Multifunction button for ladder adjustment
AssigneeLittle Giant Ladder Systems, LLC
InventorsB. Scott Maxfield, N. Ryan Moss, Steven S. Miner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ladders have first and second assemblies with pairs of rails that form a pair of hinges rotatable about a pivot axis. The hinges include at least one retainer movable between axial positions along the pivot axis. The at least one retainer includes a body and a support arm coupled with the body. The arm can be pivotable relative to the body between a deployed position and a collapsed position. The support arm can support objects while a user is in an elevated position on the ladder.
Claims20
A ladder, comprising:
- a first assembly, including:
- a first pair of rails spaced apart from each other;
- a first set of rungs coupled to and extending between the pair of rails;
- a first pair of hinge portions coupled to the first pair of rails;
- a second assembly, including:
- a second pair of rails spaced apart from each other;
- a second pair of hinge portions coupled to the second pair of rails;
- wherein the first pair of hinge portions and the second pair of hinge portions are pivotally coupled to each other to form a pair of hinges rotatable about a pivot axis;
- and
- at least one retainer movable between a first axial position along the pivot axis and a second axial position along the pivot axis, the first assembly being rotatable relative to the second assembly while the at least one retainer is in the first axial position, the first assembly being prevented from rotation relative to the second assembly by the at least one retainer while the at least one retainer is in the second axial position;
- wherein the at least one retainer includes:
- a body;
- and
- a support arm coupled with and extending from the body.
A button for a locking mechanism, the button comprising:
- a body having a first side surface, a second side surface positioned opposite the first side surface, and at least one lateral surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface;
- a support arm coupled with the body and pivotable relative to the body about a pivot axis intersecting the at least one lateral surface, the support arm being pivotable about the pivot axis between a deployed position and a collapsed position;
- wherein in the collapsed position, the support arm lies between a first plane defined by the first side surface of the body and a second plane defined by the second side surface of the body;
- and
- wherein in the deployed position, the support arm extends from the second side surface in a direction extending away from the first side surface.
A button for a locking mechanism, the button comprising:
- a body having a first side surface attachable to a shaft, a second side surface positioned opposite the first side surface, and at least one lateral surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface;
- a support arm coupled with the body and pivotable relative to the body about a pivot axis intersecting the at least one lateral surface, the support arm being pivotable about the pivot axis between a deployed position and a collapsed position;
- wherein in the deployed position, a substantially upward-facing portion of the at least one lateral surface limits rotation of the support arm about the pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.