Ladder transport systems
View Patent ↗A ladder is safely and securely transported on a work vehicle using a pair of stanchions spaced along one side of the work vehicle. Each stanchion has a lower base portion carried on one side of the work vehicle, and an upper pole portion insertable into a hollow rung of a ladder. In this fashion, a ladder, such as an extension ladder, is supported on only one of its side rails without the need for engagement with tensioned load straps. Because the stanchions and ladder are located on the side of a work vehicle, the ladder takes up no cargo space on the cargo area of the work vehicle.
1 . A ladder transport system, comprising:
a ladder comprising a first side rail and a second side rail;
a first hollow ladder rung and a second hollow ladder rung each extending between said first and second side rails;
a vehicle comprising a cargo bed;
a first stanchion mounted on said vehicle and a second stanchion mounted on said vehicle, each of said first and second stanchions comprising a base portion having an upper base portion and a lower base portion, a stop member fixed to and projecting laterally between said upper and lower base portions, and a support surface provided on said upper base portion and spaced above said stop member to define a vertical clearance between said support surface and said stop member;
said first stanchion comprising a first pole portion extending upwardly into said first hollow ladder rung on said first side rail and said second stanchion comprising a second pole portion extending upwardly into said second hollow ladder rung on said first side rail; and
wherein said ladder is supported, restrained and positioned on said vehicle by said first and second stanchions and elevated adjacent to and above said cargo bed by engagement between said stop member and said vehicle and wherein said first and second pole portions are respectively fixed in a vertical position on each said base portion and respectively extend through and beyond said first and second hollow ladder rungs.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises a first stake pocket and a second stake pocket, and wherein said first stanchion is carried in said first stake pocket and said second stanchion is carried in said second stake pocket.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of flanges provided on opposite end portions of said first and second hollow ladder rungs and wherein only the weight of said ladder is supported on said first and second stanchions by a first flange on said first hollow ladder rung and a second flange on said second hollow ladder rung.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said first flange on said first hollow ladder rung and said second flange on said second hollow ladder rung respectively seat on said support surface on each of said first and second stanchions and limit contact between said first side rail and said support surface on each of said first and second stanchions.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises a rub rail and wherein said ladder is disposed adjacent to and above said rub rail.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said ladder comprises an extension ladder having a base section and a fly section, and wherein only said base section engages said first and second stanchions.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second lock pins respectively extending through said first and second pole portions above said first and second hollow ladder rungs.
8 . A ladder stanchion, comprising:
a base portion comprising a plurality of sidewalls constructed and dimensioned for insertion into a rectangular stake pocket, and an upper top base portion and a lower bottom base portion;
a stop member fixed to and projecting laterally from one of said plurality of sidewalls at a position spaced below said upper top base portion and spaced above said lower bottom base portion to determine a vertical height of said stanchion when installed on a vehicle;
a ladder support surface provided on said upper top base portion and spaced above said stop member to provide a vertical clearance space between said upper support surface and said stop member for passage of a load strap; and
a pole portion extending upwardly from said ladder support surface and constructed and dimensioned for insertion into a tubular ladder rung and wherein said pole portion is centered on said ladder support surface and extends vertically upwardly from said ladder support surface.
9 . The ladder stanchion of claim 8 , wherein said base portion comprises a rectangular base portion defined by said plurality of sidewalls.
10 . The ladder stanchion of claim 8 , wherein said ladder support surface comprises an iron or steel flat-bar welded to one of said plurality of sidewalls.
11 . The ladder stanchion of claim 8 , wherein said ladder support surface comprises a flat support plate.
12 . The ladder stanchion of claim 8 , wherein said base portion comprises a three-sided channel iron.