AU650474B2

AU650474B2 - Access ladder for automobile

Info

Publication number: AU650474B2
Application number: AU83511/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bernard John Brennan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-30
Filing date: 1991-08-30
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-30
Also published as: AU8351191A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 BERNARD JOHN BRENNAN

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 8* u 4, 4 @9 9 4 09 Invention Title: Access Ladder for Automobile 0S0* 0 4 4g0S *s S The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 Access Ladder for Automobile The present invention relates to ladders for mounting to vehicles, particularly ladders for four wheel drive or similar type vehicles.

Typically, ladders for external mounting to vehicles are attached by permanent or semi-permanent means, usually by bolting to the vehicle. To attach or to detach the ladder to or from the vehicle requires some considerable effort and skill as well as taking considerable time.

Previously, for attachment, ladders required special brackets to be fitted and holes to be drilled in the vehicle body. The holes drilled for these brackets tended to rust causing structural deterioration to the vehicle.

The present invention is directed to a ladder, for a vehicle, which can be easily fitted and removed to or from a vehicle without the need to drill holes in the vehicle or, in most circumstances, for the use of special attachment brackets.

eeooe In a first aspect the present invention consists in a 20 ladder for mounting on a door or like member of a motor vehicle, the ladder comprising; a pair of spaced apart stringers between which extend oea plurality of treads; a first hook member being affixed to the ladder at go 25 one end and being adapted to engage an edge of the door or like member; a bracket affixed to the ladder at an end opposite to the first hook member; 0**e o a second hook member adapted to engage an edge of a door or like member of the vehicle, the second hook member being adjustably connected to the bracket; wherein the first and second hook members face one another and are moveable relative to one another such that, in use, the ladder may be clamped in place on the door or like member 35 of the vehicle.

@ooe•@ 2a In a preferred form of the first aspect of this invention, the first hook member is affixed to the ladder S

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S S S 55 55 S S S 55 3 adjacent to the uppermost end of the ladder.

In another preferred form of the invention the first hook member comprises a plurality of hooks affixed to the ladder.

In a further preferred form of the invention the bracket comprises a separate bracket on each of the stringers.

In a preferred form of the first aspect of the invention the hook member is adjustably connected to the bracket by screw threaded bolt means.

In another preferred form of the first aspect of the invention the bracket may form an extension of a tread.

Hereinafter given by way of example only is a preferred embodiment of the present invention described 09 P~.

S 15 with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

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age Fig. 1 is a front view of the ladder according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a back view of the ladder of Fig. i, Fig. 3 is a vertical section view of the ladder along ease*: 20 A-A of Fig 2, *Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the ladder of Fig. i, ~Fig. 5 is a plan view of a bracket to which is attached a hook member according to another embodiment of 25 the present invention, Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the hook member which is attached to the bracket shown in Fig. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on view along A-A through the hook member of Fig. 6, and, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a ladder according to the present invention attached to a rear door of a vehicle.

The ladder 1 comprises two spaced apart stringers 2 of tubular construction between which extend a plurality of treads 4 of a substantially square cross-section. At the uppermost end of the ladder a hook member 6 is affixed 4 to the ladder and extends between the stringers 2.

The hook member 6 is adapted to engage an edge of a door or similar member of a vehicle as shown for example in Fig. 8.

At the opposite and lower most end of the ladder 1 a bracket 10 affixed to the ladder 1 and extends between the stringers 2. A second hook member 14 is connected to the bracket 10 by threaded screw means. The second hook member 14 is adapted to engage a lower edge of a door or similar member of a vehicle.

The bracket 10 includes a plurality of holes 16 which

B

align with similar holes in the second hook member 14 and *0 through which adjustable screws or bolts pass (not shown), "by which, the hook 14 can be raised or lowered, thus 15 releasably clamping hook members 6 and 14 to a door or C" *similar member of a vehicle.

Fig. 8 shows a slightly different version of the ladder of the present invention attached to a rear door of a vehicle. The ladder in Fig. 8 differs in that the upper 20 end of one of the stringers is bent towards the opposite e° stringer.

It is envisaged that there are numerous variations 0 that can be made to the specific examples described above. The hook member 6, may, for example, be in the 25 form of a separate hook on each stringer 2, or may be a 'ee hook shaped plate extending between and attached to the stringers 2. Likewise, the bracket 10 may be a separate bracket on each stringer 2 or alternately, it may be a single bracket extending between the stringers. The bracket 10 may form an extension of a tread 4.

The second hook member 14 may be connected to the bracket 10 using any known adjustable attachment means, such as bolts, screws, clamps etc., such that, the ladder can be adjustably clamped into place on to the vehicle, usually a rear door of a four wheel drive or similar position.

The stringers and treads of the ladder may be made, for example, from tubular materials or solid rods or bars or any other suitable material.

The ladder described can be easily and releasably attached to a door, or similar member of a vehicle, without the need to drill holes in the vehicle body or instal permanent brackets. The present invention has particular application four wheel drive vehicles and the like, particularly where it is not desired to have a permanently attached ladder. The ladder could also be used on vehicles such as trucks, construction vehicles, farm vehicles etc.

"From the foregoing description it should be apparent 15 that the invention encompasses an advantageous advance in 0 the art. Further, it should be clear that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or the essential characteristics thereof.

The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered 20 in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims

2. A ladder as claimed in claim 1 in which the first eeeo hook member is affixed to the ladder adjacent to the 20 uppermost end of the ladder. S3. A ladder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first hook member comprises a plurality of hooks •*affixed to the ladder. S4. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 1 3 in which the bracket comprises a separate bracket on each of the stringers. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 1 4 in which the hook member is adjustably connected to the goes .66:64 bracket by screw threaded bolt means. 00
6. A ladder as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 in which the bracket may form an extension of a tread. sees 7
7. A ladder for mounting on a door or like member of a motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 8. DATED this 12th day of April 1994 BERNARD JOHN BRENNAN Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. 0 Vo 00 09 00096 0. 0