Patent Abstract:
A mechanism for facilitating the storage of ladders in the upper area on the outside of an emergency vehicle which includes the capability of moving of the ladder to a lower deployed position to facilitate immediate access thereto by emergency workers such as firemen and the like. The construction includes an inner housing attached to the vehicle and an outer housing movable by an arm assembly relative thereto to urge the ladder between the storage and deployed positions. An adjustment mechanism including a yoke is included for varying the position of the powering drive cylinder which operatively moves the outer housing relative to the inner housing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention deals with the field of devices wherein ladders need to be stored on the external surface of a vehicle such as an emergency vehicle in such a manner as to be convenient when the vehicle is traveling while also providing a means for deploying the ladder to a lower position for immediate access thereto for emergency personnel in an environment where the access to the ladder is needed such as at the location of a fire. Such devices are commonly utilized on fire trucks and other similar emergency vehicles. Such devices need to provide an adaptability for usage with various different sizes of ladders and various different sizes and configurations of emergency vehicles while still utilizing the same basic mechanism for storing and/or deploying of the ladder. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A number of patents have been granted for positioning and re-positioning of ladder storage mechanism and ladders relative to vehicle such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,890,940 was patented Dec. 13, 1932 to C. H. Fox and assigned to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company on a “Fire Engine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,826 was patented Feb. 21, 1933 to C. H. Fox and assigned to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company on a “Fire Engine”; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,991,900 was patented Feb. 19, 1935 to N. P. Larsen and assigned to The American Coach and Body Company on a “Ladder Support”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,586,531 was patented Feb. 19, 1952 to D. L. Gordon on a “Wheeled Support Having Ladder Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,946,397 was patented Jul. 26, 1960 to W. A. Berberich on a “Ladder Mount For Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,681 was patented Dec. 19, 1961 to E. V. Garnett on a “Device For Storage Of Elongated Articles On A Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,058,607 was patented Oct. 16, 1962 to J. T. Kiley and assigned to James A. Kiley Company on “Ladder Racks”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,578 was patented Dec. 12, 1967 to J. O. Koenig on a “Boat Carrier For Pickup Mounted Camper Coaches”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,759 was patented Sep. 28, 1971 to L. A. Spurgeon and assigned to said Spurgeon by said Sorenson on a “Car Top Carrier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,555 was patented Oct. 12, 1971 to C. L. Baker on a “Transportable Tank Trailer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,158 was patented Dec. 14, 1971 to F. Kobasic on a “Loader For Vehicle Trunk Compartment”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,097 was patented Jan. 25, 1972 to R. R. Horowitz and assigned to S&amp;H Industries, Inc. on a “Power-Operated Tailgate With Maximum Rearward Displacement Between Fully Elevated And Fully Lowered Positions”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,549 was patented Jun. 27, 1972 to A. J. Chorey on a “Car Top Carrier And Access Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,044 was patented Feb. 6, 1973 to G. A. Simons on a “Roof Mounted Carried For Automotive Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,044 was patented Feb. 6, 1973 to G. A. Simons on a “Roof Mounted Carried For Automotive Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,271 was patented Feb. 20, 1973 to D. L. Bargman, Jr. and assigned to Colorado Leisure Products, Inc. on a “Vehicle Tire Carrier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,334 was patented Mar. 13, 1973 to A. A&gt;Permut et al on “Boat And Equipment Loading Systems”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,839 was patented Jul. 16, 1974 to R. C. Petzing et al on a “Cartop Carrier Elevator”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,624 was patented Apr. 15, 1975 to M. T. Carson on a “Vehicle Top Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,136 was patented Jun. 15, 1976 to T. J. Spanke on a “Retractable Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,838 was patented Feb. 22, 1977 to R. R. Correll on a “Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,464 was patented Dec. 13, 1977 to R. E. Grove on “Mounting Brackets For An Article Handling Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,997 was patented Jul. 24, 1979 to T. W. Norman on a “Self-Storing Step Structure For Vehicular Mounting”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,331 was patented Oct. 9, 1979 to E. W. Faulstich on a “Vehicle Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,860 was patented Dec. 2, 1980 to D. Gottlieb et al on an “Apparatus For Lifting A Wheelchair Onto The Roof Of An Automobile”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,438 was patented Dec. 16, 1980 to C. R. Everson on a “Device For Lifting And Carrying Loads On Top Of Pickup Trucks”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,834 was patented Apr. 21, 1981 to W. H. Nutt and assigned to Teledyne Canada on a “Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,064 was patented Jul. 13, 1982 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. on a “Carrier Clamp For Fire Ladders”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,223 was patented Jul. 13, 1982 to R. R. Golze on a “Roof Top Carrier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,611 was patented Mar. 15, 1983 to B. H. Koop on a “Car Top Carrier For Wheelchair”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,117 was patented Jun. 28, 1983 to M. W. Fagan on a “Ladder Rack For Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,680 was patented Oct. 11, 1983 to D. O. Ross on a “Ladder Support Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,082 was patented Feb. 14, 1984 to J. A. Bott on a “Vehicle Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,086 was patented Mar. 27, 1984 to R. W Thede on a “Boat Loader”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,083 was patented Oct. 21, 1986 to K. F. Weger, Jr. and assigned to Knaack Mfg. Co. on a “Ladder Clamping Device For Vehicle Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,981 was patented to J. C. Mitchell et al on Jun. 21, 1988 on a “Detachably Mounted Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,056 was patented Feb. 28, 1989 to S. Oshima on an “Elevator Device Transportable In A Motor Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,585 was patented Mar. 21, 1989 to W. H. Nutt and assigned to Teledyne Canada Limited on a “Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,387 was patented May 2, 1989 to M. Audet on a “Vehicle Roof Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,742 was patented May 9, 1989 to R. R. McDonald and assigned to Unistrut Australia Pty. Ltd. on a “Security Assembly For Vehicle Roofrack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,490 was patented Jul. 4, 1989 to R. E. Kohler on a “Fire Truck Ladder Support”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,725 was patented Aug. 22, 1989 to L. H. Griffin on a “Ladder Brace”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,108 was patented Oct. 31, 1989 to L. H. Griffin et al on a “Hydraulic Ladder Brace”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,750 was patented Dec. 19, 1989 to R. K. Dainty and assigned to British Gasa plc on a “Rack Arrangement”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,352 was patented Mar. 20, 1990 to K. McComb on a “Ladder Support System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,103 was patented to C. J. Sauber on May 8, 1990 on a “Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,757 was patented Sep. 4, 1990 to J. R. Stevens et al on a “Front Rack For A Truck”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,350 was patented Apr. 23, 1991 to J. M. Schill et al on “Retainer Assemblies For Elongated Objects”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,641 was patented Sep. 17, 1991 to J. N. Holcomb et al and assigned to Jack N. Holcomb on a “Van-Mounted Ladder Assembly With Concealed Radio Antennas”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,791 was patented Oct. 22, 1991 to K. R. Henriquez et al and assigned to Slide-Out, Inc. on a “Vehicular Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,022 was patented Nov. 12, 1991 to G. W. Graham and assigned to Marrowbone Development Company on a “Ladder Apparatus And Method For Large Mobile Equipment”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,280 was patented Apr. 14, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on an “Apparatus For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,563 was patented Oct. 13, 1992 to J. R. Phillips on a “Wheel Chair Carrier”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,952 was patented Dec. 22, 1992 to R. Lasnetski on an “Overhead Storage Rack For Storing Ladders Or The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,411 was patented Dec. 29, 1992 to D. P. Oliver et al and assigned to Abru Aluminium Limited on “Ladder Improvements”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,588 was patented Feb. 16, 1993 to C. W. Sutton et al on a “Ladder Rack Ladder Latch”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,628 was patented May 11, 1993 to C. C. Hassell on a “Self-Loading Dolly Mount Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,094 was patented Sep. 7, 1993 to A. L. Finley on a “Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,757 was patented Oct. 26, 1993 to M. Horowitz et al and assigned to Martin Horowitz on a “Collapsible Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,912 was patented to A. Y. Levi on Mar. 29, 1994 and assigned to JAJ Products, Inc. on a “Ladder Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,357 was patented Sep. 13, 1994 to C. C. Hassell on a “Self-Locking Parallel-Motion Dolly Mount”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,150 was patented Nov. 1, 1994 to J. L. Praz on “Roof Rack For Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,052 was patented to J. K. Lin on Nov. 22, 1994 on a “Reversible Folding Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,778 was patented Mar. 21, 1995 to R. Sexton on a “Ladder Rack Securing And Release System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,234 was patented Apr. 11, 1995 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on a “Pivotable Article Retaining Apparatus To Invert And Store A Collapsible Water Storage Tank On A Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,495 was patented Jun. 6, 1995 to L. Bubik et al and assigned to Innovative Bicycle Design Inc. on a “Vehicle Roof Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,925 was patented Aug. 8, 1995 to T. Ohmi et al and assigned to Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd. on a “Ladder For Climbing Up To And Down From Working Floor Of Printing Press”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,933 was patented Nov. 28, 1995 to J. Thomason on a “Vehicle Mounted Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,357 was patented May 21, 1996 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Retaining And Retrieval Apparatus For Storage Of A Ladder Upon A Vehicle Shelf Area”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,100 was patented Jul. 23, 1996 to R. I. Hedley on an “Access Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,591 was patented May 27, 1997 to K. R. Henriquez on a “Ladder Storage And Transport Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,521 was patented Jan. 220, 1998 to D. Glass et al on a “Lift Assist Bicycle Carrier For Car Rooftop”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,857 was patented Aug. 11, 1998 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael Paul Ziaylek on an “Automatic Ladder Lowering And Storage Device For Use With An Emergency Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,891 was patented Dec. 22, 1998 to J. J. Olms et al and assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited on a “Motorized Rack System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,836 was patented Mar. 9, 1999 to I. F. Huang on a “Structure Of An Escaping Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,633 was patented Dec. 21, 1999 to R. G. Rolson and assigned to Robert G. Rolson on a “Portable Truck Or Trailer Ladder Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,545 was patented Jan. 11, 2000 to E. Faleide on a “Foldable Vehicle Ladder System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,312 was patented Jul. 11, 2000 to M. P. Ziaylek et al on a “Tank Handling Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,972 was patented Jul. 25, 2000 to A. Y. Levi on a “Truck Mounted Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,231 was patented Aug. 8, 2000 to A. Y. Levi on a “Drive Unit For Motor Vehicle Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,543 was patented Jan. 30, 2001 to D. Adame et al on a “Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,534 was patented Jul. 10, 2001 to A. L. Finley and assigned to Fibre Body Industries Inc. on a “Ladder Rack Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,668 was patented to F. Kameda on Aug. 14, 2001 and assigned to Nissin Jidosha Kogyo Co., Ltd. on a “Wheel Chair Storage Apparatus Of Car”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,181 was patented Nov. 13, 2001 to J. A. Bradley et al and assigned to Adrian Steel Company on a “Ladder Rack Apparatus And Method”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,873 was patented Nov. 27, 2001 to R. LaBrash and assigned to Tra-Lor-Mate, Inc. on a “Ladder Mounting System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,060 was patented Jan. 22, 2002 to L. G. Larson et al and assigned to Cold Cut Systems Svenska A. B. on a “Method And Equipment For Use In Rescue Service”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,930 was patented Mar. 26, 2002 to M. Flickenger and assigned to L &amp; P Property Management Company on a “Vehicle Rack Assembly With Hydraulic Assist”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,889 was patented Aug. 6, 2002 to A. Y. Levi on a “Ladder Rack For Hi Bay Vans”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,396 was patented May 13, 2003 to C. A. Ketterhagen and assigned to Johnson Outdoors Inc. on an “Automobile Cargo Carrier System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,666 was patented Jun. 17, 2003 to R. K. Miller on a “Portable Safety Ladder Assembly For A Truck Trailer”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,268 was patented Jul. 20, 2004 to A. Y. Levi on a “Ladder Rack Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,541 was patented Dec. 7, 2004 to M. P. Ziaylek et al on an “Apparatus For Holding Elongated Objects Horizontally Adjacent To A Vehicular Body Which is Movable Between An Upper Storage Position And A Lower Access Position”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,627 was patented Feb. 15, 2005 to B. Foo et al and assigned to eRack LLC on a “Vehicular Utility Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,835 was patented Apr. 5, 2005 to L. A. Silverness on a “Collapsible Rack For Storing Ladders And The Like On A Land Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,162 was patented to L. R. Jordan on Aug. 16, 2005 on an “Automatic Locking Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,996 was patented Dec. 13, 2005 to F. J. Huff on a “Ladder Mounting Apparatus And Method Of Use”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,409 was patented Aug. 29, 2006 to T. S. Richter and assigned to Adrian Steel Co. on a “Ladder Rack System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,690 was patented Oct. 3, 2006 to D. R. Bissen and assigned to Schwing America, Inc. on a “Universal Mast Support Frame And Method For Mounting Masts”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,479 was patented Nov. 21, 2006 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek, Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Theodore P. Ziaylek on a “Powered Ladder Storage Apparatus For An Emergency Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,650 was patented Jan. 23, 2007 to P. V. Korchagin et al on “High-Rise, Fire-Fighting, Rescue And Construction Equipment”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D331,030 was patented Nov. 17, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Unit For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D422,289 was patented Apr. 14, 2000 to M. Mariotta et al and assigned to AGIE SA on a “Machine Tool”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D487,049 was patented Feb. 24, 2004 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al on an “Apparatus For Retaining Elongated Objects Relative To A Vehicular Body And Providing Access Thereto”; and French Registration No. 87 14525. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The ladder storage apparatus of the present invention is designed for use with an emergency vehicle and preferably includes an inner housing fixedly securable with respect to an emergency vehicle for the purposes of facilitating storage and retrieval of a ladder mounted thereupon. Also included in this construction is an outer housing movably attached with respect to the inner housing which is adapted to receive the ladder detachably secured thereto to facilitate storage and availability. 
     An arm assembly is also included movably secured to the inner housing and movably attached to the outer housing to facilitate movable attachment of the outer housing with respect to the inner housing. This arm assembly is movable in such a manner as to urge movement of the outer housing between a storage position with the outer housing positioned immediately adjacent the inner housing and a deployed position with the outer housing positioned spatially disposed from the inner housing. 
     The apparatus further includes an extensible means such as a drive cylinder which can be hydraulic or electro-hydraulic and can be attached with respect to the inner housing and also attached with respect to the outer housing. This drive is preferably longitudinally extendable to urge outward movement of the arm assembly in such a manner as to cause movement of the outer housing toward the deployed position. The longitudinally extensible drive means further is longitudinally retractable to alternatively urge inward movement of the arm assembly to cause movement of the outer housing toward the storage position. 
     An extension adjustment assembly is also included secured to the inner housing and movably attached to the extensible drive for providing adjustment and positioning thereof with respect to the inner housing. This extension adjustment mechanism can include a yoke fixedly secured to the inner housing and movably secured with respect to the extensible drive. The yoke is generally C-shaped and defines a receiving slot therewithin adapted to receive and retain a portion of the extensible drive extending thereinto and movably attached thereto. The yoke preferably defines a yoke aperture therein immediately adjacent the receiving slot. The extension adjustment construction further includes a threaded adjustment stud mounted in the inner housing and positioned extending outwardly therefrom toward the extensible drive. The yoke aperture is adapted to receive the threaded adjustment stud threadably engaged therewith to facilitate mounting of the yoke fixedly with respect to the inner housing as desired. A first jam nut is preferably included in the construction of the extension adjustment device in a position to be attached to the threaded adjustment stud outside of the yoke thereof and tightened against the yoke immediately adjacent the yoke aperture. A second jam nut is also preferably attached to the threaded adjustment stud within the receiving slot and is tightened against the yoke immediately adjacent the yoke aperture oppositely positioned from the first jam nut. In this manner the first jam nut and the second jam nut when tightened on the threaded adjustment stud toward one another and against the yoke will hold the yoke in place and provide adjustability in the positioning thereof which can be achieved by loosening of the first and second jam nuts as desired and repositioning of the threaded adjustment stud within the yoke aperture to a new chosen position of adjustment. 
     The apparatus of the present invention further includes a latching mechanism which can be secured to the inner housing which is movable between a locked position in engagement with the outer housing for receiving thereof in the storage position and an unlocked position allowing movement of the outer housing away from the storage position. The latching mechanism preferably includes a first engagement means fixedly mounted to the outer housing and a second engagement means movably mounted to the inner housing and engageable with respect to the first engagement means responsive to movement of the latching mechanism to the locked position thereof. The second engagement means is preferably movable between an engaged position in engagement with the first engagement means to retain the outer housing means for retaining thereof in the storage position detachably retained with respect to the inner housing means and a disengaged position with respect to the first engagement means to release the outer housing to be freely movable relative to the inner housing toward the deployed position. The latching mechanism can further include a latching spring operatively mounted with respect to the second engagement means for maintaining thereof in the engaged position which is defined to be the steady state position thereof A latching drive can also be included in the construction of the latching mechanism which can include a drive cylinder which is responsive to actuation thereof to urge movement of the second adjustment mechanism from the engaged position to the disengaged position for the purpose of facilitating release of the outer housing with respect to the inner housing. A manual lever can also be included within the construction of the latching mechanism which is pivotally mounted within the inner housing and extends outwardly therefrom and can be rotated to cause manual disengagement of the latching mechanism by movement thereof to the unlocked position. A linkage construction may also be attached to the manual lever and attached to the second engagement means in such a manner that manual movement of the manual lever urges movement of the linkage causing the second engagement means to move toward the disengaged position. 
     Furthermore the construction of the present invention is preferably made such that the extensible drive is pivotally attached with respect to the yoke to facilitate flexible movement thereof and movement of the arms to allow the outer housing to be easily movable away from the inner housing as desired. Furthermore the linkage of the latching mechanism will preferably include a drive cylinder which is longitudinally extensible. This drive cylinder is preferably responsive to powering thereof towards movement of the second engagement means toward the disengaged position and in this manner will simultaneously provide both a powered and manual means to urge movement of the second engagement means toward the disengaged position. Thus the user can operate the manual release or can operate a powered release to facilitate disengagement of the latching mechanism. 
     Also within the construction of the present invention the extension adjustment means is preferably defined to be entirely contained within the interior portion of the inner housing in such a manner that it remains stationary at all times including those times when the outer housing is moving between the deployed and storage position. Furthermore the first engagement means of the present invention preferably includes a first hook and a second engagement means preferably includes a second hook. These two hooks are preferably detachably engaged with respect to one another to facilitate engagement and disengagement therebetween. 
     It is an object of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention to movement of a ladder between a storage position on top of an emergency vehicle and a deployed position extending downwardly and rearwardly downwardly therefrom. 
     It is an object of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention to provide a construction wherein ladders and like can be maintained horizontally at any point over the external surface of the emergency vehicle for storage and also are capable of movement downwardly to a deployed position. 
     It is an object of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention to provide a construction wherein a ladder can be moved from an upper to a lower position conveniently and easily in an emergency situation such as by a fire truck at a fire. 
     It is an object of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention to provide a construction wherein adjustment in positioning of the deployed position relative to the storage position is significantly enhanced. 
     It is an object of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention to provide a construction wherein all aspects of the latching release mechanism are contained within the inner housing thereof 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portions herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front three-quarter perspective of an embodiment of the ladder storing apparatus for use with an emergency vehicle of the present invention in the deployed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the extension adjustment mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded three-quarter perspective of the lower portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded three-quarter perspective of the upper portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in the storage position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in the storage position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention describes a ladder storage apparatus particularly usable with an emergency vehicle and being commonly usable with respect to fire trucks. The apparatus of the present invention includes an inner housing  12  which can be fixedly secured with respect to an emergency vehicle such as a fire truck and an outer housing  14  movable with respect thereto. An arm assembly  16  is preferably movably attached to the inner housing  12  and the outer housing  14  such as to control the independent movement of the outer housing  14  as the arm assembly is moved between the storage position  17  and the deployed position  18  thereof. A ladder  10  is detachably securable with respect to the outer housing  14  to be movable therewith between the storage position  17  and the deployed position  18  thereof to facilitate movement of the ladder between the generally higher storage or secured position and the generally lower deployed position for facilitating access. 
     Powering of movement of the outer housing  14  relative to the inner housing  12  is provided by a longitudinally extensible means  20  preferably comprising a drive cylinder which can be powered hydraulically or electrically or by any combination of powering means thereof The extensible means  20  is attached with respect to the inner housing  12  and the outer housing  14  and the positioning of the extensible housing  20  relative to these two housings is an important consideration. 
     As such, the present invention includes an extension adjustment means  22  designed particularly for the purpose of varying the relative position between the extensible drive means  20  and the inner housing  12 . This extension adjustment means  22  preferably includes a C-shaped yoke means  24  which defines a receiving slot  26  within the C-shaped configuration thereof A yoke aperture  27  extends through the yoke  24  immediately adjacent to the receiving slot  26 . 
     To facilitate adjustment the extension adjustment means  22  will preferably include a threaded adjustment stud  28  in threaded engagement with respect to the inner housing  12  as shown best in  FIG. 3 . Preferably a mounting jam nut  34  will facilitate fixed mounting of the threaded adjustment stud  28  with respect to the boss defined in the inner housing  12  for receiving and engaging therewith. The threaded adjustment stud  28  will extend outwardly away from the inner housing  12  and will be adapted to engage the yoke  24  by threadably engaging with the yoke aperture  27  therein and partly extending into the receiving slot  26  as again shown best in  FIG. 3 . Fixed securement between the threaded adjustment stud  28  and the yoke  24  is further enhanced by the positioning of a first jam nut on the portion of the threaded adjustment stud  28  between the yoke  24  and the mounting jam nut  34 . Another jam nut defined as the second jam nut  32  is preferably positioned in engagement with the threaded adjustment stud  28  at a position within the receiving slot  26  of the yoke  24 . In this manner the first jam nut  30  and the second jam nut  32  can be tightened toward one another and against the yoke  24  in the area thereof immediately adjacent to the yoke aperture  27  to firmly secure the yoke  24  with respect to the inner housing  12  through the interconnecting threaded adjustment stud  28 . The yoke can also define apertures through which a pivot pin  36  can extend which is held in place preferably by two pivot pin nuts  38 . The extensible drive means  20  can be movably or pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin  36  at a position within the receiving slot  26  of the yoke  24  in such a manner as to be movably retained thereby. 
     With this construction it can be seen that a firm securement is secured for the pivotal mounting of the extensible drive  20  by utilizing the construction of the yoke  24  and the surrounding parts to provide an extension adjustment means  22  which also additionally provides a means for adjustable positioning of the firmly held pivotally movable mounting apparatus for allowing firm yet movable mounting of the extensible drive  20  with respect to the inner housing  12  while allowing full adjustability of the specific chosen position for various applications and uses. 
     It is important that the ladder  10  be held firmly secured with the arm assembly  16  of the apparatus of the present invention when in the storage position  17 . For this purpose a latching mechanism  40  is preferably included which will retain the housings  12  and  14  immediately adjacent to one another with the arm assembly  16  in the storage position  17  until the latching mechanism is released. This added construction is included for the purpose of providing a means for firmly securing of the ladder relative to the emergency vehicle during transport when significant vibration and movement to the ladder and the ladder holding means is often encountered. 
     Latching mechanism  40  is movable between a locked position  42  which holds the inner and outer housings  12  and  14  in the storage position  17  and an unlocked position  44  which allows movement of the outer housing  14  away from the inner housing  12  such that the ladder  10  can be moved by the arm assembly  16  toward the deployed position. 
     Latching mechanism  40  preferably includes a first engagement means  46  preferably comprising a first hook means  47  preferably firmly mounted with respect to the outer housing  14 . A second engagement means  48  including a plurality of movable parts is preferably movably mounted with respect to the outer housing  14 . Second engagement means  48  preferably includes a second hook means  49  detachably engageable with respect to the first hook means  47  which can be attached thereto responsive to the latching mechanism  40  being in the locked position  42 . This is the engaged position  50  of the second engagement means  48  relative to the first engagement means  46 . 
     The first engagement means  46  and the second engagement means  48  can be separated by movement to the disengaged position  52  which allows the outer housing  14  to move away from the inner housing  12  such that the ladder  10  can travel to the deployed position for ready access by emergency personnel as needed. 
     The movable parts of the second engagement means  48  preferably include a latching spring  54  designed to maintain the second engagement means  48  of the latching mechanism  40  in the steady state engaged position. A latching drive  55  which can be either manually powered or electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically powered, is operative to disengage the latching mechanism  40  by movement thereof to the unlocked position  44  to in that manner allow the outer housing  14  to move away from the inner housing  12  for ladder deployment. The latching drive  55  either manual or powered is designed to overcome the steady state locking position urged upon the second hook  49  by the latching spring  54 . 
     The latching drive  55  can comprise a drive cylinder  56  such as a longitudinally extendable hydraulic or electrical cylinder or can include a manual lever  58 . Manual lever  58  is preferably connected through a plurality of linkage members  60  to the second engagement means  48  to facilitate disengagement of the second hook  49  with respect to the first hook  47  for the purpose of moving the latching mechanism to the unlocked position  44 . This linkage is best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . These figures also show the powered latching drive  55 . 
     Thus, the latching mechanism of the present invention can provide simultaneously both a powered disengaging means as well as a manual disengaging means either of which can be operated to cause movement of the latching mechanism  40  to be configured from the locked position  42  to the unlocked position  44 . 
     This is an important consideration in view of the fact that rapid deployment can be initiated by operating an automated unlocking means. However, also manual unlocking needs to be provided as a redundant backup system in case the powered system does not work or for some reason is inaccessible or inoperable. Thus, one of the novel aspects of the present invention is the combination of both a manual and an automated latch disengagement means for the latching mechanism  40 . 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof, it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4