Ladder-mountable device

Abstract

 A device capable of being mounted on a ladder having hollow rungs comprises a platform or tray having a first arm mounted thereon adjacent one end thereof and a second arm pivotably mounted thereon adjacent the other end thereof and extending below the platform or tray, said second arm being adjustable in length and said arm being adapted to enter the hollow rungs of a ladder. In use the first and second arms are inserted in separate rungs of the ladder, the second arm being inserted in the rung below the first arm.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device capable of being mounted on a ladder having hollow rungs, so as to provide a substantially horizontal platform or tray for, for example, paint or tools.

[0002] Many workers who use ladders, such as builders and decorators, require a considerable amount of tools and materials in their work. It is common practice for such workers to carry their tools and materials in their pockets or to hang containers, such as old paint tins, from the ladder. It is clearly dangerous to carry sharp tools in the pockets of clothing and containers hung from the rungs of a ladder obstruct the free use of the ladder.

[0003] A number of attempts have been made to solve this problem. United States Patent Specification 3,784,139 discloses a paint can support in which a support member is inserted in a hollow rung of the ladder and wedged in place by means of a rung- engaging block which is drawn over a ramp on the support member by means of a threaded rod to engage the interior of the rung. Positioning of the paint can support is thus dependant on frictional engagement between the support member and block on one hand and the interior of the rung on the other hand. It is clear that such an arrangement will not provide a stable support when used with ladders having rungs of widely varying shapes and sizes.

[0004] United States Patent Specification 3,822,846 discloses a similar device. A support member within a hollow rung is wedged in place by means of a cranked rod riding over a cam on the underside of the support member. Again, such a device can only function at all in rungs of a limited range of size and shape. Even within this range there is a clear risk of accidental dislodgement of the cranked rod.

[0005] Finally United States Patent Specification 4,099,693 shows a device for supporting a paint can which, whilst having the advantage of simplicity, can only suspend the can below the rung in which it is inserted and thus cannot support a horizontal platform for tools and equipment, or a paint tray for use with a roller.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a ladder-mountable device for carrying tools, etc., which may be safely and securely positioned close to the ladder without obstructing it.

[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a device capable of being mounted on a ladder having hollow rungs, the device comprising a platform or tray having a first arm mounted thereon adjacent one end thereof and a second arm pivotably mounted thereon adjacent the other end thereof and extending below the platform or tray, said second arm being adjustable in length and said arms being adapted to enter the hollow rungs of a ladder.

[0008] In use the first and second arms are inserted in separate rungs of the ladder, the second arm being inserted in a lower rung than the first arm.

[0009] The length of the second arm can then be adjusted so that the platform or tray is substantially horizontal, regardless of the inclination of the ladder or the spacing between the rungs and the platform or tray is thus mounted securely at one side of the ladder.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment, the first arm has removeable stop means mounted thereon, the stop means being incapable of passing through the hollow rung of a ladder. After the first arm has been passed through the hollow rung from the side of the ladder on which the platform or tray is mounted, the stop means is secured thereto, so that the device is prevented from being dislodged from the ladder by means of said stop means, and the device can only be removed from the ladder by removing the stop means. In one preferred embodiment, the stop means comprises a threaded member received on a threaded portion of the first arm.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment, the free end of the first arm is provided with means for securing the arm to the ladder, for example a length of cord.

[0012] The first arm preferably extends horizontally from the tray and the second arm includes a portion extending below the tray and pivoted thereto at its upper end, its lower end being L-shaped so as to include a horizontal portion free to enter the hollow rung of a ladder. Preferably, the second arm comprises two members which are slidable with respect to one another, whereby the length of the second arm between its horizontal portion and the platform or tray is continuously adjustable. This can be achieved by making the two members telescopic, that is one is slidably received in the other. Alternatively, one member can simply be mounted slidably on the other by an arrangement which allows the one member to move along the other member and to be perpendicular thereto.

[0013] The orientation of the platform or tray relative to the ladder can be fixed by either locking the second member so that it is unable to pivot relative to the tray or by locking the second arm so that its length is fixed. In one preferred embodiment, the second arm comprises two members, one being pivotally mounted on the platform or tray and the other having said horizontal portion, which are slidable with respect to one another and the arm is lockable by preventing said sliding movement. This may be achieved, for example, by means of a screw-threaded member provided on one of said members and engageable with the other of said members. Alternatively, the one member may be carried on the other member via a releaseable clamping arrangement, including a wing nut, for example.

[0014] The member of the second arm mounted on the platform or tray is preferably substantially L-shaped, so as to have a horizontal portion which extends below the platform or tray and is pivotably held below the platform or tray by at least one U-shaped bracket, for example. Alternatively, the member could be pivotally mounted on one side of the platform or tray.

[0015] In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is plan view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 1, mounted on a ladder;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, mounted on a ladder in a first orientation; and

Figure 4 is an elevation of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, mounted on a ladder in a second orientation.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a device 1 may be mounted on a ladder 2 having hollow rungs in such a manner that a tray 3 forming part of the device 1 is substantially horizontal. Whilst the tray 3 is shown in the form of a conventional paint tray for use with a roller, other forms of tray or a simple planar platform could alternatively be provided. Adjacent one end of the tray 3, an arm 4 is mounted on the underside of the tray by means of a U-shaped bracket 5. The arm 4 comprises a tubular member 6 having a threaded member 7 made, for example, of nylon, secured to one end thereof by means of a screw 8. The tubular member 6 is secured to the bracket 5 by means of a spring clip 9 which passes through apertures in the member 6 and the bracket 5. Stop means in the form of a threaded knob 10 made, for example, of nylon, is received on the threaded member 7.

[0017] A telescopic cranked arm 11 is pivotably mounted on the tray 3 adjacent the other end thereof by means of a U-shaped bracket 12. The arm 11 comprises an outer, substantially L-shaped member 13 and an inner, substantially L-shaped member 14 slidable in the outer member 13. The inner member 14 may be fixed in position relative to the outer member 13 by means of a screw-threaded clamp 15 provided on the outer member 13. As the screw of the clamp is tightened, the free end of the screw engages the member 14 to prevent sliding movement thereof relative to the outer member 13. Whilst the arm 11 may be secured to the bracket 12 by means of a clip analogous to the clip 9, such a clip is not essential for the stable mounting of the device on a ladder.

[0018] In order to mount the device on a ladder, the threaded knob 10 is removed from the first arm 4. The arm 4 is then passed through a hollow rung of a ladder until further movement of the member 7 in the leftward direction as shown in Figure 2 is prevented by engagement of one side of the tray 3 with one of the stiles of the ladder. At the same time, the free end of the cranked telescopic arm 11 is introduced into the open end of a lower rung of the ladder. The knob 10 is then replaced on the threaded member 7 and screwed up to engage the other stile of the ladder. The tray 3 can now be brought into a horizontal position by adjusting the length of the telescopic arm 11. When the arm is the desired length and the tray is horizontal, the clamp 15 is tightened. The device is then firmly secured to the ladder, and cannot be dislodged without first removing the knob 10 which allows the tray to be removed from the ladder by sliding the arm 4 out of a first hollow rung of the ladder and withdrawing the free end of the L-shaped member 14 from a second hollow rung of the ladder.

[0019] When the device is assembled in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 3, with the first arm 4 secured in the bracket 5 and the second arm 11 positioned in the bracket 12, the tray 3 extends forwardly of the ladder 2, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the arm 11 can be inserted in the bracket 5 and the arm 4 can be secured to the bracket 12 by means of the clip 9, as shown in Figure 4. In this configuration, the tray extends rearwardly of the ladder.

[0020] There is thus provided a simple device which can be rapidly mounted on a ladder to provide a secure, substantially horizontal tray or platform for paint or tools, which does not obstruct the ladder, and which substantially improves the safety of a worker on the ladder.

Claims

1. A device capable of being mounted on a ladder having hollow rungs, the device comprising a platform or tray having a first arm mounted thereon adjacent one end thereof and a second arm pivotably mounted thereon adjacent the other end thereof and extending below the platform or tray, said second arm being adjustable in length and said arms being adapted to enter the hollow rungs of a ladder.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first arm extends substantially horizontally when the platform or tray is horizontal.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first arm can be fixed.relative to the platform or tray and comprises means to secure the device to the ladder.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second arm comprises two members which are slidable with respect to one another in order to achieve said adjustment in length.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the relative position of said two members can be fixed in order to determine the orientation of said platform or tray in use.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second arms are mounted on the underside of said platform or tray.

7. A device for mounting on a ladder having hollow rungs, the device comprising a platform or tray having a substantially U-shaped bracket mounted on the underside thereof adjacent each end, an elongate member mounted in and secured to one of said brackets and provided with means for securing the member to the ladder, an L-shaped member pivotably mounted in the other of said brackets, and an anchor member mounted on the L-shaped member so as to be slidable and lockable relative thereto, said elongate member and said anchor member being adapted to enter the hollow rungs of the ladder.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said brackets is adapted to receive either said elongate member or said L-shaped member.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said securing means comprises a threaded member received on said elongate member.

Drawing