阅读说明：本技术 用于伸缩梯子的锁定组件 (Locking assembly for a telescopic ladder ) 是由 M·I·基弗 N·L·施吕特 于 2018-11-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：实施例包括具有多个柱和横档的伸缩梯子。所述梯子可具有多个锁定组件,所述锁定组件用于将相邻的柱锁定到横档,由此限制在相邻的柱之间的相对滑动运动。所述锁定组件可具有锁定按钮,所述锁定按钮可定位成抵靠横档前表面并且可在锁定位置和解锁位置之间相对于其旋转。所述锁定组件可具有锁定销,所述锁定销定位在所述横档内并且可沿大体上垂直于旋转轴线的锁定销轴线在伸展位置和缩回位置之间滑动。所述锁定组件可具有连接器销,所述连接器销在平行于旋转轴线的方向上伸展,用于将所述锁定按钮连接到所述锁定销,使得所述锁定按钮绕所述旋转轴线的旋转使所述锁定销绕所述锁定销轴线滑动。(Embodiments include a telescopic ladder having a plurality of posts and rungs. The ladder may have a plurality of locking assemblies for locking adjacent posts to the rung, thereby limiting relative sliding movement between adjacent posts. The locking assembly may have a locking button positionable against the front surface of the rail and rotatable relative thereto between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking assembly may have a locking pin positioned within the rung and slidable along a locking pin axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation between an extended position and a retracted position. The locking assembly may have a connector pin extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation for connecting the locking button to the locking pin such that rotation of the locking button about the axis of rotation slides the locking pin about the locking pin axis.)

1. A locking assembly for locking adjacent nested posts of a telescopic ladder to one another and thereby limiting relative sliding movement between adjacent posts, each post being connected to a respective rung to a rung, the locking assembly comprising:

a lock button comprising a button rear surface, the button rear surface being substantially flat, the lock button being positioned such that the button rear surface is substantially parallel to and faces the rail front surface, the lock button being rotatable relative to the rail front surface about an axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a locking pin positioned within the ledge, having a locking pin axis extending centrally therethrough and slidable along the locking pin axis between an extended position and a retracted position, whereby when the locking button is in the locked position, the locking pin is in the extended position, and when the locking pin is in the unlocked position, the locking pin is in the retracted position, the locking pin axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and

a connector pin extending in a direction parallel to and offset from the axis of rotation, the connector pin connecting the lock button to the lock pin such that rotation of the lock button about the axis of rotation slides the lock pin about the lock pin axis.

2. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the button rear surface contacts the rail front surface.

3. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector pin includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end.

4. The locking assembly of claim 3, wherein the locking pin includes an aperture and the first pin end is frictionally received in the aperture of the locking pin.

5. The locking assembly of claim 3, wherein the locking button includes a slot defined on the rear surface, the second pin end receivable in the slot.

6. The locking assembly of claim 5, wherein the connector pin slides in the slot between a first position and a second position when the lock button is rotated between the locked position and the unlocked position.

7. The locking assembly of claim 5, wherein the button rear surface includes a bottom edge forming an outermost boundary of the rear surface, the slot being non-parallel to the bottom edge.

8. The locking assembly of claim 7, wherein the connector pin slides in a direction that is non-parallel to the bottom edge of the rear surface.

9. The locking assembly of claim 1, further comprising a securing pin for engaging the locking button to a front surface of the rail.

10. The locking assembly of claim 9, wherein the securing pin includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being positionable in an opening on a front surface of the rail.

11. The locking assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking button includes an aperture, the second end of the securing pin being frictionally engageable with the aperture of the locking button.

12. The locking assembly of claim 9, wherein the axis of rotation of the locking button passes centrally through the securing pin such that the locking button rotates about and relative to the securing pin.

13. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking button includes a front surface opposite the rear surface, the button front surface having a graspable and rotatable rotation knob to rotate the locking button about the axis of rotation.

14. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the rotation knob is integrally formed with and fixed relative to the button front surface when the locking button and/or the rotation knob is rotated.

15. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the rotation knob protrudes beyond the button front surface.

16. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the rotation knob is substantially parallel to the rail front surface when the lock button is in the locked position.

17. The locking assembly of claim 16, wherein the rotation knob is substantially non-parallel to the rail front surface when the locking button is in any position other than the locked position so as to provide a visual indication that adjacent posts are unlocked relative to each other.

18. A telescopic ladder, comprising:

a first vertical frame and a second vertical frame,

a second mullion, the first and second mullions each having

A plurality of posts disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescoping manner along post axes of the plurality of posts between a fully extended position and a collapsed position, each post having a hollow body such that when the ladder is collapsed from the fully extended position, each post is substantially nested within another post;

a plurality of rungs extending between the first mullion and the second mullion, each rung connected to a pillar of the first mullion and a pillar of the second mullion; and

a plurality of locking assemblies, each locking assembly comprising:

a lock button engageable with a front surface of a rail of the plurality of rails, the lock button comprising a rear surface, the button rear surface being substantially flat, the lock button being positionable against the rail front surface such that the lock button is substantially parallel to and faces the rail front surface, the lock button being rotatable relative to the rail front surface about an axis of rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position,

wherein in the locked position, sliding movement between adjacent ones of the plurality of posts is restricted, and in the unlocked position, sliding movement between adjacent ones of the plurality of posts is permitted,

a locking pin positioned within the rung and slidable along a locking pin axis between an extended position and a retracted position, the locking pin axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and

a connector pin extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the connector pin connecting the lock button to the locking pin such that rotation of the lock button about the axis of rotation slides the locking pin about the locking pin axis,

whereby when the lock button is in the locked position, the locking pin is in the extended position, and when the locking pin is in the unlocked position, the locking pin is in the retracted position.

19. The telescopic ladder of claim 18, wherein the axis of rotation of the locking button is substantially perpendicular to the post axis.

20. The telescopic ladder of claim 18, wherein the locking pin axis of the locking pin is substantially perpendicular to the post axis.

21. The telescopic ladder of claim 18, wherein the locking pin protrudes through a pair of correspondingly aligned openings on adjacent posts of the plurality of posts, thereby locking the adjacent posts to one another.

22. The locking assembly of claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation passes through a point of rotation, the slot extending away from the point of rotation in a slot direction, the slot direction forming an initial acute angle with the locking pin axis, whereby the initial acute angle increases as the locking button rotates about the axis of rotation.

Background

Ladders typically include rungs supported between stiles formed from a plurality of posts. In some cases, the ladder may be a telescopic ladder and may be expanded to separate the posts from one another in order to extend the ladder, or folded together in order to retract the ladder.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a telescopic ladder. The ladder may have first and second stiles each having a plurality of posts disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement between a fully extended position and a collapsed position in a telescoping manner along post axes of the plurality of posts. The ladder may have a plurality of rungs extending between the first stile and the second stile and connected to the posts of the first stile and the posts of the second stile. The ladder may have a plurality of locking assemblies.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a locking assembly for locking adjacent posts to a rung of a telescopic ladder and thereby limiting relative sliding movement between the adjacent posts. The locking assembly may have a locking button engageable with a front surface of the rail. The locking button may be positioned against the front surface of the rail such that the locking button is substantially parallel to and faces the front surface of the rail. The locking button is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the rail front surface between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking assembly may have a locking pin positioned within the rung and slidable along a locking pin axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation between an extended position and a retracted position. The locking assembly may have a connector pin extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation for connecting the locking button to the locking pin such that rotation of the locking button about the axis of rotation slides the locking pin about the locking pin axis.

In aspects of the present disclosure, the locking pin is in the extended position when the lock button is in the locked position and the locking pin is in the retracted position when the locking pin is in the unlocked position.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below, and other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a telescopic ladder according to an embodiment, with rungs shown in a collapsed position;

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of a single rail and two adjacent posts and connector assemblies;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single rail of a locking assembly and a pair of connector assemblies shown in a locked state, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the rail of FIG. 2 with the locking assembly in an intermediate state between the locked and unlocked states;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the rail of FIG. 2 with the locking assembly in an unlocked state;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a locking assembly that may be used with the rail of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective rear view of the lock button shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the locking assembly of FIG. 2 in a locked condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a portion of the locking assembly of FIG. 2 in an intermediate state between locked and unlocked states;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a portion of the locking assembly of FIG. 2 in an unlocked state;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the locking assembly taken along the plane 10-10 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the locking assembly taken along the plane 11-11 shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the locking assembly taken along the plane 12-12 shown in FIG. 4.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a telescopic ladder 10 according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1A, a telescopic ladder 10 includes a first stile 14 and a second stile 16 (e.g., the left and right stiles illustrated in FIG. 1A). The first and second mullions each have a plurality of posts 18, the plurality of posts 18 being disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement between extended and collapsed positions in a telescoping manner along a post axis 20 of the plurality of posts 18. For example, in FIG. 1A, the upper portion of the ladder 10 is shown in a collapsed position, wherein the posts 18 nest with one another in a telescoping manner along a post axis 20 of the posts 18, while the lower portion is shown in an extended position.

As seen in FIGS. 1A-1B, the ladder 10 includes a plurality of rungs 24 extending between the first stile 14 and the second stile 16. Each rail 24 may be connected to the post 18 of the first mullion 14 and the post 18 of the second mullion 16. As shown in fig. 1A, each rail 24 may be connected to the post 18 by a connector assembly 26, as will be described later. With continued reference to fig. 1A, in some cases, each rung 24 includes a substantially planar first surface 28 and a substantially planar second surface 30 opposite the planar first surface 28. The first surface 28 of each rail 24 defines a flat upstanding surface 32. Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, when the ladder 10 is extended for use and leaned against a wall, a user may step on the flat first surface 28. The flat upright surface 32 may include a tread 34 defined thereon to provide friction between the flat upright surface 32 and a contact surface of a user (e.g., a user's sole).

As will be described further, the rail 24 may be substantially hollow so as to allow the connector assembly 26 to secure the rail 24 to the posts 18 on each of the right and left side stiles. In addition, the hollow body of cross piece 24 allows a pair of latch assemblies (not shown) to be received in cross piece 24 to connect cross piece 24 to post 18. The rungs 24 may be extruded from aluminum, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. The rungs 24 may have cross-sectional shapes different from those described in U.S. patent nos. 9,580,959 and 9,416,591b2, assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Fig. 2-4 provide additional details regarding the construction of the connector assembly 26 according to some embodiments of the invention. The connector assemblies 26 may represent all of the connector assemblies in the ladder 10, but the connector assembly on the right stile may be a mirror image of the connector assembly 26 on the left stile. As shown by these figures, the connector assembly 26 is formed and assembled as disclosed in U.S. patent nos. u.s.6,883,645, u.s.8,225,906, u.s.9,580,959, and u.s.9,416,591, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application.

In some exemplary embodiments, as seen in fig. 1B, the connector assembly 26 forms a collar portion 40 and a ledge portion 50. The ledge portion 50 of the connector assembly 26 may be inserted into the open end of the ledge 24 while the collar portion 40 is attached around the end of the post 18. As perhaps best seen in fig. 1B and 2, the collar portion 40 has an interior surface 42, which interior surface 42 may include one or more tabs 44 that are inserted into corresponding openings located near the distal end of the post 18. The tabs 44 help secure the collar portion 40 around the entire post 18. As shown therein, in some exemplary embodiments, the inner surface 42 of the collar portion 40 may also include a plurality of ribs 46. In some embodiments, the ribs 46 are distributed around the inner surface 42 of the collar portion 40. The ribs 46 may create a friction fit with the ends of the post 18 as the collar portion 40 is pushed around the ends of the post 18. The friction fit helps secure the collar portion 40 around the entire end of the post 18.

Fig. 2-4 illustrate a single rail 24 and connector assembly 26 according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment. As seen in fig. 2-4, in some embodiments, the ladder 10 includes a locking assembly 60 for locking adjacent posts 18 to the rungs 24 of the telescopic ladder 10. When locked by the locking assembly 60, relative sliding (telescoping) movement between adjacent posts 18 may be limited. Fig. 2 illustrates the locking assembly 60 in a locked state. Fig. 3 illustrates the locking assembly 60 in a position between the locked and unlocked states, while fig. 4 illustrates the locking assembly 60 in the unlocked state.

As seen in fig. 2-4, in some embodiments, locking assembly 60 includes a locking button 62 engageable with a front surface of rail 24. In certain exemplary embodiments, the locking button 62 may be manufactured by molding a thermoplastic material (e.g., ABS plastic) or glass filled nylon (e.g., PA6-GF 30%). Other materials are contemplated.

The locking button 62 may include a button rear surface 64 and a button front surface 66 opposite the button rear surface 64. The button rear surface 64 is illustrated as being generally flat. Locking button 62 may be positioned against a generally flat rail front surface 68 such that button rear surface 64 is generally parallel to and faces the rail 24 front surface. The lock button 62 is rotatable about an axis of rotation 70 relative to the front surface of the rail 24 between the locked and unlocked positions. In fig. 2, the lock button 62 is in the locked position. Fig. 3 illustrates the lock button 62 in an intermediate position between the locked and unlocked positions, while fig. 4 illustrates the lock assembly 60 in the unlocked position. When the lock buttons 62 are in the locked position, the posts 18 of the ladder 10 may be locked relative to each other such that relative axial movement between the posts 18 is limited. Conversely, when the lock buttons 62 are in the unlocked position, the posts 18 of the ladder 10 may be unlocked relative to one another such that relative axial movement between the posts 18 is permitted.

In an exemplary embodiment, button rear surface 64 may be flush mounted with the front surface of ledge 24 to provide a more secure connection. Thus, in such embodiments, button rear surface 64 contacts the front surface of ledge 24 when locking button 62 is engaged to the front surface of ledge 24. Alternatively, lock button 62 may be spaced a small clearance distance from the front surface of ledge 24 so that less frictional resistance is encountered as lock button 62 is rotated between its unlocked and locked positions.

As seen in fig. 5-6, the button rear surface 64 includes a top edge 72, a bottom edge 74 parallel to and opposite the top edge 72, and side edges (a first side edge 76 and a second side edge 78) extending between the top edge 72 and the bottom edge 74. In certain embodiments, the top, bottom and side edges 76, 78 may form the outermost boundaries of the button back surface 64 such that the button back surface 64 is bounded by the top edge 72, the bottom edge 74 and the side edges 76, 78. Although the illustrated embodiment shows the lock button 62 as having a generally rectangular shape, other shapes (e.g., circular or oval) are contemplated within the present disclosure.

In certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments, and with continued reference to fig. 5 and 6, locking assembly 60 includes a securing pin 80 for engaging locking button 62 to a front surface of rail 24. Securing pin 80 includes a first end 82 and a second end 84 opposite first end 82. As shown in FIG. 5, first end 82 of securing pin 80 may be positioned in an opening 86 on the front surface of rail 24. In an advantageous aspect of the present disclosure, first end 82 may include threads to securely engage with an opening 86 on a front surface of rail 24. In the alternative, first end 82 of securing pin 80 may simply be pushed to fit into opening 86 in the front surface of rail 24 to frictionally engage therewith.

As seen in fig. 5 and 6, the lock button 62 includes an aperture 88. Second end 84 of securing pin 80 may frictionally engage aperture 88 of locking button 62. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the locking button 62 may be welded to or integrally formed with the securing pin 80. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the locking button 62 may be fastened to the fastening pin 80 by a fastener. As seen in fig. 5, the rotational axis 70 of the lock button 62 passes centrally through the securing pin 80 and the aperture 88 such that the lock button 62 rotates about and relative to the securing pin 80.

With continued reference to fig. 5, securing pin 80 may include a head portion 90 that protrudes through aperture 88 of locking button 62. Head portion 90 may include access ports 92 to allow fastening (e.g., twisting) of fastening pin 80 to locking button 62 and ledge 24. In an exemplary embodiment, access port 92 may be in the form of a hexagonal opening to allow a tool (e.g., an Allen wrench) to engage and torque head portion 90 of securing pin 80 to drive threads on first end 82 of securing pin 80 into opening 86 on ledge 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the head portion 90 is shaped as a countersunk screw for placement within the aperture 88 on the lock button 62. Thus, in such examples, the head portion 90 of the securing pin 80 may not protrude beyond the button front surface 66. Alternatively, the head portion 90 may be formed in other shapes, or integral with (and protruding from) the button rear surface 64 and/or the button front surface 66.

As seen in the non-limiting exemplary embodiment of fig. 5 and 6, as previously mentioned, the lock button 62 includes a button front surface 66 opposite a button rear surface 64. The button front surface 66 may include a rotation knob 94 that may be grasped and rotated to rotate the lock button 62 about the axis of rotation 70. In the illustrated embodiment, when the lock button 62 and/or the rotation knob 94 are rotated, the rotation knob 94 is integrally formed with the button front surface 66 and is fixed relative to the button front surface 66. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the rotation knob 94 may be a separate component that frictionally engages the lock button 62 or engages with a fastener.

In one aspect, the rotation knob 94 is generally elongated and may extend the entire length of the lock button 62 to allow for easy grasping (e.g., for operators with large fingers). Alternatively, the rotation knob 94 may extend only a portion of the length of the lock button 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation knob 94 extends between the side edges 76, 78 of the lock button 62.

Referring back to fig. 2, the rotation knob 94 may have a knob bottom surface 96 in contact with the button front surface 66. The rotation knob 94 may also have a first surface 98 and a second surface 100 abutting the knob bottom surface 96 to form a generally triangular profile when viewed from the top (e.g., in a direction perpendicular to the button front surface 66). The first surface 98 and the second surface 100 may abut to form an apex 102 of the rotation knob 94. Such embodiments provide an appropriate amount of surface area to allow a user to grasp and twist the lock button 62. Alternatively, the rotation knob 94 may have a generally rectangular profile when viewed from the top.

In some exemplary embodiments, the rotation knob 94 protrudes beyond the button front surface 66 to a height above the button front surface 66 (measured in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 70). The height of the rotation knob 94 may be generally non-uniform along the length of the locking button 62 such that an apex 102 is formed on the rotation knob 94 relative to the highest point of the button front surface 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the apex 102 of the rotation knob 94 may be disposed such that it is separated from the button front surface 66 by a maximum height. In such embodiments, the first and second surfaces 98, 100 may be substantially non-parallel to the bottom surface of the knob. In the illustrated example, the apex 102 is positioned adjacent the first side surface 76 of the lock button 62, while the securing pin 80 is positioned adjacent the second side surface 78 of the lock button 62. Advantageously, as the locking button 62 is rotated relative to the securing pin 80 from its locked position, the apex 102 (which may be the highest point of the rotation knob 94 relative to the button front surface 66) may provide a clear visual indication that the ladder 10 is unlocked. Such embodiments facilitate safe use of the ladder. However, in the alternative, the rotation knob 94 may have a substantially uniform height. The particular shape, size, and relative dimensions of the rotation knob 94 are illustrative and should not be considered limiting.

As seen with respect to fig. 2-4, knob bottom surface 96 is substantially parallel to the front surface of ledge 24 when lock button 62 is in the locked position. As the lock button 62 is rotated from its locked position, the knob bottom surface 96 contacts the button front surface 66 and thus also rotates. Thus, when the lock button 62 is in any position other than the locked position, the knob bottom surface 96 becomes substantially non-parallel to the ledge 24 so as to provide a visual indication that adjacent posts 18 are unlocked with respect to each other as previously described.

Referring now to fig. 7-9, in a non-limiting illustrative embodiment, locking assembly 60 includes a locking pin 110 positioned within rail 24. The locking pin 110 is slidable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the lock button 62 is in the locked position, the locking pin 110 is in the extended position, and when the locking pin 110 is in the unlocked position, the locking pin 110 is in the retracted position. The locking pin 110 may be received within a portion of the rail portion 50 of the connector assembly 26. In an exemplary embodiment, the rail portion 50 includes a pin catch 112 that is spring biased (e.g., by means of a spring 114 seen in fig. 10-12), a locking pin 110 that moves between an extended position and a retracted position, as described in the disclosure of commonly assigned U.S. patent No. 8,225,906, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Notably, pin catch 112 remains stationary (relative to ledge 24) as lock button 62 is rotated and locking pin 110 moves between its extended and retracted positions.

Referring again to fig. 7-9, the locking pin 110 is generally elongated and disposed about a locking pin axis 116. Notably, the locking pin 110 is slidable along the locking pin axis 116 between an extended position and a retracted position. The locking pin axis 116 may be substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis 70 of the locking button 62. Furthermore, as is apparent from fig. 2-4, the locking pin axis 116 of the locking pin 110 is substantially perpendicular to the column axis 20. In the extended position, the locking pin 110 protrudes through a pair of correspondingly aligned openings 120, 122 (as seen in fig. 1B) on adjacent posts 18 of the plurality of posts 18 and through a pin opening 124 on the collar portion 40 of the connector assembly 26, thereby locking the adjacent posts 18 to one another. In the retracted position, the locking pin 110 may not protrude through the pin opening 124 on the collar portion 40 of the connector assembly 26, as will be described further below.

With continued reference to fig. 7-9, in certain non-limiting embodiments, the locking assembly 60 includes a connector pin 130 for coupling and/or transmitting movement of the locking button 62 to the locking pin 110. As seen in fig. 7-9, the connector pin 130 may be elongated in shape and may have a connector pin axis 132. The connector pin axis 132 may extend in a direction parallel to the rotational axis 70. The connector pin 130 may couple the lock button 62 to the locking pin 110 such that rotation of the lock button 62 about the rotational axis 70 is transmitted to the locking pin 110 via the connector pin 130 so as to move it between the extended and retracted positions along the locking pin axis 116.

As seen in fig. 7-9, the connector pin 130 includes a first pin end 134 and a second pin end 136 opposite the first pin end 134. As seen in fig. 7-9, the locking pin 110 includes an aperture 138 in its body. The first pin end 134 may frictionally engage the aperture 138 of the locking pin 110. Alternatively, the connector pin 130 may be welded or fastened to the aperture 138 of the locking pin 110.

With continued reference to the non-limiting illustrative embodiment of fig. 7-9, the locking button 62 includes a slot 140 defined on the button rear surface 64. The second pin end 136 may be received in the slot 140. The connector pin 130 may be sized smaller than the width 142 of the slot 140 to allow for relative ease of sliding therein as the locking pin 110 translates between the extended and retracted positions. The second pin end 136 is slidable relative to the slot 140, as will be described further below. As such, the second pin end 136 is placed in the slot 140. Such that torque associated with rotational movement of the lock button 62 is transferred to the first pin end 134. By virtue of the frictional contact between the first pin end 134 of the locking pin 110 and the aperture 138, the transmitted torque produces a force that counteracts the spring 114-the bias of the spring 114 (seen in fig. 10-11) to move the pin between the extended and retracted positions.

In fig. 7, the lock button 62 is in the locked position and the locking pin 110 is in the extended position. In this case, the second pin end 136 is placed against the first slot end 144 in the first position. In fig. 8, the lock button 62 is in an intermediate position between the locked and unlocked positions, and the locking pin 110 is in an intermediate position between the extended and retracted positions. In this case, the second pin end 136 is between a first slot end 144 and a second (opposite) slot end 146. In fig. 9, the lock button 62 is in the unlocked position and the locking pin 110 is in the retracted position. In this case, second pin end 136 is in second slot end 146 at the second position. Notably, the second slot end 146 is opposite the first slot end 144.

The slot 140 may have a first guide surface 148 and a second guide surface 150 each extending between the first slot end 144 and the second slot end 146. The first guide surface 148 and the second guide surface 150 may guide the connector pin 130 as the lock button 62 rotates and/or the lock pin 110 slides in response to rotation of the lock button 62. The first guide surface 148 and the second guide surface 150 may each be non-parallel relative to the top and/or bottom edge 74 of the button rear surface 64. Accordingly, the first and second guide surfaces 148, 150 may form a non-zero angle with respect to the top and/or bottom edges 72, 74 of the button rear surface 64. Advantageously, such embodiments effectively translate the torque associated with rotation of the lock button 62 into a force that translates the locking pin 110 between the extended and retracted positions, thereby providing the user with the appropriate leverage to lock or release the post 18. Notably, because the first and second guide surfaces are angled, the connector pin 130 slides along a bottom edge 74 that is not parallel to the rear surface.

Referring back to fig. 6, the rotation axis 70 passes through the rotation point 154. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot point 154 is defined on the aperture 88 of the lock button 62. As seen in fig. 6, the slot 140 extends away from the point of rotation 154 in a slot direction 156. Notably, as seen in fig. 5 and 6, when in the locked position, the slot 140 is oriented to form an initial acute angle 158 with the locking pin axis 116. The locking pin axis 116 remains rotationally fixed as the lock button 62 is rotated about the rotational axis 70 and/or the rotational point 154 to the unlocked position. Accordingly, as the lock button 62 is rotated about the rotational axis 70 from the locked position to the unlocked position, the value of the initial acute angle 158 increases.

Fig. 10-12 are cross-sectional views of a portion of the connector assembly 26 to illustrate internal details of the locking assembly 60. Referring to fig. 10, the lock button 62 is in the locked position and, correspondingly, the locking pin 110 extends through the pin opening 124 on the collar portion 40 of the connector assembly 26. The second pin end 136 abuts against the first slot end 144. The connector pin 130 is thus positioned in its first position. The spring 114 (housed in the pin catch 112) is in a state of minimal compression (as will be described further below) relative to its position in each of fig. 11 and 12.

Fig. 11 is another cross-sectional view illustrating internal details of the locking assembly 60. Referring to fig. 11, the lock button 62 is in an intermediate position between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking pin 110 protrudes through a pin opening 124 on the collar portion 40 of the connector assembly 26, but the length of the locking pin 110 that protrudes through the pin opening 124 is less than the length of the locking pin 110 that protrudes through the pin opening 124 in the locked position (seen in fig. 10). Referring again to fig. 11, the second pin end 136 rides along the first guide surface 148 and the second guide surface 150 and approaches the second slot end 146 of the lock button 62. The spring 114 (housed in the pin catch 112) is in a more compressed state relative to its position in fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is another cross-sectional view illustrating internal details of the locking assembly 60. Referring to fig. 12, the lock button 62 is in the unlocked position. Correspondingly, the locking pin 110 does not protrude through the pin opening 124 on the collar portion 40 of the connector assembly 26. For example, the terminal end 152 of the locking pin 110 is located further away from the pin opening 124 of the collar portion 40, as seen in fig. 12 (relative to its position in fig. 10 and 11). In this position, the second pin end 136 abuts the second slot end 146 of the lock button 62. The connector pin 130 is thus positioned in its second position. The spring 114 (housed in the pin catch 112) is in a more compressed state relative to its position in each of fig. 10 and 11.

In an advantageous aspect, the spring 114 may bias the locking pin 110 to return to the retracted position. Thus, in such aspects, the lock button 62 need only rotate slightly toward the unlocked position before the spring 114 biases the push pin back to the retracted position. Thus, in such embodiments, the torque to move the locking pin 110 from the extended position to the retracted position may be less than the torque to move the locking pin 110 from the retracted position (and thereby counteract the spring 114 bias) to the extended position. In an alternative embodiment, the spring 114 may bias the locking pin 110 to return to the extended position, in which case the locking button 62 need only rotate slightly toward the locked position before the spring 114 biases the pin to urge to the extended position. Thus, in such embodiments, the torque to move the locking pin 110 from the retracted position to the extended position may be less than the torque to move the locking pin 110 from the extended position (and thereby counteract the spring 114 bias) to the retracted position. Such embodiments make the ladder 10 easy to use for a variety of operators having different physical abilities.

During use, in some embodiments, the ladder 10 may be extended by grasping the rungs 24 to telescopically extend each of the posts 18 (e.g., all but the bottom-most or a few bottom posts 18) relative to the adjacent posts 18. Once the posts 18 of the first mullion 14 and the second mullion 16 are each extended relative to the adjacent posts 18 of the first mullion 14 and the second mullion 16, respectively, the posts 18 may each be locked to limit relative axial (telescopic sliding) movement relative to the adjacent posts 18. This may be accomplished by grasping the rotation knob 94 of the lock assembly 60 on the right and left sides (e.g., near each mullion) and rotating in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise) to move the lock button 62 from its unlocked position to the locked position. The first direction may correspond to an angle of rotation of the lock button 62 between about 5 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to its position in the unlocked position. In the illustrated embodiment, rotation of the lock button 62 in the first direction corresponds to approximately 45 degrees of counterclockwise rotation, but the illustrated angles and directions should not be construed as limiting. The locking pin 110 protrudes through the pin opening 124 of the collar portion 40 and a corresponding aperture in the post 18, thereby locking the post 18 relative to an adjacent post 18.

To collapse the ladder 10 in a telescoping manner, the knobs of the locking assembly 60 may be rotated in a second direction to the right and left (e.g., adjacent each stile). Obviously, the second direction is opposite to the first direction. The second direction in the illustrated embodiment is a clockwise direction, however, in alternate embodiments, the first and second directions may be reversed. For example, the first direction may be a clockwise direction and the second direction may be a counterclockwise direction. The second direction may correspond to an angle of rotation of the lock button 62 between about 5 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to its position in the locked position. In the illustrated embodiment, rotation of the lock button 62 in the second direction corresponds to about 45 degrees of clockwise rotation, but the illustrated angles and directions should not be construed as limiting. The locking pin 110 does not protrude through the pin opening 124 of the collar portion 40 or a corresponding aperture in the post 18, thereby unlocking the post 18 relative to an adjacent post 18.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a number of technical advantages. The locking assemblies described herein may facilitate ease of use by requiring less force than known locking assemblies for retractable ladders. Such ladders may be easier to use for users with smaller hands or fingers. Further, the locking assembly as described herein includes embodiments that provide a visual indication of whether the ladder is locked, thereby improving safety.

Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.