Light weight ladder systems and methods
AssigneeWing Enterprises, Incorporated
InventorNewell Ryan Moss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a rail for a ladder. The method may include pultruding in a longitudinal direction, a rail having a selected cross-sectional shape. The rail may then be cut to a predetermined length at a distal end. A force may be applied, in a lateral direction, to the rail to form a curvature therein. The curvature may be characterized by a flared portion, a straight portion, and a curved region providing the transition therebetween. The rail may be held at the desired curvature for a time selected for the rail to take on the curvature substantially permanently. The force may then be removed and the rail may be assembled into a ladder.
Claims20
A method for manufacturing a rail for a ladder, the rail characterized by longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions, and the method comprising:
- pultruding in a longitudinal direction, a rail having a cross-sectional shape;
- cutting the rail to a predetermined length at a distal end;
- applying a force, in a lateral direction, to the rail to form a curvature therein, the curvature being characterized by a flared portion, a straight portion, and a curved region providing a transition therebetween;
- holding the rail at the curvature for a time selected for the rail to take on the curvature substantially permanently;
- and
- assembling the rail into a ladder.
An extension ladder comprising:
- two interior rails having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another;
- two exterior rails, each receiving one of the interior rails positioned therewithin in a longitudinally sliding relation;
- a plurality of interior rungs distributed in the longitudinal direction and each extending in a lateral direction to connect the interior rails;
- a plurality of exterior rungs distributed in the longitudinal direction and extending in the lateral direction to connect the exterior rails;
- and
- the exterior rails each further comprising a flared portion and a straight portion, connected longitudinally by a curved region transitioning therebetween and comprising a series of angled bends spaced longitudinally from one another along the flared portion.
An extension ladder comprising:
- two interior rails having longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another;
- two exterior rails, each receiving one of the interior rails positioned therewithin in a longitudinally sliding relation;
- a plurality of interior rungs distributed longitudinally and extending in laterally to connect the interior rails;
- a plurality of exterior rungs distributed longitudinally and extending laterally to connect the exterior rails;
- and
- the exterior rails, each further comprising a flared portion and a straight portion, with an integral portion curved transitioning therebetween and comprising a continuous arc substantially tangent to the flared portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.