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(11) | EP 3 056 655 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LADDER |
| (57) Ladder segment (100,200) comprising side profiles (101,102,201,202) and rungs (103,203),
wherein at least one of said side profiles is a hollow metal profile with a first
and a second end, wherein the ladder segment further comprises an elongate delivery
device (110,120,210,220) which is integrated in the ladder segment, which delivery
device comprises a first (111,122,211,222) and a second (113,123,213,223) end, which
delivery device is arranged to supply a utility from its first end to its second end. The invention is characterised in that said metal profile comprises holes (101a,102a,101b,102b, 201a,202a,201b,202b) at its respective first and second ends, in that the delivery device extends inside and along the metal profile between the said holes, in that the delivery device at its first and second end, respectively, comprises terminal first (112,122,212,222) and second (114,124,214,224) connectors of standard type that are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile, in that the ladder segment is arranged to be joined with an additional ladder segment to form a connected ladder (300) comprising an additional delivery device, and in that the delivery device is arranged to be connected to said additional delivery device to form one connected delivery device. The invention also relates to a manufacturing method. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a ladder, in particular to an extendable ladder comprising at least two joinable ladder segments, and further to such ladder segments.
[0002] Ladders are used for different types of work, such as on facades of buildings. Many ladders are extendable, using at least two ladder segments that are telescopingly and slidably arrangeable relative one to each other and lockable in a position in which they form a connected ladder that is longer than the individual segments. Such a ladder can thus offer the advantage of reaching further up, while also taking up less storage space when folded or pushed together.
[0003] For many operations, access is required to various commodities, which are supplied through elongated delivery devices. Typical examples include water for flushing and washing, supplied via a water hose; and electricity for the operation of hand tools, supplied via a cable. Other utilities may occur, such as compressed air for cleaning or driving of hand tools, provided via a pressurized air hose.
[0004] For such operations, there is a problem handling the delivery device, especially when the delivery device leads up to a hand tool used by the user for said work. The delivery device may in itself be heavy, especially when filled with a utility such as water, but may also become entangled with the user or the ladder. As a result, any hand tool also becomes unwieldy and difficult to manage.
[0005] These problems are conventionally solved by attaching delivery devices temporarily, such as by a knot, cable ties or the like, on the delivery device itself, if its flexibility so allows, at the top of the ladder. This solution is, however, neither reliable nor practical, especially for extendable ladders.
[0007] Hence, the invention relates to a ladder segment comprising side profiles and rungs, wherein at least one of said side profiles is a hollow metal profile with a first and a second end, wherein the ladder segment further comprises an elongate delivery device which is integrated in the ladder segment, which delivery device comprises a first and a second end, which delivery device is arranged to supply a utility from its first end to its second end, which ladder segment is characterized in that said metal profile comprises holes at its respective first and second ends, in that the delivery device extends inside and along the metal profile between the said holes, in that the delivery device at its first and second end, respectively, comprises terminal first and second connectors of standard type that are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile, in that the ladder segment is arranged to be joined with an additional ladder segment to form a connected ladder comprising an additional delivery device, and in that the delivery device is arranged to be connected to said additional delivery device to form one connected delivery device.
[0008] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for equipping a ladder segment or a ladder, comprising at least one hollow metal side profile having a first and a second end, with a delivery device arranged to supply a utility from a first end of the delivery device to a second end of the delivery device, which method is characterized in that the method comprises arranging holes in the first and second end, respectively, of the metal profile, to mount the delivery device so that it runs inside and along the metal profile between said holes, and to provide the delivery device at its first and second end with respective terminal first and second connectors of standard type that are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile.
[0009] Hence, such a method constitutes a manufacturing method for such a ladder segment or such a ladder according to the invention.
[0010] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a ladder or a ladder segment according to the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a ladder according to the invention comprising two joined ladder segments according to the invention. The ladder shown in Figure 2 is in an extended state, ready for use;
Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a detail of the ladder according to the invention, comprising an extractor device according to the invention in a retracted (Figure 3a) and an extended (Figure 3b) state; and
Figure 4 illustrates a stopper according to the invention, with a delivery device and associated stopping means in two different possible positions (upper and lower).
[0011] The figures share reference numerals for same parts. The ladder segment 100 shown in Figure 2 is the same ladder segment that is shown in Figure 1. The ladder segment 200 shown in Figure 2 has the same reference numbers as for the corresponding parts in Figure 1, but with a left-most number "2" rather than "1", as is the case for the ladder segment 100. The details illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b and 4 are not drawn to scale.
[0012] Figure 1 thus shows a ladder segment 100. The ladder segment 100 can be used with one or more additional ladder segments 200, as illustrated in Figure 2, so as to achieve a connected ladder 300. Alternatively, the ladder segment 100 can be used in isolation, and then constitutes in and of itself a ladder 100.
[0013] That which is stated herein regarding the ladder segment 100 is also applicable to the ladder segment 200, which latter therefore is not described herein in all its details. A difference between the segments 100, 200, however, is that they are mutually adapted to be aligned and joined in a stable manner, which requires appropriate engagement or assembly means that are in themselves conventional. Figure 2 illustrates the usual and preferred case that one segment 200 is narrower than another ladder segment 100, to achieve slidability between the segments 100, 200. It will be appreciated that different types of engagements may be present, depending on the application.
[0014] The ladder segment 100 comprises side profiles 101, 102 and rungs 103. It is preferred that the ladder segment 100 is made of metal, in particular in the form of hollow metal profiles such as aluminium profiles. At least one of said side profiles 101, 102 is in itself a hollow metal profile with a first (downwards in the figures) and a second (upwards in the figures) end, which side profile 101, 102 is designed to accommodate a delivery device 110, 120 according to the invention which is described in detail in the following.
[0015] According to the invention, one such delivery device 110, 120 is arranged to supply a utility from an external source, from said first end to said second end, for use when working on the ladder. Such commodities may be liquid, gaseous or field-based/led. Examples include tap water, hot water, blasting liquid, colour for spray-painting, pressurized gas such as inert gas, for instance nitrogen or compressed air, and electrical voltage /current, and so on. The key is that the elongate delivery device 110, 120 in some way is arranged to bring the utility from an external source, such as a water faucet; a voltage source; a water hose connected to a water faucet; or an extension cable connected to a voltage source, along with the delivery device 110, 120 and on to a location along the ladder step 100 where the utility is used by a working user.
[0016] According to the invention, each ladder section 100, 200 is arranged to be joined together with an additional ladder segment 200, 100, whereby both or all joined ladder segments 100, 200 are of the type defined in any one of claims, to form the connected ladder 300. In so doing, the delivery device 110,120 is arranged to be connected to the additional delivery device 210, 220 which constitutes a part of the second ladder segment, so as to form a connected delivery device. Figure 2 illustrates two such connected delivery devices 110 + 210, 120 + 220.
[0017] It will be appreciated therefore that the individual delivery device of each individual ladder segment is arranged to carry a respective utility from either an external source or from an adjacent ladder segment, and further to a power tool or the like, or to an adjacent ladder segment.
[0018] According to the invention, said hollow metal profile 110, 120 comprises a respective hole 101a, 102a at its said first end and a respective hole 101b, 102b at its said second end. It is preferred that the holes 101a, 102a are provided at the most 1 m from the said first end, preferably at the most 0.8 m from the end. In particular, it is preferred that the holes 101a, 102a are arranged at the first end but at a distance therefrom and in an orientation that causes access to the hole 101a, 102a in question not to be impeded by another ladder segment 200 together with which the ladder segment 100 is used to form a ladder 100, as exemplified in Figure 2.
[0019] The supply device 110, 120 is further arranged to run inside and along the metal profile between said holes 101a, 101b; 102a, 102b. Moreover, the delivery device 110, 120 is terminated in the first (downwards in the figures) and second (upwards in the figures) end, respectively, in respective first 112, 122 and second 114, 124 connectors of standard type, which are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile 110, 120. In other words, the connectors 112, 114, 122, 124 are arranged so that a connector of standard type, such as a water hose connector or an electric plug, can be connected to the respective connector 112, 114, 122, 124 at a location that is easily accessible at a location externally to the ladder segment 100, that is, from its outside. It is possible that the connectors 112, 122, 114, 124 are integrated or built into the ladder segment 100, such as in one of the side profiles 101, 102, but it is preferred that the whole respective connector 112, 122, 114, 124 is arranged completely outside of the side profiles 101, 102 and rungs 103.
[0020] Such a ladder segment 100 thus comprises a part of the delivery device 110, 120, preferably more than half of the total length of the delivery device 110,120, which delivery device 110, 120 passes through the longitudinal metal profile 101, 102 of the ladder segment, from one end of the ladder segment 100 to its other end, and exposes, at each of its respective ends a respective connector 112, 114, 122, 124. This has several advantages.
[0021] Firstly, a user can easily connect the utility at the base (downwards in the figures) of the ladder segment 100, as well as a hand tool or extension delivery device at the top of the ladder segment 100 for use of the utility there. This can be done in a way that does not require the user to carry a heavy water hose or the like during work; that does not require the use of unreliable knots or the like for holding the delivery device 110, 120 up; and without danger of entanglement of the delivery device 110, 120, with the segment 100 or the user during handling.
[0022] Secondly, such a ladder segment can be produced in a simple manner from one or several existing conventional ladder segments, or from an existing conventional ladder, of a type frequently occurring on the market, as described below.
[0023] Thirdly, several ladder segments 100, 200 of the type described above can conveniently be joined together to form a connected, longer ladder 300 (Figure 2) with corresponding advantageous properties as to the availability of said utility when working at different heights of the ladder 300 in question.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the connector 112, 114 at the first, lower end is arranged to be connected to an external delivery device of standard type (not shown in the figures) for the utility in question. Such a delivery device may, for example, be a water post, an electric outlet, a supply point for compressed air, and so on. An extension device, such as an extension water or compressed air hose or an electric extension cable, can also be used between the source and the connector 112, 114.
[0025] As regards the connector 114, 124 at the other, upper end, it is preferably arranged to be connected directly to a hand tool (not shown), or to a delivery device of extension type, for the supply of the utility in question. Connected delivery devices, which may be of extension type or be directly connected to a respective outlet or nozzle for the utility in question, or to a hand tool, are indicated in figure 2 with reference numerals 10 and 11.
[0026] In the preferred example in which the delivery device 110 is a water hose (see the left side profile of Figure 1), the first connector 112 is preferably a quick-release female hose connector, and the second connector 114 is then preferably a corresponding quick-release male connector.
[0027] In the preferred example in which the delivery device 120 is an electrical cable (see right side profile in Figure 1), the first connector 122 is preferably a standard male electric plug and the second connector 124 is preferably a standard female electric plug. The same applies, as well as everything else mentioned herein, unless stated otherwise, to the ladder segment 200.
[0028] Other types of utilities require other types of connectors. A delivery device for compressed air for example, could include a first/lower standard quick-release female connector for compressed air, and a second/upper standard quick-release male connector for compressed air.
[0029] As illustrated in Figure 1, it is preferred that the ladder 100 comprises two different types of delivery devices 110, 120, in the relevant example one 110 for water and one 120 for electricity, arranged in and along different respective hollow metal side profiles 101, 102 comprised in the ladder.
[0030] As for the lower holes 101a, 102a, at the said first/lower end, it is preferred, and as is the case for the ladder segment 100 illustrated in Figure 1, that the hole in question is arranged in the envelope surface of the metal profile 101,102, preferably on the outside, front side or back side of the metal section 101, 102 in relation to the rungs 103. In other words, through the surface which in figure 1, and specifically for the example in which the metal profile 101 faces to the left, out from the paper or into the paper.
[0031] Regarding, on the other hand, the second/upper holes 101b, 102b, it is preferred that the hole in question is arranged in the end surface of the metal profile 101, 102, in other words in the upper end face facing upwards in Figure 1.
[0032] Such an arrangement of the holes 101a, 102a, 101b, 102b results in that the respective delivery devices 110, 120, 210, 220 can be connected in a simple manner when several ladder segments 100, 200 are to be assembled into one single connected ladder 300 as shown in Figure 2, in a way that enables the delivery devices 110, 210; 120, 220 to together form a respective continuous delivery device 300 along the length of the ladder. Moreover, storage of the ladder 300 in its folded/retracted state is facilitated.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom/first end 111, 121 of the delivery device 110, 120, which protrudes from the bottom/first hole 101a, 102a, is a free end, as illustrated in the figures. In particular in combination therewith, it is preferred that the second/upper end 113, 123 of the delivery device 110, 120 is permanently attached to its respective metal profile 101, 102, such as on its outside.
[0034] This results in that the ladder segments 100, 200 can be joined together into a connected ladder 300 and in that the delivery devices 110, 210; 120, 220 can be assembled in a particularly simple and reliable manner, which also allows that the above-described source and the hand tool can be connected. The ladder segments 100, 200 are held together by the ladder's 300 conventional joining means (see above), resulting in that no load is put on the connection between the delivery devices 110, 210; 120, 220 when the ladder 300 is assembled.
[0035] It is particularly preferred that the second connector 124 is a branched connector, such as is illustrated by the electric connector of the electric cable 120, which in the illustrated example comprises three standard-type female plug connectors.
[0036] Additionally, the ladder segment 100 preferably comprises fastening means 101c, 102c, at the bottom/first end of the respective metal profile 101, 102, arranged to releasably hold the first connector 112, 122, preferably by releasably holding the first end 111, 121. For example, and as illustrated in the figures, the fasteners 101c, 102c are constituted by a simple metal hook or metal clamping means, that can be attached to the metal profile 101, 102, such as by welding.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the hole 101a, 102a at the first/lower end of the metal profile 101, 102 is too small for the first connector 112, 122 to pass through said hole 101a, 102a, which means that the first end 111, 121 of the delivery device 110, 120 cannot be introduced into the metal profile 110, 120 through said hole 101a, 102a. The corresponding preferably also applies to the second/upper hole 101b, 102b and the second connector 114, 124, in particular if the upper connector 114, 124 is attached to the metal section 110, 120. This results in that the delivery device 110, 120 is held in place in a particularly simple construction.
[0038] As illustrated in Figure 2, the invention covers a ladder 300 comprising a first 100 and a second 200 ladder segment according to the above, wherein the ladder segments 100, 200 are arranged to engage with each other in a position in which the first ladder segment 100 is provided after the second 200 in a longitudinal direction (downwards in Figure 2), to form the ladder 300 in its assembled state. The ladder 300 may be telescopic, or extendable, or have any other conventional construction, which is not described in further detail herein. The first respective connector 212, 222 of the second ladder segment 200 is arranged to be connected to the second connector 114, 124 of the first ladder segment, so that the delivery device 110, 120 of the first ladder segment 100 together with the delivery device 210, 220 of the second ladder segment 200 form a connected delivery device. Using this connected delivery device 110, 210; 120, 220, the utility in question can thus be led from the lower end of the ladder 300 to its upper end. In case at least one segment 100, 200 comprises a branched connector 124, 224, as described above, the utility can in addition be taken out in several parallel flows, and if so is desired, also at other locations along the ladder 300 than at the top, such as at 124.
[0039] The construction described above with a free end 112, 122; 212, 222 in combination with an attached end 114, 124; 214, 224 allows for an easy and secure connection, while at the same time some leeway is allowed for assembling the ladder 300 with different lengths, by adjusting the various longitudinal position relative to each other of the different ladder segments 100, 200.
[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, a ladder 300 of the type described above, with a delivery device 110, 120, 210, 220 arranged to supply a utility from a remote source from the first/lower end to the second/upper end, for use during work at the ladder 100, 200, 300, is manufactured according to a manufacturing method according to the invention. Such a manufacturing method is based on a number of existing ladder segments or on an existing ladder, preferably of conventional type, comprising at least one hollow metal side profile having a first and a second end. Preferably, each ladder segment 100, 200 comprises at least one such hollow side profile.
[0041] Such a manufacturing method comprising arranging holes 101a, 102a, 101b, 102b; 201a, 202a, 201b, 202b in the first/second and lower/upper end, respectively, of the metal profile; mounting at least one delivery device 110, 120, 210, 220 so as to run inside and along the respective metal profile 101, 102; 201, 202 between said holes 101a, 101a; 102a, 102b; 201a, 201b; 202a, 202b as described above; and providing the delivery device 110, 120 in its first/lower 111, 121; 211, 221 and second/top 113, 123; 113, 223 end, respectively, with terminal first 112, 122; 212, 222 and second 114, 124; 214, 224 connectors, respectively, of standard type, as described above, which are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile. In addition, any fasteners 101c, 102c; 201c, 202c are mounted using welding, screwing or the like.
[0042] The delivery device 110, 120; 210, 220 is preferably in itself of standard type, such as a conventional garden hose for water or a conventional electric cable with shielding and waterproofing for outdoor use.
[0043] This provides a very quick, easy and cost effective way to achieve a ladder 300 according to the present invention, based on the ladder segment or a ladder of conventional standard type.
[0044] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a preferred embodiment, according to which a delivery device 120 which is substantially narrower than the space inside and along the side profile 102 in which the delivery device runs is arranged to be partially extractable out from and retractable into the respective space by means of an extraction device 130. It is particularly preferred that such a narrow delivery device 120 is a power cable, but it is also possible that other types of delivery devices may be used with such extraction devices. "Substantially narrower" means, in this context, that there is enough space inside the side profile 102 for the delivery device in question to be able to slack at least 50 cm, and to be pulled into said space the corresponding distance, and still fit in the space.
[0045] The extraction device 130 comprises an elongated, elastic member 131, such as a rubber band, which is attached to the side profile 102 at a first attachment point 131a, such as at the top by the end of the side profile 102, and to the delivery device 120 at a second fastening point 131b, such as near the hole 102a.
[0046] Figure 3a illustrates the elastic member 131 in a slacked condition, in which it has pulled in the delivery device 120 some ways, such as at least 50 cm, as compared to the fully extracted state of the delivery device 120, which is illustrated in Figure 3b. Hence, in Figure 3b the elastic member 131 is stretched and applies a pulling force, which is directed upwards in the figure, to the second attachment point 131b. In the fully retracted position illustrated in Figure 3a, the delivery device 120 preferably protrudes 121 at least about 5 cm from the hole 102a. In the fully extracted position illustrated in Figure 3b, the delivery device 120 preferably protrudes 121 at least this distance of at least about 5 cm, and thereto further at least 50 cm, and in any case so far that the supply device 120 can be connected to a corresponding delivery device on an adjacent ladder segment, in the case illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b by connecting the power cable 120 connector 122 to the corresponding connector, as explained above.
[0047] It is preferred that a stopper is used to define the fully extracted position, comprising cooperating stopping means 132, 133, fixedly mounted on the delivery device 120 and on the side profile 102, respectively. The stopper is arranged to releasably retain the delivery device 120 in its fully extracted position, so that the connection to an adjacent ladder segment can be accomplished in a comfortable way and be maintained in a reliable manner. In Figures 3a, 3b and 4, an example is illustrated in which the stopping means 132 is an anvil which is permanently attached on the delivery device, arranged to engage and cooperate with a specific shape 133 (illustrated in Figure 4) of the hole 102a. Since the stopping means 133 is an integral part of the properties of the hole 102a, it is also "fixedly mounted" on the side profile 102 in the sense of the invention.
[0048] The delivery device 120 runs freely through both a relatively narrower part 133b of the hole 102a and through a relatively wider part 133a of the hole 102a, which parts 133a, 133b constitute two integrated and connected parts of one single hole 102a (see Figure 4). The stopping means 132, however, is largerthan the relatively narrow part 133b, and can therefore act as an abutment against the outside of the side profile 102, where it is pressed against the side profile by the pulling force from the elastic member 131, whereby the fully extracted position is defined and maintained (see the lower part of Figure 4 and Figure 3b). On the other hand, the stopping means 132 can run freely through the relatively wider part 133a (see the upper part of Figure 4).
[0049] Thus, the delivery device 120 is pulled out from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to the position illustrated in Figure 3b, by the stopping means 132 being pulled through the wider part 133a of the hole 102a. Then, the stopping means 132 is brought to the position illustrated in Figures 4 (lower part) and 3b, and the connection to the adjacent ladder segment is established. When the ladder is to be removed again, the connection is broken, the stopping means 132 is displaced to the position illustrated in in Figure 4 (upper position), through the wider part 133a of the hole 102a, after which the delivery device is again brought to the position illustrated in Figure 3a.
[0050] Such an extraction device provides a simple and reliable way to handle protruding ends 121 of the delivery device 120 during storage and transport.
[0051] Above, the preferred embodiments have been described. However, it is apparent to the skilled person that many changes can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the basic idea of the invention.
[0052] For example, the ladder segments 100, 200 may have different dimensions or number of rungs 103 than is illustrated in the figures.
[0053] More than two ladder segments 100, 200 may also be joined into an even longer ladder 300, in a way corresponding to that described above in connection with the ladder 300.
[0054] In the figures, ladders with both water and electricity supplies are shown. It is understood that for example only one delivery device, or two delivery devices of the same type, or other combinations of one or two same or different delivery devices, are also possible according to the present invention.
1. Ladder segment (100,200) comprising side profiles (101,102,201,202) and rungs (103,203),
wherein at least one of said side profiles is a hollow metal profile with a first
and a second end, wherein the ladder segment further comprises an elongate delivery
device (110,120,210,220) which is integrated in the ladder segment, which delivery
device comprises a first (111,122,211,222) and a second (113,123,213,223) end, which
delivery device is arranged to supply a utility from its first end to its second end,
characterised in that said metal profile comprises holes (101a,102a,101b,102b, 201a,202a,201b,202b) at
its respective first and second ends, in that the delivery device extends inside and along the metal profile between the said holes,
in that the delivery device at its first and second end, respectively, comprises terminal
first (112,122,212,222) and second (114,124,214,224) connectors of standard type that
are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile, in that the ladder segment is arranged to be joined with an additional ladder segment to
form a connected ladder (300) comprising an additional delivery device, and in that the delivery device is arranged to be connected to said additional delivery device
to form one connected delivery device.
2. Ladder segment (100,200) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first connector (112,122,212,222) is arranged to be connected to an external
supply device of standard type of the utility in question.
3. Ladder segment (100,200) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second connector (114,124,214,224) is arranged to be connected directly to a
hand tool, alternatively to a delivery device of extension type (10,11), for delivery
of the utility in question.
4. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the delivery device (110, 210) is a water hose, in that the first connector (112,212) is a quick-release female connector, and in that the second connector (114,214) is a quick-release male connector.
5. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the delivery device (120,220) is an electric cable, in that the first connector (122,222) is a male electric plug connector, and in that the second connector (124,224) is a female electric plug connector.
6. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the ladder segment comprises two separate delivery devices (110,120,210,220), arranged
in and along different respective hollow metal side profiles (101,102,201,202) comprised
in the ladder segment.
7. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hole (101a,102a,201a,202a) at the first end of the metal profile (101,102,201,202)
is arranged in the envelope surface of the metal profile.
8. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second end (113,123,213,223) of the delivery device (110,120,210,220) is permanently
fastened to the outside of the metal profile (101,102,201,202).
9. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second connector (124,224) is a branch connector.
10. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hole (101b,102b,201b,202b) at the second end of the metal profile (101,102,201,202)
is arranged in the end surface of the metal profile.
11. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ladder segment comprises fastening means (101c,102c, 202c) for removably retaining
the first connector (112,122,212,222).
12. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hole (101a,102a,201a,202a) at the first end of the metal profile (101,102,201,202)
is too small for the first connector (112,122,212,222) to be able to pass through
the said hole, so that the first end (111,121,211,221) of the delivery device (110,120,210,220)
cannot be brought into the metal profile through the said hole.
13. Ladder segment (100,200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ladder segment comprises an extraction device (130) comprising an elastic part
(131) arranged to apply a force directed in through a hole (101a) in the metal profile
(102) to the delivery device (120), arranged to reextractably pull in the delivery
device partly into the metal profile, whereby a user can pull the delivery device
out against the said pulling force.
14. Ladder (300) comprising a first (100) and a second (200) ladder segment according
to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ladder segments are arranged to engage with each other in a position in which
the first ladder segment is arranged longitudinally after the second one, so as to
form the ladder in its assembled state, and in that the first connector (212,222) of the second ladder segment is arranged to be connected
to the second connector (114,124) of the first ladder segment, so that the delivery
device (110,120) of the first ladder segment, together with the delivery device (210,220)
of the second ladder segment, form a connected delivery device.
15. Method for equipping a ladder segment (100,200) or a ladder (300), comprising at least
one hollow metal side profile (101,102,201,202) having a first and a second end, with
a delivery device (110,120,210,220) arranged to supply a utility from a first end
of the delivery device to a second end of the delivery device, characterised in that the method comprises arranging holes (101a,102a,101b,102b,201a,202a,201b,202b) in
the first and second end, respectively, of the metal profile, to mount the delivery
device so that it runs inside and along the metal profile between said holes, and
to provide the delivery device at its first and second end with respective terminal
first (112,122,212,222) and second (114,124,214,224) connectors of standard type that
are arranged to be accessible for connection outside of the metal profile