Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a flexible ladder for traversing a structure that addresses problems common with conventional rope ladders.

Abstract: A ladder which makes it possible for one person to climb onto another, particularly, a ladder which can be worn by an adult for the purpose of enabling a child to climb up the ladder and onto the adult. The top portion of the ladder is attached to a harness facilitates the wearing of the ladder by an adult. The bottom portion of the ladder is attached to a trap which can be stepped on by the adult to stabilize the ladder and prevent it from swinging. In an alternative embodiment the device is in the form of an overcoat featuring a series of holes into which the child can place his feet to facilitate his climbing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable collapsible ladder that is easily secured onto a vehicle or structure mounted on a vehicle, such as a roof-top rack, to provide ease of access to the upper portion of the vehicle. The ladder of the present invention includes a flexible body portion that is easily folded.Upper strap assemblies extend from opposing sides of the upper portion of the flexible body portion. Angularly shaped hook members are secured to each of the strap assemblies. A lower strap assembly extends from the lower portion of the flexible body portion. An elastic strap joins the lower strap assembly to a lower hook member.In use, the flexible body portion is unfolded so the upper strap assemblies are extended. The upper hook members are secured on the vehicle or structure on the vehicle. The lower hook member is then secured over the seam of the lower vehicle body. Protective bumpers on the outer side of the flexible body portion protect the vehicle from damage from the ladder.

Abstract: An emergency motor vehicle tire traction improving device for attachment or mounting to a conventional motor vehicle tire is made substantially totally of multi-strand polymeric plastic rope and includes three or more separate lengths of the rope connected together in a pattern that defines a ladder having inside and outside parallel, coextensive runners and a plurality of transverse rungs connecting corresponding points of the runners, whereby the device is mounted to the tire by drapping it over the tire with the runners parallel with the direction of rotation of the tire and the rungs across the tire treads, with one end of each runner connected to the other end thereof and an elastic device attached to one of the runners pulling that runner uniformly toward the axis of the tire. When so mounted to the tire, the tire traction, particularly on ice and snow, is improved.

Abstract: A collapsible ladder assembly for emergency exit from a building is secured to a window opening by a pair of anchoring hooks and includes two pairs of spaced-apart flexible rail members which support both a generally rectangular top step and a generally rectangular lower step at the four corners thereof. A plurality of intermediate rungs are supported by one of the pairs of rail members away from the building to provide for easier foot placement of the person descending the ladder. The top step defines a cavity for receipt of the rungs and the lower step in a stored condition.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having two spaced-apart pairs of ropes, has a metal frame for each step and has tubular nylon members with cylindrical bores, extending vertically through sets of through openings in the metal frame for assuring accurate bolt alignment. The frame and nylon members are provided with a molded hard elastomer body molded around them and having a collar portion at each end molded around a frame bracket. The body and frame provide a through rope opening. A pair of separate wedge collars is secured, on assembly, to each step, below the step and bearing up against it. Each wedge collar has a rope opening and vertical bolt passages aligned with the bores of the tubular nylon members. A generally diamond-shaped wedge heart is placed in between each pair of ropes, in the rope openings; the wedge heart provides two rope-engaging side grooves for locking the pair of ropes in place and preventing relative movement between them and the step.

Abstract: A rope ladder in which the steps have a metal frame comprising a pair of longitudinal members joined by a pair of shorter transverse members spaced in from the ends and strengthened by a pair of diagonal members. At each end a metal bracket bridges across the frame and provides an elevated upper plate portion which defines a generally rectangular opening. A molded hard elastomer body is molded around the frame and has a collar portion at each end molded around the bracket. The body has a downwardly and outwardly flaring through opening in line with the bracket opening and vertical bolt openings therethrough adjacent each through opening. A separate wedge collar for each step has a tapered through opening going down to a narrow lower end.

Abstract: A collapsible ladder which includes a plurality of platforms suspended from several rope segments. The rope segments are placed in open-ended notches disposed in the platforms and are clamped thereto by a plurality of clamp means, the clamp means being divided in half, each half engaging one notch and the rope therein and being clamped by an elongated fastener to the other half of the clamp means which engages another notch and the rope therein. As a result of this configuration, the elongated platforms, if damaged, can be changed individually without necessity of removal of other than the damaged platform.

Abstract: A rope ladder. Each step is a molded one-piece hard elastomer member having a pair of rope-receiving openings, the upper outlet from which closely confines a pair of ropes, while the bottom of the opening is much wider. Each opening tapers inwardly from bottom to top, and each step has a pair of vertical bolt openings therethrough adjacent each opening. A separate wedge collar for each opening bears against the bottom of each step and has a single through opening; at its upper end the opening is the same width as the lower end of the step's opening, and it tapers inwardly down to an outlet that closely confines the two ropes. Each wedge collar has a pair of vertical bolt passages aligned with those of the step to enable bolting the step to the collar. A generally diamond-shaped wedge heart is wedged in between the two ropes of each pair, lying partly inside the opening through the step and partly inside the opening through the wedge collar.

Abstract: A rope ladder in which a pair of bolted-together wedge collars and a wedge heart act upon a pair of ropes at each side of each step, to wedge themselves to the rope so that they and their step are locked firmly in place, relative to the rope.