# US 4,394,887 A · Ladder standoff device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,394,887 A - Document ID: US4394887A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/308,871 - Filed: 1981-10-05 - Granted: 1983-07-26 - Earliest claimed: 1981-10-05 - Inventors: Donald E. Spinks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394887A ## CPC - E06C 7/48: Ladder heads; Supports for heads of ladders for resting against objects {(ladders attachable to structures such as poles E06C1/34)} - E06C: LADDERS (E04F11/00 takes precedence; step-stools A47C12/00; adaptation of ladders to use on ships B63B, to use on aircraft B64; scaffolding E04G) ## Abstract A ladder standoff device adapted to be readily attached to and detached from a ladder comprises an elongated axle member having a pair of wheels rotatably mounted at opposing ends thereof, an elongated standoff bar attached to the axle member and extending transverse thereto, and a handle member pivotally attached to the end of the standoff bar remote from the axle member. The standoff device is attached to a rung of the ladder by a pivot structure that is mounted on the standoff bar and consists of a fixed hook member and a cooperating sleeve that is slideable along the standoff bar; and the standoff device may be locked in position by a further attachment member that is slideable along the handle member and adapted to engage a rung of the ladder different from the rung upon which the device pivots. The axle member and standoff bar may each be of telescopic construction to permit adjustment of the distance between the wheels that engage a wall structure adjacent the ladder, and the distance between the axle member and the rung of the ladder upon which the device is pivotally mounted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ladder standoff device adapted to be readily attached to and detached from a ladder and adapted, when attached, to be manually varied in position by a person standing on the ladder thereby to vary the orientation of the ladder relative to an adjacent wall structure, said device comprising an elongated axle member having a pair of wheels rotatably mounted at opposing ends thereof for selective rolling engagement with and along a wall structure adjacent the ladder, an elongated standoff bar one end of which is attached to said axle member at a position between said wheels, said standoff bar extending away from said axle member at substantially right angles thereto, first attachment means on said standoff bar, said first attachment means comprising fixed abutment means attached to said standoff bar and extending outwardly of said standoff bar, said fixed abutment means being adapted to be positioned adjacent one side of a rung of the ladder, and movable abutment means adapted to be variably positioned along said standoff bar relative to the opposite side of the ladder rung in opposed relation to said fixed abutment means, said fixed and movable abutment means cooperating with one another to provide a pivotal attachment of said standoff bar on the said ladder rung, handle means attached to the other end of said standoff bar, said handle means being operative upon manual manipulation to pivot said standoff bar about said pivotal attachment thereby to vary the position of said axle member and wheels relative to the adjacent wall structure, and second attachment means mounted on said handle means for selective releasable engagement with a portion of the ladder spaced from the said ladder rung to lock said standoff device against pivotal movement about the said ladder rung. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ladder standoff device of claim 1 wherein said axle member includes portions which are in telescoping relation to one another to permit adjustment of the distance between said pair of wheels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ladder standoff device of claim 2 including spring-biased locking means for fixing the telescoping portions of said axle member in a desired adjusted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ladder standoff device of claim 1 wherein said standoff bar includes portions which are in telescoping relation to one another to permit adjustment of the distance between said axle member and said fixed abutment means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ladder standoff device of claim 4 including spring-biased locking means for fixing the telescoping portions of said standoff bar in a desired adjusted position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ladder standoff device of claim 1 wherein said handle means is of elongated configuration and extends away from said standoff bar in a direction transverse to said bar, one end of said handle means being pivotally attached to said other end of said standoff bar for pivotal motion of said handle means relative to said bar about an axis that is substantially colinear with the direction of elongation of said bar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ladder standoff device of claim 6 wherein said pivotal attachment includes a bracket pivotally attached to said other end of said handle means for pivotal motion about said axis, said handle means being insertable into and removable from said bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The ladder standoff device of claim 6 wherein said second attachment means comprises a tubular sleeve slideably mounted on said elongated handle means, and a hook member attached to said tubular sleeve and shaped to overlie and engage a rung of the ladder, other than the rung on which said device is pivotally mounted, when said sleeve is slid along said handle means to a position adjacent the said other rung. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ladder standoff device of claim 1 wherein said fixed abutment means comprises a hook member attached to a fixed position to said standoff bar, said movable abutment member comprising a tubular sleeve slideably mounted on said standoff bar and a curved member attached to said sleeve for movement along said standoff bar toward and away from said hook member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ladder standoff device of claim 9 wherein said curved member comprises an elongated member of U-shaped cross section extending in a direction substantially parallel to said axle member and transverse to the axis of said tubular sleeve, the open side of said U-shaped member facing said hook member whereby said elongated U-shaped member is adapted to embrace an extended portion of a rung on the ladder when said hook member is disposed adjacent one side of said rung and said sleeve is slid along said standoff bar toward the other side of the said rung.