Ladder stabilizing device

Claim 2

A ladder stabilizing device for mounting to the upper end portion of a straight ladder of the type having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising vertically spaced, upper and lower, inverted U-shaped brackets each comprising an elongated channel member adapted to net downwardly over substantially the entire length of one of two rungs adjacent to the upper end of the ladder; support means rigidly connecting said upper and lower brackets to each other; said support means having a pair of legs projecting divergently outwardly from the plane defined by said support means for contacting a work surface and spacing the upper end of said ladder away from the work surface; each said channel member having a substantially horizontal upper wall, a first Sidewall disposed at a slightly acute angle with respect to said upper wall, and a second sidewall disposed generally parallel with said first sidewall; said second sidewall having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders whereby each said bracket is shaped in cross section to provide a stepped, generally U-ahaped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various shapes and sizes; said support means being secured to said first sidewall and said legs projecting outwardly therefrom.

Claim 3

A ladder stabilizing device for mounting to the upper end portion of a straight ladder of the type having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising vertically spaced, upper and lower, inverted U-shaped brackets adapted to nest downwardly over two rungs adjacent to the upper end of the ladder; support means rigidly connecting said upper and lower brackets to each other; said support means having a pair of legs projecting divergently outwardly from the plane defined by said support means for contacting a work surface and spacing the upper end of said ladder away from the work surface; said brackets being shaped in cross section to provide a stepped, generally U-shaped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof whereby said brackets are adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various shapes and sizes; each said bracket having a first wall disposed adjacent to and generally parallel with said support means, a generally parallel second wall spaced outwardly from said first wall in the opposite direction from said legs, and a top wall connecting the upper edges of said first and second walls; said second wall having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said first and second walls of at least one of said brackets having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across the bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall; and a retainer pin adapted to be inserted in a selected pair of said aligned apertures to retain said bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes.

Claim 4

A ladder stabilizing device for mounting to the upper end portion of a straight ladder of the type having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising vertically spaced, upper and lower, inverted U-shaped brackets adapted to nest downwardly over two rungs adjacent to the upper end of the ladder; support means rigidly connecting said upper and lower brackets to each other; said support means having a pair of legs projecting divergently outwardly from the plane defined by said support means for contacting a work surface and spacing the upper end of said ladder away from the work surface; said brackets being shaped in cross section to provide a stepped, generally U-shaped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof whereby said brackets are adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various shapes and sizes; each said bracket having a first wall disposed adjacent to and generally parallel with said support means, a generally parallel second wall spaced outwardly from said first wall in the opposite direction from said legs, and a top wall connecting the upper edges of said first and second walls; said second wall having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said first and second walls of at least one of said brackets having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across the bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall; and a retainer pin adapted to be inserted in a selected pair of said aligned apertures to retain said bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes.

Claim 5

A ladder stabilizing device as set forth in claim 3: one of said apertures in said second wall being disposed adjacent to the lower, free edge of said wall and other of said apertures being spaced upwardly therefrom; said second wall having a relatively enlarged opening disposed laterally of and adjacent to said other apertures; said retainer pin comprising a shank portion for inserting through a pair of said aligned apertures and a backwardly turned, resilient arm at one end of said shank portion disposed generally parallel with said shank portion and spaced laterally therefrom; said arm having an indentation therein and adapted to slide resiliently over the free lower edge of said second wall when said shank is inserted through said one aperture and slide over the edge of said opening when said shank is inserted through one of said other apertures, said indentation engaging the respective edges to hold said retainer pin in place.

Claim 6

A ladder stabilizing device as set forth in claim 4: said legs projecting laterally beyond the side rails of the ladder and providing bearing points disposed substantially a greater distance apart than the ladder rails; an elongated brace disposed parallel with said brackets and interconnecting intermediate portions of said legs; a bucket holder clip carried by said brace; said clip having a loop portion at one end thereof loosely fitted over said brace whereby said clip is slidable from one side of said stabilizing device to the other, an intermediate arch portion adapted to fit downwardly over either of said legs, and a depending hook at the opposite end thereof whereby to provide means for hanging a bucket at either side of the ladder.

Claim 7

A mounting bracket for a ladder Stabilizing device adapted to be mounted to the upper end portion of a straight ladder having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said mounting bracket comprising an inverted, elongated U-shaped member having a substantially horizontal upper wall, a first sidewall disposed at a slightly acute angle with respect to said upper wall, and a second sidewall disposed generally parallel with said first sidewall; said second sidewall having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders whereby each said bracket is shaped in cross section to provide a stepped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said bracket adapted to engage substantially the entire length of a ladder rung.

Claim 8

A mounting bracket for a ladder Stabilizing device adapted to be mounted to the upper end portion of a straight ladder having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said mounting bracket comprising an inverted, elongated U-shaped member having a substantially horizontal upper wall, a first sidewall disposed at a slightly acute angle with respect to said upper wall, and a second sidewall disposed generally parallel with said first sidewall; said second sidewall having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders whereby each said bracket is shaped in cross section to provide a stepped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said bracket adapted to engage substantially the entire length of a ladder rung.

Claim 9

A mounting bracket for a ladder stabilizing device adapted to be mounted to the upper end portion of a straight ladder having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said mounting bracket comprising an inverted, U-shaped member shaped in cross section to provide a stepped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof whereby said bracket is adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said bracket having spaced, generally parallel sidewalls and a top wall connecting the upper edges of said sidewalls; one of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls having apertures therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across said bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall; and a retainer pin adapted to be inserted in a selected pair of said aligned apertures to retain said bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes.

Claim 10

A mounting bracket for a ladder stabilizing device adapted to be mounted to the upper end portion of a straight ladder having generally parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said mounting bracket comprising an inverted, U-shaped member shaped in cross section to provide a stepped opening of progressively diminishing size from the open bottom upwardly thereof whereby said bracket is adapted to nest over ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said bracket having spaced, generally parallel sidewalls and a top wall connecting the upper edges of said sidewalls; one of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls having apertures therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage ladder rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across said bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall; and a retainer pin adapted to be inserted in a selected pair of said aligned apertures to retain said bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes.

Claim 11

A mounting bracket as set forth in claim 6: one said aperture in one said sidewall being disposed adjacent to the lower edge of said one sidewall and other said apertures being spaced upwardly therefrom; said one wall having a relatively enlarged opening disposed laterally of said other apertures; said retainer pin comprising a shank portion for inserting through a pair of said aligned apertures, a spring loop formed at one end, and a backwardly turned arm having an indentation therein; said arm adapted to slide resiliently over the free lower edge of said one sidewall when said shank is inserted thorough said one aperture and slide over the edge of said opening when said shank is inserted through one of said other apertures, said indentation engaging the respective edges to hold said retainer pin in place.

Claim 12

A bucket holder clip for a ladder stabilizing device having means for mounting the device to the upper end of a straight ladder and outwardly divergently directed, work surface contacting legs connected at their medial portions by an elongated brace, said clip having an enlarged loop at one end adapted to fit loosely over said brace whereby said clip can freely slide from one leg to the other; said clip having an intermediate arch portion adapted to fit downwardly over either of the legs to retain said clip at one side of the stabilizing device; said clip having a depending hook at the opposite end thereof whereby to provide means for hanging a bucket at either side of the ladder.

Claim 13

A bucket holder clip for a ladder stabilizing device having means for mounting the device to the upper end of a straight ladder and outwardly divergently directed, work surface contacting legs connected at their medial portions by an elongated brace, said clip having an enlarged loop at one end adapted to fit loosely over said brace whereby said clip can freely slide from one leg to the other; said clip having an intermediate arch portion adapted to fit downwardly over either of the legs to retain said clip at one side of the stabilizing device; said clip having a depending hook at the opposite end thereof whereby to provide means for hanging a bucket at either side of the ladder.

Claim 14

A ladder stabilizing device for a straight ladder having substantially parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising a pair of support members having parallel, laterally spaced portions adapted to be disposed generally parallel with the ladder side rails; said support members having leg portions diverging outwardly from the plane of said parallel portions; a pair of elongated brackets laterally connecting upper and lower portions of said parallel portions; a pair of Crossed brace members obliquely connecting said parallel members and opposite ends of said brackets to each other; said brackets being inverted, U-shaped in section transverse to the lengths thereof and so vertically spaced as to nest downwardly over two adjacent rungs near the top of a ladder; each said bracket having generally parallel sidewalls and a substantially flat, horizontal top wall connecting said sidewalls; said sidewalls being disposed at an angle with respect to said top wall corresponding substantially to the angle of the ladder in use whereby said top wall remains substantially horizontal in use of said stabilizing device; one of said walls being connected to said parallel portions on the side opposite said legs portions; the other of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said brackets adapted to engage substantially the entire length of the ladder rungs.

Claim 15

A ladder stabilizing device for a straight ladder having substantially parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising a pair of support members having parallel, laterally spaced portions adapted to be disposed generally parallel with the ladder side rails; said support members having leg portions diverging outwardly from the plane of said parallel portions; a pair of elongated brackets laterally connecting upper and lower portions of said parallel portions; a pair of Crossed brace members obliquely connecting said parallel members and opposite ends of said brackets to each other; said brackets being inverted, U-shaped in section transverse to the lengths thereof and so vertically spaced as to nest downwardly over two adjacent rungs near the top of a ladder; each said bracket having generally parallel sidewalls and a substantially flat, horizontal top wall connecting said sidewalls; said sidewalls being disposed at an angle with respect to said top wall corresponding substantially to the angle of the ladder in use whereby said top wall remains substantially horizontal in use of said stabilizing device; one of said walls being connected to said parallel portions on the side opposite said legs portions; the other of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps therein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said brackets adapted to engage substantially the entire length of the ladder rungs.

Claim 16

A ladder stabilizing device for a straight ladder having substantially parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising a pair of support members having parallel, laterally spaced portions adapted to be disposed generally parallel with the ladder side rails; said support members having leg portions diverging outwardly from the plane of said parallel portions; a pair of elongated brackets laterally connecting upper and lower portions of said parallel portions; a pair of crossed brace members obliquely connecting said parallel members and opposite ends of said brackets to each other; said brackets being inverted, U-shaped in section transverse to the lengths thereof and so vertically spaced as to nest downwardly over two adjacent rungs near the top of a ladder; each said bracket having generally parallel sidewalls and a top wall connecting said sidewalls; one of said walls being connected to said parallel portions on the side opposite said leg portions; the other of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps herein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls adapted to extend downwardly below the ladder rungs; the sidewalls of at least one of said brackets having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across the bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall and adapted to receive a retainer pin at different levels to retain said one bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes; one of said pairs of apertures being disposed adjacent to the lower edges of the sidewalls and other of said apertures being spaced upwardly therefrom; said stepped wall having a relatively enlarged opening disposed adjacent to said other apertures; a retainer in pin comprising a shank for inserting through a pair of said aligned apertures and a backwardly turned, resilient arm at one end of said shank disposed generally parallel with said shank and spaced la laterally therefrom; said arm having an indentation therein and adapted to slide resiliently over the lower edge of said stepped wall when said shank is inserted through the lowermost pair of aligned apertures and slide over the edge of said opening when said shank is inserted through a pair of said other apertures, said indentation engaging the respective edges to hold said retainer pin in place.

Claim 17

A ladder stabilizing device for a straight ladder having substantially parallel side rails connected by transverse rungs, said stabilizing device comprising a pair of support members having parallel, laterally spaced portions adapted to be disposed generally parallel with the ladder side rails; said support members having leg portions diverging outwardly from the plane of said parallel portions; a pair of elongated brackets laterally connecting upper and lower portions of said parallel portions; a pair of crossed brace members obliquely connecting said parallel members and opposite ends of said brackets to each other; said brackets being inverted, U-shaped in section transverse to the lengths thereof and so vertically spaced as to nest downwardly over two adjacent rungs near the top of a ladder; each said bracket having generally parallel sidewalls and a top wall connecting said sidewalls; one of said walls being connected to said parallel portions on the side opposite said leg portions; the other of said walls having a plurality of outwardly directed steps herein providing inner shoulders adapted to engage rungs of various sizes and shapes; said sidewalls adapted to extend downwardly below the ladder rungs; the sidewalls of at least one of said brackets having apertures therein arranged in pairs aligned across the bracket from wall to wall and spaced different distances from said top wall and adapted to receive a retainer pin at different levels to retain said one bracket on rungs of various sizes and shapes; one of said pairs of apertures being disposed adjacent to the lower edges of the sidewalls and other of said apertures being spaced upwardly therefrom; said stepped wall having a relatively enlarged opening disposed adjacent to said other apertures; a retainer in pin comprising a shank for inserting through a pair of said aligned apertures and a backwardly turned, resilient arm at one end of said shank disposed generally parallel with said shank and spaced la laterally therefrom; said arm having an indentation therein and adapted to slide resiliently over the lower edge of said stepped wall when said shank is inserted through the lowermost pair of aligned apertures and slide over the edge of said opening when said shank is inserted through a pair of said other apertures, said indentation engaging the respective edges to hold said retainer pin in place.