Work-step for extension ladder

A novel work-step attachment for an extension ladder is described. The work-step attachment generally comprises a platform which is secured to a ladder segment having two vertical side frames in parallel relationship and at least one horizontal rung extending therebetween. The work-step attachment also comprises a hooking element adapted to engage a rung of an extension ladder, as well as a locking element to lock the platform in a first position in which it is aligned with the rung of the ladder segment and in a second position in which it is substantially aligned in the plane of the parallel side frames of the ladder segment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a work-step attachment for an extension 
ladder and the combination so formed. More particularly, this invention is 
directed to a work-step which may be readily attached to a conventional 
extension ladder and collapsed and stored in situ on the ladder when the 
ladder is not in use. 
The narrow rungs present on the extension part of conventional extension 
ladders are difficult to use for extended periods of time, such as when 
painting or cleaning, because, as one climbs onto the extension part of 
the ladder, his/her feet must balance on single narrow rungs of the 
extension ladder. In typical use, the full weight of the body is 
positioned on a single narrow rung, which causes strain and discomfort to 
the user's legs and feet, especially over extended periods of time. 
Moreover, during such typical use, the user has little or no flexibility 
of movement because of the difficulty of balancing on the small narrow 
surface provided by the rung. 
Several attempts have been made to provide a wider foot support in the form 
of a work-step attachment for use with a ladder. These work step 
attachments, as exemplified by U.S. Des. Pat. No. 155,566 and U.S Pat. 
Nos. 2,415,289; 2,148,958; 1,735,003; 2,282,133; and 2,500,559, generally 
extend out of and away from the ladder. They also extend from the wall on 
which the ladder is to be rested. Because of this configuration, these 
work step attachments are difficult to use. They require the user to 
balance away from the ladder in order to mount the work-step. Moreover, 
these work step attachments are not foldable or collapsible and must be 
removed with each use. 
U.S. Pat. No. 248,041 describes the combination of a work-step attachment 
and an extension ladder. This arrangement, however, presents the same 
drawbacks previously discussed in that it extends out of the ladder and 
away from the wall on which the ladder is to be rested and, thus, is also 
difficult to mount. In addition, this work step must also be removed after 
each use. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
work-step attachment for an extension ladder which does not extend away 
from the wall on which the ladder is to be rested, thus providing greater 
stability and balance to a user stepping onto the work-step. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved work-step 
attachment for an extension ladder, such as a metal extension ladder, 
which step does not slip or slide when in use. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable 
work-step attachment for an extension ladder which, when not in use, may 
be conveniently collapsed allowing the ladder to be easily stored with the 
work-step mounted thereon. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved work-step 
attachment for an extension ladder which remains mounted on said extension 
ladder allowing the ladder to be used without having to disengage the 
work-step attachment when the attachment is not needed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, the present invention is a work-step attachment which is 
adapted for use with an extension ladder. 
For the purposes of this discussion, the elements of the work step 
attachment will be described from the point of reference of an observer 
looking upon a work-step that is mounted on an extension ladder which is 
placed in a substantially vertical position in use. The extension part of 
the extension ladder is the front of the ladder while the stationary 
section of the ladder is the back. 
The work-step attachment generally comprises a platform which is 
articulately secured to a ladder segment. The ladder segment has at least 
one horizontal rung. Preferably, the ladder segment has two horizontal 
rungs in parallel relationship with each other. The rung(s) extends 
between and is connected at right angles to first and second vertical side 
frames of the ladder segment. The platform rests partially on the rung and 
is essentially in axial alignment therewith. The platform generally 
comprises a rectangularly shaped, planar base upon which a user's feet may 
be placed when the ladder is in use. One side portion of the platform 
rests on the rung when the platform is in a first position. The balance of 
the platform extends away from the ladder segment and at substantially a 
right angle with the side frames when the platform is in said first 
position. The work step attachment further comprises hooking means fixedly 
secured to at least one of the side frames. The hooking means comprises a 
hook having a slightly convex, cam-like upper surface and terminating in a 
finger like projection. The hooking means has rotatably secured to it a 
latch which cooperates with the hook to secure the work-step attachment to 
an extension ladder. The ladder segment of the invention further comprises 
locking means fixedly secured to at least one of the vertical side frames 
of said ladder segment and engageably connected to said platform. The 
locking means is capable of locking said platform in a first position when 
it is coaligned with the rung on which it rests as when the platform is in 
use, and in a second position when it is substantially coaligned with the 
side frames as when the platform is not in use. 
The present invention, by providing a flat wide surface which extends 
toward the wall against which the ladder is rested, enables the user to 
stand more naturally and, thus, balance better than when standing on a 
conventional ladder rung. In addition, in contrast to prior work-steps, 
the present invention does not require the user to balance away from the 
ladder in order to mount the platform. 
Other features and advantages inherent in this invention will become 
apparent from an examination of the accompanying Drawings wherein like 
numbers are used to designate like-parts.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there are shown three views of a preferred 
embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 1, the work-step segment is shown 
individually with the platform horizontal as it would be during use. FIG. 
2 shows a segment of a ladder with the work step segment mounted thereon 
with the platform in a vertical position as it would be when not in use or 
when being stored. FIG. 3 shows the work-step segment mounted on an 
extension ladder with the platform in a horizontal position ready for use. 
Shown in the Figures is a work-step attachment, generally designated 10, 
which comprises in part platform 12. Platform 12 is shown as a 
rectangularly shaped, planar substrate having sidewalls 14, 16, 18 and 20. 
The platform is preferably made of metal but may be made of any other 
suitable material. Sidewalls 14 and 18 of platform 12 are affixed to side 
frames 22 and 24 of a ladder segment, which is generally designated 26. 
Side frames 22 and 24 are affixed to sidewalls 14 and 18, respectively, of 
platform 12 by metal angles 27 and 28 which are rotatably affixed to 
brackets 30 and 32 by bolts 34 and 35. At a position above brackets 30 and 
32, and between rungs 36 and 38 of ladder segment 26, are hooking elements 
40 and 42, which are affixed to side frames 22 and 24 by brackets 44 and 
46. Hooking elements 40 and 42 serve to hook onto and maintain the work 
step in position on an extension ladder. The structure and function of 
hooking elements 40 and 42 will be familiar to those skilled in the art as 
they are commonly found on existing extension ladders. Similar to hooking 
elements known in the art, hooking elements 40 and 42 generally comprise 
hooks 48 and 50, which terminate in finger-like projections 52 and 54. 
Finger-like projections 52 and 54 are rotatably connected to latches 56 
and 58 by bolts 60 and 62 as shown in the figures. Latches 56 and 58 are, 
in turn, also rotatably connected to arms 64 and 66. Arms 64 and 66 are 
then fixedly attached to brackets 44 and 46 by bolts 68 and 70. 
The above described hooking elements operate as exemplified in FIGS. 2, 3 
and 5. In use, hooks 48 and 50 are slid over and hooked onto rung 72 of 
entension ladder 73. When hooks 48 and 50 are hooked onto rung 72, this 
causes latches 56 and 58 to rotate about bolts 60 and 62, as is shown in 
the figures, and thereby lock hooks 48 and 50 in position over rung 72. In 
use, hooks 48 and 50 will only disengage when the user applies pressure to 
the work-step attachment along the longitudinal axis of the extension 
ladder. Application of such pressure causes rung 72 to push down on 
latches 56 and 58 causing them to rotate in a direction opposite to the 
pressure and thereby force hooks 48 and 50 to rotate in the same direction 
that pressure is applied and disengage from rung 72. 
Affixed to sidewall 18 of platform 12 is locking element 76. Locking 
element 76 comprises lock handle 78, which is rotatably connected to 
sleeve 80 (FIG. 4). Sleeve 80 is internally threaded to receive bolt 35 
which, in turn, is externally threaded so as to engage the inner surface 
of sleeve 80 in a mating relationship. As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, bolt 
35 affixes locking means 76 to bracket 32 and metal angle 28. When handle 
78 is turned, it rotates sleeve 80 and draws bolt 35 within sleeve 80 
until there is friction between bracket 32 and metal angle 28. Bolt 35 
thus serves to lock platform 12 either in a first position, in which it is 
coaligned with rung 36 on which it rests or, in a second position, in 
which it is coaligned with side frames 22 and 24. 
When not in use, as depicted in FIG. 2, platform 12 may be rotated about 
bolts 34 and 35 so that it is positioned vertically between rungs 36 and 
38 of ladder segment 26 and rests upon bolts 68 and 70 of brackets 44 and 
46. 
When the work-step is in use, as depicted by FIGS. 3 and 5, platform 12 is 
in a horizontal position extending towards the wall against which the 
ladder is to be rested so that a person using the work-step does not have 
to push back and away from the ladder in order to step onto the platform. 
Platform 12 is safely maintained in a horizontal position as respects the 
ground by adjusting locking element 76 so as to allow the platform to rest 
partly on rung 35, the lowest rung of the work-step ladder segment, and 
then frictionally locking the platform in this position as described 
above. 
The work-step of the present invention may have, optionally, one or two 
locking elements. A second locking element can be disposed on bracket 30. 
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, work-step attachment 10 is 
designed so that it may be used with conventional aluminum extension 
ladders. Thus, vertical side frames 22 and 24 of the work step segment may 
be designed so as to slidably engage side frames 74 and 75 of an aluminum 
extension ladder in a conventional manner as is used to engage the 
slidable portion of the extension ladder onto the fixed ladder portion of 
the ladder. Platform 12 may thus be conveniently folded out of the way 
when not in use without necessitating removal of the work-segment. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the platform is corrugated to 
provide extra protection against the user slipping. In addition, ladder 
segment 26 may comprise pulley 84 through which a rope may be threaded so 
as to enable the user to move the work-step attachment along the extension 
ladder by conventional means. 
As seen from the foregoing drawings and description, the present invention 
presents many advantages over the prior art. The present invention allows 
the user to comfortably stand while working on the ladder without unduly 
straining the feet or legs. The work-step attachment of the present 
invention provides a balanced workspace which extends away from the body 
of the user and towards the wall on which the ladder is rested thus posing 
no difficulty in mounting. In addition, the work-step segment is easy to 
use with conventional extension ladders and may be conveniently collapsed 
when not in use permitting the extension ladder to be used or stored 
without necessitating removal of the work-step. Thus, the work-step may 
remain permanently on the extension ladder and may be used only when 
needed without the added complications of removal and storage each time. 
In addition, locking element 76 provides an added degree of security and 
safety for the worker using the work-step.