Patent Publication Number: US-10760338-B2

Title: Ladder securing apparatuses, ladders incorporating same and related methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/049,927, filed on Oct. 9, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,404,306 on Aug. 2, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/711,632 filed on Oct. 9, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/879,508, filed Sep. 18, 2013, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to ladders and, more particularly, to components and features for securing a ladder in a stable working condition as well as related methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ladders are conventionally utilized to provide a user thereof with improved access to elevated locations that might otherwise be inaccessible. Ladders come in many shapes and sizes, such as straight ladders, straight extension ladders, stepladders, and combination step and extension ladders. So-called combination ladders may incorporate, in a single ladder, many of the benefits of multiple ladder designs. 
     Ladders known as straight ladders or extension ladders are ladders that are conventionally not self-supporting but, rather, are positioned against an elevated surface, such as a wall or the edge of a roof, to support the ladder at a desired angle. A user then ascends the ladder to obtain access to an elevated area, such as access to an upper area of the wall or access to a ceiling or roof A pair of feet or pads, each being coupled to the bottom of an associated rail of the ladder, are conventionally used to engage the ground or some other supporting surface. 
     In certain industries, such as in the telecommunications industry, ladders are used to access overhead cables or utility lines (e.g., cables or wires used for telephones, cable television, etc). In such cases, the ladders are sometimes supported at their upper ends by a utility pole or other vertical structure. In some situations, the upper end of the ladder is actually supported by a utility line extending generally horizontally between adjacent utility poles or towers. In such cases, the ladders have conventionally been fitted with “cable hooks” or “strand hooks” which are attached to the top of the ladder and simply hook over the top of the utility cable. The top of the ladder, thus, rests against and is supported by the horizontally extending utility cable. However, while the cable hooks generally engage the utility cable to provide support to the ladder, if the ladder shifts or tilts relative to utility cable (e.g., because of unstable ground or because of the user of the ladder leaning out to far to the side and causing the loading on the ladder to become unbalanced), one or both of the cable hooks may disengage the utility cable such that the ladder loses support and stability. This obviously creates a dangerous situation for the user of the ladder. 
     Some efforts have been made to provide an engagement device that provides additional security over traditional cable hooks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,766 issued to Deuer on May 22, 2007 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), describes a “mid-span fall protection system” for ladders. The Deuer patent describes cable hooks, with one of the cable hooks having a latch member pivotally coupled therewith. The latch functions in conjunction with the cable hook, similar to a gate of a carabineer. When a utility member pushes upward against the latch member, the latch member is displaced permitting the utility cable to pass by. The latch member then closes (being biased by a spring toward the closed position) to capture the utility cable in an area defined by the cable hook and the latch. When it is desired to release the utility cable, a user pulls on a line tethered to the latch member to keep the latch member open while lifting the ladder to displace the cable hooks away from the utility cable. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,581 issued to Henson on Oct. 8, 1991 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describes a device that attaches to two vertically adjacent rungs of a ladder and then provides a single point attachment to a utility cable. 
     Also, recognizing the potential for instability in ladders in various circumstances (such as the above mentioned “shifting” of the ladder), and in an effort to improve safety of ladders generally, some efforts have been made to provide a safety line for coupling with a user&#39;s harness to help secure a user to the ladder in case of an accidental slip or fall. For example, the Deuer patent discloses a rope that is coupled to a cross-member extending between the two side rails of the ladder. An “auto-latching/locking” mechanism is coupled with the rope which requires manual release for removal. Such an auto-latching mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,251 issued to Deuer on Jan. 5, 1999 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). 
     However, such proposed solutions have not necessarily proved to be entirely successful and there is a continuing desire in the industry to provide improved functionality of ladders while also improving the safety and stability of such ladders. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to ladders and, more particularly, various configurations of ladders, as well as to methods relating to the use and manufacture of ladders. 
     In one embodiment, a ladder is provided comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails and a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails. A pair of hooks are located such that each hook is positioned adjacent and upper end of an associated rail. A securing apparatus is coupled adjacent the upper end of the first pair of spaced apart rails. The securing apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart engaging members and a cross-member coupled therebetween. Each of the engagement members is pivotally coupled with an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails. In one embodiment, the securing apparatus lacks any biasing members (e.g., springs or actuators) or locking members. 
     In one embodiment, each engaging member is associated with one of the pair of hooks and, upon application of force to a cup portion of the engagement member by an overhead line, pivots to cooperatively encircle the overhead line with the engagement member and its associated hook. The cup portion of the engagement members may include a slip-resistant surface. 
     The ladder may be configured as an extension ladder and include a second pair of rails and another plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of spaced apart rails, wherein the second pair of rails are slidably coupled with the first pair of rails. 
     In one embodiment, the ladder may further include a safety apparatus having a safety line and an attachment mechanism coupled therewith. The line may be coupled with an inertia locking mechanism. In one embodiment, the inertia locking mechanism may also include a retraction mechanism. In one particular embodiment, the safety line is coupled with a portion of the ladder and extends up and over the cross-member of the securing apparatus. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a ladder is provided that comprises a first pair of spaced apart rails, a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails, and a safety apparatus including a safety line coupled with an inertia locking and retraction mechanism. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a ladder is provided. The method includes providing a ladder having a pair of space apart hooks and a pair of spaced apart engagement members, positioning the ladder such that a cup portion of each engagement member engages an overhead line, displacing the ladder relative to the overhead line to effect concurrent rotation of the engagement members, and encircling the overhead line at two spaced apart locations with the engagement members and the hooks. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for securing a ladder to a vertical support structure. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart brackets, each bracket being configured for coupling with a component of a ladder, a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally coupled to an associated one of the pair of brackets and a strap coupled between the pair of arms and configured such that displacement of the strap effects rotation of the arms relative to their associated bracket. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a first ratcheting mechanism associated with a first arm of the pair of arms and a second ratcheting mechanism associated with a second arm of the pair of arms. The first and second ratcheting mechanisms may further be configured to permit rotation of the first and second arms towards one another, but selectively prohibit rotation of the first and second arms away from one another. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a method of securing a ladder is provided. The method includes providing a ladder having a pair of arms pivotally coupled with the ladder and a flexible strap coupled with each of the pair of arms. The ladder is positioned such that a vertical support structure engages and displaces the flexible strap. The pair of arms are displaced inwardly toward each other responsive to the displacement of the flexible strap such that the pair of arms engage the vertical support structure. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a ladder is provided comprising a first pair of spaced apart rails, a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails, and at least one hook. The at least one hood is positioned adjacent an upper end of an associated rail of the first pair of spaced apart rails and is configured to pivot through an angle of approximately 90° from a first position to a second position wherein, when in the second position, the at least one hook is substantially within an envelope defined by the first pair of spaced apart rails. The ladder additionally includes a securing apparatus comprising at least one engaging member positioned adjacent the at least one hook and being pivotal relative to the at least one hook. 
     It is noted that the embodiments described herein are not to be considered mutually exclusive of one another and that any feature, aspect or component of one embodiment described herein may be combined with other features, aspects or components of other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an apparatus for use with a ladder according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a ladder having the apparatus of  FIG. 1  placed in a first position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict a front view of an upper portion of the ladder shown in  FIG. 3  with certain components rotated from a first position ( FIG. 3A ) to a second position ( FIG. 3B ); 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the ladder shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are side views of a portion of the ladder shown in  FIG. 3  with a component in various positions or stages or use; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ladder shown in  FIG. 3  with the apparatus having been displaced to a second position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a portion of the ladder shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  show various views of a securing apparatus that may be used with a ladder in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a securing apparatus  100  is shown for use with a ladder when it is desired to support the ladder using a generally horizontally extending overhead line (e.g., a utility line such as used in the telecommunications industry). The apparatus  100  includes two spaced apart engagement members  102  that may be coupled together by a cross-member  104  which may include, for example, a bar or a plate member. While the distance that the engagement members are spaced from each other may be determined, at least in part, on the size of the ladder (e.g., the spacing of the rails from one another), in one example, the engagement members  102  may be spaced approximately 18 inches to 24 inches away from one another. Each of the engagement members  102  are pivotally coupled to an associated bracket  106  by way of a pin or shaft  108 . 
     The brackets  106  are configured for attachment with associated rails of a ladder (e.g., an extension ladder) such as by way of a rivet, a screw, bolt or other appropriate means (including adhesives, welding or other joining methods depending on the materials being used). In other embodiments, the brackets  106  may be integrally formed in the rails of the ladder or the pin/shaft  108  may be coupled directly to the rails of the ladder. Additionally, while shown as a simple pin or shaft  108 , the pivoting arrangement between the engagement member  102  and its associated bracket  106  (or ladder rail) may include any of a variety of known bearing mechanisms. 
     A stop member  110  may be provided in association with either or both brackets  108  to prevent the engagement members  102  from rotating beyond a desired point. For example, referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , if the apparatus were coupled with a ladder (as will be discussed in further detail below), absent other forces being applied to the engagement members  102 , gravity would cause the engagement members  102  to rotate clockwise about the pin or shaft  108  (based on the orientation shown in  FIG. 2 ) until a portion of the engagement member  102  (e.g., an abutment surface  111 ) abuts the stop member  110 . The stop member  110 , in conjunction with gravity, thus, holds engagement member  102  in a desired position relative to the side rails of a ladder by preventing it from rotating further. Other stop members may additionally, or alternatively, be employed if desired. For example, in another embodiment, the cross member  104  may be configured to abut a top portion of the rails of a ladder to impede further rotation and to place the mechanism in a desired position for engagement with a utility line or other support member. 
     The engagement members  102  include a cup portion  112  having an upper portion  112 A, a central portion  112 B and a lower portion  112 B. In the embodiment shown, the central portion  112 B includes an arcuate section that extends through an arc angle of greater than 90°. In other embodiments, the arcuate section may be replaced by an angle (or a series of angles) such that the upper portion  112 A lies at an acute angle relative to the lower portion  112 C. In another embodiment, the upper portion  112 A and the lower portion  112 C may be configured to extend substantially parallel to each other. The cup portion  112  is configured to receive a portion of an overhead line therein (as will be further discussed below). The surface of the cup portion  112  may be textured and may be formed of, or coated with, a material to provide frictional resistance when it engages an overhead line. For example, the cup portion  112  may be covered with a rubber material having a plurality of ridges, raised sections or other surface features  114  that are configured to help frictionally engage or grip a portion of a utility cable or overhead line. Additionally, the material covering of the cup portion  112  may assist in protecting the overhead line from damage when being engaged by the apparatus  100 . 
     The apparatus  100  may be formed from a variety of materials using various methods of manufacturing as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the engagement members  102 , the cross-member  104  and the brackets  106  may be formed of metal, metal alloys, plastic materials, composite materials or various combinations of such materials. Such components may be formed by various techniques including machining, molding, stamping, forging, extruding and so forth. In one particular embodiment, the engagement members  102  are formed of an aluminum material with the cross-member  104  with the brackets being formed of a metal or metal alloy. In another embodiment, the engagement members  102  may be formed of a plastic material. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the engagement members  102  may be formed to include a peripheral wall member  116  and one or more inner structurally reinforcing members  118  defining various openings or cells  120 . Such a configuration provides appropriate strength for the apparatus while reducing the weight of the apparatus significantly. Of course, other structural configurations may be used in forming the engagement members  102  as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     It is noted that the apparatus  100 , according to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , does not include any springs, biasing members, actuators or locking mechanisms. Rather, the apparatus  100  utilizes gravity in conjunction with the positioning of the ladder by a user thereof to engage, and maintain such engagement with, an overhead line. Additionally, as will be seen with further discussion below, no locks or actuators are required to be activated by a user either while on the ladder, or while standing at the base of the ladder, to release the apparatus from an overhead line. Rather, all that a user has to do to disengage the over head line is to lift the ladder as one would normally do with conventional cable hooks. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a ladder  200  is shown that includes a securing apparatus  100  such as described above. The ladder  200  is configured as an extension ladder and includes a first assembly  202  and a second assembly  204  slidably coupled with the first assembly. The first assembly  202  includes a pair of spaced apart rails  206 A and  206 B with a plurality of rungs  208  extending between, and coupled to, the rails  206 A and  206 B. Similarly, the second assembly  204  includes a pair of spaced apart rails  210 A and  210 B with a plurality of rungs  212  extending between, and coupled to, the rails  210 A and  210 B. While not specifically shown in the drawings, one or more mechanisms are associated with the first and second assemblies  202  and  204  to enable selective positioning of the first assembly  202  relative to the second assembly  204 . This enables the ladder  200  to assume a variety of lengths (or, more specifically, heights when in an intended operating orientation) by sliding the first assembly  202  relative to the second assembly  204  and locking the two assemblies in a desired position relative to one another. By selectively adjusting the two rail assemblies  202  and  204  relative to each other, a ladder can be extended in length to nearly double its collapsed or shortest state, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. By way of example, a rung lock apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,207 to Frank et al., issued Jul. 4, 1995, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In many conventional extension ladders, feet members may be coupled to the lower ends of the rails  210 A and  210 B to support the ladder on the ground or other surface. Such a configuration is contemplated as being used in other embodiments of the present invention. In the specific embodiment shown, adjustable support members  214  are coupled with the second assembly  204  to provide increased lateral stability as well as the ability to adjust the ladder for support on uneven surfaces. An example of such adjusting members is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 20100300805 (Application Ser. No. 12/714,313) published on Dec. 2, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Again, as noted above, the present invention is not limited to particular types of ladders and may be implemented in conjunction with conventional extension ladders, straight ladders or even combination ladders if desired. 
     The ladder  200  further includes a brace member, referred to as a V-bar  220 , located at the upper end of the first assembly  202  which extends between and is coupled to the rails  206 A and  206 B of the first assembly  202 . The V-bar  220  is shaped to engage a vertical structure, such as a utility pole, and be supported thereby. While not specifically shown, the inner surface of the V-bar  220  (the surface that will engage a support structure) may be textured, coated, include protruding members (e.g., barbs or prongs), include an undulating surface, or otherwise configured to provide slip resistance when positioned against a vertical supporting structure such as a utility pole. 
     Additionally, the ladder  200  includes a pair of hooks  222  (e.g., cable hooks), one associated with each rail  206 A and  206 B of the first assembly  202 . The hooks  222  are configured to be positioned over and rest down upon an overhead line. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the hooks  222  may be configured to be rotated from the position shown to a “stored” position so that they are largely placed within the envelope or volume defined by the rails  206 A and  206 B of the first assembly. Thus, for example, the hooks  222  may be selectively positioned in a first position with the hook ends extending to the backside of the ladder (as shown in the drawings—see, e.g.,  FIG. 3A ) or in a second position where the hook ends are positioned between the two rails  206 A and  206 B, a rotation of approximately 90°(see, e.g.,  FIG. 3B ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the securing apparatus  100  is coupled to first assembly  202  and is in a first position prior to engagement of an overhead line  230 . When in this position, the cup portion  112  of the apparatus  100  and the open ends of the hooks  222  are positioned above the overhead line  230 , ready for engagement therewith. This is also shown, in larger side view, in  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIG. 5B , by lowering the upper portion of the ladder  200 , the engagement members  102  are positioned to contact the overhead line  230 , or, more specifically, the cup portions  112  of the engagement members  102  contact the overhead line  230 . This results in the engagement members  102  (and associated cross member  104 ) rotating about the shaft/pin  108  as the hooks  222  begin to descend over the overhead line  230 . As shown in  FIG. 5C , the upper portion of the ladder  200  is lowered to point where the overhead line  230  is captured within the hooks  222 . At the same time, the engagement members  102  continue to rotate, by virtue of the overhead line “pushing up” against the upper portion  112 A (or even the middle portion  112 B) of the engagement member&#39;s cup portion  112 . When the hook  222  is engaging the overhead line—supporting the upper end of the ladder  200  in this position—the engagement member  102  is positioned such that the overhead line is encircled by the combination of the hook  222  and the cup portion  112  of the engagement member  102 . It is noted that the lower portion  112 C of the engagement member&#39;s cup portion  112  extends towards the outer end of the hook  222 , across the otherwise open area of the hook  222 , to help form this encircling structure. 
     Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 5C, 6 and 7 , the overhead line  230  is encircled at two, spaced apart locations by structures defined in part by the hooks  222  and in part by the engagement members  102 . The securement of the ladder  200  to the overhead line  230  remains in place by reason of gravity and the cooperative positioning of the hooks  222  with the engagement members  102 . As long as a user is on the ladder  200 , the additional weight of the user, combined with the weight of the ladder, continues to keep the ladder secured with the combined weight pulling down on the overhead line  230  through the hooks  222 , the overhead line  230  in turn pushing up against the upper and/or middle portion  112 A and  112 B of the engagement member&#39;s cup portion  112  to keep the engagement members  102  rotated in the position shown in  FIGS. 5C, 6 and 7  and keeping the overhead line encircled. Even if the ladder  200  were to somehow shift laterally (e.g., because the user is leaning over to one side of the other), because the two engagement members  102  are coupled together by the cross-member, both engagement members  102  will remain in position encircling the overhead line  230 . In prior art ladders which, for example, only used hooks in an effort to secure the ladder, shifting of the ladder would potentially enable one of the hooks to disengage the overhead line such that the ladder was only supported by a single hook, permitting the ladder to spin or twist in a dangerous manner. 
     It is noted, however, that the cross-member need not be used in every embodiment. Indeed, the cross-member may be eliminated and the engagement members  102  may operate independent of one another (although each would continue to operate cooperatively with its associated hook  222 ). It is additionally noted that, while function of the engagement members  102  and hooks  222  is discussed in regard to the example of a “cable” or utility line, that the securing apparatus  100  may be utilized with other horizontal support members, including, for example, rigid bars or poles, such as may be coupled to a wall, roof line or other structure. 
     To remove the ladder from the supporting overhead line  230 , a user merely needs to lift the ladder  200 , or more correctly, displace the upper portion of the ladder  200  upwards until the hooks  222  are above the overhead line  230 , and then remove the ladder  200 . As the upper portion of the ladder  200  is displaced upwards, gravity causes the engagement members  102  to rotate enabling the overhead line  230  to escape from the cup portion  112 . In other words, starting from the position shown in  FIG. 5C , as the upper portion of the ladder  200  is displaced upwards, the engagement member  102  would rotate clockwise (based on the orientation shown in  FIG. 5C ), due to gravity, to the positions shown first in  FIG. 5B  and then in  FIG. 5A , releasing the overhead line  230 . 
     Thus, the present securing apparatus does not require that any locks or actuating mechanisms be attended to prior to setting the ladder up against the overhead line or when the ladder is to be removed from the site. Similarly, there are no locks that need to be attended to after ascension of the ladder or that need to be unlocked prior to descending the ladder—such configurations presenting an operational safety hazard since the ladder is “unlocked” or unsecured for a brief moment while the user ascends or descends the ladder. 
     It is noted that the embodiments discussed above depict the engagement members  102  being positioned outside the rails  206 A and  206 B of the ladder  200 . In other embodiments, the engagement members could be positioned inwardly of the rails  206 A and  206 B and, even, inwardly of the hooks  222  if desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 5C, 6 and 7 , a safety apparatus  300  is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The safety apparatus  300  includes a cable, rope, chain, strap or other elongated, flexible member (referred to generally as a line  302 ) coupled to the first assembly  202  of the ladder. An attachment mechanism  304  such as a hook or carabineer is attached to one end of the line  302  for coupling to, for example, a harness or safety belt of a user. The other end of the line  302  may be coupled to a retraction and locking mechanism  306  which is coupled to, for example, the first assembly  202  (although in other embodiments, it may be attached to other components of the ladder  200  including direct attachment to the apparatus  100  if desired). In one example, the retraction and locking mechanism  306  may include a mechanism such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,189 to Bryll, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Another example of a retraction/locking mechanism includes the self-retracting line known as RL20G/2FT MightyLite available from Miller®, a Honeywell company. 
     Thus, a user may couple the line  302  to their harness or safety belt and, as they ascend the ladder  200 , the line will automatically retract within the mechanism  306 . Similarly, as the user descends the ladder  200  at a controlled pace, the mechanism will allow the line to pay out so that the user may reach the bottom of the ladder  200  without the line  302  “catching” or stopping the user&#39;s descent. However, if a user happens to slip or fall while coupled to the line  302 , the mechanism will, by virtue of the quick acceleration of the line, lock the line and prevent it from paying out any further, keeping the user from falling a substantial distance. 
     It is noted that, in one embodiment (as shown in  FIGS. 5C, 6 and 7 ), the line  302  may be coupled with the first assembly  202  such that it extends up and over the cross-member  104  of the securing apparatus  100 . In such a configuration, if a user were to fall, the weight of the user would be applied to the cross-member  104  ensuring that the engagement members did not release an overhead line  230 . In fact, the rotation of the engagement members  102  due to the application of such force would actually cause the engagement members  102  to more strongly grip the overhead line  230 , ensuring that the ladder  200  did not disengage the overhead line while a user was regaining a stable position on the ladder  200 . In other embodiments, the retraction mechanism  306  may be coupled directly to the securing apparatus  100  (e.g., to the cross-member  104 ), or various other arrangements may be used in coupling one or more of the various components of the safety apparatus  300  to the ladder  200 , the securing apparatus  100 , or to both. Of course, other safety lines may be used in a similar manner without a retraction mechanism. 
     Other embodiments of fall arrest systems may also be utilized in conjunction with the ladders and assemblies described herein. For example, a fall arrest system such as described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/879,506, filed on Sep. 18, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A-8C , another securing apparatus  400  is shown. The securing apparatus  400  is configured to engage a vertical support (e.g., a utility pole) and may be used, for example, by itself or in conjunction with the apparatus  100  described above or other securing or safety mechanisms. The securing apparatus  400  includes a pair of spaced apart brackets  402  configured to be coupled with the side rails of a ladder. A v-shaped cross-member  404  (also referred to as a V-bar) is coupled between the brackets  402  and configured to engage a vertical structure. It is noted that, for example, when used in conjunction with the apparatus  100  described above, the securing apparatus  400  may generally replace the V-bar  220  previously described. 
     The apparatus  400  further includes a pair of arms  406 , each being pivotally coupled with an associated bracket  402  (e.g., by way of a shaft or pivot pin). A locking mechanism, such as a ratcheting mechanism  408 , may be associated with the pivoting arms  406  (e.g., by way of a shaft or pivot pin) to enable the arms  406  to rotate in a first direction (i.e., inward towards each other), but inhibit rotation of the arms in a second direction (i.e., outward away from each other) until the ratcheting mechanism  408  is released. 
     A flexible cross member, such as a strap  410 , extends between and is coupled to the pair of pivoting arms  406 . During positioning of a ladder, the strap  410  will engage a vertical structure (e.g., a utility pole) prior to the v-bar  404  engaging the vertical structure. When the strap  404  is displaced by the vertical structure, it places a force on the arms  406 , pulling them inwardly, until the vertical structure abuts the cross-member  404 . This action causes the arms  406  to engage the vertical structure (e.g., the sides of a pole) such that an engagement structure  412  associated with the arms  406  grasps the structure. The engagement structure  412  may include teeth, barbs, roughened surfaces or other features in order to provide a more positive engagement between the arms  406  of the apparatus  400  and the vertical support structure. In the embodiment shown, the engagement structures  412  include a toothed gear structure that may rotate relative to its arm  406  when engaging and disengaging the pole or other support. When it is desired to release the arms  406  from the vertical structure, a lock associated with the ratcheting mechanism  408  may be actuated to enable the arms  406  to be displaced outwardly from one another. In one embodiment, a biasing member (e.g., a spring) may be associated with each of the arms  406  to cause them to be biased outwardly. 
     While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.