Referring to the figures, the ladder tray 10 of the present invention includes a tubular frame 20, a tray member 40, and adjustment bracket 60 and a safety strap 80. The tubular frame 20 is fabricated from the ¾ inch PVC piping components which are glued together in a manner well known in the art. The frame 20 includes an upper horizontal arm portion 22 which includes a first and 21 in the second end 23. The tubular frame and 20 also includes a lower horizontal arm portion 26 which includes a first and 25 and a second end 27.
A bridge portion 28 interconnects end 23 of horizontal arm 22 with end 27 of horizontal arm a 26. The bridge portion 28 includes a 90° elbow 29, straight pipe 30, 45° elbow 31, straight pipe 32, TEE 33, straight pipe 34 and a 45° elbow 35. The tubular frame 20 also includes a support arm a 36 which is formed by components TEE 33, straight pipe 37, and 45° elbow 38. Elbow 38 includes a threaded insert 39′ (such as a McMASTER.COM 93365A760) which is centered in an end cap for said elbow. A separate threaded knob 39 which has a flute head (such as a McMASTER.COM 93005A551) is provided. The threaded knob 39 passes through the groove 66 and, when fully tightened in to threaded insert 39′ secures the support arm 36 to the adjustment bracket 60 that a desired location along the length of the adjustment bracket 60. It will be obvious that my changing the location of the attachment will result in securing the tray 40 in any desired angled position. Users will often choose to secure the tray 40 in a horizontal position but the adjustment bracket 60 allows the tray to be secured at any desired angle. When the threaded knob 39 is fully tightened, the tray 40 will be securely held in a rigid position relative to the tubular frame 20.
The tray member 40 includes an upper surface 42, a lower surface 44, a first end 46, a second end 48 and a central portion 50. As shown in
The adjustment bracket 60, as best shown in
A safety strap 80 consisting of two strips of Velcro material is utilized to secure the ladder tray 10 onto a side rail 105 of ladder 100. It will be obvious that various other types of belts or buckles or other strap, rope, chain or wire members could be utilized in place of Velcro straps. When in use, as shown in
The present invention provides an extremely economical and simple solution to a long-standing problem of providing a safe and secure location for necessary tools and supplies on a ladder. Because the present invention mounts a central portion 50 of the tray 40 over the upper horizontal or member 22, the tray 40 does not extend in to great a distance in front of or behind the ladder on which it is mounted. Such arrangement also keeps the center of mass of the tray 40 to the greatest extent possible supported directly over a ladder rail 105 so that little weight need be carried by the adjustment bracket 60. Because the fray member is fabricated from PVC piping components, the device is strong, light weight and may be easily and economically manufactured.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the present invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.