US 9,068,395 B1Granted

Apparatus providing single support to an extension ladder enabling ladder use on level and non-level surfaces

OwnerScott E. Greeninventor

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Abstract

An apparatus attachable to an extension ladder is provided having a single leg extendable in a direction perpendicular and adjacent to the two lowest rungs of an extension ladder, a channel bar sized to receive a substantial length of a lowest rung of the ladder, and a hook for latching onto a next to lowest rung of the ladder. A foot pivotally mounted to the leg at one end thereof supports the leg onto or at least partially into a level or non-level surface. A step member extends from the leg at an angle. When the ladder is extended upwards by a user, a removable arm member is received through a holder of the leg to lie against a user's leg to provide stability and prevent spinning. The apparatus when attached to the lowest two rungs elevates the ladder to be non-contact with the level or non-level surface.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An attachment for a ladder, the ladder having two sides and rungs, each of said rungs having a length extending between the sides of the ladder, said attachment comprising:

a leg extendable perpendicular and adjacent to at least two lowest ones of said rungs of the ladder;
a first member coupled to said leg, the first member having a channel disposed perpendicular to said leg, the channel configured to receive a substantial extent of the length of a lowest one of said two lowest ones of said rungs of the ladder;
a second member coupled to said leg, the second member configured to receive and retain a next one above of said lowest one of said rungs when said first member receives said lowest one of said rungs in said channel;
a third member separable from said leg and capable of enabling stabilization of said leg with respect to a generally stationary member;
a foot pivotally mounted to one end of said leg at an axis of rotation, the foot configured to support said leg with respect to a level or non-level surface, and said leg is configured to attach to the ladder to elevate the ladder off of said level or non-level surface;
a step member attached to said leg, said step member having a major top surface and positioned between said first member and said foot, said step member configured to extend away from said leg at a first angle so that pivoting said leg backwards relative to said axis of rotation pivots said step member upwards relative to said surface to enable the major top surface of said step member to be horizontal to operate as a step for use by a user climbing or descending the ladder when said ladder is coupled to the attachment, said major top surface configured to be horizontal when a major length of said ladder and a major length of said leg are substantially angled with respect to horizontal;
and
a holder attached to said leg, said holder having an opening into which the third member is receivable to enable said third member to extend outward and away from said leg at a second angle with respect to said leg when said channel and said second member are receiving said at least two lowest one of said rungs of the ladder.

5 more elements

An apparatus configured to attach to an extension ladder to provide a single support enabling said ladder to be used on a level or non-level surface, said ladder having a lower portion, an upper portion slidable with respect to said lower portion, and each of said upper portion and said lower portion respectively has parallel rungs extending between two parallel sides, said apparatus comprising:

a leg extendable in a direction perpendicular and adjacent to two lowest rungs of said parallel rungs of the lower ladder portion;
a bar attached perpendicularly to said leg, the bar having a channel with a bottom, side walls, and an upper opening sized to receive a substantial length of a lowest rung of said two lowest rungs;
a hook attached to said leg, said hook configured to latch onto a next to lowest rung of the two lowest rungs when said channel receives the lowest rung;
a foot pivotally mounted to one end of said leg, the foot configured to pivot said leg and said foot with respect to each other about an axis of rotation, in which when said channel receives the lowest rung and the hook latches onto the next to lowest rung of the ladder said leg extends from said bar to said foot further than a lowermost part of the lower portion of the ladder;
a step member attached to said leg, said step member having a major top surface and positioned between said bar and said foot, said step member configured to extend away from said leg at a first angle so that pivoting said leg backwards relative to said axis of rotation pivots said step member upwards relative to said surface to enable the major top surface of said step member to be horizontal to operate as a step for use by a user climbing or descending the ladder when said ladder is coupled to the apparatus, said major top surface configured to be horizontal when a major length of said ladder and a major length of said leg are substantially angled with respect to horizontal;
and
a holder attached to said leg, and an arm separable from said leg, said holder having an opening into which said arm is receivable to enable said arm to extend outward and away from said leg at a second angle with respect to said leg when said channel receives said lowest rung and said hook latches onto said next to lowest rung.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.