Abstract:
A container holding apparatus that is removably attachable to the end of a ladder is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a base structure separating two rail caps. The rail caps have a vertical front surface and an inclined rear surface which are configured to be coupled to the end of the ladder. Between the rail caps is a partially cylindrically shaped sleeve mounted to the base structure for receiving a container. A pair of supports connect the sleeve to a respective rail cap.

Description:
This invention relates to painting accessories and, more particularly, to a holder for a paint can removably attachable to the end of a ladder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many consider painting to be a laborious and tedious exercise. Virtually everyone has had the opportunity at some time or another to paint the interior or exterior of a house. While painting at ground level can be an unexciting and boring exercise, painting at higher levels from atop a ladder adds a serious element of danger. 
     Performing any activity atop a ladder at any significant height brings into play the real danger of falling. At many heights at which painting is required, a fall can produce serious injuries, if not death. Therefore, many individuals who paint from a ladder often do so extremely reluctantly and with legitimate fear of bodily harm. 
     Painting atop a ladder is particularly dangerous for a number of reasons. First, by the very virtue of painting, one&#39;s attention is diverted from maintaining safety to performing the painting exercise. This requires that the individual stretch and lean at various angles from the ladder to paint. This stretching and leaning exercise moves the center of gravity of the person to areas not aligned with the ladder. This increases the danger of the individual falling. Second, the user&#39;s free hand often is required to maintain the paint source, typically a paint can. In other words, while the user is painting with one hand, their free hand which is ordinarily and preferably intended to hold onto the ladder, must be utilized to hold a rather heavy paint can. This leaves the user with ability to hold onto the ladder. Obviously, this significantly increases the probability of the user falling from the ladder. 
     There are many devices in the prior art that have been developed in order to address this problem. Most of these devices relate to paint can holders which are attachable to the ladder and which hold the paint can for the user, thereby allowing the user to hold onto the ladder with their free hand. Unfortunately, the paint can holders existing on the market have been either needlessly complex or clumsy to use, thereby reducing the instances of their use or, worse, contributing to falls. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a paint can holder which promotes the safety of the user, thereby reducing the incidence of falls from a ladder. 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple paint can holder which is easy to use and easy to manufacture. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a paint can holder which is usable in a number of applications and suitable for different painting exercise under a wide range of conditions. 
     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a paint can holder which is inexpensive to manufacture and sell. 
     Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paint can holder which is relatively inexpensive to purchase, thereby improving the likelihood that it will be purchased and used. 
     It is a related object of the present invention to provide a paint can holder that can be used on most ladders and in most uses irrespective of the angle of inclination of the ladder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish these and other related objects of the present invention, the present invention relates to a paint can holder removably attachable to the end of a ladder. In the preferred embodiment, the holder includes a base structure separating two rail caps. Between the rail caps is a partially cylindrically shaped sleeve mounted to the base structure. A pair of supports connect the sleeve to a respective rail cap. In operation, the holder is placed on the end of a ladder by inserting the end of each rail of the ladder into a respective rail cap on the holder. The ladder is then placed against the structure to be painted. The user climbs the ladder and places the paint can within the sleeve on the structure. The paint can is held in level position on the end of the ladder. The user is therefore allowed to hold on to the ladder with his or her free hand while still being able to access the source of paint without interrupting or impeding their ability to perform their painting task. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder apparatus constructed in accordance with preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the holder apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus; and 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the holder apparatus shown in FIG. 1, parts being broken away to show the engagement of the end of the ladder rail with the rail cap of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A conventional extension ladder  10  typically includes a plurality of laterally spaced rungs  12  mounted between a pair of parallel side rails  14 . The side rails  14  typically extend a distance above the top rung  12  and terminate at stub ends  16 . These ends  16  are used to support the ladder  10  against a structure of some kind, such as a house  18 . The holder apparatus of the present invention is broadly designated by the numeral  20 . The holder apparatus  20  includes a base member  22  separating two rail caps  24 . Intermediate the rail caps  24  is a sleeve  26  shaped as a partial cylinder. The sleeve  26  is connected to each rail cap  24  by corresponding support members  28 . 
     The base member  22  preferably is a flat plate. It is to be understood that other configurations of the base member  22  may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. The base member should be sized and constructed to support at least a gallon-sized paint container. It should be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of at least a full gallon-sized paint container. In the preferred embodiment, the support member is approximately  13  inches wide and approximately 6¼ inches deep. It is to be understood that other dimensions for the support member can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     A rail cap  24  is disposed at each side of the base member  22 . Each rail cap is spaced and sized to receive a stub end  16  of a rail  14  of a ladder  10 . Typically, the rail caps  24  are spaced apart to receive the ends  16  of a conventional ladder, generally between 13 and 18 inches. Generally, each rail cap has a trapezoidal elevational cross-section featuring a generally vertically disposed forward surface  30  and a rearwardly inclined rear surface  32 . A top surface  34  separates the forward surface  30  and the rear surface  32 . The top surface is generally horizontally disposed, forming a right angle with respect to the forward surface  30  and an obtuse angle with respect to the rear surface  32 . 
     As seen best in FIG. 4 of the attached drawings, the rail cap  24  is disposed to receive the stub end  16  of a rail  14  of a ladder  10 . The forward surface  30  of the rail cap is designed to abut the structure against which the ladder  10  is placed. The outward portion of forward surface  30  is smooth, but can be equipped with a scratch resistant or slip resistant composition if circumstances require. Forward surface  30  preferably is vertical and disposed at a right angle with respect to the base member and with respect to top surface  34 . This orientation allows the support member  28  to be maintained in horizontal disposition when the holder  20  is placed against a house  18 . The respective orientation of the front surface  30  and the support member  28  performs a self-leveling operation to maintain a paint can in a level orientation to enhance its use. 
     The rear surface  32  has an angle of inclination of approximately 115° with respect to the top surface  34 . It is to be understood that other angles of inclination can be employed in connection with the present invention without departing from its scope. The angle of inclination is selected primarily to allow the ladder  10  to be placed at varying degrees of angles with respect to the house  18 . As seen in FIG. 4, the apparatus  20  can be utilized in connection with a ladder placed at an angle less than the angle of inclination of the rear surface  32 . Irrespective of this angle, the holder  20  is maintained against the side of the house  18  in such a way to level support member  28  which in turn levels the paint can. The angle of inclination of the rear surface  32  allows the bottom of a ladder  10  to be placed at a significant distance away from the house  18 . If the bottom of the ladder is placed too far from the house  18 , the side rails  18  of the ladder will become improperly mated against the rear surface  32  of the holder  20 , thereby indicating to the user that an unsafe ladder angle is being used. In this manner, the angle of inclination of the rear surface  32  provides a safety indicator to the user with respect to the angle of inclination of the ladder  10 . 
     Sleeve  26  generally comprises a partial cylinder having a generally semicircular configuration. In the preferred embodiment, sleeve  26  has an open portion toward the front of the holder  20 . This open portion allows for improved insertion or removal of the paint can  36 . The size of the sleeve  26  is preferably sufficient to hold a gallon-sized paint can  36 . However, other shapes and sizes of sleeve  26  can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, if smaller paint cans are anticipated to be used, a shim of some well-known variety can be placed between the paint can and the sleeve to hold the can in place. In the preferred embodiment, sleeve  26  is approximately 5 inches high and approximately 7 inches in diameter. It is to be understood that other dimensions can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     A pair of support members  28  preferably are used in connection with the holder  20  of the present invention. The support members  28  are shaped as plates and span between a respective rail cap  24  and the sleeve  26 . The support members enhance the rigidity of the holder  20  while also maintaining a more secure relationship between the sleeve  28  and the rail caps  24 . The shape and size of support members  28  may be selected to achieve specific rigidity or structural stability factors. Accordingly, a wide range of shapes and configurations are within the scope of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, holder  20  is manufactured in a one-piece construction utilizing injection molding technology. Holder 20  preferably is constructed of a high impact, durable plastic composition. The rail caps  24  are spaced to accommodate a standard extension ladder and are configured to receive a pair of stub ends of conventional shape in the industry. It is to be understood that holder  20  can be manufactured for any specific ladder specifications depending on the circumstances to be used. It is also to be understood that the holder  20  of the present invention can be manufactured by welding, brazing, bolting, gluing or otherwise securing the individual components of the holder  20  together. While this would appear to be less economically attractive, these types of manufacturing processes are within the scope of the present invention. 
     In use, holder  20  is placed on the end of a ladder  10 . Holder  20  is attached to ladder  10  by inserting the stub ends  16  of the rails  14  of the ladder  10  into the rail caps  24  of the holder  20 . The stub ends  16  abut the bottom of the top surface  34  of the respective rail caps  24 . The ladder  10  is then placed against the house  18  or other structure involved. The angle of inclination of the rear surface  32  allows the ladder  10  to be placed at a varying distance away from the house  18 . Once the ladder  10  is placed too far from the house  18 , the angle of inclination of rear surface  32  will provide an undesirable mounting orientation for the holder  20 , thereby notifying the user that the ladder may be placed at an improper distance away from the structure  18 . The forward surface  30  of the rail caps  24  provides a self-leveling function for support member  28 . At any angle of inclination of the ladder  10  used, the support member  28  will be maintained in a horizontal disposition. The outer portion of the forward surface  30  typically is constructed to be of a smooth finish. However, it is to be understood that the present invention may include non-slip or scuff-resistant compositions applied to the outer portion of forward surface  30 . 
     Once the ladder  10  is placed against the house  18 , the user can ascend the ladder holding in one hand a paint can and using the free hand to support themselves as they ascend the ladder. When the user reaches a point near the top of the ladder  10 , the user places the paint can  36  into the sleeve structure  26  of the holder  20 . The paint can  36  is maintained in a secure engagement within sleeve  26  and, given the self-leveling operation of holder  20 , the paint can  36  is maintained in a level disposition. The user can then access the paint within the can  36  and paint the structure  18  in a safe manner. The user can maintain a grasp on a rail  14  or rung  12  of ladder  10  while the painting exercise is ongoing. The holder  20  need not be manipulated by the user at that time. Instead, the user can use their free hand to ensure that they will not fall from the ladder  10 . 
     As can be seen, there are numerous advantages associated with the holder apparatus  20  of the present invention. Chief among these advantages is the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of the device. The holder apparatus  20  of the present invention is of a one-piece construction. There are no moving parts. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the holder apparatus  20  is manufactured using relatively inexpensive injection molding procedures. The result will be a very economically priced and simply manufactured device. Similarly, the holder apparatus  20  of the present invention is extremely simple to use. There are no moving parts associated with the holder  20  and there are no assembly requirements associated with its use. Rather, the user merely places the holder  20  on the end of a ladder  10  and then places the ladder against the house or other structure to be painted. The configuration of the rail caps  24  of the holder  20  allow the holder to be used in a variety of applications and under varying inclination angles of the ladder  10 . Because most painting applications require that the painting be done at the top of the ladder, the location of the holder apparatus  20  on the end of the ladder  10  is optimum. The weight of the paint can  36  is centered over the vertical center line of the ladder  10 , thereby improving the stability of the ladder. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, it should be noted that substitution may be made and equivalents employed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.