Scaffold attachment and safety device for ladders

Application filed. September

The present invention relates to an attachment designed to be used in connection with a ladder of ordinary construction, by providing a support for a scaffold platform, which ft attachment is readily applied and easily adjusted as to position upon the ladder.

.The attachment may be used in connection with a single ladder to support a platform of very small area, or two of the attachments 10 may be used with two ladders spaced apart and arranged to support an elongated platform. Again, the attachment may be employed as a safety device, in the absence of a platform, to prevent a person standing, upon 15 a, rung of the.ladder from falling therefrom.

The invention resides in an economically constructed, portable, skeleton, platform supporting device of light weight, which may be easily positioned and safely anchored at any 20 desired height upon the ladder. The main element of its construction comprises a metal strip bent into U-shape, the free ends-of the U being formed as hooks designed to encircle the stiles of the ladder and find support upon 25 one of the rungs thereof. Attached*pivotally .to the U-shaped member are depending braces which engage the next rung below that upon which the hooks rest, so as to support the outer part of the main member and main30 tain it in a horizontal position. The lower .ends of the braces are adapted to engage the said lower rung of the ladder in a manner which will prevent their accidental displacement.

-35 When it is desired to construct a scaffold platform of considerable length, two ladders and two of the scaffold attachments are used. If it be desired to provide a small platform ₄₀ upon which a workman may stand while performing localized work, a single ladder and one attachment will be used.

The attachment is also susceptible to use for a body brace or safety belt for a workman, 45 and when so used will, by embracing his body, prevent him from falling from the ladder, and at the same time leave him the free use of both hands with which to perform his work.

The construction of the attachment is such

SAFETY DEVICE FOR LADDERS

30, 1929. Serial No. 396,357.

that it· may be applied either to the front of the ladder or to the rear thereof. ·.

Having thus outlined the nature and purposes of my invention, I. will now describe the construction and application of the same ¢5 in a specific form, and will point out the nov• elty thereof in the appended claim. . ..

.In. the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a ladder, showing my attachment applied ί 63 thereto in the position in which it ordinarily is used.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the ladder and the attachment. ·

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, looking from c 65 the.rightin Figsi 1 and 2. · .

Fig..4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the- attachment at the rear of,the ladder.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the stiles, And the numeral 11 the rungs, of; tc a ladder of ordinary construction.

In reducing my invention to practice, I take a. strip of metal of flexible nature and suitable length, and bend.it into U-shape to form the main member 12. The parallel :.75 arms 13 of the U-shaped member 12 are returned as at 14 to form hooks or loops, the returned portions being preferably arranged at the inside of the U, and separated from the parallel arms 13 to form a space in which go the stiles 10 of the ladder may be entered. Aligned perforations are provided in both the arms 13 and the-returned portions 14, near the point of the hooks or loops for the reception of a pin 15, so that when the hooks «5 -or loops are engaged with the stiles of the ladder, and the pins 15 inserted in the perforations, the U-shaped member 12 cannot be dislodged other than purposely from its anchored position upon the ladder. Chains toe 16, attached at one end to the pins 15, and at the other to an adjacent part of the main member or its hook, insure the presence of a pin at the time it is desired to apply the attachment in position. When placed as de- SE scribed, the hooks or loops 14, rest upon a rung 11 of the ladder, and thus the free ends of the U-shaped member 12 arc supported.

At points , a sufficient distance outwardly from the hooks, and near the bend, the U- 10Q g 1,881,902 shaped member is perforated for the reception of bolts which form pivots for two braces or struts 17. The latter are perforated near one end, as well as at a point inter_g mediate their ends. Ordinarily, the intermediate perforations in the struts 17 will receive the pivot bolts by which the struts are connected to the U-shaped member. The lower ends of the struts are forked as at 18, ₁₀ The forks being adapted to receive the rung 11 of the ladder next below that upon which the ends of the U--shape,d member 12 are at rest. The struts 17 extend in the angular manner shown, and serve to support the outer 15 or bent part of the U-shaped member from deflection by any weight which may be placed thereon.

When arranged as described, the attachment may support a platform of small area 20 upon which a person may stand with, safety and have the free use of both hands in performing localized work. If it be desired to erect a platform of considerable length, two ladders will be used, each equipped with the 25 attachment as described, and an elongated platform 19 will be laid on the arms 13 of the U-shaped members 12 and be firmly supported in horizontal position thereon, permitting a person to traverse the length of the 80 platform in performing his work.

To give an assured anchorage to the attachment when positioned upon a ladder, the fork 18 at the lower end of each strut 17 may have associated therewith a gravity operated 80 latch 20. pivoted to the lower end of the strut. The latch 20 will be pushed aside when the fork in the lower end of the strut 17 is lowered to engage the rung 11, and the head of the latch will then drop into place 40 below the rung so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the strut from the rung.

It may be desirable in some circumstances to arrange the attachment at the under or rear side of the ladder, and this will be effect40 ed in the manner shown in Fig. 4, but first the connection of the struts 17 with the arm 13 of the U-shaped member 12, should be through the perforations at the upper ends of the struts, instead of the intermediate per00 forations, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The invention functions further as a safety belt for a person using a ladder, without a platform of any kind. When so used, the person positions himself upon a rung of the W ladder, with the bend of the U-shaped member passed around his body. He will then be free to lean backward or sideways, without fear of falling, or accidental disconnection of the attachment from the ladder, and 00 will be enabled to have the free use of both hands in performing his work.

- The flexible nature of the metal strip from which the U-shaped member is formed, will permit variation of the distance between the <5 free ends of the arms 13, to enable the attachment to be applied to ladders of different widths.