BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the figures which illustrate example embodiments of the invention,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint can holder made in accordance with this invention, and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a paint can holder made in accordance with another embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning to FIG. 1, a paint can holder 10 may have a paint can support with a lower paint can platform 12 and a web 16. The holder may also have an upper rod-like projection 14 which is parallel to the platform but projects in the opposite direction to the platform. The web 16 may interconnect the platform and rod-like projection. The platform, web, and rod-like projection may present a generally Z-shaped profile. The rod-like projection may be cylindrical in shape and has a free end 18. A mechanism, such as strap 20 tethered to the vertical web 16, may be provided to hold the paint can to the support. Each end of the strap 20 may be provided with one of hooks and loops of a hook and loop fastening system. Apart from the strap, the holder may be made from metal, or plastic.
As seen in FIG. 1, a paint can 30 may be set atop the platform 12 and then the strap 20 brought around the circumference of the can underneath the can handle 32 and the ends of the strap joined with the hook and look fastening system to hold the can in place on the platform adjacent the web 16. A painter may lift the holder 10 with an attached paint can—conveniently using the handle 32 of the paint can—and the painter may then ascend a ladder (not shown). Next the rod-like projection 14 of the holder may be inserted into the open end of a rung of the ladder. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, ladders are typically made of metal, especially aluminum, and, particularly with extension ladders, the rungs are hollow. These rungs may have a generally square profile. The rod-like projection acts as a pivot, allowing the paint can holder and attached paint can to rotate so that the platform 12 is disposed horizontally regardless of the fact that the ladder may be on an angle. Pivoting of the holder is facilitated if the rod-like projection is cylindrical.
The projection 14 may be inserted either from the left side or the right side of the ladder so that the paint can may be positioned either to the left or to the right of a painter on the ladder. In this way, the paint can may be conveniently disposed for either left or right handed painters.
Because the holder holds the can so that it extends away from one side of the web 16 in one direction while the projection 14 projects in the opposite direction, when the holder is in place on a ladder, the holder will not interfere with the ladder nor with a painter's access to the paint can.
Further, the vertical level of the paint can may be adjusted by inserting the male end of the holder in a different rung of the ladder. In this regard, the holder may be easily removed from a rung by first bearing the weight of the paint can by lifting on the handle 32 of the paint can and then drawing the holder outwardly away from the ladder so that the male protuberance is withdrawn from the ladder rung.
As will be apparent, the holder is suitable for use with paint cans of different sizes, for example, gallon cans and pint cans, as the strap 20 may be adjusted to hold these different sized cans to the holder. Preferably, as shown in the figures, to enhance the stability of the holder, the distance between the platform and rod-like projection is greater than the height of any paint can held by the holder so that the paint can is positioned below the rod-like projection 14.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the strap 20 to fasten the paint can to the holder may be replaced with any other suitable mechanism to hold the paint can to the holder. For example, turning to FIG. 2 (wherein like parts have been given like reference numbers), the web 116 of holder 100 may be provided with a slot 140 which receives an L-shaped finger 142 held in a position along the slot by a wing nut 144. A lug 148 may be provided on the platform 112 of the holder 100. With this arrangement, a paint can 30 may be placed on the platform so that the base of the can is between the web 116 and lug 148 of holder 100. Then the wing nut may be loosed and the L-shaped finger lowered to hook to the lip of the can. The wing nut may then be tightened again to clamp the paint can to the holder. The holder may then be used as described hereinbefore in conjunction with the holder of FIG. 1.
Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.
Patent Application
20080017771
