Abstract:
The Vehicle Ladder Mounting System is comprised of two parallel or nearly parallel (angled) guide rails and one or two end accepting means. The embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System can be easily adapted, augmented, and modified because of the structure of the guide rails (or aluminum channels in the guide rails). The vehicle ladder mounting system can be mounted to a tubular or solid cross-member by a clamping means using a universal mounting clamp. The design of the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System allows for multiple configurations as the guide rails can be adjusted to fit the width and/or angle of the ladder. The design of the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System allows the width and/or angle to be fixed by means of the use of interior cross-member assemblies thus forming a cradle to support the ladder.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/486,607, filed on Jun. 1, 2012, now pending. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/486,607 is a divisional application of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/691,450, filed on Mar. 26, 2007, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,717 on Jun. 26, 2012. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/691,450 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/743,778, filed on Mar. 25, 2006. This application claims benefit of U.S. Utility application Ser. Nos. 13/486,607 and 11/691,450 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/743,778. U.S. Utility application Ser. Nos. 13/486,607 and 11/691,450, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/743,778 are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0004]    1. Field of Embodiments 
         [0005]    The field of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations generally involves the support of objects on top of vehicles and more specifically the support of ladders on vehicles. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0007]    The prior art involves the support means mounted to the bed, top or sides of vans, pickup or utility trucks for ladders. The support means can be as rudimentary as a bracket mounted to the truck in which the ladder rests on the truck. The support means can also comprise a metal frame installed onto the truck bed or top of a van. 
         [0008]    There are many drawbacks to the current state of the art in ladder support devices. Most significantly, current inventions do not allow for the ability to easily guide a ladder onto and off of a preexisting vehicle ladder rack or roof rack and preventing the ladder from shifting as the vehicle is in motion. The current state of the art does not allow for a wide variety of configurations for accepting varying types of ladders. Further, current inventions do not allow for the easy attachment of guide rails to the support devices. The embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations addresses these concerns. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System, are comprised of a guide rail assembly, a plurality of support assemblies and one or more end accepting means. The guide rail assembly of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations is comprised of two parallel or near parallel (angled) guide rails connected by a one or more end accepting means, at one or both ends of the guide rails. Or in other words, the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations is comprised of one or more end accepting means, at one or both ends of the guide rails and also may be connected by a plurality of interior cross-member assemblies.” The embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations also comprises a guide rail design that allows for a wide variety of configurations to be made due to the plurality of square channels formed by the guide rails. The guide rails allow for flexible installation on a variety of surfaces and vehicles. The guide rails in particular allow for highly flexible assembly of a variety of configurations. The embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations can be easily adapted, augmented, and modified because of the structure of the aluminum channel. The design of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations allows for multiple configurations as the guide rail can be attached to a pre-existing cross-member in many configurations via a clamping or bolt-nut combination. Therefore, due to the flexibility of the rails nearly limitless configurations can be constructed. 
         [0010]    This description, and the detailed description below, is not intended to limit the number of configurations of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations as the system to make these easily configurable arrangements is the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations described herein, not merely the various configurations posed as examples. 
         [0011]    One embodiment of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations is comprised of a clamping system which allows the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System to be mounted to any pre-existing ladder or roof rack made for vehicles by means of clamping to the racks cross-members by using a universal mounting clamp comprised of two clamping plates. 
         [0012]    Depending on the application requirements of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations, various configurations of the guide rail systems can be attained to meet specific shape of the ladder to be carried on the user&#39;s ladder or roof rack. This is done by adjusting the guide rails to be parallel and spaced apart to a specified width, thus fitting the user&#39;s specific extension ladder. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the embodiments that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0014]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiment or embodiments are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be used as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments. Additional benefits and advantages of the embodiments will become apparent in those skilled in the art to which the present embodiments relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. 
         [0015]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the embodiments of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the embodiments in any way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the guide rail used in the guide rail assembly. This figure also illustrates how a plurality bolts can be inserted into and arranged along the channels of the rails. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment of a guide rail to any pre-existing cross-member by bolting directly through the cross-member. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  shows the shows the polymeric pad installed into a guide rail;  FIG. 3B  shows the installation of a polymeric pad into a guide rail and shows how the male slot formed by the polymeric pad is accepted by the female slot of a guide rail embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the parallel position showing interior cross-member supports (cradles);  FIG. 4B  is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the parallel position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the parallel position;  FIG. 5B  is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the parallel position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the acceptance of a step ladder into the guide rails;  FIG. 6B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the acceptance of an extension ladder into the guide rails. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the acceptance of a step ladder into the guide rails;  FIG. 7B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the acceptance of a step ladder into the guide rails. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position showing interior cross-member supports (cradles);  FIG. 8B  is top view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position;  FIG. 8C  is side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position;  FIG. 9B  is top view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the attachment to pre-existing cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position;  FIG. 9C  is side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10A  is a front view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a round cross-member;  FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a round cross-member;  FIG. 10C  is a front view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a square cross-member;  FIG. 10D  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a square cross-member;  FIG. 10E  is a front view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a rectangular cross-member;  FIG. 10F  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp engages a rectangular cross-member. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an end accepting means, a roller end cap, terminating an end of the vehicle ladder mounting system;  FIG. 11B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an end accepting means, a roller end cap, terminating an end of the vehicle ladder mounting system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an end accepting means, an aluminum and/or polymeric end cap, terminating an end of the vehicle ladder mounting system along with an aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard on the vertical wall of the guide rail;  FIG. 12B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an end accepting means, an aluminum and/or polymeric end cap, terminating an end of the vehicle ladder mounting system along with an aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard on the vertical wall of the guide rail;  FIG. 12C  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an end accepting means, an aluminum and/or polymeric end cap, terminating an end of the vehicle ladder mounting system along with an aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard on the vertical wall of the guide rail. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing a polymeric slip pad engaged on both the vertical and horizontal interior walls of the guide rail;  FIG. 13B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing a polymeric slip pad being engaged on either or both the vertical and horizontal interior walls of the guide rail. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the end of a guide rail where an alternative aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard engaged in a guide rail;  FIG. 14B  is the opposite perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing the end of a guide rail where an alternative aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard engaged in a guide rail. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15A  is a top view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system without pre-existing or interior cross-members showing a ladder rack in an orientation for accepting an extension ladder with the guide rails in the parallel position allowing the guide rails to be adjusted to fit the width of the ladder along with the adjustable end accepting means;  FIG. 15B  is a top view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system without pre-existing cross-members or interior cross-members showing a ladder rack in an orientation for accepting a step ladder with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position allowing the guide rails to be adjusted to fit the width of the ladder along with the adjustable end accepting means. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16A  is a top view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing a ladder rack affixed to pre-existing cross-members but without interior cross-members showing a ladder rack in an orientation for accepting an extension ladder with the guide rails in the parallel position allowing the guide rails to be adjusted to fit the width of the ladder along with the adjustable end accepting means;  FIG. 16B  is a side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing a ladder rack affixed to pre-existing cross-members but without interior cross-members showing a ladder rack in an orientation for accepting an extension ladder with the guide rails in the parallel position allowing the guide rails to be adjusted to fit the width of the ladder along with the adjustable end accepting means. 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system shown on a pre-existing roof rack on an SUV with interior cross-members with the guide rails in the nearly parallel (angled) position to accept a step ladder along with fixed end accepting means on both ends of the guide rails. 
           [0033]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an interior cross-member attaching to a guide rail along with the polymeric pad on top of the interior cross-member. The interior cross-member supports (cradles) the ladder as it slides along the guide rails and affixes the two guide rails together.  FIG. 18B  is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing an interior cross-member attaching to a guide rail along with the polymeric pad on top of the interior cross-member. The interior cross-member supports (cradles) the ladder as it slides along the guide rails and affixes the two guide rails together. 
           [0034]      FIG. 19A  is a front view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the universal mounting clamp can be adjusted to accommodate various widths of ladders by adjusting the guide rails closer together or further apart;  FIG. 19B  is a front view of an embodiment of the vehicle ladder mounting system showing how the guide rails can be fixed at a specific width using interior cross-members. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    The embodiments of the Vehicle Ladder Mounting System for Custom Installations (hereinafter “Ladder Mounting System”)  100  are comprised of two guide rails  101  along with one or more end accepting means  1101  and or  1201  connected to a plurality of cross-members  401 . The cross-members  401  are pre-existing on the vehicle or provided by the user. A rail  101  is broadly defined as a long, narrow member that can be fabricated with a variety of cross sections and from a variety of metallic materials. In a preferred embodiment, the guide rails  101  are manufactured of aluminum. In a preferred embodiment, the rail  101  is comprised of an “L” shaped cross-section. The two interior surfaces of the “L” shaped cross-section form a right or ninety degree (90°) angle. The two exterior surfaces of the “L” shape form a reflex angle of two-hundred and seventy degrees (270°). See  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . 
         [0036]    In another preferred embodiment of the Ladder Mounting System, each exterior surface forms “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  (see  FIG. 1 ) for a total see  FIG. 2 ). This preferred embodiment is termed the guide rail  103 . The guide rail embodiment allows for flexibility in constructing the Ladder Mounting System specific to the user&#39;s needs. By sliding bolts  102  along the channels (see  FIG. 1 ) the location of the bolts  102  along the channels can be adjusted and unique, custom configurations of guide rail assemblies can be formed. The guide rail embodiment also allows for different mounting options for adding onto ladder racks from other manufacturers and for user-supplied supports. 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment of the Ladder Mounting System, the guide rail  101  is comprised of smaller sub-channels that run the length of the guide rail. The two interior surfaces each form a small “T” shaped sub-channel  104  that runs the length of the guide rail. See  FIG. 1 . The exterior surfaces each form “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  that run the length of the guide rail. See  FIG. 1 . The interior walls of the guide rail  101 , or those walls that form a right angle, are smooth and rigid to aid the smooth loading of a ladder onto the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System. 
         [0038]    In another preferred embodiment of the Ladder Mounting System, the small “T” shaped sub-channel  104  that runs the length of the rail can accept corresponding slots, grooves or channels of accessories including, but not limited to, a polymeric slip pad. 
         [0039]    The “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  that run the length of the guide rail can accept the head of a bolt. The bolt may slide along the length of the guide rail in the “T” shaped bolt sub-channels. The head of the bolt is incapable of being removed from the square channel except at the ends of the square channels located at the end of the guide rails. See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  can accept the head of a bolt by sliding the bolt head from either end of the channel. Most importantly, the “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  do not allow the bolt to turn as the width of the channel is only slightly larger than the size of the bolt to allow the bolt to slide along the length of the guide rail  101 , but not allow the bolt to turn. The “T” shaped bolt sub-channels  103  do not allow the bolt head to move perpendicularly to the aluminum channel as the bolt head is restrained by small channel. 
         [0040]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System are comprised of a guide rail assembly that can be mounted to a tubular or solid cross-member  401  by means of clamping using such as the universal mounting clamps  402 . The universal mounting clamps  402  can be affixed to a cross-member  401  with a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes. See  FIG. 8 . 
         [0041]    In addition, other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System are comprised of fasteners connecting through the guide rails directly to the cross-member  401 . A rail  101  can be secured to any object  203 , including cross-members  401  that are user supplied, that can accept a bolt through the object. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , bolts  201  can be inserted into channels at appropriate location and affixed to the object to which the guide rail is to be secured. The bolts are then passed through the holes in the object  203  and secured with nuts  202 . 
         [0042]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  are comprised of one or more interior cross-members  1701  and one or more longitudinal members  1702 . The interior cross-members  1701  and the longitudinal members  1702  are capable of accepting non-slip pads. The interior cross-members  1701  extend horizontally from one rail to the other rail anywhere in the middle of the rail assembly. The longitudinal members  1702  extend from one interior cross-members  1701  to another interior cross-members  1701 . The combination of two interior cross-members  1701  and at least one longitudinal members  1702  create a basket for accepting ladders preventing the ladder from falling through embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System. In addition, interior cross-members  1701  provide extra lateral support for embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System. 
         [0043]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  comprise an end accepting means. The end accepting means is any device that allows for easy insertion and removal of a ladder into and from the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System. An end accepting means includes a roller end cap  1101 . See  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B . An end accepting means also includes an aluminum and/or polymeric end cap  1201 . See  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B . Both the roller end cap  1101  and the polymeric end cap  1201 . Rollers  1201  can be added to the channels  101  in a manner similar to accessories. Bolts  102  are positioned at the appropriate location along the square or rectangular channels formed by the guide rail, typically at the end of the guide rail  101  for installation of a roller  1201 . The bolts  102  are inserted through holes in the roller  1201 , and the bolts are secured by nuts  202 . The rollers  1201  permit easy load-on and load-off of the ladders onto the ladder rack system  100 . 
         [0044]    Polymeric slip pads  301  may be installed onto the channels  101  at locations that aid the loading of ladders. The polymeric slip pads  301  form channels and grooves that accept the appropriate channel and grooves on the guide rails. See  FIG. 11 . The polymeric slip pads  301  may be installed onto a channel  101  and accept the channels and ridges on the channel  101 . The polymeric slip pads can be inserted onto a channel  101  and provide a non-stick surface that allows ladders to more easily slide along the channels  101 . 
         [0045]    The Ladder Mount System  100  can be secured to preexisting or add-on roof rack, luggage rack, ladder rack or any type rack. The Ladder Mounting System  100  can be mounted to a tubular or solid cross-member  401  by means of a clamping means or fastening means through the cross-member  401  using a universal mounting clamp. The Ladder Mounting System  100  is comprised of an end-accepting means  403 . The end-accepting means  403  includes an adjustable or fixed roller or loading pad that extends from one rail to the other rail and allows for easier loading or unloading of the ladder. 
         [0046]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  are comprised of adjustable guide rails that make up the Ladder Mounting System that can be adjusted in width apart from each other which allows for storage of different sizes of ladders. 
         [0047]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  are comprised of guide rails that make up the Ladder Mounting System can be adjusted from parallel to nearly parallel (angled) to fit the sloped sides of a step ladder. 
         [0048]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  are comprised of an interior cross-member  1701  capable of accepting non-slip pads and extending horizontally from one rail to the other rail anywhere in the middle of the guide rails which would affix the guide rails creating a cradle for accepting ladders and where the guide rails could be either parallel or nearly parallel (angled). 
         [0049]    Other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  are of polymeric cross-member pads  1801  that clip over an interior cross-member  1701  help for an interior piece that will help cradle the ladder. The vehicle ladder mounting system described are comprised of an aluminum and/or polymeric edge guard  1401  that can be attached to the ends of the guide rails that helps guide the ladder along the guide rails and protects from interference between the ends of the guide rails and the ladder. In other embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System  100  all components except fasteners are manufactured from polymeric materials, reinforced polymeric materials, or composite polymeric materials.