Abstract: A stepladder system having an object having a lug slot. The system has a stepladder. The stepladder has a ladder top having a plane having a periphery and a lug extending from the periphery which engages with the lug slot in an object so the object is held securely to the ladder top. A method of holding securely an object to a stepladder.

Abstract: A movable scaffolding base for transporting an assembled scaffold along a ground surface comprising a frame, having a front, and a rear, and defining a horizontal plane when the assembled scaffold is attached thereto a drive motor, a steering actuator, a pair of rear wheels attached at the rear and driven by the drive motor to drive the frame, a pair of front wheels attached at the front which are rotated to effect steering by action of the steering actuator, a control system for controlling the drive motor and the steering actuator, a set of scaffold support posts attached to the frame that removably attach to vertical members of the assembled scaffold, and one or more outriggers, extending outwards from a first side of the frame to prevent rotation of the horizontal plane towards the side.

Abstract: A foldable quad-chord truss which can be connected end-to-end with like trusses. Each pair of chords are rigidly attached, and connector members intermediate the ends are swivelly attached to the chord pairs to effect the folding into a compact shape for transport and storage. The connector members are adapted for attachment to connector members of beams which may extend perpendicular to a parallel pair of the trusses and attached thereto. The laid trusses and beams is overlaid with sheets of corrugated sheet metal which overlap each other along their adjacent edges. While standing on a sheet of laid sheet metal adjacent ends of an already laid pair of trusses, another truss can be held adjacent the edge of the sheet metal for attaching an end of the other truss along only one side so that it can then be swung outwardly into a position wherein the other end of the other truss can also be attached to rigidly connect the trusses end-to-end.

Abstract: A safety assembly is provided for placement on a roof of a building, near an edge of the roof, having a ladder restraint, an upstanding barrier, and a counterweight. The ladder restraint has an opening to receive a ladder that provides access to the roof. The opening is sized to restrict left and right sideways movement of the ladder. The upstanding barrier extends on left and right sides of the ladder restraint to block falls by a user. The counterweight is interconnected to both the ladder restraint and the upstanding barrier, and is disposed to prevent forward tipping of the upstanding barrier by the user, and to prevent sideways tipping of the ladder during use, when the safety assembly is placed on the roof and the ladder is received through the ladder restraint. The safety assembly may be assembled on the roof without penetrating the roof's waterproofing membrane.

Abstract: A centrifugal brake assembly comprises at least one pawl, at least one biasing member, and a rotor. The at least one pawl includes a base from which a circular portion and a triangular protrusion extend to form a notch. The rotor includes at least one receiving portion having a notched portion to receive the circular portion. One of the at least one pawl and the rotor has a slotted portion, and the at least one biasing member is seated within the slotted portion. Another of the at least one pawl and the rotor has a protrusion at least partially extending within the slotted portion. The notch engages a stop member and the base contacts the rotor when the at least one pawl is in an engaged position to reinforce engagement of the stop member by the at least one pawl.

Abstract: A safety restraint system for use by a worker working in a bucket, including a primary tether line that securely encircles the bucket at a position adjacent to the upper rim thereof; at least a pair of straps connected to the tether line on opposite sides of the bucket; a safety harness or aerial belt adapted to be worn by the worker and having at least a pair of clips attached thereto; and at least a pair of straps that interconnect the harness buckles to the straps on the tether line, thereby interconnecting the harness to the tether line.

Abstract: An extension ladder includes sub-ladders and cushions. Each sub-ladder includes a rung s connected to two tubes. The tubes of each sub-ladder are telescopically connected to the tubes of an adjacent sub-ladder. Each cushion includes an air bag and a slow-release unit. The air bag includes an open end with a channel. The air bag of each cushion is inserted in a corresponding tube. The slow-release unit is operable to slowly release air from the air bag and includes a restraint and a membrane. The restraint is connected to the open end of the air bag. The membrane includes an aperture and is movable arranged between the restraint and the open end of the air bag, with the aperture in communication with the channel.

Abstract: Improvements to the leg extension of an adjustable ladder leveler and, more generally, improvements to ladder legs. A shoe with a claw that folds to be parallel to the ladder leg and then slides upward with respect to the leg thereby becoming locked into position so that it cannot move away from being parallel so long as weight is applied on the ladder. If the shoe is on an extension, as the shoe slides up, it engages a safety bar that prevents release of the extension.

Abstract: The ladder safety device is for blocking access to the lower rungs of a portable extension ladder. During use, the ladder may have to remain positioned against a structure in that it is part of the temporary scaffolding or for other reasons. In one embodiment, a container having a width slightly less than the width between the side rails is positioned on a higher rung by a pair of hooks. A slot in the container has one end of a flexible panel extending therefrom with hooks thereon. The panel is unwound upon a controllable shaft when pulled from the container and the lower hooks are attached to a lower rung. A locking device must be activated to allow for the removal of the lower hooks and then the retraction of the panel into the container. The device may be incorporated into the rung.

Abstract: A retractable catwalk and railing device facilitates movement of a catwalk and rail between a storage position to a use position. The device includes a first and second mounting brackets in a spaced horizontally aligned relationship on a vertical surface. A catwalk is pivotable between a stored position and a deployed position between the first and second mounting brackets. A lip extends upwardly from the first mounting bracket. A flange is movably coupled to the catwalk to abut the lip when the catwalk is in the stored position retaining the catwalk in the stored position. The flange is movable relative to the catwalk to disengage from the lip allowing the catwalk to be pivoted into the deployed position. A rail is pivotally coupled to the catwalk.

Abstract: A climber for use by a user when climbing a tree or pole. The climber includes a stirrup in which the user's foot is to be positioned, a leg iron that extends along the interior side of the user's leg, and a gaff attached to the exterior of the leg iron and that includes a downwardly directed pointed end for biting into the tree or pole and assist the user in climbing or descending the tree or pole. The gaff extends in a plane that is angularly offset relative to the plane in which the stirrup and leg iron extend, thereby keeping the gaff pointed toward the heart of the pole or tree which aids in preventing cutout and promotes ease of climbing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling an articulated turntable ladder (12) of a rescue vehicle (10) wherein the ladder (12) comprises a plurality of telescopically extendable ladder parts (14) by including a tip ladder part (18) pivotable around a horizontal first pivot axis (28) by means of a first pivoting drive. The ladder further comprises a cage (22) connected to the free end of the tip ladder part (18) to be pivoted around a second pivot axis (30) by means of a second pivoting drive. The ladder (12) is pivotably mounted to a base part (16) on top of the vehicle (10) by means of a third pivoting drive to be lifted or lowered around a third pivot axis (32). The method provides for the step of controlling the first pivoting drive such that the absolute inclination angle (?) of the tip ladder part (18) is maintained constant during a lifting or lowering movement of the ladder (12) around the third pivot axis (32).

Abstract: A tree stand is provided. The tree stand includes a seat assembly and foot rest assembly. The seat assembly is mounted to the foot rest assembly and includes a seat and a seatback. The tree stand also includes a pair of mounting plates which mount to either side of the tree stand such that it may be side-mounted to a tree or other mounting body. The seatback is reclinable relative to the seat unobstructed by the mounting body.

Abstract: Ladders, ladder components, adjustment mechanisms and related methods are provided herein. In one embodiment, a ladder may include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting, for example, a leveler, a stabilizer, or any two relatively displaceable components of the ladder. The adjustment mechanism may include an actuating mechanism having a first structure and a second structure slidably disposed adjacent the first structure, the second structure having a plurality of engagement surfaces. A body is coupled with the first structure. At least two engagement pins are slidably displaceable relative to the body, wherein the plurality of engagement surfaces and the at least two engagement pins are arranged such that only a single engagement pin of the at least two engagement pins is in abutting engagement with an engagement surface of the plurality of engagement surfaces at one time. At least one biasing member is configured to bias the at least two engagement pins towards engagement with the engagement surfaces.

Abstract: A boom assembly for a lift device includes a plurality of telescoping boom sections. The plurality of telescoping boom sections include a base boom section, a mid boom section, and a fly boom section. The plurality of telescoping boom sections define an inner volume. The boom assembly also includes a push tube coupled to the base boom section and a support member positioned within the inner volume. The support member includes sidewalls having an inner surface and an outer surface. The boom assembly also includes a power track positioned within the inner volume that includes a plurality of movable links, a first supported portion that interfaces with at least one of the inner surface of the support member and a surface of the push tube, and a second supported portion that interfaces with the outer surface of the support member.

Abstract: A system for removably mounting tree steps and other equipment in tree stands. The system comprises a permanent universal bracket and a series of removable equipment mounts attachable to it. The bracket is attached to the tree by inserting a bolt through one or more apertures in the bracket. One or more cleats extends from the bracket into the tree to prevent the bracket from rotating around the bolt. A channel in the bracket is as adapted to receive one or more mated extensions that extend from each mount. The extensions are flexible and resilient such that they can be deformed to facilitate attaching and removing the mount from the bracket. In the preferred embodiment, the mount is a step having two extensions, each insertable into a mated channel on the bracket.

Abstract: A lift device includes a chassis, a lift boom, a sensor, and a controller. The chassis includes a frame, an axle pivotally coupled to the frame, and an actuator positioned to move the axle. The lift boom is rotatably coupled to the chassis and operable within a work envelope, and the sensor is positioned to monitor an orientation of the lift boom. The controller is configured to engage the actuator based on the orientation of the lift boom. Engagement of the actuator moves the axle to adjust the work envelope of the lift boom.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for providing high electrical resistance for an upper control assembly (including control handles) of an aerial lift are provided through an isolation member that is integral to the upper control assembly and interposed between fluid lines in the control assembly and a set of fluid conduits that extend from the control assembly towards other portions of the aerial lift. The isolation member is a dielectric element that comprises a manifold that is made of material that is substantially electrically non-conductive, and that has a plurality of through-holes or hoses configured to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the isolation member into and out of the fluid lines and conduits. These methods, systems and apparatuses are preferably used in upper control assemblies of aerial platforms that can carry one or more operators in order to prevent such operators from electrocution when controlling the lift.

Abstract: An emergency escape slide container includes a first portion having a first end wall and a first side wall, the first side wall and the first end wall defining a first storage space that is sized and shaped to receive an emergency escape slide. The first side wall also includes a first rolling mechanism. The emergency escape slide container also includes a second portion having a second end wall and a second side wall, the second side wall and the second end wall defining a second storage space sized and shaped to receive the emergency escape slide. The second side wall also includes a second rolling mechanism. The first portion and the second portion cooperate to define a third storage space therebetween, the third storage space being equal to a combination of the first storage space and the second storage space.

Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a ladder to which a recovery winch is operably mounted so that the winch can be used to move, upright, lift or otherwise manipulate target objects at an emergency location. The ladder can include a pulley detachably mounted to the ladder distal from the winch, the pulley adapted to suspend a cable extending from the winch at an upper end. In operation, the winch moves along with the ladder as the ladder moves, so that the winch and pulley can be strategically located over a target object for movement thereof. The apparatus can include a remote control connected to the winch for operation of the winch by a user.