Back to results
US 12,523,098 B2Granted
Ladder top for a straight or extension ladder
OwnerRyan S. Ballweginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ladder top can be releasably attached to various straight ladders or the fly parts of extension ladders. The ladder top is configured to engage against a flat wall on one side, and against exterior corners or other structures on the opposite side. The ladder top has a top wall with two spaced shells which have downwardly opening pockets which receive the rails of the ladder. One or more keeper pins extend through holes in the shells to reduce the effective dimensions of the pockets accommodating ladder rails with or without bumper tops. Flanges on either or both sides of the shells have openings allowing bungee cords, wires, or cord to hold the ladder top to the ladder by engaging the ladder rung to the top.
Claims15
A ladder top for mounting to the upwardly projecting rails of a ladder, the ladder top comprising:
- a top wall;
- a first shell extending downwardly from the top wall;
- a second shell spaced sidewardly from the first shell and extending downwardly from the top wall, wherein each of the first shell and the second shell have an outer wall spaced sidewardly from an inner wall, and a front wall spaced frontwardly from a rear wall, and wherein a downwardly opening pocket is defined by each shell between the inner and outer wall and downward of the top wall, each shell being configured to receive an upper portion of a ladder rail therein;
- portions of each shell inner wall which define four holes;
- portions of each shell outer wall which define four holes which are aligned with the associated shell inner wall holes so as to receive a horizontal pin extending through the pocket between an aligned hole of the four holes on the inner wall and the outer wall of the shell;
- and
- at least one pin releasably extending through aligned holes in each of the two shells, the pins passing through one of the pockets and acting as shims to support the top on a ladder.
4 more elements
A ladder top for mounting to the upwardly projecting rails of a ladder, the ladder top comprising:
- a top wall having a perimeter edge which has a first side which is configured to engage a flat surface, and a second, opposite side which has a right angle indent which is configured to engage an outside corner of a structure;
- a first shell extending downwardly from the top wall;
- a second shell spaced sidewardly from the first shell and extending downwardly from the top wall, wherein each of the first shell and the second shell have an outer wall spaced sidewardly in a first direction from an inner wall, and a first wall spaced in a second direction from a second wall, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein a downwardly opening pocket is defined by each shell between the inner and outer walls and downward of the top wall, each shell being configured to receive an upper portion of a ladder rail therein;
- and
- two first shims, wherein one of the two first shims is releasably mounted within each of the downwardly opening pockets of the first shell and the second shell, each first shim extending in the first direction, to thereby reduce the dimension in the second direction of the pocket within which it extends.
2 more elements
A ladder and ladder top assembly comprising:
- a ladder having a first side rail joined by rungs to a second side rail, each side rail extending upwardly and being terminated by a bumper which projects frontwardly from the associated rail;
- a ladder top comprising:
- a top wall;
- a first shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a first inner wall spaced sidewardly from a first outer wall, wherein the first inner wall is connected to the first outer wall by a first front wall spaced frontwardly from a first rear wall, wherein the first shell defines a downwardly opening first pocket;
- a second shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a second inner wall spaced sidewardly from a second outer wall, wherein the second inner wall is connected to the second outer wall by a second front wall spaced frontwardly from a second rear wall, wherein the second shell defines a downwardly opening second pocket;
- wherein the first rail extends within the first pocket and the second rail extends within the second pocket;
- wherein each shell outer wall has portions forming at least one first hole configured to accept a shaft of a keeper pin and each shell inner wall has portions forming a second hole aligned with the first hole, and a keeper pin extends through the aligned first and second holes of each shell, the keeper pin shafts being positioned beneath the bumper of each rail within its respective pocket;
- at least one flange extending from each shell and having an opening therein;
- a flexible connector extending through the opening in the at least one flange and encircling one of the rungs of the ladder to secure the ladder top to the ladder;
- and
- at least two storage holes extending through the top wall, each storage hole receiving a shaft of a keeper pin therein for use in an alternative placement of the ladder top.
8 more elements
A ladder and ladder top assembly comprising:
- a ladder having a first side rail joined by rungs to a second side rail, each side rail extending upwardly and being terminated by a bumper which projects frontwardly from the associated rail;
- a ladder top comprising:
- a top wall;
- a first shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a first inner wall spaced sidewardly from a first outer wall, wherein the first inner wall is connected to the first outer wall by a first front wall spaced frontwardly from a first rear wall, wherein the first shell defines a downwardly opening first pocket;
- a second shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a second inner wall spaced sidewardly from a second outer wall, wherein the second inner wall is connected to the second outer wall by a second front wall spaced frontwardly from a second rear wall, wherein the second shell defines a downwardly opening second pocket;
- wherein the first rail extends within the first pocket and the second rail extends within the second pocket;
- wherein each shell outer wall has portions forming at least one first hole configured to accept a shaft of a keeper pin and each shell inner wall has portions forming a second hole aligned with the first hole, and a keeper pin extends through the aligned first and second holes of each shell, the keeper pin shafts being positioned beneath the bumper of each rail within its respective pocket;
- at least one flange extending from each shell and having an opening therein;
- a flexible connector extending through the opening in the at least one flange and encircling one of the rungs of the ladder to secure the ladder top to the ladder;
- and
- wherein the at least one flange extending from each shell comprises an inner flange extending towards an opposite shell and an outer flange extending away from the opposite shell.
8 more elements
A ladder and ladder top assembly comprising:
- a ladder having a first side rail joined by rungs to a second side rail, each side rail extending upwardly and being terminated by a bumper which projects frontwardly from the associated rail;
- a ladder top comprising:
- a top wall;
- a first shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a first inner wall spaced sidewardly from a first outer wall, wherein the first inner wall is connected to the first outer wall by a first front wall spaced frontwardly from a first rear wall, wherein the first shell defines a downwardly opening first pocket;
- a second shell extending downwardly from the top wall and having a second inner wall spaced sidewardly from a second outer wall, wherein the second inner wall is connected to the second outer wall by a second front wall spaced frontwardly from a second rear wall, wherein the second shell defines a downwardly opening second pocket;
- wherein the first rail extends within the first pocket and the second rail extends within the second pocket;
- wherein each shell outer wall has portions forming at least one first hole configured to accept a shaft of a keeper pin and each shell inner wall has portions forming a second hole aligned with the first hole, and a keeper pin extends through the aligned first and second holes of each shell, the keeper pin shafts being positioned beneath the bumper of each rail within its respective pocket;
- at least one flange extending from each shell and having an opening therein;
- a flexible connector extending through the opening in the at least one flange and encircling one of the rungs of the ladder to secure the ladder top to the ladder;
- and
- wherein the ladder top has a first vertically extending surface which is configured for engagement against a planar supporting surface, and an opposite side of the ladder top has a second vertically extending surface which includes an indent for engagement against an outside corner of a structure, and wherein each shell outer wall of the ladder top has portions forming at least one first second hole configured to accept a shaft of a keeper pin and each shell inner wall has portions forming a second second hole aligned with the at least one first second hole, and a keeper pin extends through the aligned first second hole and second second hole of each shell, the keeper pin shafts being positioned beneath the bumper of each rail within its respective pocket.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.