Ladder safety device and method of using the same

A house clamp assembly having a fixed jaw and a slide bar mounted movable jaw, the fixed jaw opposing the movable jaw. A one-way drive means, by operation of a trigger handle grip, releasably engages the slide bar and advances the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw. The one-way drive means is incapable of moving the slide bar and movable jaw away from the fixed jaw. A return motion of the movable jaw (separating) is accomplished manually when the one-way drive means is disengaged. A braking lever, which is biased to bind the slide bar, prevents reverse motion of the slideable jaw away from the fixed jaw, except when the first lever is disengaged from the slide bar. A device for securing a ladder to a building, wherein the removed end of the slide member has a hook shape; wherein the jaws include jaw faces having multiple raised portions, wherein the releasable braking means of the building clamp assembly means includes a pivoting lever; wherein the locking member of the ladder hook assembly includes a pivoting lever, attached at one end to the body, and having a slot dimensioned to slideably receive the hook slide member therethrough; wherein the body of the ladder hook assembly includes a pair of slots dimensioned for and adapted to slideably receive the slide member therethrough; and wherein the slots are arranged to maintain the hook slide member substantially parallel to the slide bar of the building clamp assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved ladder safety device that is adapted to be fixedly engaged to a fascia board or other structure on a building in a safe and stable manner, following which the ladder is engaged to the device for secure maintenance of the ladder against the building structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ladder stabilizing devices are designed to reduce accidents. Some ladder stabilizing devices are positively clamped to a portion of a ladder, such as a rung or a rail, and then allowed to passively engage a portion of a building structure. Other ladder stabilizing devices may positively clamp to and affix against a building structure and positively and releasably clamp to a portion of the ladder.

The present invention has been devised to avoid certain problems inherent in the prior art. For example, the prior art does not provide for a ladder stabilizing device that will positively engage a building quickly and easily and, which will likewise, quickly and easily engage to a ladder. Moreover, prior art devices tend to be difficult to install easily and quickly, which difficulty is aggravated by the operator being on the ladder and attempting the installation process. That is to say, ease and simplicity of engagement and disengagement of a ladder stabilizing device is more important because of the dangerous environment of a ladder user, typically perched above the ground.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of Applicant's present invention to provide a bar clamp wherein the movable jaw may be moved over a long distance rapidly and which may then incrementally and precisely be advanced tightly against building structure captured between the fixed and moving jaw.

It is another object of Applicant's present invention to provide for a ladder stabilizing device that is quick and easy to install without tools, easy to put on and remove, requiring a minimum of adjustment, and that is compact and portable.

It is another object of Applicant's present invention to provide a ladder stabilizing device that does not get in the way of the user climbing the ladder and is adjustable to fit different sized ladders and structures.

It is yet another object of Applicant's present invention to provide for an improved, quick action clamp, where the clamp operation may be accomplished with a minimum of manual manipulation.

Still other objects of Applicant's present invention will become apparent from the specifications. The invention comprises the features of construction, the combination of elements, and the arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the description hereinafter set forth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant provides a novel ladder stabilizing device comprising two assemblies joined together. More specifically, Applicant's ladder stabilizing device is comprised of a house clamp assembly designed for positively engaging a house and a ladder hook assembly designed for positively engaging a ladder, so as to couple the house to the ladder.

More specifically, Applicant provides a house clamp assembly having a fixed jaw and a slide bar mounted movable jaw, the fixed jaw opposing the movable jaw. A one-way drive member, by operation of a trigger handle grip, releasably engages the slide bar and advances the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw. The one-way drive member is incapable of moving the slide bar and movable jaw away from the fixed jaw. A return motion of the movable jaw (separating) is accomplished manually when the one-way drive member is disengaged. A braking lever, which is biased against the slide bar, prevents reverse motion of the slideable jaw away from the fixed jaw, except when the first lever is disengaged from the slide bar.

Applicant provides a device for securing a ladder to a building, wherein a removed end of a slide member has a hook shape; wherein jaws include jaw faces having multiple raised portions, wherein a releasable braking means of the building clamp assembly means includes a pivoting lever; wherein a locking member of the ladder hook assembly includes a pivoting lever, attached at one end to a body, and having a slot dimensioned to slideably receive the hook slide member therethrough; wherein a body of the ladder hook assembly includes a pair of slots dimensioned for and adapted to slideably receive the slide member therethrough; and wherein the slots are arranged to maintain the hook slide member substantially parallel to the slide bar of the building clamp assembly.

Applicant provides a method for securing a ladder to a wall, with a pair of devices including a building clamp assembly and a ladder hook assembly, wherein the building clamp assembly comprises a body including a fixed jaw and a hand grip, a slide bar having a moveable jaw at a removed end thereof, means including a pivoting trigger handle for moving the movable jaw and fixed jaw together, and releasable braking means for releasably preventing the fixed jaw and movable jaws from separating, and wherein the ladder hook assembly is engaged with the building clamp assembly and includes a body, a slide member having a removed end, which slide member slideably engages the body, having a removed end, and a locking member, which releasably fixes the distance of the removed end of the slide member with respect to the body, the method Including the steps of: first securing a first device of the pair to the building by attachment of the first device between the two jaws thereof, followed by securing the slide member of the ladder hook assembly to either a first rung end or first rail of the ladder; and second securing a second device of the pair to the building by attachment of the second device between the two jaws thereof, followed by securing the slide member of the ladder hook assembly to either a second rung end or a second rail of the ladder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-5illustrate a first embodiment of Applicant's novel ladder stabilizing device10. A ladder stabilizing device10is seen to be comprised of two assemblies, a house clamp assembly12and a ladder hook assembly14. The house clamp assembly12is designed to fixedly engage the ladder stabilizing device10to a part of a house H, typically a depending board sometimes referred to as a fascia board S (seeFIGS. 3A and 3B). The ladder hook assembly14is designed to engage a ladder L, typically along the rail R thereof (seeFIGS. 3A and 3B). By having a portion of the ladder stabilizing device10that will fixedly and rigidly engage a part of a building, and a ladder hook assembly that will couple to a portion of a ladder, such as a ladder rung or a ladder rail, one can stabilize a ladder L against a building or other structure, such as a fascia board, so the two are positively engaged, thus avoiding a possible inadvertent movement of the ladder with respect to the building.

It is seen with reference toFIGS. 1,1A,2,3A, and3B that the two assemblies are originally together typically in one rigid structure. Moreover, it is seen that house clamp assembly12is comprised of a body16, a portion of which may form a hand grip18and a fixed jaw20, with a clamp housing22portion therebetween. That is to say, body16is typically a single piece of three portions—hand grip, fixed jaw, and housing. It is to be noted at this point that house clamp assembly12is substantially as seen, disclosed and taught as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,722, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. In fact,FIG. 1Ais seen to be the same asFIG. 3of the '722 patent. Reference toFIG. 1A, as well as the specification and drawings of the '722 patent, will explain the manner of operation of house clamp assembly12.

Engaging body16is a trigger handle24, which is typically pivotally engaged to the body (seeFIG. 1A), and which is spring136loaded. The depression of trigger handle24will move a slide bar26having a movable jaw28thereon in a direction towards the fixed jaw20. A braking lever30, spring loaded, will allow movement of the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw (or bring the jaws together), but will prevent reversal (separation of the jaws), unless depressed from the position seen inFIG. 1A. Both braking lever30and trigger handle24have slots therethrough for receipt of slide bar26therein.

While the repetitive squeezing of trigger handle24will allow moveable jaw28to move towards fixed jaw20, one can merely slide the two jaws together without squeezing the handle and thus either way, effectively position pads32and34(one on each jaw) adjacent the fascia board as illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B.

The maximum distance of advance of the movable jaw with one stroke of the trigger handle is limited when the spring is fully compressed or the handle strikes the inner surface of the hand grip. However, the stroke of the trigger handle can be through any lesser arc thereby diminishing the distance the movable jaw travels. Additionally, one may stroke the trigger handle until the jaw is firmly engaged to the fascia board.

It can be seen that the movable jaw can be advanced toward the fixed jaw, with the fascia board therebetween in one continuous motion, merely by pushing on the movable jaw until it is snug up against the fascia board or other workpiece and then slight incremental moves of the handle can compress the jaws further. Removal or separation of the jaws may be accomplished with the depression of the braking lever by, for example, the index finger while the other fingers remain around the handle to stabilize the device.

Turning now to ladder hook assembly14, it is seen to be fixedly engaged to the housing clamp assembly in a preferred embodiment. Ladder hook assembly14is seen to include a body60with a forward portion62having a slot68therein and a rearward portion64having a slot66therein, the slots for receipt of a hooked slide member78therethrough. That is to say, hooked slide member78engages the body60and maintains alignment with the body60and, typically with slide bar26, through slots66and68. Further engaging the body60is a locking lever72, which has a slot74therein. Spring76urges locking lever72, which is engaged at one end to retainer portion70of the body biased in a pivoting manner away from forward portion62as seen inFIG. 1. Hooked slide member78is seen to have a ladder engaging end80dimensioned for coupling to the ladder, as by hooking a rail of a ladder, as seen inFIG. 3A. Locking lever72allows one-way movement of the hooked slide member78, that movement being movement of ladder engaging end80towards body60. To reverse the direction of the hooked slide member78, locking lever72must be depressed from the position as illustrated inFIG. 1, thereby allowing the uncoupling of the ladder engaging end80with the ladder from the position as seen inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Hooked slide member78is located in parallel alignment with slide bar26through the use of a pair of slots27A and27B in body60.

Turning now toFIGS. 3A and 3B, it is seen that the house clamp assembly, with fixed and movable jaws, may be securely clamped to a fascia board, such as fascia boards typically depending from the eaves of a house. Moreover, a ladder L may be placed against the gutter G of the house or directly against the edge of the roof of a house, for example. Further, with the slide bar26aligned linearly with the hooked slide member78, a strong coupling force is provided to help prevent lateral movement of the ladder along the house, or movement of the removed end of the ladder off the house. With the jaw of sufficient area, typically between 1 and 3 square inches, any torque or twisting forces generated by a ladder against hooked slide member78will be resisted by the jaws clamped firmly to the fascia board.

FIGS. 4 and 5provide further illustration of Applicant's device and also show how both jaws20/28may include jaw faces20A and28A that have raised areas or pointed projections20B/28B to help secure the jaws against the workpiece.

Turning now toFIGS. 6 and 7, a second preferred embodiment of Applicant's present invention is illustrated. This embodiment of ladder stabilizing device10A consists of the house clamp assembly12, substantially as set forth in the previous embodiment. However, a ring100is pivotally engaged to body16as seen inFIGS. 6 and 7on pin102. Ring100provides for engagement of elastic cords104and106therewith. The elastic cords are seen to have ladder hooks108and110, dimensioned for receipt of a ladder, such as a ladder rail as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7thereon. Moreover, ladder hooks108and110are located at removed end of elastic cords104/106which provide active tension when ring hooks112and114engage ring100. That is to say, as seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, a single house clamp assembly12may be engaged to the fascia board as set forth in the first embodiment. The pair of elastic cords104and106may then be stretched and hooked, with ladder hooks108and110engaging the rails of a ladder as seen inFIGS. 6 and 7. It is seen that, if the ladder stabilizing device10A is centered between two rails of the ladder, the elastic cords may prevent lateral movement of the ladder from one side to the other. That is to say, if the ladder were to shift one way, then the elastic cord in the direction of the shift would exert greater force laterally and tend to center the ladder.

Turning now toFIG. 8, it is seen that the first embodiment of Applicant's ladder stabilizing device10is typically used in a pair for engagement with both rails of the ladder to provide positive and firm coupling of the ladder to the building structure.

With respect toFIGS. 9A,9B, and10, Applicant provides a third embodiment, including a modification to ladder engaging end80of hooked slide member78. More specificallyFIGS. 9A,9B, and10illustrate a pivoting ladder engaging member84, which articulates on hooked slide member78with a pin86. This modification may be useful, as seen inFIG. 10, as it will tend to provide a broader contact surface with the rail and will angularly adjust to the angle that the rail of the ladder makes with respect to the building structure.