Detachable Support Tray For Ladders

Abstract

A tray for supporting paint cans, buckets, tools and the like is quickly and easily removably attachable to or removable from the side rail of a ladder. This tray includes tray supporting and ladder engaging braces in cooperation with which there is provided a simple but effective latch and when this tray attachment is mounted, the tray portion extends laterally outwardly from the ladder so as to not interfer with the normal use of the ladder. An adjustment is provided for effective use with ladder side rails of different thicknesses and widths.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application on a Detachable Support Tray For Ladders, Ser. No. 358,584, filed May 9, 1973.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in ladder associated detachable trays or shelves for supporting paint cans, buckets, tools and the like.

The traditional step ladder usually includes a foldable tray-like support fixedly positioned near the top thereof as is well known and, depending upon the size of the ladder, these are not always at a convenient level for the user. Regular ladders, as distinguished from step ladders, are not equipped with such accessory trays although some endeavors have been made to provide detachable supports and trays generally required to be mounted intermediate the ladder side rails so as to extend perpendicularly of the steps or rungs either forwardly or rearwardly where they tend to interfere with the convenient and safe use of the ladder. Likewise, the conventional tray ordinarily found on step ladders is not only at a fixed position relative to the height of the ladder but is always located intermediate the ladder side rails and extends outwardly or forwardly away from a person using the ladder so that times, at least, it is not conveniently accessible.

A prior endeavor to improve upon detachable support trays for ladders is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,051,060 but such device appears to have certain limitations as to the type of ladder step necessary to support it and also appears to be susceptible to easy displacement. I have endeavored to overcome these several disadvantages as well as others as will be apparent and, accordingly, one of the important objects of the invention is to provide a detachable tray or support for paint cans, tools and the like which can be easily, conveniently and efficiently attached to or removed from the side rail of ladders having either narrow rung type steps or those generally employing flat wide steps such as found in step ladders.

Another object herein is to provide a support tray of the above class which includes a plurality of tray supporting brackets disposed in part relative to different areas of the tray and converging to a common ladder engaging member so as to direct weight forces to such common point.

A further object is to provide a support tray of the above class with an effective releasable latch for cooperation with the ladder engaging member.

Still another object is to provide a tray as characterized wherein the latch assembly is adjustable to accommodate different thicknesses and widths in ladder side rails.

The several objects and purposes of this invention as outlined and the advantages of the same will be more fully described and developed in relation to the more detailed description of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this invention with the latch portion shown open in solid lines and in closed position in broken lines,

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of this support tray shown in use relative to a step ladder,

FIG. 4 is a similar view as in FIG. 3 but showing this tray support on what I refer to as a regular ladder type as distinguished from a step ladder,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view to more clearly illustrate the operation of the latch and its adjustments relative to the width and thickness dimensions of a ladder side rail, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a second embodiment of the latching mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, this new ladder tray attachment is designated generally by the numeral 10 as best seen in FIG. 1. Any suitable flat platform or tray component may be utilized such as at 12 on which I preferably provide the peripheral shoulder 14 for obvious reasons, and for purposes of description herein, end 16 of tray 12 is designated as the inner end and end 18 as the outer end. Likewise, side 20 of tray 12 will be referred to as the front side and side 22 as the rear side. Tray 10 is designed for use either with a ladder using wide flat steps such as a conventional step ladder 24 (FIG. 3) or a ladder type having narrow rung steps which I shall refer to as a regular ladder 26 (FIG. 4) and is constructed and arranged for such use as follows for which reference is made more particularly to FIG. 2.

As a supporting unit for tray 12 I preferably utilize a plurality of brackets designated generally 28, 30 and 32 although it will be apparent as this description proceeds that a lesser number may be used, if desired, or even a single supporting plate which may include a ladder engaging member as will be described without departing from the scope and principle hereinafter disclosed.

Each of the brackets 28, 30 and 32 are similarly constructed to include the respective horizontal supports or arms 28a, 30a and 32a and the respective vertical supports or arms 28b, 30b and 32b, it being noted that said long and short arms are connected by the respective integral curved or arcuate portions 28c, 30c and 32c. Long arm 30a is secured in any suitable manner to the underside of tray 12 and as shown, is closely adjacent and parallel to the front side 20 so that the outer length of such arm extends towards and preferably substantially to the outer edge 18 and with the vertical arm 30b being disposed in a vertical plane and terminating below and substantially in a vertical plane with the intersection of the inner tray edge 16 and the front side 20. Long arm 32a is likewise suitably secured to the underside of tray 12 and as shown, is closely adjacent and parallel to edge 16 so that the outer length thereof extends towards and preferably to the front side 20 and is thus perpendicular to arm 30a. The vertical arm 32b is disposed in juxtaposition to the vertical arm 30b and terminates at the same plane thereof. Long arm 28a is also suitably secured to the underside of tray 12 being disposed on a diagonal or 45 degree angle relative to the intersection of the longitudinal axes of arms 30a and 32a. The outer end of arm 28a extends towards and preferably to the intersection of the outer edge 18 and the front side 20 and the vertical arm 28b converges to juxtaposition with arms 30b and 32b to form a unitary brace component 33 as best seen in FIG. 1 where all of such converged arms are suitably secured into a single brace terminal by any convenient fastening means. A hook member 34 is carried at the terminal end of the unitary brace 33 and as shown, is integrally formed as an extension of the arm 30b but could also be integral as a matter of choice with either of the other arms 28b and 32b or otherwise coupled to all of them. Thus far described it will be seen that brackets 28, 30 and 32 have their tray supporting long arms 28a, 30a and 32a angularly disposed relative to each other in their attachment to tray 12 so as to extend to different areas of the tray undersurface to provide adequate support and with the convergence and uniting of bracket arms 28b, 30b and 32b below the left forward corner of the tray providing for the transfer of weight forces that might be placed on the tray to the brace component 33 and hook 34. It will be understood that the particular directional arrangement of the long arms 28a, 30a and 32a may be varied from that shown and that the length of such arms will be determined by the actual dimensions of any particular tray with which they are used.

An adjustable latch assembly designated generally by the numeral 36 is best seen in FIG. 5 and is constructed as follows. A support in the form of tube 38 is suitably secured to the underside of tray 12 adjacent and parallel to the long arm 30a (FIG. 2) so that one end being provided with a split 40 and friction clamp 42 in a well known manner is disposed closely adjacent the inner tray edge 16 to slidably receive arm 44 of a tubular L brace for which the other arm 46 is disposed outwardly from edge 16 and extends parallel and substantially planar therewith. Thus, by means of clamp 42, the spaced relationship between arm 46 and tray edge 16 can be varied to accommodate variations in the thickness of ladder side rails as will appear.

A rigid tubular L-shaped latch member 48 includes the longer arm 50 and the shorter or latch arm 52 with arm 50 being rotatably and longitudinally slidably journalled and lockable in arm 46. For this purpose, latch arm 50 is provided with diametrically opposed spring loaded pawls or dogs 54 of a well known arrangement which are designed to selectively register with one of the longitudinally spaced openings 55, 56 and 57 in the top surface of arm 46 to hold arm 50 against rotation and to permit of any longitudinal adjustment thereof. By this arrangement, the engagement of one of the pawls 54 in any of the openings 55, 56 or 57 to position latch 48 so that arm 52 is oriented as seen in the solid lines in FIG. 5 represents the unlatched position and by depressing such pawl and rotating arm 52 one hundred eighty degrees in the direction of the arrows 58 so that the other pawl registers with one of the openings 55, 56 or 57, arm 52 is in its latching position shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. In such latched position, it will thus be seen that arm 44 together with arms 46 and 50, latch arm 52 and tray edge 16 provide a four sided enclosure for embracing a ladder side rail as will be referred to in describing the use of this invention.

A modified or second embodiment for the latch member 48 described is shown in FIG. 6 and designated generally by the numeral 60. For this purpose, the adjustable components 44 and 46 are the same as previously described with openings 55, 56 and 57 in arm 46 not being required. A slidable bolt member 62 is journalled in a suitable guide mounting 64 secured to the top surface of tray 12 near edge 16 so that bolt 62 is movable through shoulder 14 to abut the free end portion of arm 46 in a perpendicular relationship thereto. In this position it will be noted that bolt 62 is parallel to arm 44 and complements arms 44 and 46 and tray edge 16 in forming the four side enclosure the same as provided by latch 48. The bolt mechanism of latch 60 is of a well known type including the handle 66 and the notched stops 68 where handle 66 can be engaged to prevent accidental movement of the bolt 62.

OPERATION

Tray 10 in the form shown is mounted to the right side rail of a ladder as a person faces the ladder and as indicated by the side rail 70 for a step ladder 24 in FIG. 3 and the side rail 72 for what I have called a regular ladder 26 in FIG. 4. In this regard, it will be appreciated and understood that the bracing structure described can be oriented to permit of this attachment to be mounted to the left side rail if construction in such form is desired. The procedure for attaching tray 10 to either of the ladder types 24 or 26 is the same and is as follows.

In the preferred embodiment using latch 48 (FIG. 5), the latch arm 52 will initially be oriented to its unlatched position shown in solid lines and for latch unit 60, bolt 62 will be moved to its retracted position and these positions provide for an entrance or gateway in the enclosure formed by arms 44 and 46 and tray edge 16 for embracing a side rail as is apparent from the drawings. The adjustment of assembly 36 with reference to the position of arm 44 in tube 38 and arm 50 in member 46 will vary as between ladder types 24 and 26 since the side rail 72 on a regular ladder 26 is generally and customarily of heavier and wider material than a side rail 70 on a step ladder 24 so that side rails of different widths and thicknesses will be encountered. Aside from this adjustment for proper engagement with the side rail, none others are required and once the adjustment indicated is made for a particular ladder type, it need not be changed as long as this attachment 10 is used with such ladder or one similar. Further, in this regard, it is pointed out that hook 34 can be made in a fixed size adequate to embrace and engage the wider side rail type as found ladder 26 and can be satisfactorily used with the narrower side rails on step ladder types 24 since the bracing is afforded by the bearing of the closed end of the hook 34 against the back edge of the side rail and not by any embraceable contact along the opposite surfaces of the side rail. Tray attachment 10 is thus mounted to the ladder as shown with hook 34 being first embraceably arranged relative to a side rail 70 or 72 so that the closed portion of hook 34 bears against the back edge of the side rail and simultaneously, the enclosure formed by arms 44 and 46 and side 16 is introduced to the side rail via the entrance thereto so that arm 46 extends transversely of either the step 74 on ladder 24 or the rung 76 on ladder 26 so as to engage the same and be supported thereby. In this position, latch arm 52 (or bolt 62) is moved to its latched position so that the side rail is disposed within the enclosure described and thus embraced on all four sides. Since a relatively snug embracement at this point is preferable, the adjustability of assembly 36 previously described is provided. Weight on the tray 12 is transmitted to the converged and united bracket arms 28b, 30b and 32b to maintain hook 34 in bearing contact with the side rail whereby the combination of hook 34 and assembly 36 including either latches 48 or 60 effectively and securely maintain tray 10 in a proper position for its intended purpose. Tray attachment 10 is easily removed by moving either latch arm 52 or bolt 62 to its inoperable position and thus in view of all of the foregoing, it is thought a full understanding of the construction and operation of this tray attachment will be hand and its several advantages appreciated.

Claims

I claim:

1. A tray attachment for a ladder having spaced side rails and spaced steps connected thereto, comprising;

a flat platform having respective inner and outer edges and front and rear sides,

an arcuate platform support including a horizontal member and a vertical member,

said horizontal member being secured to the underside of said platform so that said vertical member terminates at a point below the plane of said platform and in substantial vertical alignment with the point of intersection of said inner edge and said front side,

a first ladder side rail engaging means carried by the terminal end of said vertical member, and

a second ladder side rail engaging means disposed on said platform so as to project outwardly from said inner edge intermediate said front and rear side.

2. A tray attachment as defined in claim 1 including said first ladder side rail engaging means being a hook member for embraceably engaging a ladder side rail.

3. A tray attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second ladder side rail engaging means includes:

a bracket defining an integral long and short arm in angular relationship to each other,

said bracket being secured to said platform so that a portion of said long arm and including said short arm is disposed outwardly from said inner edge to cooperate therewith in forming three sides of an enclosure for embraceably engaging a ladder side rail, and

said short arm adapted to extend transversely of and engage one of the ladder steps so as to be supported thereby.

4. A tray attachment as defined in claim 3 including:

a latch arm,

means for rotatably and longitudinally slidably mounting said latch arm to said short arm whereby said latch arm cooperates therewith and with said inner edge to form the fourth side of said enclosure, and

means cooperating between said short arm and said latch arm for selectively locking said latch arm in its enclosure forming position.

5. A tray attachment as defined in claim 3 including means for mounting said long arm to said platform for selective longitudinal slidable movement relative thereto whereby the spaced relationship between said short arm and said inner edge can be varied.

6. A tray attachment as defined in claim 3 including:

an elongated bolt,

means for mounting said bolt to said platform near said inner edge so that the longitudinal axis of said bolt is perpendicular to said inner edge, and

means for longitudinally extending and retracting said bolt whereby in its extended position it projects outwardly from said inner edge and substantially planar therewith to the terminal end of said short arm to form the fourth side of said enclosure.

7. A tray attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said platform support comprises:

a plurality of elongated arcuate brackets each including a horizontal arm and a vertical arm,

each of said horizontal arms being secured to the underside of said platform so that their respective longitudinal axes are angularly oriented relative to each other so as to be disposed at different selective areas of said platform,

said vertical arms converging to a parallel juxtaposition with each other and being secured together to form a unitary brace component vertically disposed in a depending relationship to said platform in substantially vertical alignment with the point of intersection of said inner edge and said front side, and

a ladder side rail engaging member carried by the depending terminal end of said unitary brace component.

8. A tray attachment for a ladder having spaced side rails and spaced steps connected thereto, comprising:

a flat platform having respective inner and outer edges and front and rear sides,

a plurality of elongated arcuate brackets each including a horizontal arm and a vertical arm,

each of said horizontal arms being secured to the underside of said platform so that their respective longitudinal axes are angularly oriented relative to each other so as to be disposed at different selective areas of said platform,

said vertical arms converging to a parallel juxtaposition with each other and being secured together to form a unitary brace component vertically disposed in a depending relationship to said platform in substantially vertical alignment with the point of intersection of said inner edge and said front side,

a first ladder side rail engaging means carried by the depending terminal end of said unitary brace component, and

a second ladder side rail engaging means disposed on said platform so as to project outwardly from said inner edge intermediate said front and rear side.

9. A tray attachment as defined in claim 8 including said first ladder side rail engaging means being a hook member for embraceably engaging a ladder side rail.

10. A tray attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein said second ladder side rail engaging means includes:

a separate bracket defining an integral long and short arm in angular relationship to each other,

said separate bracket being secured to said platform so that a portion of said long arm and including said short arm is disposed outwardly from said inner edge to cooperate therewith in forming three sides of an enclosure for embraceably engaging a ladder side rail, and

said short arm adapted to extend transversely of and engage one of the ladder steps so as to be supported thereby.

11. A tray attachment as defined in claim 10 including:

a latch arm,

means for rotatably and longitudinally slidably mounting said latch arm to said short arm whereby said latch arm cooperates therewith and with said inner edge to form the fourth side of said enclosure, and

means cooperating between said short arm and said latch arm for selectively locking said latch arm in its enclosure forming position.

12. A tray attachment as defined in claim 10 including means for mounting said long arm to said platform for selective longitudinal slidable movement relative thereto whereby the cooperative space relationship between said short arm and said inner edge can be varied.

13. A tray attachment as defined in claim 10 including:

an elongated bolt,

means for mounting said bolt to said platform near said inner edge so that the longitudinal axis of said bolt is perpendicular to said inner edge, and

means for longitudinally extending and retracting said bolt whereby in its extended position it projects outwardly from said inner edge to cooperate with said short arm in forming the fourth side of said enclosure.