The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of receptacles and more specifically relates to a storage receptacle for attachment to a ladder.
2. Description of Related Art
Ladders usually contain a top platform, or top step that is used for providing structural integrity to the ladder and is not used for stepping. When a user works at the top of the ladder, the user often finds that picking up extra supplies or tools from the ground level is time consuming and inefficient. People may try to hold multiple tools in their hands, or in their pockets, only to put themselves in a dangerous situation when climbing the ladder. People may also try to store tools and materials on the top rung of the ladder; however, the tools/materials could easily be knocked off and serious injury and/or messed would occur. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,405 to William H. Smith relates to a ladder top storage rack. The described ladder top storage rack includes a rigid tool box having securable to a ladder top. A pair of side pouches is secured to two side walls of the tool box. Each of the side pouches has a zippered opening. A rear pouch is secured to the rear wall of the tool box. The rear pouch has a zippered opening.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known receptacles art, the present disclosure provides a novel ladder storage receptacle. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a storage receptacle for attachment to a ladder to provide easily accessible tools for a user.
A storage-receptacle is disclosed herein. The storage-receptacle may be used for attachment to a ladder and the ladder may include a plurality of steps having at least one top-step. The storage-receptacle includes a tray-housing which may include a tray-capacity defined by at least four tray-sides, a tray-base and an open-top opposite the tray-base and relative to the ladder; the tray-capacity being configured to store a plurality of items therein. Further, an attachment-means may be fixedly-attached to one of the at least four tray-sides, the attachment-means may include at least four attachment-sides, an attachment-top and an open-bottom opposite the attachment-top and relative to the ladder and the open-bottom may be configured for securement over the at least one top-step.
A method of using the storage-receptacle is also disclosed herein. The method of using the storage-receptacle may comprise the steps of: providing the storage-receptacle as above; securing the attachment-means over the at least one top-step of the ladder via the open-bottom; removably-placing at least one of the plurality of items into the tray capacity of the tray-housing; climbing the plurality of steps of the ladder; and using the at least one of the plurality of items whilst on the ladder.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a ladder storage receptacle, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a receptacles and more particularly to a ladder storage receptacle as used to improve the efficiency of storage of items while using a ladder.
Generally disclosed is a tool box including securement straps designed to be installed on the top of a ladder. The tool box may allow for quick, convenient, and safe access to numerous tools and materials needed to complete a job while working on ladders. The tool box may utilize hook and loop fastener straps on an underside of the box in order to firmly attach the tool box to a top step of the ladder, thus, eliminating the need for individuals to constantly step up and down a ladder to retrieve new tools or worksite materials.
The tool box may be a U-shaped storage container featuring ample space to store multiple tools and materials. Further, the tool box may include a carrying handle, and utilize the hook and loop fastener straps on the underside of the box in order to be firmly secured to the ladder. Users may place tools and materials within the box and climb a ladder. The box may be secured to the top step/rung via the hook and loop fastener straps. In addition, the tool box may slip over the top step/rung of the ladder snuggly, substantially eliminating the worry of tools and materials becoming loose while working.
The tool box may be constructed using plastic, wood, and other suitable materials. The overall width on the outside edges may measure approximately 26.75″, and overall length, from front to back, may measure approximately 12″. The box may measure approximately 5″ in depth in order to properly accommodate tools and materials. Exact size, measurement, construction, and design specifications may vary upon manufacturing.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
According to one embodiment, the storage-receptacle 100 may be arranged as a kit. The kit may include a set of user instructions. The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the storage-receptacle 100 (such that the storage-receptacle 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner).
Referring now to
The attachment-means 120 may be fixedly-attached to one of the at least four tray-sides 114, the attachment-means 120 including at least four attachment-sides 122, an attachment-top 124 and an open-bottom 126 (
In a preferred embodiment, the tray-housing 110 may include a tray-length of at least 28⅛ inches, and the attachment-means 120 may include an attachment-length of at least 16⅜ inches. Further, the tray-housing 110 may include a tray-width of at least 12¼ inches. In this embodiment, a length from a rear-side of the tray-housing 110 and a front-side of the attachment-means 120 may be 15½ inches. However, other measurements may be used.
Referring now to
As illustrated, at least one of the open-bottom 126 and the at least four attachment-walls may include at least one fastener 132 configured to aid in the securement of the open-bottom 126 over the at least one top-step 15 of the ladder. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one fastener 132 may located on the slanted-side 125. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the at least one fastener 132 may be two strips of hook and loop fastener 132. However, other fasteners 132 may be used. For example, snap fastener, hook and eye fasteners, and the like.
It should be noted that step six 506, step seven 507 and step eight 508 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/461,189 filed Feb. 20, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62461189 | Feb 2017 | US |