Ladder leg extender apparatus with improved vertical adjustment means

Claim 2

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the ladder leg so that the ladder may be leveled and used on an inclined support surface, comprising: an elongate sleeve having mounting means for securing said sleeve to the lower portion of the ladder leg; an elongate support leg having a length greater than said elongate sleeve and being slidably carried thereby, the lower end of said support leg being slidably extendible beyond the lower end of said sleeve and having a pivotably mounted support foot thereon for engaging a surface on which the ladder is positioned; and vertical adjustment means providing for slidable adjustment of said support leg to a desired extended position relative to said sleeve and securement at the extended position, said adjustment means comprising at least one rotatable bolt threadingly received within an aperture defined by one side of said elongate sleeve so that the bolt face is adjacent one side of said elongate support leg and may be rotated into contact and away from contact therewith, and an elongate file element positioned within said elongate sleeve adjacent the opposing side thereof so that the ridged cutting surface of the file element is adjacent the opposing side of said elongate support leg; whereby said support leg may be slidably adjusted by loosening the rotatable bolt and said support leg may then be secured at a desired extended position by tightening the rotatable bolt so as to immovably engage said support leg between the rotatable bolt and the file element.

Claim 3

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper end of said elongate support leg includes an outwardly protruding stop element mounted thereto to prevent the upper end of said support leg from sliding through said sleeve.

Claim 4

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical adjustment means comprises two spaced-apart rotatable bolts wherein each bolt is provided with a turn handle at the end opposite the bolt face.

Claim 5

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the ladder leg so that the ladder may be leveled and used on an inclined support surface, comprising: an elongate sleeve having mounting means for securing said sleeve to the lower portion of the ladder leg; an elongate support leg having a length greater than said elongate sleeve and being slidably carried thereby, wherein the upper end of said elongate support leg includes an outwardly protruding stop element mounted thereto to prevent the upper end of said support leg from sliding through said sleeve and the lower end of said support leg is slidably extendible beyond the lower end of said sleeve and includes a pivotably mounted support foot for engaging a surface on which the ladder is positioned; and vertical adjustment means providing for slidable adjustment of said support leg to a desired extended position relative to said sleeve and securement at the extended position, said adjustment means comprising two spaced-apart rotatable bolts wherein each bolt is provided with a turn handle and is threadingly received within a respective aperture defined by one side of said elongate sleeve so that the bolt faces are adjacent one side of said elongate support leg and may be rotated into contact and away from contact therewith, and an elongate file element positioned within said elongate sleeve adjacent the opposing side thereof so that the ridged cutting surface of the file element is adjacent the opposing side of said elongate support leg; whereby said support leg may be slidably adjusted by loosening the rotatable bolts and said support leg may then be secured at a desired extended position by tightening the rotatable bolts so as to immovably engage said support leg between the rotatable bolts and the file element.

Claim 6

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the ladder leg so that the ladder may be leveled and used on an inclined support surface, comprising: an elongate sleeve having mounting means for securing said sleeve to the lower portion of the ladder leg; an elongate support leg having a length greater than said elongate sleeve and being slidably carried thereby, wherein the upper end of said elongate support leg includes an outwardly protruding stop element mounted thereto to prevent the upper end of said support leg from sliding through said sleeve and the lower end of said support leg is slidably extendible beyond the lower end of said sleeve and includes a pivotably mounted support foot for engaging a surface on which the ladder is positioned; and vertical adjustment means providing for slidable adjustment of said support leg to a desired extended position relative to said sleeve and securement at the extended position, said adjustment means comprising two spaced-apart rotatable bolts wherein each bolt is provided with a turn handle and is threadingly received within a respective aperture defined by one side of said elongate sleeve so that the bolt faces are adjacent one side of said elongate support leg and may be rotated into contact and away from contact therewith, and an elongate file element positioned within said elongate sleeve adjacent the opposing side thereof so that the ridged cutting surface of the file element is adjacent the opposing side of said elongate support leg; whereby said support leg may be slidably adjusted by loosening the rotatable bolts and said support leg may then be secured at a desired extended position by tightening the rotatable bolts so as to immovably engage said support leg between the rotatable bolts and the file element.

Claim 7

In a vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus of the type adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the ladder leg so that the ladder may be leveled and used on an inclined support surface and comprising an elongate sleeve having mounting means for securing said sleeve to the lower portion of the ladder leg, an elongate support leg slidably carried thereby wherein the lower end of said support leg is slidably extendible beyond the lower end of said sleeve and includes a pivotably mounted support foot thereon for engaging a surface on which the ladder is positioned, the improvement comprising: vertical adjustment means providing for slidable adjustment of said support leg to a desired extended position relative to said sleeve and securement at the extended position, said adjustment means comprising at least one rotatable bolt wherein the bolt is provided with a turn handle and is threadingly received within an aperture defined by one side of said elongate sleeve so that the bolt face is adjacent one side of said elongate support leg and may be rotated into contact and away from contact therewith, and an elongate file element positioned within said elongate sleeve adjacent the opposing side thereof so that the ridged cutting surface of the file element is adjacent the opposing side of said elongate support leg; whereby said support leg may be slidably adjusted by loosening the rotatable bolt and said support leg may then be secured at a desired extended position by tightening the rotatable bolt so as to immovably engage said support leg between the rotatable bolt and the file element.

Claim 8

In a vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus of the type adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the ladder leg so that the ladder may be leveled and used on an inclined support surface and comprising an elongate sleeve having mounting means for securing said sleeve to the lower portion of the ladder leg, an elongate support leg slidably carried thereby wherein the lower end of said support leg is slidably extendible beyond the lower end of said sleeve and includes a pivotably mounted support foot thereon for engaging a surface on which the ladder is positioned, the improvement comprising: vertical adjustment means providing for slidable adjustment of said support leg to a desired extended position relative to said sleeve and securement at the extended position, said adjustment means comprising at least one rotatable bolt wherein the bolt is provided with a turn handle and is threadingly received within an aperture defined by one side of said elongate sleeve so that the bolt face is adjacent one side of said elongate support leg and may be rotated into contact and away from contact therewith, and an elongate file element positioned within said elongate sleeve adjacent the opposing side thereof so that the ridged cutting surface of the file element is adjacent the opposing side of said elongate support leg; whereby said support leg may be slidably adjusted by loosening the rotatable bolt and said support leg may then be secured at a desired extended position by tightening the rotatable bolt so as to immovably engage said support leg between the rotatable bolt and the file element.

Claim 9

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the upper end of said elongate support leg includes an outwardly protruding stop element mounted thereto to prevent the upper end of said support leg from sliding through said sleeve.

Claim 10

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said vertical adjustment means comprises two spaced-apart rotatable bolts.

Claim 11

A vertically adjustable ladder leg extender apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the file element is about 14 inches in length.