Abstract:
A ladder warning system comprises a pressure sensor attachable to a first step of a ladder; one or more warning devices; and a battery that distributes current to the one or more warning devices upon the pressure sensor sensing pressure exerted on the first step of the ladder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a ladder warning system, and more particularly relates to a warning system that warns a user when the user steps on the lowest step of the ladder as the user descends the ladder. 
         [0002]    Presently, over 200,000 people are injured each year in ladder-related accidents, and many of these people are injured when they are descending a ladder. However, current ladder designs do not include a warning system that warns a user as he or she steps on the lowest step of the ladder. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for a warning system to warn a user as he or she steps on the lowest step of the ladder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a ladder warning system comprises: a first pressure sensor attachable to a first step of a ladder; one or more warning device; and a battery that distributes current to the one or more warning devices upon the first pressure sensor sensing pressure exerted on the first step of the ladder. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, a ladder comprises: a first pressure sensor attached to a first step of the ladder; one or more warning devices; and a battery that distributes current to the one or more warning devices upon the first pressure sensor sensing pressure exerted on the first step of the ladder. 
         [0006]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a ladder warning system on a ladder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a wiring diagram of the ladder warning system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a ladder warning system in an alternate configuration on a ladder in accordance with al alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0011]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0012]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a ladder warning system that provides both visual and audio warnings upon sensing pressure being placed by a user on the lowest step of a ladder. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a ladder warning system on a ladder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The ladder warning system  10  may comprise a pressure sensor  105 , a battery  110 , warning lights  115 , a sound indicator  120 , and wiring  125 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the pressure sensor  105  may be attached on top of a step  130  of the ladder  100 , such as the lowest step on a ladder  100 . The warning lights  115  may be placed on the ladder  100  so that when a user steps on the lowest step of the ladder  100 , the warning lights  115  may be at eyelevel with the user. Similarly, the sound indicator  120  may also be placed on the ladder  100  such that when the user steps on the lowest step of the ladder  100 , the sound indicator  120  may be at ear-level of the user. The battery  110  may be connected to the pressure sensor  105 , the warning lights  115 , and the sound indicator  120  via wiring  125 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a wiring diagram of a ladder warning system  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure sensor  105  may be attached to a step of the ladder. When the pressure sensor  105  senses that pressure is being applied to the step of the ladder that it is attached to, such as when a user steps onto that step with his foot, the pressure sensor  105  may cause for the battery  110  to send current to the warning lights  115  and the sound indicator  120  via the wiring  125 . The current may then cause the warning lights  115  to turn on, thereby emitting light or flashing light, and may also cause the sound indicator  120  to emit a sound, such as buzzing. The light emitted by the warning lights  115  and the sound emitted by the sound indicator  120  may serve to warn the user that he is at a certain level of the ladder. 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ladder warning system may be used to warn a user descending from a ladder that he is stepping on the lowest rung of the ladder and about to step off of the ladder. The pressure sensor  105  may be attached to the lowest step of the ladder, the warning lights  115  may be attached to the ladder at a position so that it is at eyelevel with a user when that user steps on the lowest step of the ladder. Similarly, the sound indicator  120  may be attached to the ladder at a position so that it is at ear level with the user when that user steps on the lowest step of the ladder. Thus, as the user descends the ladder, when the user steps on the lowest step of the ladder, the pressure sensor  105  may sense the user&#39;s weight and thus cause the sound indicator  120  to buzz and the warning lights  115  to turn on and flash, thus warning the user that he is about to step off of the ladder. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the ladder warning system in an alternate configuration on a ladder in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ladder warning system  10  may be used to warn a user that he is at the top of the ladder  100 . The pressure sensor  105  may be attached to the topmost step of the ladder  100 . When the pressure sensor  105  senses that the user is stepping onto the topmost step of the ladder, the pressure sensor  105  may cause the sound indicator  120  to turn on and emit a periodic buzzing sound and may further cause the warning lights  115  to turn on and flash. 
         [0017]    In another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, pressure sensors  105  may each be attached to the topmost step of the ladder and the lowest step of the ladder  100 , thereby warning a user both when the user reaches the topmost step of the ladder  100  or when the user reaches the lowest step of the ladder  100 . 
         [0018]    In use, the warning lights may be light emitting diodes (LEDs) or any other methods of lighting. The sound indicator can be a buzzer, a speaker, or any other method of producing a warning sound. The wire connecting the components together can be contained within a wire harness. 
         [0019]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.