MODULAR, COLLAPSIBLE URBAN ASSAULT LADDER

A collapsible urban assault ladder includes parallel ropes; rungs fastened to the ropes at evenly spaced intervals; and a hook. The ropes have a loop formed in each end. The hook has a bent shank with a base, legs extending laterally from the base and spaced at an angle, an aperture formed through the base, and an inverted L-shaped rod extending from the shank. The hook is coupled to the loop via the aperture. Each of the rungs has a longitudinal axis with a male end and a female end, and bores to accommodate the ropes spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. A method of surmounting a structure includes placing the inverted L-shaped rod into the female end of a first rung; inserting the male end into the female end of a subsequent rung to assemble a pole; mounting the hook onto a structure; and ascending or descending the rungs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ladders and, more particularly, to a modular, collapsible urban assault ladder.

During urban movement in the military, at times vertical obstacles must be negotiated that are too tall to climb over. This causes channelization in choke points where the enemy waits. Currently available vertical access apparatuses are limited in function and require multiple components: for example, a 20-foot pole and a ladder, requiring the user to extend the pole, climb the ladder, and then ask someone to pass up the pole. Most ladders weigh 15 lb. or more, making the equipment heavy and awkward to carry.

As can be seen, there is a need for a single light device that enables the user to quickly negotiate a vertical obstacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a collapsible urban assault ladder, comprises parallel ropes having a loop formed in each of a first end and a second end thereof; rungs fastened to the parallel ropes at evenly spaced intervals, each of the rungs having a longitudinal axis with a male end and a female end configured to accommodate the male end, and bores formed therethrough operative to accommodate the parallel ropes transverse to the longitudinal axis and spaced apart along the longitudinal axis; and a hook operative to engage a structural member, the hook having a bent shank with a base, legs extending laterally from the base and spaced at an angle, an aperture formed through the base, and an inverted L-shaped rod extending from the shank, wherein the hook is coupled to the loop formed in the first end of the parallel ropes via the aperture.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of surmounting a structure comprises providing the collapsible urban assault ladder in a collapsed position; placing the inverted L-shaped rod into the female end of a first one of the rungs; inserting the male end of the first one of the rungs into the female end of a subsequent one of the rungs to assemble a pole; mounting the hook onto a structure; disassembling the pole into a scaling position; and ascending or descending the rungs.

The single-system urban assault ladder of the present subject matter may be used to negotiate most vertical obstacles with ease at a moment's notice for egress or entry. For example, the urban assault ladder may be used during waterborne operations, enabling a swimmer or a user in a low boat to board a ship. This ladder may also be used for speleology to negotiate vertical obstacles, both ascending and descending. The ladder may be passed through a restrictive entry into a collapsed structure to negotiate vertical obstacles. The inventive urban assault ladder is lightweight, weighing about 50% less than a prior art pole-and-ladder system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a compact urban assault ladder system. During urban movement, this device enables a user to quickly negotiate obstacles and to ascend and descend multiple stories with minimum logistics.

The system comprises a ladder module that collapses to fit into a small man-packed bag or backpack with other items. It may be taken out and assembled within minutes into a pole with a substantial reach in terms of height. The pole may be converted into a ladder to be climbed when pulled from the bottom.

The foot pegs of the ladder may each have a male end and a female end such that a male end of one foot peg may be inserted within a female end of another, converting the ladder into a pole with a hook on the top. For example, the right end may be male, and the left end may be female. Assembly of the foot pegs into a pole may be achieved by pulling up on a component of the device. Once the hook engages a structural member at an elevated position, the user may pull down on the pole, for example on the bottom rung, converting it back into a ladder.

The inventive ladder system is scalable. Multiple single urban assault ladder modules may be connected to customize the system to the height of a target vertical obstacle. For example, two 5-meter ladders may be assembled into one 10-meter ladder via rope loops at the bottom of the bottom rung. One may ascend and descend the face of a multi-level building quickly and easily.

To manufacture the inventive urban assault ladder module, the manufacturer may affix a connector to one end of a pipe, forming a rung having a female end operative to accommodate a male end of an adjacent rung. The manufacturer may drill holes through each end of the pipe transverse to its longitudinal axis. The manufacturer may tie a knot forming a loop in the center of a static rope and may feed each end of the rope through opposite holes of the pipe, placing rope stops on the bottom and top thereof. Additional pipes may be installed on the rope at an interval of approximately 12 inches between pipes. During assembly, the rope length may be adjusted depending on height requirements. For example, the length may be about twelve feet for a short climb and may be about twenty-four feet for a long climb.

A step stop or rope stop is a knot which keeps each step or rung in a predetermined position on the rope. Each rung has 2 stops in the rope underneath the rung. A step stop on the top rung prevents the ladder from being wobbly. The bottom rung also includes a step stop at each end. A rope stop may be installed on the top of each end of each rung as well.

The materials of manufacture are not particularly limited, provided they are light and sufficiently sturdy to safely hold at least one large individual. For example, the complete ladder system may be about 3.1 pounds and may be effective to support a load weight of about 500 pounds. In other words, the ladder may hold about 160 times as much weight as it weighs. In some embodiments, the ladder steps may be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or carbon fiber to minimize noise during urban movement. The ladder may comprise non-abrasive static ropes, i.e., a low-elongation rope. For example, the rope may be an 8 mm non-abrasive static rope. The hook may be metal, such as steel.

Referring toFIGS.1through6, a collapsible urban assault ladder according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG.1in a pole position, assembled for installation on an obstacle34by a user36. The urban assault ladder is shown in a scaling position for ascending or descending inFIG.2. The ladder comprises parallel ropes24with loops28at each end retained by protective sleeves26. Rungs18with spaced apart rope holes20or bores formed therethrough are mounted on or fastened to the ropes24at evenly spaced intervals. A hook10is coupled to rope holes20at a first end of the ropes24via a locking carabiner16. The hook10has a bent shank with a base, legs extending laterally from the base and spaced at an angle, an attachment hole14or aperture formed through the base, and an inverted L-shaped rod or bayonet12extending from the shank.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the carabiner16engages the attachment hole14and the loops28at one end of the ropes24. Carabiners16may also be used to couple the loops28at the other end of the ropes24with loops28of another collapsible urban assault ladder (not shown).

Each rung18has a first end and an opposite second end with a connector22having a larger diameter than the rung18. The connector22is configured to accommodate the first end of a subsequent rung18, as shown inFIG.4.

FIG.5illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, having rungs30with connectors32having a smaller diameter than the rung30, such that the connector32of each rung30is accommodated by the other end of the subsequent rung30.

A method of using the urban assault ladders in combination is shown in the flowchart ofFIG.6. The user may assemble a collapsed ladder into the deployment pole configuration by inserting an end of each rung into the opposite end of the subsequent rung and placing the bayonet12of the hook10into the top rung118. If the pole is insufficiently tall to reach the top of the obstacle, the user may assemble a second collapsed ladder and place the hook of the second ladder into a bottom loop formed in a rope of the first ladder. The hook of the top ladder may be elevated to the top of the obstacle and secured in place. The user may then pull down on the assembled pole, disassembling the rungs to form a ladder.