AU777416B2

AU777416B2 - Ladder rail and ladder pad arrangement

Info

Publication number: AU777416B2
Application number: AU89357/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Cropley
Original assignee: Fetovu Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rhino Rack Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-11-10
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-09
Also published as: AU8935701A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Ladder rail and ladder pad arrangement The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: CE003952718v2.doc Ladder Rail and Ladder Pad Arrangement Field of the invention The present invention relates to a ladder rail and ladder pad arrangement used for carrying ladders or other elongate objects on the roofs of vehicles, and also to the ladder pad and the ladder rail, respectfully.

Background of the invention Tradesman, such as electricians, frequently need to carry ladders, pipes and other elongate objects. The ladders, pipes and other elongate objects are typically of a length that is greater than the length of their vehicle. To facilitate carriage of ladders and the like, the 10 tradesman's vehicles are often fitted with roof racks. Roof racks generally comprise two bars or racks that are fixed to the upper part of the vehicle and extend transversely across the vehicle.

**It is also usual to mount one or more ladder rails to the roof racks. Each ladder rail consists of a rail extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. One or more ladder S•pads extend transversally from the ladder rail. In use, the ladder sits on the ladder pads. The ladder pads are normally permanently fixed to the ladder rails, for example, by riveting.

Summary of the invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement comprising a ladder rail for attachment to a set of roof racks and one or more ladder pads, said one or more ladder pads being connected to the ladder rail by connection means, characterised in that the connection means releasably connect the one or more ladder pads to the ladder rail and that the position of the one or more ladder pads relative to the ladder rail can be adjusted.

Preferably, the connection means includes a connecting member.

Preferably, the ladder rail includes a slot or slots along which the connecting member can slide, the connecting member including a portion that can fit in the slot and a portion that is larger than the slot, said larger portion being adapted for positioning beneath the slot.

In a more preferred embodiment, the ladder rail includes a first upstanding arm having a first flange and a generally opposed second upstanding arm having a second flange, the first and CE003952718v2.doc 2 second flanges extending towards each other and defining a gap there between, and the connecting member having a portion adapted to fit under the flanges and between the first and second arms and a portion of reduced size adapted to fit through the gap defined between the first and second flanges such that the connecting member can slide along the ladder rail between the opposed rails but cannot be removed from the ladder rail by applying a force in an upwards direction.

Preferably, the connecting member comprises a bolt having a shaft and an enlarged head portion. It will be appreciated that the shaft is sized to fit through the gap between the first and second flanges. In this embodiment, the connection means may further include a nut, and 10 optionally also a washer.

It will be appreciated that other suitable connecting members may also be used.

The ladder pad may include receiving means for receiving the connection means. Where the connecting member comprises a bolt, the receiving means suitably includes an aperture through which the bolt can pass.

The ladder pad may also include ladder rail engaging means for engaging the ladder rail.

This assists in securely locating the ladder pad in position.

In one embodiment, the ladder pad may comprise a member having a generally horizontal base and side wall extending therefrom. The ladder pad may have ladder rail V. engaging means for engaging the ladder rail. The ladder rail engaging means may comprise an engaging flange at an upper part of the side wall of the ladder for engaging a side wall of the ladder rail. Alternatively, or additionally, the ladder pad and ladder rail may have complementary inter engaging portions, for example, a depression formed in the ladder rail may inter engage with a complementary shaped projection on the ladder pad. Other inter engaging means may also be used. Indeed, the ladder rail may be provided with a series of depressions and/or projections that inter engage with complementary shaped series of projections and/or depressions on the ladder pad.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ladder pad is of generally of L-shaped cross section in side view. The ladder pad includes a base through which CE003952718v2.doc 3 the connecting member extends to thereby enable the base to be connected to the ladder rail.

The side wall of the ladder pad also includes a ladder rail engaging flange. One or more ladder rail engaging means are also positioned on the base of the ladder pad.

The invention also encompasses the ladder rail as described herein and the ladder pad as described herein.

Brief description of the drawings A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a ladder rail with a ladder pad ready for oooo 10 connection thereto; Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of a ladder rail having a ladder pad connected thereto in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows an end elevational view of the connection means fitted to the ladder rail.

Detailed description of drawings The ladder rail and ladder pad arrangement of the present invention includes a ladder rail •10 and at least one ladder pad 12. Preferably, the apparatus is supplied with two or more ladder ooooo Spads. The apparatus will typically be supplied in the form of a kit that is put together by the end S-user of the apparatus.

The ladder rail 10, as shown in figures 1 and 2, comprises an extruded rail having a side wall 14 and a base portion 16, as can be seen from figures 1 and 2, the base portion 16 including a channel 18 defined between the side wall 14 and a channel arm The base portion also includes a first upstanding arm 22 having a first flange 24 extending from the top thereof. The base portion also includes a second upstanding arm 26. A second flange 28 extends from the upper part of second upstanding arm 26. As can be seen from figures 1 and 2, flanges 24 and 28 extend towards each other and define a slot or gap there between.

-a CE003952718v2.doc 4 The ladder pad 12 includes a base portion 30 and a side wall 32. Base portion 30 has an aperture 34 through which bolt 36 can pass. A washer 38 and nut 40 are used to securely connect the ladder pad 12 to the bolt 36.

The upper part of the side wall 32 includes a transversely extending flange 42. A downwardly depending lip 44 extends downwardly from the flange 42. Flange 42 and lip 44 are used to engage with the upper part of the side wall 14 of the ladder rail when the ladder pad is in place. This is more clearly shown in figure 2.

The ladder pad 12 also includes a projection 46 that fits snugly in channel 18 to thereby assist in securely holding the ladder pad in place.

As best shown in figure 3, the bolt 36 includes a shaft 48 and an enlarged head In use of the invention, bolt 36 is placed in position by positioning the head underneath the first and second flanges 24,28 and sliding the bolt 36 along the slot defined by the upstanding arms 22 26 and their respective flanges 24, 28. The shaft 48 of bolt 36 extends upwardly through the gap between the flanges 24, 28. When the bolt 36 is positioned in a desired position, ladder pad 12 is placed on the ladder rail 10 such that the shaft 48 of bolt 36 extends through aperture 34 in the base portion 30 of ladder pad 12. A washer and nylon oeeoo locking nut are then used to securely connect the ladder pad 12 to the ladder rail 10. Tightening the nut causes the head 50 of bolt 36 to be drawn tightly to the underside of flanges 24, 28, S.thereby holding the ladder pad in position. It will also be appreciated, and is shown more clearly S 20 in figure 2, that the projection 46 on ladder pad 12 fits into channel 18 formed in ladder rail and the flange 42 and lip 44 that extend from the upper part of side wall 32 of ladder pad 12 engage with the side wall 14 of ladder rail.

If it is desired to adjust the position of the ladder pad, it is a simple matter to loosen the locking nut 40 and to slide the ladder pad 12 along the ladder rail 10 to suit various ladder lengths.

As best shown in figure 2, aperture 34 in ladder pad 12 is counter sunk so that nut does not catch or snag a ladder that is being positioned onto the ladder pad.

CE003952718v2.doc The present invention provides an adjustable ladder pad that is simple to use and easy to adjust. The present invention allows adjustability of the ladder pad to enable a tradesman to carry ladders of differing length. It is also possible to add further ladder pads to the ladder rail for carriage of larger or heavier loads.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the carriage of ladders, it will be appreciated that the ladder rail and ladder pad arrangement of the present invention can be used to carry a number of objects other than ladders. It is to be understood that the present invention encompasses the carriage of ladders and other objects.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein may be 10 subject to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

oooooo

Claims

1. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement comprising a ladder rail for attachment to a set of roof racks and one or more ladder pads, said one or more ladder pads being connected to said ladder rail by connection means, wherein said connection means releasably connect said one or more ladder pads to said ladder rail and wherein the position of said one or more ladder pads relative to said ladder rail can be adjusted.

2. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection means includes a connecting member.

3. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ladder rail includes a slot or slots along which said connecting member can slide, said connecting member :....including a portion that can fit in said slot and a portion that is larger than said slot, said larger portion being adapted for positioning beneath said slot.

4. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said ladder rail includes a first upstanding arm having a first flange and a generally opposed second 15 upstanding arm having a second flange, said first and second flanges extending towards each other and defining a gap therebetween, said connecting member having a portion adapted to fit under said flanges and between said first and second arms and a portion of reduced size adapted to fit through the gap defined between said first and second flanges such that said connecting member can slide along said ladder rail between the opposed rails but cannot be removed from 20 said ladder rail by applying a force in an upwards direction.

A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connecting member comprises a bolt having a shaft and an enlarged head portion, said shaft being sized to fit through the gap between said first and second flanges.

6. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connection means further includes a nut, and a washer.

7. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ladder pad includes receiving means for receiving said connection means. CE003952718v2.doc 7

8. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said receiving means includes an aperture through which said connecting member bolt is inserted.

9. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ladder pad includes ladder rail engaging means for engaging the ladder rail.

10. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ladder pad comprises a member having a generally horizontal base and side wall extending therefrom.

11. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ladder pad includes ladder rail engaging means for engaging the ladder rail. °O 10

12. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ladder rail engaging means comprises an engaging flange at an upper part of said side wall of the ladder for engaging a side wall of the ladder rail.

13. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein said o ladder pad and ladder rail have complementary inter engaging portions.

14. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said ladder rail includes one or more depressions adapted to inter-engage with one or complementary-shaped projections on said ladder pad.

A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said ladder rail includes one or more projections adpated to inter-engage with one or complementary-shaped depressions on said ladder pad.

16. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 10 to wherein said ladder pad is of generally of L-shaped cross section in side view and includes a base through which said connecting member extends to thereby enable the base to be connected to said ladder rail, wherein said ladder pad further includes a ladder rail engaging flange and one or more ladder rail engaging means positioned on said base.

17. A ladder pad for use in a ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. CE003952718v3.doc 8

18. A ladder rail for use in a ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-16.

19. A ladder pad and ladder rail arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A ladder pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A ladder rail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 *oooo* o 15 Dated this 9th day of November 2001 Fetovu Pty Ltd By its attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle