GB2395514A

GB2395514A - Lockable ladder attachment for supporting a tool or receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2395514A
Application number: GB0227123A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duncan Pulsford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-20
Filing date: 2002-11-20
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Also published as: GB0227123D0

Abstract

A ladder attachment comprises an arm 11 adapted to extend through a hollow rung of a ladder, a lock 12 at one end of the arm for preventing removal of the attachment from the ladder rung and a hook 14 is provided at the other end of the arm to receive or provide support for tools or receptacles. The arm 11 may be tubular. The lock 12 (figs 2 and 3) may comprise a link (23) which is associated with a pin (21) which sits between bifurcated portions (19) of the arm 11. The link (23) preferably has a longitudinal slot (24) within it and can be rotated about the pin (21) to lock and unlock the arm 11. Depending from the hook 14, the attachment may have a support 16 which preferably comprises a pair of spaced arms 16 The arms 16 preferably stabilise the attachment to maintain it in an upright position and prevent the tool or receptacle from contacting the ladder.

Description

23955 1 4

Improvements in and relating to ladders.

This invention relates to ladders and has particular reference to a ladder attachment for supporting a tool or 5 receptacle.

The problem of providing support for tools and receptacles such, for example, as paintbrushes, tins of paint and the like is a long-standing one. Many proposals have been put 10 forward to provide a hook or attachment means on a ladder whereby receptacles and containers can be attached to the ladder so leaving an operative on the ladder free of the chore of holding the various tools and material needed to complete a task.

One simple solution has been the familiar S-hook whereby one limb of the "S" is hooked onto a rung of the ladder and the other provides a hook on which to hang various items.

A major disadvantage of this is firstly that the hook is 20 itself on a rung and this may impede the safe movement of the operative on the ladder. The second disadvantage is that whatever is on the lower part of the Shook will be on the other side of the ladder away from the operative. By its very nature, in use the S-hook tends to hang away from 25 the ladder meaning that an operative has to stretch through

the ladder to gain access to whatever is attached to it.

When painting, for example, this can be an extremely irritating feature.

5 The present invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage by providing a device, which in association with a hollow rung ladder, will enable articles to be attached to it and to be displaced at the side of the ladder and not in front of and away from the operative.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a ladder attachment for supporting a tool or receptacle, which attachment comprises 5 an arm adapted to extend through a hollow rung of a ladder locking means provided at a first end of said arm for the purpose of selectively locking said arm against removal from said ladder and hook means provided at said other end of the arm to receive or support a tool or receptacle, the arrangement being such that the locking means may be 25 disengaged to permit withdrawal of the arm and reinsertion

at a different height on the ladder.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the arm is tubular. In a further embodiment, the locking means 5 comprises a bifurcated end portion of the arm incorporating a hinge pin and an elongated link carried by said pin which is movable between an unlocked position in which it is disposed substantially axial of the arm and a locked position in which the link is disposed transverse to the 10 arm to prevent withdrawal of the same from the rung of the ladder. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the link has a longitudinal slot adapted to accommodate said 15 pin whereby the link can be rotated about said pin from a position in which in which the link is substantially axial with the arm and is capable of being passed through the hollow rung of the ladder to a position in which it lies substantially transverse to the arm to prevent withdrawal 20 thereof from the ladder rung.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the arm carries at said other end, support means adapted to depend from the hook means when the arm is in position on the 25 ladder, the arrangement is such as to prevent a receptacle

or tool carried by the hook means coming into contact with said ladder. In a particular embodiment, the support means may comprise a pair of downwardly extending spaced support arms. The attachment in accordance with the present invention provides a sturdy support for receptacles and tools so that they do not obstruct the working area of the ladder. This provides a significant enhancement to safety and also 10 provides the hook at an appropriate position on either the right-hand side or the left- hand side of the ladder according to the preference of the operative.

Following is a description by way of example only and with

5 reference to the accompanying drawings of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawing: -

20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail of the locking means of the attachment of Figure 1

Figure 3 is a detail of the locking means of Figure 2 with the link disposed in a position for entry into the rung of a ladder.

5 The attachment 10 comprises a tubular bar 11 terminating at a first end in a locking assembly 12. The other end 13 of bar 11 terminates in an upwardly extending hook portion 14 that, in its operative position is adapted to carry receptacles or tools. The hook portion 14 is further 10 associated with a transverse bar member 15 which bar member 15 terminates in a pair of spaced downwardly extending the support legs 16.

The locking assembly 12 has a bifurcated portion 18 at the IS end of arm 11, the two arms 19 of bifurcated portion 18 each contain a drilling 20, which accommodate a pin 21. The slot 22 between the two arms 19 accommodates a link piece 23 having a longitudinal slot 24 inclined slightly to the longitudinal axis of piece 23. The link piece 23 is thus 20 capable of sliding within the slot 22 and is constrained in the extent of its movement by pin 21. In Figure 2, link piece 23 is shown disposed transverse to arm 11; if the link is placed in this position with the arm 11 within the rung of a ladder, it will be apparent to a person skilled 25 in the art that the arm will be retained in position on the s

ladder until the link piece 23 is released. Link piece 23 is maintained in its position by means of the inclined slot 22 since rotation of link piece 23 about pin 21 as shown in Figure 3 will only be possible when the link piece is 5 lifted until the surface 26 is juxtaposed pin 21. In this position the pin can be rotated until it is substantially coaxial with the arm 11 and the arm can be withdrawn from or entered into a hollow rung of a ladder 10 By rotating the link to the position shown in Figure 2, the link will drop under its own weight until the inclined surface of the slot 22 jams between thus pin 21 and the adjacent base of the bifurcated arms 19. The inner surface 13 is provided with a plurality of indentations to 15 accommodate, at least in part, the arcuate surface of pin 21 thereby more firmly locking pin 23 in position.

In use, the depending arms 16 define the correct attitude of the device since their weight will orient automatically 20 the device in the appropriate operative position with the hook 14 extending upwardly. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the hook may be disposed at any convenient position relative to the work to be undertaken and any receptacle or tools carried by hook 14 25 will be maintained away from contact with the ladder by

means of the supports legs 16.

Claims

1. A ladder attachment for supporting a tool or receptacle, which attachment comprises an arm adapted to extend through the hollow rung of a 5 ladder, locking means provided at a first end of said arm for the purpose of selectively locking said arm against removal from said ladder and hook means provided at said other end of the arm to receive or support a tool or receptacle, the arrangement being such that the locking means may be disengaged to permit withdrawal of the arm and reinsertion at a different height on the ladder.

2. A ladder attachment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is tubular.

3. A ladder attachment, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locking means comprises a bifurcated end portion of the arm incorporating a 15 hinge pin and an elongated link carried by said pin which is movable between an unlocked position in which it is disposed substantially axial of the arm and a locked position in which the link is disposed transverse to the arm to prevent withdrawal of the same from the rung of the ladder.

20

4. A ladder attachment, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the link has a longitudinal slot adapted to accommodate said pin whereby the link can be

rotated about said pin from a position in which the link is substantially axial with the arm and is capable of being passed through the hollow rung of the ladder to a position in which it lies substantially transverse to the arm to prevent withdrawal thereof from the ladder rung.

5. A ladder attachment, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arm carries at said other end, support means adapted to depend from the hook means when the arm is in position on the ladder, the arrangement is such as to prevent a receptacle or tool carried by the hook means coming into contact 10 with said ladder.

6. A ladder attachment, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support means may comprise a pair of downwardly extending spaced support arms.