This invention relates to a guard for the upper end of a ladder side rail and, particularly, to a guard mounted to the upper end of a ladder side rail for supporting the ladder against a vertical support surface while minimizing damage to such surface.
Ladders are widely used for working above ground levels by painters, decorators, and the like. The ladders include a pair of side rails disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other and interconnected by longitudinally spaced rungs which extend between and are affixed to the side rails. The upper ends of the side rails project upwardly from the uppermost rung a short distance for engaging a vertical surface such as a wall, the side of a building, and the like. The bottom ends of the side rails are constructed to rest on the floor or the ground, as the case may be, at an appropriately inclined position against the vertical surface. Various prior art devices have been suggested for attachment to the upper ends of the side rails for the purposes of protecting the vertical surface from damage as a result of engagement by the rigid side rails with said surface.
The present inventor is aware of several pertinent patents found in Class 182, Subclass 108. These patents include U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,128 issued to Bohan, et al on Sept. 15, 1959 which relates to a hood-like arrangement which fits over the ends of the side rails and is secured thereon via a strap-like arrangement engaging the uppermost rung of the ladder; U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,319 issued to Wright on Nov. 6, 1962 which relates to a cap for a ladder rail having a non-slip surface including a transverse series of vertically formed spaced ribs for increasing the resistance to slippage when the ribs are resting against a surface upon which the ladder leans; U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,856 issued to D'Amico on May 16, 1972 which relates to a flexible foam body member including elastic means for easily assembling and removing the member from the ends of the side rails; U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,163 issued to Barrett on Nov. 23, 1976 which relates to a ladder sock which is fastened in place via a strap or the like to prevent the ends of the rails from marring any surface upon which the ladder may be leaning; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,862 issued to Garland on Sept. 20, 1988 which relates to a guard which is telescoped over the upper ends of the side rails to provide a protective mounting against a vertical structure against which the ladder leans. The ladder guard is formed as a single piece, cup-shaped member of a suitable soft rubber-like material and includes a body portion of a rectangular cross-section to fit over the upper ends of the side rails and a curved outer end wall. The ladder guard is provided with a serpentine cross-section to form an accordion or expandable structure permitting expanding and contracting of the narrow walls of the guard and to thereby provide a tight telescoping engagement with different sized ladder rails.
Although the prior art devices serve the purposes intended, none of these devices has the advantages of the present invention, to wit: providing a ladder side rail guard having a protective member in contact with a surface upon which the ladder leans, said member being replaceable so as to enhance the effectivity and utility of the guard to an extent greater than that of the prior art devices.