Combination of a ladder, such as a pool ladder, boat ladder or jetty ladder, and auxiliary stairs

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of a ladder, such as a pool ladder, boat ladder or jetty ladder, and auxiliary stairs, which ladder comprises : - two parallel stiles with rungs extending therebetween; - fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stiles for the purpose of fastening the ladder to an edge, such as a pool edge which auxiliary stairs comprise : - two parallel stringers with steps extending therebetween, wherein the normal vectors of the treads of the steps form an angle of between 25° and 65° with the longitudinal direction of the two parallel stringers; - fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stringers for the purpose of fastening the stringers to the stiles.

Description

[0001] Combination of a ladder, such as a pool ladder, boat ladder or j etty ladder, and auxiliary stairs

[0002] The invention relates to a combination of a ladder, such as a pool ladder, boat ladder or j etty ladder, and auxiliary stairs , which ladder comprises :

[0003] - two parallel stiles with rungs extending therebetween;

[0004] - fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stiles for the purpose of fastening the ladder to an edge , such as a pool edge .

[0005] A pool ladder usually hangs down vertically into the water from the pool edge . The rungs of the pool ladder are generally fully submerged, so that a swimmer can climb out of the water via the ladder . The swimmer can here hold on to the stiles with both hands . Boat ladders and j etty ladders also hang into the water in this way .

[0006] Such ladders , such as pool ladders , boat ladders or j etty ladders , are normally also referred to as stairs , but in the scope of this invention an explicit distinction is made between a ladder and stairs in accordance with the standard for ladders and stairs EN- 14122- 1 . In this standard a ladder is referred to in the case of an angle of inclination above 75 ° , wherein the hori zontal structural parts are referred to as rungs . Steps are referred to in the case of an angle of inclination below 75 ° , more particularly between 20 ° and 45 ° , wherein reference is made to steps instead of rungs .

[0007] A ladder according to the preamble normally hangs of f an edge and runs vertically into the water, wherein the rungs lie below the water surface . A swimmer can then climb from the water onto the edge via the ladder . The swimmer can here pull themselves up by and hold on to the stiles . The advantage of such a ladder is that it takes up little space in the water and thereby causes little inconvenience to swimmers .

[0008] The vertical position of the ladder however necessitates a considerable effort in order to climb out of the water . For people with relatively little arm strength this can pose a considerable challenge .

[0009] It is now an obj ect of the invention to reduce or even obviate the above stated drawbacks . This obj ect is achieved according to the invention with a combination according to the preamble , which is characteri zed in that the auxiliary stairs comprise :

[0010] - two parallel stringers with steps extending therebetween, wherein the normal vectors of the treads of the steps form an angle of between 25 ° and 65 ° with the longitudinal direction of the two parallel stringers ;

[0011] - fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stringers for the purpose of fastening the stringers to the stiles .

[0012] With the auxiliary stairs a less steep rise is obtained than with the usual ladder, this enabling less strong people to climb out of the water as well . Because the treads of the steps form an angle of between 25 ° and 65 ° with the longitudinal direction of the two parallel stringers , the auxiliary stairs will have an angle of inclination of about 25 ° to 65 ° .

[0013] Since the auxiliary stairs are arranged on the stiles of the ladder with the fastening means , it is not necessary to make modi fications to the existing ladder . The auxiliary stairs can also be removed again in simple manner when they are temporarily not needed, and people can climb out of the water via the ladder again .

[0014] The fastening means of the auxiliary stairs can engage on the stiles directly or via one of the rungs . In such a case the fastening means can for instance comprise hooks which can be hooked around the rungs .

[0015] The combination according to the invention can thus for instance be used with a swimming pool , boat or j etty to allow a swimmer to get out of the water more easily .

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention the normal vectors of the treads are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stiles .

[0017] When the ladder hangs vertically into the water, as is usual in many cases , this ensures that the treads of the auxiliary stairs are hori zontal , which aids in walking out of the water safely over the auxiliary stairs .

[0018] In a further embodiment of the combination according to the invention the auxiliary stairs further comprise support means for supporting on a wall , such as a pool wall or on the stiles , which support means are arranged close to the lower end of the two stringers .

[0019] In the case of a relatively shallow pool the lower end of the two stringers can rest on the bottom of the pool . When the pool is however deeper and the stringers are unable to rest on the bottom, the support means ensure that the lower ends of the stringers are able to support via the support means against the vertical side wall of the pool . In the case of a boat or j etty it is sometimes not desirable or possible to support against a wall . In such a case it is also possible to have the support means support on the stiles .

[0020] The support means preferably comprise at least one elongate support arranged with the longitudinal direction of the support parallel to the treads of the steps . The length of this elongate support can optionally be adj usted in order to thus enable the angle of inclination of the auxiliary stairs to be adj usted .

[0021] In another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the fastening means of the auxiliary stairs comprise a pivot shaft parallel to the treads of the steps for the purpose of enabling upward pivoting of the auxiliary stairs .

[0022] Because the auxiliary stairs pivot around the pivot shaft relative to the ladder, the auxiliary stairs can be rotated out of the water . Since the auxiliary stairs protrude considerably further into the water than a vertical ladder, more space can hereby be obtained for the swimmers in the water .

[0023] In yet another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the fastening means of the ladder are U-shaped, wherein one leg of the U-shape is arranged in line with one of the two stiles and wherein the outer end of the other leg of the U-shape can be inserted into the edge .

[0024] The U-shaped fastening means thus form handles which provide additional support to the person climbing out of the water via the ladder or auxiliary stairs .

[0025] In a further embodiment of the combination according to the invention the stringers are fastened via a rung of the ladder to the stiles by means of the fastening means .

[0026] By fastening the auxiliary stairs to the stiles via a rung of the ladder the auxiliary stairs are very widely applicable in di f ferent types of ladder since all ladders , irrespective of the design of the stiles , have a rung extending therebetween . The speci fic width of the rungs is also less relevant .

[0027] Another embodiment of the combination according to the invention is the combination wherein the fastening means comprise a rung coupling for coupling the auxiliary stairs to a rung of the ladder .

[0028] In another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the rung coupling is provided with a cavity for at least partially enclosing a rung of the ladder . By enclosing the rung of the ladder in any case partially the auxiliary stairs can be fastened in simple and stable manner relative to the ladder . The cavity can for instance be provided in the form of a U-shaped profile , wherein the dimensioning of the U-shaped cavity corresponds to the dimensioning of a rung .

[0029] In yet another embodiment of the combination according to the invention the cavity is arranged on the underside of the rung coupling .

[0030] Arranging the cavity on the underside enables the rung coupling to be arranged over a rung, whereby the auxiliary stairs hang from the rung by means of the rung coupling . The forces in rest and during loading can hereby be diverted to the ladder in simple and reliable manner . Any additional fastening or locking means can also be dispensed with in some cases .

[0031] The rung coupling is here preferably provided in the upper rung of the auxiliary stairs .

[0032] Another preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention is a combination wherein the tread of the upper step of the auxiliary stairs connects to the tread of the rung of the ladder to which the auxiliary stairs are coupled .

[0033] The invention further relates to a swimming pool and a combination according to the invention, wherein the swimming pool comprises at least a swimming pool edge and a swimming pool wall running vertically downward from the swimming pool edge , wherein the stiles are parallel to the swimming pool edge and are fastened to the swimming pool edge with the fastening means , and wherein the treads of the steps of the auxiliary stairs are perpendicular to the swimming pool wall . These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings .

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination according to the invention in unfolded position .

[0035] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the combination according to figure 1 in upward folded position .

[0036] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a combination according to the invention .

[0037] Figure 4 is a detail of the cross-sectional view of figure 3 .

[0038] Figure 1 shows a swimming pool 1 with upright swimming pool walls 2 , a swimming pool bottom 3 and a swimming pool edge 4 . Two parallel stiles 7 , 8 with rungs 9 therebetween, these together forming a pool ladder, are arranged on pool edge 4 via U-shaped fastening means 5 , 6 . The bottom ends 10 of stiles 7 , 8 support against pool wall 2 .

[0039] Two stringers 13 , 14 with steps 15 therebetween are arranged via hinges 11 , 12 on stiles 7 , 8 . Arranged on the underside of stringers 13 , 14 are elongate supports 16 , 17 , which rest on the underside of stiles 7 , 8 . The supports 16 , 17 can alternatively also rest against the pool wall 2 .

[0040] The normal vector N of the running surface of each step 15 forms an angle a of between 25 ° and 65 ° with the longitudinal direction L of the stringers 13 , 14 .

[0041] Figure 2 shows the combination according to figure 1 , wherein the auxiliary stairs with stringers 13 , 14 and the steps 15 therebetween are rotated upward around the hinges 11 , 12 and are so tilted out of swimming pool 1 . Hereby, only the pool ladder with the stiles 7 , 8 with rungs 9 are still in the water of pool 1 .

[0042] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a combination 20 according to the invention . A part of an upright pool wall 22 and a pool edge 24 is shown herein . The stile 27 is arranged on pool edge 24 by means of a U-shaped fastening means 25 . The rungs 29 are shown in crosssection . The bottom end 30 of stile 27 supports against pool wall 22 . Steps 34 , 35 are arranged on the stringer 33 . Provided hal fway along the stringer 33 is a support 36 which rests on the underside of stile 27 . The upper end of stringer 33 is fastened via a rung 29 of the ladder to the stile 27 . In the shown combination via the upper rung 29 , although this can also be a di f ferent rung 29 .

[0043] It is clearly visible in the detail of the combination 20 shown in figure 4 that the upper end of stringer 33 is fastened via a rung 29 of the ladder to the stile 27 . The upper step 35 of the auxiliary stairs is provided with a rung coupling 37 whereby the auxiliary stairs are coupled to a rung 29 of the ladder . The rung coupling 37 is provided on the underside with a cavity 38 formed by the U- shaped profile of the rung coupling 37 , wherein the cavity 38 partially encloses a rung 29 of the ladder . The dimensioning of cavity 38 corresponds with the dimensioning of rung 29 , so that it can be arranged thereover and can rest on rung 29 in simple manner . The tread 39 of the step 35 on which the rung coupling 37 is arranged connects to the tread 40 of the rung

[0044] 29 of the ladder enclosed by rung coupling 37 .

Claims

Claims1 . Combination of a ladder, such as a pool ladder, boat ladder or j etty ladder, and auxiliary stairs , which ladder comprises :- two parallel stiles with rungs extending therebetween;- fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stiles for the purpose of fastening the ladder to an edge , such as a pool edge characteri zed in that the auxiliary stairs comprise :- two parallel stringers with steps extending therebetween, wherein the normal vectors of the treads of the steps form an angle of between 25 ° and 65 ° with the longitudinal direction of the two parallel stringers ;- fastening means arranged on the upper end of the two stringers for the purpose of fastening the stringers to the stiles .2 . Combination according to claim 1 , wherein the normal vectors of the treads are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stiles .3 . Combination according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the auxiliary stairs further comprise support means for supporting on a wall , such as a pool wall or on the stiles , which support means are arranged close to the lower end of the two stringers .4 . Combination according to claim 3 , wherein the support means comprise at least one elongate support arranged with the longitudinal direction of the support parallel to the treads of the steps .5 . Combination according to any one of the foregoing claims , wherein the fastening means of the auxiliary stairscomprise a pivot shaft parallel to the treads of the steps for the purpose of enabling upward pivoting of the auxiliary stairs .6 . Combination according to any one of the foregoing claims , wherein the fastening means of the ladder are U- shaped, wherein one leg of the U-shape is arranged in line with one of the two stiles and wherein the outer end of the other leg of the U-shape can be inserted into the edge .7 . Combination according to any one of the foregoing claims , wherein the stringers are fastened via a rung of the ladder to the stiles by means of the fastening means .8 . Combination according to claim 7 , wherein the fastening means comprise a rung coupling for coupling the auxiliary stairs to a rung of the ladder .9 . Combination according to claim 8 , wherein the rung coupling is provided with a cavity, preferably arranged on the underside of the rung coupling, for at least partially enclosing a rung of the ladder .10 . Combination according to claim 8 of 9 , wherein the rung coupling is provided in the upper rung of the auxiliary stairs .11 . Combination according to any one of the claims 7- 10 , wherein the tread of the upper step of the auxiliary stairs connects to the tread of the rung of the ladder to which the auxiliary stairs are coupled .12 . Swimming pool and a combination according to any one of the foregoing claims , wherein the swimming pool comprises at least a swimming pool edge and a swimming pool wall running vertically downward from the swimming pool edge , wherein the stiles are parallel to the swimming pool edge and are fastened to the swimming pool edge with the fastening means , and wherein the treads of the steps of the auxiliarystairs are perpendicular to the swimming pool wall .

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