Remote extendable ladder and methods
A multipurpose ladder having a first pulley attached adjacent a top of a first base right rail. The ladder includes a first anchor attached adjacent a bottom of the first fly right rail. The ladder comprises a first cable having a free end and a fixed end. The fixed end attached to the first anchor. The first cable extending from the first anchor about the first pulley and past the first pulley so the free end extends past the first pulley. When the free end is pulled, the first fly right rail is moved relative to the first base right rail by the first cable engaged with the first pulley and the fixed end attached to the first anchor. A method for using a multipurpose ladder. A method for producing a multipurpose ladder.
1 . A ladder comprising:
a first fly section having a first fly right rail, a first fly left rail in parallel and spaced relation with the first fly right rail, and a plurality of first fly horizontal support members attached to the first fly left rail and first fly right rail;
a first articulated hinge attached to the first fly right rail and a second articulated hinge attached to the first fly left rail;
a second fly section having a second fly right rail, a second fly left rail in parallel and spaced relation with the second fly right rail, and a plurality of second fly horizontal support members attached to the second fly left and right rails, the second fly right rail attached to the first articulated hinge and the second fly left rail attached to the second articulated hinge so the second fly section can rotate about the first and second articulated hinges relative to the first fly section;
a first base section having a first base right rail, a first base left rail in parallel and spaced relation with the first base right rail, and a plurality of first base horizontal support members attached to the first base left and right rails;
a second base section having a second base right rail, a second base left rail in parallel and spaced relation with the second base right rail, and a plurality of second base horizontal support members attached to the second base left and right rails, the second base right rail adjacent the second fly right rail with the second fly right rail sliding relative to the second base right rail;
wherein the first base section and the first fly section are slidable relative to one another between a first contracted position and a first extended position to extend or contract a length of the ladder and the second base section and the second fly section are slidable relative to one another between a second contracted position and a second extended position to extend or contract the length of the ladder, and wherein the ladder has an extended straight configuration in which the first fly section, the second fly section, and the second base section are disposed above the first base section with the first fly section and the first base section in the first extended position and the second fly section and the second base section in the second extended position;
further comprising a pulley attached to one of the second fly horizontal support members of the second fly section adjacent a bottom of the second fly section;
an anchor at the second base section adjacent a top of the second base section;
a cable having a free end hanging freely from the ladder and not anchored thereto and a fixed end, the fixed end attached to the anchor, the cable extending from the anchor about the pulley and past the pulley such that when the free end is pulled by a user standing on a ground when the ladder is standing on the ground in a straight configuration, the second base section is raised upwards relative to the ground and relative to the second fly section to the second extended position.
2 . The ladder of claim 1 wherein pulling the cable downwardly when the ladder is standing on the ground in the straight configuration causes the second base section to be raised upwards relative to the ground and relative to the second fly section to the second extended position.
3 . The ladder of claim 1 wherein the anchor is disposed on one of the second base horizontal support members of the second base section adjacent the top of the second base section.
4 . The ladder of claim 1 further comprising a first locking assembly engaged with the second base section and the second fly section which locks the second base section and the second fly section in place relative to one another in a locked state and permits the second base section and the second fly section to slide relative to one another in an unlocked state.
5 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the first articulated hinge is attached to a top of the first fly right rail and the second articulated hinge is attached to a top of the first fly left rail.
6 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein a pulling force on the free end of the cable when the ladder is standing on a ground in an A configuration causes the second fly section to be raised upwards relative to the ground and relative to the second base section.
7 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the ladder is configurable between the straight configuration and a fully extended straight configuration, wherein in the fully extended straight configuration the first fly section is raised upwards relative to the first base section and the second base section is raised upwards relative to the second fly section.
8 . The ladder of claim 1 , wherein the ladder is configurable between an A configuration and a fully extended A configuration, wherein in the fully extended A configuration the first and second fly sections are raised upwardly relative to the first and second base sections.
9 . The ladder of claim 8 , wherein in the fully extended A configuration the first articulated hinge and the second articulated hinge are disposed at a topmost portion of the ladder.