Patent Publication Number: US-2013233993-A1

Title: Ladder docking station for use with extension ladders

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/609,753, filed Mar. 12, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to ladder accessories and, more particularly, to a ladder docking station for use with extension ladders. 
     There are several problems users encounter when using extension ladders. First, the ladder can easily slip from side to side, especially if the user reaches over one side of the ladder. Further, the ladder can cause damage to the structure, such as to gutters, from its side rails. Moreover, conventional extension ladders are not attached to the structure and can move unexpectedly or unintentionally. 
     Conventional ladder accessories are designed for a single purpose and typically do not address all of the problems encountered when using extension ladders. Some conventional ladder accessories are poorly designed and do not function well and can be unreliable. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a ladder accessory that can solve the problems associated with the use of conventional extension ladders, including the ability to slip from side to side, the ability to damage the structure, and the lack of ability to connect the ladder to the structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a ladder docking station comprises a body having a first thickness portion and a second thickness portion; a lip formed along a width of the body where the first thickness portion meets the second thickness portion; a handle slot cut into the first thickness portion; a recess cut into the second thickness portion, the recess having a width as least as wide as a width of a ladder, the recess forming wings on each side thereof; at least one strap slot cut into the second thickness portion; at least one strap slot strap passing through the at least one strap slot and operable to connect to a first rung of a ladder; and at least one handle slot strap passing through the handle slot and operable to connect to a second rung, one above the first rung, of the ladder. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a ladder docking station comprises a body having a first thickness portion and a second thickness portion; a lip formed along a width of the body where the first thickness portion meets the second thickness portion; a handle slot cut into the first thickness portion; a recess cut into the second thickness portion, the recess having a width as least as wide as a width of a ladder, the recess forming wings on each side thereof; a first and a second strap slot disposed through the second thickness portion on opposite sides of the recess; strap slot straps passing through the first and second strap slots and operable to connect to a first rung of a ladder; at least one handle slot strap passing through the handle slot and operable to connect to a second rung, one above the first rung, of the ladder; resilient cords attached to wings on each side of the second thickness portion, the resilient cords having hooks on the ends thereof; and holes formed through the first thickness portion. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ladder docking station, in use on an extension ladder, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the ladder docking station of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the ladder docking station of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the ladder docking station of Figure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a ladder docking station that is attached to an extension ladder and, when leaned against the eave or gutter of a structure, provides a slip resistant contact surface. The same contact surface also protects against damage from the side rails of the ladder. The ladder docking station also provides a method for securing the ladder to the structure using built in hooks or optional nail holes. The ladder docking station eliminates the need for more than one product to solve side to side slipping, provide protection against damage from the side rails of the ladder, and provide methods for securing the ladder in place. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a ladder docking station can include a body  10  having a lip  14  formed along a length of a bottom surface of the body  10 . The lip  14  can divide the body  10  into a first thickness portion  11  and a second thickness portion  13 . 
     The body  10  can be formed in various shapes and it typically is formed in a semi-circular or arced shape extending from the lip  14 . The lip  14  can be from about ½ inch to about 1 inch, typically about ¾ inch in thickness from the first thickness portion  11 . The lip  14  has a length that is longer than the width of a ladder  30  typically from about 26 inches to about 30 inches, usually about 28 inches. 
     A recess  40  can be cut into second thickness portion  13 . The recess  40  can have a length that is about the same or slightly larger than the width of the ladder  30  so that wings  42  of the ladder docking station extend along the side of the rails of the ladder  30  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A handle slot  12  can be cut in the first thickness portion  11  of the body  10 . The handle slot  12  is placed generally centrally about the width of the first thickness portion  11  and at a maximum distance away from the lip  14 . A strap  16  can adjustably attach to the handle slot  12  and extend therefrom. A female buckle  18  can be disposed on one end of the strap  16  and a male buckle  20  can be disposed at the other end of the strap  16 . 
     At least one strap slot  34 , typically two strap slots  34  can be formed in the second thickness portion  13  of the body  10 . Typically, the strap slots  34  are disposed through the second thickness portion  13  near corners of the recess  40 . Straps  16 , having female and male buckles  18 ,  20 , can be threaded through the strap slots  34 . 
     The ladder docking station can be attached to the ladder  30  by placing the recess  40  on the structure-facing side of the ladder  30 , with the lip  14  facing the ground, and securing the straps  16  extending through the strap slots  34  to a rung  32  of the ladder  30 . Typically, the ladder docking station can be attached to the third run down from the top, although other positions are certainly possible. 
     The strap  16  through the handle slot  12  can then attach to the rung above the rung onto which the straps  16  extending through the strap slots  34  are attached. The length of the strap  16  through the handle slot  12  can be adjusted to provide a desired pitch, such as a 4/12 pitch. The ladder  30  can then be placed against the structure  26 , with the lip  14  resting along an eave or gutter  38  of the structure  26 . The full length of the lip  14  contacting the gutter  38  provides an anti-slip feature while protecting the structure from the rails of the ladder. 
     Each of the straps  16  can be adjustable straps and can be adjusted via various means known in the art. For example, a glide  36  can be provided to adjust the length of the straps  16 . 
     From each of the wings  42  of the second thickness portion  13  of the body  10 , a bungee-type cord  22  can be attached and extend therefrom. A hook  24  can be disposed on the end of the cord  22 . The hook  24  can attach to the structure, such as to the gutter  38 , to help secure the ladder docking station and the ladder  30 . 
     Through holes  38  can be formed through the first thickness portion  11  of the body  10 , typically at each side of the handle slot  12 . The through holes  38  can provide a nail hole for attaching the ladder docking station to the structure  26 . This can be especially useful where the hooks  24  on the cords  22  have nothing to attach. 
     The ladder docking station can be made from various materials in various processes. For example, the ladder docking station can be made from a rubber body, molded using recycled rubber materials that are compression formed in an aluminum mold. The straps  16  can be made of various materials, such as a fabric that is about 1 inch wide and about 23 inches long, for example. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.