Abstract: A ladder having a first rail and a second rail. The ladder having a standard rung having a width permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The ladder having a first wide rung having a width greater than the width of the standard rung, which is permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The ladder having a second wide rung having a width greater than the width of the standard rung which is permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The first wide rung and the second wide rung are disposed in a work zone of the ladder. The work zone of the ladder is where a user typically stands on the ladder while performing tasks. The standard rung is disposed outside the work zone. A wide rung. A method for using a ladder. A method for producing a ladder.

Abstract: A ladder having a first rail and a second rail. The ladder having a standard rung having a width permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The ladder having a first wide rung having a width greater than the width of the standard rung, which is permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The ladder having a second wide rung having a width greater than the width of the standard rung, which is permanently attached to the first rail and the second rail. The first wide rung and the second wide rung are disposed in a work zone of the ladder. The work zone of the ladder is where a user typically stands on the ladder while performing tasks. The standard rung is disposed outside the work zone. A wide rung. A method for using a ladder. A method for producing a ladder.

Abstract: A ladder includes legs (10, 20) and a tread (50). The ladder tread (50) is mounted between two legs (10, 20) and includes a plastic step (52) and a metal support bar (51). The plastic step (52) is supported and connected by the metal support bar (51).

Abstract: A knee brace for a ladder including a first flange and a second flange. The brace includes a web extending from the first flange and the second flange which together form a u-shaped cross-section. The brace includes a first portion that connects to a step. The brace includes a second portion which connects to the rail and terminates at a distance from a joint. The second portion's first and second flanges and web presenting three contact surfaces which connect to the rail and extend essentially in parallel with the rail and conforms with the rail to which the knee brace is attached so forces can be transferred therebetween. The first and second flanges contact a first rail flange and second rail flange, respectively, and the web contacts the web of the rail of u-shaped cross-section. The brace includes a first rivet extending through the first rail flange and first flange. The brace includes a second rivet extending through the second rail flange and the second flange adjacent the rail end.

Abstract: Ladder configurations and components are provided including an outer rail assembly which is longitudinally adjustable relative to an inner rail assembly. The outer rail assembly may include a pair of spaced apart outer rails each fixedly coupled to an associated sleeve or sliding mechanism. Each sleeve is in turn slidably coupled to an inner rail of the inner rail assembly. The outer rails may be positioned and oriented at an acute angle relative to the inner rails so as to provide an increased base distance between the two outer rails. Support structures are also disclosed which are coupled at multiple locations along a rail member and at least one location of a rung. Additionally, ladder hinges are disclosed including hinge components configured to effectively transmit loads from associated rails. In one embodiment the hinge may include a pinch prevention mechanism.

Abstract: A ladder with anti-deformed side rails comprises two tubular side rails, a plurality of rungs, and two tubular inner bushings. Each of the bushings is tightly fitted with the inner surface of each side rail respectively and passed through by the respective end of the lowest rung. Additionally, the longitudinal length of the bushings ranging from 2/5 to 3/5 of the distance between two neighbor rungs, and the thickness of the bushings ranging from 4/5 to 1 of the thickness of the side rails lead to an optimum bending strength for the side rails.

Abstract: A member for connecting a rail to a horizontal element of a ladder. The member comprises a first portion that connects to the horizontal member. The member also comprises a second portion which connects to the rail and extends essentially in parallel with the rail. The second portion is integrally connected to the first portion such that the first portion and the second portion are one continuous piece. The second portion is in an angular relationship of less than 90.degree. with the first portion. A member for connecting a rail having a first rail flange and a second rail flange to a horizontal element of a ladder. The member comprises a first arm which connects to the first rail flange and the horizontal member. The member is also comprised of a second arm which connects to the second rail flange and the horizontal member. Additionally, the member comprises a central body which is integrally connected to the second arm and the first arm.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a plastic ladder. The plastic ladder includes a front section which has a first hollow side rail and a second hollow side rail disposed essentially in parallel with the first side rail. The first and second side rails are made of plastic and have reinforced pockets disposed along the respective rails at predetermined locations. The plastic ladder also has a plurality of hollow plastic steps. Each of the steps is attached to the first and second rails at corresponding reinforced pockets therein such that each step forms a flat weight bearing platform upon which a user can stand. Each step has blow molded tread patterns which provide a slip resistant surface. The ladder also has a rear section comprised of a third hollow plastic side rail and a fourth hollow plastic side rail disposed essentially in parallel with the third hollow plastic side rail.

Abstract: A metal construction for a ladder includes two spaced apart side rails and a plurality of rungs attached at their ends to the side rails. The side rails each include a generally rectangular side rail tube having angularly disposed reinforcing webs integrally formed within the tube. A plurality of weight reducing apertures are formed in the sidewalls of the tube and are longitudinally spaced at predetermined intervals. The rungs include a tube with an integral reinforcing web extending parallel to the sidewalls of the tube. A portion of the sidewalls of the ladder rung tube are removed by milled slots. The rungs are pivotally attached to the side rails to allow the ladder to be collapsed down to a folded condition.

Abstract: A construction unit for assembling into a ladder like assembly wherein the unit is provided with parallel and opposed side rails joined by at least one cross-member, the ends of the side rails being adapted for end to end telescopic joining into a multi-unit assembly, the side rails of the units being hollowed to accept, internally thereof, elongated reenforcing and retaining members which may be threaded through all the side rails, in sequence, of an assembly of units.

Abstract: A bracket device for use in assembling a ladder having a plurality of rungs and at least two side rails to which the rungs are attached includes a relatively flat band having a plurality of side rail engaging sections and a plurality of preformed rung engaging sections, the rung engaging sections and side rail engaging sections disposed alternatively along the band. The device along with the rungs are secured to the side rail members by suitable fasteners such as nails or screws.

Abstract: A relatively simple, lighweight, portable, collapsible ladder includes a plurality of H-shaped sections pivotally interconnected end-to-end to define a flat bundle in the stored or non-use condition. The sections can be unfolded to a flat, extended conditions. In the extended condition, torsion springs cause the sides of the sections to fold inwardly to define side bars having U-shaped cross sections. By reversing the process, the ladder can readily be restored to the folded, storage condition.

Abstract: In a ladder tower having multiple telescoping sections, each section includes a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced apart truss members and a plurality of longitudinally spaced ladder rungs interconnecting the truss members. Each truss member includes an upper elongated hand rail, a lower elongated rung rail being spaced below and lying in a common plane with the upper hand rail, and a plurality of braces extending between and interconnecting the upper hand rail and lower rung rail of each truss member. The ladder rungs of each section extend between and interconnect the rung rails of the truss members thereof. Pretensioning structure is connected to the hand rail of each truss member so as to load the hand rail in compression and the rung rail in tension and thereby substantially offset the dead load of each section due to its weight and permit an increase in the live load capacity of each section. Further, the hand rail of each truss member of each ladder tower section is hollow.

Abstract: A ladder for use with vehicles is composed of two flexible supporting members and a number of foot steps, said supporting members comprising a reinforcement located in the vicinity of that face of the member which is directed outwardly from the vehicle so as to give said member a greater resistance to bending in the direction of the vehicle than in the opposite direction. According to another aspect of the invention each foot step at the opposite ends thereof is pivotally connected to brackets mounted in the flexible supporting members.

Abstract: A metal ladder is fabricated from a pair of spaced rails in which the rails have web portions which are provided at spaced intervals with inwardly directed embossments. Each of these embossments has an opening into which one end of a tubular rung is inserted and swaged to the rail. The embossments act as ribs to carry the load toward the flanges constituting the stiffer portions of the rail thereby increasing the strength and effectively reducing the web flexure and angle changes between the rungs and the rails, due to sideward forces in ladder use. By reason of the built in stiffness web thickness may be reduced resulting in savings in materials. Additionally, intermediate these embossments, just described, the web portion of each rail is formed with one or more outwardly directed embossments.

Abstract: Improvements in roofing ladders and work platforms; anti-skid devices for aiding seating and movement of a roofing worker on and over the (typically) inclined roof surface being worked; anti-skid seats, platforms and ladders for roofing work.

Abstract: An aluminum-wood composite pole which comprises an elongated hollow aluminum member having a rectangular cross-section with front and back surfaces integral with oppositely facing recessed connecting sides. Bolted in the recesses are wooden facings to allow gripping thereof by jump jacks used on scaffolding.

Abstract: A metallic ladder includes stiles (or side rails) of U or I section and rungs which are supported at each end by a reinforcing plate. The stiles have, in section on each longitudinal wall a flange which is spaced inwardly with respect to a free edge of the respective longitudinal wall so as to form a ridge. The reinforcing plates rest on the flanges and are restrained laterally by the ridges. The reinforcing plates are held at the flanges by a tab and opening arrangement. Each rung has a shoulder adjacent each end which contacts either the reinforcing plate or the web of the stile and the extreme end portion of the rung engages correspondingly in the web or the plate.

Abstract: A metal stairway stringer with horizontal slots at each tread level, into which the treads are inserted laterally for supporting them at one end, the other ends of the treads being similarly supported in like manner by a second stringer. The slots for the treads each taper from adjacent the open end at the edge of the stringer toward the back, so that the treads must be wedged into position and are therefore held rigidly by the stringer.