IE20040447A1 - A safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a safety device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The safety device (10) is mounted on a ladder (2) having rungs (4) mounted between rails (3). The safety device (10) comprises a number of plates (11) hinged together at (12) and incorporates a U-shaped socket (15) having a rung embracing open mouth (16) for suspension of the safety device (10) on one of the rungs (4). The safety device (10) further incorporates straight-through slots (17) for reception of a rung embracing lock (20). The advantage is that by being foldable, the safety device is much more easy to use and does not form a hazard to a workman placing it in position or removing it after use.

Description

“A safety device” OPEW TO PUBLIC INSPECTION UNDER SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 Introduction The present invention relates to a safety device for ladders of the type comprising parallel rails bridged by a plurality of spaced-apart rungs.

One of the major problems with scaffolding is the fact that when the scaffolding is erected it also includes at least one, if not a plurality of ladders to allow workmen to progress from platform to platform up the scaffolding. This causes a major problem of unauthorised access to the scaffolding outside working hours.

One of the safe solutions that has heretofore been proposed is to remove some or most of the ladders from the scaffolding when nprmal working has ceased. The problem with that is, if it is to be done correctly, it is time consuming and it is further time consuming to re-erect the ladders for the next time it is desired to work on the scaffolding.

Another solution to the problem that has been proposed is to provide an elongate plate for mounting between the rails to prevent climbing of the ladder and then means are provided to releasably attach the plate to the rungs of the ladder. Devices that show this, for example, have been disclosed in Patent Specification Nos. US 5,441,126 (Orrick), US 3,111,195 (Singer), US 3,225,863 (Ludlow) and US 4,579,197 (Spurling). All of these known devices comprise a rigid plate which has to be carried and laid against the ladder, This often entails two people to manipulate the plate against the ladder and where, for example, a workman is on scaffolding some height above the ground, this can be exceedingly difficult to do, since it requires the carrying of the safety device up many flights of ladders before it can be affixed to the ladder which it is desired to protect. For example, one can envisage a situation where there could be many ladders leading one above the other on scaffolding and it would be necessary to place a multiplicity of safety devices on the ladders. This could be extremely difficult, time consuming and, one would suggest, dangerous. The safety devices are effectively relatively rigid pieces of equipment that can fall and injure workmen. Further, when being removed from the ladders, again they are difficult to ά 4 0 4 4 Ί - 2 handle and indeed can cause injuries to workmen. What is needed is to provide such a safety device that will be efficient in use and, more importantly, easy to fix and fit to a ladder.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

Statements of Invention.

According to the invention, there is provided a safety device for ladders of the type comprising parallel rails bridged by a plurality of spaced-apart rungs, the safety device comprising an elongate plate for mounting between rungs to prevent climbing, the elongate plate being configured such as to span sufficient rungs to prevent the climbing thereof, and means to releasably attach the plate to the rungs of the ladder. The advantage of having a safety device according to the present invention is that it can be folded into a compact shape and thus can be carried up to the top of a ladder relatively easily, without causing any problem to an operative or workman. Then, the workman, on descending the ladder, can unfold the sheet to lay it along the ladder and to allow it to be secured to a rung of the ladder. Further, when it is desired to remove the safety device, it can be relatively easily folded as the workman climbs up the ladder, thus preventing any likelihood of injury to the workman. Another advantage is that, on removal of the safety device, the safety device can be folded and stored adjacent the top of the ladder so that there is no need to remove the safety device for storage each time, but can simply be mounted adjacent the top of the ladder.

Ideally, the width of the plate is so configured as to lie on the rails and substantially adjacent thereto. Again, the advantage of this is that all of the ladder is covered and if the sheet fits closely against the rails, it will be impossible for somebody to manipulate the sheet away from the rails and gain access to the rungs.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the mounting means comprises a Ushaped socket having a rung embracing open mouth formed on a distal edge of the sheet for suspension on the rung, and a plurality of straight through slots on the sheet remote from the U-shaped socket for reception of a rung embracing lock. It will be IE 0 4 0 4 4 7 - 3 relatively easy to use any conventional lock to engage in the rungs and to lock the safety device in position. In a modification of this embodiment, a releasable closure is mounted across the open mouth, which releasable closure may be a spring loaded pin biased to lie across the open mouth of the U-shaped socket.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sheet comprises a plurality of plates connected together by hinges.

In another embodiment of the invention, the sheet is of a pliable material whereby it is folded by rolling around itself.

Description of Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder on a scaffolding incorporating the invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the safety device on a ladder, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the safety device partially folded, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the safety device fully folded, Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of another safety device according to the invention, partially folded, Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the safety device of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a side perspective view of a still further safety device according to the invention.

IE 0 4 0 4 4 7 - 4 Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is illustrated scaffolding indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 of conventional construction incorporating a ladder indicated generally by the reference numeral 2 which ladder comprises a pair of spaced apart rails 3 and bridged by further spaced apart parallel rungs 4 onto which is mounted a safety device according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The safety device 10 comprises an elongate foldable-on-itself sheet formed from a plurality of plates 11 connected together by hinges 12. Each plate 11 is of substantially the same width as the spacing between the rails 3. The safety device 10 has mounting means, namely, a socket 15 having an rung embracing mouth 16 for engagement over a rung 4 to allow the safety device depend from the ladder. It will be noted that the socket 15 is a U-shaped socket and is formed on one free edge of the sheet for suspension on the rung. There are also provided a plurality of straight-through slots 17 for reception of a lock such as a conventional padlock 20, illustrated in Fig. 2.

The plates 11 may contain indicia such as the indicia 18 which can, for example, give a warning of danger, a warning not to climb the ladder or indeed may simply incorporate advertising indicia. Ideally, however, the indicia should indicate that the ladder should not be climbed and that it is an offence to do so.

In use, it will be appreciated that the safety device 10 can be carried up the ladder in the folded configuration. Then the socket 15 can be engaged over a rung 4 and the safety device gradually unfolded as the workman climbs down the ladder. Finally, then a lock, such as the lock 20, can be placed in position.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated an alternative construction of safety device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, in which parts similar to those described with reference to the previous drawings, are identified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, instead of a series of large plates, the sheet is formed from a number of short interlocking plates 21, similar to those seen on shuttering or steel roller blinds, which can allow the safety device to be unrolled for fixing in position.

IE 0 4 0 4 4 7 - 5 Referring to Fig. 7, there is illustrated a still further construction of safety device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30, in which parts similar to those described with reference to the previous drawings are identified by the same reference numerals. This safety device 30 is substantially similar to the safety device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, except that the U-shaped socket 15 has mounted on it a releasable closure, indicated generally by the reference numeral 31, comprising a spring loaded pin 32, incorporating a releasable catch 33. The operation of the releasable closure 31 will be readily understood.

It will be appreciated that instead of being formed from large plates, such as the plates 11, or relatively short plates such as the plates 21, the sheet could be formed from a pliable material and as long as the safety device is tightly stretched between the rungs, the pliable material, which could be easily folded or rolled on itself, would act as well as either of the sheets described above.

It is envisaged that many other types of locking device may be provided.

In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or 2 0 any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, but may be 2 5 varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims (10)

1. A safety device for ladders of the type comprising parallel rails bridged by a plurality of spaced-apart rungs, the safety device comprising an elongate foldable-on-itself sheet which, when unfolded, spans a plurality of rungs to prevent climbing of the ladder and mounting means to releasably attach the sheet to the rungs of the ladder.

2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1, in which the width of the plate is such as to lie between the rails and substantially adjacent thereto.

3. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the mounting means comprises a U-shaped socket having a rung embracing open mouth formed on a distal edge of the sheet for suspension on the rung, and a plurality of straight through slots on the sheet remote from the U-shaped socket for reception of a rung embracing lock.

4. A safety device as claimed in claim 3, in which a releasable closure is mounted across the open mouth.

5. A safety device as claimed in claim 4, in which the releasable closure is a spring loaded pin biased to lie across the open mouth of the U-shaped socket.

6. A safety device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sheet comprises a plurality of plates connected together by hinges.

7. A safety device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the sheet is of a pliable material whereby it is folded by rolling around itself.

8. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. IE ο 4 Ο 4 4 7

10. A safety device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.