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:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    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.  
           [0002]    A number of U.S. Patents disclose devices for attaching to ladders in order to support buckets. Such devices generally fall into two types.  
           [0003]    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.  
           [0004]    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.  
           [0005]    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  
         [0006]    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:  
           [0007]    a) a first engagement member adapted to engage a ladder rung;  
           [0008]    b) a second engagement member adapted to engage an adjacent ladder rung; and  
           [0009]    c) a spring biasing the first engagement member and second engagement member against the respective ladder rungs.  
           [0010]    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.  
           [0011]    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.  
           [0012]    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.  
           [0013]    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. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder with a first embodiment of the invention attached thereto.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, but with a second embodiment of the invention attached thereto.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, with ladder rungs shown in phantom.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, with ladder rungs shown in phantom.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 5 a - 5   d  are perspective views of various accessories that may be part of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a ladder L leaning against a wall W. The ladder L has rungs R and side rails S.  
         [0020]    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.  
         [0021]    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.  
         [0022]    Details of the first embodiment  10  are shown in FIG. 3. The apparatus  10  further comprises a first engagement member  14  adapted to engage ladder rung R 1  and a second engagement member  16  adapted to engage adjacent rung R 2 . The apparatus  10  also comprises a spring  18  biasing the first engagement member  14  and the second engagement member  16  against the rungs R 1 , R 2 .  
         [0023]    The first engagement member  14  and second engagement member  16  preferably comprise U-shaped channels  20  adapted to contact the ladder rungs on the adjacent sides RA. Most preferably, the first engagement member  14  further comprises a first elongate member  22  having a central core  24 , and the second engagement member further comprises a second elongate member  26  slidingly engaged within the first elongate member  22 . The spring  18  is contained within the first elongate member  22 , and the spring tension biases the members  22 ,  26  away from each other as shown by the arrow.  
         [0024]    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 first engagement member  14  toward the second 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 .  
         [0025]    Only one each of the members  22 ,  26  is required. However, to allow the most secure attachment, a plurality of the members  22 ,  26  may be used, as is shown in the Figures, and a corresponding number of springs  18  may be employed.  
         [0026]    Turning to FIG. 4, details of the second embodiment are illustrated. The apparatus  110  further comprises a first engagement member  114  adapted to engage ladder rung R 1  and a second engagement member  116  adapted to engage adjacent rung R 2 . The apparatus  110  also comprises a spring  118  biasing the first engagement member  114  and the second engagement member  116  against the rungs R 1 , R 2 .  
         [0027]    The first engagement member  114  and second engagement member  116  preferably comprise hooks  120  adapted to contact the ladder rungs on the opposite sides RO. Most preferably, the first engagement member  114  further comprises a first elongate member  122  having a central core  124 , and the second engagement member further comprises a second elongate member  126  slidingly engaged within the first elongate member  122 . The spring  118  is contained within the first elongate member  122 , and the spring tension biases the members  122 ,  126  toward each other as shown by the arrows.  
         [0028]    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 ,  116  over a rung, then pulling the first engagement member  114  away from the second engagement member  116 . The spring tension is released, allowing the other member  114 ,  116  to slide over the adjacent rung. To facilitate this operation, a handle  128  may be attached to one of the members  114 ,  116 .  
         [0029]    Only one each of the members  122 ,  126  is required. However, to allow the most secure attachment, a plurality of the members  122 ,  126  may be used, as is shown in the Figures, and a corresponding number of springs  118  may be employed.  
         [0030]    In each embodiment a frame  30  may be placed between the first engagement member  14 ,  114  and the second engagement member  16 ,  116 . If more than one first elongate member  22 ,  122  is used, the frame  30  serves to connect the first elongate members together for parallel movement. The frame may also be used to assist in pulling the members  114 ,  116  apart in the second embodiment.  
         [0031]    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.  
         [0032]    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.