Ladder

• US 7,104,361 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Branach Technology Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: Branach Technology Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Walsh, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson II, Hugh B.
• Application Number:
  US10/683,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 182/156, 182/152, 182/163, 182/115, 182/106, 182/129, 182117-119, 182123-126, 182 22- 25, 248/210, 248/238
• US Class Current: 182/156
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/393 Ladders having platforms foldable with the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/14 Holders for pails or other equipment on or for ladders
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/185 Devices providing a back support to a person on the ladder, e.g. cages

Abstract

A platform ladder comprising two elongate ladder sections having feet at one end and an upper end, the upper end of each section being hinged to an upper rail, a platform pivotally secured to one ladder section below the upper end and adapted to interconnect with the other ladder section, and stays interconnecting each side of the ladder sections whereby when the ladder is in an operative position with the ladder sections assuming an erect A shaped profile with the platform extending between the ladder sections to define a standing platform, the ladder sections, upper rail and stays, define a four bar linkage.

Claims

1. A platform ladder comprising two elongate ladder sections having feet at one end and an upper end, the upper end of each section being hinged to an upper rail, a platform pivotally secured to one ladder section below the upper end and adapted to hook against the other ladder section, and stays interconnecting each side of the ladder sections, each of the stays comprising a bracing bar hinged to each ladder section at positions that enable the ladder to assume an operative position with the ladder sections assuming an erect A shaped profile with the platform extending between the ladder sections to define a standing platform, and a folded position in which the ladder sections fold one against the other, and the platform, the upper rail and the stays fold within the plane defined by the ladder sections,

the platform being coupled to the other ladder section by at least one platform stay whereby as the ladder sections are parted from the folded configuration the platform stay controls lowering of the platform until it hooks against the other ladder section when the sections are fully parted to assume the operative position, and

a retarder being positioned between the platform and the platform stay to retard the relative movement and slow down the engagement of the platform with the other ladder section.

2. The platform ladder according claim 1 wherein the upper rail constitutes a safety barrier for the user of the ladder when standing on the platform and is disposed about 900 mm above the platform.

3. The platform ladder according to claim 1 wherein each ladder section comprises elongate fiberglass stiles joined by spaced aluminium rungs.

4. A platform ladder comprising two elongate ladder sections having feet at one end and an upper end, the upper end of each section being hinged to an upper rail, a platform pivotally secured to one ladder section below the upper end and adapted to hook against the other ladder section, and stays interconnecting each side of the ladder sections, each of the stays comprising a bracing bar hinged to each ladder section at positions that enable the ladder to assume an operative position with the ladder sections assuming an erect A shaped profile with the platform extending between the ladder sections to define a standing platform, and a folded position in which the ladder sections fold one against the other, and the platform, the upper rail and the stays fold within the plane defined by the ladder sections, the upper railing including interfitting sections that form a closed loop to surround the user.

5. The platform ladder according claim 4 wherein the upper rail constitutes a safety barrier for the user of the ladder when standing on the platform and is disposed about 900 mm above the platform.

6. The platform ladder according to claim 4 wherein each ladder section comprises elongate fiberglass stiles joined by spaced aluminium rungs.

7. The ladder according to claim 4 wherein the upper rail has lateral sides extending between the ladder sections and a cross section extending across the rear ladder section, a U shaped arm being pivotally secured across the lateral sides of the front ladder section, the arm being in two pieces that can be latched together to close the rail or be opened and pivoted clear of the front section to provide access.