Portable Ladder Stabilizer Devices for Uneven Ground

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable ladders with cross-bars for stability are cumbersome and obstructive on uneven surfaces, posing obstacles for placement and user safety.

Innovation Solution

A portable ladder design featuring stabilizer devices with a coupling portion, resting portion, and interconnection portion that attach to the side rails, providing enhanced stability without encumbrance, and allowing free placement on uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If cross-bars are mounted in the lower part of the ladder sections to widen the resting zone and improve stability, then the ladder meets safety regulations and provides greater stability, but the cross-bars become cumbersome and obstructive on uneven surfaces, creating obstacles for placement and user safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveladder stabilityVSAvoidease of placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function is segmented from the main ladder structure. Instead of using continuous cross-bars connecting both side rails, the invention uses individual stabilizer elements that can be independently positioned on one side rail, allowing the stabilizing function to be separated from the obstructive cross-bar structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional cross-bar structure (extending horizontally between side rails) to a three-dimensional stabilizer element that extends laterally outward from the side rail in a different spatial dimension, creating clearance space underneath while maintaining the stabilizing footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If cross-bars are used to ensure stability and meet regulations, then the ladder provides sufficient resting zone width, but the intermediate portion of cross-bars occupies space between lower ends of side rails, obstructing free placement on uneven ground

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresting zone widthVSAvoidadaptability to uneven surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function is segmented from the main ladder structure. Instead of using continuous cross-bars connecting both side rails, the invention uses individual stabilizer elements that can be independently positioned on one side rail, allowing the stabilizing function to be separated from the obstructive cross-bar structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer element is designed to be adjustable in position along the side rail, allowing the ladder to adapt to different ground conditions. The stabilizer can be moved up or down the side rail to accommodate uneven surfaces, providing dynamic adaptability rather than a fixed configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If cross-bars protrude laterally to widen the resting zone, then the ladder meets European regulations for stability, but the cross-bars constitute obstacles for the user's feet, increasing collision risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveladder stabilityVSAvoiduser safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional cross-bar structure (extending horizontally between side rails) to a three-dimensional stabilizer element that extends laterally outward from the side rail in a different spatial dimension, creating clearance space underneath while maintaining the stabilizing footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizer element acts as an intermediary between the side rail and the ground, providing the necessary lateral extension for stability while its specific geometric design (with clearance space) mediates the conflict between stability requirements and user safety by eliminating the direct obstruction that cross-bars create

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3981944B1Portable ladder

Publication Date: 2023.11.22 F A C A L

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AI summary

A portable ladder, comprising at least one section (2) which has a pair of side rails (3a, 3b) which are mutually laterally spaced apart and are mutually joined by a plurality of steps (4). The peculiarity of the invention consists in that it comprises at least one stabilizer device (5) which can be associated with the lower end of a respective side rail (3a, 3b) and which is provided with a coupling portion (5a), which can be fixed to the respective side rail (3a, 3b), and with a resting portion (5b), which extends from the coupling portion (5a), laterally outward with respect to the respective side rail (3a, 3b). The stabilizer device (5) further comprises at least one interconnection portion (5c), which extends above the resting portion (5b), substantially between the free end of the resting portion (5b) and the respective side rail (3a, 3b), in order to transmit at least partially the loads bearing down on the free end of the resting portion (5b) to the corresponding side rail (3a, 3b).