Abstract:
Step Ladder Safely Shoe provides security and stability for the base of a ladder and can prevent users from potentially falling off of an unstable ladder. This device acts as shoes (surface-area increasers) for the feet of a step ladder by providing four supportive units into which the ladder&#39;s feet can be placed. By using this product, individuals may be able to use a ladder without needing a second person to hold and stabilize the ladder, as well as allowing individuals to easily use the ladder with minimal effort on wet or soft ground.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/430,561, filed Jan. 7, 2011 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
       1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to the field of ladder accessories and more specifically relates to ladder safely shoe systems. 
       2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    Ladders are typically a set of vertical or inclined rungs or steps. Ladders may be fixed or non-fixed. Fixed ladders are not portable, but provide suitable stability. Non-fixed versions such as folding (step), extension and others are convenient due to their portable nature; however these ladders may be dangerous in-use. Many individuals use ladders either at their job or home. While using a portable ladder may be convenient for ascending and descending from heights, individuals can potentially fall off and injure themselves by using an unstable ladder. Oftentimes, ladders become unstable if they are used on soft or wet ground. This is highly unsafe and inconvenient, as individuals do not always have the time to wait for the proper dry ground conditions. Additionally, ladders can slip or shift if there isn&#39;t someone stabilizing the ladder at the bottom. This condition may make it difficult to accomplish anything if an individual is alone, without someone to hold the base of ladder steady. 
         [0006]    For safety, a rigid (non-fixed) ladder should ideally be leaned at an angle of about fifteen degrees to the vertical. In other words, the distance from the foot of the ladder to the wall should be about one quarter of the height of the top of the ladder. At steeper angles, the ladder is at risk of toppling backwards when the climber leans away from it. At shallower angles, the ladder may lose its grip on the ground. Ideal conditions often do not exist, as ground surfaces may be uneven or slippery. It is desirable that a ladder accessory provide safety in a reliable manner. 
         [0007]    Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. And Pub. Nos. 2,691,479; 2007/0284190; 6,092,625; 2009/0200110; 2008/0029341; and 4,669,576. This art is representative of ladder accessories. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0008]    Ideally, a ladder safely shoe system should be user-friendly, easy to install and safe in-use, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable ladder safely shoe system to effectively prevent ladder slippage and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known ladder accessory art, the present invention provides a novel ladder safely shoe system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide safety for users of ladders despite the relative environmental conditions. 
         [0010]    Step Ladder Safely Shoe of the present invention provides security and stability for the base of a ladder (portable or non-portable) and can prevent users from potentially falling off of a wobbly and unstable ladder. This innovative product acts as shoes (surface-area increasers) for the feet of a step ladder by providing four supportive units into which the ladder&#39;s feet can be placed. By using this product, individuals may be able to use a ladder without needing a second person to hold and stabilize the ladder, as well as allowing individuals to easily use the ladder with minimal effort on wet or soft ground. Homeowners, landscapers, or individuals using a ladder can benefit from the support and practicality that this product affords. 
         [0011]    A ladder safely shoe system as disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment comprising: a ladder (safety) shoe including, a leg receiver; a connector-pivot; exactly two threaded fastener receivers (more or less in alternate embodiments); fasteners; and a baseplate. Leg receiver of ladder shoe receives a leg of a ladder. The leg receiver is connected to the baseplate via the connector-pivot. The leg receiver comprises a rectangular tubular profile opening suitable to receive the leg of the ladder and the leg receiver comprises a toe and a heal contoured to match a butt of the leg of the ladder; wherein the leg receiver may comprise a Parallelepiped. 
         [0012]    The toe and the heal of the leg receiver are able to be pivoted in relation to the ground surface via a centerline axis of the connector-pivot such that the ladder is safely located. The threaded fastener receiver receives the fasteners such that the leg of the ladder is able to be removably coupled within the ladder shoe. The connector-pivot may further comprise a bolt, the connector-pivot acting in a capacity of a fulcrum. The baseplate preferably comprises a circular surface-area-increaser; wherein the baseplate comprises a grip-surface located on a bottom of the baseplate. The connector-pivot is able to pivotably adjust the leg of the ladder to a normalized position so as to render the ladder stabilized relative to a ground surface for use by at least one ladder-user. 
         [0013]    A kit is also described herein preferably including: four of the ladder safely shoes (one for each ladder leg); fasteners; and a set of ladder-user instructions. 
         [0014]    A preferred method of using a ladder safely shoe is disclosed herein preferably comprising the steps of: removably attaching ladder (safely) shoes about a butt of a leg of a portable ladder; threadably-inserting fasteners into threaded fastener receivers such that the leg of the portable ladder is receivedly-affixed within a leg receiver of the ladder safety shoe; and normalizing a relative position via pivotably adjusting a connector-pivot so as to render the portable ladder stabilized relative to a ground surface for use by at least one ladder-user. The method may further comprise the step of removing at least one of the ladder safely shoes for use or for storage. 
         [0015]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a ladder safely shoe system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, ladder safely shoe systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating ladder shoes of a ladder safely shoe systems, in an in-use condition on a ladder according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view illustrating the ladder shoes according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is another side perspective view illustrating the ladder shoes according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view illustrating the ladder shoes according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of using the ladder shoes according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a ladder accessory device  110  and more particularly to ladder safely shoe system  100  as used to improve the stability and safety of ladder  130  in use (in-use condition  150 .) 
         [0024]    Generally speaking, ladder (safely) shoe  112  substantially prevents individuals from falling off of an unstable ladder  130  by providing a means of securing in stasis the base of ladder  130 . This unique product may comprise a metal (or non-metal) unit into which the feet  132  of ladder  130  can be placed. The top part of the unit can have a rectangular cup in the shape of foot  132  of ladder  130  and can be attached to a circular disk (baseplate  116 .) 
         [0025]    There can be screws on either side of the cup that can be adjusted to secure the foot  132  into place. To use, individuals can place the ladder  130  foot  132  into the cup and turn the screws to secure the foot  132 . 
         [0026]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating ladder (safely) shoe(s)  112  of a ladder safely shoe systems  100 , in an in-use condition  150  on ladder  130  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Ladder safely shoe system  100  comprises ladder shoe(s)  112 ; ladder shoe(s)  112  including leg receiver  114 ; connector-pivot  120 ; and baseplate  124 . Leg receiver  114  of ladder shoe  112  receives leg  134  of ladder  130 ; wherein leg receiver  114  is connected to baseplate  116  via connector-pivot  120 . Connector-pivot  120  is able to pivotably adjust leg  134  of ladder  130  to a normalized position so as to render ladder  130  suitably stabilized relative to a ground surface for use by at least one ladder-user. 
         [0028]    Kit  170  may include four of ladder shoe(s)  112 ; fasteners  118 ; and a set of instructions. Ladder safely shoe system  100  may be sold as kit  170 ; ladder safely shoe system  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, different shapes, sizes for different ladders  130 , customized parts, different fastener means used, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0029]    Referring generally now to  FIGS. 2-4 , starting with  FIG. 2  showing a side perspective view illustrating ladder shoes  112  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    As previously mentioned, ladder safely shoe system  100  comprises leg receiver  114 . Leg receiver  114  preferably comprises a rectangular tubular profile opening suitable to receive leg  134  of ladder  130 . Leg receiver  114  comprises toe  122  and heal  124  contoured to match butt  136  of leg  134  of ladder  130 . Leg receiver  114  comprises a Parallelepiped in preferred embodiments; however other shapes may be used to match legs  134  of ladder  130 . Parallelepiped refers to a three-dimensional figure formed by six parallelograms within this disclosure. Leg receiver  114  may also comprise a Rhomboid profile or a non-Rhomboid in alternate embodiments. Toe  122  and heal  124  of leg receiver  114  are able to be pivoted in relation to the ground surface via a centerline axis of connector-pivot  120 . Connector-pivot  120  may further comprise bolt  126  or other suitable equivalent fastener/pivoting means. In this way connector-pivot  120  acts in a capacity of a fulcrum. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another side perspective view illustrating ladder shoes  112  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Ladder shoes  112  comprise at least one threaded fastener receiver  128  for receiving a fastener  118  such that leg  134  of ladder  130  is able to be removably coupled within ladder shoe  112 ; preferred embodiments comprising exactly two threaded fastener receivers  128 , as shown. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top perspective view illustrating ladder shoes  112  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0033]    Baseplate  116  of ladder shoes  112  comprises a surface-area-increaser such that ladder  130  is suitably stabilized on the ground surface, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The surface-area-increaser comprises a circular cross-section in preferred embodiments however may comprise other shapes such rectangular, square, triangular or the like (non-circular cross-sections for example.) In certain embodiments baseplate  116  comprises grip-surface  108  located on a bottom of baseplate  116  to create an increased friction means with the ground surface (floor, ground or the like.) Grip-surface  108  of baseplate  116  comprises a frictional tread. Grip-surface  108  may comprise rubberized or spray-on material. Grip-surface  108  of baseplate  116  comprises a plurality of pierce protrusions in certain embodiments. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart  550  illustrating a method of using (method of use  500 ) ladder shoes  112  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0035]    Method of use  500  for ladder shoe  112  (ladder safety shoes comprising ladder shoes  112 ) comprises the steps of: step one  501  removably attaching ladder shoes  112  about butt  136  of leg  134  of (a portable) ladder  130  (step ladder as shown in  FIG. 1  or other version); step two  502  threadably-inserting fasteners  118  into threaded fastener receivers  128  such that leg  134  of (portable) ladder  130  is receivedly-affixed within leg receiver  114  of ladder shoe  112  (ladder safety shoe); and step three  503  normalizing a relative position via pivotably adjusting connector-pivot  120  so as to render (portable) ladder  130  stabilized relative to a ground surface for use by at least one ladder-user. Method of use  500  may further comprise step four  504  of removing at least one of ladder shoe  112 . 
         [0036]    It should be noted that step four  504  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method  500 . 
         [0037]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0038]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.