Extensible ladder assembly and aerial basket therefor

Claim 2

An extensible ladder assembly for mounting on a mobile platform, comprising: extensible ladder means, said ladder means including at least first and second ladder sections, said first ladder section having first and second ends and said second ladder section having an outer end, said ladder means being operable to selectively extend and retract said second ladder section from and into, respectively, the second end of said first ladder section; structure pivotally mounting the first end of said first ladder section for upward and downward pivotal movement; piston means connected to said first ladder section for selectively pivoting said ladder means upward or downward whereby to raise or lower said ladder means; an aerial basket pivotally mounted on the outer end of said second ladder section so as to be self-leveling; and a two position ladder rest mechanism, said ladder rest mechanism being operable in one position to support said ladder means in a substantially horizontal at rest position and being operable in its second position to support said ladder means in an inclined position below said horizontal rest position.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said ladder rest mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart uprights interconnected at their bottoms by a transverse support member, a pair of inwardly bowed ladder supports pivotally mounted on said uprights, and tie rod means for pivoting said ladder supports between an inner position for supporting said ladder means in its horizontal rest position and an outer position whereat said ladder supports are pivoted out Of the way of said ladder means so that said ladder means may be depressed to rest on said transverse support member.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said piston means connected to said first ladder section are positioned to one side of the pivotal path of ladder travel.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said piston means connected to said first ladder section are positioned to one side of the pivotal path of ladder travel.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 1, including means connected to said basket for damping the movement of said basket to prevent sudden changes in the attitude of said basket.

Claim 7

An extensible ladder assembly for mounting on a mobile platform, comprising: extensible ladder means, said ladder means including at least first and second ladder sections, said first ladder section having first and second ends and said second ladder section having an outer end, said ladder means being operable to selectively extend and retract said second ladder section from and into, respectively, the second end of said first ladder section; structure pivotally mounting the first end of said first ladder section for upward and downward pivotal movement; piston means connected to said first ladder section and positioned to one side of the pivotal path of ladder travel for selectively pivoting said ladder means upward or downward whereby to raise or lower said ladder means; an aerial basket pivotally mounted on the outer end of said second ladder section so as to be self-leveling; store means mounted on said ladder means for automatically pivoting said basket into a storage position whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted into said first ladder section; means connected to said basket for damping the movement of said basket to prevent sudden changes in the attitude of said basket; and a two position ladder rest mechanism, said ladder rest mechanism being operable in one position to support said ladder means in a substantially horizontal at rest position and being operable in its second position to support said ladder means in an inclined position below said horizontal rest position.

Claim 8

An extensible ladder assembly for mounting on a mobile platform, comprising: extensible ladder means, said ladder means including at least first and second ladder sections, said first ladder section having first and second ends and said second ladder section having an outer end, said ladder means being operable to selectively extend and retract said second ladder section from and into, respectively, the second end of said first ladder section; structure pivotally mounting the first end of said first ladder section for upward and downward pivotal movement; piston means connected to said first ladder section and positioned to one side of the pivotal path of ladder travel for selectively pivoting said ladder means upward or downward whereby to raise or lower said ladder means; an aerial basket pivotally mounted on the outer end of said second ladder section so as to be self-leveling; store means mounted on said ladder means for automatically pivoting said basket into a storage position whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted into said first ladder section; means connected to said basket for damping the movement of said basket to prevent sudden changes in the attitude of said basket; and a two position ladder rest mechanism, said ladder rest mechanism being operable in one position to support said ladder means in a substantially horizontal at rest position and being operable in its second position to support said ladder means in an inclined position below said horizontal rest position.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6, wherein said store means comprises: first structure connected to said basket for pivoting said basket; and second structure mounted on said first ladder section for engaging said first structure whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted whereby to pivot said basket into said storage position.

Claim 10

The invention recited in claim 7, wherein: said second structure is a telescoping plunger mechanism resiliently biased in its extended position which is operable to accommodate any additional movement of said second ladder section into said first ladder section after said basket has been pivoted by said plunger mechanism into its storage position; and said damping means is a shock absorber connected between said aerial basket and said second ladder section.

Claim 11

The invention recited in claim 8, wherein said ladder rest mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart uprights interconnected at their bottoms by a transverse support member, a pair of inwardly bowed ladder supports pivotally mounted on said uprights, and tie rod means for pivoting both said ladder supports between an inner position for supporting said ladder means in its horizontal rest position and an outer position whereat said ladder supports are pivoted out of the way of said ladder means so that said ladder means may be depressed to rest on said transverse support member; said piston means includes a piston mechanism connected to each side of said first ladder section; and including latch means for holding said basket in said storage position when said second ladder section is fully retracted, said latch means being operable to release said basket when said second ladder section is extended.

Claim 12

In an extensible ladder assembly for mounting on a mobile platform wherein tHe extensible ladder of said assembly includes first and second ladder sections, said second ladder section being extendable from and retractable into said first ladder section, the improvement comprising: an aerial basket pivotally mounted on the outer end of said second ladder section so as to be self-leveling; and store means mounted on said ladder for automatically pivoting said basket into a storage position whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted into said first ladder section, said store means comprising first structure connected to said basket for pivoting said basket and second structure mounted on said first ladder section for engaging said first structure whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted whereby to pivot said basket into said storage position, said second structure being a telescoping plunger mechanism resiliently biased in its extended position which is operable to accommodate any additional movement of said second ladder section into said first ladder section after said basket has been pivoted by said plunger mechanism into its storage position.

Claim 13

In an extensible ladder assembly for mounting on a mobile platform wherein tHe extensible ladder of said assembly includes first and second ladder sections, said second ladder section being extendable from and retractable into said first ladder section, the improvement comprising: an aerial basket pivotally mounted on the outer end of said second ladder section so as to be self-leveling; and store means mounted on said ladder for automatically pivoting said basket into a storage position whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted into said first ladder section, said store means comprising first structure connected to said basket for pivoting said basket and second structure mounted on said first ladder section for engaging said first structure whenever said second ladder section is fully retracted whereby to pivot said basket into said storage position, said second structure being a telescoping plunger mechanism resiliently biased in its extended position which is operable to accommodate any additional movement of said second ladder section into said first ladder section after said basket has been pivoted by said plunger mechanism into its storage position.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 10, including latch means for holding said basket in said storage position when said second ladder section is fully retracted, said latch means being operable to release said basket when said second ladder section is extended.

Claim 15

The invention defined in claim 10, including means connected to said basket for damping the movement of said basket to prevent sudden changes in the attitude of said basket.

Claim 16

The invention defined in claim 12, wherein said damping means is a shock absorber connected between said basket and said second ladder section.