Folding Ladder Outrigger for Narrow Space Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-tip devices for ladders increase transport dimensions and weight, limiting their use in narrow spaces and preventing side-specific activation, which is necessary for certain applications like narrow stairwells.
Innovation Solution
A multi-articulated folding boom with a single jib arm that can be swiveled out at an oblique angle, allowing for one-sided or both-sided use, and a four-joint arrangement with a locking mechanism to maintain stability and prevent unintentional deployment during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If stand extensions are attached to widen the ladder stand, then the stability is improved, but the transport dimensions and weight are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by designing the stand extension as a movable, foldable structure that can transition between extended and retracted positions. The extension arm is hinged to the stile and can be folded parallel to the stile during transport, dynamically changing the ladder's footprint to reduce transport dimensions while providing stand widening when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand extension is segmented into multiple components: the extension arm, hinge connection, and foot member. This segmentation allows the extension to be folded into a compact configuration during transport while enabling easy deployment when stand widening is needed, resolving the contradiction between stability enhancement and transport compactness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed extensions are used to widen the stand, then the stability is improved, but the ladder cannot be transported through narrow stairways
Solution Approach 1:
The extension arm is designed with a hinge connection to the stile, allowing it to be folded parallel to the stile during transport through narrow spaces. When deployment is needed, the extension arm can be swung outward to provide stand widening. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability to narrow spaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the anti-tip device is designed as a fixed forked support arm, then the stability is improved, but the transport mass is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm is designed as a foldable extension arm that can be collapsed parallel to the stile during transport, significantly reducing the transport mass compared to fixed forked support arms. The hinge connection enables the arm to be extended only when anti-tip stability is needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and transport mass.
4Device complexity
If the anti-tip device cannot be activated on one side only, then the structure is simplified, but the usability in narrow stairwells is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The extension arm is hinged to the stile and can be independently folded out to either the left or right side depending on the application requirements. This dynamic configuration capability allows side-specific activation in narrow stairwells while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of a single hinge mechanism per stile.
Data Source
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AI summary
Tilt protection device for ladders, in particular for extension ladders (1), with at least one folding outrigger arm (13) pivotable about a stile-fixed pivot bearing (10), which can be brought from a securing position pointing outwards laterally to the stiles (5, 6) into a transport position aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stiles to rest against at least one stile (5, 6), wherein the outrigger arm (13) is designed as a folding outrigger (8) which consists of the outrigger arm (13) pivotably mounted on the respective outside of the stile, which is pivotably and lockably held on the respective outside of the stile by means of several pivot bearings (10, 12, 17) and pivot arms (11, 15) arranged between them.