Ladder inclinometer

• US 5,680,707 A
• Filed: 10/01/1996
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wy-Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wy-Tech, Inc.
• Inventors: Boelling, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DePumpo, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US08/721,573
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 33/333, 33/334, 33/370, 33/371, 33/372, 33/373, 33/391, 33/399
• US Class Current: 33/333
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/003 Indicating devices, e.g. user warnings or inclinators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/12 by using a single pendulum plumb lines G01C15/10

Abstract

A housing includes a pendulum having a window registerable with either of spaced apart indicia depending on what side of a ladder a housing is mounted to indicate the ladder is positioned at a safe angle against a vertical support. Wording on the pendulum is readable with wording in the spaced apart indicia to further indicate the ladder is at a safe angle. The pendulum is pointed at its lower end to register with third indicia positioned between the spaced apart indicia to indicate that the ladder is on a level surface.

Claims

1. A ladder inclinometer comprising,

a housing including a wall having a face,

indicia on said face,

a pendulum pivotally mounted on said wall free to pivot in response to the forces of gravity, a window in said pendulum being registerable with said indicia to indicate when a ladder is at a safe angle,

a lens extends substantially over said face through which said pendulum may be observed,

an elongated shoulder on said lens extending transversely of said lens and said pendulum to provide substantial line contact with said pendulum when engaging said lens, and

a nodule on said pendulum having a convex outer end facing said wall and for engagement with said wall.

2. The ladder inclinometer of claim 1 and releasable fastener means is provided on said housing to removably secure said housing to a side of a ladder.

3. The ladder inclinometer of claim 2 wherein said fastener means is further defined as being a hook and loop type fastener.

4. The ladder inclinometer of claim 2 wherein said fastener means comprises a ladder channel flange groove extending longitudinally on said housing on the side opposite said face to receive the outer edge of a ladder channel flange to align said housing with the longitudinal axis of a ladder and to provide support for said housing.

5. The ladder inclinometer of claim 4 and said ladder channel flange groove is one of two parallel grooves having different widths to receive ladder channel flanges having different thicknesses.

6. The ladder inclinometer of claim 2 wherein said fastener means includes a channel extending longitudinally of said housing on the side opposite said face to receive a flange side wall of a ladder side rail channel to align said housing with the longitudinal axis of a ladder and to provide support for said housing.

7. A ladder inclinometer comprising,

a housing including a wall having a face,

indicia on said face,

a pendulum pivotally mounted on said wall free to pivot in response to the forces of gravity, a window in said pendulum being registerable with said indicia to indicate when a ladder is at a safe angle,

said indicia being one of two indicia spaced apart on the face of said wall registerable with said window when said ladder is at a safe angle whereby when said inclinometer is mounted on one side of a ladder said one indicia registers with said window and when mounted on the opposite side said second indicia registers with said window,

said pendulum including a pivot axis and said first and second indicia being spaced an equal distance from said pivot axis on an arc,

said indicia being a geometrically shaped colored figure and said window being of a similar shape,

said first and second indicia being spaced to indicate that a ladder is at an angle with a support of approximately 15 degrees, and

indicia being provided on said pendulum which when read with indicia included in said first and second indicia when said pendulum is registered with one of said first and second indicia, the indicia on the pendulum and said one of first and second indicia creating a meaningful statement indicating the ladder is safe, said indicia on said pendulum including a first portion of the statement and the first and second indicia including a concluding portion of the statement whereby when said pendulum is registered with said first or second indicia, said meaningful statement is is complete, indicating the angle of the ladder to a support is a safe angle.

8. The ladder inclinometer of claim 7 and a third indicia is provided on said face centered between said first and second indicia to register with said pendulum when said housing is mounted on the front of a ladder and said ladder is in a level position.

9. The ladder inclinometer of claim 8 and said pendulum has a downwardly pointed lower end which is adapted to register with said third indicia.