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EP-4741622-A2 - SMART LADDER

EP4741622A2EP 4741622 A2EP4741622 A2EP 4741622A2EP-4741622-A2

Abstract

A ladder including sensors, a controller, and output signals to alert the user to operating conditions and to aid the user in the safe operation of the ladder.

Inventors

  • JOHNS, CLIFFORD L.
  • BREWER, STEPHEN W.
  • DINGMAN, David

Assignees

  • Uss Veteran Services Company LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20210817

Claims (12)

  1. A ladder, comprising: left and right uprights interconnected by a plurality of rungs, including a bottommost rung, a controller, mounted on said ladder; at least one elongated channel in at least one of said left and right uprights; at least one light source associated with said at least one longitudinal cavity and in communication with said controller.
  2. A ladder according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated channel comprises outwardly facing, elongated channels in said left and right uprights, and said at least one light source comprises outwardly-shining light strips extending along said outwardly facing channels and sealed within said outwardly facing channels, said outwardly-shining light strips being in communication with said controller.
  3. A ladder according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a bottom rung sensor which senses when a user is standing on the bottommost rung of the ladder, the controller being in communication with said bottom rung sensor, wherein the controller activates an output signal mounted on the ladder to indicate whether a user is on the bottommost rung.
  4. A ladder according to claim 3, wherein said bottom rung sensor comprises a photo eye mounted on one of said uprights and a transmitter mounted on the other of said uprights, said photo eye and transmitter being mounted a short distance above the bottommost rung.
  5. A ladder according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of contact sensors on said plurality of rungs, said contact sensors being in communication with said controller, wherein said controller generates an output signal on said ladder to let a user know whether the user has three points of contact with said contact sensors.
  6. A ladder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said left and right uprights are canted so they diverge from each other on a front side and converge toward each other on a rear side, and wherein said rungs are offset toward said rear side of said left and right uprights.
  7. A ladder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said left and right uprights define an elongated direction and define a plurality of channels extending in said elongated direction, wherein at least one of said channels receives wiring and is potted to seal off said wiring from water damage, and wherein said controller is mounted on said ladder in communication with said wiring.
  8. A ladder according to claim 7, further comprising an on-board battery mounted on said ladder in communication with said wiring and adapted to power said at least one light source.
  9. A ladder according to claim 8, wherein said on-board battery is mounted in a hollow inner portion defined by one of said rungs.
  10. A ladder according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising one or more of the following in communication with said wiring: a gas monitor; a Bluetooth link and a camera; a camera; a speaker and a microphone; an RFID reader mounted at one end of said ladder for sensing the movement of users onto said ladder; and a vibrator.
  11. A ladder according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said ladder includes a movable cargo tray which rolls up and down along at least one of said elongated channels.
  12. A ladder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ladder includes a telescoping mast.

Description

Background This application claims priority from U. S. Provisional Application S/N 63/071,437 filed August 28, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a ladder. Summary The present ladder may incorporate a tilt sensor to determine whether the ladder is leaning within a desired range of angles to minimize slipping or tipping of the ladder, and this sensor may cause the ladder to generate a signal to the user. Lights may be included to make the ladder visible in a dark area (such as in a confined space) as well as to light up the surrounding area. Electrical outlets may be included on the ladder to power tools, lights, or other equipment. A tray may be provided to hold tools and hardware; the tray includes a magnetic strip to hold things like screws, nails, and screwdrivers. Sensors may sense when the user has reached the bottom rung of the ladder and may cause the ladder to generate a signal to the user so he will know not to step off the ladder before he has reached that bottom rung. Additional features may be provided to facilitate ingress and egress from an OSHA-permit-required confined space, particularly through a manway into the confined space. In an OSHA-permit-required confined space, there is a permitting process that is used to ensure the space is safe to enter and work in. Some of the equipment needed in such spaces includes, but is not limited to, atmospheric sampling of up to four (4) gases (Oxygen, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Hexafluoride, and Methane or a Lower Explosion Level gas), temporary lighting, camera, communication device, power cables for tools used inside, and temporary ventilation ducts and hoses. These items clog the entry to the space. The entry is often also the exit. The clogging results in congestion, causing normal entry and exit to take longer. In some cases, entrants have become injured because they fell after getting tied up with various hoses and cords in a manway, and the delays are a serious problem in the event of an emergency such as a fire, noxious gas release, lightning strikes in the area, or other hazards. This ladder eliminates some of the clutter by incorporating and consolidating equipment into the ladder itself. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a ladder including many of the features described above (with the top tray omitted for clarity);Figure 2 is a left side view of the ladder of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a right side view of the ladder of Figure 1;Figure 4 is a plan view of the ladder of Figure 1;Figure 5 is a side view of a tray which may be mounted on the upper portion of the ladder of Figure 1;Figure 6 is a plan view of the tray of Figure 5;Figure 7 is a side view of a light which may be plugged into the power outlet of the ladder of Figure 1;Figure 8 is a front view of the ladder of Figure 1 but including piezoelectric sensors to sense the location of the user's feet and hands in contact with the ladder when climbing or descending;Figure 9 is a schematic exploded section view along line 9-9 of Figure 8;Figure 10 is a schematic showing the recommended leaning angle for a ladder against a wall or other support;Figure 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a ladder;Figure 12 is a plan view of the ladder of Figure 11 as it projects through a manhole;Figure 13 is a side view of the ladder of Figure 11 set up to be inserted downwardly into a confined space;Figure 14 is a side view of the ladder of Figure 11 set up to be inserted upwardly into a confined space;Figure 15 is an outward-facing side view of an upright of the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 16 is an inward-facing side view of an upright of the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 17 is a front section view of a rung of the ladder of Figure 11 taken along the line 17-17;Figure 18 is a section view along line 18-18 of Figure 17;Figure 19 is a section view along line 19-19 of Figure 17;Figure 20 is a schematic showing an arm and a hand of a user grasping a rung on the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 21 is a plan view of a rung of the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 22 is a broken-away view along line 22-22 of Figure 21, showing just the outer profile of the rung;Figure 23 is a schematic, front view of a light pipe transmitting light rays from an LED light source;Figure 23A is a broken-away side view of an upright showing an alternate embodiment of a gas-sampling arrangement on the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 24 is a side view of a movable cargo tray which can be mounted onto the the ladder of Figure 11;Figure 25 is an enlarged side view of the movable cargo tray of Figure 24;Figure 26 is a plan view of the movable cargo tray of Figure 25;Figure 27 is a schematic showing which components would typically be located inside and which components, including the attendant box, would be located outside the confined space of Figures 13 and 14; andFigure 28 is a front view of the attendant box of Figure 27. Description: Figures 1-10 show a ladder 10. The