Strand grab, ladder and method

1. A strand grab for a ladder having a first rail and a second rail comprising:

a hook assembly coupled to the ladder via an attachment assembly;

a gate assembly rotatably coupled to the hook assembly; and

a biasing spring engaged with the hook assembly and the gate assembly configured to produce a return biasing force which is less than a weight force of the ladder when the hook assembly rests on a strand allowing the gate assembly to close with the hook assembly and squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly in a closed position and hold the ladder in place with the strand,

wherein the hook assembly has a slot, and includes a cam pin disposed therein,

wherein when the strand contacts the hook assembly, the cam pin moves downward in the slot and pushes against a portion of the gate assembly causing the gate assembly to be biased into the closed position,

wherein when the hook assembly is lifted from the strand and the strand contacts the gate assembly, the cam pin moves upward in the slot allowing the biasing spring to bias the gate assembly away from the hook assembly into an open position and disengages the gate assembly from the strand.

2. The strand grab of claim 1 wherein the hook assembly includes a pivot pin about which the gate assembly rotates.

3. The strand grab of claim 2 wherein the biasing spring directly engages with the pivot pin.

4. The strand grab of claim 3 including a compression spring disposed around a portion of the hook assembly, wherein when the compression spring is compressed, the hook assembly is able to rotate between a stowed position where the hook assembly extends in a plane defined by the first rail and the second rail and a deployed position with the hook assembly extends perpendicular to the plane.

5. The strand grab of claim 4 wherein the hook assembly includes a shaft having a lower end, about which the compression spring is disposed, and a hook portion attached to an upper portion of the shaft.

6. The strand grab of claim 5 wherein the slot is disposed along a length of the hook portion.

7. The strand grab of claim 6 wherein the gate assembly includes a first gate portion and a second gate portion in parallel and spaced relation with the first gate portion, the first gate portion disposed on a first side of the shaft and the second gate portion disposed on a second side of the shaft, the pivot pin rotatably attached to and between the first gate portion and the second gate portion, the first gate portion and the second gate portion each have a cam profile disposed below the cam pin and alongside the slot and an elongate portion extending from the cam profile with the pivot pin disposed between the cam profile and the elongate portion.

8. The strand grab of claim 7 wherein the hook assembly includes a first hook portion and a second hook portion in a parallel and spaced relation with the first hook portion, the first hook portion disposed on the first side of the shaft and the second hook portion disposed on the second side of the shaft, the first hook portion and the second hook portion each having an arc shape with a base attached to the shaft above the slot and a tip, the first hook portion and the second hook portion configured to fit on and about the strand between the base and the tip.

9. The strand grab of claim 8 wherein the lower end of the shaft with the compression spring is disposed within a portion the attachment assembly.

10. The strand grab of claim 1 wherein the hook assembly includes a pad which contacts the strand when the hook assembly and the gate assembly are in the closed position.

11. A ladder for use with a strand comprising:

a first rail;

a second rail in parallel and spaced relation with the first rail;

rungs attached to and extending between the first rail and the second rail, the first rail includes a first strand grab attached to the first rail and the second rail includes a second strand grab attached to the second rail, the first strand grab and the second strand grab each include:

a hook assembly;

a gate assembly rotatably coupled to the hook assembly; and

a biasing spring engaged with the hook assembly and the gate assembly configured to produce a return biasing force which is less than a weight force of the ladder when the hook assembly rests on the strand allowing the gate assembly to close with the hook assembly and squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly in a closed position and hold the ladder in place with the strand,

wherein the hook assembly has a slot, and includes a cam pin disposed therein,

wherein when the strand contacts the hook assembly, the cam pin moves downward in the slot and pushes against a portion of the gate assembly causing the gate assembly to be biased into the closed position,

wherein when the hook assembly is lifted from the strand and the strand contacts the gate assembly, the cam pin moves upward in the slot allowing the biasing spring to bias the gate assembly away from the hook assembly into an open position and disengages the gate assembly from the strand.

12. The ladder of claim 11 including a bracket attached to and between the hook assembly of the first strand grab and the second strand grab, the bracket having a V shape which fits to a pole or exterior corner of a structure.

13. A method for using a ladder comprising the steps of:

placing strand grab attached to a rail of the ladder onto a strand;

wherein the strand grab includes a hook assembly, a gate assembly rotatably coupled to the hook assembly, and a biasing spring engaged with the hook assembly and the gate assembly,

wherein the hook assembly has a slot, and includes a cam pin disposed therein,

resting the hook assembly of the strand grab onto the strand such that a weight of the ladder creates a force larger than that provided by the biasing spring and causes the cam pin to move downward in the slot and pushes against a portion of the gate assembly causing the gate assembly to be biased into a closed position and squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly and hold the ladder in place with the strand; and

opening the strand grab by lifting the ladder and creating a lifting force on the ladder which causes the gate assemby to contact the strand, wherein the lifting force causes the cam pin to move upward by in the slot allowing the biasing spring to bias the gate assembly away from the hook assembly into an open position and disengages the strand grab from the strand.

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

attaching a first strand grab to a first rail of the ladder via a first attachment assembly; and

attaching a second strand grab to a second rail of the ladder via a second attachment assembly, the first strand grab and the second strand grab each including:

a hook assembly;

a gate assembly rotatably coupled to the hook assembly; and

a biasing spring engaged with the hook assembly and the gate assembly configured to produce a return biasing force which is less than a weight force of the ladder when the hook assembly rests on a strand allowing the gate assembly to close with the hook assembly and squeeze the strand between the gate assembly and the hook assembly in a closed position and hold the ladder in place with the strand,

wherein the hook assembly has a slot, and includes a cam pin disposed therein,

wherein when the strand contacts the hook assembly, the cam pinmoves downward in the slot and pushes against a portion of the gate assembly causing the gate assembly to be biased into the closed position,

wherein when the hook assembly is lifted from the strand and the strand contacts the gate assembly, the cam pin moves upward in the slot allowing the biasing spring to bias the gate assembly away from the hook assembly into an open position and disengages the gate assembly from the strand.