Vertical Ladder with Horizontal Steps for Climber Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vertically orientated ladders pose safety risks due to the climber's center of gravity being behind the ladder, requiring continuous hand use leading to fatigue, and inability to carry items or maintain balance, especially in vertical applications like mining or ascending structures.
Innovation Solution
A vertically orientated ladder design with laterally positioned stiles and immovably fixed horizontal steps, allowing an improved climbing stance where the climber's torso is vertically aligned, reducing hand reliance and enabling safe climbing without holding rungs, with forward and rearward facing configurations for easy access to platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional vertical ladder arrangement is used, then the ladder structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the climber's center of gravity lies behind the ladder causing safety risks and potential falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional ladder structure to a three-dimensional climbing apparatus by adding horizontal steps that extend laterally from the vertical stiles. This dimensional change allows the climber to position their center of gravity over the ladder structure, eliminating the safety risk of falling backward while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of basic geometric forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The climbing apparatus is divided into distinct functional segments: vertical stiles for structural support, horizontal steps for foot placement and balance, and handrails for upper body support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while contributing to the overall safety and stability of the system.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional vertical ladder is used, then the structure remains simple, but the climber must continuously use hands to hold onto rungs leading to fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elements to the climbing process by providing horizontal steps that allow the climber to shift weight and adjust position actively. This dynamic capability reduces static hand gripping effort while maintaining stability, as the climber can redistribute their weight across multiple contact points including feet on horizontal steps and hands on handrails.
3Ease of operation
If an inclined ladder arrangement is used, then the climber's reliance on hands is reduced somewhat, but the climber becomes unbalanced and topples backwards after a short time
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal steps are positioned and dimensioned in advance to provide optimal foot placement that naturally positions the climber's center of gravity over the ladder structure. This preliminary configuration of step locations and dimensions ensures that the climber achieves stable balance from the start of the climb, preventing the backward toppling that occurs with inclined ladders.
4Reliability
If a squirrel cage vertical ladder arrangement is used, then fall arrest is supposedly provided, but the cage may itself injure the falling user and provides a false sense of security
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing passive fall arrest that may cause injury, the patent converts the potential harm of falling by designing a structure that prevents falls from occurring in the first place. The horizontal steps and handrails work together to maintain climber stability and prevent loss of balance, transforming the harmful scenario of fall arrest into the beneficial outcome of fall prevention.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vertically orientated ladder apparatus allowing a climber to adopt an improved climbing stance wherein the climber's arms are poised economically in front of the climber within the climbing passage; the climber's legs are spread for the lateral stability of the climber so as to reduce the tendency of the climber falling sideways; and the climber is substantially upright such that the climber's centre of gravity lies substantially between the opposing steps (11) so as to allow the climber to release the climber's grip on the hand rails (14) while remaining balanced and supported by the legs of the climber. Opposing steps (11) are level or staggered. Embodiments include three or four stiles (12, 15).