US 2026/0071492 A1 · BAR-GRATE-DECKING LADDER STABILIZER SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system and method for removably securing a variety of stepladders to a variety of standard bar-grate decking. A brace unit providing a rack bar with rack teeth, a drop-through preventing handle and an under-grate crossbar is placed through a void between two main bearing bars of bar-grate decking and positioned such that the under-grate crossbar is forced against the underside of the two main bearing bars and the adjacent bars. A clamp unit providing a rack bar guide and a pawl is clamped to a rail or stringer of the stepladder, with the rack bar of the brace unit passing upward through the rack bar guide of the clamp unit. In a ratcheting action the pawl allows upward movement of the rack bar but prevents downward return by locking into the rack teeth of the rack bar, thereby maintaining a pulling force between the ladder rail and the decking, stabilizing the stepladder for safe use.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system for use with a standard stepladder on bar-grate decking, the bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system comprising:

(i) a brace unit comprising:
(a) a rack bar having rack teeth and having an upward and downward orientation in use;
(b) an under-grate crossbar at the downward end of said rack bar, adapted to placement through a void in the bar-grate decking and contact against the underside of the bar-grate decking;
and
(c) a drop-through preventing handle at the upward end of said rack bar;
and
(ii) a clamp unit comprising:
(a) a ladder-rail clamp adapted to clamp to the ladder rail of a standard stepladder;
(b) a rack bar guide adapted to allow and control movement of said rack bar;
and
(c) a pawl adapted to move into and out of said rack bar guide in a ratcheting action allowing upward movement of said brace unit in contact with the bar-grate decking against said clamp unit in contact with the ladder rail of the stepladder, transferring and maintaining a pulling force between the bar-grate decking and the ladder rail, stabilizing the stepladder for use.

8 more elements

A bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer method for use with a standard stepladder on bar-grate decking, the bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer method comprising:

(i) providing a bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system comprising:
(a) a brace unit comprising:
(1) a rack bar having rack teeth and having an upward and downward orientation in use;
(2) an under-grate crossbar at the downward end of said rack bar, adapted to placement through a void in the bar-grate decking and contact against the underside of the bar-grate decking;
and
(3) a drop-through preventing handle at the upward end of said rack bar;
and
(b) a clamp unit comprising:
(1) a ladder-rail clamp adapted to clamp to the ladder rail of a standard stepladder;
(2) a rack bar guide adapted to allow and control movement of said rack bar;
and
(3) a pawl adapted to move into and out of said rack bar guide in a ratcheting action allowing upward movement of said brace unit in contact with the bar-grate decking against said clamp unit in contact with the ladder rail of the stepladder, transferring and maintaining a pulling force between the bar-grate decking and the ladder rail, stabilizing the stepladder for use;
(ii) placing said under-grate crossbar of said brace unit through the void between two main bearing bars of the bar-grate decking;
(iii) turning said brace unit thereby placing said under and perpendicular to the main bearing bars of the bar-grate decking;
(iv) pulling upward on said brace unit;
(v) placing said rack bar of said brace unit through said rack bar guide of said clamp unit;
(vi) clamping said clamp unit to the ladder rail of the stepladder;
(vii) engaging said pawl with said rack teeth of said rack bar in a ratcheting action;
(viii) maintaining a pulling force between the ladder rail of the stepladder and the main bearing bars of the bar-grate decking, thereby stabilizing the stepladder on the decking;
(ix) releasing said pawl release of said clamp unit, thereby releasing said pawl from said rack teeth and releasing the pulling force between the ladder rail and the bar-grate decking;
(x) removing said brace unit and said clamp unit;
and
(xi) storing said brace unit and said clamp unit for future use.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system and method

Life of this patent

Bar-grate-decking ladder stabilizer system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13