  42 ,  44  of the first frame member  18 . At the lower end of each of the end portions  86 ,  88  are a pair of diametrically opposed transverse holes  98 ,  99 ,  100 ,  101  sized to rotatably receive the axle  68 . The inner diameter of the telescopic portions  90 ,  92  are about one-eighth inch greater than the outer diameter of the second tubular member. Also, the upper ends of the telescopic portions  90 ,  92  are swedged like those of telescopic portions  38 ,  40 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the side members  74 ,  76  of the second frame member  20  are spaced apart a distance that is significantly less than the spacing between the side members  22 ,  24  of the first frame member  18  such that rotatable wheels  102 ,  104  are received on the axle  68  with one wheel  102  fitted between the spaced apart lower ends of side members  22 ,  74  of frame members  18 ,  20  respectively and the other wheel  104  fitted between the lower ends of side members  24 ,  76  of first and second frame members  18 ,  20  respectively. A tubular spacer  106  is positioned around the central portion of the axle  68  that extends between side members  74 ,  76  of the second frame member  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  5 , extending along the crossbar  26  of the first frame member  18  is a U-shaped channel or hook  108  having parallel side members  110 ,  112  and an arcuate end portion  114  joining one end of each of the side members  110 ,  114 . The cross-section of the channel hook  108  therefore forms a U-shaped configuration with the inner walls of side members  110 ,  112  spaced apart a distance that is greater than the diameter of a rung  16  of the ladder  12 . The end portion  114  of the U-shaped channel  108  is retained to the crossbar  26  by a weld or a plurality of bolts  116 - 116  each of which is retained by a corresponding nut  117 - 117 . The open end of the U-shaped channel  108 , as defined by the parallel side members  110 ,  112  extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the side members  22 ,  24  of the first frame member  18 . Near the outer ends of the parallel side members  110 ,  112  of the channel  108  are a pair of aligned transverse holes  118 ,  120  for removably receiving a retaining pin  122  for retaining the hook  108  around the rung  16  of the ladder  12 . Preferably, the retaining pin  122  is a detent pin having a loop  121  at one end and a detent  123  near the opposite end thereof. The loop  120  is suitable for receiving a strap for retaining the pin  122  to the device  10  as described below, and the detent is compressible as is known in the art to prevent the spurious removal of pin  122  from the holes  118 ,  120 . 
     Extending along the crossbar  78  of the second frame member  20  is a second U-shaped hook  124  that also includes parallel side members  126 ,  128  with an arcuate end portion  130  joining spaced apart ends of side members  126 ,  128  to thereby form a U-shaped configuration. One side member  126  of the U-shaped hook  124  is retained to the upper surface of the crossbar  78  of the second frame member  20  by a weld or a plurality of bolts  132 - 132  held in place by corresponding nuts  134 - 134 , such that the open ends of the second U-shaped hook  124  as defined by the parallel sides  126 ,  128  is directed generally perpendicular to the side members  74 ,  76  of the second frame member  20 . Near the outer end of side member  126  is a transverse hole  133  and near the outer end of side member  128  is another transverse hole  134  aligned with hole  133  so as to slideably receive a second detent retaining pin  135 , similar to retaining pin  122 , for removably retaining a second rung  16  of the ladder  12  in hook  124 . 
     A connecting member  136  extends between the upper ends of the first frame member  18  and second frame member  20  to prevent the upper ends from being separated from each other by a distance that is significantly greater than the distance between adjacent rungs  16 - 16  of the ladder  12 . Preferably, the connector  136  is in the form of a flexible strap. The flexible strap has a central portion  137 , the length of which is approximately equal to the distance between adjacent rungs  16 - 16  of the ladder  12 , or the distance between any multiple of the rungs  16 - 16  of the ladder  12 . The strap  136  also has first and second end portions  138 ,  140  that extend from opposite sides of the central portion  137 . In the preferred embodiment, one end of the central portion  137  of the strap  136  is tightly compressed between the U-shaped channel  108  and the crossbar  26  of the first frame member  18  and the other end of the central portion  137  is tightly compressed between the U-shaped hook  124  and the crossbar  78  of the second frame member  20  thereby fixing the length of central portion  137 . The central portion  137  of the strap  136  retains the crossbars  26 ,  78  and the hooks  108 ,  124  affixed thereto from being moved a distance away from each other that is greater that required to attach the hooks to rungs of a ladder as is further described below. Fixed to each of the outer ends of end portions  138 ,  140  are pins  122 ,  135 , each of which is sized to slideably extend into the pairs of transverse holes  118 ,  120  and  133 ,  134  of the hooks  108 ,  124  respectively for removably securing the hooks  108 ,  124  around an associated rung  16  of the ladder. 
     It should be appreciated that the connecting members  136  could be in the form of a pair of bars that are about equal in length and are hingedly attached end to end. The distal end of one bar is pivotally connected to the first frame member  18  and the distal end of the other bar is pivotally connected to the second frame member  20 . The end to end bars will limit movement of the upper ends of frame member  18  away from one another, but the central hinge will allow the upper ends of frame member  18 ,  20  to be moved adjacent one another. 
     To use the device  10 , the telescopic portions  38 ,  40 ,  90 ,  92  of the first and second frame members  18 ,  20  are extended until the pins  52 ,  54  of each of the latch assemblies  42 ,  44 ,  94 ,  96  latch into their corresponding latching holes  60 ,  62  to lock the telescopic portions  38 ,  40 ,  94 ,  96  in their extended position with respect to their corresponding frame members  18 ,  20 . Thereafter, the upper ends of the frame members  18 ,  20  are separated until the central portion  137  of the connecting strap  136  is taut. Thereafter, a centrally located rung  16  of a ladder  12  is inserted into the second hook  124  on the second frame member  20  after which a second rung  16  is inserted into the first hook  108  on the first frame member  18 . The pins  122 ,  135  are then be inserted through the transverse holes  118 ,  120 , and  133 ,  134  in the side members  110 ,  112 ,  126 ,  128  of the second hooks  108 ,  124  to lock both rungs  16 - 16  of the ladder  12  in place. With the device  10  thereby attached to a generally central location of the ladder, an operator  142  can grasp either end thereof and transport the ladder across open ground  144  as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the device  10  is not in use the pins  52 ,  54  of the latches are compressed and the telescopic portions  34 ,  36 ,  90 ,  92  are compressed. Also the upper ends of frame members  18  and  20  are pivoted about axle  68  until they contact each other such that the device is compressed to occupy a minimum amount of space for storage on an emergency vehicle. 
     It should be appreciated that hook  108  has been described as attached to cross bar  26  of frame member  18  along end portion  114  and hook  124  has been described as being attached along side member  126  to cross bar  78  of frame member  20  because we have found that the device  10  can be easily attached to the rungs  16 - 16  of a ladder  12  with the hooks  108 ,  124  assembled as described. However, the hooks  108   124  can be attached to the crossbars  26 ,  78  respectively in any of many orientations and still be easily attachable to the rungs  16 - 16  of a ladder  12 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to one embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore the intent of the appended claims to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.