U.S. patent application number 11/110389 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for tool holding device for stepladder.
Invention is credited to Sabo, Anthony.
Application Number | 20050258002 11/110389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35374116 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050258002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sabo, Anthony |
November 24, 2005 |
Tool holding device for stepladder
Abstract
A storage device or tray is mounted on one step of a stepladder
(usually the uppermost step) and is provided with removable trays,
openings, etc. for holding objects such as small tools, small
hardware, paint, etc in a position where they are readily available
to a user supported on another step of the stepladder. The tray
includes a clamp mounted on the tray which is adjustable relative
to the tray for clamping against the step upon which the tray is
mounted while the tray engages the upper side of the step, the
clamp extending around one edge of the step. A removable peg, which
extends through the tray and can be placed in any of multiple
positions, engages the other side of the step for resisting
movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the step.
Inventors: |
Sabo, Anthony; (Lafayette,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES D. HALL
BOTKIN & HALL, LLP
105 E. JEFFERSON BLVD.
SUITE 400
SOUTH BEND
IN
46601
US
|
Family ID: |
35374116 |
Appl. No.: |
11/110389 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60567846 |
May 4, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
182/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06C 7/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/129 |
International
Class: |
E04G 001/00 |
Claims
1. Object holding device for mounting on one step of a stepladder
having multiple steps for holding objects available to a user
supported on another step of the stepladder, said one step having
top and bottom sides and a pair of opposite edges connecting the
top and bottom sides, comprising a tray, a clamp mounted on said
tray and adjustable relative thereto for clamping against the one
step while the tray engages the upper side of said one step, said
clamp extending around one edge of said one step, and a member
extending from said tray engaging the other side of the step for
resisting movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the one
step.
2. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one
edge terminates in a corner, said clamp extending over said corner
to clamp said tray on said one step.
3. Object holding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said clamp
includes a pair of intersecting arms, one of said arms extending
over said corner, and adjustment means adjustably mounting the
other arm on said tray to permit adjustment of said clamp relative
to said tray.
4. Object holding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
adjustment means includes a releasable fastener securing said other
arm to said tray.
5. Object holding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tray
includes a tray bottom resting upon said one step when the tray is
mounted on the step ladder, said member being a peg extending from
said tray bottom for engagement with the other of said opposite
edges to limit shifting of the tray relative to said one step when
the clamp is installed around the one edge of said one step.
6. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tray
includes a tray bottom resting upon said one step when the tray is
mounted on the step ladder, said member being a peg extending from
said tray bottom for engagement with the other of said opposite
edges to limit shifting of the tray relative to said one step when
the clamp is installed around the one edge of said one step.
7. Object holding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tray
bottom includes multiple apertures at varying distances from said
other opposite edge, whereby said peg can be installed in any of
said apertures to accommodate steps of varying widths.
8. Object holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tray
is defined by a tray bottom and side walls extending from said tray
bottom and cooperating therewith to define a storage volume, said
tray bottom engaging said one step when the tray is installed on
the stepladder, said clamp being movable mounted on one of said
walls to extend around the one edge of said step, and a releasable
fastener securing said clamp immovable against said side when the
tray is mounted on said one step.
9. Object holding device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one
edge terminates in a corner, said clamp including a pair of
intersecting arms, one of said arms extending over said corner.
10. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tray
includes parallel flanges extending from one of the other of said
side walls, said flanges having registering apertures for storing
elongated objects.
11. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
bottom is depression to receive a liquid container, said depression
resisting tipping of said container.
12. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein an
interior partition extends between two of said side walls to divide
the volume defined by said side walls and tray bottom, said
partition cooperating with corresponding side walls and a
projection carried by said tray bottom to receive a liquid
container having a substantially square cross section to thereby
resist tipping of the container.
13. Object holding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tray
includes removable auxiliary trays supported in said tray.
Description
[0001] This application claims domestic priority based upon U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/567,846, filed on May 4,
2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a tool holding device that is
mountable on a common stepladder. The tool holding device is
provided with multiple accessories for holding tools (such as
hammers, screw drivers, electrical drills, etc), paint and hardware
(nails, screws, etc.) that are easily accessible to a user standing
on a step of the stepladder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Stepladders are commonly used by homeowners, trades people,
and others to enable work on homes, buildings, and other structures
to enable work at heights that would be otherwise unattainable to a
person of normal height. A person working on a stepladder must have
available the necessary tools and small hardware (such a nails,
screws, etc) that are required. Conventional stepladders provide
limited, if any, storage for such tools and hardware, thereby
requiring the user to make repeated trips on and off of the
stepladder, a trip being required each time a different tool or
piece of hardware is required, thus increasing the chance of
accidents, spills, etc. Stepladders are commonly used for painting,
which is awkward because there is no readily available area where
the paint can can be stored.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, a storage device or tray is
mounted on one step of a stepladder (usually the uppermost step)
and is provided with removable trays, openings, etc. for holding
objects such as small tools, small hardware, and paint in a
position where they are readily available to a user supported on
another step of the stepladder.
[0005] The tray includes a clamp mounted on the tray which is
adjustable relative to the tray for clamping against the step upon
which the tray is mounted. The tray engages the upper side of the
step, the clamp extending around one edge of the step. A removable
peg, which extends through the tray and can be placed in any of
multiple positions, engages the other side of the step for
resisting movement of the tray while the tray is clamped to the
step.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a storage device made according
to the teachings of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the storage device illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the storage device
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 installed on a stepladder, the
stepladder and the various tools and hardware stored in the device
being illustrated in phantom; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the
storage device installed on a stepladder, the stepladder being
shown in phantom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] Referring now to the drawings, a storage device generally
indicated by the numeral 10 made pursuant to the present invention
includes a tray 12 which rests upon the upper side 14 of the top
step 16 of a stepladder 18 when the storage device is installed on
the stepladder for use by a user standing on one of the lower steps
(not shown) of the stepladder 18. It is within the scope of the
invention for the device 10 to be used on one of the steps of the
step ladder lower than the top step, although the width of the tray
12 would have to be such that it would fit between the support arms
20 of the stepladder 18. Top step 16 further includes a side edge
22 extending from upperside 14 and an opposite side edge 24. Side
edge 22 cooperates with the underside of the step 16 to define a
corner 26.
[0011] The tray 12 is defined by a pair of opposite side edges
28,30, a pair of end edges 32,34 connecting the side edges 28,30,
and a bottom 36, which cooperates to define a volume that is
divided into sections 38, 40 by a partition 42 which extends
substantially parallel to the side edges 28,30. Parallel flanges
44,46 extend from the side edge 30 and are provided with
registering openings 48 which are adapted to store small tools
having elongated handles, such as the pliers and screw drivers
illustrated in the drawings. As illustrated, the openings are of
varying size, to accommodate correspondingly sized tools.
[0012] The section 38 is provided with openings 50 which are,
somewhat larger than the openings 48, and which accommodate larger
tools, such as the hammer illustrated or, for example, an electric
drill (not shown). The bottom 36 within the section 38 defines a
circular depression 52 which is sized to receive, for example, a
paint can having a circular cross section, so that tipping and
consequent spillage of the paint in the can is resisted. A
projection 54 projects upwardly from the bottom 36 and is adapted
to cooperate with the end edge 34, side edge 30 and partition 42 to
resist tipping and spillage of a container having a square cross
section.
[0013] The section 40 is provided with coplanar, parallel rails
56,58 which support movable, nestable, auxiliary trays 60,62. As
shown in the drawings, the auxiliary trays 60,62 may be moved along
the rails to position them as desired, may be nested into one
another, or even removed entirely from the tray 12. When installed
in the tray 12, the auxiliary trays 60,62 are especially adapted to
store screws, nails, bolts and similar small hardware. Paint
brushes may be stored on either side of the partition 42.
[0014] The storage device 10 is retained on the stepladder 18 by a
generally L-shaped clamp member 66, which includes an arm 68 which
extends in a generally vertical direction when the storage device
10 is installed on the stepladder 18 and a latterally extending arm
70 which extends from one end of the arm 68. The arm 68 is provided
with elongated slots 72 which extend vertically when the storage
device 10 is installed on the stepladder 18 and which receive
correspondingly spaced bolts 74 which extend from the side edge 28
of the tray 12. The bolts 74 are received in the slots 72 to permit
vertical adjustment of the clamp member 66 relative to the tray 10,
so that the laterally extending arm 70 may be adjusted relative to
the step 16 of the stepladder. Wing nuts 76 are threaded on the
bolts 74 to retain the clamp member 66 onto the tray 10. A peg 78
is stored in an accommodative fixture 80 located in the corner
defined between the partition 42 and the side edge 38. The peg 78
is received in any of aligned openings 82 in the bottom 36.
[0015] When the storage device is first installed on a stepladder,
the wing nuts 76 are loosened, and the clamp member 66 is adjusted
relative to the tray 10 until the bottom 36 of the tray 10 rests
flat against the step 16 and the arm 70 engages the corner 26 of
the step 16. In stepladders having steps with flat lower sides, the
arm 70 may more fully engage the step. After the tray is positioned
and the clamp adjusted to engage the step, the peg 78 is removed
from fixture 80 and installed in the appropriate opening 80 that is
just beyond, but closest to, the edge 24 of the upper step 16 to
thereby restrict lateral movement of the tray 10 such that the arm
70 will remain engaged along the corner 26 regardless of the
permitted slight lateral movement of the tray 12.
[0016] It will be noted that once the clamp member 66 is adjusted
to fit a given stepladder, the storage device 10 may be removed and
reinstalled on that same stepladder by merely removing the peg 78
to permit lateral sliding of the tray 12, temporarily storing the
peg in the fixture 80, and then reinstalling the peg 78 back into
the same opening 82, all without readjusting the clamp member 66.
Because of the adjustability of the clamp member 66 and the
multiple positions permitted of the peg 78, the storage device 10
can be accommodated on a wide variety of stepladders having steps
of varying sized and made of varying materials, including
stepladders made of wood, fiberglass or metal.
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