Abstract: An interlocking ladder system for transporting at least two ladders which are stacked together. The ladder system includes a first ladder having a first end cap having a cap portion and an engagement portion with a slot, a second ladder having a second end cap having a cap portion and an engagement portion with a slot, and preferably a third end cap having a cap portion and an engagement portion with a slot. The slot of the engagement portion of the second end cap engages with the slot of the engagement portion of the first end cap when the second ladder is stacked on top of the first ladder. The ladder system may include a third ladder having a fourth end cap having a cap portion and an engagement portion and a slot. The slot of the engagement portion of the third end cap engages with the slot of the engagement portion of the fourth end cap when the third ladder is stacked on top of the second ladder.

Abstract: A rung lock frame has an upper rung portion, a lower rung portion integrally formed with the upper rung portion, and a bar member formed between the upper rung portion and the lower rung portion. The bar member defines an opening with the lower rung portion for the receipt of a rung of a ladder therein. The upper rung portion, the lower rung portion and the bar member are integrally formed of a glass-reinforced nylon material.

Abstract: There is provided a collapsible ladder having several collapsible ladder sections, where each or at least part of the ladder sections comprises two hollow ladder bars arranged parallel to each other and inter-connected at an upper end by a rung, and where each collapsible ladder section is telescopically inserted into a lower ladder section. Each ladder bar of a collapsible ladder section has a locking hole adjacent the lower end part of the ladder bar and an extension below the locking hole, and retaining mechanisms are provided in at least part of the rungs for locking the collapsible ladder sections relative to one another when the collapsible ladder sections are extended. Each of or part of the retaining mechanisms comprises a locking pin, which can be brought into an extended and locked position in order to engage a corresponding locking hole provided in the ladder bar of a ladder section positioned there above, and a release part for bringing the locking pin into a retracted and un-locked position.

Abstract: An extendable/retractable ladder assembly includes a first stile and a second stile and a plurality of rungs extending therebetween. Each stile may comprise a plurality of columns disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion. A connector assembly connects the rungs to respective columns in the first and second stiles. The ladder has improved manufacturability since connector assemblies may be assembled before connecting the rungs to respective columns. The standing surface of the rungs may be angled such that it is rotated towards horizontal when the ladder assembly is leaned against a wall. A latch assembly may be used to selectively lock relative axial movement between adjacent columns. The latch assembly includes a locking pin assembly comprised of a central post and an outer metal sleeve. An air damper may also be used to control airflow through the columns.

Abstract: A retractable ladder having a low coefficient of friction plastic bushing is received within a coupling that joins a ladder rung to the associated longitudinal stile. The coupling is press fitted to the bushing, compressing a portion of the bushing against the stile, slightly deforming the adjoining portion of the stile to lock the assembly together. A latch having an inwardly sloping surface locks the ladder stiles in an extended condition and cannot be withdrawn to retract the ladder when the ladder is supporting a normal load. Dampers having orifices also are mounted in some or all of the hollow stiles to regulate the flow of air from the retracting stiles and, in this way to retard the velocity with which the ladder retracts to a predetermined, safe value.

Abstract: A safety ladder comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel main support rails which typically extend between the ground and the side of a building. The steps of the ladder are connected between a second set of parallel side rails which are spaced inwardly toward the building, and are interconnected with the main side rails by means of truss-like support braces. This causes the step bearing portion of the ladder to be suspended from the load bearing rails to improve the stability of the ladder. The load bearing rails also act as hand rails, to assist users of the ladder in balancing on the ladder.

Abstract: An elevator, especially an oblique elevator, has a plurality of telescopic sections, along which a load container is movable. The telescoping of the sections takes place in such a manner that all the telescopic sections move simultaneously in relation to one another, or in such a manner that, as a given telescopic section extends, it takes with it all those arranged after it, as a "pack". For the purpose of locking in any desired position of extension a locking/unlocking device is provided between each pair of adjacent telescopic sections. This locking is effected by the actuation of a draw cable attached to the lowermost telescopic section, the draw cable acting upon an actuating cable which effects the locking or unlocking. The actuating cable runs in tackle block manner around two cable guides, and is shortened or lengthened by the variation of spacing of two cable guides.

Abstract: There is disclosed a releasable lock mechanism for an extension ladder comprising a bell crank lever attachable to a fly rail of the ladder through a first pivot, and having first and second joined arm segments extending generally forward and downward, respectively, from their juncture. The first arm segment has at its front a head movable by pivoting of the lever between first and second positions at which the head will and will not, respectively, engage base rungs of the ladder. A tongue with a tip is attached to a lower part of the lever's second arm segment through a second pivot. Attachable to the rail is a frame operable during downsliding of the ladder's fly section to guide translatory movement of the tongue so that strikings of its tip by base rungs of the ladder are effective to pivot the lever to permit its head to pass by such rungs. When the lever head engages the top of a base rung to lock the fly section from downsliding, the tongue is held against flapping about the second pivot.

Abstract: An automatic locking device is provided for a telescoping work platform that includes: a base frame, a middle frame and a platform frame, the locking device comprises a first sliding member mounted in the middle frame, a first notch in the base frame for receiving said first sliding member and a first cam on said platform for disengaging said first member from said first notch, it also comprises a second sliding member mounted to the middle frame, a second notch in the base frame for receiving said second member and a second cam on said base frame for disengaging said second member from said second notch.

Abstract: A lock for an extension ladder of the type having a movable frame section and a stationary frame section includes a first member forming a guideway which has an open end for receiving stations of the ladder and a second member forming an arm for guiding the lock past the stations of the ladder when the ladder is being extended or retracted. The first member has an elongated projection extending downwardly at the open end of the guideway for containing the stations within the guideway. A pivotal connection between the first member and the second member is located to a first side of a center line of the lock and the projection is located to a second side of the center line when the lock is freely hanging. When the open end of the guideway is closed by the second member, the tip of the projection, a cam surface of the second member, and the pivotal connection are generally in the same plane which forms an angle of 90.degree. or less with the projection.

Abstract: A loader device is described for use on a tractor which has a substantially horizontally disposed tubular member extending laterally from each side thereof adjacent the forward end thereof. The tractor is also provided with a connector element provided at each side thereof rearwardly of the forward end thereof. The loader device comprises a sub-frame having longitudinally extending side frame member. A boom structure is pivotally connected to a tower secured to the side frame members and has a material handling implement connected to the forward end thereof. Each of the side frame members has a forwardly extending slot formed therein adapted to receive the laterally extending tubular members therein at times. A lock element is pivotally secured to each of the side frame members and locks the tubular member in the slot when in its locked position.

Abstract: An extension ladder including a base section and a fly section, each having a pair of side rails and including, mounted at the ends of each of the side rails, a guide unit interconnecting the adjacently sliding side rails of the fly and base section, said guide unit also including an integrally formed cut protector portion and slide pad.