Back to results
US 9,500,026 B2Granted
Folding and self-erecting ladder
OwnerMaurice J. Mountaininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A folding, self-erecting ladder for use in the marine environment comprises two rigid side rails with holes for holding rungs. Bungee cord is thread through the rungs and rails to tension the rails toward each other top hold the rungs in the rail holes. The ladder can be folded by pulling the rails apart, allowing the rungs to leave the rail holes, and moving the rails closer to each other, trapping the rungs therebetween, and binding the folded ladder to hold it in the folded position.
Claims19
A folding ladder comprising:
- first and second rails, each with inner and outer walls, a circumferential edge joining said walls, and having a top and bottom end,
- a plurality of hollow rungs of even or odd number with at least an upper rung and a lower rung, and
- elastic cord for holding said rungs in position between said rails, wherein;
- each said first and second rails has a plurality of rail holes to accept one end of one of said plurality of rungs, wherein;
- said elastic cord having first and second ends, said elastic cord passing through each said rung and said rails to tension said first and second rails toward each other to hold said rungs into engagement with said rail holes, further wherein, each said plurality of rail holes comprises at least two sizes, a first size extending less than fully through said rail from the inner rail wall and sized to accept one said rung, and a second size, smaller than said first size, extending from said rail outer wall and meeting said first size hole, said second size chosen to allow said elastic cord to pass therethrough but to stop said rung at an intermediate position in said rail.
2 more elements
A folding ladder for use on a boat comprising:
- first and second rails with inner and outer walls, a circumferential edge joining said walls and having a top and bottom end,
- a plurality of hollow rungs of even or odd number with at least an upper rung and a lower rung, and
- elastic cord for holding said rungs in position between said rails, wherein;
- each said first and second rails has a plurality of rail holes to accept one end of one of said plurality of rungs, wherein;
- said elastic cord has first and second ends, said elastic cord passing through each said rung and said rails to tension said first and second rails toward each other to hold said rungs into engagement with said rail holes, further wherein,
- each said plurality of rail holes comprises at least two sizes, a first size extending less than fully through said rail from the inner rail wall and sized to accept one said rung, and a second size, smaller than said first size, extending from said rail outer wall and meeting said first size hole, said second size chosen to allow said elastic cord to pass therethrough but to stop said rung at an intermediate position in said rail, and,
- mounting hooks on each said rail for hanging said ladder to structure on a boat.
4 more elements
A method of folding a ladder, the ladder comprising:
- first and second rails with inner and outer walls and a circumferential edge between said walls,
- a plurality of hollow rungs of even or odd number with at least an upper rung and a lower rung, and
- elastic cord for holding said rungs in position between said rails, wherein;
- each said first and second rails has a plurality of rail holes to accept one end of one of said plurality of rungs, wherein;
- said elastic cord for holding comprises first and second ends, said elastic cord passing through each said rung and said rails to tension said first and second rails toward each other to hold said rungs into engagement with said rail holes, further wherein,
- each said plurality of rail holes comprises at least two sizes, a first size extending less than fully through said rail from the inner rail wall and sized to accept one said rung, and a second size, smaller than said first size, extending from said rail outer wall and meeting said first size hole, said second size chosen to allow said elastic cord to pass therethrough but to stop said rung at an intermediate position in said rail,
- the method comprising, urging said rails away from each other by overcoming the elastic force of said cord thereby allowing said rungs to leave said holes,
- moving the first rail parallel with and closer to the second rail with one said hook above the other such that the rungs lie flat between the rails, and
- binding the assembly to make a compact arrangement.
6 more elements
A ladder for use on a boat comprising:
- first and second rails with inner and outer walls, a circumferential edge between said walls and having a top and bottom end,
- mounting hooks on said rail top end for mounting said ladder to structure on a boat,
- a plurality of hollow rungs of even or odd number with at least an upper rung and a lower rung, each said first and second rails having a plurality of rail holes to accept one end of one of said plurality of rungs,
- elastic cord for holding said rungs in position between said rails, said elastic cord passing through each said rung and said rails to tension said first and second rails toward each other to hold said rungs into engagement with said rail holes;
- wherein said mounting hooks comprise at least one hook associated with each said rail top end for hooking said rail to structure on a boat, said hook of a predetermined size to mate with a boat gunnell, and,
- on each said rail, a standoff projection adjacent said hook extending from said rail to bear against said boat to hold said ladder rails away from the boat and acting to keep said ladder from moving toward the boat when climbed, each standoff sized to provide a desired standoff distance from a boat side.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.