Ladder standoff and ridge pole hook

A simple device comprising members such as a pair of identical tubes or bars fastenable anywhere along the rails or stiles of a ladder by U-bolts passing through diametric bores is provided. The U-bolts constitute a clamping means whereby standoff members can be made secure to respective sides of a ladder, such members extending forwardly to engage the wall or roof of a building or to hook over the apex of a sloped roof or ridge pole of a building where the ladder is used by a workman on the roof to facilitate his movement on a sloping roof. The ends of the tubular members are provided with abrasion protecting caps so that the ends of the tubes will not scuff or mar a surface against which they are raised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Ladder standoffs have heretofore been known, for example, as shown in 
various prior art patents, such as the following: 
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Taylor 1,393,922 Oct. 18, 1921 
Heun 1,508,392 Sept. 4, 1923 
Seaman 1,541,402 July 31, 1922 
Couche et al 
1,543,551 Nov. 10, 1924 
Coddington 2,199,042 Sept. 27, 1939 
Jarboe 3,853,202 Dec. 10, 1974 
British patent 
436,679 Oct. 16, 1935 
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All of the above patents have various drawbacks, such as complexity, lack 
of versatility, destructive of house walls, and destructive of ladder 
rails to which they may be attached, among others. 
Further, the structures of such prior art devices are of a complex and 
frequently expensive nature, and pose mechanical problems overcome by the 
present invention. The invention can be readily mass produced and sold at 
a price such that the average homeowner who may have only occasional use 
for a ladder standoff or ridge pole hook need make only a small investment 
for the device of the invention. In addition, the sturdiness of the 
invention coupled with price economy makes it feasible for the 
professional house repairman or roof repairman to own a number of such 
devices and save time by having ladders equipped with same without the 
need to remove them and replace them each time a particular ladder is to 
be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 the invention comprises a pair of preferably 
identical tubular members 10 provided at both ends with abrasion 
preventing force fitted plastic or rubber caps 13 and secured to the 
respective rails 16 of a ladder by a clamping means comprising a U-bolt 24 
having a pair of parallel legs 27 extending normally to a midsection 30 
and each leg passing through diametrically opposed apertures 33 in the 
respective tubular member 10. The apertures have the spacing of legs 27 so 
that the U-bolt can pass therethrough. 
The bridging member 30 of each U-bolt is clamped securely against a ladder 
rail 16 by means of wing nuts 36 threadedly disposed on respective legs 27 
as shown. Thus, each of the tubular standoff members is disposed on the 
exterior of the respective ladder rails and firmly fastened thereto, 
preferably with the bridging member 30 engaging the top or bottom of a 
rung so that the elongated standoff members are in the same plane and 
extend normally to the plane of the ladder. 
It has been found that for general utility a hollow, tubular member of 
aluminum or steel one-inch in outer diameter and approximately one foot 
long is suitable for applicant's purposes, although longer tubular members 
may be used to suit various special circumstances and several apertures 
such as 33 may be provided to selectively adjust the standoff distance as 
desired. For general use it has been found suitable to have the tubular 
member extending outwardly from the rail of the ladder for a distance of 
seven to eight inches as a standoff or hook while the other, or outer, end 
of the member may, of course, be considerably foreshortened. 
It is preferable to provide the outer ends with a plastic or rubber cap 
such as 13 to prevent injury on what might otherwise be the sharp edge on 
an aluminum or steel tube. 
Likewise, it has been found that the inside distance between legs 27 of 
approximately three inches is suitable for most purposes and a large 
variety of ladder rails will fit therebetween. Here again it will be 
obvious that the bridging member 30 may be made longer or shorter to fit a 
large number of ladders having sides of narrower or wider dimensions than 
general purpose house ladders. 
In any event, the simple clamping means comprising a U-bolt having integral 
legs and bridging member has been found to provide ample margin of safety 
for securing the standoff members to the ladder rails. 
FIG. 6 illustrates the mode in which a ladder equipped with the invention 
stands off from the wall of a building so that a workman can point or do 
repairs, etc. It should also be noted that a work tray, tool or paint 
apparatus could be set on the standoff members, although in such case it 
might be preferable to have the ladder in more vertical position so as to 
minimize the bar slant. It should also be noted that the standoff members 
are at a greater distance from the ladder top than in FIGS. 7 and 8 for 
choice of location of work tray, etc. 
FIG. 7 is essentially the same as FIG. 6 but illustrating the invention 
wherein the standoff members are raised against a sloping roof in order to 
provide ready access thereto. 
FIG. 8 illustrates the invention applied to a ladder laid across a sloping 
roof so that a workman painting or repairing the roof may readily move up 
and down on the ladder in perfect safety inasmuch as the standoff members 
securely hook over the apex or ridge pole. 
From the preceding description it will be apparent that my invention is not 
only capable of economical mass production and relatively low selling 
price but is virtually foolproof in being installed on a ladder anywhere 
along the length thereof, although, of course, as a matter of safety the 
bar members should be somewhere at the upper portion. Further, it will be 
apparent that the invention comprising a pair of identical members is 
relatively compact for storage and by virtue of the anti-abrasion caps 
will not scuff or mar walls or roofs against which the standoff may effect 
engagement. Other advantages will be apparent to persons having practical 
knowledge of the field and the invention herein is not to be taken as 
limited to the structure shown except to the extent set forth in the 
appended claims. 
For example, other uses of the invention would be where it is necessary to 
lean a ladder against a low shed, in which case the fact that the standoff 
members can be attached to the ladder rails anywhere along the length of 
the ladder so as to provide a convenient angle of the ladder will be 
apparent. Also it will be apparent that the ladder can be leaned against 
the corner of a building with a standoff member on each of the 
intersecting walls. Yet further, the invention can be used by applying a 
pair of standoff members to each of a pair of ladders but oriented on each 
such ladder in opposite directions. When such ladders are leaned against 
the wall of a building spaced a few feet apart, the outwardly extending 
standoff members can support a plank on which a workman can walk as on a 
scaffold. It will, of course, be understood that the pairs of supporting 
members extending from each side of the ladders will be at the same height 
from ground on the respective ladder sides in order to insure a level 
walking surface.