Ladder clamping device

A ladder clamping tool for holding a ladder in a fixed position relative to a rain gutter attached to the eaves of a roof and releasing therefrom. The ladder clamping device includes a screw driver handle defining an axis, a threaded shaft extending along the axis from the handle, terminating with a swivel joint for movably engaging a moveable clamping bar mounted on the swivel joint for engaging the ladder in a slanted position. The ladder clamping tool includes a fixed gutter plate for engaging an interior wall of said gutter mounted at one end of an elongated post wherein as the screw driver handle turns, which is configured to turn the shaft in a threaded socket for moving and holding said clamping bar relative to the fixed gutter clamp, pressure is applied on said gutter clamp, said clamping bar, and on the objects being clamped such as a leg of a ladder and a rain gutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a ladder clamping device for use with 
gutters attached to eaves at the lower edge of a roof. More particularly, 
the invention relates to a safety clamp for use in securing a ladder 
typically set at an angle, to a roof gutter which is easy to install and 
remove yet provides a secure anchoring of the ladder to the gutter or the 
eaves trough. 
Aluminum gutters are commonly used on modern structures which are well 
secured to the building and employ a contoured outer wall having a top lip 
to provide structural strength together with an ornamental appearance. 
Commonly being coated with a glossy finish, typically white enamel paint, 
the gutters are often very slippery thereby causing a dangerous condition 
in that a ladder propped against the gutter tends to slide along the 
gutter when in use posing a substantial risk of falling to the user. Also 
the configuration of a gutter varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. 
Furthermore, for safety reasons, it is common for a user to use one hand 
to hold onto the ladder for stability and it is therefore desirable to 
have a ladder clamping device that is operable with one hand only leaving 
the other to hold the ladder. 
Applicant is aware of prior art ladder supports. For example, as are shown 
in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,853,202, JARBOE; 4,601,365, DAVIS; 
4,013,251, CLEVELAND; 4,714,136, MORIN; 3,909,889, EMERSON; and 4,444,291, 
McPHERSON. 
JARBOE U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,202 shows a bracket having outer flanges 
clamping to a side wall of a ladder. The bracket being secured to the 
ladder by the clamping of a pair of bolt assemblies. 
EMERSON U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,889 shows an upstanding arm having front slots 
and rear slots for adjustment of an elongated arm and includes a jack 
screw device for clamping an object. 
Unlike prior art devices, applicant's invention employs a novel movable 
flat clamp face that is swivel mounted for providing greater area of 
contact on a slanted leg of a ladder in association with a fixed curved 
clamp face providing multiple contact points on the contoured interior of 
a gutter to provide a safe and secure connection. Accordingly, it is 
desirable to provide for a new and improved Ladder Clamping Device to 
provide for improved clamping action, greater safety features, ease of use 
without sacrificing safety, and which overcomes at least some of the 
disadvantages of prior art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a ladder clamping tool for holding a 
ladder in a fixed position relative to a rain gutter attached to the eaves 
of a roof and for release therefrom. 
In particular the invention is directed to a ladder clamping device 
including a post having a threaded surface to which is affixed at one end 
a fixed gutter clamp having a concave curved face plate extending in 
perpendicular relationship to the post. Said post also includes an arm 
having a threaded socket at one end and being connected at the other end 
to the post in sliding engagement therewith adapted for reciprocal 
movement between a clamping position and a release position and a shaft 
extending in coplanar relationship with the post having one end to which 
is attached a movable clamping bar including a flat face plate and having 
a screw driver handle attached to the other end. In the present invention 
said clamping bar is mounted on a swivel and positioned in parallel 
relationship with said gutter clamp. The ladder clamping tool is typically 
operated by rotating the screw driver handle which turns the shaft in the 
threaded socket moving and holding the movable clamping bar relative to 
the fixed gutter plate whereby turning the handle applies pressure to the 
gutter clamp and clamping plate and to the ladder surface. The ladder leg 
is then clamped to the rain gutter. 
In the preferred embodiment, the ladder clamping tool includes an elongated 
post including a movable arm support having a threaded surface, a control 
end and an object engaging end on which is mounted the movable clamping 
bar for engaging an angled face of a leg of the ladder, said ladder being 
propped against a gutter. In this embodiment, a screw driver handle is 
provided on the control end of the shaft such that by twisting the handle 
the movable clamping bar is moved relative to the fixed gutter plate and 
clamping is accomplished by drawing the clamping bar and gutter plate 
together by this twisting action. 
The handle of the present invention consists of a screw driver handle 
defining an axis connected to the shaft extending along the axis from the 
handle. The shaft includes formed threads extending between said handle 
and extending to the object engaging end. The shaft terminates with a 
swivel joint connected to the clamping bar which is arranged in orthogonal 
relationship thereto. The clamping bar is mounted on the swivel joint for 
orientation to engage an angled surface of a selected leg for holding the 
ladder. The moveable clamping bar also includes a safety tab extending 
from the inner end of the clamping bar arranged in orthogonal relationship 
thereto engaging the outer edge of the ladder leg to brace the ladder in 
position and to prevent slide transverse slippage. The clamping bar is 
therefore adapted to engage two separate surfaces of the ladder to provide 
secure engagement and to hold the ladder in fixed relationship with the 
gutter when drawn toward the gutter clamp. 
In the present invention, the gutter plate is attached to the distal end of 
the post extending in fixed perpendicular relationship to and is 
configured to be inserted into the inner cavity of the rain gutter for 
clamping to the outer wall of the rain gutter. This outer wall of the rain 
gutter is contoured to provide multiple curved surfaces amid the contour 
ridge and a top lip. The gutter plate has a concave curved face plate and 
is attached at one end along the upper peripheral edge thereby providing 
an extended, unobstructed, clamping surface that is adapted to engage the 
gutter lip at a mid section. The upper curved ridge at the lower distal 
edge provides two areas of contact extending longitudinally along the 
gutter. The concave face plate is coated with a rubberized compound to 
provide a gripping surface. 
In the present invention, the elongated post extends at a right angle from 
the curved face of an end segment of the gutter plate having a one and 
other end. A movable arm is mounted on the elongated post having a one and 
other end. The one end including a tubular collar with internal threads. 
The other end is mounted in a sliding engagement on the post. A lock mount 
is positioned on the arm member and is provided for slidably adjusting the 
position of the arm along the axis of the post having a compression member 
which moves between a compressed position and a released position. 
In the present invention, the swivel means consists of a ball member and a 
socket member. The ball member is attached to the distal end of the rod. 
The socket is provided in the other surface of the clamping plate 
positioned at a mid position for swivel mounting the clamping bar in 
parallel alignment and in full contact with the outer face of a selected 
leg of the ladder for compressing the ladder against the gutter in fixed 
relation thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the screw handle is 
employed as an actuating means for manual operation of the tool with one 
hand, for moving the clamping bar between a clamping position and a 
release position. The handle, being characterized by an enlarged 
cylindrical handle, resides on the prominent end of the rod. In the 
preferred embodiment, the clamping plate is configured as a curved plate 
member having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface being 
attached along one end of the inner convex surface. In the preferred 
embodiment, the locking mount includes a release member for disengaging 
the arm member from the post permitting the clamping plate to move along 
the post for permitting disengagement of the leg of the ladder. 
The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in 
connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that those 
persons skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, 
improvements and additions on the illustrated embodiments all without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a clamping tool 10 securely 
fastened to a ladder 12 positioned in angled relationship with a gutter 
14. Said gutter is shown in FIG. 1 as extending horizontally along the 
projecting overhang of one of the eaves 16, of a roof 20. Referring to 
FIG. 2, the ladder clamping tool includes a post 22 having a first and 
second end, the first end provided with a fixed gutter clamp 24 extending 
in fixed perpendicular relationship to said post, said clamp having a 
concave face plate 26 and a convex exterior surface 28.In the preferred 
embodiment, the concave face plate is depicted as a 3" long half circle, 
1" in diameter. 
As is shown in the Figs., more particularly FIG. 2, an arm member 30 is 
mounted on the post 22 at one end and includes a threaded socket 32 and 
further includes a locking mount 34. As is shown in FIG. 2, said locking 
mount includes a release bar 36 for engaging and disengaging the post 22 
thereby permitting the arm member 30 to move along said post reciprocally, 
forward and away from the gutter clamp 24. 
In the preferred embodiment, a shaft 40 is positioned in coplanar 
relationship with the post 22 having a first and second end the first end 
being provided with a clamping bar 42 consisting of a flat face plate 44 
and an orthogonally extending safety tab 46. Said clamping bar is mounted 
on the distal end of shaft 40 on a swivel device 48 which includes a ball 
50 and a socket 52 positioned in a mid section of the clamping bar 42. 
As is shown in the Figs. a screw driver handle 60 is positioned at the 
other end of shaft 40 which turns said shaft 40 in the threaded socket 32 
for moving said clamping bar relative to the gutter clamp 24 and holding 
said clamping bar in fixed relationship with the gutter 14. 
As is shown in FIG. 1, the ladder 12 includes a first leg 70 and a second 
leg 72 each leg having a longitudinal planar face 74 and a side 76. As is 
shown in FIG. 6, the gutter 14 is formed with a lower contour 80, an upper 
contour 82 and a lip 84. Wherein the clamped position in FIG. 6, the 
swivel device 42 permits flat face plate 44 coated with rubberized 
material 90 clamp bar 42 to align with the slanted longitudinal face 74 of 
the leg 70 with safety tab 46 along side 76 and with gutter clamp 24 
extending inside the gutter 14 with concave face plate 26, being coated 
with a rubberized coating 90, in contact with lip 84 and upper contour 82.