US 12,337,796 B1
Vehicular ladder system and methods of making and using same
James E. Kelly, Draper, UT (US); and Michael J. Spens, Draper, UT (US)
Assigned to Kelly Industries, LLC, Draper, UT (US)
Filed by Kelly Industries, LLC, Draper, UT (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/573,342.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/136,164, filed on Jan. 11, 2021.
Int. Cl. E06C 5/04 (2006.01); B60R 3/02 (2006.01); B60R 3/00 (2006.01); E06C 1/383 (2006.01); E06C 9/06 (2006.01); E06C 9/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 3/02 (2013.01) [E06C 5/04 (2013.01); B60R 3/007 (2013.01); E06C 1/3835 (2013.01); E06C 9/06 (2013.01); E06C 9/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ladder system for a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof rack system including a front roof rack and a rear roof rack, said front roof rack having a front vertical member and said rear roof rack having a rear vertical member, said ladder system comprising:
a mounting bar having a channel extending along a length of said mounting bar;
a pair of clamps configured to mount said mounting bar to said front vertical member and said rear vertical member such that said mounting bar extends along a length of said vehicle; and
a ladder comprising a first side rail, a second side rail, a first slidable member configured to slide within said first side rail, a second slidable member configured to slide within said second side rail, a coupler secured to said first side rail and configured to slidably and pivotably couple said first side rail to said channel, and a hook coupled to said second side rail and configured to hook said second side rail to said mounting bar when said ladder is in a use configuration;
wherein:
said ladder is selectively retractable in a lengthwise direction and selectively collapsible in a widthwise direction;
said first slidable member and said second slidable member are collectively pivotable relative to said first side rail and said second side rail; and
in a stowed configuration, said ladder extends parallel to said mounting bar.