System and method for joining ladders in multiple configurations

Abstract

In illustrative embodiments, a modular telescoping ladder system may include structural parts that can be assembled into a variety of structures. The components of the telescoping ladder system may include at least two telescoping ladders that can be connected in several ways by incorporating as joining features into the ladder assemblies. To accomplish a coupling of two ladders, joining features can be added to each ladder that enable their connection. These features may be holes through which pins may be inserted to connect two or more ladders. These joining features may be added to an accessory component that allows the joining capability to be added to or removed from a given ladder, such that the ladder can include or not include these additional features. The telescoping ladder system may be assembled into a wide variety of assemblies based upon modules selected, including, double length ladders, A-frame ladders, or scaffolds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telescoping ladder system, comprising:
 two or more telescoping ladders;   a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet removably coupled to legs at a first end of each of the two or more telescoping ladders; and   a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins removably locked into one or more openings in the joining feet,   wherein the first ends of the two or more telescoping ladders are pivotably coupled to each other by reversibly interlocking the joining feet with the plurality of lock pins.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scaffold section;   at least two scaffold hinges; and   a lever,   wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold section has telescoping support arms. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is fabricated from materials comprising at least one of a carbon fiber, an aluminum, a polymer, or a polymer carbon fiber composite. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one base stand, wherein the at least one base stand is coupled to a second end of at least one of the two or more telescoping ladders.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in a double length configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in an A-frame configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the telescoping ladder system is configured in a scaffold configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a structure over a barrier from only one side without touching the barrier, comprising:
 establishing a telescoping ladder system on an approach side of a barrier, the telescoping ladder system comprising:
 two or more telescoping ladders; 
 a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet configured to be removably coupled to legs at a first end of each of the two or more telescoping ladders; 
 a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins configured to be removably locked into one or more joining features in the joining feet; and 
 a lever; 
   actuating the lever to rotate the a first ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier;   deploying the first ladder over the barrier on the destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier;   repositioning the lever to be accessible on the destination side of the barrier;   actuating the lever to rotate the second ladder to a height greater than a height of the barrier; and   retrieving the second ladder from the approach side of the barrier.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein establishing a telescoping ladder system comprises restoring and deploying a stowed telescoping ladder system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the structure over the barrier comprises a physical arrangement of the first ladder on the destination side of the barrier and the second ladder on the approach side of the barrier, wherein the first ladder and the second ladder are assembled in an A-frame configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , the telescoping ladder system further comprising:
 a scaffold section spanning from the first ladder to the second ladder, the scaffold section comprising:
 a scaffold section; 
 at least two scaffold hinges; and 
 a lever, 
 wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein repositioning the lever comprises moving the lever across the scaffold from being above the second ladder on the approach side of the barrier to being above the first ladder on the destination side of the barrier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein actuating the lever comprises applying a downward force on the lever. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein deploying the first ladder over the barrier comprises moving and positioning the telescoping ladder system so that the first ladder can be lowered to the destination side of the barrier. 
     
     
         16 . A method of traversing a barrier without touching the barrier utilizing a modular telescoping ladder system, the method comprising:
 establishing a modular telescopic ladder system on an approach side of the barrier;   maneuvering a first ladder of the modular telescopic ladder system over the barrier onto a destination side of the barrier without touching the barrier while a second ladder remains on the approach side of the barrier;   retrieving the second ladder from the approach side of the barrier.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the modular telescopic ladder system comprises:
 two or more telescoping ladders;   a plurality of joining feet, the plurality of joining feet having joining features and configured to be removably coupled to a first end of each of the two or more stiles of the telescoping ladders;   a plurality of lock pins, the plurality of lock pins configured to be removably locked into one or more of the joining features; and   a lever.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the modular telescopic ladder system further comprises:
 a scaffold section spanning from the first ladder to the second ladder, the scaffold section comprising:
 a scaffold section; 
 a plurality of joining feet; 
 at least two scaffold hinges; and 
 a lever, 
   wherein the scaffold section is reversibly coupled between the two or more telescoping ladders forming a scaffold ladder.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein maneuvering the first ladder modular telescopic ladder system over the barrier comprises:
 using the lever to rotate the first ladder above the barrier; and   positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the first ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein retrieving the second ladder comprises:
 using the lever to rotate the second ladder above the barrier; and   positioning the ladder system so that the lever can be used to lower the second ladder over the barrier and into the destination side of the barrier.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 stowing the modular telescopic ladder system into a compact assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the modular telescopic ladder system further comprises:
 at least one base stand, wherein the at least one base stand is coupled to a second end of at least one of the two or more telescoping ladders.