Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A fiberglass ladder comprising: a pair of rails, each of the rails having a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments, the filaments extending substantially parallel to the length of the rail; a plurality of rungs disposed between and interconnecting the rails at selected intervals, each of the rungs having a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments, the filaments extending substantially parallel to the length of the rung; the fiberglass filaments in the rails and rungs bending at the intersections between the rails and the rungs, with a portion of the filaments in each rung also extending along each rail in one direction and another portion of the filaments in each rung also extending along each rail in the opposite direction, thereby defining a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments at the intersection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fiberglass ladder comprising: a pair of rails, each of the rails having a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments, the filaments extending substantially parallel to the length of the rail; a plurality of rungs disposed between and interconnecting the rails at selected intervals, each of the rungs having a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments, the filaments extending substantially parallel to the length of the rung; the fiberglass filaments in the rails and rungs bending at the intersections between the rails and the rungs, with a portion of the filaments in each rung also extending along each rail in one direction and another portion of the filaments in each rung also extending along each rail in the opposite direction, thereby defining a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments at the intersection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ladder according to claim 1 wherein the rails and rungs are rectangular in cross-section, with the continuous filament layers in the rails and rungs being on the sides that normally face the user of the ladder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ladder according to claim 2 wherein the continuous filament layer in the rungs is in substantially the same plane as the continuous filament layer in the rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ladder according to claim 1 wherein the interior of the rails and rungs contain rigid plastic foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ladder according to claim 1 wherein the rails and rungs further include a layer of woven fiberglass bonded to and adjacent the continuous filament layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ladder according to claim 5 wherein the filaments within the woven fiberglass are at an angle of substantially 45° with respect to the lengths of the rails and the rungs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
A fiberglass ladder comprising: a pair of rails having at least one flat side; a plurality of rungs disposed between and interconnecting the rails at selected intervals, the rungs having at least one flat side that is in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the flat side of the rails.; a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments disposed along and bonded to the flat sides of the rails and the rungs, the filaments in the rails being parallel to the length of the rails and the filaments in the rungs being parallel to the lengths of the rungs; the continuous layer being continuous at the intersections of the rails and rungs with portions of the filaments in the rungs bending to extend in both directions along the rails; a layer of woven fiberglass adjacent and on the exterior side of the continuous filament layer; and rigid plastic foam filling the interior of the rungs and rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
A fiberglass ladder comprising: a pair of rails having at least one flat side; a plurality of rungs disposed between and interconnecting the rails at selected intervals, the rungs having at least one flat side that is in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the flat side of the rails.; a continuous layer of fiberglass filaments disposed along and bonded to the flat sides of the rails and the rungs, the filaments in the rails being parallel to the length of the rails and the filaments in the rungs being parallel to the lengths of the rungs; the continuous layer being continuous at the intersections of the rails and rungs with portions of the filaments in the rungs bending to extend in both directions along the rails; a layer of woven fiberglass adjacent and on the exterior side of the continuous filament layer; and rigid plastic foam filling the interior of the rungs and rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ladder according to claim 7 further including a layer of fiberglass mat, with short randomly oriented fiberglass pieces, adjacent and on the exterior side of the woven fiberglass.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for forming a fiberglass ladder comprising the steps of: providing a mold with channels to correspond with a pair of rails and a plurality of rungs disposed between, interconnecting the rails at selected intervals; covering the mold with a release agent; coating the mold with a resin layer; placing a layer of woven fiberglass in the bottom and sides of the channels; placing a layer of fiberglass filaments in the bottom of the channels so that the filaments in each channel are parallel to the channel, and with a portion of the filaments bending at the intersections so that portions of the filaments in the rungs also extend in both directions along the rails; and placing rigid plastic foam within the channels adjacent the fiberglass filaments.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for forming a fiberglass ladder comprising the steps of: providing a mold with channels to correspond with a pair of rails and a plurality of rungs disposed between, interconnecting the rails at selected intervals; covering the mold with a release agent; coating the mold with a resin layer; placing a layer of woven fiberglass in the bottom and sides of the channels; placing a layer of fiberglass filaments in the bottom of the channels so that the filaments in each channel are parallel to the channel, and with a portion of the filaments bending at the intersections so that portions of the filaments in the rungs also extend in both directions along the rails; and placing rigid plastic foam within the channels adjacent the fiberglass filaments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of placing a layer of fiberglass mat over the resin layer prior to placing the woven fiberglass in the channels.