Abstract:
A ladder stabilizing device having an arm and a hand. The arm is adapted to fit into the receiver of a vehicle. The hand pivotally mounts to the arm and may be securable in different angular orientations relative to the arm. A lateral member of the hand stabilizes the ladder and reduces the risk of the ladder sliding rearward and out from under the user while the user is climbing and/or standing on the ladder. Two extensions extend from the lateral member to limit lateral movement of the ladder while a user is climbing the ladder. The arm may include three or more offset sections that allow for vertical or horizontal adjustment of the hand. Rearward movement and/or flexing of the ladder may cause the ladder to wedge under the lateral member, providing additional stability to the ladder.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to ladder accessories and more particularly to stabilizing devices for ladders. 
         [0002]    Ladders have been in widespread use for many years. Unfortunately, the use of a ladder is accompanied by a certain amount of danger. If the surface supporting the legs of the ladder does not have enough friction, the ladder may slip, possibly causing the person using the ladder to fall and/or injure themselves. The risk increases when the user exerts larger outward or downward forces on the ladder. To reduce this risk, ladders have been equipped with many different stabilizing devices. 
         [0003]    One prior art device includes stakes that are driven into the ground or surface supporting the ladder. The stakes semi-permanently affix the ladder to the ground, which provides stabilization for the ladder, but leaves unsightly holes after the ladder is removed. This device also takes time to install and remove. In some situations, the surface characteristics may not allow for the use of stakes, for example, when using a ladder on a paved surface. 
         [0004]    Other prior art devices attach supporting legs to the bottom of a ladder. These devices may stabilize the ladder in some situations, but can still suffer from the danger of slipping out from under a user when the surface supporting the ladder has a low coefficient of friction, as mentioned above. These devices may also be less effective when the user is exerting large outward or downward forces on the ladder. 
         [0005]    Still other prior art devices add supporting arms to the top of the ladder to improve the stability between the top of the ladder and the surface supporting the top of the ladder. These devices may stabilize the top of a ladder, but add relatively little stability to the bottom of a ladder. In some situations, a suitable surface supporting the top of the ladder may not be available to engage a ladder stabilizer of this type. 
         [0006]    Although existing ladder stabilizers provide a solution for some applications, there remains a continuing need for an improved ladder stabilizer that provides enhanced and efficient functionality, such as when large forces are applied to the ladder and/or low coefficients of friction are involved in supporting the ladder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a ladder stabilizing device that is adapted to attach to a vehicle. The device has an arm extending from a vehicle that, in one embodiment, may be insertable into the receiver of the vehicle. A hand may be pivotally attached to the arm and may interact with a lower portion of a ladder. The hand may be moveable between three angular positions to provide increased adaptability. The hand may include one lateral member to limit rearward movement of the ladder and two extension members to limit lateral movement of the ladder. The arm may be made of a material sufficiently flexible to allow bowing that can wedge the ladder in the stabilizing device if the ladder slides and/or flexes during use. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the hand is moveable between more than three angular positions. Two pins may be used to allow the hand to pivot and to secure the hand in the various angular positions. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, the arm may include two parallel members joined by an angular member, which increases the possible orientations and adaptability of the ladder stabilizing device. The arm may be inserted into a receiver in four different orientations, which allows for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the position of the hand relative to the vehicle. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a ladder stabilizing device with enhanced and efficient functionality. The device includes an arm and a hand hingedly attached to the arm. The arm may be insertable into the receiver of a vehicle, which provides stability on nearly all conceivable surfaces on which a ladder would be used. The receiver also provides a fast and relatively simple attachment. The interface surfaces of the arm and hand may matingly engage one another, which provides enhanced stability of the device. The device may be adapted to different ladder styles and environmental conditions through the shape of the arm and the angular position of the hand. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the embodiments and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of a ladder stabilizing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the hand rotated. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hand of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  interacting with a vehicle and a ladder. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  interacting with a vehicle and a ladder. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the hand rotated and the device interacting with a vehicle and a ladder. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the wedging action of the ladder. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the hand rotated. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The embodiments of the present invention provide a ladder stabilizing device that is adapted to attach to a vehicle. The vehicle has a receiver that may be located toward the rear of the vehicle. The receiver may be any type of receiver, including but not limited to a trailer hitch receiver. The device includes a hand that may be pivotally attached to an arm and secured in a plurality of angular positions relative to the arm. The arm may be insertable into the vehicle receiver. 
       I. First Embodiment 
       [0026]    A ladder stabilizing device  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . The device  10  generally includes an arm  20  and a hand  50 . Arm  20  and hand  50  may be of any size or material suitable for the application, including steel, aluminum or composite tube stock. For example, arm  20  and hand  50  may have an outer dimension of 2 inches and a wall thickness of ⅛ inch. Arm  20  and hand  50  preferably include hollow components, but may include solid components or a combination of hollow and solid components. The arm  20  includes a first portion  22  and a second portion  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the first portion  22  may be inserted into the receiver  100  of a vehicle. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , arm  20  may include a receiver tab  34  that engages receiver  100  to stabilize device  10 . The figures do not show a pin securing arm  20  to receiver  100 , but one may be included. The second portion  24  is connected to hand  50  with hinge pin  80 . Arm  20  includes two apertures  82 ,  84  for receiving hinge pin  80 . Optionally, arm  20  may include two or more sections slidably connected that allow a user to increase and decrease the length of arm  20 . Any conventional locking feature may be used to secure the two sections at the desired length. This may allow for further adjustment of the arm  20  after the vehicle is parked. 
         [0027]    Hand  50  includes a lateral member  52  and two extension members  54 ,  56 . Lateral member  52  is affixed to a mounting member  58  and extension members  54 ,  56  are affixed to lateral member  52 . These connections and any connection in device  10  may be accomplished with any means suitable to the application, including but not limited to welding, threaded and non-threaded fasteners, and adhesives. Two plates  60 ,  62  are affixed to the top and bottom surfaces of mounting member  58  and include apertures  64 ,  66  for receiving hinge pin  80 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , plates  60 ,  62  extend past the side of mounting member  58 . The height of mounting member  58  may be designed such that upper surface  26  and lower surface  28  of arm  20  interface with and engage plates  60 ,  62 . In other words, the height of mounting member  58  may be substantially equivalent to the distance between the upper surface  26  and lower surface  28  of arm  20 . 
         [0028]    There are a variety of design options for hand  50  that will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Optionally, lateral member  52  may be sized to position extension members  54 ,  56  wider than a conventional ladder or to correspond to a particular ladder width. Further optionally, lateral member  52  may include two or more pieces slidably connected that allow lateral member  52  to increase and decrease in length, which may allow the distance between extension members  54 ,  56  to be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of ladders. Any conventional locking feature may be used to secure the two pieces of lateral member  52  at the desired length. Further optionally, two members may be attached to extension members  54 ,  56  that extend toward one another to partially enclose ladder  12 . Further optionally, a closure member may be included that connects the ends of extension members  54 ,  56 . The closure member would provide a completely enclosed space between lateral member  52 , the closure member and the extension members  54 ,  56  in which to place ladder  12 . Further optionally, extension members  54 ,  56  may include clamps that secure ladder  12 . Further optionally, hand  50  may include a knuckle that enables hand  50  to tilt relative to arm  20 , which would provide adaptability for the ladder stabilizing device  10 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , hand  50  may be secured in three different angular positions relative to arm  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , plates  60 ,  62  are designed such that the distance  90  between mounting member  58  and hinge pin  80  is equal to the distance  90  between the outer surface  36  of arm  20  and hinge pin  80 . This allows the outer surface  36  of arm  20  to interface with and engage mounting member  58 , increasing the stability of device  10  when hand  50  is in the orientation shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , distance  90  is also equal to a distance  92  between hinge pin  80  and the side surface  30  of arm  20 . This allows the side surface  30  of arm  20  to interface with and engage mounting member  58  when hand  50  is in the orientation shown in  FIG. 8 , which increases the stability of device  10 . In all three of the angular orientations shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , the surface interface locks the hand in position and increases the stability of device  10 . 
         [0030]    In use, the vehicle may be stopped a distance from the intended ladder location. Ladder  12  may be placed in position and the user may determine which vehicle orientation would be best to support ladder  12 . For this decision, a user might consider the environment surrounding ladder  12  including curbs, other obstructions and overall potential vehicle access. A user may also consider the nature of the work to be done including any required clearances, tools and equipment that may be required while the user is on ladder  12  and any other relevant considerations. Once the user decides the best vehicle orientation, the user may place the first portion  22  of arm  20  into receiver  100 . 
         [0031]    Arm  20  may be inserted into vehicle receiver  100 . Using the same considerations mentioned above, the user may determine which orientation to use for hand  50 . If arm  20  and hand  50  are stored separately, the user may retrieve hand  50  and align the space between plates  60 ,  62  with the outer end  36  of arm  20 . If different angular orientations for hand  50  are used, the corresponding surface mating with mounting member  58  would be aligned with the space between plates  60 ,  62 . For example, if a side orientation is desired, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the user would align the space between plates  60 ,  62  with the side surface  30  of arm  20 . The outer end  36  of arm  20  is inserted into the space between plates  60 ,  62  such that the apertures  82 ,  84  in arm  20  align with the holes  64 ,  66  in hand  50 . The hinge pin  80  is inserted through the apertures  64 ,  66 ,  82 ,  84 . If the length of lateral member  52  is adjustable, the user may secure lateral member  52  at a desired length to accommodate the width of the ladder  12 . 
         [0032]    The vehicle may then be moved into position. The user may first position ladder  12  and then approach ladder  12  with the vehicle, or optionally, the user may position the vehicle and then position ladder  12 . Using either sequence, ladder  12  may be positioned between extension members  54 ,  56  and adjacent lateral member  52 . The user may adjust the length of arm  20  if the length of arm  20  is adjustable. If the length of lateral member  52  is adjustable, the user may adjust the length of lateral member  52 , which adjusts the distance between extension members  54 ,  56 . The user may climb ladder  12 , which is stabilized by ladder stabilizing device  10 . As the user climbs ladder  12 , the legs of ladder  12  may slide toward the vehicle and toward ladder stabilizing device  10 . In addition, ladder  12  may flex under the weight of the user. As shown in  FIG. 7 , either or both of ladder  12  sliding and flexing may cause ladder  12  to contact lateral member  52  and cause hand  50  to move upward relative to its original orientation. As hand  50  moves upward, arm  20  may flex, and ladder  12  may become wedged in stabilizing device  10 , providing further increased stability. The flexing of ladder  12  is not explicitly shown in  FIG. 7 , but the flexing of ladder  12  may contribute to the wedging of ladder  12  in stabilizing device  10 , as described above. To facilitate this wedging action, arm  20  may be made with a material having sufficient flexibility, such as the steel or aluminum tube stock noted above. 
         [0033]    After the user completes the task and no longer needs ladder  12 , ladder  12  may be removed from stabilizing device  10 , and hand  50  may be detached from arm  20  by removing pin  80 . Optionally, arm  20  and hand  50  may be stored affixed to one another to reduce the time required to assemble ladder stabilizing device  10 . If stored in an affixed configuration, hand  50  may be rotated to the side to reduce the width of device  10 . 
       II. Second Embodiment 
       [0034]    A ladder stabilizing device  210  in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 10-11 . In this embodiment, hand  250  may be oriented at more than three angular positions relative to arm  220 . Arm  220  has apertures  282 ,  284  for receiving hinge pin  80  and apertures  286 ,  288  for receiving angular pin  272 . Plates  260 ,  262  have apertures  264 ,  266  for receiving hinge pin  80 . Plates  260 ,  262 , also have a plurality of apertures  268 ,  270  into which angular pin  272  may be inserted to orient hand  250  at a desired angle relative to arm  220 . 
         [0035]    In use, hand  250  is secured to arm  220  by inserting hinge pin  80  through apertures  264 ,  266 ,  282 ,  284 . Hand  250  is oriented at the desired angle relative to arm  220  and secured at the desired angle by inserting angular pin  272  through apertures  268 ,  270 ,  286 ,  288 . In this embodiment, a clearance distance is required between the end of arm  220  and hand  250  to allow rotation of hand  250  relative to arm  220 . After use, the user may remove pins  80 ,  272  to remove hand  250  from arm  220 . 
       III. Third Embodiment 
       [0036]    A ladder stabilizing device  310  in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 12-13  and includes arm  320  and hand  350 . In this embodiment, the arm  320  includes two substantially parallel segments  322 ,  324  joined by a segment  334  oriented at an angle to both parallel segments  322 ,  324 . Arm  320  may be rotated to four different angular orientations relative to receiver  100 , which allow for vertical and horizontal adjustment of hand  350 . Arm  320  defines apertures for the hinge pin  80  through sides  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , which allows hand  350  to be secured to arm  320  when arm  320  is in each of the four orientations. In this and all embodiments, the arm  320  may define apertures that allow a pin to secure arm  320  to receiver  100 . Specifically, the third embodiment includes apertures  390 ,  392 ,  394 ,  396  to allow securing of arm  320  in receiver  100  in each of the four orientations. As shown in  FIG. 12 , arm  320  may include a hand engagement tab  326  to stabilize hand  350  when hand  350  is secured against side  30  of arm  320 . 
         [0037]    In use, the user must decide which arm orientation would be best for the application. The user may consider the same factors already mentioned, plus any other applicable considerations. After determining the desired orientation, the user may insert the arm  320  in the desired orientation in receiver  100 . The user then may secure hand  350  to arm  320  with pin  80 . 
         [0038]    The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.