Patent Publication Number: US-6340071-B1

Title: Rung-foldable ladder device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to stackable ladders and more particularly pertains to a new rung-foldable ladder device for attaching to an upright structure for climbing thereupon. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of stackable ladders is known in the prior art. More specifically, stackable ladders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,635; U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,714; U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,288; U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,362; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 417,011; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,954. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new rung-foldable ladder device. The inventive device includes an elongate tubular support member; and also includes a plurality of bracket members being securely attached to the elongate tubular support member and being adapted to removably fasten with straps about an upright structure; and further includes a plurality of rung members being pivotally attached to the elongate tubular support member; and also includes a cable being attached to said rung members for pivoting said rung members against said elongate tubular support member. 
     In these respects, the rung-foldable ladder device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of attaching to an upright structure for climbing thereupon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of stackable ladders now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new rung-foldable ladder device construction wherein the same can be utilized for attaching to an upright structure for climbing thereupon. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which has many of the advantages of the stackable ladders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new rung-foldable ladder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art stackable ladders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongate tubular support member; and also includes a plurality of bracket members being securely attached to the elongate tubular support member and being adapted to removably fasten with straps about an upright structure; and further includes a plurality of rung members being pivotally attached to the elongate tubular support member; and also includes a cable being attached to said rung members for pivoting said rung members against said elongate tubular support member. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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 additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 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 invention is 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 utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. 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 present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which has many of the advantages of the stackable ladders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new rung-foldable ladder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art stackable ladders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such rung-foldable ladder device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device for attaching to an upright structure for climbing thereupon. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device which includes an elongate tubular support member; and also includes a plurality of bracket members being securely attached to the elongate tubular support member and being adapted to removably fasten with straps about an upright structure; and further includes a plurality of rung members being pivotally attached to the elongate tubular support member; and also includes a cable being attached to said rung members for pivoting said rung members against said elongate tubular support member. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device that is easy and convenient to use. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new rung-foldable ladder device that can be easily and quickly set up and taken down with the rung members being folded against the elongate tubular support member for easy and compact storage. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a new rung-foldable ladder device according to the present invention and shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is another side elevational view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new rung-foldable ladder device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the rung-foldable ladder device  10  generally comprises an elongate tubular support member  11 . The elongate tubular support member  11  includes a plurality of openings  12  being spaced therealong and being disposed therethrough with the elongate tubular support member  11  having a length of approximately 64 inches. A plurality of bracket members  13  are securely and conventionally attached to the elongate tubular support member  11  and are adapted to removably fasten with straps  23  about an upright structure  24 . Each of the bracket members  13  includes an elongate main portion  14  being fastened to the elongate tubular support member  11 , and also includes a pair of elongate end portions  15 ,  16  being angled relative to the main portion  14  and to one another. The elongate end portions  15 ,  16  are adapted to fit about the upright structure  24 . 
     A plurality of rung members  17  are pivotally and conventionally attached to the elongate tubular support member  11 . Each of the rung members  17  includes an elongate shaft portion  18  having a first end portion  19  being disposed through a respective opening  12 , and also includes a second end portion  21  being angled relative to the elongate shaft portion  18 . The elongate shaft portion  18  is hingedly attached in the elongate tubular support member  11 . A cable  22  is conventionally attached to the rung members  17  for pivoting the rung members  17  against the elongate tubular support member  11 . The cable  22  interconnects first ends  20  of the elongate shaft portions  18  and being movably disposed through the elongate tubular support member  11  for pivoting the rung members  17 . 
     In use, the users places the elongate tubular support member  11  up against an upright structure  24  such as a tree and fastens the elongate tubular support member  11  to the upright structure  24  using the straps  23 , and the user pivots the rung members  17  using the cable  22  so that the rung members  17  are generally disposed perpendicular to the elongate tubular support member  11  to allow the user to climb upon the upright structure  24 . If needed, the user can stack other rung-foldable ladder devices  10  upon one another. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.