Safeguard Ladder

Abstract

A ladder system is disclosed whereby the ladder side rails 1 have grooves 2 to enable the use of a fall arrest traveller 10 which locks automatically if a user falls. A ladder cage or 'bubble' 14 can

Description

Currently, a significant portion of available ladders come in fixed sizes which means their uses are limited, since they are welded. There is also no restraining / arrest element incorporated into these ladders. The invention of SayfaGuard™ ladder is to address these common issues. US patent 1160721A relates to the improvement in safety and use of ladders by incorporating a tracked mechanism. Similarly, other ladders are available on the market which improve the usage of ladders. SayfaGuard™ ladder is unique due to the fact that it incorporates a protection bubble

[14] . Components such as the ladder side rail [1], ladder side rail joiner [5] and ladder rungs [7] are manufactured from extruded aluminium profiles. The profile of the ladder side rail [1] enables the use of a vertical fall arrest traveller

[10] which engages to arrest the operative in the event of a fall. The protection "bubbles"

[14] can be attached to the fall arrest travellers

[10] when required. As the operative ascends or descends, the protection "bubble"

[14] and traveller

[10] will move in unison with the operative. SayfaGuard™ ladder systems are assembled to specified sizes. The ladder rungs [7] are fixed to the side rails [1] by screwing through the side walls of the side rail [1] using a self tapping screws

[12] , and into the screw-groove [8] located at the centre of the ladder rung [7] profile. The height of SayfaGuard™ ladder can then be extended by inserting side rail joiner [5] pieces into the ladder side rails [1], using the grooves [2] in both profiles as guides and ensuring that the corresponding fixing holes align. Bulb-tite rivets

[13] are then fixed through both the side rail [1] component and the side rail joiner [5] component. They are then fastened together by using a riveter. Using the grooves [2] of the side rail [1] as guides, the fall arrest traveller

[10] is added to the ladder system. The wheels of the fall arrest traveller

[10] run along the grooves on the outside of the side rail [1]. The use of four fall arrest travellers

[10] allows the attachment of a protection "bubble"

[14] . In the event of a fall, the fall arrest traveller

[10] becomes locked automatically. It is possible to bend smaller sections of the ladder side rail to produce curved ladder side rail [4] components, as illustrated in figure 3. When utilised it enables a system to be set up, with which a continuous run of the ladder side rail can be set up. This provides uninterrupted safety due to the fact that there would be no requirement for the operative to detach themselves from the traveller until they are safely on the ground. Figure 11 illustrates a system which utilises curved ladder side rail [4] components. In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates the extrusion profile of the ladder side rail. Figure 2 illustrates an extruded ladder side rail with fixing holes. Figure 3 illustrates an extruded and curved piece of the ladder side rail. Figure 4 illustrates the extrusion profile of the ladder side rail joiner. Figure 5 illustrates an extruded ladder side rail joiner with rivet fixing holes. Figure 6 illustrates the extrusion profile of the ladder rung. Figure 7 illustrates an extruded ladder rung. Figure 8 illustrates ladder rungs fixed to the ladder side rail. Figure 9 illustrates an indicative ladder system with fall arrest travellers added to the ladder side rails. Figure 10 illustrates a close-up of the ladder side rail joiner inserted into a ladder side rail and fixed with rivets. Figure 11 illustrates the utilisation of curved side ladder rail sections. Figure 12 illustrates the attachment of a protection "bubble" fixed onto four fall arrest travellers.

Claims

SayfaGuard™ ladder, as illustrated in figure 9 is characterised by extruded ladder rungs [7], extruded ladder side rails [1], extruded ladder side rail joiners [5], a fall arrest traveller [10], and a protection "bubble"[14].Modifications and variations can be made without deviating from the scope of this invention. Therefore, the following claims will cover modifications and variations which fall within the scope of this invention.

1. A ladder system, whereby the ladder side rails [1 ] feature grooves [2] to enable the use of a fall arrest traveller [10].

2. In accordance with claim 1, whereby a protection "bubble" [14] can be attached to a fall arrest traveller [10].

3. In accordance with claim 2, whereby the protection "bubble" [14] moves in unison with operatives.

4. In accordance with claim 1, whereby curved sections of the ladder side rail [4] are utilised in a system in order to create an uninterrupted track within the confines of a roof, as illustrated in figure 11.