Smart ladder
First Claim
1. A ladder configured to be carried by at least one human user, said ladder comprising:
- a plurality of legs, each defined by a first end and a second end;
a plurality of rungs disposed between said legs; and
a tip warning system comprising;
at least one of an audio alarm or a visual alarm;
a power source to energize said at least one alarm;
a plurality of weight sensors, each cooperative with a corresponding one of said plurality of legs or rungs; and
a controller signally coupled to said weight sensors such that upon generation of a weight signal in each of said weight sensors, said controller compares differences in said signals to determine a measure of imbalance in said ladder and provide, upon attainment of a measure of said imbalance that exceeds a predetermined signal threshold, notorious indicia to said human user through said at least one alarm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ladder with a tip warning system. The ladder is configured to be carried by at least one human user, and includes a plurality of legs with rungs disposed between the legs, and a tip warning system. The tip warning system includes an audio alarm and a visual alarm, a power source, one or more weight sensors and a controller signally coupled to the weight sensors. Imbalance conditions, such as due to the weight of a climber extending beyond the footprint of the ladder, generate an imbalance signal that activates the tip warning system to provide notorious indicia of such condition to the user. In one form, a counterweight activated by the imbalance signal may be incorporated to correct dangerous operating conditions.
43 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A ladder configured to be carried by at least one human user, said ladder comprising:
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a plurality of legs, each defined by a first end and a second end; a plurality of rungs disposed between said legs; and a tip warning system comprising; at least one of an audio alarm or a visual alarm; a power source to energize said at least one alarm; a plurality of weight sensors, each cooperative with a corresponding one of said plurality of legs or rungs; and a controller signally coupled to said weight sensors such that upon generation of a weight signal in each of said weight sensors, said controller compares differences in said signals to determine a measure of imbalance in said ladder and provide, upon attainment of a measure of said imbalance that exceeds a predetermined signal threshold, notorious indicia to said human user through said at least one alarm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of using a ladder, said method comprising:
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configuring a ladder to comprise; a plurality of legs; a plurality of rungs disposed between said legs; and a tip warning system comprising; an audio alarm and a visual alarm; a power source to energize at least said audio and visual alarms; a plurality of weight sensors, each coupled to a respective one of said plurality of legs or rungs; and a controller signally coupled to said weight sensors such that upon attainment of a predetermined signal threshold based on a difference in measured signals from said weight sensors, said tip warning system provides notorious indicia to a climber through at least one of said alarms; placing said tip warning system in an operational condition; placing said ladder against a ladder engaging surface; climbing said ladder such that indicia is provided to said climber thereof to indicate at least one of an operational status or a ladder safety category, said ladder safety category comprising at least a first ladder safety category indicative of no imminent tipping and a second ladder safety category indicative of a possible tipping condition. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A tip-sensing ladder comprising:
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a plurality of legs defined by a first end and a second end; a plurality of rungs disposed between said legs to define a climbing path between said first and second ends; and a tip warning system, said system comprising; a plurality of weight sensors, each cooperative with a corresponding one of said plurality of legs or rungs; a controller signally coupled to said weight sensors; a plurality of alarms comprising an audio alarm and a visual alarm, said alarms responsive to said controller such that upon generation of a weight signal in each of said weight sensors, said controller compares differences in said signals to determine a measure of imbalance in said ladder and provide, upon attainment of a measure of said imbalance that exceeds a predetermined signal threshold, notorious indicia to a user through said at least one alarm; and a power source to energize at least said plurality of alarms.
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Specification