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A ladder system is disclosed which allows for stabilizing a ladder, on multiple surfaces, without the need for a second person or a great deal of setup time. The collapsible ladder system includes a larger ladder section and a smaller ladder strut section that is pivotally connected at a point which

A ladder system is disclosed which allows for stabilizing a ladder, on multiple surfaces, without the need for a second person or a great deal of setup time. The collapsible ladder system includes a larger ladder section and a smaller ladder strut section that is pivotally connected at a point which is at or below the midpoint of the larger ladder section. The larger ladder section and smaller ladder strut section are connected by a rigid adjustable linkage, or spreader, at a point that is below the pivotable connection. The ladder further includes a means for stability on a variety of surfaces. At the ground contacting point, the point where the ladder side rail ends and the ground meet, there are adjustable gripping feet, which can be independently or in combination vertically or angularly adjusted for maximum stability.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for stabilizing a ladder, the ladder having first and second substantially parallel side rails, each side rail having an inner surface, an outer surface defining a surface plane, a base end, an upper end, and at least two ladder rungs connecting the inner surface of the first substan

1. An apparatus for stabilizing a ladder, the ladder having first and second substantially parallel side rails, each side rail having an inner surface, an outer surface defining a surface plane, a base end, an upper end, and at least two ladder rungs connecting the inner surface of the first substantially parallel side rail to the inner surface of the second substantially parallel side rail and disposed to lie generally perpendicular to said first and second substantially parallel side rails, the apparatus comprising: (i) first and second substantially parallel support rails adapted for pivotal connection to said first and second substantially parallel side rails; wherein each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails is a continuous length of material having a first end, a second end, and two substantially linear portions positioned therebetween;wherein said two substantially linear portions are positioned in substantially the same plane at an obtuse angle relative to one another to form each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails;wherein the side rail's length is at least double that of the support rail's length;(ii) one or more longitudinal cross members disposed between said first and second substantially parallel support rails;(iii) one or more pivotable connectors for adjoining the first end of the first substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the first substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of said substantially parallel side rail's length and the first end of the second substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the second substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of the substantially parallel side rail's length; wherein said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the first substantially parallel side rail, said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the first substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;wherein said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the second substantially parallel side rail, said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the second substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;(iv) one or more rigid adjustable spreaders for connecting each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails to a substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the support rail's pivotal connection point, wherein the adjustable spreader is adjustable in length and is configured to fold at a point approximately half way between the adjustable spreader's distal ends; and(v) a shoe located at each ground contact point. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shoe is adjustable. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shoe has a gripping means to prevent slippage at the ground contact point. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary material is a metal or metal alloy. 5. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the primary material is a fiberglass or a composite. 6. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the primary material is a wood or wood composite. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each support rail is formed from a single unbroken piece of material. 8. A ladder apparatus, comprising: (i) first and second substantially parallel side rails, each side rail having an inner surface, an outer surface defining a surface plane, a base end, an upper end and at least two ladder rungs connecting the inner surface of the first side rail to the inner surface of the second side rail and disposed to lie generally perpendicular to said first and second substantially parallel side rails;(ii) first and second substantially parallel support rails adapted for pivotal connection to said first and second substantially parallel side rails;wherein each support rail is a continuous length of material having a first end, a second end, and two substantially linear portions positioned therebetween;wherein said two substantially linear portions are positioned in substantially the same plane at an obtuse angle relative to one another to form each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails;wherein the side rail's length is at least double that of the support rail's length;(iii) one or more longitudinal cross members disposed between said first and second substantially parallel support rails;(iv) one or more pivotable connectors for adjoining the first end of the first substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the first substantially side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of said substantially parallel side rail's length and the first end of the second substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the second substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of the substantially parallel side rail's length;wherein said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the first substantially parallel side rail, said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the first substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;wherein said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the second substantially parallel side rail, said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the second substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;(v) one or more rigid adjustable spreaders for connecting each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails to a substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the support rail's pivotal connection point, wherein the adjustable spreader is adjustable in length and is configured to fold at a point approximately half way between the adjustable spreader's distal ends; and(vi) a shoe at each ground contact point. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said shoe is adjustable. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said shoe has a gripping means to prevent slippage at the ground contact point. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the primary material is a metal or metal alloy. 12. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the primary material is a fiberglass or a composite. 13. The apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the primary material is a wood or wood composite. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each support rail is formed from a single unbroken piece of material. 15. A ladder system for stabilizing a ladder, the ladder having first and second substantially parallel side rails, each side rail having an inner surface, an outer surface defining a surface plane, a base end, an upper end, and at least two ladder rungs connecting the inner surface of the first substantially parallel side rail to the inner surface of the second substantially parallel side rail and disposed to lie generally perpendicular to said first and second substantially parallel side rails, the ladder system comprising: (i) first and second substantially parallel support rails adapted for pivotal connection to said first and second substantially parallel side rails;wherein each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails is a continuous length of material having a first end, a second end, and two substantially linear portions positioned therebetween;wherein said two substantially linear portions are positioned in substantially the same plane at an obtuse angle relative to one another to form each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails;wherein the side rail's length is at least double that of the support rail's length;(ii) one or more cross members disposed between said substantially parallel support rails;(iii) one or more pivotable connectors for adjoining the first end of the first substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the first substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of said substantially parallel side rail's length and the first end of the second substantially parallel support rail to the outer surface of the second side rail at a point between the base end and the midpoint of the substantially parallel side rail's length; wherein said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the first substantially parallel rail, said first substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the first substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;wherein said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extends from the base end of the second substantially parallel rail, said second substantially parallel support rail selectively extending in a plane that is substantially parallel to the second substantially parallel side rail's surface plane;(iv) one or more rigid spreaders for connecting each of said first and second substantially parallel support rails to a substantially parallel side rail at a point between the base end and the support rail's pivotal connection point, wherein the spreader is adjustable in length and is configured to fold at a point approximately half way between the adjustable spreader's distal ends; and(v) a vertically extendable shaft at each support rail's second end, wherein the vertically extendable shaft includes a shoe at each ground contact point. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said shoe is adjustable. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein said shoe has a gripping means to prevent slippage at the ground contact point. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the primary material is a metal or metal alloy. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein each support rail is formed from a single unbroken piece of material.