This invention concerns a tray according to the preamble of claim 1, particularly but necessarily for holding tools, which tray can be attached to different kinds of ladders.

Such a tray is known from US-A-4,706,918.

Three kinds of ladders are in common use. The pole ladder comprises a pair of stiles with a plurality of rungs secured therebetween, and in portable form is in use leant against a wall or the like. The builder's stepladder (and a variant thereof known as a painter's stepladder, which should be deemed herein to be included within the term "builder's stepladder") comprises two frames joined together at the top with a hinge, one of the frames having a plurality of steps and the two frames being arranged to be opened to mutually inclined positions so that the ladder is self-supporting in use. The platform stepladder is similar to the builder's stepladder but has a platform extending between the frames in use and, extending above the hinge, a safety rail for a user standing on the platform.

It is well known that a tray may be attached to a ladder to provide a handy support for tools, workpieces, fasteners, paint etc. However, many jobs require the use of two or all three of the different kinds of ladder in common use, and previous trays are not readily transferable from one kind of ladder to another.

It is an object of the present invention to enable a tray to be attached to any one of the three common kinds of ladder.

Thus according to the invention there is provided a tray for attachment to different kinds of ladder with the features of claim 1, which tray comprises first attachment means configured to fit over the top of a builder's stepladder, second attachment means configured to fit over the safety rail of a platform stepladder and third attachment means configured to fit over a rung of a pole ladder.

In the invention the first attachment means, the second attachment means and the third attachment means are all comprised in one downwardly facing recess.

The tray preferably includes a plurality of compartments for tools or the like.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is made by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which -

• Figure 1 is a plan view of a tray which does not form part of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a front view corresponding to Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an end view corresponding to Figure 1;
• Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view, a side elevation and a front elevation of a second tray which does not form part of the invention; and
• Figure 7 is a cross-section of an embodiment of the invention, being a modification of the tray of Figures 4 to 6 and enlarged relative thereto.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the tray shown therein does not form part of the invention; it is formed from synthetic plastics material and comprises a body indicated at 10 and an upstanding handle 12 whereby the tray may be carried. As can be seen in Figure 1, the body 10 is formed with a plurality of compartments for holding tools, fasteners, workpieces etc. The underside 14 of the body 10 is generally flat so that the tray may be securely put down on a floor or work surface. The front face 16, rear face 18 and both side faces 20 of the body 10 are all inclined and an extension 22 extends forward of the front face 16.

Within the body 10 is formed a first downwardly facing recess 24 (shown in broken lines in Figure 3) having opposed walls 26 which are mutually inclined. Those skilled in building and allied trades will know that a builder's stepladder has two frames, one carrying steps, which are joined by a hinge at the top and in use are mutually inclined. Thus the recess 24 is configured to fit over the top of a builder's stepladder in use with the walls 26 engaging the mutually inclined frames of the ladder, and so provides attachment means for attaching the tray to a builder's stepladder.

Extending from the underside 14 of the forward extension 22 is a second recess 28 having a base 30 and opposed walls 32. The walls 32 are mutually parallel, inclined and spaced apart. Those skilled in building and allied trades will know that a platform stepladder has a safety rail (not shown) comprising two side members connected at the top by a cross member. Thus the recess 28 is configured to fit over the safety rail of a platform stepladder, the base 30 sitting on the cross member thereof, and so provides attachment means for attaching the tray to a platform stepladder

Moulded into or otherwise secured to the front face 16 of the body 10 are two downwardly facing hooks 34, one each side of the extension 22. Those skilled in building and allied trades will know that a pole ladder comprises two stiles with a plurality of rungs secured therebetween, and in use is leant against a wall or the like. The hooks 34 are arranged to fit over a rung of such a ladder, the inclined front face 16 of the body 10 then bearing on the inclined stiles of the ladder. Thus the hooks 34 and the inclined front face 16 provide attachment means for attaching the tray to a rung of a pole ladder.

The recess 28 may have closed ends. Or, in place of the hooks 34, the recess 28 may be configured to fit over a rung of a pole ladder. Also the tray may be a roller tray for painters and decorators.

Another form of tray which does not form part of the invention is shown in Figures 4 to 6. This tray has an upstanding handle 40 cut away at 42 to receive a user's hand when the tray is carried and turned down at 44 to fit over the rung of a pole ladder or the rail of a platform stepladder. When this tray is so fitted, two spaced apart recesses 46 receive the side members of the platform stepladder or the stiles of the pole ladder, as the case may be. Not detailed in Figures 4 to 6, this tray also has a recess in its underside whereby it may be located on the top of a builder's stepladder, like the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. This embodiment is a modification of the tray shown in Figures 4 to 6. As with the tray of Figures 4 to 6, the tray of Figure 7 has two spaced apart recesses 50 to receive the side members of a platform stepladder or the stiles of a pole ladder. But instead of the handle 52 being formed to engage the rung of a pole ladder or the rail of a platform stepladder, the downwardly facing recess 54 is formed for this purpose. The recess 54 (which can be seen in Figure 7 to have a stepped form in cross-section) combines all the functions of the recess 24, the recess 28 and the hooks 34 of the tray shown in Figures 1 to 3, thus simplifying manufacture of the tray as a whole whilst also offering a variety of abutments for ladders of various dimensions.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that by means of the invention a tray for tools or the like may be quickly and conveniently attached to any one of a builder's stepladder, a platform stepladder and a pole ladder and may also be easily carried (with its contents) from one such ladder to another. This is of considerable advantage in jobs requiring the use of more than one kind of ladder. And, of course, a user does not need to purchase different kinds of trays for the different ladders, nor multiple tools etc.

A tray according to the invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims. For instance it may be provided with slots to receive a neck or shoulder strap, for increased utility. Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the building and allied trades.