Ladder footing apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US9771756B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Ladder footing apparatus",
  "abstract": "A ladder footing apparatus for supporting the base of a ladder, wherein the ladder is being positioned against a first wall structure at a top end of the ladder. The ladder footing apparatus includes an elongated handle having respective one and other opposed ends, a resilient pad member supported at one end of the elongated handle, the resilient pad member for engaging a second wall structure that is in opposed position to said first wall structure, and a hook member supported at the other opposed end of the elongated handle, said hook member for engaging a lower rung of the ladder.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A combination of a ladder footing apparatus, a ladder, a first vertical wall structure and a stabilizer piece, wherein said ladder footing apparatus is configured to support the ladder, the combination comprising: said ladder having a set of spaced apart side rails directly connected by a plurality of parallel spaced apart ladder rungs, the ladder having a bottom end and a top end, wherein the top end rests against the first vertical wall structure as a major length of the side rails extends angularly away from the vertical wall structure so that the bottom end of the ladder is configured to be supported on a rest surface at a position spaced away from the vertical wall structure; said ladder footing apparatus comprising a major length of a telescoping handle having a first end and a second opposite end configured to extend and retract with respect to each other along the major length of the handle, a substantially rigid plate of a pad member supported by the second end of the elongated handle by a pivot mechanism, said pivot mechanism having a major length of a pivot pin extending substantially orthogonal to a major length of a rod having an aperture in which the pivot pin extends through, a hook member having a U-shaped hook with an opening configured to receive and engage a lower rung of the plurality of rungs of the ladder, wherein the hook member is supported on the first end by way of a base piece providing an auxiliary step configured to be stepped upon by a user, and wherein the pad member is configured to removably slide into the stabilizer piece in order to selectively move the pad member between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is when the pad member is supported in the stabilizer piece at a spaced height above the rest surface, and the second position is when the pad member is supported by a second vertical wall structure at a second spaced height above the rest surface; said stabilizer piece having a horizontal top bar, opposed end flanges that define an open slot configured to slidably receive and secure opposite edges of the rigid plate therein, and at least one leg directly connected substantially orthogonally to the horizontal top bar so that the at least one leg is configured to penetrate into the rest surface in order to secure the stabilizer piece into a vertical position allowing the rigid plate to be secured in the open slot a spaced distance above of the rest surface; wherein the bottom end of the ladder is positioned between, and spaced apart from, the first vertical wall structure and the stabilizer piece, and the ladder footing apparatus is directly connecting the lower rung of the ladder to the stabilizer piece in order to provide resistance against movement of the ladder in a direction away from the first vertical wall structure which is towards the stabilizer piece.",
    "2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the telescoping handle includes an adjustment piece disposed along the major length of the handle to adjust the major length of the handle.",
    "3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the at least one leg comprises a pair of spaced apart legs for engagement with the rest surface.",
    "4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the auxiliary step is disposed forward of the U-shaped hook.",
    "5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary step has a wider end that is integral with the U-shaped hook.",
    "6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the U-shaped hook comprises sidewalls.",
    "7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the sidewalls comprise five sidewalk including a center sidewall attached with the handle and a pair of outer sidewalls that extend about the lower rung, and wherein the outer sidewalls have at least one end section with an opening.",
    "8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the pad member comprises a resilient pad mounted to the rigid plate.",
    "9. The combination of claim 3 wherein the pad member comprises a resilient pad mounted to the rigid plate.",
    "10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the rod is attached on the rigid plate for attachment with the handle to enable the handle to have different angular positions relative to the ladder, wherein said pivot phi extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the rigid plate.",
    "11. The combination of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer piece has a bottom lip upon which the pad member rests.",
    "12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rod is secured to the pad member and the pivot pin is mounted to the support rod.",
    "13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the rigid plate is planar and the pivot pin is secured to the rod so that the pivot pin extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the rigid plate.",
    "14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the second end of the elongated handle includes a forked piece having tines, and wherein said pivot pin is mounted between the tines of the forked piece.",
    "15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the aperture of the rod is disposed between ends of the rod."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/142,674 which was filed on Apr. 3, 2015 and 62/143,943 which was filed on Apr. 7, 2015 and each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.\n\nThe present invention relates in general to a ladder foot apparatus and pertains more particularly, to such an apparatus that can be used indoors or outdoors but preferably is for indoor use.\n\nThe public makes extensive use of ladders even for indoors use. One of the problems associated with the ladder is the proper support of the ladder so that it does not tumble over or otherwise get dislodged. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an accessory for use with a ladder and to support the bottom end of the ladder so that the ladder can be stationery as it leans against a sidewall. The apparatus of the present invention preferably is in the form of an elongated handle with a hook member at one end for engagement with a rung of the ladder and a support pad at the opposite end for engagement with an opposed wall or other object. The handle is preferably extendable with appropriate means for telescoping sections of the handle. Part of the hook end of the handle comprises a support bar that can also function as an alternate rung or step.\n\nIn accordance with the present invention there is provided a ladder footing apparatus for supporting the base of a ladder, said ladder being positioned against a first wall structure at a top end of the ladder.",
  "cpc": [
    "E06C 7/42",
    "E06C 7/188",
    "E06C 7/46",
    "E06C 7/505"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E06C 7/18",
    "E06C 7/42",
    "E06C 7/46",
    "E06C 7/50"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Matthew Gregoire"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-04-04",
  "publication_date": "2017-09-26",
  "grant_date": "2017-09-26",
  "priority_date": "2015-04-03",
  "application_number": "US-201615090030-A",
  "family_id": "59886870",
  "cited_by_count": 17,
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}