Safety ladder with caster assembly moveable positively to a retracted position
OwnerErnest F. Gutierrezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety ladder assembly having a plurality of steps and at least three support feet for supporting the ladder on a horizontal surface. A caster assembly having at least three casters for providing for rollingly transporting the ladder from one location to another. The casters are positively and conjointly moveable between a retracted storage position in which the support feet stably support the ladder on a horizontal surface and a second transporting position in which the casters stably support the ladder assembly on the horizontal surface with the support feet elevated thereabove so that the ladder assembly may be rollingly transported along the surface. A linkage interconnects the casters so that they may be raised and lowered via actuating and retracting pedals.
Claims9
A ladder assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of steps and at least three support feet for supporting said ladder assembly on a generally horizontal surface, said ladder assembly including a caster assembly upon which the ladder is adapted to be rollingly transported from one location to another,
- said caster assembly including at least three casters which are positively and conjointly movable between a first retracted position in which said support feet stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface with said casters elevated thereabove and a second transporting position in which said casters stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface with said support feet elevated thereabove,
- tubular guide means fixedly secured to said ladder assembly reciprocatably mounting said casters for reciprocating movement between said first and second positions, spring means urging said casters into said first retracted position, linkage means interconnecting said casters for conjoint movement, and actuating means for operating said linkage means to move said casters from said first to said second position.
A ladder assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of steps and at least three support feet for supporting said ladder assembly on a generally horizontal surface, said ladder assembly including a caster assembly upon which the ladder is adapted to be rollingly transported from one location to another,
- said caster assembly including at least three casters which are positively and conjointly movable between a first retracted position in which said support feet stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface and a second transporting position in which said casters stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface with said support feet elevated thereabove,
- tubular guide means fixedly secured to said ladder assembly reciprocatably mounting said casters for reciprocating movement between said first and second positions, spring means urging said casters into said first retracted position, linkage means interconnecting said casters for conjoint movement, and actuating means for operating said linkage means to move said casters from said first to said second position, said linkage means comprising lever means mounted for oscillation between a rest position in which said casters are retracted towards said second transporting portion against the force of said spring means and an over-center position in which said casters are releasably locked in said transporting position.
A ladder assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of steps and at least three support feet for supporting said ladder assembly on a generally horizontal surface, said ladder assembly including a caster assembly upon which the ladder is adapted to be rollingly transported from one location to another,
- said caster assembly including at least three casters which are positively and conjointly movable between a first retracted position in which said support feet stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface with said casters elevated thereabove and a second transporting position in which said casters stably support said ladder assembly on said horizontal surface with said support feet elevated thereabove,
- caster support members, each of which supports one of said casters mounted thereon wherein said casters are mounted for reciprocating conjoint movement between said first and second positions,
- a tubular member slidably receiving a caster support member, spring means connected to said tubular member and caster support member for biasing said casters toward said retracted position, linkage means interconnecting said casters for conjoint movement, and actuating means for operating said linkage means to move said casters from said first to said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.