Adjustable ladder support

Claim 2

A safety support for a ladder having a pair of legs spaced apart by a plurality of rungs, comprising, for each leg of the ladder: a channel member for connection to the ladder, said channel member defining a longitudinal slot in one side thereof; a first shoe member slidably receivable within said channel member; means for locking said first shoe member at a desired longitudinal position within said channel member; a second shoe member slidably receivable within said channel member; and a brace member pivotally connected at one end to said first shoe member and at the other end to said second shoe member.

Claim 3

The safety support of claim 1 wherein said channel member is of C-shape in cross-section, having a base portion, a pair of spaced apart leg portions extending outwardly from said base portion and a pair of flange portions, each flange portion extending towards the other flange portion from a corresponding leg portion to define said slot therebetween.

Claim 4

The safety support of claim 2 wherein said first shoe member is of E-shape in cross-section, having a base, a pair of upstanding outer legs and a central leg alignable with said slot, said brace member being pivotally connected at said one end to said central leg.

Claim 5

The safety support of claim 3 wherein said second shoe member is of E-shape in cross-section, having a base, a pair of upstanding outer legs and a central leg alignable with said slot, said brace member being pivotally connected at said other end to said central leg of said second shoe member.

Claim 6

The safety support of claim 3 and including a non-slip friction pad affixed to the underside of said base.

Claim 7

The safety support of claim 4 and including a non-slip friction pad affixed to the underside of said second shoe member base.

Claim 8

The safety support of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said locking means includes a locking plate having a central threaded aperture therein, said plate being wider than said slot and receivable within said channel; a locking bolt threadable in said aperture; and a recess in the central leg of said first shoe member to receive said bolt, rotation of said bolt moving said locking plate into engagement with said flanges to lock said first shoe member in said channel member.

Claim 9

The safety support of claim 2 wherein said first shoe member has a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot, said brace member being pivotally connected at said one end to said central leg.

Claim 10

The safety support of claim 8 wherein said second shoe member has a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot, said brace member being pivotally connected at said other end to said central leg of said second base member.

Claim 11

The safety support of claim 8 and including a non-slip friction pad affixed to said base.

Claim 12

The safety support of claim 9 and including a non-slip friction pad affixed to the underside of said second shoe base.

Claim 13

The safety support of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a threaded aperture in the base of said first shoe member and a threaded locking bolt receivable in said aperture, rotation of said bolt moving said first shoe member base into engagement with said flanges to lock said first shoe member in said channel member.

Claim 14

The safety support of claim 1 wherein said brace member is of channel shape in cross-section and defines a pair of lugs at each end thereof, each pair of lugs having a bore therethrough to receive a pivot pin, the pivot pin at said one end engaging said first shoe member to form the pivotal connection therewith and the pivot pin at said other end engaging said second shoe member to form the pivotal connection therewith.

Claim 15

A safety support for a ladder having a pair of legs spaced apart by a plurality of rungs, comprising, for each leg of the ladder: a channel member of C-shape in cross-section with a base portion attachable to the ladder leg, a pair of leg portions extending from said base portion and a pair of opposed flanges extending each from a corresponding leg portion, parallel to said base portion to define a longitudinally extending slot therebetween; a first shoe member of E-shape in cross-section slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base, a pair of outer legs extending from said base and a central leg alignable with said slot; said central leg having a recess therein; a locking plate receivable in said channel member and having a threaded aperture therein alignable with said recess; a threaded locking bolt receivable in said aperture and engagable with said recess; a second shoe member of E-shape in cross-section slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base, a pair of outer legs extending from the base thereof and a central leg alignable with said slot; and a brace member interconnecting said shoe members, said brace member being pivotally connected at one end to the central leg of said first shoe member and being pivotally connected at the other end to the central leg of said second shoe member.

Claim 16

A safety support for a ladder having a pair of legs spaced apart by a plurality of rungs, comprising, for each leg of the ladder: a channel member of C-shape in cross-section with a base portion attachable to the ladder leg, a pair of leg portions extending from said base portion and a pair of opposed flanges extending each from a corresponding leg portion, parallel to said base portion to define a longitudinally extending slot therebetween; a first shoe member of E-shape in cross-section slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base, a pair of outer legs extending from said base and a central leg alignable with said slot; said central leg having a recess therein; a locking plate receivable in said channel member and having a threaded aperture therein alignable with said recess; a threaded locking bolt receivable in said aperture and engagable with said recess; a second shoe member of E-shape in cross-section slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base, a pair of outer legs extending from the base thereof and a central leg alignable with said slot; and a brace member interconnecting said shoe members, said brace member being pivotally connected at one end to the central leg of said first shoe member and being pivotally connected at the other end to the central leg of said second shoe member.

Claim 17

A safety support for a ladder having a pair of legs spaced apart by a plurality of rungs, comprising, for each leg of said ladder: a channel member of C-shape in cross-section with a base portion attachable to the ladder leg; a pair of leg portions extending from said base portion and a pair of opposed flanges extending each from a corresponding leg portion, parallel to said base portion, to define a longitudinally extending slot therebetween; a first shoe member slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot; a threaded aperture in said base; a threaded locking bolt receivable in said aperture; a second shoe member slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot; and a brace member interconnecting said shoe members, said brace member being pivotally connected at one end to the central leg of said first shoe member and being pivotally connected at the other end to the central leg of said second shoe member.

Claim 18

A safety support for a ladder having a pair of legs spaced apart by a plurality of rungs, comprising, for each leg of said ladder: a channel member of C-shape in cross-section with a base portion attachable to the ladder leg; a pair of leg portions extending from said base portion and a pair of opposed flanges extending each from a corresponding leg portion, parallel to said base portion, to define a longitudinally extending slot therebetween; a first shoe member slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot; a threaded aperture in said base; a threaded locking bolt receivable in said aperture; a second shoe member slidably receivable in said channel member and having a base and a central leg thereon alignable with said slot; and a brace member interconnecting said shoe members, said brace member being pivotally connected at one end to the central leg of said first shoe member and being pivotally connected at the other end to the central leg of said second shoe member.