Granted Patent B1

US 7,044,270 · App. 10/880,347 · Granted May 16, 2006

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A hook attachment for a ladder, comprising:

a pair of curved members,

wherein each of the curved members is formed in a tapered shape having a base portion of a first cross-sectional area and a tip portion of a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area,

wherein a cross-sectional area between the base portion and the tip portion decreases in a substantially continuous manner in a direction from the base portion to the tip portion, and

each of the curved members having a base portion configured for direct, fixed connection to a ladder side rail, and each of the curved members comprising a plurality of curved plates connected to one another.

2. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 1 , wherein each of the curved members comprises a single curved plate.

3. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 1 or 2 , wherein each of the curved members is substantially flat along one axis.

4. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 3 , wherein a perimeter of the base portion first cross-sectional area is substantially rectangular.

5. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 4 , wherein a perimeter of a cross-sectional area between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area is substantially rectangular.

6. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 5 , further comprising at least one connecting member disposed at the base portion of each of the curved members.

7. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 6 , wherein the at least one connecting member is a through hole configured to receive a mechanical fastener.

8. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 1 , wherein the tip portion is rounded.

9. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 8 , wherein the tip portion is angled inwardly.

10. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 1 , wherein the curved members traverse an arc of between about 180°.

11. A hook attachment for a ladder in accord with claim 1 ,

wherein the curved members comprise an upper surface defined by a first radius of curvature centered about a first origin and a lower surface defined by a second radius of curvature centered about a second origin, and

wherein the second radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature.

12. A hooked ladder, comprising:

a pair of opposing side rails having a plurality of rungs disposed substantially in parallel therebetween along substantially an entire length of the opposing side rails; and

a curved member connected to a top end of each of the side rails at a base portion of the curved member to extend in a common direction substantially perpendicular to the side rails,

wherein each of the curved members is formed in a tapered shape having a first cross-sectional area at the base portion, a tip portion of a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and an intermediate portion between the tip portion and the base portion, the intermediate portion having a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area; and

wherein a perimeter of the base portion first cross-sectional area and a perimeter of the cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion are both substantially rectangular, and wherein the tip portion is rounded.

13. A hooked ladder in accord with claim 12 , wherein each of the curved members comprises a curved plate.

14. A hooked ladder in accord with claim 13 , wherein each of the curved members is substantially flat along one axis.

15. A hooked ladder in accord with claim 12 , wherein the tip portion is angled inwardly.

16. A hooked ladder, comprising:

a pair of opposing side rails having a plurality of rungs disposed substantially in parallel therebetween along substantially an entire length of the opposing side rails; and

a curved member connected to a top end of each of the side rails to extend in a common direction substantially perpendicular to the side rails,

wherein each of the curved members is formed in a tapered shape having a base portion of a first cross-sectional area, a tip portion of a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, an intermediate portion between the tip portion and the base portion, the intermediate portion having a cross-sectional area that gradually decreases between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area, and

wherein each of the curved members comprises a plurality of curved plates connected to one another.

Assignments (11)