Ladder transport system

• US 20020117821A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Abraham, Thomas G. Crocker
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Abraham, Thomas G. Crocker
• Inventors: Crocker, Thomas G., Abraham, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,592,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/79.7
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0083 Wheeled supports connected to the transported object
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/397 characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/42 Ladder feet; Supports therefor for scaffold elements E04G5/02

Abstract

Method and apparatus for removably affixing a wheel assembly (20) near the end and the edge of a leg (24,27) of nearly any existing or newly manufactured ladder (22) to aid a person (26) transporting the ladder (22). A preferred embodiment includes a first wheel (30a) and a second wheel (30b) whose axles (32a, 32b) are disposed orthogonally. Each axle (32a, 32b) is supported by a bracket (34a, 34b) coupled to a clamp frame (36) which is clamped to said leg (24,27). When the ladder (22) is placed, edge parallel to a supporting surface (28), and a person (26) carries the opposite end of the ladder, the wheel (30b) will roll on that surface (28). When the ladder (22) face is placed parallel to a supporting surface (28) and a person (26) carries the opposite end of the ladder, the wheel (30a) will roll on that surface (28). The wheel (30a, 30b) will carry a large portion of the weight of the ladder (22). For persons who use ladders frequently, the system can prevent personal injuries. The wheel assembly (20) does not interfere with erection or use of the ladder (22).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

ladder means (22) for providing access to high places;

said ladder means (22) having a plurality of legs (24,27) and a plurality of steps (23), whereby a user (26) is able to climb said ladder means (22);

wheel means (20) for supporting an end of said ladder means (22);

said wheel means (20) being removably affixed to said ladder means (22);

said wheel means (20) being adapted and free to roll on a supporting surface (28) when a face of said ladder assembly is oriented parallel to said supporting surface; and

said wheel means (20) being adapted and free to roll on said supporting surface (28) when said face of said ladder assembly is oriented perpendicularly to said support surface (28); and

a user (26) by grasping an end of said ladder assembly (22) opposite to said end to which said wheel means (20) is affixed, being then able to easily maneuver said ladder assembly (22) from one location to another.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including:

a handle means (82) for allowing said user to grasp said opposite end of said ladder means (22), propel and maneuver said ladder assembly (22) with one hand free for other operations;

said handle means (82) being affixed to one of said plurality of legs (27) at a free end of said ladder means (22), opposite said end to which said caster means (20) is affixed.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said carrying handle (54) is made from Velcro™

material.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a first said wheel means (20) is affixed to a first said leg (24) of said ladder means (22) and a second said wheel means (20) is affixed to a second said leg (27) and aligned with said first wheel means (20), thereby providing additional stability when said ladder means (22) is transported.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said wheel means (20) includes:

a plurality of caster wheel assemblies (20);

said caster wheel assemblies (20) being removably affixed to an end of each one of said plurality of legs (24, 27);

each one of said plurality of caster wheel assemblies (20) having a first caster wheel (30a) and a second caster wheel (30b);

said first caster wheel (32a) revolving about a first axle (32b);

said second caster wheel (30b) revolving about a second axle (32b);

said second axle (32b) being disposed orthogonally to said first axle (32a);

said first caster wheel (30a) being free to roll on said supporting surface (28) when said face of said ladder means (22) is oriented parallel to said supporting surface (28); and

said second caster wheel (30b) being free to roll on said supporting surface (28) when said face of said ladder assembly is oriented perpendicularly to said support surface (28);

each one of said plurality of caster wheels (30a, 30b) being aligned so it supports a substantial portion of weight of said ladder assembly (22) while being able to roll on said supporting surface (28).

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said ladder means (22) includes an extension ladder.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said ladder means (22) includes a step ladder.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which each of said plurality of caster wheel assemblies (20) further includes:

a clamp frame (36);

a first wheel bracket (34a);

a second wheel bracket (34b);

a clamp screw (38);

said first caster wheel (30a) being captured on said first axle (32a);

said first

wheel bracket (34a) receiving and supporting each end of said first axle (32a);

said first wheel bracket (34) coupled to a first, elongated side of said clamp frame (36);

said second caster wheel (30b) captured on said second axle (32b);

said second wheel bracket (34b) receiving and supporting each end of said second axle (32b);

said second wheel bracket (34b) coupled to a second side of said clamp frame (36); and

said clamp frame (36) and said clamp screw (38) being adapted to removably affix said caster assembly (20) to said leg (24) of said ladder assembly (22).

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including a first pivot pin (40a);

said first wheel bracket (34a) being coupled to a first elongated side of said

clamp frame (36) by said first pivot pin (40a); and

said first pivot pin (40a) coupling permitting said first wheel bracket (34) and said first caster wheel (30a) to freely swivel about a pivot axis (41a) when said ladder assembly (22) with said caster assembly (20) affixed is moved over said support surface (28).

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including a second pivot pin (40b);

said second wheel bracket (34b) being coupled to a second side of said clamp

frame (36) by said second pivot pin (40b); and

said second pivot pin (40b) permitting said second wheel bracket (34b) and said second caster-wheel (30b) to freely swivel about a second pivot axis (41b) when said ladder assembly (22) with said caster assembly (20) affixed is moved over said support surface (28).

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said first wheel bracket (34a) is fixedly coupled to said clamp frame (36) by welding.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said second wheel bracket (34b) are fixedly coupled to said clamp frame (36) by welding.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said first wheel bracket (34a) and said second wheel bracket (34b) are fixedly coupled to said clamp frame (36) by metal fasteners.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of:

affixing a carrying handle (82) to one of said plurality of legs (24, 27) at an end of said ladder assembly (84) opposite to said end to which said caster wheel (30) is affixed; and

allowing said user to grasp said carrying handle (82) and maneuver said ladder assembly (22) with one hand free for other operations.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 in which the step of removably affixing said wheel assembly (20) to said ladder assembly (22) includes the steps of:

providing a first caster wheel (30a) for said wheel assembly (20);

providing a first axle (32a), a first wheel bracket (34a) a frame clamp (36) and a clamp screw (38);

capturing said first caster wheel (30a) on said axle (32a);

receiving and supporting each end of said first axle (32a) with said first wheel bracket (34a);

coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to a first elongated side of said clamp frame (36);

providing a second caster wheel (30b) for said wheel assembly (20);

providing a second axle (32b) and a second wheel bracket (34b);

capturing said second caster wheel (30b) on said second axle (32b);

receiving and supporting each end of said second axle (32b) with said

second wheel bracket (34b);

coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to a second side of said clamp frame (36); and

adapting said clamp frame (36) and said clamp screw (38) to attach said wheel assembly (20) to said ladder assembly (22).

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 further including the steps of:

affixing a first wheel assembly (20, 61) to a first said leg (24) of said ladder assembly (22);

affixing a second wheel assembly (20, 61) to a second said leg (27) of said ladder assembly (22) and aligning said second wheel assembly (61) with said first wheel assembly (20, 61), thereby providing additional stability while transporting said ladder assembly (22).

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to a first elongated side of said clamp frame (36) includes the step of:

coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to a first elongated side of said clamp frame (36) with a pivot pin (40);

said pivot pin (40) permitting said wheel bracket (34a,) and said caster wheel (30a) to freely swivel when said ladder assembly (22), with said wheel assemblies (20) affixed, is moved over said support surface (28).

19. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to a second side of said clamp frame (36) includes the step of:

coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to a second side of said clamp frame (36) with a pivot pin (40);

said pivot pin (40) permitting said wheel bracket (34b) and said second caster wheel (30b) to freely swivel when said ladder assembly (22), with said plurality of wheel assemblies (20) affixed, is moved over said support surface (28).

20. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) includes the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) by welding.

21. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) includes the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) by welding.

22. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to said clamp frame (36) includes the step of coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to said clamp frame (36) by welding.

23. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) includes the step of coupling said first wheel bracket (34a) to said clamp frame (36) with metal fasteners.

24. The method as claimed in claim 16 in which the step of coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to said clamp frame (36) includes the step of coupling said second wheel bracket (34b) to said clamp frame (36) with metal fasteners.

25. The method as claimed in claim 15 in which the step of affixing a carrying handle (82) to one of said plurality of legs (24, 27) includes the step of:

fabricating said carrying handle (54) from Velcro™

material.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further including:

a carrying handle (82);

said carrying handle (82) being affixed to one of said plurality of legs (24, 27) at an end of said ladder assembly (84) opposite to said end to which said wheel assembly (50) is affixed; and

said carrying handle (82) allowing said user (26) to grasp said opposite end of said ladder assembly (84) and maneuver said ladder assembly (84) with one hand free for other operations.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 in which said wheel assembly (50) further includes:

a caster wheel (51);

a clamp frame (52);

an axle (55);

a wheel bracket (58);

a clamp screw (53);

said wheel assembly (50) being captured on said axle (55);

said wheel bracket (58) receiving and supporting said axle (55);

said wheel bracket (58) being coupled to an elongated side of said clamp frame (52); and

said clamp frame (52) being removably affixed to said edge of said leg (24) of said ladder means (22).

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which said wheel bracket (58) is coupled to said elongated side of said clamp frame (52) by a pivot pin (56), said pivot pin (56) permitting said wheel bracket (58) and said caster wheel (51) to freely swivel when said ladder assembly (84) with said caster assembly (20) affixed is moved over said support surface (28).

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which said wheel bracket (34) is fixedly coupled to said elongated side of said clamp frame (52) by welding.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which said wheel bracket means (34) is fixedly coupled to said elongated side of said clamp means (36,38) by metal fasteners.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 in which said carrying handle (82) is made from Velcro™

material.

14. A method of transporting a ladder (22) from place-to-place comprising the steps of:

providing a ladder assembly (22);

said ladder assembly having a plurality of legs (24, 27) and a plurality of steps (23), whereby a user (26) is able to climb said ladder assembly (22) to reach high places;

removably affixing a plurality of wheel assemblies (20) to said ladder assembly (22);

adapting said pluralities of wheel assemblies (20) to support an end of said ladder assembly (22) and to freely roll on a supporting surface (28) when a face of said ladder assembly is oriented parallel to said supporting surface; and

adapting said pluralities of wheel assemblies (20) to support an end of said ladder assembly (22) and to freely roll on said supporting surface (28) when said face of said ladder assembly is oriented perpendicularly to said support surface (28); and

maneuvering said ladder assembly (22) with said removably affixed wheel assembly (20) when a user (26), by grasping an end of said ladder assembly (22) opposite to said end to which said wheel assembly (20) is affixed, is then able to easily propel said ladder assembly (22) from one location to another.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a ladder assembly (84);

said ladder assembly (84) having a plurality of legs (24, 27) and a plurality of steps (23);

a wheel assembly (50) for supporting an end of said ladder (84);

said wheel assembly (50) being removably affixed to said end and at an edge of one of said plurality of legs (24, 27);

said wheel assembly (50) being adapted and free to roll on a supporting surface (28) when a face of said ladder assembly (84) is oriented orthogonally to a supporting surface (28); and

said wheel assembly (50) being aligned so as to support a substantial portion of weight of said ladder assembly (84) while being able to roll on said supporting surface (28);

said wheel assembly (50) being located on said ladder assembly (84) in a position which does not interfere with erection or use of said ladder assembly (84); and

said user (26), by grasping an end of said ladder assembly (84) opposite to said extreme end to which said wheel means (50) is affixed, being then able to easily maneuver said ladder assembly (84) from one location to another.