IP Library Granted Patent US 10,138,682
Granted Patent B2
US 10,138,682 · App. 15/392,020 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

Tri-foot, ladder and method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,138,682
App. No.
15/392,020
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A ladder having a first rail having a bottom. The ladder having a second rail. The ladder having rungs attached to the first rail and second rail upon which a user climbs the ladder. The ladder comprises a ladder foot rotatably attached adjacent to the bottom of the first rail. The ladder foot having three distinct and different surfaces, with the first rail resting on one of the three surfaces at any one time the first rail is up right. The first rail changing to any of the three surfaces for the first rail to be upright upon by rotating the ladder foot. A method for placing a ladder. A ladder foot rotatably attached adjacent to a bottom of a first rail of a ladder. A method for making a ladder.

Claims (22)

1. A ladder foot rotatably attached adjacent to a bottom of a first rail of a ladder comprising:

three surfaces that are distinct and different, and a bolthole through which a bolt extends to rotatably attach the ladder foot to the first rail, the ladder foot essentially has a shape of a triangle with a first face, second face directly connected to the first face, and a third face directly connected to the first face and second face, the first face has a first surface, the second face has a second surface different from the first surface, and the third face has a pick extending essentially perpendicular from it, the first surface is a first rubber tread, and the second surface is a second rubber tread, where the second rubber tread has larger and fewer grooves per inch than the first rubber tread which has smaller and more grooves per inch than the second rubber tread.

2. A ladder comprising:

a first rail having a bottom;

a second rail;

rungs attached to the first rail and second rail, the rungs configured to be climbed upon by a user to climb the ladder; and

a ladder foot rotatably attached adjacent to the bottom of the first rail, the ladder foot having three surfaces that are distinct and different, with the first rail resting on the foot, with one of the three surfaces in contact with ground when the first rail is upright, any one of the three surfaces of the foot can be configured to contact the ground at one time by rotating the ladder foot, the ladder foot essentially has a shape of a triangle with a first face, second face directly connected to the first face, and a third face directly connected to the first face and second face, the first face has a first surface, the second face has a second surface different from the first surface, and the third face has a pick extending essentially perpendicular from it, the first surface is a first rubber tread, and the second surface is a second rubber tread, where the second rubber tread has larger and fewer grooves per inch than the first rubber tread which has smaller and more grooves per inch than the second rubber tread.

3. The ladder of claim 2 wherein the ladder foot has a bolthole through which a bolt extends to attach the ladder foot to the first rail, the ladder foot able to pivot about the bolt so either the first, second or third surface can be chosen to rest upon, ground.

4. The ladder of claim 3 wherein the foot has a geometric center in the bolt hole with the bolt passing through the bolthole offset from the geometric center.

5. The ladder of claim 4 wherein the bolthole is located in the foot closer to the first face with the first rubber tread than the second face with the second rubber tread so the ladder foot is taller relative to ground when the second rubber tread is on ground and enables a user to level the ladder when the ladder is set up on uneven ground by using the second face on the uneven ground which is lower than the first face on the uneven ground on a second ladder foot on the second rail which is higher.

6. The ladder of claim 5 wherein each surface is rectangular shaped, each face is essentially flat, and the third surface is essentially flat.

7. The ladder of claim 6 wherein the foot has an interior with buttressing that holds the bolthole.

8. The ladder of claim 7 wherein the buttressing includes a first plate extending into the interior from the first face to the bolthole, a second plate extending into the interior from the second face to the bolthole, and a third plate extending into the interior from the third face to the bolthole, the first plate and third plate shorter than the second plate so the bolthole is held by the buttressing offset from the geometric center of the foot.

9. The ladder of claim 8 wherein the pick has a first portion that is rectangular shaped and directly extends from a top of the third face, and a second portion that is serrated and directly extends from the first portion.

10. The ladder of claim 9 wherein the first rail has an outer face and an inner face, the ladder foot is disposed on the outer face of the first rail, and including a second ladder foot rotatably attached to the inner face with the bolt.

11. A method for placing a ladder comprising the steps of:

moving the ladder to a desired location, the ladder having a first rail and a second rail and rungs attached to the first rail and the second rail, the rungs configured to be climbed upon by a user to climb the ladder;

rotating a ladder foot attached adjacent to a bottom of the first rail until one of three surfaces that are distinct and different of the ladder foot is facing ground, the ladder foot essentially has a shape of a triangle with a first face, second face directly connected to the first face, and a third face directly connected to the first face and second face, the first face has a first surface, the second face has a second surface different from the first surface, and the third face has a pick extending essentially perpendicular from it, the first surface is a first rubber tread, and the second surface is a second rubber tread, where the second rubber tread has larger and fewer grooves per inch than the first rubber tread which has smaller and more grooves per inch than the second rubber tread; and

setting the ladder onto the ground with the one of three surfaces of the ladder foot resting on the ground and the ladder is upright.

12. A method for making a ladder comprising the steps of:

placing a bolt through a bolthole of a ladder foot having three surfaces that are distinct and different; and

attaching the ladder foot to the first rail with the bolt, the ladder foot essentially has a shape of a triangle with a first face, second face directly connected to the first face, and a third face directly connected to the first face and second face, the first face has a first surface, the second face has a second surface different from the first surface, and the third face has a pick extending essentially perpendicular from it, the first surface is a first rubber tread, and the second surface is a second rubber tread, where the second rubber tread has larger and fewer grooves per inch than the first rubber tread which has smaller and more grooves per inch than the second rubber tread.

Assignments (11)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 063958, FRAME 0740 Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WERNER CO.
Reel/Frame 071649/0699 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: WERNER CO.
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071636/0185 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 064205, FRAME 0636 Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: WILLA FINCO II SARL
To: WERNER CO.
Reel/Frame 071649/0887 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 064126, FRAME 0396 Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WERNER CO.
Reel/Frame 071649/0774 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2023
From: WERNER CO.
To: WILLA FINCO II SARL (FORMERLY TRITON V LUXCO 95 SARL)
Reel/Frame 064205/0636 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2023
From: WERNER CO.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064126/0396 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2023
From: WERNER CO.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063958/0740 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 057725/0242 Recorded Jun 12, 2023
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WERNER CO.
Reel/Frame 063957/0438 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2021
From: WERNER CO.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057725/0242 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2021
From: WERNER CO.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057704/0235 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2017
From: MORA, DANIEL C.; BEGGS, ROBERT D.
To: WERNER CO.
Reel/Frame 041438/0070 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,448,844 US 12,553,285 US 12,631,068 US 12,687,070