GB2034795A - Ladder tool tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray 10 for attachment to a ladder 12, the tray has a pivotal connection to the ladder at one end and a pivotally connected stay at its other end, the stay being provided at its end remote from the tray with a bracket 20 which can be slidably adjusted on one of the uprights of the ladder so that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled for the placement of tools, paint brushes, pots of paint and the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improvement in or relating to ladders The invention relates to ladders and has for its object to provide an improvement therein.

It is a particular problem that a home decorator for example, when working on a ladder, has no convenient place for his tools other than his pockets, and of course when painting he will sometimes need to stand on his ladder holding his brush in one hand and his paint pot in his other hand. This can be dangerous, particularly when working out of doors in windy conditions.

According to the invention, there is provided a tray for attachment to a ladder, the tray having a pivotal connection to the ladder at one end and having a pivotally connected stay at its other end, the stay being provided at its end remote from the tray with a bracket which can be slidably adjusted in position on one of the uprights of the ladder so that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled for the placement of tools, paint brushes, pots of paint and the like.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a ladder with a tray embodying the invention connected thereto, Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig.

1 and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of a bracket which will be referred to.

Referring now to the drawings, the ladder there illustrated is shown to be provided with a tray 10 cantilevered out from one of the uprights 12 of the ladder. A pair of rods or tubes 14 and 1 5 are secured beneath the tray, as shown, by means of respective pairs of bearer elements 1 6. The rod or tube 14 extends directly into a first bracket 1 8 which is clamped to the upright 1 2 of the ladder so that, in effect, the tray has pivotal connection to the ladder at that end. The other rod or tube 1 5 at the other end of the tray, is of cranked form as best seen in Fig. 1, and constitutes a stay connected to a second bracket 20 which is also clamped to the upright 1 2 of the ladder.The arrangement is such that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled by the appropriate spacing apart of the first and second brackets.

Referring now to Fig. 3, each of the brackets 1 8 and 20 comprises two component parts, that is to say a clamp part 22 and an angled bearing part 24. The clamp part comprises a stirrup member 26 so formed that it can embrace the upright of the ladder, the stirrup member being made of metal rod the opposite ends of which are screwthreaded. A clamping bar 30 can be engaged by the screwthreaded ends of the stirrup member and held in position by a pair of wing nuts 32 engaging the screwthreads of the stirrup member.

The arrangement is such that a person using the ladder can place his tools or whatever other items he is using (for example, paint brushes, paint pot, scraper, screwdriver etc,) on the tray. He can adjust the tray up or down the ladder to suit the height at which he is working and as previously pointed out the tray can be horizontally located whatever the angle of the ladder when in use.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly in the method of attachment of the tray. It will of course be understood that a onepiece bracket could be devised to replace the twopiece bracket illustrated. it will also be understood that instead of being positioned as shown in Fig. 1 the tray could project from the other side of the ladder for use by a left handed person, and instead of extending outwards from the ladder as shown in Fig. 2 it could extend inwards (and of course in this case the cranked rod or tube would extend upwardly at an angle instead of downwardly at an angle as illustrated).

CLAI WIS 1. A tray for attachment to a ladder, the tray having a pivotal connection to the ladder at one end and having a pivotally connected stay at its other end, the stay being provided at its end remote from the tray with a bracket which can be slidably adjusted on one of the uprights of the ladder so that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled for the placement of tools, paint brushes, pots of paint and the like.

2. A tray for attachment to a ladder constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An improvement in or relating to ladders The invention relates to ladders and has for its object to provide an improvement therein. It is a particular problem that a home decorator for example, when working on a ladder, has no convenient place for his tools other than his pockets, and of course when painting he will sometimes need to stand on his ladder holding his brush in one hand and his paint pot in his other hand. This can be dangerous, particularly when working out of doors in windy conditions. According to the invention, there is provided a tray for attachment to a ladder, the tray having a pivotal connection to the ladder at one end and having a pivotally connected stay at its other end, the stay being provided at its end remote from the tray with a bracket which can be slidably adjusted in position on one of the uprights of the ladder so that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled for the placement of tools, paint brushes, pots of paint and the like. In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a ladder with a tray embodying the invention connected thereto, Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig.

1 and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of a bracket which will be referred to.

Referring now to the drawings, the ladder there illustrated is shown to be provided with a tray 10 cantilevered out from one of the uprights 12 of the ladder. A pair of rods or tubes 14 and 1 5 are secured beneath the tray, as shown, by means of respective pairs of bearer elements 1 6. The rod or tube 14 extends directly into a first bracket 1 8 which is clamped to the upright 1 2 of the ladder so that, in effect, the tray has pivotal connection to the ladder at that end. The other rod or tube 1 5 at the other end of the tray, is of cranked form as best seen in Fig. 1, and constitutes a stay connected to a second bracket 20 which is also clamped to the upright 1 2 of the ladder.The arrangement is such that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled by the appropriate spacing apart of the first and second brackets.

Referring now to Fig. 3, each of the brackets 1 8 and 20 comprises two component parts, that is to say a clamp part 22 and an angled bearing part 24. The clamp part comprises a stirrup member 26 so formed that it can embrace the upright of the ladder, the stirrup member being made of metal rod the opposite ends of which are screwthreaded. A clamping bar 30 can be engaged by the screwthreaded ends of the stirrup member and held in position by a pair of wing nuts 32 engaging the screwthreads of the stirrup member.

The arrangement is such that a person using the ladder can place his tools or whatever other items he is using (for example, paint brushes, paint pot, scraper, screwdriver etc,) on the tray. He can adjust the tray up or down the ladder to suit the height at which he is working and as previously pointed out the tray can be horizontally located whatever the angle of the ladder when in use.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly in the method of attachment of the tray. It will of course be understood that a onepiece bracket could be devised to replace the twopiece bracket illustrated. it will also be understood that instead of being positioned as shown in Fig. 1 the tray could project from the other side of the ladder for use by a left handed person, and instead of extending outwards from the ladder as shown in Fig. 2 it could extend inwards (and of course in this case the cranked rod or tube would extend upwardly at an angle instead of downwardly at an angle as illustrated).

CLAI WIS 1. A tray for attachment to a ladder, the tray having a pivotal connection to the ladder at one end and having a pivotally connected stay at its other end, the stay being provided at its end remote from the tray with a bracket which can be slidably adjusted on one of the uprights of the ladder so that whatever the angle of the ladder when in use the tray can be levelled for the placement of tools, paint brushes, pots of paint and the like.

2. A tray for attachment to a ladder constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.