US2930442A - Stepladder attachment - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1960 R. H. CARTER 2,930,442

STEPLADDER ATTACHMENT Filed NOV- 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ralph H. Carter ,8 INVENIOR. v

BY WWW 12% .mlllJHll ll March 29, 1960 R. H. CARTER 2,930,442

STEPLADDER ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ralph H. Gar/er INVENTOR.

BY $0M Unit-ed States-Patent 2,930,442. STEPLADDER ATTACHMENT Ralph H. Carter, Providence, RJ. Application November s, 1958, Serial No. 772,128

2 Claims. or. 182-120 This invention relates tostepladder attachments and more particularly to a holder for a stepladder in orderto have various and sundry articles located in a place convenient to the user of the. stepladder.

An .object of the invention is to provide a practical attachment for a stepladder to hold tools, nails, paint buckets, paint brushes, screws, a water pail or any other article capable of being supported by the attachment on a stepladder thereby saving the user of the ladder many steps climbing and descending the ladder and thereby making the duties of the one using the ladder considerably easier. The attachment is preferably secured to the top step of a conventional stepladder so that the articles supported by the stepladder are at approximately kneeheight when the user of the ladder is at or near ladder, than is provided with the conventional shelf on a ladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stepladder attachment which is preferably secured to the top step of the ladder and which effectively retains one or more articles in such a position with respect to the user of the ladder, that the attachment very materially facilitates any number of tasks that are performed with the aid of a stepladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for-a stepladder which makes the use of the stepladder considerably safer by holding the necessary articles contained so that they will not fall, slip or slide or roll when the ladder rocks during the normal use of a conventional stepladder.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout,

and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of a ladder having an attachment constructed in accordance with the invention on the top step thereof.

Figure 2 is a side view of the attachment in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the attachment in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top view of the attachment showing it in an alternate use.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 but showing a roller tray in place on the ladder attachment.

7 Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to thatin Figure 5 but showing a pail in place of the roller tray.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the supporting sides of the attachment.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an insert constituting part of the attachment.

In the accompanying drawings there is a fragment of a stepladder 10, the fragment having top step 12, ladder rails 14 and 16 together with one other step 18. Since the ladder is conventional and is not structurally altered by the attachment 20, further details of the ladder are notgiven. Attachment 20 has a pair of sides 22 and 24, each formed essentially the same, one side being the left side and the other side being the right side. .The lower extremities of sides Hand 24, each of which is preferably made of a flat panel, have means by which to couple the sides to the top step 12 of the ladder; These means consist preferably of panels 26. and 28 which are attached to and which protrude laterally from the sides 22 and 24. There are deep slots 30 and 32 in l l owever, an additional precaution is taken to assure that the sides will remain firmly secure on the top step 12 of the ladder, this precaution being in the form; of a strip 40 having two notches 42 and 44 of a depth to accommodate the upper part of each panel 26 and 28. The strip is rested on the top surface of step 12 with the notches 42 and 44 receiving panels 26 and 28 as described (Fig. 7) thereby assuring that the sides 22 and 24 will not slip sideways.

Shelf 48 is securely attached to the upper ends of sides 22 and 24. The attachment may be made by having a pair of slots 50 and 52 (Fig. 3) in shelf 48 accommodating the short tongues 54 at the upper extremity of each side 22 and 24 and above the short lateral brackets 56 and 58 formed on panels 22 and 24 beneath the tongue 54. This forms a rigid connection between shelf 48 and its sides 22 and 24.

Shelf 48 has a central opening or aperture 60 of a size to accept the tapered side wall 62 of a conventional pail 64 and frictionally retain it in place. The aperture has a circular rim 66 located concentrically with respect to it and on the upper surface of shelf 48. It is held in place by wood screws 68 or by other conventional fasteners. The rim is an upstanding collar-like part that has a diameter slightly larger than aperture 60 but smaller than the disc 70 which is. adapted to be placed 60. The 'disc has a square (or other shape) defined by small beading sides 72 to form a confined area within which to accommodate small objects, for instance brads, screws, nails, etc. When located within the confines of rim 66, the disc 70 completely covers aperture 60, and it may be used with the container 74 side up or facing down thereby providing a smooth surface for receiving tools or any other article.

Rim 66 has another function and that is to hold a bail 76 of a conventional roller tray 78. The roller tray (Fig. 5) is ordinarily provided with a sloped part of its bottom'wall and a bail 76. The bail is engaged in a downwardly opening slot 80 lying along a chord of the circular rim 66 thereby attaching the roller tray 78 to the rim 66. Another portion of the bottom of the roller tray rests upon the upper flat surface of the rim 66.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 there are numerous openings 82 of various shapes in the shelf 48. These openings are of many shapes and many sizes to accommodate various articles, and it is intended that these openings be used'in accordance with the prerogative of the owner of the attachment. It is apparent, though, that paint brushes, a hand saw, bottles, etc., may be accepted in the openings, some being circular, others being oyal and Patented Mar. 29, 1960' saw. Further, the top surface of shelf 48 may be formed with a tray or compartment 86 made by three beading sides 88 which terminate at one edge of rim 66. If other trays are found desirable or necessary, they may be added. Furthermore, the numerous variety of articles that may be held on the shelf 48 is so variable that the prerogative of the owner, of the attachment will, by and large, be the guide by which to select which openings to use andfor what purpose. It is not intended that the invention be limited by the type of articles retained conveniently in place by the various trays, apertures, slots and the like in the shelf 48.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for a stepladder comprising a pair of opposite elongated panels having deep longitudinal central slots therein extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating short of the other ends of the panels, whereby said panels areadapted to straddle and lit transversely over a step ladder top step with said other ends of the panels extending outwardly of said top step and said panels being removably attached to said top step, a pair of upright side members having lower ends attached to said other ends of said panels with said side members rising substantially above said panels and whereby said side members are offset to one side of a stepladder top step to which the panels are attached, a shelf on the upper ends of said side members embodying de vices for confining various articles thereon, and a transverse strip overlying and cross connecting said panels and having a bottom face flush with one side of said slots to seat on top of a stepladder top step to which the panels are attached, said panels being mortised into said strip to cross connect said panels.

2. An attachment according to claim 1, said shelf having a portion overhanging said strip whereby said shelf will in part overlie a stepladder top step to which said panels are attached.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,373,173 Dazinskiene Mar. 29, 1921 1,915,958 Skirrow June 27, 1933 2,802,702 Rose Aug. 13, 1957 2,840,291 Becker June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 723,243 Germany July 31, 1942

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