Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to a type of securement apparatus for securing a ladder for transportation.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0002] There is provided herein securement apparatus comprising an upper frame and a lower frame defining a passage for a ladder therebetween .

[0003] The apparatus is configurable in use in an open configuration for receipt of a ladder between the frames and a closed configuration wherein the ladder is secured between the frames.

[0004] The present apparatus may be attached to a vehicle roof rack for the secure transportation of ladders.

[0005] The apparatus may comprise ladder housing rails that guide the ladder as the ladder slides into and out from the passage.

[0006] The ladder housing rails may be arranged parallel for extension ladders or at an angle for A-frame ladders by a lateral offset adjustment mechanism.

[0007] The ladder may comprise a roller to assist the ladder into the passage. The roller preferably locates towards the rear of the apparatus so that the ladder can be loaded into the apparatus at an angle wherein, as the centre of gravity of the ladder goes past the roller, the ladder falls flat on the rails. Furthermore, a rear section of the upper frame may be devoid of cross bracing so that the distal end of the ladder can protrude up through the upper frame when loading or unloading at an angle at the rear of the apparatus.

[0008] The apparatus may comprise pivot arms interconnecting the frames. As such, the apparatus may be biased towards the open and closed configurations either side of top dead centre positions of the pivot arms.

[0009] The upper frame may be closer to the top dead centre position of the pivot arms in the open configuration as compared to in the closed configuration so that the upper frame is biased with greater biasing force under gravity to the closed configuration.

[0010] The upper frame may be further biased between the open and closed configuration by tension elements acting on the pivot arms.

[001 1 ] The upper frame may have a strike extending into the passage which is hit by a distal end of the ladder when the ladder is pushed to the end of the passage, thereby urging the upper frame forward and down to the closed configuration. As such, the ladder may be engaged within the apparatus by pushing the ladder into the apparatus alone.

[0012] When the apparatus closes, a locking mechanism may automatically latch, thereby preventing the apparatus from opening until the locking mechanism is manually released.

[0013] Furthermore, the upper frame may comprise rung locking prongs which may fall in behind at least one rung of the ladder to hold the ladder within the passage when the apparatus is in the closed configuration.

[0014] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of securement apparatus in an open configuration in accordance with an embodiment;

[0017] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the securement apparatus in a closed configuration;

[0018] Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the apparatus in the open configuration;

[0019] Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the apparatus and a closed configuration;

[0020] Figure 5 shows an opposite side perspective view of the apparatus; [0021 ] Figure 6 shows a locking mechanism of the apparatus when in the open configuration;

[0022] Figure 7 shows the locking mechanism latched when the apparatus is in the closed configuration ;

[0023] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of securement apparatus suited for A-frame ladders and an open configuration in accordance with a second embodiment; and [0024] Figure 9 shows the securement apparatus of the second embodiment in a closed configuration.

Description of Embodiments

[0025] Securement apparatus 100 comprises an upper frame 101 and a lower frame 102 thereby defining a passage 103 for a ladder therebetween.

[0026] Figure 3 shows the apparatus configured in an open configuration for receipt of a ladder between the frames 101 , 102 and Figure 4 shows the apparatus 100 in a closed configuration wherein the ladder is secured between the frames 101 , 102.

[0027] The apparatus 100 is preferably horizontally mounted so that the ladder is secured horizontally between the frames 101 , 102. The apparatus 100 may be secured to a vehicle roof rack for ladder transportation. In this regard, the apparatus

100 may comprise attachments for attaching the apparatus 100 to the vehicle roof rack in use.

[0028] The lower frame 102 is preferably statically affixed whereas the upper frame

101 moves relative to the lower frame 102.

[0029] The upper and lower frames 101 , 102 are preferably elongate so as to secure the ladder along the entire length thereof. Where the apparatus 100 is roof mounted to a vehicle, the ladder may be inserted through a rear end 104 of the apparatus all the way to a front end 105 of the apparatus 100.

[0030] The frames 101 , 102 thereby preferably move relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100. Where the lower frame 102 is statically affixed, the upper frame 101 moves relative to the lower frame 102 along the longitudinal axis. [0031 ] The upper frame 101 may be defined by side bars 106 with bracing 107 therebetween. Similarly, the lower frame 102 may be defined by side bars 106 with bracing 107 therebetween.

[0032] The apparatus 100 may further comprise ladder housing rails 108. The ladder may slide along the ladder housing rails 108 when being inserted into the apparatus 100 and when being retracted from the apparatus 100. The rails 108 may be a pair of right-angled side rails 108 which engage underneath and sides of the ladder in use. As such, each rail 108 may comprise a horizontal flange 109 and a vertical side flange 1 10.

[0033] The horizontal flange 109 supports the ladder at both sides from underneath whereas the opposing side flanges 1 10 guide the ladder centrally.

[0034] In embodiments, the rails 108 may be attached to the lower frame 102 in a laterally adjustable manner. As such, the width between the rails 108 may be configured according to the width of the ladder.

[0035] Whereas the embodiment shown in Figures 1 - 7 may be used for an extension ladder, the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be employed to secure an A- frame ladder. In this regard, the laterally adjustable attachment of the rails 108 to the lower frame 102 may allow the rails 108 to be positioned at an angle with respect to each other (i.e. nonparallel) so as to conform to the corresponding A-frame crosssection of the A-frame ladder.

[0036] As is shown in Figure 9, cross bracing 107 of the lower frame 102 may comprise laterally orientated longitudinal slots 1 12 for variable positioning through pins 1 13. As is evident also from Figure 9, cross bracing 107 at both ends of the rails 108 may comprise the laterally orientated longitudinal slots 1 12 so that the width between the rails 108 and the angle of the rails 108 with respect to each other may be adjusted.

[0037] The apparatus 100 may comprise at least one roller 1 1 1 to assist the insertion and extraction of the ladder from the passage 103. The roller 1 1 1 may locate adjacent the rails 108 so as to assist in guiding of the ladder onto the rails 108 and off from the rails 108. [0038] Further preferably, the roller 1 1 1 locates towards the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100. As such, and especially when loading a ladder from the rear of the vehicle, the roller 1 1 1 may allow the ladder to be held at an angle before it is pushed flat onto the rails 108. As shown in Figure 1 , the upper frame 101 may be devoid of cross bracing towards the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100 so that a distal end of the ladder can protrude up through the upper frame 101 when the ladder is held at an angle against the roller 1 1 1. In a preferred embodiment, the roller 1 1 1 locates right at the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100. Where the driveshaft 1 16 also locates right at the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100, the driveshaft 1 16 may go through a bore of a cylindrical roller 1 14. In other words, the driveshaft 1 16 may be used to pivot both laterally adjacent pivot arms 1 14 at the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100 whereas the concentrically surrounding cylindrical roller 1 1 1 allows the ladder to be rolled over the driveshaft 1 16.

[0039] The apparatus 100 may comprise pivot arms 1 14 interconnecting the frames 101 , 102. The pivot arms 1 14 pivot with respect to the frames 101 , 102 when the frames 101 , 102 transition between the open and closed configurations.

[0040] The apparatus 100 may comprise a lever 1 15 acting on at least one of the pivot arms 1 14 which may be thrown to open or close the apparatus 100. As shown in Figure 1 , the lever 1 15 may interface a pivot arm 1 14 at the rear end 1 14 of the apparatus so as to be conveniently located when inserting and extracting the ladder from the passage 103.

[0041 ] The lever 1 15 may act on a pair of adjacent pivot arms 1 14. In this regard, the lever 1 15 may act on an adjacent pivot arm via a lateral driveshaft 1 16.

[0042] The lateral driveshaft 1 16 may non-rotatably engage the adjacent pivot arm 1 14 so that the adjacent pivot arm 1 14 pivots under rotation of the lateral driveshaft 1 16.

[0043] The upper frame 101 may have a strike 1 17 which is hit by a distal end of the ladder when the ladder is inserted into the passage 103 in use, thereby urging the upper frame 101 to close against the lower frame 102. As can be seen in Figure 4, a distal end of the strike 1 17 may protrude beneath the lower frame 102. [0044] As such, the user need only push the rear of the ladder into the passage through to the front end 105 of the apparatus 100 at which point the leading edge of the ladder hits the strike 1 17 to cause the upper frame 101 to move along the longitudinal axis and down towards the lower frame 102 to the closed configuration.

[0045] The apparatus 100 may comprise an adjustment mechanism to adjust the position of the strike 1 17 along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the strike 1 17 may extend orthogonally from underneath a cross brace 107 at the front end 105 of the apparatus 100. This forwardly positioned cross brace 107 may be slidably adjusted with respect to the sidebars 106 by a plurality of an adjustment position apertures 131 . As such, the position of the strike 1 17 could be adjusted depending on the length of the ladder.

[0046] The upper frame 101 may be biased towards the closed configuration or the open configuration.

[0047] Preferably, the upper frame 101 is biased both towards the closed configuration and the open configuration. As such, the apparatus 100 may be left standing in the open configuration, especially when handling the ladder and, furthermore biased to the closed configuration when securing the ladder to thereby prevent inadvertent disengagement.

[0048] The upper frame 101 may be biased to either position either side of a top dead centre position of the pivot arms 1 14.

[0049] The upper frame 101 may be biased more to the closed configuration than the open configuration. Specifically, as can be seen from Figure 3, in the open configuration, the upper frame 101 may be just beyond the top dead centre position of the pivot arms 1 14. However, in the closed configuration, the upper frame 101 is much further beyond the top dead centre position of the pivot arms 1 14, thereby providing greater biasing force.

[0050] The apparatus may comprise stoppers 130 which limit the range of the pivot arms 1 14 to just beyond the top dead centre position when in the open configuration. The stoppers 130 may be configured to limit the pivot arms 1 14 to approximately 10° beyond dead centre position. [0051 ] The upper frame 101 may be biased to either position either side of the top dead centre positions of the pivot arms 1 14 under gravity.

[0052] However, in embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a tension element 1 18 which pulls the upper frame 101 to at least one of the positions. In the embodiment shown, the tension element 1 18 is a gas strut but, in other embodiments, the tension element 1 18 may be a tension spring.

[0053] As is further shown, the tension element 1 18 may act between the lower frame 102 and a lever 1 19 extending orthogonally from at least one of the pivot arms 1 18. As is shown in Figure 3, the tension element 1 18 goes just beyond the pivot point 120 when in the open configuration and, as is shown in Figure 4, much further beyond the pivot point 120 when in the closed configuration, thereby applying greater biasing force in the closed configuration.

[0054] The apparatus 100 may comprise stoppers 121 acting to maintain a minimal offset between the frames 101 , 102, thereby preventing entrapment of fingers or the like. Facing edges of the stoppers 121 may be rubberised to prevent the upper frame

101 slamming closed.

[0055] With reference to Figure 6 and 7, the apparatus 100 may comprise a locking mechanism 122 to lock the apparatus 100 in the closed configuration. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism may comprise a locking pin 123 and wherein a distal end 124 thereof is deflected against a surface 125 of the lower frame

102 to catch under the surface 125 in the manner shown in Figure 7.

[0056] The locking pin 124 may be biased to an extended position by a compression spring 126 and which may be retracted by a handle 127 to retrieve the distal end 124 of the locking pin 123 from under the surface 125 of the lower frame 102 to unlock the apparatus 100. As such, to unlock the apparatus 100 to retrieve the ladder, the user could hold the locking pin 123 retracted by the handle 127 thereof while simultaneously throwing the lever 1 15 to pivot the upper frame 101 away from the lower frame 102. [0057] The upper frame 101 may comprise rung locking prongs 127 which close in behind rungs of the ladder when the apparatus 100 is closed to thereby hold the ladder in the passage 103.

[0058] The position of the rung locking prongs 127 may be adjusted along the length of the apparatus 100 to suit rung positions of different types of ladders. As shown, the rung locking prongs 127 may extend from an undersurface of the cross brace 107. Edges of the cross brace 107 may be adjustably positioned along plurality of apertures 128 along the sidebars 106 of the upper frame 101.

[0059] As is shown in Figure 3, the rung locking prongs 127 may be wedge-shaped so that an angled edge 129 thereof forces the ladder forwards (or backwards) if striking an edge of a rung of the ladder.

[0060] Utilisation of the apparatus 100 for ladder securement may comprise affixing the lower frame 102 to a roof rack of a vehicle. The apparatus 100 may be attached to the vehicle so that the rear end 104 is towards the rear of the vehicle so that the ladder can be loaded into the apparatus 100 from the rear of the vehicle.

[0061 ] The apparatus 100 may be configured according to a type of ladder by adjusting the lateral offset of the rung locking prongs 127, the width between the rails 108, the angle between the rungs 108 according to the shape of the ladder and the like.

[0062] To secure a ladder for transportation, the apparatus 100 would be put in the open configuration shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0063] Then, holding the ladder at an angle, the user may place the distal end thereof on the roller 1 1 1 and push the ladder over the roller 1 1 1 which assists the ladder onto the apparatus 100. As alluded to above, the upper frame 101 may be devoid of cross bracing 107 at the rear end 104 of the apparatus 100 so that the distal end of the ladder can extend through the upper frame 101 at the rear of the apparatus 100.

[0064] When the centre of gravity of the ladder goes past the roller 1 1 1 , the ladder falls flat onto the rails 108 after which the ladder can be pushed horizontally to the distal 105 of the apparatus 100. The distal end of the ladder hits the strike 1 17, thereby urging the upper frame 101 forward and thereby causing the upper frame 101 to fall towards the lower frame 102 to the closed configuration.

[0065] As alluded to above, the biasing force in the closed configuration is greater than the biasing force at the open configuration, thereby securing the ladder within the apparatus 100.

[0066] As the upper frame 101 closes against the lower frame 102, the locking rung prongs 127 close in behind at least one rung of the ladder. If the ladder is not well- positioned within the passage 103, the angled edge 127 of the locking rung prongs 127 may push the ladder forwards.

[0067] Furthermore, as the upper frame 101 closes against the lower frame 102 , the distal end 124 of the locking pin 123 is deflected against the vertical surface 125 of the lower frame 102 to thereby latch under the surface 125 and thereby lock the upper frame 101 in the closed configuration.

[0068] The ladder may then be transported safely.

[0069] To unload the ladder, the handle 127 of the locking pin 123 may be pulled to retract the distal end 124 of the locking pin from under the surface 125 of the lower frame 102. Simultaneously, the lever 1 15 may be pulled downwardly to pivot the upper frame 101 away from the lower frame 102.

[0070] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.