Abstract:
A device for preventing the use of the topmost rung and hindering access to the top step of a ladder that can easily be attached and removed in order to prevent unsafe ladder use and reduce injury.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to safety devices that prevent people from using ladders in an unsafe manner. It specifically addresses falling hazards due to using the top of a ladder. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration records thousands of injuries every year involving falls from ladders. In 2005 the number was over 3,000. The most common cause of these falls is standing on the top rung or very top of a ladder. While devastating to people these injuries also cause insurance rates to increase, production to stop and time lost. In order to help prevent these falls, most of the major ladder manufacturers place a warning label on the ladder admonishing the use of the top rung and step. On a construction site, the general foreman is responsible for constantly watching for unsafe ladder use and ensuring all ladders are being used properly. As a sheet metal worker myself I know that ladders are used unsafely all the time when the general foreman is not looking. An adequate solution would address the problem of unsafe ladder use without shortening a ladder and work with or without safety personnel present. My invention accomplishes both. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An apparatus that attaches to a ladder preventing the use of the topmost rung and hindering use of the top step of said ladder. 
       Objects and Advantages 
       [0007]    The objects and advantages of this invention directly address the problems outlined above and offer increased functionality not yet mentioned. 
         [0008]    Several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
       (a) to prevent use of the top step of a ladder;   (b) to allow use of the top step and side rails as handholds only through gaps in the sides and bottom;   (c) to hinder access to and use of the top step;   (d) to eliminate unsafe ladder use as applies to using the top step and rung;   (e) to reduce injury from falling due to unsafe ladder use;   (f) to reduce contractor liability due to employees and subcontractors using ladders unsafely;   (g) to provide a means of promoting safety without constant supervision;   (h) to provide a device that can fit multiple ladder sizes and designs;   (i) to provide a device that can incorporate slots, hooks, cups, and holes for tools.
 
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
       
 
     
    
     
       DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment with external clips. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the preferred embodiment with external clips. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the first alternate embodiment with internal clips. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows detail of the first alternate embodiment&#39;s internal clips. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows the second alternate embodiment with adjustable width. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows detail of the connection between the two halves of the second alternate embodiment as seen from the rear. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows detail of the locking mechanism of the second preferred embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a rear view of the sides and grips of the second preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0026]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 guard body 
               
               
                 12 
                 external clip 
               
               
                 14 
                 vertical hand opening 
               
               
                 16 
                 horizontal hand opening 
               
               
                 18 
                 topmost rung 
               
               
                 20 
                 side rail 
               
               
                 22 
                 top step 
               
               
                 24 
                 internal clip 
               
               
                 26 
                 release tab 
               
               
                 28 
                 side rail gap 
               
               
                 30 
                 support brace 
               
               
                 32 
                 locking tab 
               
               
                 34 
                 slide bracket 
               
               
                 36 
                 locking teeth 
               
               
                 38 
                 side brace 
               
               
                 40 
                 side brace grip 
               
               
                 42 
                 guard body left half 
               
               
                 44 
                 guard body right half 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A guard body  10  is roughly the same size as an opening framed by two side rails  20  and a top step  22  and a topmost rung  18  of a standard stepladder. The actual dimensions are determined by the size of the ladder being used but the rough dimensions are 12 to 14 inches square. The guard body is most likely made of ¼ inch to ½ inch injection molded plastic and has an external clip  12  located at four corners that are shaped to wrap around the side rails  20  of the ladder. The back of the external clips  12  wrap around the back of the side rails  20  and extend ½ inch to 1 inch towards the centerline of the ladder as shown in  FIG. 2 . The guard body has a vertical hand opening  14  on each side approximately 1½ inches to 2 inches wide that is large enough to grip the side rail  20  through. The guard body may also have a horizontal hand opening  16  that is large enough to grip the topmost rung  18  with a hand but not large enough to accommodate the toe of a shoe or boot (approximately 1½ inches to 2 inches high). At the bottom of the guard body  10  where the two bottom external clips  12  attach is a support brace  30  that covers the width of the topmost rung  18 . 
       Operation 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       [0028]    The operation of the invention is accomplished by simply attaching it to a ladder. The external clips  12  bend outward slightly as the guard body is pressed onto a ladder. Once the ladder guard is properly positioned the external clips  12  will snap into place around the back of the side rails  20 . The support brace  30  contacts the topmost rung  18  and keeps the invention from slipping down the front of the ladder. The invention then functions passively to allow use of the side rails  20  and possible topmost rung  18  as handholds but eliminated the possibility of standing on the topmost rung  18 . The invention also hinders access to the top step  22  because a user would have to go from the second to the topmost rung all the way to the top step  22 . The invention continues to function regardless of ladder position or lack of supervision and does not hinder appropriate use of the ladder. The invention can easily be removed for storage or transfer by pulling the external clips  12  away from the side rails  20  and pulling the guard body away from the ladder. 
       DESCRIPTION 
     First Alternate Embodiment 
       [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the first alternate embodiment which has 4 internal clips  24  instead of external clips at the four corners of the guard body  10 . The internal clips  24 , shown in detail in  FIG. 4 , are approximately ¼ inch thick, 1 to 1½ inches tall, and are a “U” shape in order to be slightly flexible. On the outside facing surface of the internal clip  24  is a side rail gap  28  that the edge of the side rail  20  will fit into. At the end of the internal clip  24  is a release tab  26  that extends roughly ½ inch from the side rail gap  28 . The guard body  10  is roughly the same dimensions as in the preferred embodiment and also has a support brace  30  at the bottom. 
       Operation 
     First Alternate Embodiment 
       [0030]    The first alternate embodiment operates differently from the preferred embodiment only in its application and removal from a ladder. Its passive operation of preventing the use of the top step and rung is identical to the two previously mentioned iterations. 
         [0031]    The guard body  10  is pushed into the opening of a ladder from the front and the internal clips flex inwards to allow the side rails  20  to fall into the side rail gaps  28 , securing the guard body  10  in proper position. The support brace  30  keeps the guard body from sliding down the front of the ladder and ensures proper orientation. 
         [0032]    To remove the device from a ladder the release tabs  26  are simply pressed inward to allow the internal clips  24  to clear the side rails  20  and the guard body to be removed from the front of the ladder. 
       DESCRIPTION 
     Second Alternate Embodiment 
       [0033]      FIG. 5  shows the second alternate embodiment comprised of a guard body left half  42  and a guard body right half  44  that are held together by slide brackets  34  on the left half  42 . The slide brackets  34  run along the top and bottom of the left half  42  and wrap around the upper and lower edge of the right half  44  as shown in  FIG. 6 . At the center of the left half  42  is a locking tab  32  that has locking teeth  36  protruding from the underside and facing the right half  44  when the two halves are together as shown in  FIG. 7 . The right half  44  also has locking teeth  36  that span the width of the right half  44  and are aligned with the locking tab  32  on the left half  42 . At the top and bottom of the left side of the left half  42  and at the top and bottom of the right side of the right half  44  is a side brace  38  that face outward.  FIG. 8  shows a rear view of the side braces  38  on the right half  44 . The side braces  38  are approximately 2 inches tall and just wide enough to fit inside the side rails  20  of the ladder being used. The outside surface of each side brace  38  has a side brace grip  40  preferably made of rubber. 
       Operation 
     Second Alternate Embodiment 
       [0034]    The second alternate embodiment operates differently from the preferred embodiment and the first alternate embodiment only in its application and removal from a ladder. Its passive operation of preventing the use of the top step and rung is identical to the two previously mentioned iterations. 
         [0035]    When applying the second alternate embodiment to a ladder the device begins in a closed position with the two guard body halves  42  and  44  interlocked and pushed together to create the narrowest width and laced inside the opening created by the top rung  18  and step  22 , and the two side rails. The two halves are then separated until the side braces  38  contact the inside of the side rails snugly. The locking teeth  36  on the right and left halves  42  and  44  lock against each other keeping the two halves in position and securing the device in the ladder. The side brace grip  40  keeps the device from slipping and protects the side rails of the ladder from damage. 
         [0036]    To remove the device from the ladder the locking tab  32  is pulled up, away from the device to allow the locking teeth  36  to slide freely past each other. The two halves of the guard body are then pushed together so that the side braces  38  clear the side rails  20  and the whole device can be removed from the ladder. 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0037]    It is concluded that the ladder safety guard of the invention is a simple and effective solution to a major safety hazard in ladder use. 
         [0038]    While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the device can be any color and be molded of any suitable material such as plastic or fiberglass. The invention can also be extended to cover more that the topmost rung. For instance, with ladders taller than six feet, the second and even third to top rungs may be unsafe to use and can be protected with a ladder guard that is longer. The invention can be made twice or even three times taller so that it covers as many rungs as needed without any significant design changes. The ladder safety guard can also incorporate hooks and holes for holding tools when not in use, and cups to store screws or other small materials. The body may also be branded with any manner of warning or instruction text and company name or logo. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.