GB2198100A

GB2198100A - Ladder rack

Info

Publication number: GB2198100A
Application number: GB08726590A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Whittington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-14
Filing date: 1987-11-13
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: GB8627318D0; GB8726590D0

Abstract

The rack comprises a post 12 extending outwardly from ladder support means 10, 11 and adapted, when in use, to extend through the ladder in the space between adjacent rungs thereof, a bar-like member movable 13 along said post to a position wherein it clamps the ladder firmly against support means 10, and means 15 for locking said bar-like member in said position against accidental displacement. The locking means may comprise a screw-and-nut as shown, or a series of spaced holes or ratchet teeth selectively engageable by a spring pin or pawl (17, 21 Figs. 2 to 4). The rack may be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, on the deck of a boat or on an internal garage wall. <IMAGE>

Description

LADDER RACK This invention concerns a ladder rack primarily, though not exclusively, intended for mounting on the roof of a car or similar vehicle for the transport of ladders thereby.

Many workmen, often self-employed, including window cleaners, painters and decorators, plumbers and electricians have need to transport ladders on the roof of their car or van. Generally the ladders are tied by cord or the like to a roof rack including at least two spaced widthwise extending bars which support the ladders slightly above the roof of the vehicle.

Unless such cord or the like is properly and tightly tied, a time consuming operation which is often not done on short jouneys at least, there is the danger of the ladders working loose with possible serious consequences.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ladder rack which overcomes the problem aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a ladder rack comprising a post extending outwardly from ladder support means and adapted, when in use, to extend through the ladder in the space between adjacent rungs thereof, a bar-like member movable along said post to a position wherein it clamps the ladder firmly against said ladder support means, and means for locking said bar-like member in said position against accidental displacement.

The post may have a toothed rack-like portion engageable by a sprung-loaded pawl member connected with said bar-like member.

The post may have a plurality of axially spaced bores therein engageable by a spring-loaded pin connected with said bar-like member.

The post may have a screw-threaded portion engageable by a nut member adapted to bear against said bar-like member.

The bar-like member may be constructed from a material having some resilience to ensure a firm clamping action with locking means which operate at spaced increments as opposed to those which are infinitely variable.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, three forms of ladder rack embodying same.

Of the drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first form of ladder rack; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second form of ladder rack; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a third form of ladder rack; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the ladder rack of Figure 3 on the line IV-IV thereof.

All of the ladder racks now to be described are adapted for mounting on the roof of a car, van or similar vehicle, but it should be understood that they might equally be mounted on the deck of a boat or other surface such as an internal garage wall - in this latter instance for storage rather than transport purposes.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be seen that the first ladder rack comprises in known manner spaced supports 10 and 11 across which a ladder may be laid to extend at right angles thereto. A post 12 extends vertically upwards from the support 10 and through a space between adjacent ladder rungs.

A bar member 13 is slidable on the post and can be lowered and locked thereon to clamp the side members of the ladder against the support 10 firmly to secure the ladder to the rack.

In the arrangement of Figure 1 the post is screw-threaded and the bar member 13 is locked by a nut 14 having extended wings 15.

In the arrangement of Figure 2 the post has vertically spaced bores 16 and the bar member 13 carries a sprung-loaded pin which may be engaged with one of the bores 16 to lock the bar member in position. A small knob 17 may be pulled to withdraw the pin and release the bar member.

In the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4 the post has a toothed rack 18 and the bar member 13 carries a pawl 10 urged by a compression spring 20 into engagement with the rack to lock the bar member on the post 12. As before a small knob 21 may be pulled to disengage the pawl. This arrangement has the advantage that it is self-locking as the bar member is slid downwardly over the post 12 into engagement with the ladder.

The arms of the bar member 13 are advantageously slightly resilient enabling firm engagement with the ladder even when the arrangement only permits locking at spaced increments.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus, for example, the embodiment of figures 3 and 4 may be modified by provision of a lever actuated rack engaging pinion to assist in pulling the bar member into positive ladder engaging position.

Claims

ClAIMS

1. A ladder rack comprising a post extending outwardly from ladder support means and adapted when in use, to extend through the ladder in the space between adjacent rungs thereof, a bar-like member movable along said post to a position wherein it clamps the ladder firmly against said ladder support means, and means for locking said bar-like member in said position against accidental displacement.

2. A ladder rack according to claim 1 wherein the post has a toothed rack-like portion.

3. A ladder rack according to claim 2 wherein said portion is engageable by a sprung-loaded pawl member connected with said bar-like member.

4. A ladder rack according to claim 2 wherein said portion is engaged by a lever actuable rack engaging pinion.

5. A ladder rack according to claim 1 wherein the post has a plurality of axially spaced bores therein engageable by a sprung-loaded pin connected with said bar-like member.

6. A ladder rack according to claim 1 wherein the post has a screw-threaded portion engageable by a nut member adapted to bear against said bar-like member.

7. A ladder rack according to any preceding claim wherein the bar-like member is constructed from a material having some resilience to ensure a firm clamping action.

8. A ladder rack according to any preceding claim wherein said ladder support means is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle roof.