ES2646613T3 - A set of ladder accessories - Google Patents

Abstract

A set of ladder accessories comprising a ladder accessory on the right side and on the left side (100R; 100L; 100L ', 100R') for a ladder (300) having ladder bars (310, 320) with a circular cross-section, each of the accessories comprising: * a bent component (110) comprising the first (120) and the second (130) interconnected rods by means of a curved part (140), * a fixing beam (170) , in which an outer diameter of the fixing beam (170) is such that it fits inside any of the ladder bars (310, 320) of the ladder (300), characterized in that each of the accessories further comprises a beam of connection (160) connecting any of the rods (120, 130) of the bent component (110) to the fixing beam (170), in which the connecting beam (160) is fixed to either of the two rods ( 120, 130) of the bent component (110) so that the connecting beam (160) extends perpetually ndicularly from the rod (130) on which it is fixed and in the plane of the bent component (110), in which an angle ß between the fixing beam (170) and the connecting beam (160) is 90 ° - 120 °, and in which an angle α between the fixing beam (170) and the beam (120, 130) to which the connecting beam (160) is fixed is 95 ° - 115 °.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A set of stair accessories 5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a set of ladder accessories comprising a ladder accessory on the right side and on the left side of a ladder having ladder bars with a circular cross section.

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BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0002] Stairs are a common medium that is used to facilitate a user to reach higher, for example, on a wall, a telephone pole or the like. The majority of the stairs comprise two uprights or

15 ladder bars, which are interconnected by stair steps. During use, the user climbs the ladder up the steps of the ladder.

[0003] When using the ladder, the most common configuration is to tilt a top of the bars

of stairs towards a surface, for example, a wall, an outer corner of the wall, an inner corner of the

20 wall, a telephone pole or similar. Due to the different forms of, for example, a flat wall and a telephone pole, a common ladder will not be able to steadily lean towards both types of surfaces. In the art, several attempts have been made to reduce the problem of tilting the ladder towards surfaces that have different shapes and, thus, increasing the flexibility of the ladder. Document US 6 691 825 describes a ladder accessory that has two arms extending from a central part of a ladder rung and 25 that provide support for a ladder to be able to lean toward the outer corner of a wall. The arms of US 6 691 825 can be mounted in two different ways to achieve two different positions, namely, to facilitate stable support in corners and posts. Document US 6 691 825, however, does not describe a solution to the problem of increasing a work area for the use of the ladder.

[0004] US 4 502 566 describes a stair accessory adapted to increase the area of

work of a person standing on a ladder leaning towards a wall. This ladder accessory can only be used in one (or possibly two) positions and, therefore, has a fairly limited use. US 6 408 983 describes a ladder attachment that joins the top of the ladder bars of a ladder. The ladder accessory will help the user standing on the ladder to be suspended from the wall. The ladder attachment of document US 6 408 083 can only be used in one position.

[0005] US 5 850 894 refers to a ladder kit comprising two supports (20) that can rotate around an articulation (30). The rotation capacity of the joint allows you to adjust the angle

40 between the axis of the stair uprights and the supports. It is not possible to adjust the width between the supports.

[0006] WO 2004/042182 describes a ladder stabilizing device that includes securing means (1) coupled to the side railings of a ladder (2) that are attached to any of a plurality of locations along the side railings, and a support strut (8) that is located against a

A structure that locks in a lockable manner with said securing means (1) in multiple positions with respect to the securing means. The device according to this document is adapted to fit with a ladder that has uprights with a square cross section. In the uprights that have different cross sections, the proposed fixing means (1) will not provide a sufficiently strong fixing.

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[0007] WO 94/29561 (of the same applicant as US 5 850 894) refers to a product similar to that described in US 5 850 894.

[0008] US 2005/0023084 refers to a ladder support comprising an elongated beam 55 extending through the axis of the ladder uprights. The elongated arm has a telescopic function, and

the ends of the arm are provided with support legs (46) that can lean forward, for example, a wall. The telescopic function of the elongated arm allows you to adjust the distance between the support legs. However, it is not possible to adjust the distance between the ladder and the wall.

60 [0009] US 6 405 828 describes a stair accessory that resembles that described in the

US 5 850 894, but the articulation that allows rotation is located very close to the support legs.

[0010] US 2 388 892 and CH 241 854 describe ladder accessories that can be attached to both stairwells. The ladder accessories of these documents are disadvantageous in that it is not possible to alter the appearance of the accessory and, therefore, its use.

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[0011] US 2 744 674 describes a ladder extension adapted for a ladder having a single upright, while US 1918 293 describes a ladder extension that resembles the ladder accessories of US 2 3 documents. 88 892 and CH 241 854, but with the difference in the intended use; The ladder extension of US 1 918 293 is intended for use with a type of

10 "ladder" that only includes uprights.

[0012] Document DE 203 10 659 U 1 describes a ladder that is used with a vehicle with an adaptive configuration angle. However, this ladder uses suction cups for stability, which means that it can only be used in relation to surfaces to which a suction cup can be attached.

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[0013] EP 0 232 206 describes a stair accessory that has many beneficial features with respect to usability, but with the disadvantage that it is extremely complicated. The aim of the present invention is to provide a stair accessory that combines many of the characteristics of the stairs described above, which can be used in many different positions and

20 which is easy to reinstall on existing stairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The invention solves the above and other problems by providing a ladder accessory comprising an accessory on the right side and on the left side of a ladder having uprights with a

circular cross section, the stair accessory comprising a folded component comprising a first and a second rod interconnected by a curved part and a fixing beam. An outside diameter of the fixing beam is such that it fits inside a ladder bar of a ladder. The stair accessory also includes a connecting beam that connects any of the rods of the bent component with the fixing beam. The connecting beam is fixed to any of the rods of the bent component so that the connecting beam extends perpendicularly from the rod on which it is fixed and in the plane of the bent component, in which an angle p, between the beam of fixation and the connecting beam is 90 ° - 120 ° and in which an angle a between the fixing beam and the beam to which the connection beam is fixed is 95 ° - 115 °.

35 [0015] To secure the fixing beam to the ladder bar, the fixing beam could be provided with

blocking means that allow fixing the fixing beam to the ladder bar.

[0016] In order to allow several different uses for the ladder accessory according to the present invention, the locking means could allow the fixing beam to rotate to facilitate its fixing in

40 different positions.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking means could comprise holes arranged in the fixing beam. The holes could be adapted to block the fixing beam interacting with pins. The pins could be attached to sliders, which are slidably mounted on the upper leg

45 of the stairs.

[0018] The fixing means could also comprise a threaded bolt that extends through the center of the fixing beam and is coupled to a piece at the end, provided with a beveled surface, said bevelled surface cooperates with the corresponding beveled surface of the fixing beam, so that the beam

50 is fixed by friction as the threaded bolt is tightened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Next, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

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Fig. 1a is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a stair accessory on the left side according to the present invention.

Fig. 1b is a view from one end of the first embodiment of the stair accessory on the left side of Fig. 1b,

Fig. 1c is a side view of the first embodiment of the stair accessory of Figs. 1a and 1b,

Fig. 1d is a view from one end showing the ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment fixed to the top of a ladder.

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Fig. 1e is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the stair accessory of Fig. 1,

Fig. 1f is a side view of the second embodiment of the stair accessory,

10 Fig. 1g is a front view of the second embodiment of the stair accessory,

Fig. 1 h is a top view of the second embodiment of the stair accessory,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a first use of the stair accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a second use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a third use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a fourth use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

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Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a fifth use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a sixth use of the stair accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a seventh use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an eighth use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a ninth use of ladder accessories on the right side and on the left side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] With reference to Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c, a stair accessory on the left side 100L according to a

First embodiment of the present invention comprises a bent part 110, which has a first and a second 45 rods 120, 130 interconnected by a curved part 140. The ends of the bent part 110 could comprise end caps 150, 150 '. In any of the rods 120, 130 and in the plane of the bent part 110 a first end 160 'of a connecting beam 160 is fixed so that the connecting beam 160 extends perpendicularly from the rod in which it is fixed. A second end 160 "of the connecting beam 160 is coupled to a first end 170 'of a fixing beam 170. As can be seen in Fig. 1c, the fixing beam 50 170 extends in a direction that is slightly offset from a perpendicular direction compared to the plane of the curved part 110, that is, an angle p (shown in Fig. 1c) is slightly more than 90 °, for example, 90 ° - 120 °. perpendicular direction should correspond to approximately the angle of inclination of a ladder inclined towards a wall (the ladder is indicated 300 in Figures 2-11) In Fig. 1b, an angle is shown indicating the angle between the beam of fixing 170 and 55 rod 130. The angle a is preferably somewhat larger than 90 °, for example, 95 ° - 115 °. Also, the stair accessory 100L comprises some type of fixing means; in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c, the fixing means are holes 180 that are adapted to receive a pin in a manner that will be described below with reference to Fig. 1d.

[0021] In Fig. 1d, a set of ladder accessories mounted on a ladder 300 is shown which

comprises a stair accessory on the right side 100R according to the first embodiment and an accessory of

staircase on the left side 100L according to the first embodiment. The only difference between the accessories on the right side and on the left side 100R and 100L, respectively, is that the first end 160 'is fixed to the rod 120 of the stair accessory on the right side and to the rod 130 of the accessory on the side left. The ladder accessories are fixed to ladder bars 310, 320 of the ladder 300, in part by inserting the fixing beams 170 of the respective ladder accessories 100R and 100L into an upper part of the ladder bars 310, 320 and partly due to the interaction between the holes 180 and the pins 500, 500 'which are mounted on the sliders 510, 510' respectively. The sliders are slidably mounted on an upper ridge 330 that interconnects the two ladder bars 310, 320. The sliding ability of the sliders allows the interaction between the pins 500, 500 'and the holes 180 to be controlled; moving away

10 sliders of the fixing beams, that is, towards each other, the pins 500, 500 'retract from the holes 180, which interrupts the interconnection between the pins and the holes; in this position the fixing beams 170 of the stair accessories 100R and 100L will not be blocked by the interaction with the pins 500, 500 'and, therefore, can be removed from, or rotated inside, the stair bars 310, 320.

15 [0022] In Figs. 1e-1h a second embodiment of a left-side stair accessory is shown

100L '. The second embodiment resembles the first embodiment, but the rod 130 is provided with a transverse beam 135, whose axis extends perpendicularly to the axis of the rod 130. The ends of the transverse beam 135 are provided with end caps 150.

[0023] For the rest, the design of the stair accessory on the left side 100L 'according to the second

embodiment is identical to the design of the stair accessory 100L according to the first embodiment, except that the angle a 'of the first embodiment is narrower than an angle' of the second embodiment. In addition, holes 180 of the second embodiment are located on three levels.

[0024] In addition, an angle X 'is shown in Fig. 1g. This angle refers to the angle between the beam of

fixation 170 and rod 120. The angle x 'is also present in the first embodiment and may be close to the

90 degrees.

[0025] There are several holes 180 provided in each fixing beam 170; therefore, it is possible to adjust a

30 angle between the connecting beam 160 and the ridge 330. This makes it possible to adapt the position of the fitting of

ladder for various uses; These uses are described below with reference to Figs. 2-11.

[0026] Obviously, there are several possible modifications to the design of the ladder accessory of the present invention; one of these modifications means that only one type of ladder accessory is used; in said

35 ladder accessory, the first end 160 'of the connecting beam 160 could be fixed to the curved part 140; the connecting beam 160 will still extend it in the plane of the curved part.

[0027] As mentioned, the fixing beam 170 is provided with some type of locking means that allows the fixing beam 170 to be fixed on the ladder bar 310 or 320 of the ladder 300. Said means

40 could be, for example, the holes 180 provided in a circumference of the fixing beam 170. In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing of the fixing beam to the upper bar of the ladder 310 or 320 could be provided by a bolt threaded (not shown), which extends through the center of the fixing beam 170. The threaded bolt may be screwed to an end piece (not shown) provided with a beveled surface. In this embodiment of the invention, the second end 170 '' of the fixing beam is provided with a

45 corresponding bevel surface. This surface can be arranged by cutting the fixing beam 170 so that the bevelled surface is the cut end of the fixing beam 170. In other embodiments, the bevelled surface can be arranged by welding a plate to the cut end. A fixing means according to this embodiment resembles the mechanism used to fix the steering bar of a bicycle to the front fork. To block the fixing beam according to this embodiment of the invention to any of the ladder bars 310 or

50 320, the end piece 200, partly threaded on the threaded bolt, and the end 170 "of the fixing beam 170 are inserted into any of the ladder bars 310 or 320. After insertion, the bolt is rotated from so that the threads of the bolt and the end piece interact to pull the end piece and the bevelled surface towards each other.The beveled surface of the end piece and the beveled surface interact so that the end piece is pressed against an inner surface (not shown) of the ladder bars and the pressure will provide the

55 blocking action.

[0028] Hereinafter, ten uses of a pair of a stair accessory will be described on the side

right 100R and a stair accessory on the left side 100L with reference to Figs. 2-11.

60 [0029] In Fig. 2, a first use of the pair of ladder accessories is shown on the side

right and on the left side 100L and 100R, respectively. The stair accessory on the left side 100L is

fixed to the ladder bar on the left side 320 and the ladder attachment on the right side 100R is fixed to the ladder bar on the right side 310. The end caps 150, 150 'are inclined against a straight wall. In the first use, the angle between the ridge 330 and the connecting beams 160 is approximately 90 degrees (viewed from above); therefore, the ladder will rest a certain distance, matching at least the length of any of the rods 120 or 130 plus the length of the connecting beams 160 from the wall. In addition, the end caps 150, 150 'will rest on the wall with a distance between them greater than the distance between the ladder bars 310, 320. The combination of a large distance between the support points, the ladder bars and the Wall will provide a large and uninterrupted work area for a person standing on the stairs. The first use could be useful, for example, to perform paint work on a wall. Too

10 It may be possible to use end caps 150, 150 'that do not rest against the wall for hanging, for example, cans containing, for example, paint.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a second use of a pair of stair accessories 100R and 100L. The assembly of the stair accessories is identical in the second use and the first use, but according to the

In second use, ladder accessories are used to provide a stable support on a ladder that slopes toward an outer corner of, for example, a wall. Due to the dimensions of the stair accessories, all end caps 150, 150 'will be in contact with the walls that form the corner; Although this feature is not entirely necessary to achieve stable support, the more support points you have, the more stable the ladder will lean toward the corner of the wall.

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[0031] Fig. 4 shows a third use of a pair of ladder accessories on the left side and on the right side according to the present invention. In this use, the connection beams 160 are mounted in line with the ladder 330 of the ladder. This application has been adapted for a flat wall and provides a large work area for a user; compared to the first use, a person working on the stairs

25 will approach the wall and still have a great distance between the support points between the end caps and the wall. Stems 120, 130 whose corresponding end caps 150, 150 'are not in contact with the wall can be used to support a user and also to hang work tools.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a fourth use of the pair of ladder accessories of the present invention. In

30 the fourth use, the angle of the stair accessories will be set approximately between the angle

used in the first and third use; With this configuration, there will be a distance as large as possible between the end caps 150, 150 'and the distance between the wall that is preferably flat for this use, and the top of the ladder will be approximately half of the distance reached With the first use.

[0033] In Fig. 6, a fifth use of the pair of stair accessories of the present is shown

invention. In this use, the connection beams 160 are inclined with respect to the wall; therefore, the ladder rests on the wall in a way that does not differ from how a ladder without ladder accessories rests on the wall. Ladder accessories will extend in a direction away from the wall and serve as a support for the user.

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[0034] In Fig. 7, a sixth configuration or use of the pair of ladder accessories suitable for, for example, a telephone pole P. is shown. According to this use, the ladder accessories are angled so that a narrow angle, for example 45 degrees, is achieved between the connecting beams 160 and the peldano 330. Accordingly, the stems 120, 130 of the stair accessories on the right side and in

The left side 100R and 100L will delimit an area that corresponds approximately, for example, to a telephone pole or the like. The sixth use is extremely favorable in combination with a telescopic ladder; if a telescopic ladder is used, it is possible to arrange the ladder accessories around the telephone pole when the ladder is not extended and then climb the ladder using the telescopic function of the ladder.

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[0035] The uses of one to six have the same basic configuration, that is, the stair accessory on the left side is fixed to the stair bar on the left side and the stair accessory on the right side is fixed to the bar of stairs on the right side. Next, three uses will be described, indicated from seven to nine, in which the ladder attachment on the right side is fixed to the ladder bar on the left side and the

55 ladder bar on the left side is fixed to the ladder bar on the right side. It should be noted that it is not necessary to really change the positions of ladder accessories; it is simply enough to turn the ladder 180 degrees, so that the former ladder bar on the right side ends to the left and becomes the new ladder bar on the left side and vice versa.

[0036] In Fig. 8, a seventh use of ladder accessories according to the present is shown

invention. The angle between the connection beams 160 and the stair steps approximately corresponds

with the angle used in the sixth configuration, that is, 45 degrees, but, as mentioned, in the seventh use, the ladder accessories are used in such a way that the ladder accessory on the right side 100R is mounted on the ladder bar on the left side 320 and the ladder accessory on the left side 100L is mounted on the ladder bar on the right side 310. The result will be that the ladder accessories 5 formed a support that partially surrounded the telephone pole or the like. . The seventh use does not provide as good support as the sixth use, but it is more practical since it is possible to retract the ladder accessories from the pole without altering the configuration of the ladder accessories. In addition, the sixth use cannot be used if the stair accessory on the right side 100R and the stair accessory on the left side 100L are mounted at the same height; If so, the ladder accessories will collide.

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[0037] In Fig. 9, an eighth use of the pair of ladder accessories is shown. The eighth use

It resembles the seventh use, but any of the ladder accessories is angled away from the pole and offers a means to, for example, hang tools, paint cans or the like.

[0038] In Fig. 10, a ninth use of the pair of ladder accessories is shown. The ninth

use allows you to tilt the ladder provided with the stair accessories to an inner corner of the wall. In the ninth use, the ladder accessories are mounted so that the connecting beam 160 extends perpendicularly compared to the ladder steps of the ladder.

20 [0039] It is preferred but not necessary for the function of the stair accessories herein

invention, if the holes 180 of the fixing beam 170 are provided so that the pins 500, 500 'can extend over the entire width of the fixing connection beam 160, that is, in such a way that the pins 500, 500 'are aligned to enter two holes 180 located on opposite sides of the fixing beam 170.

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[0040] As can be understood, there cannot be an infinite number of holes 180 since too many holes will weaken the fixing beam 170. In one embodiment of the invention, holes 180 are provided at 45 degree intervals, that is, of so that it is possible to fix the ladder accessory at any angle of 45 degrees compared to the ridge 330. In order not to weaken the fixing beam too much, the holes 180 could

30 be arranged at different levels; in a preferred embodiment, on a first level four primary holes are provided, separated from each other by 90 degrees, and on a second level four secondary holes are provided, also separated from each other by 90 degrees, but 45 degrees apart compared to the holes Primary

[0041] Of course, it is also possible to facilitate the separation of 30 degrees by providing six holes 35 180 in the first level and six holes in the second level, in which the holes of the first level are separated

by 60 degrees and the holes of the second level are divided into 60 degrees, while the division between the holes of the first level and the holes of the second level is divided into 30 degrees.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, two or more sets of holes 180 to 40 different heights could be provided; by providing several sets of holes 180 it is possible to fix the ladder accessories of

different heights which will facilitate, for example, the seventh use as described above.

Claims (4)

1. A set of ladder accessories comprising a ladder accessory on the right side and on the left side (100R; 100L; 100L ', 100R') for a ladder (300) having ladder bars (310, 320) with a circular cross section, each of the accessories comprising: • a bent component (110) comprising the first (120) and the second (130) rods interconnected by a curved part (140), • a fixing beam (170), 10 wherein an outer diameter of the fixing beam (170) is such that it fits inside any of the ladder bars (310, 320) of the ladder (300), characterized in that each of the accessories also comprises a beam of connection (160) connecting any of the rods (120, 130) of the bent component (110) to the fixing beam (170), in which the connection beam (160) is fixed to any of the two rods (120 , 130) of the bent component (110) so that the connecting beam (160) extends perpendicularly from the rod (130) on which it is fixed and in the plane of the bent component (110), in which an angle p between the fixing beam (170) and the connecting beam (160) is 90 ° -120 °, and in which an angle a between the fixing beam (170) and the beam (120, 130) to the which is fixed the connection beam (160) is 95 ° - 115 °. 20 2. The set of ladder accessories of claim 1 wherein the fixing beam (170) of each One of the accessories is provided with locking means that allow fixing the fixing beam (170) inside the ladder bar (310, 320). 3. The set of ladder accessories of claim 2 wherein the locking means allows the fixing beam (170) to be fixed to the ladder bar (310, 320) in different positions. 4. The set of ladder accessories of claims 2 or 3, wherein the locking means comprise holes (180) arranged in the fixing beam, said holes (180) that are adapted to block the fixing beam (170 ) through interaction with pins (510, 510 '). 30 5. The set of ladder accessories of any of the preceding claims further comprising a transverse beam (135) connected substantially perpendicular to a rod of the bent component (120, 130) that is not connected to the connecting beam (160). The set of ladder accessories of any of the preceding claims in which the curved part (140) is bent so that an angle (a ') between the stems (120, 130) is 90-120 degrees, especially 110 degrees.