Apparatus, system, and method for ladder step prevention device

1. An apparatus to limit access to a ladder step, the apparatus comprising:

a front face that extends between a bottom of a ladder top and a top surface of a first step below the ladder top, wherein the solid front face is substantially flush with and substantially fills a planar area, the planar area defined by front surfaces of the ladder top of a ladder, the first step below the ladder top of the ladder, a left leg of the ladder, and a right leg of the ladder, wherein the front face is substantially solid to prevent a user from stepping on the first step, wherein the left leg and right leg of the ladder each comprise a substantially rectangular “C” shaped cross section forming an open channel wherein the open channel of the left leg faces the open channel of the right leg; and

a first side flap and a second side flap (“side flaps”) integrally connected to opposing lateral sides of the front face and disposed at an angle to the front face, wherein the angle of the side flaps creates a spring force when resiliently inserted into the channels of the legs of the ladder by pressing in an outward direction, wherein the side flaps have a horizontal depth that fits within the channels and the side flaps have back lateral edges, opposite the front face, that contact a back surface of the channels and position the front face substantially flush with said planar area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the side flaps extend the height of the front face.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more openings disposed in one or more of the side flaps and the front face.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more openings permit attachment of the apparatus to the ladder.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the one or more openings are aligned with corresponding openings in the ladder and a securing means is disposed between the one or more openings and the openings in the ladder.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the securing means consist of one or more of screw, nut, bolt, lock, locking screw, cotter key, rod and pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tamper evident locking mechanism.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom edge of the side flaps that is disposed at an angle to a bottom edge of the front face, the angle allowing the apparatus to fit over a top surface of the first step.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front face is substantially trapezoidal such that the front face will substantially fill the area between the ladder top and the first step for ladders with legs that angle inward from bottom to top.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more hand holes disposed in the front face.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front face and side flaps are constructed from one or more of plastic, fiberglass, lexan, acrylic, carbon fiber, PVC and sheet metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front face and side flaps are manufactured as a single substantially flat material, the material being scored to allow a user to bend the side flaps at an angle to the front face.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front face and side flaps are manufactured with the side flaps pre-formed at an angle to the front face.

14. A system to limit access to a ladder step, the system comprising:

a ladder with a ladder top and first step below the ladder top; and

an apparatus to limit access to a ladder step, the apparatus comprising:

a solid front face that extends between a bottom of the ladder top and a top surface of the first step, wherein the solid front face is substantially flush with and substantially fills a planar area, the planar area defined by front surfaces of the ladder top of a ladder, the first step below the ladder top of the ladder, a left leg of the ladder, and a right leg of the ladder, wherein the front face is substantially solid to prevent a user from stepping on the first step, wherein the left leg and right leg of the ladder each comprise a substantially rectangular “C” shaped cross section forming an open channel, wherein the open channel of the left leg faces the open channel of the right leg; and

a first side flap and a second side flap (“side flaps”) integrally connected to opposing lateral sides of the front face and disposed at an angle to the front face, wherein the angle of the side flaps creates a spring force when resiliently inserted into the channels of the legs of the ladder by pressing in an outward direction, wherein the side flaps have a horizontal depth that fits within the channels and the side flaps have back lateral edges, opposite the front face, that contact a back surface of the channels and position the front face substantially flush with said planar area.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising one or more openings disposed in one or more of the side flaps and the front face.

16. A method for preventing access to a ladder step, the method comprising:

placing a first side flap that is disposed on a lateral end of a front face inside an open center portion of a first leg of a ladder below a top of the ladder and above a first step of the ladder, the first step below the top of the ladder without any intervening steps, the front face comprising the first side flap and a second side flap, the first side flap disposed on a lateral side opposite the second side flap, the side flaps being integrally connected with the front face, the first side flap and the second side flap (“side flaps”) being disposed on the lateral sides of the front face at an angle to the front face, the first leg of the ladder having a substantially “C” shaped cross section forming a channel and an open center portion of the “C” shape of the first leg of the ladder is facing the center of the ladder;

pressing the first side flap of the front face into the open center portion of the substantially “C” shaped cross section of the first leg of the ladder;

pressing the second side flap of the front face into the open center portion of the substantially “C” shaped cross section of a second leg of the ladder opposite the first leg of the ladder;

allowing the first and second side flaps to flex against the open center portion of the “C” shaped cross section of both legs of the ladder, the angle of the first and second side flaps creating a spring force when inserted in the ladder by pressing in an outward direction on the open center portion of the “C” shaped cross sections of the first leg and of the second leg, the first and second side flaps having a horizontal length fitting within the open center portion of the “C” shape of the ladder legs, a lateral edge of the first and second side flaps, opposite the front face, contacting a back edge of each “C” shaped cross section of the legs so that the first and second side flaps position the front face substantially onto a front edge of the “C” shaped cross section, the spring force positioning the front face so that it is substantially flush with and substantially fills a face of the ladder, the back edge of the “C” shaped cross section interior to the open center portion of the “C” shape and distal to the front edge of the “C” shaped cross section.