Ladder rack system

A ladder rack includes: a frame assembly mountable on a vehicle, the frame assembly having at least two cross bows each including a principal length extending between opposite first and second ends; a pivot bracket pivotally coupled to the first ends of each cross bow, each pivot bracket adapted to support one side rail of a ladder, and each pivot bracket being pivotally moveable between a first position corresponding to the stowage position and a second position corresponding to the loading/unloading position; a stationary bracket disposed on each cross bow intermediate the first and second ends thereof, each stationary bracket adapted to abut another side rail of a ladder in the stowage position; a torsion bar interconnecting the pivot brackets; and a manually operable handle coupled to one of the torsion bar or a pivot bracket for moving the pivot brackets between the stowage position and the loading/unloading position.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a ladder rack, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for loading and unloading ladders onto/from vehicles.

Ladders and sometimes other large pieces of equipment are often transported by motor vehicles, such as utilizing racks mounted to the roofs of service or work vehicles, including vans and trucks. The loading and unloading of ladders and other equipment from roof-mounted racks requires awkward lifting of heavy, cumbersome ladders which may result in damage to vehicles and ladders or strain and injury to persons attempting to load or unload the ladders.

Numerous devices have been developed and used for receiving and securely storing ladders for various purposes including stationary storage or for transportation. Such devices address a number of considerations that are unique to storing and securing ladders. For example, since most ladders are bulky and long regardless of their weight, it is difficult to store a ladder in many locations, particularly upon vehicle roofs. Moreover, the large size and heavy weight of many ladders can make ladder lifting, manipulation, and other movement during storage a difficult and dangerous process. Several ladder racks have been developed to address these problems. However, such ladder racks are typically complex, expensive, and bulky.

Although the storage of ladders in any situation involves some challenge, vehicular applications are particularly problematic. Many conventional vehicle ladder racks require the user to lift the ladder some distance to place the ladder on the rack. This process can be difficult especially when only one person is trying to lift and manipulate a heavy and/or long ladder onto a ladder rack. Other vehicle ladder racks require manipulation of the ladder itself after a ladder has been loaded on the rack. Such ladder racks are designed to provide for ladder storage on top of a vehicle or otherwise in a high position on the vehicle. The additional weight of the portion of the ladder rack that has to be manipulated together with the weight of the ladder after a ladder has been loaded thereon increases the total weight that a user of the rack has to manipulate.

Thus, there is a need for a ladder rack that can be used in vehicular applications that is easy to use and provides for easy ladder loading/unloading and access. Further, there is a need for a ladder rack that can be easily manipulated to move a ladder between ladder storage and loading/unloading positions.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure comprehends a vehicle ladder rack for supporting a ladder in a stowage position, and for moving the ladder between the stowage position and a loading/unloading position from which a ladder can be loaded onto, or unloaded from, the rack. The ladder rack includes a frame assembly mountable on a vehicle, and the frame assembly includes at least two cross bows each having a principal length extending between opposite first and second ends. The frame assembly also includes a pivot bracket pivotally coupled to the first ends of each cross bow, and each pivot bracket is adapted to support one side rail of a ladder. Each pivot bracket is pivotally moveable between a first position corresponding to the stowage position and a second position corresponding to the loading/unloading position. The frame assembly includes a stationary bracket disposed on each cross bow intermediate the first and second ends thereof, and each stationary bracket adapted to abut another side rail of a ladder in the stowage position. A torsion bar interconnects the pivot brackets. The frame assembly further includes a manually operable handle coupled to one of the torsion bar or a pivot bracket for moving the pivot brackets between the stowage position and the loading/unloading position.

An advantage of the present disclosure relates to the ease of placing a ladder on the ladder rack by one person. Another advantage of the present disclosure is that a user may manipulate a ladder more efficiently. A further advantage of the present disclosure relates to the adjustability of the ladder once it is placed on the ladder rack.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily appreciated based upon the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-4, a vehicle ladder rack110is illustrated that provides for supporting a ladder100in a stowage position, and moving the ladder100easily between the stowage position (e.g.,FIG. 3) and a loading/unloading position (e.g.,FIG. 4) at which the ladder100can be loaded onto the rack110or unloaded from the rack110.

The ladder rack of the present application may be used in any application or environment, but has particular advantages when used on a vehicle. Accordingly, although the rack110in the accompanying figures and described hereinafter is for a vehicular application, it should be noted that this application is presented by way of example only, and does not indicate or imply that the present application is limited to vehicular applications. Similarly, the ladder rack of the present application is illustrated and described for use on a vehicle which may include a car, van, truck, or the like.

The vehicle ladder rack includes a frame assembly90mountable on a vehicle200, the frame assembly90having at least two cross bows1a,1b, each having a principal length extending between opposite first2a,2band second3a,3bends. In an example, the opposite first2a,2band second3a,3bends are situated beyond respective sidewalls205,210of the vehicle200.

Cross bows1a,1bare mountable to a vehicle200, such as the vehicle roof, as shown, by means of brackets10or the like. Cross bows1a,1bmay be fashioned from any suitable material, although in the illustrated example cross bows1a,1bare formed from metal, and more particularly from aluminum. In an example, the cross bows1a,1bextend across the roof of a vehicle200.

The cross bows may be mounted to the vehicle using a securement feature120. In the example of at leastFIG. 9, the securement feature120is fixedly secured to a central portion of the cross bows1a,1band the roof of the vehicle200. The securement feature120may be secured to the cross bows1a,1busing a fastener such as a screw, nut/bolt, or the like. The cross bows1a,1bpreferably have a shape that generally conforms to the shape of the roof of a vehicle and are positioned at a distance above the roof to provide adequate clearance for objects that are to be stored on the ladder rack110.

Although two cross bows1a,1bare illustrated in this example, it should be appreciated that various numbers of cross bows may be mounted on the roof of a vehicle or on other portions of a vehicle. It may be possible to mount the ladder rack110to vehicles such as trucks, including pick-up trucks and flatbed trucks that do not have roofs which extend beyond the cab of such vehicles.

Optionally, each cross bow1a,1bincludes a sliding track4a,4b(identical track4bnot shown) therein (FIG. 5). As shown, each sliding track4a,4bfurther defines therein an elongate slot5a,5b(identical slot5bnot shown) which permits the securement, via a fastener such as nuts/bolts, for instance, of various optional hardware within the sliding tracks4a,4b. The elongate slot5a,5bmay extend along a single portion, multiple portions, or an entirety of one or both of the sliding tracks4a,4b. Further, and also optionally, the foregoing construction permits the stationary brackets20to be adjustably positioned along the length of each cross bow1a,1bto accommodate ladders of varying widths.

The ladder assembly also includes a pivot bracket15which is pivotally coupled to the first ends2a,2bof each cross bow1a,1b. Each pivot bracket15is adapted to support one side rail of a ladder (as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4), and each pivot bracket15being pivotally moveable between a first position (shown inFIG. 3) corresponding to the stowage position and a second position (shown inFIG. 4) corresponding to the loading/unloading position. In an example, the pivot bracket15has a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the cross bows1a,1bduring the first position, and the pivot bracket15extends in an essentially horizontal direction to the cross bows1a,1bduring the second position. It is to be understood that various configurations of pivot brackets15can be incorporated and used in the ladder rack system110of the present application.

In an example, the pivot bracket may include a pivot bracket receiving portion15awhich allows for the secured attachment of a ladder grip16. As the pivot bracket receiving portion15aextends along a portion of the pivot bracket15, the ladder grip16may be variably positioned to accommodate variously sized ladders.

The ladder grip16in an example may include a base16a, a first ladder grip portion16b, a second ladder grip portion16c, and a pair of wings16d. The ladder grip base16acouples to the pivot bracket15via the pivot bracket receiving portion15a. The first ladder grip portion16bextends from an end portion of the ladder grip base16ain a first upward direction above a ladder100situated in a storage position. The second ladder grip portion16cextends in a second upward direction above the ladder100situated in the storage position. In this example, the second upward direction may have a greater vertical angle than the first upward direction in relation to the base16a. The ladder grip16may additionally include a pair of wings16dwhich extend in an upward direction from respective longitudinal end portions of the ladder grip base16a. The ladder grip base16amay extend in a same direction as the pivot bracket15.

In another example, the ladder grip16may include a base16a, an extended ladder grip portion16e, and a pair of wings16d. The ladder grip base16acouples to the pivot bracket15via the pivot bracket receiving portion15a. The extended ladder grip portion16eextends from an end portion of the ladder grip base16ain an upward direction above a ladder100situated in a storage position. The ladder grip16may additionally include a pair of wings16dwhich extend in an upward direction from respective longitudinal end portions of the ladder grip base16a. The ladder grip base16amay extend in a same direction as the pivot bracket15.

Each pivot bracket15may be provided with suitable padding to prevent unwanted damage to the ladder being supported by the ladder rack.

To abut the opposing side rail of a ladder in the stowage position (seeFIG. 3), stationary brackets20are disposed on each cross bow1a,1bintermediate the first2a,2band second3a,3bends thereof. The stationary bracket20may include a stationary bracket first portion20aand a stationary bracket second portion20b. The stationary bracket first portion20amay extend in an upward direction from a respective cross bow1a,1b. The stationary bracket second portion20bmay be detachable or integrally formed with the stationary bracket first portion20aand extend in a direction above a ladder100situated in a storage position.

In another example, the stationary bracket20may include a stationary bracket first portion20a, a stationary bracket second portion20b, a stationary bracket base20c, and a stationary bracket grip20d. The stationary bracket first portion20amay extend in an upward direction from a first end of the stationary bracket base20which is coupled to a respective cross bow1a,1b. The stationary bracket second portion20bmay be detachably or integrally formed with the stationary bracket first portion20aand extend in a direction above a ladder100situated in a storage position. The stationary bracket grip20dmay extend in an upward direction toward the first end2a,2bof the cross bow1a,1b. The stationary bracket grip20dmay be covered or coated with a polymeric material or a resilient deformable material such as rubber or urethane pieces or foam to increase gripping strength. In addition the cover or coating can be textured, ribbed, dimpled, grooved, curved, or otherwise shaped to prevent slippage.

As noted, each stationary bracket20is optionally adjustably secured, such as via nuts/bolts, within the optional sliding track4a,4bof cross bows1a,1b, thereby permitting the position of each stationary bracket20along the length of each cross bow1a,1bto be selectively adjusted to accommodate ladders of differing widths. Each stationary bracket20may also be provided with suitable padding to prevent unwanted damage to the ladder being supported by the ladder rack.

As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, a torsion bar25interconnects the pivot brackets15. This may be accomplished by bolting the ends of the torsion bar25to each pivot bracket, as depicted inFIG. 5, although other fasteners or fastening means may be employed.

Finally, a manually operable handle30coupled to one of the torsion bar25or a pivot bracket15is provided for moving the pivot brackets15between the stowage position and the loading/unloading position. In the illustrated example, handle30may best be seen inFIG. 5to be pivotally mounted on a bracket35secured, in turn, to the torsion bar25. According to this mounting arrangement, handle30may be pivotally moved between a stowage position (shown inFIG. 5), in which handle30is disposed generally parallel to the torsion bar25, and a deployed position (shown inFIG. 6), in which handle30projects generally outwardly away from torsion bar25. In the deployed position, as will be appreciated, handle30may be manually grasped by a user and manipulated to rotate torsion bar25and, in turn, pivotally move the pivot brackets15between the first and second positions thereof.

Optionally in order to secure the handle30in the stowage position thereof, there is provided on the torsion bar25a generally C-shaped bracket or clamp40dimensioned to receive and removably capture therein a portion of the handle30as shown inFIG. 5. In the illustrated example, clamp40further comprises a pair of opposed tabs41proximate the clamp opening, each tab including a bore42therethrough for receiving a pin45that, once positioned through bores42, serves to prevent the removal of handle30from clamp40. Pin45may, as shown, be tethered to the torsion bar25to prevent its loss, and may further include a latch46which can be selectively attached to the free end of pin45in order to further secure the pin45in position through the bores42. Additional means such as cable, cable locks, safety straps, lock hasps, etc. can be used to further secure the ladder to the ladder rack110of the present application.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, at least one spring50interconnects each of a cross bow1a,1band a pivot bracket15, the at least one spring50biases the pivot bracket15to the first position thereof. Spring50may be a gas spring, as shown, or another type of conventional spring.

A method of loading a ladder100onto the ladder rack110when the same is in the loading/unloading position thereof (FIG. 6) is described hereafter. The methodology begins with the step of placing an inboard side-rail101of the ladder on the cross bows1a,1b. The methodology advances to the step of positioning the inboard side-rail101so that the inboard side-rail101is on the cross bows1a,1bbetween the pivot brackets15and the stationary brackets20(FIG. 6), while an opposite side-rail102is positioned on the pivot brackets15(FIG. 6). The methodology advances further while in the existing position, and with the handle30in the deployed position thereof (FIG. 6), the ladder rack (and ladder) may be moved to the storage position (FIG. 7) with the step of manually operating the handle30to rotate the torsion bar25and, thus, pivot the pivot brackets15into the first position thereof (FIG. 7). In this position, it will be seen fromFIG. 7that the side-rails101,102of the ladder101are captured between the stationary20and pivot15brackets so that the ladder is secured atop the vehicle200. To unload the ladder from the vehicle200, the foregoing process is reversed to bring the pivot brackets15into the second position thereof (FIG. 6).

Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible n light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claim, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.