초록 ▼

A ladder locking system that secures an extension ladder to an accessory rack mounted to a vehicle to define a secured position is provided. The secured ladder is prevented from moving fore or aft relative to the rack. The secured ladder is also prevented from moving laterally relative to the rack a

A ladder locking system that secures an extension ladder to an accessory rack mounted to a vehicle to define a secured position is provided. The secured ladder is prevented from moving fore or aft relative to the rack. The secured ladder is also prevented from moving laterally relative to the rack and vehicle by the downwardly directed force and engagement provided by the locking system. The locking system is movable to a released position wherein the ladder is not engaged by the locking system and thus can be removed from the ladder rack by an operator. An intermediate position occurs when the operator actuates the locking system between the secured and released positions depending upon whether the ladder is being readied for securement in the rack or being readied for removal from the rack.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A commercial grade, locking system for releasably securing a ladder to a rack coupled to a vehicle, the locking system comprising: a frame arrangement having a first elongated segment and a second elongated segment extending transversely from the first elongated segment;a releasable securing mech

1. A commercial grade, locking system for releasably securing a ladder to a rack coupled to a vehicle, the locking system comprising: a frame arrangement having a first elongated segment and a second elongated segment extending transversely from the first elongated segment;a releasable securing mechanism movable between a secured ladder position and a disengaged ladder position, wherein the releasable securing mechanism includes an elongated actuator and a handle; andan interlock mechanism comprising a flap movably connected to a lower portion of the first segment, the flap and the lower portion of the first segment defining a channel that receives an extent of the handle in the secured ladder position, wherein the channel is in parallel alignment with the lower portion of the first segment,wherein the actuator is vertically actuated and rotated to move the releasable securing mechanism between the secured ladder position and the disengaged ladder position to allow for removal of the ladder. 2. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the releasable securing mechanism comprises a spring, wherein the spring slidingly receives an intermediate portion of the actuator. 3. The locking system of claim 2, wherein the actuator also includes a hook, wherein the handle is actuated by an operator to move the hook between said secured and disengaged positions and the hook is configured to engage an extent of a ladder rung in the secured position. 4. The locking system of claim 2, the frame arrangement further comprising a sleeve affixed to an extent of said second segment, wherein an upper extent of the intermediate portion of the actuator extends through the sleeve, and wherein the securing mechanism is operably connected to the second segment and not to the first segment. 5. The locking system of claim 4, wherein the releasable securing mechanism further includes a lower retainer secured to a lower extent of the intermediate portion of the actuator, and wherein the spring is positioned between a lower end of the sleeve and the lower retainer. 6. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the interlock mechanism is configured to prevent movement from the secured position to the disengaged position. 7. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated segments extend from each other in the same plane in an L shaped configuration. 8. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the interlock mechanism also includes a locking pin and ring extending across the channel, wherein the locking pin and ring limit downward movement of the handle within the channel. 9. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the interlock mechanism also includes a lock, wherein an extent of the lock extends across the channel. 10. The locking system of claim 1, wherein the second segment of the frame arrangement includes at least one opening that is configured to receive a fastener that extends through an opening in a parallel mounting surface of the rack and secures the frame arrangement to the rack that is coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the second segment includes a flange configured to overlay a portion of a top surface of the rack. 11. A commercial grade, locking system for releasably securing a ladder to a rack coupled to a vehicle, the locking system comprising: a frame arrangement having a first elongated segment and a second elongated segment;a releasable securing mechanism joined to one of the first and second elongated segments, the releasable securing mechanism including an actuator with a handle and a hook, the releasable securing mechanism being movable between a secured ladder position and a disengaged ladder position; andan interlock mechanism comprising a flap movably connected to a lower portion of the first segment, the flap and the lower portion of the first segment defining a channel that receives an extent of the handle in the secured ladder position, wherein the channel is in parallel alignment with the lower portion of the first segment,wherein the releasable securing mechanism is actuated between the secured ladder position and the disengaged ladder position by applying a combination of a vertical force and a rotational force to the handle. 12. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the releasable securing mechanism comprises a spring, wherein an intermediate portion of the actuator is received by the spring. 13. The locking system of claim 12, wherein the handle is joined to a lower end of the intermediate portion and the hook is joined to an upper end of the intermediate portion, and wherein the hook is configured to engage an extent of a ladder rung in the secured ladder position. 14. The locking system of claim 12, the frame arrangement further comprising a sleeve affixed to an extent of said second segment, wherein an upper extent of the intermediate portion of the actuator extends through the sleeve, and wherein the securing mechanism is operably connected to the second segment and not to the first segment. 15. The locking system of claim 14, wherein the releasable securing mechanism further includes a lower retainer secured to a lower extent of the intermediate portion of the actuator, and wherein the spring is positioned between a lower end of the sleeve and the lower retainer. 16. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the interlock mechanism is configured to receive the extent of the handle in the secured position to prevent movement from the secured position to the disengaged position. 17. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the first and second elongated segments extend from each other in the same plane in an L shaped configuration. 18. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the interlock mechanism also includes a locking pin and ring extending across the channel, wherein the locking pin and ring limit downward movement of the handle within the channel. 19. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the interlock mechanism also includes a lock, wherein an extent of the lock extends across the channel. 20. The locking system of claim 11, wherein the second segment of the frame arrangement includes at least one opening that is configured to receive a fastener that extends through an opening in a parallel mounting surface of the rack and secures the frame arrangement to the rack that is coupled to the vehicle, and wherein the second segment includes a flange configured to overlay a portion of a top surface of the rack. 21. The locking system of claim 11, wherein when the locking system is in the disengaged ladder position and an operator desires to move the locking system to the secured ladder position: an upwardly directed vertical force is applied to the handle wherein the spring compresses and the hook is elevated above both the second elongated segment and an adjacent rung of the ladder;a rotational force is applied to the handle wherein the hook rotates away from the second elongated segment and over the rung; and,the handle is released wherein the spring exerts a biasing force on the actuator which causes an extent of the hook to engage the rung of the ladder in the secured ladder position. 22. The locking system of claim 11, wherein when the locking system is in the secured ladder position and the operator desires to move the locking system to the disengaged ladder position: an upwardly directed vertical force is applied to the handle wherein the spring compresses and the hook is elevated above both the second elongated segment and an adjacent rung of the ladder;a rotational force is applied to the handle wherein the hook rotates away from the rung and over the second elongated segment; and,the handle is released wherein the hook does not engage the rung and the actuator remains in the disengaged ladder position. 23. A method of operating a ladder locking system, the method comprising: placing a first portion of a ladder into a storage rack, the first portion of the ladder positioned adjacent a ladder locking system that is secured to the storage rack, wherein the ladder locking system is in a disengaged position;applying an upwardly directed axial force to move a handle of the ladder locking system in the opposite direction of a biasing force of a spring of the ladder locking system, thus moving a securing member in the upward direction of the applied force to provide a clearance gap between a lowermost surface of the securing member and an uppermost surface of the first portion of the ladder;rotating the handle into an intermediate position, the handle rotating radially about the spring so that the securing member clears and aligns substantially perpendicular with the first portion of the ladder;releasing the handle, wherein the biasing force of the spring forces the securing member to move towards and engage the first portion of the ladder, securing the first portion of the ladder to the storage rack;rotating a flap of an interlock mechanism of the ladder locking system into a securing position, wherein the rotated flap defines a side of a channel of the interlock mechanism and the channel is in parallel alignment with the spring; andinserting a locking member into the interlock mechanism, wherein the handle is secured within the channel of the interlock mechanism. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: removing the locking member from the interlock mechanism;applying a force to move the handle in the opposite direction of the spring biasing force;rotating the handle axially about the spring until the securing member aligns substantially parallel with the first portion of the ladder; andreleasing the handle, wherein the biasing force of the spring forces the securing member to move to a resting release position, wherein the first portion of the ladder is removable from the storage rack.