Patent landscapes › Office, school & tools
Is a ladder patented?
Short answer: specific designs of a ladder have been patented many times, but "a ladder" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.
What our index shows
- 5,523 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “ladder” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
- Among the 1494 best keyword matches we examined, 432 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
- Most frequent assignees in those matches: WERNER CO (40), LITTLE GIANT LADDER SYSTEMS LLC (25), WING ENTPR INC (11), NEW TEC INTEGRATION XIAMEN CO LTD (9).
- Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): E06C (1290), B60R (81), B63B (68), Y10T (51).
Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.
14 real patent publications related to a ladder
- Stepping platform of foldable ladder US-12669016-B2 2026 · NEW TEC INTEGRATION XIAMEN CO LTD
A stepping platform of a foldable ladder comprises a plate body, a front end cap, and a rear end cap. The plate body, when in use, is rotatably supported between two front leg tubes of the foldable ladder. The front end cap and th…
View on Google Patents - Folding step ladder for rail transit WO-2025113200-A1 2025 · NANJING KANGNI MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL CO LTD
A folding step ladder for rail transit, comprising a step ladder (5) and a connecting frame (3) used for mounting the step ladder (5). A telescopic arm (301) used for driving the step ladder (5) to move left and right is slidably …
View on Google Patents - Ladder comprising at least one rail and a plurality of rungs US-2025043632-A1 2025 · ZINAI AMINE EL BOUDALI AISSA
The present invention relates to a ladder (10) comprising at least one rail (11) and a plurality of rungs (12) integral with said at least one rail (11). Said ladder is characterised in that said at least one rail (11) comprises a…
View on Google Patents - Step Ladder Folding Assist US-2022298862-A1 2022 · ROVELLA II ERNEST JOSEPH
A device for the purpose of assisting in the opening and closing of a step ladder. The inventive device is targeted for the safe engaging and disengaging of the spreader lock. The spreader lock of most step ladders requires an upw…
View on Google Patents - Step Ladder with Hinged Rungs Operable to Collapse on Multiple Axes US-2022154530-A1 2022 · BARKER JEREMY
A ladder having rungs hingedly affixed at both terminal ends to a stringer, the ladder operable to collapse across a lateral or widthwise axis spanned by the rungs, the ladder having hingedly affixed stringers operable to collapse…
View on Google Patents - Folding step ladder US-10118556-B2 2018 · PINE DOUGLAS
A folding step ladder is provided. The folding step ladder includes a platform that can be positioned atop a vehicle's wheels and support a user. The platform is connected to a pair of spaced apart parallel rails via a hinge a…
View on Google Patents - Step adapter for rung ladders US-9890589-B2 2018 · WILLOW STEP INC
Step adapters for a rung ladder to provide an increased support surface or area is described. In one embodiment, the step adapter includes a brace, a platform, a lock and a safety bar. The lock, safety bar and platform are provide…
View on Google Patents - Foldable Platform Step Ladder US-2017016276-A1 2017 · SEILER RONALD F
The present invention comprises a foldable platform step ladder having one or more railing sides which are pivotable along a first pivot axis, a first hinge which facilitates the railing sides pivoting along the first pivot axis, …
View on Google Patents - Step ladder with rungs having bent front faces for improved leg support US-2016265277-A1 2016 · MASTERS SCOTT A
A step ladder. Two side rails and two support legs are connected to a top cap. Two locking spreader bars are connected between the support legs. The locking spreader bars hold the two side rails at a side rail angle. Ladder rungs …
View on Google Patents - Tractor Tire-Mountable Folding Step Ladder US-2010122871-A1 2010 · UPSHOT INNOVATIONS PRODUCT DEV
A portable, foldable step ladder in a deployed configuration straddles a tire of a truck, tractor or other heavy vehicle, allowing an operator and mechanic to easily climb toward the engine compartment. A top step rests on the upp…
View on Google Patents - Two-Sided Step Ladder With Offset Rungs US-2008029339-A1 2008 · YEWER EDWARD H
A two-sided step ladder having at least one rung on one side of the ladder at a different height than any of the rungs on the other side of the ladder.
View on Google Patents - Sectional modified step housing ladder with removable rungs US-2004035637-A1 2004
A ladder is composed of a vertical support structure and a set of rungs. In the present invention, the vertical support structure is formed by a sailboat mast or other vertical object to be climbed. A set of step housings are atta…
View on Google Patents - Ladder, especially for swimming baths and swimming pools, comprising two lateral side rails and a plurality of steps or rungs WO-0216723-A1 2002 · WTS KERESKEDELMI ES SZOLGALTAT
The invention relates to a ladder that comprises two lateral side rails and a plurality of steps or rungs. According to the invention, at least a section of the side rail(s) consists of individual profiled elements (33) that are d…
View on Google Patents - Folding step ladder US-6422344-B1 2002
First and second ladder sections are each molded of a rigid plastics material, and each ladder section includes parallel spaced elongated leg portions integrally connected by two parallel spaced step portions. The ladder sections …
View on Google Patents
What this means for your idea
Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a ladder been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Tools and office products differ in grips, adjustment mechanisms, and how blades or bits are held and changed.
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Guides that help with this
First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.