GB2322896A

GB2322896A - A portable device for mounting on a horizontal bar

Info

Publication number: GB2322896A
Application number: GB9704668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Lipp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-06
Filing date: 1997-03-06
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Also published as: GB9704668D0

Abstract

A portable device for mounting on a horizontal bar, for example a ladder rung, comprises a body 1 provided with hooks (figure 2) and a carrying handle 3 which is pivotally mounted on the body 1. When the handle 3 is grasped to lift the body 1, the body 1 may be hooked onto or lifted clear of the horizontal bar. When the handle 3 is released with the body 1 hooked on the bar, the handle pivots to lock the body 1 onto the bar. Horizontal shelf units 2 may be pivotally attached to the body 1 for supporting articles e.g. paint poll. The shelves 2 may have a rim in order to prevent articles from sliding off the shelf and also to provide compartments to house tools when the shelves 2 are stored in their vertical position.

Description

A PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MOUNTING TO A HORIZONTAL BAR The present invention relates to a portable device for mounting to a substantially horizontal bar. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention provides a portable shelf unit for mounting to a rung of a ladder.

According to the present invention there is provided a portable device for mounting to a substantially horizontal bar, the device comprising a body provided with at least one hook portion and a carrying handle pivotally mounted on the body, wherein when the handle is grasped to lift the body the body can be hooked onto or lifted clear of said bar, and when the handle is released with the body hooked onto the bar the handle pivots to lock the body onto the bar.

The device according to the invention is advantageous in that it can be secured to, and released from, a bar using only one hand by manipulation of the handle. That is, with the device supported in one hand by grasping the handle, the device can be lifted and hooked onto a bar. Thereafter, simply by releasing the handle the handle pivots to lock the device onto the bar. Removing the device from the bar is again a one handed operated achieved simply by grasping the handle and lifting the device.

The device could be adapted for a variety of purposes with the body configured accordingly. For instance, the device could be a portable sign or display unit (which might of instance be provided with shelves etc). However, the device is particularly adapted for use as a shelf unit which can be mounted to a rung of a ladder, or to the top rail of a step-ladder, to provide one or more support platforms for tools etc.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the device is provided with at least one shelf and is adapted to be mounted on the rung of a ladder or the top rail of a step-ladder.

Preferably the body supports two horizontally spaced shelves arranged such that when the device is mounted to a ladder or step-ladder with the body resting against the ladder the shelves extend forward from either side of the ladder (and on either side of a person on the ladder).

Preferably the or each shelf is adapted for folding against the body when not in use. This reduces the bulk of the device for ease of transport/carrying.

In addition, each shelf and/or the body may be adapted so that an enclosed storage compartment is defined between the shelf and the body when the shelf is folded up.

In one embodiment of the invention the handle has a portion which is brought to bear upon the bar on which the body is hooked when the handle is released to thereby secure the device on said bar.

The handle may be a resilient member and resilience in said handle brings said portion of the handle into contact with the bar when the handle is released. For instance, the handle may be fabricated as a single piece moulded plastics member.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a front view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention adapted as a portable shelf unit for mounting on a ladder; Fig 2 is a cross-section through part of the handle arrangement of the embodiment of fig 1; and Figs 3a and 3b are cross-sections illustrating an alternative handle arrangement.

Referring first to figure 1, the illustrated shelving unit comprises a generally rectangular planar body 1 which supports folding shelves 2. A handle 3 (details of which are best appreciated from fig 2) is pivotably mounted to the body 1 at a central location adjacent the top edge of the body 1. A supplementary handle hole 4 is provided in the body 1. In fig 1, the device is shown mounted to a rung 5 (visible in fig 2) of a ladder 6.

Referring now to fig 2, this is a cross-section taken on line A-A of fig 1. The handle 3, which is preferably a single moulded plastics component, comprises a horizontal cross-bar 7 which links two cranked limbs 8 (the cross-section of fig 2 passing through one of said limbs 8). Each of said limbs 8 is pivotably secured to the body 1 at the location of a right angled elbow 9. The lower portion of each limb is curved forming a generally U-shaped bend 10 and extends through an opening 11 in the body 1. The end of each limb 8 is folded back on itself to provide a contact portion 12 which bears against the ladder rung 5 when the device is mounted to the ladder 6. Extending to the rear of the body 1 in the region of each handle limb 8 is a hook portion 13. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the body 1 is a moulded plastics component and the hook portions 13 are moulded integrally with the body 1 and reinforced by supporting web portions 14.

In operation, the unit is carried (preferably with the shelves 2 folded against, and secured to, the body 1) in one hand by grasping cross bar 7 of the handle 3. For added support, the handle 3 is best grasped by passing the hand through the supplementary handle hole 4 defined in the body 1 so that the cross bar 7 of the handle 3 is held against the top edge of the body 1. The device can then be readily hooked onto a ladder rung simply by lowering the hook portions 13 of the body 1 over the rung whilst grasping the handle 3. The handle is then released whereupon the cross bar 7 pivots away from the body 1 and the contact portions 12 of the handle limbs 8 are brought into contact with the rung 5. This effectively locks the device onto the rung preventing the device lifting from the rung.

To remove the device, the handle 3 is simply grasped once more and the device lifted whereupon the handle cross bar 7 pivots towards the body 1 which withdraws the contact portion 12 of each handle limb 8 from contact with the rung 5 and enables the device to be lifted clear of the rung 5. It will readily be appreciated that the device can be carried, mounted and removed, using only one hand simply by grasping or releasing the handle 3.

Once the device is mounted to the ladder, the shelves 2 may be unfolded to provided platforms for supporting tools, paint cans, etc which will be conveniently positioned on either side of the person on the ladder. For instance, a large paint receptacle 15 is illustrated in chain dot in fig 1. Whilst most of the weight of the unit, and of anything placed on the shelves 2, is borne by the hook portions 13, with the body 1 resting against the ladder 6 to provide extra support and prevent the device rocking to and fro on the rung, the handle locking arrangement prevents the device from tipping if there is a greater weight on one shelf 2 than on the other.

The device can be lifted free of one rung and repositioned on another without necessarily removing tools etc from the shelves 2 and folding them away, although when the device is first carried up the ladder it is envisaged that it will be carried with the shelves 2 folded away to avoid possible accidents. It will be appreciated that any suitable readily releasable clip arrangement can be used to secure the shelves 2 to the body 1 when folded.

As shown in fig 1, the shelves 2 are configured as trays with a peripheral lip which will prevent items from rolling or sliding off the tray. If desired, the base of the shelves could be provided with drain holes to prevent water pooling. Configuring the shelves 2 as trays will also have the effect of creating an enclosed storage compartment when the shelves 2 are folded against the body 1. The compartments used to store small tools and other items (such as screwdrivers, paintbrushes, nails, screws etc) which can then be carried with the device. The size of the storage compartments could be enlarged either by increasing the depth of the "trays" or by providing recesses in the wall of the body 1.

Details of the precise handle configuration could be modified provided the handle operates to "lock" the device onto the rung (or other horizontal bar to which the device is mounted) simply on releasing the handle and allowing it to pivot relative to the body 1. Such an alternative is illustrated in figs 3a and 3b. This arrangement is similar to that illustrated in fig 2 (and thus like reference numerals are used where appropriate) except that the U bent portion 10, and contact portion 12, of each limb 8 are replaced by a resilient spring finger 16 which co-operates with a peg 17 which extends from a side wall of the opening 11 in the body 1.

Referring to fig 3a this illustrates the arrangement with the handle in a "rest" position without the device mounted to a ladder rung. Here, each spring finger 16 extends up towards the respective hook portion 13 of the body 1. To carry the device, and to locate the device on a ladder rung, the device is lifted by grasping the handle 3 (preferably in conjunction with supplementary handle hole 4 as described above) so that the cross bar 7 pivots towards the body 1. This has the effect of partially withdrawing each spring finger 16 from its aperture 11 in the body 1, the spring fingers being flexed in the process by virtue of engagement with pegs 17. The device can then be lowered onto a ladder rung (or other horizontal bar) whereupon the handle is released. The resilient spring fingers 16 will then tend to flex to its rest configuration which has the effect of pivoting the handle 3 downwards and bringing the spring finger 16 into contact with the underside of the ladder rungs 5 to thereby lock the unit on the rung 5. This "locked" configuration is illustrated in fig 3b. The unit can be removed from the rung simply by grasping the handle to pivot the spring fingers 16 out of contact with the rung 5.

It will be readily apparent to the appropriately skilled person that many modifications could be made to the detail of the embodiments described above. For instance, the body 1 could be provided with a power socket (which could be connected to an extension lead) to provide a power point for electric powered tools such as drills, sanders, lighting etc.

The shelving units described may be fabricated from moulded plastics to provide a light weight product which can be easily and safely carried in one hand by a man or women ascending a ladder, or step ladder, and then readily mounted in position by an extremely simple one handed operation.

Claims

1. A portable device for mounting to a substantially horizontal bar, the device comprising a body provided with at least one hook portion and a carrying handle pivotally mounted on the body, wherein when the handle is grasped to lift the body the body can be hooked onto or lifted clear of said bar, and when the handle is released with the body hooked on the bar the handle pivots to lock the body onto the bar.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body supports at least one shelf.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the device is adapted for mounting to a rung of a ladder or to the top rail of a step-ladder.

4. A device according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the body supports two horizontally spaced shelves arranged such that when the device is mounted to a ladder or step-ladder with the body resting against the ladder the shelves extend forward from either side of the ladder.

5. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the or each shelf is adapted for folding against the body when not in use.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein with the or each shelf is folded against the body an enclosed storage compartment is defined between the shelf and the body.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is substantially planar with the handle extending from a front side of the body and the or each hook extending from a rear side of the body.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said handle has a portion which is brought to bear upon the bar on which the body is hooked when the handle is released to thereby secure the device on said bar.

9 A device according to claim 8, wherein the handle is a resilient member and resilience in said handle brings said portion of the handle into contact with the bar when the handle is released.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said handle is fabricated as a single piece moulded plastics member.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body is fitted with one or more electric power sockets.

12. A portable device for mounting to a substantially horizontal bar, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.