[0001] The invention refers to a rung for a swimming pool ladder.
[0002] There are well-known rungs for this application which basically consist of a metal
plate with a general section of an inverted U which is fixed at each end to the ladder
beams through the two headpieces which are attached, on one of their sides, to the
corresponding plate ends and which, on the opposite side, are attached to the profile
of the respective ladder beams.
[0003] The applicant firm is titleholder of the Utility Model ES 288.641 which refers to
a rung of this class in which the attachment between the metal plate, headpiece and
ladder beam by means of nut and bolt is carried out by a fin at the end of the metal
plate with a die-cut slot, this fin being bent towards the inside of the rung is applied
against the inner side of the headpiece, the bolt being threaded through orifices
in the tubular beam, through a bore hole in the headpiece and through the orifice
in said fin, against which the nut is screwed down to the bolt.
[0004] The objective of this invention is to improve these methods of attachment by carrying
out the aforementioned die cut-outs in smaller sizes to avoid weakening the end sections
of the rung composition, and to include a sturdy linking element to reinforce this
attachment.
[0005] As a result a block has been designed as a basic linking element between the metal
plate, the end headpiece, and the corresponding ladder beam, which is inserted in
each of the slots at the end of the metal plate and which has a head which rests on
the rim of said slots. This block presents an orifice which when attaching the block
to the metal plate is aligned with the orifices in the headpiece and corresponding
ladder beam, the block, headpiece and beam being fixed in position with the nut and
bolt.
[0006] The slots at each end of the metal plate are obtained by means of a partial die cut-out
which leaves a small flange, which is bent 90° towards the inner section of the rung
and is thus positioned between the aforementioned block and the inner side of the
corresponding ladder beam.
[0007] To prevent the head of the block from protruding or protruding excessively from the
top side of the rung, it has been designed to fit in an inset recess formed in the
contour of the slot in which the block is inserted, the head of the block being marked
with slip-proof protrusions on the upper side.
[0008] These and other characteristics will be better comprehended from the following detailed
description which is accompanied by a sheet of drawings to facilitate the explanation
and in which a practical case of the carrying out of this invention has been represented,
here shown merely by way of a non-limiting example of the scope of the invention.
Figure 1 shows a plan view of one of the ends of the rung,
figure 2 is a lengthwise section of said area,
figure 2 is a cross section of said area of the rung, and
figure 4 indicates a perspective view of the block which constitutes the linking element
between the metal plate, the corresponding headpiece and the ladder beam.
[0009] In accordance with the drawings, the rung includes a metal plate 1 in a flattened
and inverted U section, forming an upper surface 2 with a slight crosswise arch and
lengthwise fins 3 with the edge formed by a curved recessed fold 4.
[0010] The two headpieces 5 are attached to the ends of this plate, these headpieces being
formed of moulded one-piece sections which are fitted with a step 6 along the middle
which determines the limit abutment of said attachment, the opposite side of said
headpieces presenting a circular recess 7 for attachment to the corresponding metal
and tubular ladder beams M.
[0011] In the two ends of the top surface of the metal plate 1, rectangular, crosswise slots
8 have been opened, with a section corresponding to a linking element formed of a
block 9 with a likewise rectangular head 10, which is slightly arched and marked with
ribs 11 for slip-proof purposes.
[0012] This block presents an orifice 12 which coincides with the orifice 13 of the headpiece
and with the orifices 14 of the ladder beam, through which orifices a bolt 15 is inserted,
whose head 16 butts against the outer side of the ladder beam M, this bolt protruding
through the block 9 where it is coupled to a spring washer 17 and the corresponding
nut 18.
[0013] The slots 8 are obtained by partial die cut-outs leaving a flange 19 which is bent
at 90º towards the interior of the rung and which contributes towards reinforcing
the attachment being positioned between the block 9 and the inner side of the corresponding
headpiece 5.
[0014] To avoid the head 10 of the block 9 protruding, or protruding excessively, over the
top surface 2 of the rung, the contour of slots 8 present peripheral inset recesses
20 in which the aforementioned head is embedded.
[0015] The top surface 2 of the metal plate presents slightly protruding embossed ribs for
slip-proof purposes.
1. Rung for a swimming pool ladder, formed of a metal plate (1) with a general section
of an inverted U which is attached to the ladder beams (M) through end headpieces
(5) by means of a bolt (15) and nut (18), characterised because at each end of the
top surface of the metal plate (1) a slot (8) has been opened in which the respective
blocks (9) with orifices (12) are inserted, these blocks (9) presenting a head which
rests on the rim of the corresponding slots (8), the orifices (12) of said blocks
(9) being aligned with the orifices (13 and 14) presented in the headpieces (5) and
the corresponding ladder beams (M), in order to insert the pertinent bolt (15).
2. Rung for a swimming pool ladder, according to claim 1, in which the slots (8) at each
end of the metal plate (1) are obtained by partial die cut-outs leaving a flange (19)
which is bent at 90º towards the interior of the rung and is positioned between the
aforementioned block (9) and the inner side of the corresponding headpiece (5).
3. Rung for a swimming pool ladder, according to claim 1, in which the contour of the
slots (8) at each end of the metal plate (1) presents a peripheral inset recess (20)
where the head (10) of the aforementioned blocks (9) is embedded.
4. Rung for a swimming pool ladder, according to claim 1, in which the top surface of
the heads (10) of the blocks (9) present protrusions (11) for slip-proof purposes.