Ladder Step Extender Platform for Foot Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Extension ladders often cause instability due to rungs being significantly smaller than the user's feet, leading to frequent injuries and fatalities, as they fail to provide a stable surface for users to stand on.
Innovation Solution
A ladder accessory step extender apparatus comprising hanging arms, a horizontal stepping platform, and platform support rods that attach to existing ladder rungs, extending the surface area to accommodate the user's foot, allowing the ball, toe box, and arch to be placed, thereby enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If traditional ladder rungs are used, then the ladder structure remains simple and lightweight, but the surface area for foot placement is insufficient leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The stepping platform is nested within the ladder structure by hanging it from an upper rung while supporting it with rods on a lower rung. This allows the platform to be integrated into the existing ladder without adding external complexity, effectively increasing foot placement surface area while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional rung surface to a two-dimensional platform surface by extending the foot placement area horizontally. This dimensional change provides sufficient surface area for stable foot placement while keeping the vertical ladder structure intact
2Reliability
If traditional small rungs are used, then the ladder remains lightweight and simple, but user stability is compromised leading to falls and injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is nested within the ladder's rung structure, hanging from one rung and supported by rods on another rung below. This integration provides enhanced stability for users without adding significant structural complexity to the ladder system
Solution Approach 2:
The platform acts as an intermediary element between the user's feet and the ladder rungs. It provides a stable intermediate surface that distributes weight and improves footing stability, reducing the direct interaction between small feet and small rungs that causes instability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a ladder step extender that when in place on a ladder extends the area where a ladder user can place his feet, providing increased stability and comfort for the user. The ladder extender comprises two hanging arms, a horizontal stepping platform, and two ladder rung holders. The extender is secured to the ladder rungs by the hanging rods placed on an upper ladder rung while the rung holders engage a lower rung. When the extender is secured to a ladder, the horizontal stepping platform extends towards the interior or toe side of the ladder and extends the area where the ladder user's foot or feet may be placed.