Ladder shield

Abstract

An improved safety shield for permanent ladders of the type having a pair of side rails and a plurality of rungs permanently secured to a support structure such as storage tanks, smoke stacks, television towers, tall buildings, bins and silos, the shield includes a front plate having two longitudinal side edges, a pair of side flanges, each of which extends rearwardly and outwardly from one of the side edges in angular relationship thereto. A hinge means connects a first of the side flanges and the front plate along juxtaposed side edges and at least one support bracket connects the first side flange to the ladder. The front plate has an opening and is movable between a first open position and a second closed position wherein the front plate, side flanges, and supporting structure substantially enclose the ladder to prevent unauthorized access thereto. A locking means includes a looped portion for insertion through the opening in the front plate to secure the front plate in the closed position, including a support bracket for connecting the looped portion to the ladder and biasing element biases the plate outwardly to minimize the play of the plate when secured in the closed position by a padlock through the loop. A supplemental barrier prevents unauthorized access to the rear of the ladder from beyond the edge of the side flanges.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.