Patent ID: 12196040

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a removable and safe covering adapted to be placed over the entire length of an existing ladder thereby covering the rungs and the spaces therebetween and provide a surface for animals to be able to traverse upwards and downwards along the length of the ladder without falling between the rungs and becoming injured.

Referring now to the drawingsFIGS.1-7, the animal climbing cover for ladders100is used in combination with ladders200having two spaced side rails210and a plurality of spaced rungs220connected therebetween, and includes a main panel110comprising a top edge portion111, a bottom edge portion112, wherein the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge portions defines a length (L) of the main panel, two opposite side edge portions (113and114) extending along the length of the main panel, wherein the distance between said two opposite side edge portions defines a width (W) of said main panel, a top surface116extending between the top edge portion111, the bottom edge portion112, and the two opposite side edge portions, a bottom surface115extending between the top edge portion, the bottom edge portion, and the two opposite side edge portions, a plurality of raised portions (117and118) located at various positions upon the top surface116of the main panel and are adapted to provide a means for animals300to grip the main panel with their paws. The main panel110is sized, shaped, and adapted to cover a substantial portion of the side rails210and rungs220of the ladder200. The animal climbing cover for animals further comprises at least one attachment bracket120attached to the top edge portion111of the main panel110via at least two spaced straps122connected therebetween via stitching a slots and is adapted to releasably and securely engage a top rung of the ladder; and at least one attachment strap124attached to the bottom edge portion112of the bottom surface115of the main panel110that is adapted to releasably and securely engage bottom rungs220of the ladder via a flexible cord125, wherein the animal climbing cover is adapted to removably attach to and cover a substantial portion of the rungs220and the rails210of the ladder200and provide a means for an animal300to climb up and down the ladder.

The animal climbing cover for ladders100further comprises at least one vertical strap126including a first end adjacent to the top edge portion111of the main panel110, and a second end opposite the first end adjacent the bottom edge portion112of the main panel110, wherein the at least one vertical strap is attached to the bottom surface of the main panel and extends along a substantial portion of the length of the main panel, and wherein the at least one vertical strap is adapted to increase the rigidity of the main panel when in use. The attachment strap124can also be attached to the second end of the at least one vertical strap126for additional strength.

The animal climbing cover for ladders further comprising a plurality of spaced horizontal straps128, each including a first end, a second end opposite said first end, a ring129attached to the first end, and a ring129attached to the second end, wherein the plurality of spaced horizontal straps128are attached to the bottom surface115of the main panel110spaced from one another, and wherein the plurality of spaced horizontal straps128have a length larger than the width (W) of the main panel110, such that the first and second ends extend respectively past the two opposite side edge portions (113and114); a first side flexible cord132including a first end connected to the ring129on the first end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the top edge portion111of the main panel, a second end connected to the ring129on the first end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the bottom edge portion of the main panel, and a center portion adapted to be releasably connected to the ring129on the second end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128in between the one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the top edge portion of the main panel110and the one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the bottom edge portion112of the main panel110; and a second side flexible cord134including a first end connected to the ring129on the second end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the top edge portion111of the main panel110, a second end connected to the ring129on the second end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the bottom edge portion112of the main panel, and a center portion adapted to be releasably connected to the ring129on the first end of one of the plurality of horizontal straps128in between the one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the top edge portion111of the main panel110and the one of the plurality of horizontal straps128adjacent the bottom edge portion112of the main panel110, wherein the plurality of spaced horizontal straps128and the first and second side flexible cords (132and134) are adapted to crisscross, as shown inFIG.3, and be used such that the animal climbing cover is more securely removably attached to the ladder200.

The main panel110may be formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of plastic, burlap, fiberglass, rubber, and copper strands. The main panel110may also be formed from a material that is flexible and stretchable. The rings129attached to respective ends thereof may be formed as D-rings that may also be formed as carabiner spring clips. There may also be a plurality of spaced vertical straps126attached to the bottom surface115of the main panel110. The at least one attachment bracket120may be formed having an L-shaped cross-section, or formed as an S-hook, and may include set screws.

The plurality of raised portions (117and118) may be formed having a shape chosen from a group of shapes consisting of bumps and ridges, and be located on the top surface116of the main panel110in a pattern, such as two spaced vertical strips.

The vertical and horizontal straps (126and128) may be formed from nylon webbing. The flexible cords (132and134) may be formed from parachute cording. Other straps and attachment means can be incorporated to further releasably attach the main panel to the side rails and rungs.

As shown inFIG.1the animal climbing cover for ladders100can be rolled up in a storage configuration and be held therein by a strap127connected between the attachment bracket120and the bottom surface115of the main panel110. Once installed upon the top rung220of the ladder200the strap can be disconnected and the animal climbing cover for ladders100can be unrolled and connected to the ladder. Further, strap127can be connected to one of the rungs220of the ladder200adjacent the top rung220for additional attachment security.

In an alternate embodiment, as shown inFIGS.8-10, the main panel110of the animal climbing cover for ladders100is formed having a plurality of attachment members150attached to the bottom surface of the main panel at spaced locations along the length thereof, and are adapted to releasably attach the main panel to respective rungs220of the ladder200. In this embodiment, the main panel110is sized, shaped, and adapted to form depressions170between respective rungs of the ladder when weight is placed upon the top surface of the main panel between the respective rungs by an animal, to thereby form and provide support surfaces for the animal to climb up and down the ladder. In this embodiment, the attachment bracket120, the attachment strap124, the horizontal straps128and rings129along with flexible cords132and134are not necessary but can be included as well.

The plurality of attachment members150can be formed as hook and loop fasteners, cordage, thread, clips, spring clips, or even fabric tubes including zippers, wherein each of the attachment members are adapted to releasably wrap around respective rungs of the ladder and securely and releasably attach the main panel to the ladder. Furthermore, and once again, the main panel110may be formed from plastic, burlap, fiberglass, rubber, or copper strands, but also may be formed from a material that is flexible and stretchable to help form depressions170when the animal presses down between rungs.

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.