Ladder securing device

Claim 1

A ladder sensing device for quickly securing a ladder having rails and rungs to a utility pole or the like comprising: (a) first flexible and elongated strap means having opposite ends, said strap means having a flexible and planar body structure of a predetermined width; (b) adjustable, quick-release strap securement means operative on said first strap means, said quick-release means having a lever; (c) second flexible and elongated strap means having opposite ends and having a flexible planar body structure of the same said predetermined width, one said end being attached to said quick-release strap securement means; and (d) a pair of rigid hook means being constructed and arranged to engage the rails of a ladder from an interior position, one said hook means being attached to one end of said first flexible strap means and said second hook means being attached to the end of said second flexible strap means opposite said quick-release strap securement means, each said hook means having an opened hook portion and a strap securement portion disposed generally perpendicular thereto, said strap securement portion for securing said first and second strap means in a planar configuration, whereby said device when placed about a utility pole and with said hook means attached to the rails of a ladder easily and quickly secures a ladder to a utility pole or the like by pulling the end of said first flexible strap means opposite said attached hook means by adjustably securing said first flexible strap means in said quick-release strap securement means and whereby said device is easily and quickly disengaged by means of activating said quick-release means level.

Claim 22

A method for quickly securing a ladder having rails and rungs to a utility pole or the like comprising: (a) positioning the ladder against the utility pole at an angle; (b) providing a ladder securing device having a main elongated and flexible planar strap member having looped ends, one said end forming a hand loop for the user of said device, a quick release adjustment buckle having a lever for adjustably engaging said main strap member; an elongated and flexible planar buckle strap having a length substantially shorter than said main strap member and being secured to said buckle at one end and having a loop at its opposite end, and a pair of hooks for engaging the rails of a ladder and having strap securement portions, one said hook being planarly attached at the end of said main strap member opposite said hand loop and the other said hook being planarly attached to said buckle strap at the end opposite said buckle; (c) releasing said adjustment buckle by activating said lever and pulling said main strap member therethrough and into a fully extended configuration; (d) placing one said hooks about a rail of the ladder from an interior position so that said hook faces outwardly therefrom; (e) wrapping said main strap member about the utility pole and extending said other hook toward the opposite rail of the ladder; (f) placing said other hook about the opposite rail of the ladder and in between the same rungs so that said other hook faces outwardly therefrom; (g) pulling said hand loop to thereby tighten said main strap; and (h) adjusting the ladder towards the utility pole and pulling said hand loop until equal pressure is placed on both rails of the ladder, whereby the ladder is instantaneously releaseable from securement to the utility pole upon activating said lever of said quick-release buckle.

Claim 23

A method for quickly securing a ladder having rails and rungs to a utility pole or the like comprising: (a) positioning the ladder against the utility pole at an angle; (b) providing a ladder securing device having a main elongated and flexible planar strap member having looped ends, one said end forming a hand loop for the user of said device, a quick release adjustment buckle having a lever for adjustably engaging said main strap member; an elongated and flexible planar buckle strap having a length substantially shorter than said main strap member and being secured to said buckle at one end and having a loop at its opposite end, and a pair of hooks for engaging the rails of a ladder and having strap securement portions, one said hook being planarly attached at the end of said main strap member opposite said hand loop and the other said hook being planarly attached to said buckle strap at the end opposite said buckle; (c) releasing said adjustment buckle by activating said lever and pulling said main strap member therethrough and into a fully extended configuration; (d) placing one said hooks about a rail of the ladder from an interior position so that said hook faces outwardly therefrom; (e) wrapping said main strap member about the utility pole and extending said other hook toward the opposite rail of the ladder; (f) placing said other hook about the opposite rail of the ladder and in between the same rungs so that said other hook faces outwardly therefrom; (g) pulling said hand loop to thereby tighten said main strap; and (h) adjusting the ladder towards the utility pole and pulling said hand loop until equal pressure is placed on both rails of the ladder, whereby the ladder is instantaneously releaseable from securement to the utility pole upon activating said lever of said quick-release buckle.