Ladder guard

A ladder guard for a ladder, the ladder having spaced apart side rails and a plurality of rungs between the side rails, the ladder guard comprising:

• (a) a unitary semi-rigid shell, said shell having two channels and a flat panel extending between said channels, said shell not extending laterally beyond said channels, said panel adapted to be placed juxtaposed to the rungs and in between the side rails of the ladder, each said channel being J-shaped in cross-section, having a short leg portion, a long leg portion and a center portion therebetween, said short leg portion joining the side edges of said panel, and said long leg portion adapted to extend adjacent the outer side of the side rails of the ladder, whereby said panel is recessed inwardly relative to the central portion of said channels such that said panel portion is adapted to be drawn closely to the rungs of the ladder;
• (b) a hook attached to and extending from said panel portion of said shell and adapted to engage a rung of the ladder;
• and
• (c) locking means attached to said shell and adapted for locking said shell onto the ladder.

A combination ladder guard and extension ladder, comprising

• (a) an extension ladder having at least two sections, each said section having spaced apart side rails and a plurality of rungs between the side rails, the rungs of each said ladder section lying in separate planes which planes are parallel to and spaced apart one from the other, said ladder sections being retractable relative to one another;
• (b) a panel adapted to placed against the rungs and in between the side rails of at least one said section of said extension ladder;
• (c) engaging means attached to said panel and engaging the rungs of said extension ladder for holding said panel against the rungs of said extension ladder;
• (d) locking means attached to said panel and locking said panel onto said extension ladder for deterring unauthorized removal of said panel;
• and
• (e) a member connected to said panel, said member extending in between the rungs of said two ladder sections and intersecting said planes of rungs of at least two of said ladder sections to prevent said extension ladder from being retracted.