Patent Publication Number: US-11377908-B2

Title: Ladder apron

Description:
FIELD 
     At least one example in accordance with the present invention relates generally to an accessory for ladders, and specifically to an apron for straight ladders or extension ladders. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the construction industry, ladders are used to access elevated areas of structures, including roofs. When accessing a roof, a straight ladder is often used. A straight ladder includes two parallel rails connected by steps or rungs. A particular type of straight ladder is an extension ladder, which does not support itself, unlike an A frame ladder, such as a step ladder. During a roofing construction project, an extension ladder is leaned against an edge of a roof so that a worker can access the roof as well as carry tools and equipment to the roof. 
     A worker often wears a tool belt around his waist while traversing up and down the ladder to access the roof. Keeping tools and equipment on hand has a benefit of convenient access for the worker, but includes a drawback of being encumbered by additional weight and making it difficult for the worker to operate in certain positions. When ascending and descending a ladder while wearing a tool belt, particularly when loaded with tools and building materials, such as hammers, nails, and screws, the tool belt or attached tools can become snagged on the ladder, leading to possible injury of the worker. 
     In other situations, a worker may leave his tool belt on the roof in order to unencumber himself. Removing the tool belt is beneficial to the worker because it gives him more flexibility to handle building materials and only use the equipment he needs at the moment, such as a hammer and a handful of nails. However, the separated tool belt poses a risk of falling off the roof and injuring a person below. 
     What is needed is an accessory that combines the benefit of convenient access to tools and building materials with the benefit of unencumbering the worker without the drawbacks associated with previous approaches. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects and embodiments are directed to an apron for use with a ladder including a straight ladder and an extension ladder. In one embodiment, the apron comprises a first sleeve configured to fit over an end of a first rail of the ladder, a second sleeve configured to fit over an end of a second rail of the ladder, and a panel of material secured to the first sleeve and to the second sleeve, the panel including at least one pocket attached to a front side of the panel. 
     In one embodiment, each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is enclosed on a top end thereof and is open on a bottom end thereof, the arrangement being such that the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide over the end of the first rail and the end of the second rail, respectively. The first sleeve is configured to slide over an end cap of the first rail and the second sleeve is configured to slide over an end cap of the second rail. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one pocket includes a flap configured to close an open edge of the at least one pocket. 
     In one embodiment, the apron further comprises at least one button or at least one magnet attached to the at least one pocket, the flap, or the front side of the panel. 
     In another embodiment, the apron further comprises at least one first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener material attached to the at least one pocket or the front side of the panel, and at least one second portion of a hook-and-loop fastener material attached to the flap. 
     In one embodiment, the apron further comprises a first portion of at least one metal snap fastener attached to the at least one pocket or the front side of the panel, and a second portion of the at least one metal snap fastener attached to the flap. 
     In another embodiment, the apron further comprises at least one button, metal snap fastener, magnet, or hook-and-loop faster configured to open and close the at least one pocket. 
     In one embodiment, the apron further comprises at least two pockets attached to the front side of the panel. 
     In another embodiment, at least one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve includes a loop configured to hold a tool. 
     In one embodiment, each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve includes a loop configured to hold a tool. 
     In another embodiment, the apron further comprises at least one safety strap secured to the panel, the at least one safety strap being configured to secure the apron to the ladder. 
     In one embodiment, the safety strap includes a first portion secured to one side of the panel and a second portion secured to an opposite side of the panel, a detachable buckle having a first buckle portion attached to the first portion of the strap and a second buckle portion attached to the second portion of the strap. 
     In another embodiment, the safety strap is affixed horizontally to the apron, such that the strap runs approximately parallel to rungs of the ladder and wraps around both the first rail and the second rail of the ladder. 
     In one embodiment, the safety strap includes a first portion secured to one side of the panel and a second portion secured to an opposite side of the panel, a first portion of a hook-and-loop fastener material attached to the first portion of the safety strap and a second portion of a hook-and-loop fastener material attached to the second portion of the safety strap. 
     In another embodiment, the apron is made of a material including one or more of: canvas, cotton, burlap, polyester, denim, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), leather, and nylon. 
     In one embodiment, the panel is stitched along one edge thereof to the first sleeve and along an opposite edge thereof to the second sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a ladder apron of an embodiment of the present disclosure being placed over rails of an extension ladder; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view from one perspective of the ladder apron secured to the extension ladder; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a front view from another perspective of the ladder apron secured to the extension ladder; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a front view of the ladder apron laid flat; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a back view of the ladder apron laid flat; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a front view of a ladder apron of another embodiment of the present disclosure laid flat; and 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a back view of the ladder apron laid flat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples of the ladder aprons discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The ladder aprons of embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. In particular, components, elements and features discussed in connection with any one or more examples are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in any other examples. 
     Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to examples, embodiments, components, or elements of the ladder aprons herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality, and any references in plural to any embodiment, component, or element herein may also embrace embodiments including only a singularity. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
     References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. In addition, in the event of inconsistent usages of terms between this document and documents incorporated herein by reference, the term usage in the incorporated features is supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable differences, the term usage in this document controls. 
     Examples described herein provide ladder aprons for use with straight ladders and extension ladders. In various examples, an apron is provided which has two sleeves configured to slide over two rails of a straight ladder or an extension ladder. The apron is useable with other types of ladders having two protruding rail portions similar to straight or extension ladders. The apron is made of a soft and flexible material that allows the apron to be conveniently folded and stored when not in use. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , an extension ladder  10  includes a first rail  12 , a second rail  14 , and one more steps or rungs  11  that separate the first rail  12  from the second rail  14  by a fixed distance. The first rail  12  has an end cap  16  and the second rail  14  has an end cap  18 . In one embodiment, the extension ladder  10  includes two sections that operate with one another to extend or shorten the overall length of the ladder. As shown, a ladder apron  1  is placed over the first rail  12  and the second rail  14  of extension ladder  10  in a direction  13  towards the ladder. 
     While  FIG. 1  shows an extension ladder being used with ladder apron  1 , any suitable straight ladder or ladder having rails may be used with ladder apron  1 . As explained in more detail below, the ladder apron  1  is secured to the rails of the ladder via specially designed sleeves, with the sleeves sliding over the rails  12 ,  14  of the ladder  10 . 
     The material or materials used to construct the ladder apron  1  can be selected depending on the desired cost and structural integrity desired for the ladder apron. For example, the ladder apron  1  can be constructed from one or one or more of: canvas, cotton, burlap, polyester, denim, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), leather, and nylon. While a rigid design is contemplated where the apron  1  is constructed from a material such as a hard plastic or a metal, using a soft and flexible material to construct the apron is preferred as it allows the apron to be conveniently folded and stored in small places or laid flat to occupy minimal storage space. 
     In an example, the ladder apron  1  is constructed using one or more pieces of material either sewn together, bonded together with an adhesive, riveted together, or through a combination of these attachment processes. The ladder apron  1  may be constructed with the same material throughout or with different materials depending on aesthetic and/or design needs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the ladder apron  1  is secured to the first rail  12  and the second rail  14  of the extension ladder  10 . As shown, the ladder apron  1  includes a panel  108 , a first sleeve  100  secured (as by stitching) to one side of the panel, and a second sleeve  102  secured (as by stitching) to an opposite side of the panel. The ladder apron  1  is configured so that the first sleeve  100  slips over the end of the first rail  12  and the second sleeve  102  slips over the end of the second rail  14  to secure the ladder apron to the extension ladder, with the panel  108  extending between the first rail  12  and the second rail  14 . The ladder apron  1  further includes a safety strap having a first strap portion  20  and a second strap portion  22  (shown in  FIG. 2B ). The ladder apron  1  further includes hook-and-loop fastener  70  and hook-and-loop fastener  72  provided on respective sleeves  100 ,  102 . The safety strap including first and second strap portions  20 ,  22  is discussed in more detail in the discussion of  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B . 
     In an example, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the first sleeve  100  has a loop  60  that is configured to hold a tool, such as a hammer. In another example, the loop  60  is configured to hold a screwdriver. In one example, the loop  60  is constructed from a material that stretches, such as elastic, so that a worker secures a tool to the first sleeve  100  by stretching the loop  60  around a tool and then releasing the loop  60  to secure the tool in place. In another example, the loop  60  is constructed from the same material as apron  1 . 
     When first sleeve  100  completely slides over first rail  12 , the loop  60  is arranged such that side  130  of the first sleeve is approximately perpendicular to front side  110  of the panel  108 , thereby keeping a tool held by loop  60  away from interfering with other components of the ladder apron  1 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a front view of the ladder apron  1  from a different perspective than  FIG. 2A , showing the ladder apron  1  being secured to the first rail  12  and the second rail  14  using the first sleeve  100 , the second sleeve  102 , and the safety strap having the second strap portion  22 . The ladder apron  1  includes hook-and-loop fastener  74  and hook-and-loop fastener  76  secured to the first sleeve  100  and the second sleeve  102 , respectively. 
     In one example, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the second sleeve  102  has a loop  62  that is configured to hold a tool, such as a hammer. In another example, the loop  62  is configured to hold a tool, such as a screwdriver. In one example, the loop  62  is constructed from a material that stretches, such as elastic, so that a worker secures a tool to the second sleeve  102  by stretching the loop  62  around a tool and then releasing the loop  62  to secure the tool in place. In another example, the loop  62  is constructed from the same material as apron  1 . 
     When second sleeve  102  completely slides over second rail  14 , the loop  62  is arranged such that side  140  of the second sleeve is approximately perpendicular to the front side  110  of the panel  108 , thereby keeping a tool held by loop  62  away from interfering with other components of the ladder apron  1 . 
     The first sleeve  100  is constructed to easily slip over the first rail  12  when the ladder apron is secured to the extension ladder  10 . Similarly, the second sleeve  102  is constructed to easily slip over the second rail  14  when the ladder apron is secured to the extension ladder  10 . One method of securing the ladder apron  1  to the extension ladder  10  is to simultaneously slip the first sleeve  100  over the first rail  12  and the second sleeve  102  over the second rail  14  until the ends of the rails  12 ,  14  engage the ends of the first and second sleeves. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the first sleeve  100  is connected to the second sleeve  102  via the panel  108 . The panel  108  includes one or more pockets. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the ladder apron  1  includes a first pocket  30  and a second pocket  32  secured to the front  110  of the panel  108 . While the dimensions (i.e., length and width) of the panel  108  depend on the width between the first rail  100  and the second rail  102 , typically 15-20 inches, the ladder apron  1  may be constructed to fit over any ladder width. 
     The ladder apron  1  has a top edge  112  of first sleeve  100  and a top edge  114  of second sleeve  102 . The top edge  112  is approximately co-planar with top edge  114  since the end caps  16 ,  18  of the rails  12 ,  14 , respectively, terminate at a common distance. When the first sleeve  100  completely slides over rail  12 , the interior of the sleeve beneath the top edge  112  comes into contact with end cap  16  (or the top of rail  12  if no end cap  16  is present). Likewise, when the second sleeve  102  completely slides over rail  14 , the interior of the sleeve beneath the top edge  114  comes into contact with end cap  18  (or the top of rail  14  if no end cap  18  is present). If the ladder  10  does not have one or two end caps, the apron would still function as expected. 
     In one example, each pocket  30 ,  32  is the same size such that their combined width spans the nearly or all of the entirety of the width of the panel  108  in order to maximize the number of tools, equipment, or fasteners that can be placed inside the pockets. In another example, one pocket is larger (in length, width, and/or depth) than the other pocket. In an example, pocket  30  is larger than pocket  32 . In another example, pocket  32  is larger than pocket  30 . In one example, the pockets are arranged in different configurations. In an example, pocket  30  is arranged above pocket  32  on panel  108 . In another example, pocket  32  is arranged above pocket  30  on panel  108 . In one example, one or more pockets may be included on panel  108  in addition to pocket  30  and pocket  32 . 
     In an example, each pocket  30 ,  32  attached to the front side  110  of apron  1  along panel  108  has a respective flap to secure the contents of the respective pocket. For example, flap  80  encloses pocket  30  and flap  82  encloses pocket  32 . 
     In one example, to keep the flap  80  in an open position (shown in  FIG. 3A ), a pair of pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  40 ,  44  are connected to one another to secure the flap in the open position. In another example, more than two hook-and-loop fasteners are attached to the flap  80  and a corresponding area of the panel  108  in order to keep the flap  80  open. 
     In one example, to keep the flap  82  in an open position (shown in  FIG. 3A ), a pair of pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  42 ,  46  are connected to one another to secure the flap in the open position. In another example, more than two hook-and-loop fasteners are attached to the flap  82  and a corresponding area of the panel  108  in order to keep the flap  82  open. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the open position using one or more metal snap fasteners in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  40 ,  44 , and  42 ,  46 , respectively. 
     In one example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the open position using one or more magnets in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  40 ,  44 , and  42 ,  46 , respectively. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the open position using one or more buttons in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  40 ,  44 , and  42 ,  46 , respectively. The one or more buttons are used to keep each flap  80  and  82  secured in the open position, where the one or more buttons are placed in the same locations as hook-and-loop fasteners  40 ,  42 , and one or more respective slot portions in the flaps  80 ,  82 , respectively, are configured to receive the one or more buttons in the same locations as hook-and-loop fasteners  44 ,  46 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a front view of a ladder apron  1  laid flat with front side  110  of the ladder apron  1  being shown.  FIG. 3B  is a back view of the ladder apron  1 , opposite to a side  120 . As discussed above, the ladder apron  1  includes the safety strap having the first strap portion  20  and the second strap portion  22 . The safety strap is affixed horizontally to the apron, such that the strap runs approximately parallel to rungs or steps  11  of ladder  10  and wraps around both the first rail  12  and the second rail  14 . The second strap portion  22  includes a hook-and-loop fastener  23 . The first sleeve  100  includes an opening  104  configured to receive the first rail  12  at a bottom side  116  of the first sleeve of the ladder apron  1 . Similarly, the second sleeve  102  includes an opening  106  configured to receive second rail  14  at a bottom side  118  of the second sleeve of the ladder apron  1 . The bottom side  116  is co-planar with bottom side  118 . 
     In one example, ladder apron  1  is folded by attaching hook-and-loop fastener  76  to hook-and-loop fastener  70 . 
     In one example, to keep flap  80  in a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ), a pair of pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  50  and  54  are connected. As shown, the hook and loop fastener  50  is secured to an inner surface of the flap  80  and the hook and loop fastener  54  is secured to an outer surface of the pocket  30 . In another example, more than two hook-and-loop fasteners can be attached to flap  80  and a corresponding area of pocket  30  in order to keep flap  80  closed. 
     In one example, to keep flap  82  in a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ), a pair of pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  52 ,  56  are connected. As shown, the hook and loop fastener  52  is secured to an inner surface of the flap  82  and the hook and loop fastener  56  is secured to an outer surface of the pocket  32 . In another example, more than two hook-and-loop fasteners can be attached to flap  82  and a corresponding area of pocket  32  in order to keep flap  82  closed. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the closed position using one or more metal snap fasteners in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  50 ,  54 , and  52 ,  56 , respectively. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the closed position using one or more magnets in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  50 ,  54 , and  52 ,  56 , respectively. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , each flap  80 ,  82  is secured in the closed position using one or more buttons in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  50 ,  54 , and  52 ,  56 , respectively. The one or more buttons are used to keep each flap  80 ,  82  secured in the closed position, where the one or more buttons are placed in the same locations as hook-and-loop fasteners  54 ,  56 , and one or more respective slot portions in each flap  80 ,  82  are configured to receive the one or more buttons in the same locations as hook-and-loop fasteners  50 ,  52 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , metal snap fasteners are used in place of one or both of the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  70 ,  76  and the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  72 ,  74 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , magnets are used in place of one or both of the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  70 ,  76  and the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  72 ,  74 . 
     In one example of ladder apron  1 , loop  60  and loop  62  are the same size (i.e. length, width, and/or thickness). In another example, one of loop  60  or loop  62  is a different size in order to accommodate a different size tool. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the ladder apron  1  is laid flat with side  120  of the ladder apron  1  being shown. The ladder apron  1  includes a safety strap having a middle portion  24  attached to panel  108 . The middle portion  24  is attached to the panel  108  and extends across the entire width of the panel  108  on side  120  of ladder apron  1 . In one embodiment, he safety strap including the first strap portion  20 , the second strap portion  22  and the middle portion  24  embody a contiguous strap. 
     In one example, ladder apron  1  is folded by attaching hook-and-loop fastener  74  to hook-and-loop fastener  72 . 
     In an example, to prevent ladder apron  1  from moving away from ladder  10 , the safety strap is wrapped around ladder  10  (shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B ) and secured by attaching the hook-and-loop fastener  23  to hook-and-loop fastener  25 , such that the first strap portion  20  of the safety strap wraps around first rail  12  and the second strap portion  22  of the safety strap wraps around second rail  14 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , the first strap portion  20  of the safety strap is attached to the second strap portion  22  of the safety strap using one or more metal snap fasteners in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  23 ,  25 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , the first strap portion  20  of the safety strap is attached to the second strap portion  22  of the safety strap using one or more magnets in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  23 ,  25 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , the first strap portion  20  of the safety strap is attached to the second strap portion  22  of the safety strap using one or more buttons in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  23 ,  25 . When a button is used in place of hook-and-loop fastener  23 , a slot portion in the first strap portion  20  of the safety strap is configured to receive the button. When a button is used in place of hook-and-loop fastener  25 , a slot portion in the second strap portion  22  of the safety strap is configured to receive the button. 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  72  and  74  are attached using metal snap fasteners in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  72 ,  74 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , the pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  72  and  74  are attached using magnets in place of or in addition to using hook-and-loop fasteners  72 ,  74 . 
     In one example of ladder apron  1 , hook-and-loop fasteners  70 ,  74 ,  72 ,  76  are not included in ladder apron  1 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  1 , one or both of flaps  80  and  82  are not included in ladder apron  1 , along with their respective fasteners  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 , or  56 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a front view of a ladder apron  2  of another embodiment, which is laid flat. The ladder apron  2  includes a panel  208 , a first sleeve  200  secured (as by stitching) to one side of the panel, and a second sleeve  202  secured (as by stitching) to an opposite side of the panel. The ladder apron  2  is configured so that the first sleeve  200  slips over the end of the first rail  12  and the second sleeve  202  slips over the end of the second rail  14  to secure the ladder apron to the extension ladder  10 . The ladder apron  2  further includes a pocket  34  provided on the panel  208 , another pocket  36  provided on the panel  208 , a loop  64  provided on the first sleeve  200 , a loop  66  provided on the second sleeve  202 , an opening  204 , and opening  206 , a top edge  212  associated with the first sleeve  200 , a top edge  214  associated with second sleeve  202 , a bottom side  216  associated with the first sleeve  200 , and a bottom side  218  associated with the second sleeve  202 . For purposes of brevity, ladder apron  2  will be described in further detail where it differs from ladder apron  1 . All discussion of ladder apron  1  is intended to apply to ladder apron  2  for corresponding components unless otherwise noted herein. 
     In one example of ladder apron  2 , the pocket  34  is created by stitching material to the panel  208  to create a pocket having an open top that is closed by a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  51 ,  53  locate inside pocket  34 , with hook-and-loop fastener  51  being attached to the interior surface of pocket  34  and hook-and-loop fastener  53  being attached to the outer surface of the panel  208  of side  210  of ladder apron  2 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  2 , pocket  34  does not include any fasteners. 
     In one example of ladder apron  2 , the pocket  36  is created by stitching material to the panel  208  to create a pocket having an open top that is closed by a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  55 ,  57  locate inside pocket  36 , with hook-and-loop fastener  55  being attached to the interior surface of pocket  36  and hook-and-loop fastener  57  being attached to the outer surface of the panel  208  of side  210  of apron  2 . 
     In another example of ladder apron  2 , pocket  36  does not include any fasteners. 
     The hook-and-loop fasteners  51 ,  55 ,  53 ,  57  of ladder apron  2  may be substituted or supplemented metal snap fasteners, magnets, or buttons. 
     In another example of ladder apron  2 , one or both of pocket  34  and pocket  36  has a flap and corresponding fasteners similar to ladder apron  1  discussed above. 
     In an example of ladder apron  2 , pocket  34  and pocket  36  do not have any flaps attached. 
     In another example of ladder apron  2 , first sleeve  200  and second sleeve  200  do not have any fasteners attached. 
     One example of ladder apron  2  includes a safety strap having a first strap portion  21  and a second strap portion  27 . A female buckle portion  90  is attached to the first strap portion  21 . A male buckle portion  92  is attached to the second strap portion  27 . The female buckle portion  90  is configured to receive male buckle portion  92 . The male buckle portion  92  includes flexible prongs  91 ,  93  that bend when inserted into female buckle portion  90  and lock into corresponding open areas  96 ,  98  of female buckle portion  90 . The length of the safety strap is adjustable using adjusting portion  94  attached to second strap portion  27 . To release the safety strap, the flexible prongs  91 ,  93  of male buckle portion  92  are pressed toward one another within the open areas  96 ,  98  of female buckle portion  90 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the ladder apron  2  is laid flat with side  220  of the ladder apron  2  being shown. The safety strap includes a middle portion  26  attached to panel  208 . The middle portion  26  extends across the entire width of the panel  208  on side  220  of ladder apron  2 . 
     Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of, and within the spirit and scope of, this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.