Abstract:
A free-standing ladder includes a pair of rails connected to one another by rungs or steps. A ladder foot is located on at least a first end of each rail. The ladder may be erected in such a way that it bears on the ground with a contact area of the ladder feet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a ladder. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ladders, in particular stepladders, are generally known. Stepladders are often referred to as household ladders, thus indicating the considerable number of people who use such ladders. Many of these ladders are used domestically, for instance, when installing items on ceilings or walls, for renovating work, etc. These ladders are, however, not only used indoors. They are also used outdoors, particularly in the garden, for instance when cutting bushes, trees or hedges, or for harvesting fruit. 
         [0003]    Whilst there is generally always a suitable area available indoors for securely erecting a ladder, this is not always the case outdoors. On overgrown garden soil, and even more so on bare garden soil, there is an ever-present risk of the ladder feet sinking as a result of the pressure bearing on them when the ladder is being used. Mostly the ladder feet at the ends of the rails do not sink into the soil simultaneously and/or to the same extent. The ladder may then rapidly assume a slanted position. Ultimately, there is the risk of the user falling from the ladder, or of the ladder falling over together with the user. This may result in injury or even worse. 
         [0004]    In order to prevent such consequences, users of ladders often place boards or similar under the ladder feet in order to prevent the ladder from sinking. In addition, ladders are available which are made and sold by their manufacturers with a protection against sinking for preventing the ladder from sinking, in particular into soft garden soil. The principle applied to these ladders is to achieve a reduction of the ladder feet by pressure exerted on the soil by enlarging the ladder feet, and thus to prevent them from sinking. 
         [0005]    While some ladders are provided with protection against sinking, these ladders may be used indoors only with limitations. Such ladders typically include a ladder foot mounted on the first ends of both rails that may be enlarged by means of pulling it out. But even in its retracted state, this foot has a sizeable area requirement for erecting the ladder in comparison with a conventional stepladder for indoor use. As a result of the large ladder feet, areas with only a limited available floor space may become obstacles to setting up the ladders. In addition, as a result of the large ladder feet, the ladders require a sizeable storage area when the ladder is not in use and being stored. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an indoor/outdoor ladder that overcomes these limitations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a ladder, namely, a free-standing ladder, comprising a pair of rails, wherein the rails are connected to one another by rungs or steps, wherein a ladder foot is located on at least a first end of each rail. The ladder may be erected in such a way that it bears on the ground with a contact area of the ladder feet. 
         [0007]    Set against the background of the disadvantages of conventional ladders, the object of the invention is to provide a ladder which is suited to use indoors and outdoors, which requires little space and is still able to afford a user a secure positioning of the ladder. This object is achieved according to the invention in that the ladder comprises a protection against sinking to prevent the ladder from sinking, in particular, into soft ground in the garden and in that the ladder comprises a strut as protection against sinking which, in a first installation position, covers the contact areas of the ladder feet and is detachably mounted on the rails. In the first installation position, the strut is mounted to the rails in addition to the feet, in order to provide a protection against sinking when used outdoors. However, when the ladder is to be used indoors or stored, the strut may be removed and the ladder placed on the ladder feet without the strut. 
         [0008]    The strut of a ladder according to the invention may comprise a first leg and a second leg. In the first installation position, the first leg may lie against the first sides of the rails. The second leg may cover the contact areas of the ladder feet. The first leg may comprise a groove in which heads of two screws are movably located. The threads of the screws may be arranged substantially perpendicular to the strut. 
         [0009]    The rails may comprise holes in the region of the first ends, through which holes the screws pass in the first installation position of the strut. In the first installation position of the strut, nuts, in particular wing nuts or star-grip nuts, may be screwed onto the ends of the screws protruding from the holes. The strut and the rails may be detachably connected to one another by means of the screws and the nuts. 
         [0010]    The strut may preferably be mounted on the ladder not only in the first installation position. Far rather it is possible to also mount the strut on the ladder in a second installation position. The strut may be accommodated in this second installation position for instance when the ladder is being stored. An accommodation in the second installation position is also possible for transporting the ladder. 
         [0011]    In the second installation position, the strut may be detachably mounted between a bracket connecting the second ends of the rails or a utility tray connecting the second ends of the rails on the one hand, and a topmost rung or step or a pivot axle of a platform of the ladder or a support brace for the platform on the other hand. 
         [0012]    In the second installation position, the strut may be mounted in a form-fitting manner. The strut may comprise, at a first end and a second end, connecting structures which are suited to and equipped for the form-fitting connection. 
         [0013]    In the second installation position, the strut may be mounted in a form-fitting manner exclusively or additionally to another type of mounting. Accordingly, the strut may for example be jammed between the bracket connecting the second ends of the rails or the utility tray connecting the second ends of the rails on the one hand, and the topmost rung or step or a pivot axle of the platform of the ladder or the support brace for the platform on the other hand. 
         [0014]    The ladder according to the invention may be a leaning ladder or a free-standing ladder, in particular a stepladder. In the event of being a free-standing ladder or a stepladder, the ladder may comprise an ascending part and a supporting part which are connected to one another by articulated joints. The ascending part may comprise the rails with the rungs or steps attached thereto, with the strut being mounted to the first ends of said rails in the first installation position. In addition, the supporting part may comprise additional rails which are connected to one another by cross braces and which comprise first ends to which additional ladder feet are attached. An additional strut may be detachably mounted on the additional ladder feet as a protection against sinking in a first installation position. 
         [0015]    The additional strut may be identical to the strut detachably mounted on the ascending part in the first installation position. The two struts may be mutually interchangeable. The additional strut may be detachably mounted in the first installation position on the additional rails and/or in a second installation position between the bracket connecting the second ends of the rails or the utility tray connecting the second ends of the rails on the one hand, and the topmost rung or step or the pivot axle of the platform or the support brace of the platform on the other hand, in the exact same manner as the strut which is detachably mounted in the first installation position on the ascending part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Further characteristics of the invention are explained in the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached figures, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a ladder according to the invention in a folded state and with a strut in a second installation position, 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a view from above of the ladder shown in  FIG. 1  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a view from below of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a view from behind of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective frontal view of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view from behind of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  in a folded state with the strut in a second installation position, 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a frontal view of the ladder according to the invention in a folded state with a strut in a first installation position, 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a view from above of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position,  FIG. 10  is a view from below of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position, 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position, 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a view from behind of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 11  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position, 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective frontal view of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 12  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position, 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view from behind of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 13  in a folded state with the strut in a first installation position, 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 14  in an erected state with the struts in the first installation position, and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a ladder shown in  FIGS. 1 to 14  in an erected state with the struts in the first installation position. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    The ladder according to the invention, being a stepladder, comprises an ascending part  1  and a supporting part  2 . The ascending part  1  and the supporting part  2  are connected to one another by means of a joint. 
         [0034]    The ascending part comprises two rails  11  which are connected to one another by three steps  12 , a pivot axle  15 , and a utility tray  14 . The spacing between one step  12  and another step  12  or between the topmost step  12  and the pivot axle represents a customary measurement. Ladder feet  13  are located at the lower end of the ladder rails  11 , with which ladder feet the ladder may stand on a surface. The upper ends of the rails  11  are connected to one another by means of a utility tray  14 . 
         [0035]    The supporting part also comprises two rails  21  which are connected to one another by means of the cross braces  22 ,  25 . A first of the two cross braces  22 ,  25 , namely the cross brace  22 , is provided in the region of a lower end of the supporting part  2 . An upper cross brace  25  of the two cross braces  22 ,  25  is located approximately at the height of the pivot axle  15  of the ascending part and is also referred to as support brace  25 . The lower ends of the rails  21  also comprise ladder feet  23 . Covers  24  are provided at the upper ends of the rails, which cover the joint between the rails  11  of the ascending part  1  and the rails  21  of the supporting part. 
         [0036]    A platform  16  is pivotably located on the pivot axle  15 . This platform  16  is connected to the support brace  25  by means of a bracket  26  in a known manner. The bracket  26  causes the platform  16  to fold down onto the support brace  25  when the ladder is erected. When the ladder is folded together, the bracket  26  causes the platform  16  to fold upward between the rails  11 . 
         [0037]    To this point, the ladder represents a conventional ladder as manufactured by the applicant over a considerable period of time. 
         [0038]    The particular aspect of the ladder according to the invention lies in the struts  31  which, in the first installation position, are mounted to the lower ends of the rails  11  of the ascending part  1  and the lower ends of the rails  21  of the supporting part. 
         [0039]    The struts  31  have a uniform profile. They comprise two legs which are arranged at an angle relative to one another corresponding, preferably, to the angle formed between a rear side of the ladder feet  13  and a lower side of the ladder feet  23 . The struts each comprise a groove provided on the inner side of the legs which, in the first installation position, lie against the inner side of the rails  11 ,  21 . Heads of screws  32  are movably guided in the grooves in the longitudinal direction of the struts  31 . Two screws  32  are provided on each strut  31 . The threads of the screws  32  protrude approximately perpendicularly from the strut  31 . 
         [0040]    The other legs cover the underside of the ladder feet  13 ,  23  in the first installation position of the strut  31 . 
         [0041]    Holes passing through the rails from front to back are provided at the lower ends of the rails  11 ,  21 . The screws  32  pass through these holes in the first installation position of the strut  31 . Star-grip nuts  33  are screwed onto the ends of the screws  32  protruding from the holes. The screws  32  and the star-grip nuts  33  detachably mount the struts  31  on the rails  11 ,  21 . The star-grip nut  33  may be loosened manually and without a tool. 
         [0042]    The struts  31  may be removed from their first installation position by means of loosening the star-grip nuts  33  and pulling out the screws  32  from the holes at the lower ends of the rails  11 ,  21 . The struts  31  may then be moved to their second installation position. 
         [0043]    As a result of the screws  32  being movably located in the grooves of the struts  31 , it is possible to freely choose the spacing between the screws  32 . This makes it possible to provide the struts for ladders with different spacings at the lower ends of the rails  11 ,  21 . The spacings at the lower ends of the rails  11 ,  21  usually depend on the access height of a ladder. Accordingly, ladders with a greater access height usually have a greater spacing at the lower ends of the rails than ladders with a lower access height. As a result of the screws  32  being movable on the struts, it is possible to use the struts  31  for ladders with different access heights. 
         [0044]    The struts  31  comprise caps  34  at their ends, which caps are used, among other things, for fastening in the second installation position, said caps having connecting structures with which the struts may be mounted in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner between the utility tray  14  and the support brace  25  in the second installation position. The connecting structures comprise a hollow molding into which the pivot axle  15  may engage. 
         [0045]    The struts  31  are preferably accommodated in the second installation position for the purpose of transporting the ladder or for storing the ladder.