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US 8,800,718 B2Granted
Ultra lightweight segmented ladder/bridge system
AssigneeAllred & Associates Inc.
InventorsJimmie B. Allred, III, Joseph Kummer, Michael D. Griswold, Michael J. Hall, Matthew A. Bush
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.
Claims18
A carbon fiber ladder structure, comprising:
- a) a pair of tubular carbon fiber side rails, each rail having a first end and a second end;
- b) at least one carbon fiber rung perpendicular to the carbon fiber side rails, wherein the carbon fiber rung connects the side rails of the ladder segment;
- and
- c) a spliced joint connector located at at least one of the first end and the second end of each carbon fiber side rail;
- wherein the spliced joint connector on an end of a first carbon fiber side rail of a first ladder segment reversibly mates with a sleeve formed by a hollow portion of an interior of a second carbon fiber side rail of a second ladder segment;
- wherein, when at least two ladder segments are joined by the spliced joint connector and the sleeve, they form a segmented structure;
- wherein the rung is detachable from the side rails;
- and
- wherein the rung comprises a uni-directional carbon fiber inner layer and a braided carbon fiber layer.
6 more elements
A carbon fiber ladder structure, comprising:
- a) a pair of tubular carbon fiber side rails, each rail having a first end and a second end;
- b) at least one carbon fiber rung perpendicular to the carbon fiber side rails, wherein the carbon fiber rung connects the side rails of the ladder segment;
- and
- c) a joint connector located at at least one of the first end and the second end of each carbon fiber side rail;
- wherein the joint connector on an end of a first carbon fiber side rail of a first ladder segment reversibly mates with the joint connector on a second carbon fiber side rail of a second ladder segment;
- wherein, when at least two ladder segments are joined by the joint connectors, they form a segmented structure;
- wherein the rung is detachable from the side rail;
- and
- wherein the rung comprises a uni-directional carbon fiber inner layer and a braided carbon fiber layer.
6 more elements
A carbon fiber ladder structure, comprising:
- a) a pair of tubular carbon fiber side rails, each rail having a first end and a second end;
- b) at least one carbon fiber rung perpendicular to the carbon fiber side rails, wherein the carbon fiber rung connects the side rails of the ladder segment;
- and
- c) a spliced joint connector located at at least one of the first end and the second end of each carbon fiber side rail;
- wherein the spliced joint connector on an end of a first carbon fiber side rail of a first ladder segment reversibly mates with a sleeve formed by a hollow portion of an interior of a second carbon fiber side rail of a second ladder segment;
- wherein, when at least two ladder segments are joined by the spliced joint connector and the sleeve, they form a segmented structure;
- wherein the rung is detachable from the side rails;
- and
- wherein the rung is made of a uni-directional carbon fiber inner layer and a braided carbon fiber outer layer.
6 more elements
A carbon fiber ladder structure, comprising:
- a) a pair of tubular carbon fiber side rails, each rail having a first end and a second end;
- b) at least one carbon fiber rung perpendicular to the carbon fiber side rails, wherein the carbon fiber rung connects the side rails of the ladder segment;
- and
- c) a spliced joint connector located at at least one of the first end and the second end of each carbon fiber side rail;
- wherein the spliced joint connector on an end of a first carbon fiber side rail of a first ladder segment reversibly mates with a sleeve formed by a hollow portion of an interior of a second carbon fiber side rail of a second ladder segment;
- wherein, when at least two ladder segments are joined by the spliced joint connector and the sleeve, they form a segmented structure;
- wherein the rung is detachable from the side rails;
- and
- wherein the rung is made of a uni-directional carbon fiber inner layer, a braided carbon fiber middle layer, and a fiberglass outer layer.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.