CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/134,868 filed January 7, 2021 and titled “Ladder for Recreational Vehicles, Spreader for Step Ladder, and Ladder Components.” The entire contents of the above-identified priority application are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The technology disclosed herein relates to step/foldable ladders, and, more particularly, to a spreader that allows the legs of the ladder to spread and collapse and that holds the legs of the ladder in the spread and collapsed configurations.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional step ladders include foldable spreaders that fold to collapse when moving the legs of the step ladder together for storage. These foldable spreaders also unfold when moving the legs of the step ladder apart to use the step ladder. Conventional foldable spreaders for a step ladder have several deficiencies. For example, the foldable spreaders do not assist in holding the legs together in the collapsed position. Accordingly, when carrying a folded step ladder, the user must hold the legs together to prevent the legs from deploying. Conventional spreaders also do not assist with opening of the legs of the step ladder. The user must manually push the step ladder legs apart to unfold the spreader to the position that supports the triangular shape of the step ladder. Additionally, the user typically must also push down on the hinge of the foldable spreader to completely unfold the spreader to allow safe use of the step ladder. Conventional spreaders also do not assist with folding the legs of the step ladder from the open position to the closed position. To close a conventional step ladder, the user must push up on both spreaders to break the closed hinge position. Then, the user must grab both sets of legs to push the two sets of legs together. Operation of foldable spreaders to open/close a conventional step ladder also creates pinch points that may pinch the user’s fingers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 A is a front perspective view of the step ladder comprising slider spreaders in an open position.

[0005] Figure IB is a rear perspective view of the open step ladder of Figure 1A.

[0006] Figure 2A is a front view of the step ladder comprising slider spreaders in a closed position.

[0007] Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the closed step ladder of Figure 2A as viewed along the cut line C-C in Figure 2A.

[0008] Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of a slider spreader.

[0009] Figure 4A is a side view of the slider spreader.

[0010] Figure 4B is a detail view of a portion of the slider spreader as indicated in the detail line A in Figure 4A.

[0011] Figure 5 is a detail view of attachment of a slider spreader to a front leg of a ladder as indicated in the detail line B in Figure 1 A.

[0012] Figure 6 is a detail view of attachment of the slider spreader to a rear leg of the ladder as indicated in the detail line A in Figure IB.

[0013] Figures 7A-7E are side views depicting operation of slider spreaders to open legs of a ladder, illustrating sequential opening of the ladder from a closed position depicted in Figure 7A, through intermediate positions depicted in Figures 7B-7D, to an open position depicted in Figure 7E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] A step ladder is a type of ladder having two legs. The two legs are connected at a hinge point and fold together via the hinge point for storage of the step ladder. The two legs also spread apart via the hinge point to create an “A-frame” type of structure to support the open ladder. A step ladder is sometimes called a “foldable ladder.”

[0015] The innovations described herein relate to slidable or “slider” spreaders for step ladders. Slider spreaders for step ladders according to various aspects of the technology discussed herein will now be described with reference to the Figures.

[0016] Figures 1A, IB, 2A, and 2B depict a step ladder 100 comprising slider spreaders 108. Figure 1A is a front perspective view of the step ladder 100 in an open position and showing the slider spreaders 108 in the open position. Figure IB is a rear perspective view of the open step ladder 100 comprising the slider spreaders 108. Figure 2A is a front leg view of the step ladder 100 in a closed position and showing the slider spreaders 108 in the closed position. Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the closed step ladder 100 as viewed along the cut line C-C in Figure 2A.

[0017] As depicted in Figures 1A, IB, 2A, and 2B, the step ladder 100 comprises a pair of front legs 102 and a pair of rear legs 104 coupled together via hinges 106. The hinges 106 allow the rear legs 104 to spread from the front legs 102 as shown in the open configuration depicted in Figures 1 A and IB. The hinges 106 also allow the rear legs 104 to collapse toward the front legs 102 as shown in the closed configuration depicted in Figures 2A and 2B. The pair of front legs 102 are connected via multiple steps 103. The pair of rear legs 104 are connected via multiple supports 105. Only one step 103 and one support 105 are labeled in the figures. The other steps 103 and supports 105 are easily identified in the figures.

[0018] The ladder 100 comprises two slider spreaders 108. A first slider spreader 108 connects one of the front legs 102 to one of the rear legs 104. A second slider spreader 108 connects the other one of the front legs 102 to the other one of the rear legs 104.

[0019] Each slider spreader 108 is pivotably connected to one of the front legs 102 via a front attachment mechanism 110 and slidably connected to one of the rear legs 104 via a rear attachment mechanism 112.

[0020] Figures 3A and 3B are perspective views of a slider spreader 108. Figure 4A is a side view of the slider spreader 108. Figure 4B is a detail view of a portion of the slider spreader 108 as indicated in the detail line A in Figure 4A. Figures 3 A, 3B, 4A, and 4B depict a slider spreader 108 for one side of the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100. The slider spreader 108 for an opposite side is a mirror image of the slider spreader 108 depicted in the figures.

[0021] A slider spreader 108 includes a front elongated portion 302 and a rear elongated portion 304. The rear elongated portion 304 extends away from the front elongated portion 302. The front elongated portion 302 comprises an aperture 302c therein located toward a front end 302a of the front elongated portion 302. The rear elongated portion 304 comprises a slot 304a that extends along a length of the rear elongated portion 304 and into the front elongated portion 302, at a location in the front elongated portion 302 that is away from the front end 302a of the front elongated portion 302. The slot 304a comprises an optional latching opening 304b disposed at an end of the slot 304a that is opposite the front elongated portion 302. The latching opening 304b extends away from the slot 304a in a direction that is different from the length of the rear elongated portion 304. The slot 304a in the rear elongated portion creates a track along which a pin may slide, as discussed in further detail hereinafter.

[0022] As shown in Figure 4A, the aperture 302c is positioned on a line 405 that is orthogonal to an edge 403 of the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108. The slot 304a of the slider spread 108 may run substantially parallel to the edge 403 of the rear elongated portion 304. As depicted in Figures 4A and 4B, a centerline 404 of the slot 304a can be offset from a line 402 that runs parallel to the edge 403 of the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108. The distance between lines 402 and 404 in Figure 4A depicts an amount of this offset, which also provides an offset of the centerline 404 of the slot 304a from being orthogonal to the line 405, as shown by angle W in Figure 4A. This offset can allow the enlarged washer and shoulder nut head of the attachment mechanism 112 (as shown in Figure 6) to have room for the larger diameter washer not to hit the flanged edge of slider spreader 108 when in the latched/open position. In this case, the slider spreader flange (above the washer edge) is not resting on the top of the washer but instead rests in the slot latch 304b on the shoulder nut shaft. [0023] The latching opening 304b of the slot 304a may run substantially orthogonal to the slot 304a. As shown in Figure 4B, the latching opening 304b may run parallel to an edge 406 of the rear elongated portion 304, where the edge 406 runs orthogonal to the line 402. In this case, the latching opening 304b is offset at an angle F from being orthogonal to line 404 corresponding to the centerline of the slot 304a. When the ladder 102 is in the open position, this offset can allow for the angle of the slot 304b of the slide spreader 108 to become vertical to the ground, which can improve the latching and unlatching of slider spreaders 108. Additionally, the latching opening 304b can comprise catch portion 412a being a cutout configured to catch the rear attachment mechanism 112 when the ladder 100 is opened. The catch portion 412a can comprise a cutout radius corresponding to a diameter of the attachment mechanism 112 and offset from a center of the latching opening 304b, as depicted by the line 412.

[0024] A handle 306 coupled to the front elongated portion 302 or the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108 assists with opening and closing of the legs 102, 103 of the ladder 100. The handle 306 can be integrally formed with the front and/or rear elongated portions 302, 304 (as depicted in Figures 3A, 3B, and 4A) or can be a separate component attached to the front and/or rear elongated portions 302, 304. Additionally, a handle extension (not depicted) can be attached to the handle 306 using fasteners through one or more apertures 306a in the handle 306.

[0025] The handle 306 may be larger when the slider spreaders 108 are attached on the inside of the front legs 102 of the ladder 100, compared to a smaller size of the handle 306 when the slider spreaders 108 are attached on the outside of the front legs 102 of the ladder 100. Because the handle 306 will protrude outward when the slider spreaders 108 are attached on the exterior of the front legs 102 of the ladder 100, it may be desirable to reduce the size of the handle 306 to reduce the extent of handle protrusion.

[0026] Figure 5 is a detail view of attachment of the slider spreader 108 to the front leg 102 of the ladder 100 as indicated in the detail line B in Figure 1A. Figure 6 is a detail view of attachment of the slider spreader 108 to the rear leg 104 of the ladder 100 as indicated in the detail line A in Figure IB. A front attachment mechanism 110 is positioned in the aperture 302c of the front elongated portion 302 of the slider spreader 108 and coupled to the front leg 102 of the ladder 100 to pivotably attach the front elongated portion 302a of the slider spreader 108 to the front leg 102 of the ladder 100.

[0027] A rear attachment mechanism 112 is positioned in the slot 304a of the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108 and coupled to the rear leg 104 of the ladder 100 to slidably attach the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108 to the rear leg 104 of the ladder 100.

[0028] The front and rear attachment mechanisms 110, 112 can any suitable attachment mechanism that allows the slider spreader 108 to pivot around the front attachment mechanism 110 and to slide around the rear attachment mechanism 112 when coupled to the ladder 100. For example, the front and rear attachment mechanisms 110, 112 can comprise a bolt, washer, and nut combination. The attachment mechanisms 110, 112 also may comprise one or more spacers to prevent binding of the attachment mechanisms 110, 112 with the slider spreader 108. The bolt may insert through the spacer such that the bolt, nut, and washer combination will not bind the attachment mechanism 110, 112. In this case, the spacer of the front attachment mechanism 110 contacts the aperture 302c, and the slider spreader 108 pivots around the spacer. Additionally, the spacer of the rear attachment mechanism 112 contacts the slot 304a and the latching opening 304b, and the slider spreader 108 slides along the spacer. The bolt heads and the nuts retain the slider spreader 108 to the ladder 100. In each case, the attachment mechanisms 110, 112 are inserted through apertures in the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100 to couple the slider spreaders 108 to the ladder 100. The bolts and/or the spacers may function as a pin around which the aperture of the front elongated portion is rotated and/or over which the slot 304a and latching opening 304b of the rear elongated portion 304 slides.

[0029] Any suitable attachment mechanisms may be utilized to allow pivoting of the slider spreader 108 around the front attachment mechanism coupled to the ladder 100 and sliding of the slider spreader 108 along the rear attachment mechanism coupled to the ladder 100.

[0030] As depicted in the figures, the slider spreader 108 can be integrally formed from a single piece of material by cutting a desired outline of the slider spreader 108, bending the material to form the front and rear elongated portions 302, 304, drilling the apertures 302c, 306a, and cutting the slot 304a, 304b. The slider spreader 108 also can be formed from multiple components that are attached to each other to create the desired configuration for the slider spreader 108.

[0031] Figures 7A-7E are side views depicting operation of the slider spreaders 108 to open the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100, illustrating sequential opening of the ladder 100 from a closed position depicted in Figure 7A, through intermediate positions depicted in Figures 7B- 7D, to an open position depicted in Figure 7E. For ease of illustration, the ladder 100 depicted in Figures 7A-7E has slider spreaders 108 disposed on an exterior of the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100.

[0032] The ladder 100 starts in the closed position illustrated in Figure 7A in which the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100 are closed. In the closed position, the slider spreader 108 is pivoted around the front attachment mechanism 110 such that the rear attachment mechanism 112 has slid toward an end of the slot 304a near the front attachment mechanism 110. As depicted in Figure 7A, the front and rear attachment mechanisms 110, 112 are disposed at substantially the same height above the ground along the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100 in the closed position. [0033] In operation, to open the ladder 100, the user manipulates the front elongated portion 302 (for example, via the handle 306) such that the rear attachment mechanism 112 slides within the slot 304 as the rear legs 104 of the ladder 100 move in the direction D away from the legs 102 of the ladder 100, as the slider spreader 108 rotates around the front attachment mechanism 110. When the legs 102, 104 reach the maximum spread and the rear attachment mechanism 112 reaches the end of the slot 304a away from the front elongated portion 302, the rear attachment mechanism 112 engages into the latching opening 304b (if provided) of the slot 304a to secure the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100 in the open position, as depicted in Figure 7E.

[0034] Closing the ladder 100 is illustrated by sequentially viewing Figures 7E to 7A. To close the ladder 100, the user manipulates the front elongated portion 302 (for example, via the handle 306) such that the rear attachment mechanism 112 disengages from the latching opening 304b of the slot 304a and slides within the slot 304a toward the front elongated portion 302 as the rear legs 104 of the ladder 100 move toward the legs 102 of the ladder 100, and as the slider spreader 108 rotates around the front attachment mechanism 110. When the rear legs 104 reach the closed position next to the legs 102, the slot 304a extends substantially in the direction along the legs 102, 104, thereby retaining the rear attachment mechanism 112 in the closed position to hold the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100 together. [0035] Magnets may be attached to one or more cross supports 105 and positioned to contact the rear end of the slider spreaders 108 when the ladder is in the closed position. For example, magnets may be placed on cross supports 105 at locations 704 illustrated in Figure 7A. In this manner, magnetic attraction between the magnets and the rear ends of the slider spreaders 108 can assist in holding the slider spreaders 108 (and therefore the ladder 100) in the closed position.

[0036] The slider spreader described herein can be formed from any suitable material, such as metals, wood, plastics, or others suitable materials or combinations thereof. Materials can be chosen to provide desired strength, functionality, weight, or other design parameters.

[0037] A ladder may include one slider spreader attached to two legs of the ladder, for example, and front leg 102 and rear leg 104 of the ladder 100. The ladder also may include a slider spreader attached to the opposite front leg 102 and rear leg 104 of the ladder. The innovations are described herein with the front elongated portion 302 of the slider spreader 108 being connected to the front leg 102 of the ladder 100 and the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108 being connected to the rear leg 104 of the ladder 100. However, this configuration may be switched whereby the front elongated portion 302 of the slider spreader 108 is connected to the rear leg 104 of the ladder 100 and the rear elongated portion 304 of the slider spreader 108 is connected to the front leg 102 of the ladder 100.

[0038] Figures 1A, IB, 2A, and 2B depict a ladder 100 with slider spreaders 108 disposed on an interior of the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100, with the handles 306 extending toward an interior of the ladder 100. However, the slider spreaders 108 may be disposed on an exterior of the legs 102, 104 of the ladder 100, with the handles 306 extending toward an exterior of the ladder 100. In this case, a shield (see item 702 in Figures 7A-7E) may be provided along the exterior of the front legs 102 to protect the rear elongated portion of the slider spreader 108 during storage and transportation.

[0039] The slider spreaders described herein are designed to attach to any ladder having two legs that fold apart or together via a hinge point. For example, the slider spreaders described herein can replace a conventional hinge spreader on a common step ladder and may be positioned on either the inside or outside of the front step and rear support legs of the ladder to set the proper open-spread width of folding ladder legs.

[0040] The slider spreaders allow the user to spread open or to close the legs of the ladder more easily than conventional folding step ladder spreaders. The user can stand in the same position (on step side) to throw open or pull closed the legs of the folding ladder. The user doesn’t have to reach around to unlock the open spreader like on the conventional folding step ladders with hinged spreaders. The user also does not have to manually push or pull the legs of the ladder apart or towards each other to open/close the ladder like with conventional folding step ladders with hinged spreaders. Although, the user may push or pull the legs of the ladder operate the slider spreaders, if desired, instead of using the provided handles.

[0041] The slider spreader is less likely to be a pinched-fmger hazard because of the location of the user’s hands on the slider spreader’s handles when opening and closing the ladder, as compared to a conventional hinge spreader which typically requires the user’s hands placed between the legs to operate.

[0042] The slider spreader can allow the user to spread open or close the legs of the ladder faster than conventional folding ladder spreaders. The slider spreader also locks the legs together when closed for easier transporting or carrying of the ladder. The slider spreader also locks the legs apart when open for more security of the ladder in use.

[0043] The example systems, methods, and components described in the embodiments presented previously are illustrative, and, in alternative embodiments, certain components can be combined in a different order, omitted entirely, and/or combined between different example embodiments, and/or certain additional components can be added, without departing from the scope and spirit of various embodiments. Accordingly, such alternative embodiments are included in the scope of the following claims, which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such alternate embodiments.

[0044] Although specific embodiments have been described above in detail, the description is merely for purposes of illustration. It should be appreciated, therefore, that many aspects described above are not intended as required or essential elements unless explicitly stated otherwise. Modifications of, and equivalent components or acts corresponding to, the disclosed aspects of the example embodiments, in addition to those described above, can be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the following claims, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.