Importance

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Abstract

A ladder for firefighters having spread apart upper rails to provide clearance and a working space for them to chop an opening in the roof of a burning house to enable smoke to escape and otherwise aid in eventually extinguishing the fire. The ladder includes a pair of side rails spaced apart the normal distance as in conventional ladders, but the upper portion of each side rail includes two hinged sections, the first hinged to swing outwardly to a position at a right angle to the lower portion of its respective side rail, the second hinged to swing upwardly to a position at a right angle to the first hinged section to which the second hinged section is pivotally connected by a hinge member. Pins or other lock means are provided to hold the hinged sections in the spread apart working position of the ladder. The upper free end of each second hinged section of each side rail includes a hook to hook over the peak of the roof, the ladder lying against the pitched side of the roof. A conventional extension ladder is used to reach the roof by the firefighter who carries the ladder in accordance with this invention up to the roof, pushing it up until the spread apart second hinged sections of the side rails having the hooks at their free ends reaches the peak of the roof for the hooks to engage and hold the ladder securely in place. The firefighter then steps on to the rungs of the lower section of the ladder in accordance with this invention, and climbs to the area of the spread apart hinged sections which provide a wide space for him to work to make a hole through the roof. Such hole in accordance with good firefighting practice should be about three feet by five feet. The spread apart hinged sections should have lengths which will provide a clearance space between them when spaced apart of approximately four feet by six feet.

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First Claim