US3106987A

US3106987A - Convertible ladder apron

Info

Publication number: US3106987A
Application number: US206060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lerner Sam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-06-28
Filing date: 1962-06-28
Publication date: 1963-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-15

Description

S. LERNER CONVERTIBLE LADDER APRON Oct. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1962 INVENTOR 58M LEENEE BY I 1 L I m1 HI I I llllllll llllilllll Oct. 15, 1963 s. VLYERNER 3,106,987

CONVERTIBLE LADDER APRON Filed June 28, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l m I! F I --1 -za i 7Z 73 INVEN TOR SAM LERNEE BY United States Patent 3,106,987 CON VERLE LADDER APRON Sam Lerner, 3636 Greystone Ave, Bronx 48, N51. Filed June 23, 1962, Ser. No. 206,060 2 Claims. (Cl. 182-126) The invention relates to stepladder attachments, and, more especially, with respect to an associated apron member such as will be useful in supporting temporarily, and in convenient reach, various operating and other items utilized in the painting operations-i01- example, paint and paint brushes, as well as scrapers and the like. Or, as in the case of building operations and the like, such a novel apron assembly may be utilized for support, with convenient accessibility, of corresponding tools and materials.

That is to say, the novel attachment will readily render the ladder convertible, i.e., more useful-as in saving a user thereof many steps, as well as the climb of and descent therefrom to obtain a desired item.

Moreover, in accordance with the invention, said operating, generally-required items are to be supported in a manner such as to be conveniently accessible to a user thereof. Thus, they may be supported on a level surface portion of the apron, or confined therein positively against dislodgement-the novel attachment being located in association with the conventional apron or shelf of the :ttepladder.

In the use of the conventional type of ladder apron in this respect, no provision has heretofore been made for the fioresaid temporary direct and secure, non-displaceable storage of paint containers and/or brushes, as well as of presenting readily a continuous and level top supporting surface when such a surface is required.

The invention has for an object so to modify such conventional, apron-structure stepladdersmore especially with respect to the apron portion-that the latter may receive and support directly, and without danger of displacement various items as may be required by a workman during the period he is operating from the aforesaid ladder; and, as well, to afiord temporary storage and ample space on the apron for the said various items generally utilized in operations performed from said ladder.

Thus, contrary to the general practice of providing merely a continuous, stationary and flat-top surface for the working (supporting) portion of the apron upon which materials such as paint cans, brushes, etc. commonly are supported-and accordingly easily disturbed and upset-the present invention contemplates a novel support-apron structure. That is to say, the support surface thereof is so designed that not only may objectionable displacements, as aforesaid, be obviated-in that a depression or pocket for various items is afiorded as for the materials and tools; but, when desired, such apron is readily convertible to present a complete conventional, flat-top surface.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stepladder in extended state, With the novel supporting apron in operative location-a supported, associated container being indicated in broken lines.

3,106,987 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section thereofon an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 22, FIG. 1 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows.

vPIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view-on an enlarged some, and with a portion of the retainer cover broken awayof th apron platform and a supported container.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the novel apron construction, taken on the line 4-4, FIG. 3 of the drawings; and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, illustrating the bottom of the cover plate indicated in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a conventional form of stepladder is indicated-- the same being constituted of pairs of elongated rails 10, 1d, the forward pair 10 being joined together by the steps 11, as is well understood. An upper terminal or rectangular top 12 unites then the said pairs of rails through intermediate angle pieces 11'. Also, an apron 13 is pivotally associated therewith in conventional manner and immediately below, for example, the plane of the uppermost step. Furthermore, said apron member is pivoted to the rear rails 10, and thus, extended, lies in a plane which is located immediately below the uppermost step of steps 11substantially as in the present practice.

However, the said apron member, in accordance with the invention, is provided with an outer depressed portion 14 which is designed to accommodate securely various items, for use when the said ladder is in service, such as the can 14'indicated in broken linesas well as other items, as may be required.

A circumferential ledge, at the rim 15 of the depressed portion 14, is designed to seat flush with the said rim a cover :16 when the apron is to present a level top surface, as is indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. A circumferential notch 17, furthermore, is provided in the said cover whereby to facilitate its removal. The said apron surface otherwise is level and uninterrupted throughout for support. Furthermore, the depressed portion may be of any desired shape-the said cover then being shaped correspondingly thereto.

Moreover, when the said cover is not desired as a supporting surface, it may conveniently be stored in association with the apron. Thus, reference being had to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings, said cover on its underfa'ce 19 is to this to be provided initially, for example, with a spot of a pressure type, permanent adhesive deposit 18; and whereby it may be attachedwhen not in use-4o the outer surface of the said depressed portion 14, as is indicated in broken lines, FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Or, reference being had to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an arcuate beading or ledge 20, preferably at its bottom portion may be provided; and to this end is dimensioned to afiord an under pocket or supporting ledge 21 suitable to accommodate temporarily the said cover 16 (not shown) when it is removed temporarily.

I claim:

1. The combination with a foldable-type stepladder provided with an apron member swingably attached thereto and adapted to be located to project rearwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane, said apron member at its outer portion being provided with an integral depressed section affording a pocket, when the said step ladder is extended for service, for the accommodation and porting ledge displaced downwardly from the bottom of support of articles for use; and a cover plate adapted for the depressed portion.

seating in the pocket such that its upper surface will lie I substantially flush with the top of the apron member; of References Cited 111 the file 0f ihls Patent an arcuated, under pocket means associated with the bot- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tom of the depressed section beneath the same for receiving and retaining removably the cover plate when the g8 latter 1s not seated at the top of said depressed SCCLIOH. 7 1,049,682 Davis Jan. 7, 1913 2. The combination according to claim ,1, wherein the under arcuated support means comprises an annular sup- 1() 2861385 Chllds 1958

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A FOLDABLE-TYPE STEPLADDER PROVIDED WITH AN APRON MEMBER SWINGABLY ATTACHED THERETO AND ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED TO PROJECT REARWARDLY THEREFROM IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAID APRON MEMBER AT ITS OUTER PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INTEGRAL DEPRESSED SECTION AFFORDING A POCKET, WHEN THE SAID STEPLADDER IS EXTENDED FOR SERVICE, FOR THE ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT OF ARTICLES FOR USE; AND A COVER PLATE ADAPTED FOR SEATING IN THE POCKET SUCH THAT ITS UPPER SURFACE WILL LIE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE TOP OF THE APRON MEMBER; OF AN ARCUATED, UNDER POCKET MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE DEPRESSED SECTION BENEATH THE SAME FOR RECEIVING AND RETAINING REMOVABLY THE COVER PLATE WHEN THE LATTER IS NOT SEATED AT THE TOP OF SAID DEPRESSED SECTION.