Ladder leveler and method
View Patent ↗A leveler for a ladder having side rails and a rung comprises a metal housing fixed to one of the side rails. The housing has an opening. The leveler comprises a metal leg with slides in the housing and is adjustable in the housing. The leg has a top end and a bottom end. The leg has two rows of holes which are set side by side and extend through the leg. The leveler comprises a holder for holding a leg to the housing. The holder extending through the opening and one of the holes to hold a leg in place. The leveler comprises a cap disposed on the top end which acts as a stop for the leg when the cap contacts the housing. A method for setting a ladder in place.
1. A leveler for a ladder having side rails defined by a web and opposing flanges extending from the web to form a c shape with rail holes and a rung comprising:
a metal housing consisting of a pair of separate unconnected housing portions fixed to one of the side rails, said pair of housing portions include an upper housing portion fixed to the rail and a lower housing portion fixed to the rail spaced apart from the upper housing portion, the upper housing portion is a closed rectangular box section and the lower housing portion is a closed rectangular box section, the upper housing portion has two holes side by side; each of the housing portion includes a pair of studs which are pressed into the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion and attached to the side rail to fix the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion to the side rail;
a rectangular closed box section metal leg which slides in the housing and is adjustable in the housing, the leg has a top end and a bottom end, the leg has two rows of holes which are set side by side but offset vertically from each other and extend through the leg, the two holes of the upper housing portion line up with the two rows of holes;
the front surface of the leg has hash-mark labels which serve as an indicator of alignment of the rows of holes;
a holder includes a pin for holding the leg to the housing, the pin extending through the opening of one of the two holes of the upper housing portion to hold the leg in place;
nuts that are used to attach the upper and lower housing portions of the housing to the web of the rail between the flanges;
a pair of backup plates disposed between the nut and the side rail, each plate comprising a pair of holes receiving the pair of studs and serves as a washer for the nut that attaches the plate to the rail, each plate further comprises a third hole receiving the pin and also serves as a safety device and reinforcing plate around a rail hole in the rail the pin goes through, the rail disposed between the plate and the upper and lower housing portions;
as a downward load on the ladder that creates a shear force on the pin increases, requires a corresponding increase in pull force needed to remove the pin from the rail hole;
a cap disposed on the top end which acts as a stop for the leg when the cap contacts the housing; and
a swivel shoe rotatably connected adjacent to the bottom end of the leg.
2. A leveler as described in claim 1 including a level attached to the first rung.
3. A leveler as described in claim 1 wherein the pin is a steel ball detent pin.
4. A leveler as described in claim 1 including a case in which the level is disposed, and the rung has a cavity in which the case is disposed with the level.
5. A leveler as described in claim 4 including a cable connected to the pin and the upper housing portion.
6. A leveler as described in claim 5 wherein the steel ball detent pin is spring loaded.
7. A leveler as described in claim 1 including a spacer disposed between the leg and the swivel shoe to ensure proper function between the swivel shoe and the leg.