Ladder cage latching members and methods of use

A ladder cage, comprising:

• a plurality of cage rings, each cage ring having a length;
• a plurality of latching members;
• the latching member having an anchoring end and a retainment end;
• the cage rings each having a plurality of the latching members spaced along at least a part of the length of the respective cage rings;
• a plurality of anchor plates spaced along at least part of the length of the respective cage rings, wherein the anchor plates couple one or more of the latching members to the cage rings;
• each anchor plate having an aperture extending through a portion of the anchor plate, the aperture being coupled with an internally threaded fastener;
• the latching member having external threading along a portion of the latching member's anchoring end;
• wherein the anchoring end of the latching member is placed within the aperture of the anchor plate and the internally threaded fastener is coupled to the external threading of the anchoring end to retain the latching member in the anchor plate aperture;
• a retaining member having a retaining end extending away from the latching member;
• wherein the latching members each have a latching member aperture extending through at least a portion of the latching member, wherein the retaining member is positioned at least partially within the aperture;
• and
• wherein in the retaining position the retaining end of the retaining member extends further outward away from the aperture than when the retaining member is in its non-retaining position, the retaining member being movable between the retaining position and the non-retaining position;
• the latching member having a cavity extending at least partially therein;
• the cavity ending at an innermost inner wall within the latching member;
• the latching member aperture extending along at least a portion of the wall of the latching member proximate the cavity such that the aperture creates a passageway from the exterior of the latching member to the interior of the cavity;
• wherein a portion of the retaining member is retained inside the cavity and a portion of the retaining member extends outside of the cavity through the aperture;
• a resilient member contained within the cavity of the latching member;
• the resilient member being compressible to allow for compression of the resilient member when pressure is applied to at least a portion of the retainment member, and the resilient member being capable of returning to its non-compressed form when it is no longer in a compressed state;
• the retaining member having an underside;
• wherein a portion of the resilient member is in contact with the underside of the retaining member;
• each anchor plate having at least one ring attachment member extending therefrom;
• wherein the at least one ring attachment member attaches the anchor plate to the cage ring;
• an internal protrusion extending into the latching member cavity opposite the latching member aperture;
• the resilient member having a base and two arms extending from the base;
• the resilient member base being proximate the innermost inner wall of the cavity;
• one of the arms of the resilient member positioned proximate a portion of the internal protrusion;
• the other arm of the resilient member being in contact with the underside of the retaining member;
• a striking plate having at one end the retainment member and at the opposite end a striking end;
• the latching member having a cavity opening extending through its retainment end, wherein the latching member aperture is disposed intermediate the cavity opening in the retainment end and the anchoring end of the latching member;
• and
• wherein the striking end at least partially extends out of the cavity at the cavity opening.