US 12,473,782 B2
Multi-position ladder and portions thereof
Derek Bibler, Elk Grove Village, IL (US); Vlatko Papa, Skokie, IL (US); Oladapo Kolawole, Frankfort, IL (US); Thomas W. Parker, Jamestown, PA (US); Ruel Sanico Estandarte, Laguna (PH); Mark Harries C. Lanting, Manila (PH); and Michael Melton, Glen Ellyn, IL (US)
Assigned to WERNER CO., Greenville, PA (US)
Filed by Werner Co., Greenville, PA (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/378,116.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/156,167, filed on Mar. 3, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/055,257, filed on Jul. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0025704 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. E06C 1/383 (2006.01); E06C 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC E06C 1/383 (2013.01) [E06C 1/22 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ladder comprising:
a front section having a first front rail and a second front rail and rungs attached to and extending between the first front rail and the second front rail;
a rear section having a first rear rail and a second rear rail and rungs attached to and extending between the first rear rail and the second rear rail, the rear section having a telescoping section attached to the first rear rail and the second rear rail to vary a length of the rear section;
a ladder top attached to the front section and to the first rear rail and the second rear rail of the rear section;
an actuator attached to the first front rail and the second front rail above a top front section rung and below the ladder top;
the actuator including a first lever coupled to a first spring and a first linkage and a second lever coupled to a second spring and a second linkage, wherein the first linkage has a first lock bar coupled thereto and the second linkage has a second lock bar coupled thereto;
the first rear rail is coupled to the ladder via a first hinge and the second rear rail is coupled to the ladder via a second hinge; and
the first rear rail has a first pair of hinge plates and the second rear rail has a second pair of hinge plates, the first pair of hinge plates and the second pair of hinge plates having a plurality of slots around a perimeter thereof, the plurality of slots corresponding to one or more desired positions of the rear section relative to the front section;
wherein moving the first lever and the second lever moves the first lock bar and the second lock bar into and out of engagement with the plurality of slots;
wherein the first lock bar and the second lock bar are moved simultaneously in an upward and downward relationship relatively to the ladder top to selectively engage one of the plurality of slots on the first pair of hinge plates and the second pair of hinge plates; and
wherein when the first lock bar and the second lock bar are disposed within one of the plurality of slots on respective ones of the first pair of hinge plates and the second pair of hinge plates, the rear section is secured relative to the front section in a locked state and when the first lock bar and the second lock bar are disengaged from the plurality of slots then the rear section is rotatable relative to the front section in an unlocked state.