Abstract:
An apparatus for attachment to the rungs of a ladder to securely hold a bucket and other accessories. The apparatus is readily detachable from the ladder rungs for movement along the ladder. The apparatus includes engagement members for gripping the ladder rungs and a spring for biasing the engagement members against the ladder rungs. The apparatus may have a pivotable arm to which a variety of accessories may be attached.

Description:
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/854,808, filed May 14, 2001 now abandoned. The present application relates to a device adapted to be removably and securely attached between the rungs of a ladder, in order to hold a bucket or other object. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of U.S. patents disclose devices for attaching to ladders in order to support buckets. Such devices generally fall into two types. 
     A first type is attached to the rail of the ladder, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. D313,169; 4,776,550; and 5,305,977. These devices share a common deficiency in that the device cannot be easily moved up the ladder as the painter climbs the ladder without completely detaching the device from the rail, because the ladder rungs prevent movement of the device along the rail. 
     A second type is attached to a rung of the ladder, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. D266,964; D393,413; 3,895,772; 5,305,977; and 5,716,034. However, with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,977, these patents do not disclose a means for securely attaching the bucket to the ladder rung, i.e., they all rely on gravity to keep the bucket attached to the rung. U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,977 discloses a hook for engaging a ladder rung and a spring for securing the hook in place; however, the design would allow the hook to rotate around the rung under the moment of inertia of the paint bucket. 
     There is a need for a device that can be easily attached to a ladder to hold a bucket and other attachments, that can be secured in place, and that can be easily removed from the ladder to move along the ladder with the painter or other person climbing the ladder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus for attachment to the rungs of a ladder for securely holding a bucket and other accessories, the apparatus being readily detachable from the ladder rungs for movement along the ladder, the apparatus comprising:
         a) a lower engagement member adapted to engage a ladder rung;   b) an upper engagement member adapted to engage an adjacent ladder rung; and   c) an spring biasing the lower engagement member and upper engagement member against the respective ladder rungs.       

     A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that is securely attachable to each of two adjacent rungs of a ladder, and therefore cannot move either vertically or horizontally. 
     Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is that it is easily detachable from the ladder rungs so that the person climbing the ladder may move the apparatus to ladder rungs further up the ladder. 
     Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is that it is spring-biased between adjacent ladder rungs in such a way that it can be removed and moved along the ladder with only one hand. 
     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that it may include a pivoting arm which can be used to attach a variety of accessories, such as a bucket holder, bucket, hook, and gripper. 
     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that it may include a footrest attached to the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ladder with a first embodiment of the invention attached thereto. 
         FIG. 2  is the same as  FIG. 1 , but with a second embodiment of the invention attached thereto. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, with ladder rungs shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, with ladder rungs shown in phantom. 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are perspective views of various accessories that may be part of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention, with the ladder shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 7  is a detail of the third embodiment of FIG.  6 . 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but without the ladder shown in phantom. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a ladder L leaning against a wall W. The ladder L has rungs R and side rails S. 
     In this Detailed Description, the terms “upper” and “lower” shall refer to orientations in which the invention is attached to a ladder which is resting more or less upright against a wall or other support. 
     A first embodiment of the apparatus  10  of the present invention is shown attached to the ladder L in FIG.  1 . In the first embodiment, the apparatus  10  attaches between the rungs R by means of engagement members  12  that contact adjacent sides RA of the rungs R. 
     A second embodiment  110  of the present invention is shown attached to the ladder in FIG.  2 . In the second embodiment, the apparatus  110  attaches between the rungs R by means of engagement members  112  that contact non-adjacent sides RO of the rungs R. 
     Details of the first embodiment  10  are shown in FIG.  3 . The apparatus  10  further comprises a lower engagement member  14  adapted to engage ladder rung R 1  and an upper engagement member  16  adapted to engage adjacent rung R 2 . The apparatus  10  also comprises a spring  18  biasing the lower engagement member  14  and the upper engagement member  16  against the rungs R 1 , R 2 . 
     The lower engagement member  14  and upper engagement member  16  preferably comprise U-shaped channels  20  adapted to contact the ladder rungs on the adjacent sides RA. 
     Preferably, the spring  18  contacts one of the engagement members  14 ,  16 . A ram  26  then makes contact with the other engagement member, biased by the spring  18 . Most preferably, the ram  26  and spring  18  are enclosed within a guide  22  having a central core  24 , with the ram  26  reciprocating within the guide  22 . A second guide  26 , ram  22 , and spring  18  may be employed, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or a single guide  26 , ram  22 , and spring  18  may be used, as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     It will be seen that, to attach the apparatus  10  to the rungs R, it is merely necessary to compress the spring  18 , by pushing the lower engagement member  14  toward the upper engagement member  16 . One of the members  14 ,  16  is then slid against a rung, and the spring tension is released, allowing the other member  14 ,  16  to slide against the adjacent rung. To facilitate this operation, one of the members  14 ,  16  may have a handle  28 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , details of the second embodiment are illustrated. The apparatus  110  further comprises a lower engagement member  114  adapted to engage ladder rung R 1  and an upper engagement member  116  adapted to engage adjacent rung R 2 . The apparatus  110  also comprises a spring  118  biasing the lower engagement member  114  and the upper engagement member  116  against the rungs R 1 , R 2 . 
     The lower engagement member  114  and upper engagement member  116  preferably comprise hooks  120  adapted to contact the ladder rungs on the opposite sides RO. 
     Preferably, the spring  118  contacts one of the engagement members  114 ,  116 . A ram  126  then makes contact with the other engagement member, biased by the spring  118 . Most preferably, the ram  126  and spring  118  are enclosed within a guide  122  having a central core  124 , with the ram  126  reciprocating within the guide  122 . A second guide  126 , ram  122 , and spring  118  may be employed, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     It will be seen that, to attach the apparatus  110  to the rungs R, it is merely necessary to expand the spring  118 , by hooking one of the members  114 , under a rung, then pulling the upper engagement member  116  away from the lower engagement member  114 . The spring tension is released, allowing the other member  116  to slide over the adjacent rung. To facilitate this operation, a handle  128  may be attached to one of the members  114 ,  116 . 
     In each embodiment a frame  30  may be interposed vertically between the lower engagement member  14 ,  114  and the upper engagement member  16 ,  116 . If more than one guide  22 ,  122  is used, the frame  30  serves to connect the guides together for parallel movement. The frame may also be used to assist in pulling the members  114 ,  116  apart in the second embodiment. 
     An arm  40  may be pivotally attached to the frame  30 . A variety of interchangeable accessories  50  may be attached to the arm  40 .  FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  illustrate some of these accessories: a tool holder  52 ; a bucket  54 , a hook  56 , or a gripper  58 . Other accessories are possible. 
     A third embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
     Details of the third embodiment  10  are shown in FIG.  6 . The apparatus  210  further comprises a lower engagement member  214  adapted to engage ladder rung R 2  and an upper engagement member  216  adapted to engage adjacent rung R 1 . The apparatus  210  also comprises a spring  218  biasing the lower engagement member  214  and the upper engagement member  216  against the rungs R 1 , R 2 . 
     The lower engagement member  214  and upper engagement member  216  preferably comprise U-shaped channels  220  adapted to contact the ladder rungs on the adjacent sides RA. 
     Preferably, the spring  218  contacts one of the engagement members  214 ,  216 . A ram  226  then makes contact with the other engagement member, biased by the spring  218 . Most preferably, the ram  226  and spring  218  are enclosed within a guide  222  having a central core  224 , with the ram  226  reciprocating within the guide  222 . 
     It will be seen that, to attach the apparatus  210  to the rungs R, it is merely necessary to compress the spring  218 , by pushing downwardly the lower engagement member  214  onto rung R 2  with handle  228 . Then, upper member  216  is then slid underneath rung R 1 , and the spring tension is released, allowing the members  214 ,  216  to lock in place. 
     A frame  230  may be interposed vertically between the lower engagement member  214  and the upper engagement member  216 . Preferably, the frame  230  is mounted on the guide  222 , as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     An arm  240  may be pivotally attached to the frame  230 . A variety of interchangeable accessories  250  may be attached to the arm  240 .  FIGS. 6 and 8  illustrate some of these accessories: a bucket holder  252  and a paint tray holder  2 . Other accessories are possible. 
     Most preferably, the arm  240  is removably attached to the frame  230 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the arm  240  may be attached to the frame  230  by a cotter pin  260 . Any other attachment is also envisioned, such as screws, nuts, bolts, or other fasteners. A second arm  240  may also be attached to the frame  230 . 
     The third embodiment  210  also preferably comprises a footrest  270  attached to the lower engagement member  214 , as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The footrest  270  is most preferably attached to the lower engagement member  214  so that the footrest  270  is substantially perpendicular to the lower engagement member  214 . A second footrest  270  may be added on the side of the guide  222  opposite the first footrest  270 . The footrests  270  allow a person to have a more secure, more restful, stance on the ladder. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.