Ladder rack apparatus and method

Abstract

A ladder rack providing for easier loading, unloading, and storage of a ladder. The ladder rack preferably has a pivot and a carriage mounted upon one or more arms attached to the pivot. A ladder is placed upon the carriage which can then be rotated via the pivot and arms (and preferably using a ratchet assembly) from a loading and unloading position to a stowage position separated by an obtuse angle. In some preferred vehicular applications, the unloading and loading position is beside the vehicle while the stowage position is over or above the vehicle. Also preferably, the carriage substantially overlies the ladder when in the stowage position, thereby providing for immediate and effective security against ladder theft as well as a compact ladder storage arrangement. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also employ a carriage that is slidable along the arms. This carriage has a rung grip which is separated a distance along the ladder rack from an opposed rung grip. When a ladder is mounted upon the rung grips, the grips are located adjacent respective rungs on the ladder. By sliding the carriage and ladder along the arms toward a retracted position, the distance between the rung grips shorten, thereby gripping and holding the ladder by compressing rungs of the ladder between the rung grips. One or more springs can be used to control movement of the pivot, carriage, and ladder, if desired.