Stabilizer mechanisms for ladders, ladders incorporating same, and related methods
AssigneeLittle Giant Ladder Systems, LLC
InventorsSteven S. Miner, Aaron Bruce Major, N. Ryan Moss, Leland Schuyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Stabilization mechanisms, ladders incorporating stabilization mechanisms, and related methods may include struts or braces that are automatically deployable from a collapsed configuration to a deployed or expanded configuration to support and stabilize the ladder when it is extended. The stabilizer mechanisms may include biasing members configured to urge the struts rearward and outward as a fly rail assembly of the ladder is extended relative to a base rail assembly thereof. Some stabilizer mechanisms are manually deployable independent of each other.
Claims20
A ladder, comprising:
- a first assembly including a first pair of rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of rails;
- a second assembly including a second pair of rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of rails, the second pair of rails being displaceable relative to the first pair of rails between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration;
- and
- a stabilizer mechanism mounted to at least one rail of the first pair of rails and including:
- a strut having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being pivotally coupled with the at least one rail on a laterally outer side of the at least one rail;
- and
- a biasing member, wherein in response to displacement of the first pair of rails from the collapsed configuration to the extended configuration, the biasing member applies a force to the stabilizer mechanism pivoting the strut at the top end to extend the bottom end outward relative to the at least one rail.
A ladder, comprising:
- a first assembly including a first pair of rails and a first plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of rails;
- a second assembly including a second pair of rails and a second plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the second pair of rails, the second pair of rails being displaceable relative to the first pair of rails between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration;
- and
- a stabilizer mechanism mounted to at least one rail of the first pair of rails and including:
- a strut having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally coupled with at least one rail of the first pair of rails;
- a link member pivotally coupled with the strut;
- a bracket slidably coupled with the at least one rail;
- a handle assembly slidably coupled with the at least one rail and coupled with the bracket, wherein sliding movement of the handle assembly is configured to pivot the strut via the bracket and via the link member.
A stabilizer mechanism for a ladder, the stabilizer mechanism comprising:
- a strut having an end pivotally attachable to a rail;
- a bracket slidably attachable to the rail;
- a link member having a first end pivotally attached to the strut and a second end pivotally attached to the bracket, wherein movement of the bracket relative to the end of the strut is configured to rotate the strut via the link member;
- and
- a handle assembly slidably attachable to the rail and coupled with the bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.