AU2021105116A4 - Tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms - Google Patents

Abstract

Tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms comprising a frame supporting a pair of rail engagements vertically arranged for engaging a respective pair of upper and lower rails, the frame supporting at least one tray, wherein a vertical offset between the pair of rail engagements is adjustable. 8 1/1 112..-Ce le'l 11176 Figure Figure1

Description

1/1

112..-Ce

le'l

11176

Figure Figure1

Tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates generally to tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms, walkway handrails and scaffolding.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0002] There is provided herein tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms.

[0003] The apparatus comprises a frame supporting a pair of rail engagements which are vertically arranged for engaging a respective pair of upper and lower rails. The frame supports at least one tray.

[0004] The vertical offset between the pair of rail engagements is adjustable such that the tray may be attached to various rail types of various configurations.

[0005] Each rail engagement may comprise a bracket which extends over each respective rail to thereby securely rest atop and engage each rail. The bracket may be a right-angled bracket so as to be able to engage both circular and rectangular cross-section rails.

[0006] The rail engagement may comprise a rail latch which moves under the bracket to hold the rail within the bracket from underneath. The rail latch may be pivotally engaged from the frame and may define an arm which swings under the bracket.

[0007] The arm may have a right-angled face so as to be able to engage a circular rail at two points or a rectangular rail at two sides. When latched, the rail latch may thereby define a rectangular engagement in cooperation with the bracket and the frame to closely engage around rectangular rails.

[0008] The rail latch may be further locked in position by a locking latch. The locking latch may pull on a tab adjacent the pivot point of the rail latch to swing the arm. The locking latch may be an over centre latch which may therefore be finely adjusted in length to lock the rail latch according to a particular rail type.

[0009] The frame may be length adjustable between the rail engagements. Where the rail engagements both comprise locking latches, each may lock to a rail independently, thereby negating the need to lock the frame at a particular length.

[0010] The frame may be telescopic in comprising an upper telescopic member

coupled to the upper engagement and a lower telescopic member coupled to the lower

engagement.

[0011] The apparatus may be disassemble wherein the tray comprises an aperture

therethrough through which the frame releasably extends. A locking pin may secure

the frame to the tray.

[0012] The apparatus may comprise a pair of trays. Where the frame comprises

telescopic members, and upper tray may be connected to the upper telescopic

member and a lower tray may be connected to the lower telescopic member.

[0013] At least one tray may define a slide out member which may be used for

engaging tools. For example, the slide out member may comprise an aperture

therethrough through which a handle of a hammer or the like may be inserted for

retention.

[0014]The apparatus may define a superior aperture readily accessible for

attachment of tool tethers and lanyards therethrough, such as by carabiners. The

aperture may be formed in a horizontal plate of the upper bracket extending across

the frame, thereby being conveniently located above the at least one tray of the

apparatus.

[0015] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present

invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is a side elevation view of tool tray apparatus in accordance with an

embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2 shows a top plan view of a tray of the apparatus in accordance with

an embodiment; and

[0019] Figure 3 shows a top plan view of an upper bracket of the apparatus in

accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] Tool tray apparatus 100 for elevated work platforms comprises a frame 101 supporting a pair of rail engagements 102. The rail engagements 102 a vertically arranged for engaging a respective pair of upper and lower rails (not shown).

[0021] The frame 101 supports at least one tray 103.

[0022] The apparatus 100 is configured such that a vertical offset between the pair of rail engagements 102 is adjustable.

[0023] Each engagement 102 may comprise a bracket 104 which extends over each respective rail. Each bracket 104 may comprise a proximal horizontal piece 105 which extends over the rail and a distal vertical piece 106 which engages behind the rail. As is shown, the bracket 104 may be a right-angled bracket which may engage circular or rectangular cross-section rails.

[0024] The engagement 102 may comprise a rail latch 107 which moves under the bracket 104 to hold the rail within the bracket 104.

[0025] The rail latch 107 may be pivotally engaged to the frame 101 by a pivot point 108 and which may define an arm 109 which swings under the bracket 104.

[0026]The arm 109 may define a right-angled engagement face 110 which can thereby engage under circular rails at two points or engage against square rails flush against two sides thereof. As is apparent, for square rails, the engagement face 110 of the arm 109 may define two sides of a square cross-section which, in conjunction with two other side of the square cross-section defined by and oppositely adjacent rearward face of the frame 101 and undersurface of the horizontal piece 105 of the bracket 104 tightly engages a rectangular rail therein.

[0027] The rail latch 107 may be locked in an engagement position by a locking latch 111. The locking latch may pull on a tab 112 of the rail latch 107 adjacent the pivot point 108 (which is not entirely correctly shown in figure 1) to thereby swing the arm 107 upwardly.

[0028] The locking latch 107 may be an over centre latch which may be adjusted in length for a particular rail type for rapid and proper engagement thereof in use.

[0029] The frame 101 may be formed by a single vertical column.

[0030] The apparatus 100 may be disassemble wherein, with reference to Figure 2, a

tray 103 may comprise an aperture 113 therethrough through which the frame 101

extends. Preferably the aperture 113 non-rotatably engages the frame 101, such as

wherein the aperture 113 is rectangular and the frame 101 is rectangular in cross

section.

[0031] A rear wall 114 of the tray 103 may comprise an aperture 115 therethrough

through which a locking pin 116 securing a rearward locking plate 117 is engageable,

such as by way of wingnut 118.

[0032] The frame 101 may be length adjustable between the rail engagements 102.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the frame 101 is telescopic in comprising an

upper telescopic member slidably engaged to a lower telescopic member. In this

regard, the upper rail engagement 102 may be connected to the upper telescopic

member and the lower rail engagement 102 connected to the lower telescopic

member.

[0033] With reference to figure 2, a tray 103 may comprise a slide out member 119.

The slide out member 119 may define apertures 120 therethrough for engaging tools.

For example, a tool handle may be inserted through an aperture 120 of the slide out

member.

[0034] The tray may define a base 121 and a side wall 122 and the slide out member

may slide out parallel with the base 121. In the manner shown in Figure 1, the tray

103 may define a slot 123 between the side wall 122 and the base 121 and the slide

out member 119 may slide out through the slot 123.

[0035] The slide out member 120 may comprise at least one elongate slot 124 along

a slide out direction thereof. Engagements 125 fastened to the base 121 of the tray

103 may be slidably engaged therein to limit the travel of the slide out member 120.

[0036] The apparatus 100 may define an upper aperture 126 through which tool

tethers may be engaged, such as by way of carabiners. The aperture 126 may be

defined in the upper bracket 104 wherein the horizontal piece 105 of the upper bracket

104 extends across the frame 101 so as to expose the aperture 126 conveniently

accessible above the apparatus 100.

[0037] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific

nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will

be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to

practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of

the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not

intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as

obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above

teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the

principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others

skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various

modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the

following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[0038] The term "approximately" or similar as used herein should be construed as

being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (23)

1. Claims 1. Tool tray apparatus for elevated work platforms comprising a frame supporting

   a pair of rail engagements vertically arranged for engaging a respective pair of upper

   and lower rails, the frame supporting at least one tray, wherein a vertical offset

   between the pair of rail engagements is adjustable.
2. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one rail engagement

   comprises a bracket which extends over and behind each respective rail.
3. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bracket is a right-angled

   bracket.
4. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one rail engagement

   comprises a rail latch which moves under the bracket to holds a rail within the

   bracket.
5. 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rail latch is pivotally engaged

   from the frame and which comprises an arm which swings under the bracket.
6. 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the arm comprises a

   substantially right-angled engagement face.
7. 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket is a right-angled

   bracket.
8. 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one rail engagement

   comprises a locking latch which locks the rail latch.
9. 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking latch pulls a catch

   adjacent a pivot point of the locking latch.
10. 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking latch comprises an

    over centre latch.
11. 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is length adjustable

    between the pair of rail engagements.
12. 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the frame is telescopic in

    comprising an upper telescopic member connected to an upper of the rail

    engagements and a lower telescopic member connected to a lower of the rail

    engagements.
13. 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein each rail engagements

    securely engages each rail independently such that the length adjustable frame

    therebetween need not be locked in length.
14. 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one tray extends from

    the frame opposite the engagements.
15. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is elongate and

    wherein at least one tray comprises an aperture therethrough for the removable

    insertion of the frame therethrough.
16. 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the aperture non-rotatably

    engages the frame.
17. 17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is telescopic in

    comprising an upper telescopic member connected to an upper of the rail

    engagements and a lower telescopic member connected to a lower of the rail

    engagements and wherein the tool tray comprises an upper tray connected to the

    upper telescopic member and a lower tray connected to the lower telescopic member.
18. 18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray comprises slide out

    members defining at least one tool holding apertures therethrough.
19. 19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tray comprises a base and

    a side wall and wherein the slide out member slides out parallel with the base.
20. 20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the tray comprises a slot

    between the base and the side wall and wherein the slide out member slides out

    through the slot.
21. 21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein slide out member comprises at

    least one slot orientated along a slide out direction thereof and wherein an

    engagement fastened to the base engages through the slot.
22. 22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame defines an upper

    aperture for connection of tool tethers therethrough.
23. 23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the upper bracket defines a

    forwardly extending piece and wherein the upper aperture is located through the

    piece.