AN ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS

Abstract: An attachment for a ladder (9) is described comprising an elongated member (1) having a rubber wheel (2) at each end to engage and grip a wall (10) against which the attachment rests. The mid-portion of the elongated member (1) is shaped into a loop (6) which is bent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the member (1) to form two side portions (7) between the ends of the member (1) and the loop (6) such that the loop (6) is offset from the longitudinal axis of the member (1). The loop (6) when the attachment is fitted, partially encircles and overlies a rung (11) of the ladder (9), the side portions (7) engaging the stiles (12) of the ladder (9), each wheel (2) extending sideways beyond the ladder to provide a gravitational assist to retain the loop (6) in engagement with the rung (11).

Description: AN ATTACHMENT FOR IADDERS This invention relates to an attachment for ladders of the type having stiles and rungs. Various attachments are available which are secured to a ladder to support it in a "stand-off" condition from a wall against which it is rested. However, these known attachments have the disadvantage that the attachment is secured to the ladder by separate brackets and/or springs to prevent movement of the ladder relative to the attachment. An aim of the present invention is to provide an attachment which is securely mounted on a ladder and is held firmly in position by the combined weight of the ladder and the user against a supporting wall without separate fittings. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an attachment for a ladder comprising an elongated member with friction means at or near each end to grip a surface against which the elongated member is placed, the mid-portion of the elongated member being shaped into a loop which is bent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member to form two side portions between the ends of the elongated member and the loop such that the loop is off-set from the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. Preferably, each side of the loop of the elongated member is curved towards the friction means. Conveniently the friction means are in the form of wheels rotatably mounted on spigots formed at the ends of the elongated member. In a preferred construction the elongated member is made of tubular metal of a strong light-weight material. Alternatively the elongated member may be made of a solid rod of light-weight metal or plastics material. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an attachment for a ladder to locate at the front of a ladder, i.e. the part which faces a wall or other surface against which the ladder is to be supported, the attachment comprising an elongated member having a low friction means at each end to engage the wall or other surface, a central portion of the elongated member which is contoured to partially encircle and overlie a rung of the ladder from the rear of the ladder, and side portions between the central and each of the low friction means extending sideways beyond the ladder in a fowardly and downwardly manner to provide a gravitational assist to the retention of the central portion in engagement with the rung. The central portion is preferably further retained in engagement with the rung when the ladder is placed at an angle against the wall or other surface by virtue of the engagement of the low friction means on the wall or other surface. The side portions are preferably curved and provide a "stand-off" facility. The central portion is conveniently contoured into a substantially sinusoidal shape which is also convex so that the central portion overlies the run while the lower part of the central portion locates unde the rung. The attachment is fitted by inverting it, placing the central portion between the stiles of th ladder just below a selected rung, then turning th attachment downwards so that the side portions and lowe friction means swing downwards while the contoure central portion rotates upwards and curves around th rung. An embodiment of the invention will now b described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an underneath plan view of the attachment according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the shaped mid-portion of the attachment? Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a ladder fitted with the attachment of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the ladder and attachment shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the ladder and attachment shown in Figures 3 and 4. The attachment for a ladder comprises an elongated tubular member 1 of a light-weight metal having a wheel 2 of relatively low friction material, e.g. rubber, rotatably mounted at each end. The ends of the tubular member are swaged to a reduced diameter to form spigots 3 on which the wheels 2 are located, each having a bush 4 of plastics material on which the wheel is rotatably mounted. The wheels 2 are secured to the spigots 3 by plastic caps 5. The mid-portion of the elongated tubular member 1 is shaped into a loop 6 which is bent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member and forms two side portions 7 which are bent at an angle to the elongated member to "off-set" the right angled loop 6 from the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. Arms 8 of the member 1 are formed at each side of the bent loop 6 and curve towards the wheels 2 to provide a stand-off facility when the attachment is mounted on a ladder, as will be hereinafter described. As shown in Figures 3 to 5 the attachmnent 1 is mounted on a ladder 9 to lie at the front of the ladder facing a wall 10 or other surface as shown in Figure 5. The loop 6 is linked to a selected rung 11 of the ladder 9 by locating it between the ladder stiles 12 so that the two side portions 7 extend sideways from the ladder engaging the stiles 12. The arms 8 of the attachment curve inwards so that the wheels 2 engage the wall. 10 supporting the top of the ladder in a "stand-off" condition. The mid-portion of the attachment is substantially sinusoidal and also convex so that the loop 6 overlies the rung 11 while the side portions 7 locate under the rung and against the front the ladder stiles 12. The arms 8 of the attachment extend sideways from the ladder and curve forwardly and downwardly. Thus when the attachment is mounted on a ladder, the wheels 2 are below the level of the mid-portion and the geometry of the attachment therefore tends by gravity to increase the engagement of the loop 6 with the rung 11, and this is further increased when the wheels 2 abut the wall 10. The curvature of the arms 8 provides a "stand-off" facility, whereby the ladder is set back from the wall 10. This enables the ladder to avoid down pipes and gutters. The attachment 1 is fitted to the ladder 9 by inverting the attachment, placing the mid-portion between the ladder stiles 12 just below the selected rung 11, then turning the attachment downwards so that the arms 8 and wheels 2 swing downwards while the shaped mid-portion rotates upwards and the loop 6 curves around the rung 11. In addition the mid-portion can be reversed and can be used for other purposes, e.g. mounted on the back of the ladder, the side facing away from the wall 10, to provide a platform which may be attached several rungs below, as required, to provide a comfortable foot rest for the user. Various modifications may be made to the attachment described and illustrated. For example, instead of the attachment being made from the light¬ weight tubular metal, it may be made from a solid rod of metal, plastics or other suitable light-weight material. Although the attachment is ideally to be made as a one-piece unit apart from the wheels, the elongated tubular member may be collapsible into a more compact size for storage and transport, providing the joints are easily assembled and robust. An example of such a joint is a telescopic arrangement whereby the joint is locked in its extended position.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An attachment for a ladder, characterised in that it comprises an elongated member (1) with friction means (2) at or near each end to grip a surface (10) against which the elongated member (1) is placed, the mid-portion of the elongated member (1) being shaped into a loop (6) which is bent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member (1) to form two side portions (7) between the ends of the elongated member (1) and the loop (6) such that the loop (6) is off-set from the longitudinal axis of the elongated member (1) . 2. An attachment as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each side of the loop (6) of .the elongated member (1) is curved towards the friction means (2). 3. An attachment as claimed in claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the friction means are in the form of wheels (2) rotatably mounted on spigots formed at the ends of the elongated member (1). 4. An attachment as claijned in any preceding claJLm, characterised in that the elongated member (1) is made of a strong tubular light-weight material. 5. An attachment as claijned in any of cla.ims 1 to 3, characterised in that the elongated member (1) is made of a strong rod of a light-weight material. 6. An attachment as claimed in claijns 4 or 5, characterised in the material is a metal. 7. An attachment as claimed in claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the material is a plastics material. 8. An attachment as cla.imed in any preceding claim, characterised in that it is collapsible into a reduced size for packing or transportation. 9. An attachment as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that it has one or more telescopic joints which can be locked in their extended position. 10. An attachment for a ladder (9) to locate at the front of the ladder, i.e. the part which faces a wall or other surface against which the ladder is to be supported, characterised in that the attachment comprises an elongated member (1) having a low friction means (2) at each end to engage the wall or other surface (10), a central portion of the elongated member which is contoured to partially encircle and overlie a rung (11) of the ladder (9) from the rear of the ladder (9), and side portions (8) between the central and each low friction means extending sideways beyond the ladder (9) in a forwardly and downwardly manner to provide a gravitational assist to the retention of the central portion in engagement with the rung (11).

Inventors: SMITH SAMUEL DAVID, SMITH, SAMUEL, DAVID
Applicants: SMITH SAMUEL DAVID, SMITH, SAMUEL, DAVID
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E06C7
IPC codes: E06C7