Light weight ladder systems and methods
First Claim
1. A ladder comprising:
- a first rail having a first wall and a second wall spaced therefrom;
at least one rung having a first portion thereof extending through a first opening in the first wall and through a second opening in the second wall, a first end of the first rung being swaged adjacent a first surface of the second wall; and
a support member adjacent the first portion of the at least one rung and abutting a second, opposing surface of the second wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a rail for a ladder. The method may include pultruding in a longitudinal direction, a rail having a selected cross-sectional shape. The rail may then be cut to a predetermined length at a distal end. A force may be applied, in a lateral direction, to the rail to form a curvature therein. The curvature may be characterized by a flared portion, a straight portion, and a curved region providing the transition therebetween. The rail may be held at the desired curvature for a time selected for the rail to take on the curvature substantially permanently. The force may then be removed and the rail may be assembled into a ladder.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ladder comprising:
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a first rail having a first wall and a second wall spaced therefrom;
at least one rung having a first portion thereof extending through a first opening in the first wall and through a second opening in the second wall, a first end of the first rung being swaged adjacent a first surface of the second wall; and
a support member adjacent the first portion of the at least one rung and abutting a second, opposing surface of the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of forming a ladder, the method comprising:
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providing a first rail having a first wall and a second wall spaced from the first wall;
defining a first opening in the first wall of the rail;
defining a second opening in the second wall of the rail;
extending a first portion of a first rung through the first openining and through the second opening;
disposing a support member adjacent the first portion of the first rung including abutting a first surface of the second wall with the support member; and
swaging a first end of the first rung adjacent a second, opposing surface of the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification