Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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LADDER ANCHOR
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a ladder anchor for
stabilizing a ladder relative to the ground. More particularly,
the invention relates to a ladde r anchor insertable into the
ground to prevent a ladder from sliding on the ground surface or
from tipping backwards.
Background of the Invention
Cliwbing a ladder is a dangerous task nevertheless required
of some people as part o:f their duties. For example, roofers,
painters, window cleaners, chimney sweeps, carpenters and brick
layers a:re all required by their occupations to climb ladders . In
addition, homeowners who use ladders and who also may be less
experienced than professionals, may be exposed to even more risk.
By its mere use, a ladder is a potentially dangerous tool and can
lead to serious accidents. The unstable nature of ladder;
usually requires the use of a helper to hold the base of the
ladder while a worker climbs to the top in order to accomplish
the required work. The helper's job is usually to prevent the=_
ladder from slipping away from or tipping backwards away from an
object (ouch as a house) upon which the ladder is leaning. Thi;
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method, although fairly safe, requires the use of an extra person
at all times at the base of the ladder, and may therefore not be
an effective use of resources. In addition, the use of a helper
for any period of time leaves the worker susceptible to human
error. In some circumstances, a ladder needs to be positioned
with the top portion resting along the slope of a roof, causing
the laddE=r to be at a relatively shallow angle in relation to the
ground. This situation decreases further the low stability of
the ladder and creates an unsafe situation for the worker:
involved. The use of a helper in this particular situation may
be ineffective or inadequate, as the helper may not be able to
support the base of the ladder effectively. Another situatiOTl
where the base of a ladder is particularly unstable is when a
ladder is leaning against the edge of a roof and extends well
above the edge of the roof. A person climbing onto the ladder_
from the roof may climb onto the portion of the ladder extending
above tree roof, thereby making the base of the ladder morE=_
unstable relative to the ground.
Devices in the prior art have been used to help support or
anchor a ladder. For example, United States Patent No. 5,054,579
uses stakes that are driven into the ground and which engage the
base of <~ ladder (either the rung, the rails or flanges attached
to the r~~ils) , thus apparently helping to prevent movement of the
ladder. However, this device, although providing some anchoring
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forces, would not prevent: the ladder from sliding if sufficient
horizontal force acted on the base of the ladder to loosen the
stakes' hold into the ground. If enough force is exerted on the
stakes towards the outside portion of the ladder (i.e. the
outside :being the portion facing away from the object supporting
the ladder), the stake inserted into the ground would have an
inside rotation in relation to the ladder, causing the stake to
release the base of the ladder and allowing it to slide. This
occurrence greatly decreases the safety of this particular
device.
Another example of a ladder support is disclosed in United
States Patent No. 4,576,250. This device also includes stakes
driven into the ground which are designed to stop the base of <~
ladder from sliding. The stakes are inserted into the ground in
front of a ladder such that two arm members on each stake are
adapted to fit about the ladder legs. In this position, the
stakes prevent the legs from sliding out of position, thereby
helping to keep the ladder upright. However, as with the '579
patent, the stakes could be loosened if enough force is exerted,
and would therefore be ineffective in preventing the ladder frorn
sliding. This is another situation where enough horizontal force
to the outside would result in inside rotation of the stakes in
relation to the ladder, thereby leading to a loss of all support.
and sliding of the ladder. In addition, the stakes are cumbersome
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in such a position, and could cause someone to trip. This could
result i:n serious accidents and could loosen the stakes from the
ground, thereby rendering the device even less effective. As <~
further :note, this device would not prevent the ladder legs from
rotating towards the inside of the ladder position. The legs
could easily dig into soft material if enough force was exerted
and would thus cause the ladder to swing from its support and
fall. This is important when the worker accidently knocks the
top portion of the ladder off its support, knocking it to the
ground.
Canadian laid-open patent application Serial No. 2,155,63'7
discloses another example of a ladder support. This inventiOTl
describes two sand bags into which the ladder legs can be
inserted. The openings in the sand bags where the legs are to be=_
inserted are covered with a rubber diaphragm. The diaphragms
distribute the weight of t=he ladder from the legs to the sand and
further onto the outer shell of the bags containing the sand.
The device thus distributes the force from the ladder onto a
greater surface area. The added weight from the sand helps in
supporting the base of the ladder and is intended to prevent the
ladder from sliding. However, enough force could easily be
exerted onto the ladder to cause the sand bags to slide along the
ground. In addition, this device offers no support against the
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ladder tilting backwards. This device is also cumbersome and
bulky, and therefore difficult to store or transport.
Some other methods used to help prevent a ladder from
sliding exist, including improved feet on the base of the ladder
which increase friction between the ground and the ladder. Tying
the top portion of the ladder onto a solid object is another
method used; however, this may not prevent the base of the ladder
from sli~3ing. Some workers use a car or truck parked against the
ladder t~e prevent the ladder from sliding; this method cannot bf=_
used in every situation as some terrain and areas area
inaccessible with a vehicle.
Summary of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a ladder
anchor for stabilizing a. ladder in relation to the ground in
order to prevent the base of the ladder from sliding.
A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a ladder_
anchor for stabilizing a. ladder in relation to the ground in
order to prevent the ladder from tipping backwards.
The invention relates to a ladder anchor. The ladder anchor_
has at least one spike that attaches to a ladder such that when
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the ladder is in use, the spike sticks into the ground. The
spike is attached to the :Ladder in such a way that if the base o:E
the ladder is being urged to slide along the ground away from an
object against which the ladder is leaning (such as a house) , the
spike maintains its position relative to the ladder, i.e. the
part of the spike that is sticking into the ground does noi~
rotate towards the side of the ladder facing the object against
which the ladder is leaning.
According to the invention, there is provided a ladder_
anchor for securing a ladder to the ground, the ladder defining
a plane, and the ladder having a lower rung and a plurality of
upper rungs, a lower end which rests on the ground when the
ladder i;~ in use, an outside that faces a user of the ladder when
the ladder is in use, and an inside that faces an object upon
which thcs ladder rests when in use, the ladder anchor comprising
a spike :having a penetrating end for insertion into the ground;
and attachment means for securing the spike to the ladder such
that the penetrating end of the spike extends below the lower end
of the ladder, and such that the penetrating end of the spike is
restricted from rotating toward the inside of the ladder.
According to the invention, there is further provided a
ladder anchor for securing a ladder to the ground, the ladder
defining a plane, and the ladder having a lower rung and a
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plurality of upper rungs, a lower end which rests on the ground
when the ladder is in use, an outside that faces a user of the
ladder when the ladder is in use, and an inside that faces an
object upon which the ladder rests when in use, the ladder anchor
comprising: a rigid base; a plurality of parallel, spaced apart,
co-planar spikes rigidly attached to the base, each spike having
a penetrating end for insertion into the ground; and attachmenl~
means for securing the base to the ladder such that the
penetrating ends of the spikes extend below the lower end of the
ladder, and such that the penetrating ends of the spikes are
restricted from rotating toward the inside of the ladder.
Advantages of the present invention include: stabilizing <~
ladder in relation to the ground in order to prevent the base of
the ladder from sliding; stabilizing a ladder in relation to the
ground in order to prevent the ladder from tipping backwards;
ease of 'use; simplicity; low manufacturing costs.
Other advantages, objects and features of the present.
invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
from a review of the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and
claims.
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Brief Description of the Drawing
The embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, which is <~
perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to Figure l, there is illustrated a ladder
anchor 1 for stabilizing a ladder 2 relative to the ground. The
ladder anchor 1 includes a plurality of spikes 10 for insertion
into the ground, a beam member 20, and a pair of hooks 5 which
attach to the ladder 2.
The spikes 10 include two L-shaped spikes 40 (which are
L-shaped in cross-section), rigidly attached to the ends of the=_
beam member 20, and a pair. of flat spikes 45, rigidly attached to
the beam member 20 between the two L-shaped spikes 40. The
advantage of the L-shaped spikes 40 is increased strength, thus
enhancin~3 the stability of the ladder 2 relative to the ground.
The spikes 10 are paral=Lel to one another and arranged in a
plane . When the ladder anchor 1 is attached to the ladder 2 , the
spikes 10 are coplanar with the ladder 2. Embodiments of the'
invention may include any number of spikes 10: as few as one
spike could be used, or as many others as seems justified could
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be used. The spikes in alternative embodiments may or may not be
coplanar, but should usually be parallel.
The spikes 10 are rigidly and perpendicularly attached to
the beam member 20. The beam member 20 is rigidly and
perpendicularly attached to the hooks 5. Each hook 5 includes a
fixed elongate section 15 and an adjustable elongate section 16.
Each fixed elongate section 15 is attached to the beam member 20.
Each adjustable elongate section 16 is attached to it:~
corresponding fixed elongate section 15 by way of bolts 30 which
pass through holes 35. By selecting the holes 35 through which
the bolts 30 will pass, the length of the hooks 5 is adjustable.
The fixed elongate sections 15 and adjustable elongate
sections 16 extend parallel to and are coplanar with the
spikes 10.
Each hook 5 also includes a curved section 25 adapted to
hook over a ladder rung. In operation, each curved section 25
extends from its corresponding adjustable elongate section 16,.
over the top of the second rung from the bottom 50, and back down
past the second rung from the bottom 50 such that the free end oi=
the curved section 25 is parallel to the adjustable elongate
sections 16. As the hooks 5 are adjustable in length, they can
be attached securely to the second rung from the bottom 50 of a
ladder 2 of any size. The curved sections 25 are preferably
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attached to the second rung from the bottom 50 of the ladder 2,
as shown in Figure 1, but could also be attached to the parallel
side rails 60 of the ladder 2, or to a higher rung.
By .attaching the curved sections 25 to the second rung from
the bottom 50, the fixed elongate section 15 and/or the
adjustable elongate sections 16 rest against the first rung from
the bottom 55. The ladder anchor 1 is therefore prevented from
having inside rotation, that is, rotation towards the object.
against 'which the ladder 2 is leaning. Because there can be no
inside rotation of the ladder anchor 1, the base of the ladder 80
would only be capable of sliding if the spikes 10 were to 'plow'
horizontally through the ground. Thus, effective support for the
ladder 2 is provided by preventing movement of the bottom of the=_
ladder 2 away from the object supporting the ladder 2. Assuming
that the ground is reasonably firm, the ladder anchor 1 makes its
virtually impossible for the ladder 2 to slide on the ground.
The ladder anchor 1 also makes it more difficult to tip the
ladder 2 backwards, i.e. rotate the ladder 2 about its base away
from the object against which the ladder 2 is leaning.
Optional brackets 27 can be hooked over the first rung frorn
the bottom 55. By so attaching the brackets 27 to the ladder 2,
the ladder anchor 1 is prevented from outside rotation (i.e.
rotation of the spikes 10 relative to the ladder 2 in the
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direction of arrow 75), as well as being prevented from inside
rotation (i.e. rotation of the spikes 10 relative to the ladder 2
in the direction of arrow 70). This embodiment therefore
prevents sliding of the base of the ladder 2 away from or towards
the object against which the ladder is leaning, and helps to
prevent the top of the ladder 2 from swinging away from the
object against which it is leaning. Also, the optional
brackets 27 or the curved sections 25 may be securely attached to
their respective rungs to prevent the brackets 27 or curved
sections 25 from becoming disengaged from their respective rung~~
should t:he ladder 2 move downwards relative to the ladder_
anchor 1.
In order to use the ladder anchor 1 for stabilizing the
ladder 2 relative to the ground, the spikes 10 are pushed into
the ground so that the ladder anchor 1 is angled towards the
object against which the ladder 2 will lean. The ground
conditions are an important factor in using the ladder anchor 1.
If ground conditions are too soft or too hard, the device will
not be as effective. Various spike lengths and designs will help
in providing proper support in different ground conditions. The
ladder 2 is then placed such that the fixed elongate sections 15
and the adjustable elongate sections 16 rest on the bottom two
ladder rungs. The spikes 10 are then inserted further into the
ground (making sure that the spikes 10 are coplanar with the
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ladder 2) until the curved sections 25 engage the second rung
from the bottom 50, and the brackets 27 engage the first rung
from the bottom 55. Alternatively, the ladder 2 can be placed in
position before the spikes 10 are inserted into the ground. The
result i.s a sturdy connection between the ladder 2 and the
ground, whereby the spikes 10 are unable to rotate to the insidE~
or outside relative to the ladder 2. The base of the ladder 2 is
stabilized, supported and prevented from sliding. To remove the
ladder anchor 1, the spikes 10 are simply retrieved from the
ground b:y pulling the ladder anchor 1 away from the ground.
Although the ladder anchor 1 is specifically designed for
use with straight ladders, embodiments of the invention could be
used with step ladders.
Numerous modifications, variations and adaptations may be
made to the particular embodiments of the invention described
above without departing from the scope of the invention, which i~~
defined :in the claims.
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