Patent Application
20200056427
The present invention is related to a stepladder with a ladder top having a conduit holder slot. (As used herein, references to the “present invention” or “invention” relate to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to every embodiment encompassed by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention is related to a stepladder with a ladder top having a conduit holder slot, where the conduit holder slot has a cross-section in the ladder top which is no-symmetrical.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Ladder tops on step ladders are designed to assist users with the tasks they are to perform. The ladder top is designed to provide easy access to the tools and products that the user is using while on the ladder. The features of the ladder top are not merely a design choice. Thought must go into the layout and positioning of the different features of the ladder top so they do not necessarily conflict with each other or create a precarious position for a given tool or product while it is being used on top of the ladder. Furthermore, in regard to grooves or slots that are in the ladder top to hold a pipe, conduit or tube, it is common that when the conduit is placed in such a groove, the user needs to cut or saw the conduit to size. When the user applies a cutting or sawing action, a simple groove or slot does not necessarily facilitate the cutting or sawing of the conduit in the groove because the force from the cutting or sawing could push or move the conduit out of the groove.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a stepladder. The stepladder comprises a ladder top having a plane having a front side and a rear side and a left side and a right side and a front side flange and a rear side flange and a left side flange and a right side flange. The stepladder comprises a conduit holder slot for holding tubing, pipe and conduit. The conduit holder slot extends along the entire length of the top and in the right side and the left side. The conduit holder slot has a cross-section in the ladder top which is non-symmetrical. The stepladder has a front section having a first front rail and a second front rail in parallel and spaced relation with the first front rail and a step attached to the first and second front rail. The first front rail and the second front rail extend him from the top and are permanently attached to a respective side flange. The stepladder comprises a rear section having a first rear rail and a second rear rail in parallel and spaced relation with the first rear rail. The first rear rail and the second rear rail extend from the top and are permanently attached to a respective side flange. The ladder top and the front and rear sections form the stepladder.
The present invention pertains to a method for cutting a tube. The method comprises the steps of placing the tube onto a conduit holder slot on a ladder top of a stepladder. The conduit holder slot for holding tubing, pipe or conduit. The conduit holder slot extending along the entire length of the top and in the top's right side and left side. The conduit holder slot having a cross section in the ladder top which is non-symmetrical. There is the step of cutting the tube while it is disposed in the conduit holder slot.
In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to
The conduit holder slot 32 may have a first side 48 with a flat portion 50. The conduit holder slot 32 may have a second side 52 with a flat portion 54. The second side 52 has a shallower lead-in angle relative to the plane 14 and relative to the first side 48 which has a steeper angle than the lead-in angle relative to the plane 14. The second side 52 may be closer to the front of the top 12 than the first side 48, and the conduit holder slot 32 is essentially in parallel with the front of the top 12.
The ladder top 12 may have an underside with a plurality of snaps 56, and a magnet 58 held in place to the underside by the plurality of snaps 56. The ladder top 12 may have a parts tray 60 for holding parts in the plane 14 that is configured to hold a quart paint can. The plane 14 may have a periphery 62 and a bungee tool holding slot 64 having an opening 66 in the periphery 62 and a circular region 68 that extends into the plane 14 from the opening 66. The conduit holder may be disposed adjacent the rear of the plane 14 adjacent the rear side 18 of the top 12.
The top 12 may have at least one screwdriver hole 78 for holding a screwdriver and a plier's hole 80. The rear side flange 26 may have a top 12 and a bottom, and the bungee tool holding slot 64 is wider at the top 12 than the bottom. The bungee slot may be disposed at the rear of the plane 14.
The stepladder may include a first brace attached to the first front rail and the step to support the step. The stepladder may include a first foot which fits on the first front rail's bottom to cover and protect the bottom. The first foot is a separate piece from the first brace. There may also be a second brace attached to the second front rail in the step to support the step. There may also be a second foot which fits on the second front rail's bottom to cover and protect the bottom of the second rail. The second foot is a separate piece from the second brace.
The present invention pertains to a method for cutting a tube. The method comprises the steps of placing the tube onto a conduit holder slot on a ladder top of a stepladder. The conduit holder slot for holding tubing, pipe or conduit. The conduit holder slot extending along the entire length of the top and in the top's right side and left side. The conduit holder slot having a cross section in the ladder top which is non-symmetrical. There is the step of cutting the tube while it is disposed in the conduit holder slot.
The stepladder 10 may include a first brace 96, as shown in
The first foot 86 has a pad 88 attached to the bottom of the first foot 86 to provide better traction for the first front rail 38 to hold firm to the ground. The first foot 86 has a foot face 90 that conforms to the outside surface of the web of the first front rail 38. The foot first foot 86 has a first foot flange 92 and a second foot flange 94 which conform with and are alongside the first flange and the second flange respectively of the first front rail 86. The foot face 90, first foot flange 92 and second foot flange 94 are one continuous piece of plastic and protect the bottom of the first front rail 38 from scratches or damage from impacts that could degrade the integrity and strength of the first front rail 38. Each of the other rail bottoms also have a foot to protect them.
The brace 96 attaches to the sides of the step 99 through top flanges 102 of the top flange 100 with rivets, where one of the top flanges 102 attaches to each side of the step 99. The bottom portion 100 of the brace 96 attaches to the inside of the first front rail 38 with rivets. The brace face 104 conforms with and contacts the inner surface of the web of the first front rail 38, the brace first flange 106 conforms with and contacts the inner surface of the first flange of the first front rail 38, and the second brace flange 108 conforms with and contacts the inner surface of the second flange of the first front rail 38. In this way, a brace also attaches to the second front rail 40 and the step 99, and also is attached to the first rear rail 44 and second rear rail 46 and a horizontal of the rear section 42.
In the operation of the invention, a user places the stepladder 10 in a desired location and opens the front section 36 relative to the rear section 42 and snaps the spreaders into the open position so the front and rear sections 36, 42 cannot close and the stepladder 10 cannot fall over. When a pipe 34, conduit or two needs to be sawed; the pipe 34, tube or conduit are placed in the conduit holder slot 32. The angle of the second side 52 of the conduit holder slot 32 relative to the first side 48 of the conduit holder slot 32 is deeper, which prevents the pipe 34 from coming out of the conduit holder slot 32 as it is being sawed under the action force of the saw on the pipe 34. The non-symmetrical shape of the conduit holder slot 32 in the ladder top 12 essentially allows a wedging force to be created by the conduit holder slot 32 under the force of the siding on the pipe 34.
The user can place small screws, bolts and nuts in the parts tray 60 for easy access, and can also put relatively small metal objects, such as screws, bolts, nuts, small pliers or screwdrivers were small tools made of metal over the magnet 58 in the top 12, which will be held to the ladder top 12 with the magnet 58. Similarly, there are various slots or holes in the ladder top 12 that the user can place various objects, such as paintbrushes, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches in for easy access.
If the user wishes to place a quart paint can on the tray, the parts tray 60 has a radius defined by a first indentation 74 that is slightly larger than the radius of the quart paint can, so as to provide a secure location for the quart paint can on the tray top 12. Similarly if instead of a quart paint can, a gallon paint can is desired to be placed in the ladder top 12, the second indentation 76 surrounding the first indentation 74, but shallower than the first indentation 74 has a radius which is slightly larger than the radius of a gallon paint can so as to hold the gallon paint can securely on the ladder top 12. The user may also hang a tool Lasso with an object, such as a drill attached to the tool Lasso from the tool Lasso slot in the rear of rear side 18 of the top 12. Alternatively, the user can also place paint cans or hang other objects from the paint can holder 70 on the rear side 18 of the ladder top 12. See
As shown in
Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/256,036 filed Sep. 2, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,458,183, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/890,924 filed on May 9, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,435,155 issued Sep. 6, 2016, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15256036 | Sep 2016 | US |
| Child | 16662959 | US | |
| Parent | 13890924 | May 2013 | US |
| Child | 15256036 | US |
