IADDER SUPPORT

The invention relates to a ladder support provided with at least one rotatably disposed roller suitable for mounting on an upper side of two side members of a ladder.

Such a ladder support is known from US-A-6, 419, 045. The rotatably disposed roller makes it easily possible to extend a ladder while the outer end of the ladder rests against a support surface, whereby extending becomes safer and requires less effort. In the known ladder support the roller is mounted between the two side members. For applications where the roller supports on a relatively robust ground surface, this is sufficient. The ladder support according to the invention can be used in situations wherein the support surface is relatively easily damaged, as is for instance the case with a thatched roof. A short roller could here result in damage to the roof. The inventive ladder support therefore has the feature that a length of the at least one roller is greater than a distance between the two side members. The at least one roller is preferably mounted between two outer ends of a U-shaped fixing bracket. The U-shaped fixing bracket can then be mounted on the side members of the ladder.

A favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that the ladder support also comprises two T-shaped or L-shaped connecting parts which are placed slidably on the U-shaped fixing bracket. The slidable connecting parts enable easy fitting on various types of ladder with different distances between the side members.

A further favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that the ladder support comprises two angle profiles, wherein each angle profile is connected to a connecting part, and at least one tension rod mounted between the angle profiles. It is then easily possible to place the outer ends of the side

members on the angle profiles and to tighten the tension rod in order to fix the ladder support to the ladder. In the case an aluminium ladder is used, the tension rod preferably passes through a hollow rung, whereby a very rigid construction is obtained in simple manner.

A further favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that the at least one roller is disposed rotatably, whereby the ladder support can be rolled over the surface without this additionally loading an easily damaged support surface.

A further favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that a periphery of the at least one roller is provided with a layer manufactured from an elastic material such as rubber. The elastic material contributes toward an easily damaged surface being loaded less, and moreover reduces the chance of a ladder sliding away laterally.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that the ladder support is provided with a system of at least three rollers mounted in a rotatably disposed roller carrousel. It is then easily possible to extend the ladder while the ladder support rests against a support surface, even when this support surface is highly uneven, as is for instance the case with a tiled roof. If a roller strikes an uneven part, the roller carrousel will begin to rotate and place a subsequent roller on the 'support surface beyond this uneven part, thereby passing over the uneven part without problem.

A further favourable embodiment of the inventive ladder support has the feature that the roller carrousel is mounted between two outer ends of the U-shaped fixing bracket so that a width of the roller carrousel can be chosen that is greater than the distance between the two side members of the ladder .

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a ladder together with a possible embodiment of a ladder support according to the invention;

Fxg . 2A shows this ladder support in front view;

Fig . 2B shows this ladder support in bottom view;

Fig . 3 shows a ladder together with an alternative embodiment of a ladder support according to the invention;

Fig . 4A shows a single roller in side view;

Fig . 4B shows a roller carrousel with three rollers in side view; Fig. 4C shows a ladder support provided with a roller carrousel in bottom view.

Fig. 1 shows a ladder 1 together with a possible embodiment of a ladder support 2 according to the invention. The ladder support is provided with a rotatably disposed roller 3 which, as shown here, can be placed on a roof 4, whereafter ladder 1 can be extended further. Roller 3 herein rolls over the surface of roof 4, this being particularly advantageous in the case of a thatched roof, wherein without the presence of roller 3 the ends of the side members of ladder 1 could damage the thatched roof. Ladder support 2 is particularly suitable for mounting on an aluminium ladder, wherein a pin 5 can be placed through one of the hollow rungs and thus attaches ladder support 2 in inseparable manner to ladder 1.

Fig. 2A shows a front view of this embodiment of ladder support 2 in more detail. Ladder support 2 consists of a U-shaped fixing bracket 6, the legs 7a, 7b of which point downward in the figure and between which a roller 8 is rotatably mounted using bearings 9a, 9b. Two T-shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b can slide over U-shaped fixing bracket 6 and can be secured using wing nuts 11a, lib. Welded to T-shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b are two angle profiles 12a, 12b on which the top end of ladder 1

is laid in a situation of use, such that pin 5 can be placed through a rung of ladder 1. Wing nuts 11a, lib are then loosened and pin 5 is tightened using a wing nut 13, whereby the ladder is clamped between angle profiles 12a, 12b. Finally, T-shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b are fixed using wing nuts 11a, lib, and the ladder including the ladder support is ready for use.

Fig. 2B shows ladder support 2 in bottom view, with U- shaped fixing bracket 6, between the legs 7a, 7b of which the roller 8 is mounted using bearings 9a, 9b. Further visible are the two T-shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b which can slide over U-shaped fixing bracket 6, and wing nuts 11a, lib. Also shown ^' are the two angle profiles 12a, 12b which are welded to T-shaped connecting parts

10a, 10b, and pin 5 which can be placed through a rung of ladder 1.

Fig. 3 shows a ladder 1 together with an- alternative embodiment of a ladder support 2 according to the invention. Ladder support 2 is provided with a rotatably disposed roller carrousel 14 which can rotate around a central shaft and which, in the embodiment shown here, is provided with three rotatably disposed rollers. Roller carrousel 14 is highly suitable for use on a tiled roof. Roller carrousel 14 is herein laid on the tiled roof, wherein one or two rollers form the actual support for ladder 1. If ladder 1 is now extended further, a roller will inevitably strike a bottom edge of one or more tiles . At that moment the roller carrousel 14 will begin to rotate around the central shaft and another roller will move to rest on one or more higher roof tiles and then form the actual support for ladder 1. Ladder support 2 is particularly suitable for mounting on an aluminium ladder, wherein a pin 5 can be placed through one of the rungs and thus attaches ladder support 2 inseparably to ladder 1.

Fig. 4A shows a side view of a single roller 8 as specified as part of a ladder support with reference to Fig. IA, Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B. Roller 8 is particularly

intended for resting on a thatched roof in a situation of use, and can be manufactured from metal, for instance aluminium. Protruding from roller 8 is a central shaft 15 which is mounted in bearings 9a, 9b visible in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4B shows a side view of a roller carrousel 14 with three rollers 8a, 8b, 8c, provided with shafts 15a, 15b, 15c, two end plates 16a, 16b in which shafts 15a, 15b, 15c are mounted and of which only end plate 16a is shown in this figure. Further shown is a central shaft 17 around which roller carrousel 14 can rotate. Because rollers 8a, 8b, 8c are particularly intended for resting on a tiled roof in a situation of use, they are preferably provided with a covering 18a, 18b, 18c of rubber.

Fig. 4C shows a bottom view of a ladder support 2 provided with a roller carrousel 14, with U-shaped fixing bracket 6, between the legs 7a, 7b of which central shaft 17 of roller carrousel 14 is mounted using bearings 9a, 9b. Further shown are the two T-shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b which can slide over U-shaped fixing bracket 6, and wing nuts 11a, lib. Also shown are the two angle profiles 12a, 12b which are welded to T- shaped connecting parts 10a, 10b, and pin 5 which can be placed through a rung of ladder 1.