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US 11,421,475 B2Granted
Adjustment mechanisms, ladders incorporating same and related methods
AssigneeLittle Giant Ladder Systems, LLC
InventorsJay Ballard, Benjamin L. Cook, N. Ryan Moss, Sean R. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ladders, ladder components and related methods are provided. In some embodiments, adjustable stepladders are provided which include locking mechanisms that enable height adjustment of the ladder through application of a force towards the rails of the ladder. The locking mechanism may include a base or bracket, a handle or lever pivotally coupled with the bracket, an engagement pin coupled with the lever, a biasing member to bias the handle towards a first position relative to the bracket, and a detent mechanism for retaining the lever in at least a second position relative to the bracket.
Claims16
A ladder comprising:
- a first assembly having a pair of inner rails and a pair of outer rails, the pair of inner rails being slidably coupled with the pair of outer rails;
- and
- at least one locking mechanism comprising:
- a bracket coupled with an outer side of a first outer rail of the pair of outer rails,
- a lever pivotally coupled with the bracket,
- an engagement pin coupled with the lever and having an engagement portion sized and configured to engage an opening formed in the first outer rail and an aligned opening formed in a first inner rail of the pair of rails, wherein the engagement pin includes an upper shoulder positioned adjacent the engagement portion and an interference lip positioned on the shoulder, wherein when the lever is in a first position, the interference lip extends longitudinally along an inner side of the first outer rail, the inner side being opposite the outer side.
3 more elements
A ladder comprising:
- a first assembly having a pair of inner rails and a pair of outer rails, the pair of inner rails being slidably coupled with the pair of outer rails;
- and
- at least one locking mechanism comprising:
- a bracket coupled with a first outer rail of the pair of outer rails,
- a lever pivotally coupled with the bracket,
- an engagement pin coupled with the lever and having an engagement portion sized and configured to engage an opening formed in the first outer rail and an aligned opening formed in a first inner rail of the pair of rails, wherein the engagement pin includes an upper shoulder positioned adjacent the engagement portion and an interference lip positioned on the shoulder, wherein when the lever is in a first position, the interference lip extends upward along an inner side of the first outer rail;
- and
- a clearance gap formed between the engagement portion of the pin and a lower edge of the opening in the first outer rail.
5 more elements
A ladder comprising:
- a first assembly having a pair of inner rails and a pair of outer rails, the pair of inner rails being slidably coupled with the pair of outer rails;
- and
- at least one locking mechanism comprising:
- a bracket coupled with a first outer rail of the pair of outer rails,
- a lever pivotally coupled with the bracket,
- an engagement pin coupled with the lever and having an engagement portion sized and configured to engage an opening formed in the first outer rail and an aligned opening formed in a first inner rail of the pair of rails, wherein the engagement pin includes an upper shoulder positioned adjacent the engagement portion and an interference lip positioned on the shoulder, wherein when the lever is in a first position, the interference lip extends upward along an inner side of the first outer rail,
- a biasing member biasing the lever towards the first position, and
- a detent mechanism including:
- a slider body slidably disposed in a detent pocket formed within an interior portion of the lever;
- a detent spring disposed within the detent pocket and biasing the slider body in a first direction;
- and
- a detent groove formed in a portion of the bracket, wherein when the lever is pivoted to a second position relative to the bracket, a portion of the slider body is biased into engagement with the detent groove by the detent spring such that the lever is maintained in the second position until a predetermined force is applied to a specified portion of the lever.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.