Portable Access Ladder

• US 20090183946A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Prebola Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Prebola Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Prebola, Edward Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/356,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/127
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/007 Removable steps or ladders, e.g. foldable as access means for vehicle tops B60R3/005
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/04 capable of being elevated or extended ; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a portable apparatus for accessing an elevated area on an automobile. The portable apparatus comprises a central element, a hook plate, and load supporting members. The central element comprises an upper section and a lower section. The hook plate is affixed to the upper end of the upper section of the central element. The hook plate secures the central element to the automobile. The load supporting members are positioned laterally on the lower section of the central element. The load supporting members enable a user to access the elevated area on the automobile and to ascend and descend the automobile. Adjustment wings may be provided on the hook plate and extended on both sides of the hook plate for fitting the hook plate in stake pockets of different sizes provided on the automobile. The portable apparatus is lightweight and easy to use, store, and install.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for accessing an elevated area on an automobile, comprising:

a central element comprising an upper section and a lower section for supporting a plurality of load supporting members;

a hook plate affixed to an upper end of said upper section of said central element, wherein said hook plate secures the central element to said automobile; and

said load supporting members laterally positioned on said lower section of the central element, wherein the load supporting members enable a user to access said elevated area on the automobile and to ascend and descend the automobile.

2. The portable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tube affixed atop said hook plate.

3. The portable apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a securing element inserted in said tube to secure the hook plate to the automobile.

4. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section is oriented vertical to a flat surface.

5. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower section is inclined with respect to the upper section for enabling said user to ascend and descend the automobile using the load supporting members with comfort and ease.

6. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load supporting members are positioned horizontally and perpendicularly to the lower section of the central element, wherein the load supporting members are alternately placed in opposite directions on the lower section of the central element.

7. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hook plate fits within a stake pocket of the automobile, wherein the hook plate fitted into said stake pocket bears load of the portable apparatus and said user.

8. The portable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bracket for securing the hook plate to the automobile in absence of a stake pocket in the automobile.

9. The portable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising adjustment wings provided on the hook plate and extended on both sides of the hook plate for fitting the hook plate in stake pockets of different sizes provided on the automobile.

10. The portable apparatus of claim 9, wherein said adjustment wings comprise openings for inserting fasteners, wherein said fasteners fasten the adjustment wings to the hook plate after said extension.

11. A method of accessing an elevated area on an automobile, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable apparatus comprising;

a central element comprising an upper section and a lower section for supporting a plurality of load supporting members;

a hook plate affixed to an upper end of said upper section of said central element, wherein said hook plate secures the central element to said automobile; and

said load supporting members laterally positioned on said lower section of the central element, wherein the load supporting members enable a user to ascend and descend the automobile;

sliding the hook plate through a stake pocket of the automobile;

securing the hook plate to said stake pocket of the automobile; and

mounting the load supporting members by a user to access said elevated area on the automobile;

whereby the elevated area on the automobile is accessed using said portable apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of orienting the upper section of the central element vertical to a flat surface and inclining the lower section of the central element with respect to said vertically oriented upper section, prior to sliding the hook plate through the stake pocket of the automobile.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of securing the hook plate to the stake pocket comprises inserting a securing element through an opening on the stake pocket and into a tube affixed atop the hook plate, wherein said inserted securing element secures the hook plate to the automobile.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable apparatus further comprises adjustment wings provided on the hook plate for fitting the hook plate in stake pockets of different sizes provided on the automobile.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said adjustment wings are extended on both sides of the hook plate and fastened by inserting fasteners in openings on the adjustment wings.