Leg covers

Abstract

To provide a leg cover that can easily cover the end fittings of ladders such as stepladders. [Solution] The leg cover 1 is attached to the lower end of the ladder body S1, and the pair of support columns S2, S2 are used so as to tilt backward when the ladder body S1 is in use, and comprises a bottom portion 11 positioned below the end fitting S4, a cover portion 12 provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 11 and covering the front surface of the end fitting S4, and a belt portion 13 connecting the pair of rear ends 121, 122 of the cover portion 12.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg cover that covers an end fitting provided at the leg portion of a ladder body such as a step ladder or a ladder.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an end fitting provided at the lower end portion (leg portion) of a support column of a ladder body such as a step ladder or a ladder is fixed to the lower end portion of the support column as a contact portion with the ground or the floor surface (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using the step ladder described in Patent Document 1 indoors, there is a risk that the floor surface may be scratched or soiled due to the contact of the end fitting with the floor surface. For this reason, a leg cover that can easily cover the end fitting of the step ladder has been demanded.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a leg cover that can easily cover the end fitting of a ladder body such as a step ladder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems will be described.

[0007] (1) A leg cover to be attached to the lower end of a ladder body comprising a pair of support posts, a plurality of rungs spanning the pair of support posts, and end fittings provided at the lower ends of each of the pair of support posts, wherein the pair of support posts are used to tilt backward when the ladder body is in use, and the leg cover comprises a bottom portion positioned below the end fittings, a cover portion provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion to cover the front of the end fittings, and a belt portion connecting the pair of rear ends of the cover portion.

[0008] (2) The leg cover according to (1), wherein a bent portion is formed at the front end of the upper surface of the bottom portion, which is bent upward so as to be L-shaped in a side view, and the bent portion is arranged along the front end of the end fitting.

[0009] (3) The leg cover according to (2), wherein the belt portion comprises a first belt portion and a second belt portion formed at each of the pair of rear ends of the cover portion, and the first belt portion and the second belt portion have joining surfaces that can be joined to each other.

[0010] (4) The leg cover according to (3), wherein the joining surface is a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0011] (5) The bottom portion is provided with an insertion portion that covers the rear surface of the end piece, The pair of front ends in the insertion portion are inserted into the interior of the pair of rear ends in the cover portion, and the leg cover is as described in any one of (1) to (4).

[0012] (6) The leg cover according to (5), wherein an inclined surface is formed at the front end of the lower surface of the bottom portion, inclined with respect to the lower surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the leg cover of the present invention, end fittings provided at the lower end of support columns of stepladders, ladders, etc., can be easily covered. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1]A forward perspective view of the leg cover with the belt section released. [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view of the leg cover in the unleashed state of the belt section. [Figure 3] A forward perspective view of the leg cover with the belt section released. [Figure 4] Side view of a stepladder with leg covers attached. [Figure 5] A side view showing the inside of the leg cover while it is attached. [Figure 6] Side view of leg covers attached to different ladder bodies. [Figure 7] Side view of the stepladder when it is stored. [Figure 8] Side view of a stepladder with leg covers attached. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The leg cover 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is used by being attached to the lower end of a stepladder S, as shown in Figure 4. The leg cover 1 is used to prevent scratches and dirt from adhering to the floor surface when the ladder body S1 provided on the stepladder S is used indoors, due to contact between the end fitting S4 provided on the ladder body S1 and the floor surface.

[0016] As shown in Figure 8, the stepladder S according to this embodiment is configured such that the upper ends of a pair of ladder bodies S1, S1 are connected by hinges S5, S5, allowing the ladder bodies S1, S1 to rotate relative to each other. Each ladder body S1 is composed of a pair of support columns S2, S2, a plurality of rungs S3 stretched across the pair of support columns S2, S2, and end fittings S4 provided at the lower ends of the pair of support columns S2, respectively.

[0017] In this specification, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of ladder bodies S1 in an open state separated by a predetermined distance is set as the posture of the step ladder S during use. In the step ladder S during use, the upper parts of the respective ladder bodies S1 are close to each other, and the lower parts are in a separated posture. In this specification, in each ladder body S1, the side where the upper part is located with respect to the lower part in plan view during use is defined as the rear of the ladder body S1. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a closed state in which a pair of ladder bodies S1 are close to each other is set as the posture of the step ladder S during storage. The ladder bodies S1 during storage are in a standing upright posture.

[0018] The leg cover 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is used by being attached to the end fitting S4 at the lower end of the ladder body S1 constituting the step ladder S (see FIG. 4). Hereinafter, the direction of the leg cover 1 is defined to be the same as the direction of the ladder body S1.

[0019] The leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is used for the step ladder S, but the ladder body S1 to which the leg cover 1 can be adopted is not limited to the step ladder S. That is, even if it is a ladder body S1 used other than the step ladder S, as long as it has a pair of support columns S2 and is used in a posture inclined backward, it can be attached to the end fitting S4 at the lower end of the ladder body S1 and used. For example, as the ladder body S1 to which the leg cover 1 is attached, it is also possible to adopt a ladder itself, or a ladder body S1 provided on a footrest or a workbench.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, the leg cover 1 includes a bottom portion 11 disposed below the end fitting S4, a cover portion 12 provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 11 and covering the front surface (the left side in FIG. 5) of the end fitting S4, a belt portion 13 connecting a pair of rear end portions 121 and 122 in the cover portion 12, and an insertion portion 14 covering the rear surface (the right side in FIG. 5) of the end fitting S4. [[ID=<<MASK_E>>13]]

[0021] In this embodiment, the bottom portion 11 is made of a resin-based material such as rubber. The leg cover 1 allows the bottom portion 11 to absorb impacts applied to the floor surface from the end fitting S4 when the stepladder S is in use. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the front end of the upper surface of the bottom portion 11 in this embodiment has a bent portion 111 that is bent upward so as to be L-shaped in side view.

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, according to this embodiment, an insole 112 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom 11 of the leg cover 1. The insole 112 is fixed to the bottom 11 in a position that contacts the lower end of the end fitting S4. The insole 112 reduces vertical or horizontal vibrations transmitted from the stepladder S to the bottom 11 during use. The insole 112 is made of a resin-based material such as rubber or a cushioning material such as fiber.

[0023] As described above, when the stepladder S is in use, the bottom 11 and the insole 112 are interposed between the floor surface and the end piece S4. This prevents scratches and dirt from adhering to the floor surface due to contact between the end piece S4 and the floor surface. In addition, the insole 112 and the bottom 11 can absorb vertical or horizontal vibrations applied to the stepladder S.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cover portion 12 extends upward from the front peripheral edge of the bottom portion 11. The cover portion 12 is formed from a fabric-like material and is shaped to change form. The cover portion 12 has a pair of first rear end portions 121 and second rear end portions 122.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, according to the leg cover 1 of this embodiment, an insertion portion 14 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 11 to cover the rear surface (right side in Figure 5) of the end fitting S4. The insertion portion 14 extends upward from the rear peripheral edge of the bottom portion 11. The insertion portion 14 is formed of a mesh-like fabric member and is shaped to be changeable. The insertion portion 14 has a pair of first front end portions 141 and second front end portions 142. The pair of front end portions 141 and 142 of the insertion portion 14 are inserted into the interior of the pair of rear end portions 121 and 122 of the cover portion 12.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the belt portion 13 in the leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is composed of a first belt portion 131 and a second belt portion 132 formed on the first rear end portion 121 and the second rear end portion 122 of the cover portion 12, respectively. The first belt portion 131 and the second belt portion 132 have joining surfaces that can be joined to each other.

[0027] In this embodiment, hook-and-loop fasteners are used for the joining surfaces of the belt portion 13 in the leg cover 1. Specifically, the joining surfaces of the first belt portion 131 and the second belt portion 132 are formed as hook-and-loop fasteners that can be joined to each other, and the belt portion 13 can be connected by joining their joining surfaces. This allows the length of the belt portion 13 to be adjusted to the shape and size of the end fitting S4 by adjusting the joining position of the hook-and-loop fasteners. In other words, not only the ladder body S1 in this embodiment shown in Figure 5, but also ladder bodies with thin support columns S2 as shown in Figure 6 (ladder bodies with small end fittings), the leg cover 1 can be fixed to the end fitting S4 in a position where it does not easily shift position.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the insertion portion 14 can be expanded backward at its upper end by releasing the belt portion 13. When attaching the leg cover 1 to the end fitting S4, as shown in Figure 3, the insertion portion 14 is expanded backward and deformed to facilitate insertion of the end fitting S4. Furthermore, with the end fitting S4 positioned above the bottom portion 11, the leg cover 1 can be attached to the end fitting S4 by covering the front surface of the end fitting S4 with the cover portion 12 and tightening the belt portion 13 to join them.

[0029] When attaching the leg cover 1 according to this embodiment to the end fitting S4, the bent portion 111 of the bottom portion 11 can be positioned so that it follows the front end F of the end fitting S4 (so that the front end F abuts against the bent portion 111). Therefore, when inserting the end fitting S4 into the leg cover 1 in order to attach the leg cover 1 according to this embodiment to the end fitting S4, the L-shape of the bent portion 111 follows the front surface of the front end F, so that the leg cover 1 can be stably positioned relative to the end fitting S4.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, when the leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is attached to the stepladder S and the stepladder S is placed in the position for use, the leg cover 1 tilts backward along the end fitting S4 and stabilizes in a position where the bottom surface of the bottom 11 is in contact with the floor surface. When the stepladder S is in the position for use, the stepladder S is stably positioned on the floor with the leg cover 1 attached.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, when the leg cover 1 according to this embodiment is attached to the stepladder S, the bottom portion 11 covers the bottom surface of the end fitting S4, the cover portion 12 covers the front surface of the end fitting S4, and the insertion portion 14 covers the rear surface of the end fitting S4. In this state, the leg cover 1 covers and fixes the end fitting S4 as a single unit, so that the end fitting S4 does not come into direct contact with the floor surface, and dirt from the end fitting S4 does not adhere to the floor surface.

[0032] In this embodiment, the cover portion 12 not only covers the front and left and right sides of the end fitting S4, but the insertion portion 14 also covers the rear and left and right sides of the end fitting S4. That is, the insertion portion 14 can cover the rear of the end fitting S4, which cannot be covered by the cover portion 12 alone. Therefore, according to this embodiment, compared to the embodiment in which the end fitting S4 is covered only by the bottom portion 11 and the cover portion 12, the exposed area of ​​the end fitting S4 is reduced, thereby improving the function of preventing scratches and dirt from the stepladder S onto the floor surface.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, according to this embodiment, the cover portion 12 covers the front surface of the end fitting S4, and the belt portion 13 connects the first rear end portion 121 and the second rear end portion 122, wrapping the belt portion 13 around the end fitting S4. In this way, the leg cover 1 attached to the end fitting S4 can be fixed so that it does not easily move (the position of the end fitting S4 is stabilized inside the leg cover 1) by tightening the belt portion 13.

[0034] Thus, in a structure where the belt portion 13 is joined by hook-and-loop fasteners, once joined, it does not easily come undone and securely interlocks, so it rarely comes undone naturally during use compared to when the belt portion 13 is a string. In other words, the leg cover 1 can be firmly fixed to the stepladder S, and the posture of the leg cover 1 relative to the stepladder S can be stabilized.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, according to this embodiment, the leg cover 1 can be easily removed from the stepladder S by loosening the belt portion 13 and releasing the connection between the first rear end portion 121 and the second rear end portion 122. In other words, even if the leg cover 1 is worn out and dirty, it can be easily removed from the stepladder and a new leg cover 1 can be attached. Therefore, by using the leg cover 1 as a disposable item when it gets dirty and attaching a new one, the floor surface can be kept hygienic when using the stepladder S.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, according to the leg cover 1 of this embodiment, an inclined surface 113 is formed at the front end of the lower surface of the bottom portion 11, inclined with respect to the lower surface. As shown in Figure 7, according to this embodiment, when the stepladder S is stored, the ladder body S1 is in an upright position. Therefore, the leg cover 1 attached to the stepladder S is in a forward-tilted position, and the inclined surface 113 makes surface contact with the floor, thereby stabilizing the stepladder S.

[0037] For example, if the base 11 does not have an inclined surface 113 and is composed only of the lower surface of the base 11 and an L-shaped bent portion 111 extending from the lower surface, the corner of the bent portion 111 will come into contact with the floor surface. On the other hand, in the leg cover 1 that forms an inclined surface 113 according to this embodiment, the inclined surface 113 and the floor surface come into contact over a surface, making it possible to reduce the impact of damage to the floor surface. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1 Leg cover 11 Bottom 111 Flex point 112 Insole 113 Inclined surface 12 Cover part 121 First rear end portion 122 Second rear end portion 13 Belt section 131 First belt section 132 Second belt section 14 Insertion section 141 First front end 142 Second front end S Step Ladder S1 Ladder Body S2 Strut S3 Stile S4 End fitting S5 Hinge F Front end

Claims

1. A leg cover attached to the lower end of a ladder body comprising a pair of support posts, a plurality of rungs spanning the pair of support posts, and end fittings provided at the lower ends of each of the pair of support posts, The pair of support columns are used so as to tilt backward when the ladder body is in use. A bottom portion positioned below the end piece, A cover portion provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion and covering the front surface of the end fitting, A leg cover comprising a belt portion connecting a pair of rear ends of the cover portion.

2. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein a bent portion is formed at the front end of the upper surface of the bottom portion, which is bent upward so as to be L-shaped in a side view, and the bent portion is arranged along the front end of the end fitting.

3. The leg cover according to claim 2, wherein the belt portion comprises a first belt portion and a second belt portion formed at each of a pair of rear ends of the cover portion, and the first belt portion and the second belt portion have joining surfaces that can be joined to each other.

4. The leg cover according to claim 3, wherein the joining surface is a hook-and-loop fastener.

5. The bottom portion is provided with an insertion portion that covers the rear surface of the end piece, The leg cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of front ends in the insertion portion are inserted into the interior of the pair of rear ends in the cover portion.

6. The leg cover according to claim 5, wherein an inclined surface is formed at the front end of the lower surface of the bottom portion, inclined with respect to the lower surface.

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