Ladders, ladder components and related methods

• US 9,016,434 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Giant Ladder Systems LLC (Wing Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wing Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Moss, N. Ryan, Peterson, Sean, Russell, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Florio, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US13/402,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20120211305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 182/106, 182/129, 182/23, 182/24, 182/26, 182/108, 182/116, 182/180.1, 294/28
• US Class Current: 182/106
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/22 with extensible, e.g. telescopic, ladder parts or struts
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/39 Ladders having platforms; Ladders changeable into platforms platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/397 characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/14 Holders for pails or other equipment on or for ladders
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/16 Platforms on, or for use on, ladders, e.g. liftable or lowerable platforms aspects relating to the lifting B66F
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/42 Ladder feet; Supports therefor for scaffold elements E04G5/02
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/46 Non-skid equipment
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/50 Joints or other connecting parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Ladders, ladder components and related methods are provided including various embodiments of a combination ladder. In some embodiments, a platform is provided that is fixedly coupled with a rail assembly of a combination ladder. The platform may pivot between a useable position or state and a stowed or stored position or state. The platform may maintain a position relative to certain rungs of the rail assembly while being displaceable relative to other rungs of the rail assembly. A hand rail may be coupled to the rail assembly and a tray may be coupled with the hand rail. The tray and the platform may be configured to maintain a constant distance between one another while the rail assembly is adjusted for height.

Claims

1. A ladder comprising:

a first rail assembly comprising;

a pair of inner rails and a pair of outer rails slidably coupled to the pair of inner rails,

a first plurality of rungs coupled between the pair of inner rails,

a second plurality of rungs coupled between the pair of outer rails,

a second rail assembly comprising;

a pair of inner rails and a pair of outer rails slidably coupled to the pair of inner rails,

a first plurality of rungs coupled between the pair of inner rails,

a second plurality of rungs coupled between the pair of outer rails,

a pair of hinges directly coupled with the pair of inner rails of the first rail assembly and with pair of inner rails of the second rail assembly such that the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly may be selectively, rotatably positioned and maintained in a first configuration and at least a second configuration, wherein, when in the first configuration, the first rail assembly extends at an acute angle relative to the second rail assembly and, wherein, when in the second configuration, the second rail assembly extends from the first rail assembly in a substantially common plane; and

a pair of brackets, each bracket being fixedly and directly coupled to one of the pair of inner rails of the first rail assembly and to an associated hinge of the pair of hinges, the pair of brackets being configured for selective coupling with another ladder component.

2. The ladder of claim 1, wherein the another ladder component includes a hand rail.

3. The ladder of claim 2, wherein the another ladder component further includes a tray moveably coupled with the hand rail.

4. The ladder of claim 3, wherein the tray includes a plurality of protrusions sized, located and configured so that at least one protrusion engages a first rung of the first plurality of rungs of the second rail assembly and at least one other protrusion engages a second rung of the first plurality of rungs of the second rail assembly when the hand rail is removed from the pair of brackets.

5. The ladder of claim 1, wherein the another ladder component includes a paint tray.

6. The ladder of claim 1, wherein the pair of brackets are disposed between the pair of hinges and an uppermost rung of the first plurality of rungs of the first rail assembly.

7. The ladder of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot coupled with at least one rail of the pair of outer rails of the first rail assembly, the at least one foot comprising a body portion having a flexible lock tab configured to engage an opening of the at least one outer rail.

8. The ladder of claim 7, further comprising a wheel coupled with the body portion of the at least one foot.

9. The ladder of claim 1, further comprising at least one locking mechanism associated with the first rail assembly, the at least one locking mechanism configured to selectively engage both an inner rail of the pair of inner rails and an outer rail of the pair of outer rails of the first rail assembly, at least a portion of the at least one locking mechanism being located on a laterally outer surface of an outer rail of the first rail assembly.