Pivoting RV Ladder Bracket for Sideways Fall Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RV ladders are unsafe and unstable, prone to falling over sideways when used on recreational vehicles, and do not provide easy access to the roof, requiring the use of stools or other apparatus to reach the first rung, which is often too high off the ground.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting mounted apparatus with two hinge brackets and two pivot bushings is used to securely attach an extendable ladder to the top of a permanently attached RV ladder, creating a sturdy and safe climbing structure that extends to ground level, preventing sideways falls and providing stable handrails for comfortable ascent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional extendable ladder is used with the lower end on the ground and upper end leaning against the RV, then the ladder can reach the roof, but it is vulnerable to falling over sideways due to lack of stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the extendable ladder with the fixed RV ladder by attaching the upper end of the extendable ladder to the top of the fixed ladder. This merging creates a unified structure where the fixed ladder acts as a stabilizing support, preventing the extendable ladder from falling sideways while maintaining ease of deployment.
2Ease of operation
If the first rung of the RV ladder is positioned high off the ground (18-20 inches), then the RV structure is maintained, but it becomes difficult to reach the first rung without using unsafe stools or other apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the climbing task into two segments: the lower portion handled by the extendable ladder section that reaches to ground level, and the upper portion handled by the fixed RV ladder. This segmentation allows users to start climbing from ground level on the extendable section, eliminating the need for unsafe stools to reach the first rung.
3Ease of operation
If the fixed RV ladder has narrow horizontal rungs and small round handrails, then the ladder structure is compact, but it becomes hard to grasp onto and climb
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different qualities to different parts of the ladder system. The extendable ladder portion features larger, more graspable handrails and rungs for easier climbing, while the fixed RV ladder maintains its compact structure. This local quality improvement enhances usability without compromising the overall compact design of the RV ladder system.
4Reliability
If a pivoting mounted apparatus with hinge brackets and pivot bushings is used to attach the extendable ladder to the fixed ladder, then the ladder becomes sturdy and prevents sideways falls, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hinge brackets and pivot bushings as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between the extendable ladder and the fixed RV ladder. These intermediaries provide a simple pivoting mechanism that allows the ladder to be securely attached while maintaining ease of deployment and storage, resolving the complexity issue.
Data Source
AI summary
An extendable ladder with hinge brackets specifically designed for the purpose of a person to have easier and safer access to a recreational vehicle roof. RV's have a permanently attached ladder on the rear of the vehicle that has to be climbed vertically, straight up which defies gravity. The hand rails and steps are small therefore making people feel very insecure and unsafe when climbing it. This invention overcomes that obstacle by giving people a firm ladder that reaches to the ground at an angle which makes it very easy to climb. The hinge bracket design creates a pivot affect that allows the two section extendable ladder to swing out at the bottom and extend downward to the ground, then the lower ladder can slide back up into the ladder rails and is positioned back against the RV.