Last step indicator for ladders and ladders incorporating same
AssigneeLittle Giant Ladder Systems, LLC
InventorsWesley V. Clark, N. Ryan Moss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ladders and ladder components are provided including a rung assembly that provides an alert to a user of the ladder that they are standing on a particular rung or step. In one example, the lower most rung or step of a ladder includes a rung assembly having an alert mechanism. The alert mechanism may provide an audible and/or other sensory alert to a user when they step on the rung assembly so that the user recognizes their position relative to the ground or supporting surface. In one embodiment, the rung assembly is configured to include a base member, a displaceable member and an alert mechanism, wherein the displaceable member is positioned between the alert mechanism and the base member.
Claims19
A ladder, comprising:
- a first assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart rails;
- a rung assembly coupled between the pair of spaced apart rails, the rung assembly comprising:
- a base member;
- a first bracket directly coupled with a first rail of the pair of spaced apart rails;
- a second bracket directly coupled with a second rail of the pair of spaced apart rails;
- at least one biasing member disposed within and engaging with at least one of the first and second brackets;
- and
- a displaceable wall disposed over a portion of the base member and having a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned opposite the second end, the first end being coupled with the first bracket, the second end being coupled with the second bracket;
- wherein the first end and the second end are configured to be displaced from a first position spaced away from the base member to a second position nearer to the base member relative to the first position.
A ladder, comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart rails;
- a fixed rung coupled to the pair of spaced apart rails;
- and
- a rung assembly coupled between the pair of spaced apart rails, the rung assembly comprising:
- a first bracket directly coupled with a first rail of the pair of spaced apart rails;
- a second bracket directly coupled with a second rail of the pair of spaced apart rails;
- a pair of pin members, a first pin member of the pair of pin members extending through the first bracket, and a second pin member of the pair of pin members extending through the second bracket;
- a pair of biasing members, a first biasing member disposed within the first bracket and about the first pin member, and a second biasing member disposed within the second bracket and about the second pin member;
- and
- a displaceable wall suspended from the pair of pin members, the displaceable wall being configured to be displaced from a first position adjacent to the first bracket and the second bracket to a second position farther away from the first bracket and the second bracket relative to the first position, the displaceable wall being suspended above and detached from the fixed rung.
A rung assembly of a ladder, the rung assembly comprising:
- a displaceable member comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end;
- a first alert mechanism suspended above the first end of the displaceable member;
- and
- a second alert mechanism suspended above the second end of the displaceable member;
- wherein each of the first alert mechanism and the second alert mechanism comprises:
- a bracket comprising a flange, an upper wall, a lower wall, and at least one opening defined in the lower wall, the flange being configured to directly couple to a ladder side rail above a rung;
- a pin member extending through the at least one opening, the pin member comprising a shoulder on an upper pin end opposite a lower pin end, the lower pin end being coupled to the displaceable member;
- a biasing member positioned about the pin member and positioned between the upper wall and the lower wall;
- and
- a collar slidably positioned about the pin member and between the upper wall and the lower wall, the collar being biased toward the upper wall via the biasing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.