Patent Abstract:
This is a device that will provide additional security for individuals who work on extension ladders. It can be fit to any extension ladder and provide a support mechanism so that, if the ladder were ever to shift backward, it would stop the ladder from shifting, thereby protecting the worker. Because of the telescoping nature of the tube, it provides protection and it may be used in a variety of settings.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   This relates to the use of an extension ladder and specifically the safe use of the extension ladder. This is an attachment piece that is attached near the bottom front of the ladder and will safely secure the extension ladder to a structure. 
   B. Prior Art 
   There are many other prior art references to ladder devices and specifically ladder devices, which seek to minimize injury as a result of a fall from a ladder. Representative examples of them are many in the prior art, and some attach to the structure and some to buildings. These types of structures can be found in the following representative patents: Bee, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,545, Boring, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,669, Gardner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,905, and Griffin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,725. 
   None of the prior art references, however, use a device that attaches to the ladder and is then secured by the frame of a structure as contemplated in this device. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Extension ladders are used, for among other purposes, to paint and repair surfaces on buildings. An extension ladder merely allows an individual to remain off the ground and closer to a piece of particular work. Extension ladders are used by, among others, painters, electricians, and carpenters in repairing and installing various fixtures in a house or building. 
   An extension ladder has essentially two elements. Each element has two parallel sides and a set of rungs on which the person will stand to climb the ladder. One of the elements will slide against the other and will lock in place. The primary safety concern associated with extension ladders is that, once the ladder is on the ground it needs to remain in place as the person goes up and down the ladder. If the ladder slips on the surface below, the individual on the ladder may fall. This is particularly true of the ladder surfaces placed on a tile or wood floor, which tend to be more slippery than traditional carpet or other surfaces, although the ladder can certainly slip on carpeted surfaces as well. 
   Most, if not all, extension ladders have a non-skid surface on the bottom portion of the ladder element that rests on the floor surface. Sometimes, because of wear, the non-skid surfaces become slick and will allow the ladder to slip backwards and possibly cause injury or death to the worker and/or parts of the house or to the contents of the house. 
   This is a device, which attaches to the bottom of the extension ladder near the bottom of one of the elements and secures a telescoping pull with a flat rectangular pad on one end. When the extension ladder is positioned, the telescoping pole is rotated away from the ladder. A pad, which may contain weighted material, will be secured against the baseboard or wall of the building. 
   A clamping mechanism to secure the position of the telescoping tube is also provided to ensure that the tube does not collapse during normal use. The telescoping tube is attached to a T-member, which is a female plug, which is attached to a U-shaped support mechanism that clamps on both legs of the ladder slightly above the non-skid surface and below the first rung of the ladder. 
   In another embodiment a female threaded portion will be installed on the bottom rung of the extension ladder to secure a swivel mechanism. The male end of the telescoping tube will attach to the swivel mechanism. This ability to swivel will allow the telescoping tube to be positioned in many different places. 
   For ease of transport, a clip on one rung of the ladder whereby a portion of the telescoping tube will clip onto the ladder to hold the tube in place. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the device secured to the extension ladder. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of number  2  as indicated on  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the device in use. 
       FIG. 3A  is an isometric view of the device used against a baseboard and in the corner of the baseboard when doing corner work. 
       FIG. 3B  is an isometric view of the device used with an archway. 
       FIG. 3C  is an isometric view of a double base pad embodiment to prevent flipping of the ladder. 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the device with the telescoping tube extended. 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the clamping mechanism and support mechanism. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the device in use. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of item  7  on  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the device in use. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view of item  9  on  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the device stowed. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the clamping device as shown by the area in item  11  on  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the clip on the ladder. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the bearing for the clamping mechanism. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the clamping mechanism. 
       FIG. 15  is a view of the interior of the clamp on the ladder that holds the pole. 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of the alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the swivel mechanism for the alternative embodiment demonstrating at least three possible positions of the pole: locked on the base, locked on the chair rail or wall and locked on the ladder. 
       FIG. 19  is an isometric view of an alternative swivel mechanism for the second alternative embodiment depicting the ladder rung attachment as past of the existing ladder. 
   

   REFERENCE TO NUMBERING 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
                5 
               Device 
             
             
                 
                8 
               Foot supports 
             
             
                 
               10 
               Extension ladder 
             
             
                 
               10R 
               Extension ladder movable member 
             
             
                 
               10S 
               Extension ladder stationary member 
             
             
                 
               15 
               Clip 
             
             
                 
               20 
               Wall structure 
             
             
                 
               21 
               Baseboard 
             
             
                 
               22 
               Archway brace 
             
             
                 
               25 
               Telescoping pole 
             
             
                 
               27 
               Locking mechanism 
             
             
                 
               28 
               Double mounting member-U shaped base member 
             
             
                 
               30 
               Base 
             
             
                 
               35 
               Adjustable Tee 
             
             
                 
               36 
               Connection means for the tee 
             
             
                 
               40 
               Adjustable width support structure 
             
             
                 
               45 
               Clamping mechanism 
             
             
                 
               50 
               Clamp bolt 
             
             
                 
               55 
               Female portion of rung attachment for ladder 
             
             
                 
               57 
               Flexible portion of rung attachment 
             
             
                 
               59 
               Swivel for rung attachment 
             
             
                 
               60 
               Rung attachment 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   This device  5  is a safety device to be used with an extension ladder  10 . The extension ladder has two pieces, one section rests on the floor and has a series of foot supports  8  and remains stationary. These foot supports  8  will rest on the ground surface during normal use. The other section will move parallel to the stationary member of the extension ladder. 
   When the ladder is initially being positioned one section of the ladder will move up and down while the other section stays stationary. One section  10 R will go up and down relative to the stationary portion  10 S. This device will be clamped to the bottom of section  10 S slightly above the foot supports  8  and below the first ladder rung. It is secured to the ladder member with a clamping mechanism  45 , which take the general shape of a “U”. Various types of clamps may be used and the means to secure the clamping mechanism  45  to the extension ladder may include bolts as well as eye screws. 
   Two solid support structure  40  members will extend outward from the clamping mechanism  45  and will be joined at a tee  35 . The tee will be equipped with a female end into which the male end of a telescoping tube will be inserted. One end of a telescoping tube  25  will be inserted into the one female end of the tee  35 . This may be threaded or it may be a molded as part of the device itself. 
   A means to secure  27  the tube will allow the sections of the telescoping tube  25  to be locked into place. The means to secure the sections of tube may vary but a locking coupling or threaded clamp may be used as well as a tube with a series of holes into which protrusion would fit may also be contemplated. 
   The support structure  40 , which are secured at the tee will rotate around the clamp  45  and will allow the first end of the telescoping pole  25  to be placed against a wall as depicted in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A,  3 B,  3 C and  6 . On the first end of the telescoping tube will be a base  30 , which may be weighted for additional stability, and which will be secured against the baseboard of the wall  20 . The shape of the pad  30  may be shaped to conform to the general shape of a baseboard. The base  30  may also be allowed to swivel at the end where it connects to the telescoping pole. This pad will ensure that, if the ladder slips backward, the movement of the ladder will be stopped in place. 
   In order to enable the device to be more versatile a swivel mechanism may be placed near the tee, which is joined to the support structure. The ability to swivel will enable the telescoping pole to be secured in many different positions. 
   In some environments the ladder is placed in a structure that does not provide a base board behind the ladder but instead an opening is behind the ladder. In that situation a base board member  22  can be installed in the opening and the pad rests against the base board member  22  such as depicted in  FIG. 3   c.    
   There may also be attached to one end of the telescoping tube a U shaped base member  28  that will accommodate two pads such as depicted in  FIG. 3   c . This particular arrangement will provide additional security for the device. 
   The tee  35  that is used to secure the support members together will likely come in two sections, which will clamp around the support structure members  40 . The means of connection for the sections of the tee  35  are likely to be a bolt and nut  36  but other means to secure the sections of the tee may also be contemplated. 
   The clamping mechanism on the extension ladder leg  45  can also be of many different varieties, but it should clamp securely on the respective extension ladder legs and allow the support structure  40  to rotate so that the telescoping tube is able to position the pad  30  securely against the wall. The advantage to the use of clamps is the ability to change the positions on the ladder to accommodate different working conditions. 
   For ease of storage, a clip  15  is provided on one rung of the extension ladder. When the device is stowed, it can be clipped as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Various materials may be used in the construction of this particular device, and certain safety considerations would be paramount. 
   A possible choice of materials may include aluminum, PVC pipe, or any other material that would provide sufficient strength in the event that the ladder may began to slip backward. 
   ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 
   One of the salient features of this device is the method by which the device is secured to the extension ladder. A plurality of clamps may be used as described above in the first embodiment. Another alternative is to incorporate a female portion into the bottom rung of the extension ladder. A swivel mechanism is placed in the female end and the male end of the telescoping tube is installed in the swivel mechanism. 
   The device operates the same way with regard to rotating the telescoping tube to secure the device to the wall or baseboard. The advantage of installing the female end directly into the rung of the ladder is that it eliminates the clamping mechanisms.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4