Roller accessory for ladder

Claim 1

An accessory for a multi-section extension ladder having a relatively inner section slidably supported by a relatively outer section, and the relatively inner section and the relatively outer section having co-operative lug means operatively interengageable to limit the travel of the relatively inner section along the relatively outer section in a direction of extension of the relatively inner section along the relatively outer section so as to prevent excess extension-direction movement of the relatively inner section, but the support of the relatively inner section by the relatively outer section being such as to permit travel of the relatively inner section along the relatively outer section in the non-extending direction such as to permit disassembly of the relatively inner section from the relatively outer section when it is desired to use the relatively inner section or the relatively outer section independently of one another, the relatively inner section and the relatively outer section each having a top portion and a bottom portion, the extension operability of the relatively inner section and the relatively outer section being such that the top portion of the relatively inner section travels outwardly away from the top portion of the relatively outer section, the lug means of the relatively inner section being relatively adjacent the bottom portion of the relatively inner section, and the lug means of the relatively outer section being relatively adjacent the top portion of the relatively outer section, there being provided for the relatively inner section a roller means carried outwardly of the top portion of the relatively inner section and supported thereby in a manner in which it is revolvable about an axis perpendicular to the length of the relatively inner section, providing, if the ladder is positioned in an inclined manner along a wall means such that the wall means supports the ladder by the engagement of the roller means against the wall means, and if the inclination of the ladder is changed with the roller means rolling along the wall means, such rolling action of the roller means facilitates the inclination-changing of the ladder, the improvement, comprising the provision of the entirety of the roller means inwardly of the outer limits of the relatively inner section of the ladder an amount such that, if the relatively inner section is moved in the non-extending direction, the entirety of the roller means will freely pass past the lug means of the relatively outer section of the ladder, thus permitting travel of the relatively inner section and the roller means carried thereby to be moved in the non-extending direction fully to permit full disassembly of the relatively inner section from the relatively outer section, and without removal or other change of the roller means from its support by the relatively inner section of the ladder.