Abstract:
A shoulder protection device for carrying a ladder on the shoulder of a carrier. The protection device includes a resilient cushion having at least one slot extending therethrough and at least one releasable strap extending through the slot. The releasable strap may be wrapped around the ladder to secure the resilient cushion in place such that the resilient cushion is in contact with the shoulder of the carrier.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to protective equipment and, more particularly, to a shoulder protection device for use when carrying a ladder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ladders are heavily used in certain industries such as in construction and related trades. On certain construction sites, a person may be required to frequently carry the ladder from one location to the next, such as from a vehicle onto the construction site, or from place to place within the construction site. It is desirable to allow the carrier to transport the ladder in comfort and without injury. This may be difficult, especially with large extension or step ladders which, although formed from relatively light weight materials, nonetheless exert significant weight and pressure on the carrier&#39;s shoulder or collar bone and surrounding tissues and muscles. The weight of the ladder and the portions of the ladder which rest on the carrier&#39;s shoulder may cause discomfort and injury, especially if the ladder is large or must be transported over long distances. 
     When a person transports a ladder (e.g., a folding fiberglass or aluminum step ladder) from place to place, the person typically orients the ladder horizontally, puts an arm through the space between two of the ladder&#39;s rungs, and balances the ladder on his shoulder. Depending on the size and configuration of the ladder, it may be difficult to adequately balance the ladder and transport it without the risk of the ladder accidentally sliding on the carrier&#39;s shoulder. 
     A need exists, therefore, for a shoulder protection device that can be removably attached to ladders for protecting one&#39;s shoulder when carrying a ladder over the shoulder. The shoulder protection device preferably would aid the carrier in transporting the ladder with as little strain and discomfort as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a shoulder protection device for carrying a ladder on the shoulder of a carrier. The protection device includes a resilient cushion having at least one slot extending therethrough and at least one releasable strap extending through the slot. The releasable strap may be wrapped around the ladder to secure the resilient cushion in place such that the resilient cushion is in contact with the shoulder of the carrier. In one embodiment of the invention, the resilient cushion is formed from an upper portion and a lower portion such that the at one or more slots are formed between the upper and lower portions. The shoulder protection device is preferably shaped for use with a ladder that has a pair of U-shaped side rails with rungs therebetween. The resilient cushion (e.g., a foam cushion) is preferably sized to fit snugly within one of the U-shaped side rails. The releasable straps then wrap around the ladder to secure the resilient pad in place within the U-shaped channel of the ladder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a shoulder protection device in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a prospective view of the shoulder protection device of FIG. 1 shown attached to a conventional ladder. 
    
    
     These drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to unduly limit the scope of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a shoulder protection device  10  in accordance with the present invention. The protection device  10  includes a resilient cushion  11  that may be generally rectangularly shaped and formed from a lightweight material having sufficient strength to support the weight of the ladder on the carrier&#39;s shoulder. The cushion  11  may be formed, for example, from a foam material such as a conventional closed cell foam. In one embodiment, the cushion  11  may be dipped covered in vinyl in order to protect the cushion  11  from environmental damage, heat, spills, etc. The cushion  11  may be contoured to provide a concave surface for engagement with the shoulder of a carrier. The cushion  11  is generally sized to fit snugly within a channel of a side rail of a ladder, as discussed below. 
     The resilient cushion  11  includes one or more slots  16  through which straps  18  may pass to secure the protection device  10  onto the ladder. In one embodiment, the resilient cushion  11  may be formed from two separate portions, namely, upper portion  12  and lower portion  14  attached together at seam  15 . The upper portion  12  and lower portion  14  may be attached using any number of means including gluing using a construction grade adhesive. The slots  16  may be formed in the two-piece cushion  11  as areas where the surfaces of the upper portion  12  and lower portion  14  are not adhered together. Alternatively, if the cushion  11  is formed from a single piece of material, the slots may be cut through the resilient cushion  11 . The straps  18  may fit snugly within the corresponding slots  16 . Alternatively, the straps  18  may be fixedly attached to the cushion  11  such that the straps do not slide within the slots  16  during use. 
     The shoulder protection device  10  preferably includes means to selectively attach and detach the device  10  from the frame of a ladder. The straps  18  may include releasable fasteners  20 ,  22 , such as, for example separable hook and loop type fasteners (e.g., Velcro® brand fasteners) so that the protection device  10  can be readily installed and removed as desired and so that the shoulder protection device  10  may be used with ladders having various dimensions and configurations. Preferably, the shoulder protection device  10  includes two straps  18  that are spaced apart from one another to accommodate a pivotally mounted cross brace of the ladder. The straps  18  allow the carrier to mount the protection device  10  in a variety of different positions on the ladder according either to the form of the ladder or the preference of the carrier. The straps  18  also allow the protection device  10  to be detached from the ladder. Of course, the user may also desire to leave the protection device  10  attached to the ladder while the ladder is in use. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a side rail  28  of a typical aluminum step ladder  24  having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining an inwardly facing channel  26 . The side rails  28  have rungs  30  attached between one rail  28  and a corresponding rail  28  on the other side of the ladder (not shown). The resilient cushion  11  is preferably sized to fit within the channel  26  and the straps  18  wrap around the side rails  28  to secure the resilient cushion  11  in place within the U-shaped channel  26  as illustrated in FIG.  2 . When disposed within the U-shaped channel  26  of the ladder  24 , the upper portion  12  of the resilient cushion  11  extends sufficiently above the surface of the ladder  24  to enable the cushion  11  to deflect upon loading without having the ladder impinge upon the carrier&#39;s shoulder. 
     Thus, the present invention includes a lightweight shoulder protection device that is easy to manufacture and which eases the effort necessary to transport the ladder by distributing the weight of the ladder over a larger area of the carrier&#39;s shoulder. The protection device  10  described herein may be used on ladders of a wide variety of different constructions and designs. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain presently preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.