BACKGROUND
Field
The disclosure of the present patent application relates to tool carriers, and particularly to a tool caddy system for ladders that may attach to either side of the ladder and support a variety of tool supply holders.
Description of Related Art
In various industries and professions, ladders are commonly used to reach elevated work areas. Workers often need to carry tools and materials up the ladder to perform their tasks. However, managing these tools and materials while on a ladder can be challenging and potentially dangerous. Tools can be dropped, causing injury to people below or damage to the tools themselves. Furthermore, workers may need to climb up and down the ladder multiple times to retrieve different tools, which can be time-consuming and increase the risk of falls. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can safely and conveniently hold tools and materials on a ladder.
Furthermore, having a supply holder for workers that can attach to either a left or right siderail of a ladder would be beneficial for reasons of convenience, safety, and efficiency. Workers often encounter diverse working conditions and spatial constraints. A supply holder that can attach to either side of a ladder would allow workers to position their supplies according to their preference or the specific requirements of the task at hand. This adaptability ensures that workers can efficiently access tools and materials without being hindered by limitations imposed by fixed-sided holders.
Previous attempts to provide supply holders for support on a ladder have been made. Prior attempts are often either only suited for attachment to one side of a ladder or for carrying a particular type of supply. However, a variety of supplies may be necessary depending on the type of work being performed. If a worker on a ladder is performing construction, some possible tools may include hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, wire cutters, pliers whereas if a worker is performing cleaning the necessary supplies may include a bucket of cleaning solution, squeegee, sponges, towels, spray bottles and the like. Depending on the needed supplies of a particular task, it would be advantageous to attach a suitable supply container to a preferred side of a ladder, depending on the dominant hand of a worker and/or the spatial constraints of the work being performed. Thus, a tool caddy system for ladders solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tool caddy system for ladders is provided including a rung attachment member removably coupled to one or more rungs of a ladder. A support arm is pivotally and adjustably connected to the rung attachment member and includes a mating interface for engagement with a supply holder. The supply holder includes a corresponding mating interface for interchangeable attachment to the support arm. The rung attachment member may include a top plate and a side plate positioned orthogonally to the top plate, the side plate including one or more hooks formed therein. The side plate of the rung attachment member may include two hooks or four hooks formed therein.
In an embodiment, the rung attachment member includes a top plate and a pair of side plates positioned orthogonally to the top plate, each side plate including one or more hooks formed therein. The rung attachment member may include a divider plate extending from the top plate between the pair of side plates.
In another embodiment, the rung attachment member includes a top plate, a side plate positioned orthogonally to the top plate, and one or more interchangeable rung couplers extending from the top plate. The one or more interchangeable rung couplers may be adjustable to different lengths extending from the top plate. The interchangeable rung coupler may be, for example, a spring clip or an elastic clamp. The rung attachment member may include a handle extending from the top plate. The handle may be integrally formed with the rung attachment member. Alternatively, the handle may be separate and removably attachable.
The support arm of the tool caddy system may include a plurality of holes corresponding to various positions for joining the support arm in relation to the rung attachment member through insertion of an attachment pin. The support arm may include a handle formed therein and a lower flange in which the mating interface for the supply holder is formed. The mating interface between the support arm and supply holder may include a female slot and a corresponding male connector. The female slot and corresponding male connector may each include a hole in which an attachment pin is inserted. The female slot may be any shape such as circular or T-shaped.
These and other features of the present subject matter will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 2A is an environmental front view of a support arm of a ladder caddy system formed with round slots.
FIG. 2B is an elevated perspective view of a support arm and supply holder of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 2C is an elevated perspective view of a support arm and supply holders of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 2D is an environmental front view of a support arm of a ladder caddy system formed with T-shaped slots.
FIG. 2E is an environmental perspective view of a supply holder and support arm of a ladder caddy system formed with T-shaped mating interfaces.
FIG. 2F is a perspective view of a supply holder and support arm of a ladder caddy system formed with a horizontal slot and pinhole mating interface.
FIG. 3A is right side view of a rung attachment member of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 3B is a left side view of a rung attachment member of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 3C is a top view of a rung attachment member of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 3D is an environmental perspective view of a rung attachment member and support arm of a ladder caddy system.
FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a rung attachment member with spring clips.
FIG. 4B is a side view of a spring clip of a rung attachment member in an extended position.
FIG. 4C is a side view of a spring clip of a rung attachment member in a retracted position.
FIG. 5A is a side view of a rung attachment member with elastic clamps.
FIG. 5B is an environmental perspective view of an elastic clamp of a rung attachment member.
FIG. 6A is a side view of a rung attachment member formed with four hooks and two openings in a common plane.
FIG. 6B is a side view of a rung attachment member formed with four hooks and four openings in a common plane.
FIG. 6C is a side view of a rung attachment member formed with four hooks and two openings in a common plane, as well as an upper opening and a lower opening in parallel planes.
FIG. 6D is a side view of a rung attachment member formed with two hooks and a single opening.
FIG. 6E is a top view of a rung attachment member with hooks formed in a single side plate.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a tool caddy system 1 for ladders is provided. The tool caddy system 1 includes a supply holder 10 having a mating interface 11 for interchangeable attachment to a support arm 20. The support arm 20 includes a corresponding mating interface 21 for interchangeable attachment of the supply holder 10. The support arm 20 further includes means 22 for attaching and detaching to a side plate 32 of a rung attachment member 30. In a non-limiting example, means 22 for attachment between support arm 20 and rung attachment member 30 is a threaded rotatable pin with a knob as shown. However, other attachment means between the support arm 20 and rung attachment member 30 may be provided such as a snap-fit connection, a hook connection, a sliding connection, a straight pin, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A-E, the support arm 20 may include a handle 25 formed therein and a plurality of holes 23 which correspond to various positions in which the support arm 20 may be joined in relation to the rung attachment member 30 by insertion of pin 22. A retaining cable 22a may be provided for securing pin 22 to support arm 20. The support arm 20 may include a lower flange 24 in which the mating interface 21 for the supply holder is formed. The support arm may include at least one female receptacle such as round slots 21a in the lower flange 24 and the supply holder 10 may include at least one corresponding male connector, such as round pegs 11a for interchangeable attachment to the female receptacle, as shown in FIGS. 2B-2C. In a non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the support arm 20 may include at least three female receptacles in the lower flange and the supply holder may include at least three corresponding male connectors for interchangeable attachment to the female receptacles of the support arm. In another non-limiting embodiment, shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, support arm 20 may include T-shaped slots 21b, and supply holder 10 may include corresponding T-shaped members 11b for insertion in T-shaped slots 21b.
In a further non-limiting embodiment, shown in FIG. 2F, female receptacle 21c and male connector 11c form a mating interface between support arm 20 and the supply holder 10 and may each include a hole 26 for insertion of an attachment pin 26a. Attachment pin 26a serving to further secure the connection between female receptacle 21c and the male connector 11c. It should be understood that the example mating interfaces shown in FIGS. 2A-F are non-limiting examples, and other shapes and configurations may be used for the mating interface between the supply holder 10 and support arm 20. For example, the support arm may be fitted with male attachment members and the supply holder with corresponding female receptacles. Alternatively, a combination of male and female members/receptacles may be provided in alternative, corresponding arrangement on the support arm and supply holder.
Referring to FIGS. 3A-D, in a non-limiting embodiment, the rung attachment member 30 may include a pair of side plates 32, each side plate 32 including a first hook 32a and second hook 32b formed therein. An attachment hole 32c may be provided in both the side plates 32 for insertion of a pin 22 joining a side plate 32 together with the support arm 20 of FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 3C, rung attachment member 30 may include a top plate 31 and a pair of side plates 32 positioned orthogonally to the top plate 31. A divider plate 34 may extend from top plate 31 between side plates 32. Advantageously, the design of rung attachment member 30 including dual side plates 32 with first and second hooks 32a, 32b formed therein allows for attachment on either a left or right siderail of a ladder by the inclusion of dual side plates each having hooks included therein, allowing both left-handed or right-handed workers to position the ladder caddy system in proximity to a dominant hand while performing tasks on the ladder. While the example of FIGS. 3A-C shows two hooks formed in the side plates of the rung attachment member, alternative hook arrangements may be provided, such as a single hook or multiple hooks. FIGS. 6A-E described later in the disclosure, illustrate other example hook arrangements as may be provided in a rung attachment member using a single or double side plate configuration.
Continuing with FIGS. 3A-D, rung attachment member 30 may include a handle 33 extending in a first direction D1 from the top plate 31. Handle 33 may be removably attached to top plate 31. Alternatively, handle 33 may be integrally formed with rung attachment member 30, such as by injection molding or other manufacturing process. The first hook 32a and second hook 32b formed in the side plates 32 may open in a second direction D2 opposite the first direction D1 of the handle. The shape and positioning of the hook openings in relation to the handle provides for direct, fast, and easy placement of the rung attachment member 30 onto the rungs of a ladder during use.
Turning to FIGS. 4A-4C, an embodiment of the rung attachment member 30a is shown including a top plate 31, a side plate 32 positioned orthogonally to the top plate 31, and at least one interchangeable rung coupler 35 extending from the top plate 31. A first interchangeable rung coupler 35 and second interchangeable rung coupler 35 are shown in the example of FIGS. 4A-C as spring clips 36 having knobs 36a for rotatably adjusting the distance of the spring clips 36 further from top plate 31. FIG. 4B shows spring clips 36 in an extended position while FIG. 4C shows spring clips 36 after rotation of knob 36a to a retracted position proximate to top plate 31. The adjustability of spring clips 36 is particularly useful when fitting rung attachment member 30a onto ladders of different siderail thickness, such as may be found in aluminum ladders compared to fiberglass ladders. A further advantage of the design of FIGS. 4A-C in which spring clips 36 are used is the ability to place rung attachment member 30a on either a left or right siderail of a ladder by rotating the rung attachment member 30a such that sidewall 32 is positioned laterally outward from the siderail of the ladder.
Turning to FIG. 5A, 5B, an embodiment of rung attachment member 30b includes at least one interchangeable rung coupler 35 formed by elastic clamps 37. As in the previous design, rung attachment member [30] 30b of FIGS. 5A-B may be placed on either a left or right siderail of a ladder by placing sidewall 32 laterally outward from the siderail of the ladder. In a non-limiting embodiment, elastic clamps 37 include flexible securement straps 37a and flexible adjustment notches 37b. Other types of elastic clamps may be provided, for example clamps including a single notch in which the flexibility of the strap accommodates different sized rungs. Alternatively, a plurality of notches may be included in the securement strap for securing the clamp in different positions on a coupled single notch.
The advantage provided by the elastic clamps is the adaptability provided by the clamps to grasp ladder rungs of varied shapes and sizes. In a non-limiting example, elastic clamps 37 are formed of rubber. However, any suitable elastic and flexible material may be used for elastic clamps 37 provided the material can support the weight of the combined caddy system including the rung attachment member, support arm, and supply holder.
Turning to FIGS. 6A-E, alternative embodiments of rung attachment member 30 are shown with various hook designs. FIG. 6A is a side view of a rung attachment member 30c formed with four hooks 32a-d and two openings sharing a common plane in a bottom edge of side plate 32. FIG. 6B is a side view of rung attachment member 30d formed with four hooks 32a-d and four openings sharing a common plane in a bottom edge of side plate 32. FIG. 6C is a side view of rung attachment member 30e formed with four hooks 32a-d having two openings for hooks 32b, 32c sharing a common plane in a bottom edge of sidewall 32. Hooks 32a and 32d have openings in parallel planes respectively along the side edges of sidewall 32. FIG. 6D is a side view of rung attachment member 30f formed with two hooks 32a-b and a single opening in a bottom edge of sidewall 32. FIG. 6E is a front view of a rung attachment member 30g with a single side plate 32 in which hooks are formed. Plate 34 is uniform and provides stability in gripping the ladder side rail. A flange 34a is provided with attachment hole 32c formed therein for attachment of the support arm. Flange 34a may be positioned laterally outward from the plane of plate 34 such that the support arm may be positioned on extendable ladders in both the extended position as well as the retracted position, the retracted position requiring a wider lateral clearance of the ladder siderails.
It is to be understood that the tool caddy system for ladders is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.
Patent Grant
12227993
