Paint can holder

A device to pivotally support a paint can, the device is adapted to be installed exteriorly of a ladder on either side rails and permits the paint can to remain in a level position independently of the angle of the ladder. The paint can is pivotally supported on a pair of spaced apart brackets seating the can handle anchoring supports.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a paint can support hung to a ladder. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
When a ladder is used to paint a wall, the paint can is often suspended to 
a rung by means of a "S"-shaped hook; in such an installation, the rung is 
obstructing the paint can opening. 
In a number of paint can holders, it is necessary to remove the can handle 
because the holding device is using the same anchoring points as the 
handle; such a system is disadvantageous because the handle has to be 
reinstalled on the paint can after the use of the paint can holder. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide a paint can 
holder which will be arranged to pivotally support a paint can in such a 
way that it will keep its handle. 
It is a second object of the invention to provide a device that is rapidly 
installed on either side of the ladder. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which allows 
the paint can to pivot about both axes of the horizontal plan to remain in 
a level position independently of the angle of the ladder in any 
direction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, a hook member is adapted to be installed 
on a ladder having a plurality of rungs between side rails, the hook 
member comprises an interior flange, an exterior flange, both adapted to 
extend respectively on either side of one of the side rails and a 
transverse web joining laterally the interior and exterior flanges, the 
interior flange is adapted to engage one of the rungs, the invention 
further comprising a can supporting plate horizontally carried by and 
laterally extending from said exterior flange and which comprises an 
elongated aperture of a length substantially larger than and of a width 
just larger than the cross-sectional size of the can, a pair of 
spaced-apart brackets upstanding from and respectively secured to the 
plate on each side and centrally of the aperture, the brackets have 
notches adapted to pivotally receive the round, protruding 
handle-anchoring supports of the can. These bracket notches are 
transversely oriented relative to the plate and aligned about a first 
pivot axis transverse to the plane of the interior and exterior flanges, 
the aperture is receiving the can to a level where the handle anchoring 
supports seat in the bracket notches whereby the can may pivot on the 
brackets about the anchoring supports with the can handle resting on said 
plate. 
Preferably, the plate is pivotally carried by said exterior flange for 
rotation about a second pivot axis transverse to said first pivot axis.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the paint can holder 6 is fitted to a ladder 1 
having a plurality of rungs such as 2 and 3, between side rails 4 and 5. 
The paint can holder comprises a hook member 7 formed of an interior flange 
8, an exterior flange 9 and a transverse web 10 joining laterally the two 
parallel flanges 8 and 9. The hook member 7 is installed over one of the 
side rails 4 or 5 and is engaging with a rung such as 2 to remain at the 
desired level. 
The rung 2 is introduced in the longitudinal slot 11, as seen in FIG. 3, 
through the central opening 12. To lock the hook member 7 in position, it 
must be lowered until the rung 2 abuts at the upper end 13 of the slot 11. 
The upper and lower halves of the hook member 7 are identical to permit its 
installation on either side of ladder 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
The exterior flange 9 comprises two pairs of aligned brackets 14 
respectively secured on the upper and lower halves of the hook member 7 to 
secure the paint can supporting section 15. Only one pair of brackets is 
used depending on which side of the ladder 1 the hook member 7 is 
installed. The pairs of brackets 14 are oppositely inclined relative to 
the longitudinal axis of hook member. 
The paint can supporting section 15 comprises a post 16, a U-shaped member 
17 and a paint can supporting plate 18; the post 16 is inserted in the 
aligned brackets 14 and abuts a stopping plate 19 fixed to exterior flange 
9. Post 16 is secured at its upper end to the center section 20 of 
U-shaped member 17 which further includes two transverse arms 21 and 22. 
The paint can supporting plate 18 is pivotally mounted in between the 
transverse arms 21 and 22 by means of a pair of upwardly extending 
triangular brackets 23 and 24 secured on each side of the paint can 
supporting plate 18 and a pair of aligned pivots 30 and 31 extending 
respectively in between the triangular brackets 23 and 24 and the 
transverse arms 21 and 22. The paint can supporting plate 18 also 
comprises an elongated aperture of substantially oval shape in which is 
pivotally supported a paint can 25 on a pair of brackets 26 and 27 seating 
the handle anchoring supports 28 and 29. Can 25 is conventional, 
cylindrical and of the type provided with a wire handle 25a pivoted in 
supports 28 and 29, which are diametrically opposed, rounded and laterally 
protruding from the can 25 adjacent the top open end thereof. Brackets 26, 
27 have a semi-circular notch 26a at their top edge for receiving supports 
28, 29. These brackets 26, 27 are secured to and upstand from plate 18 
contiguous to aperture 18, at its mid-length and aligned across the width 
of aperture 18a. Said width is such to provide a close enough fit for the 
can 25, so that supports 28, 29 will remain engaged with bracket notches 
26a. The length of aperture 18a is sufficient to permit limited swinging 
of the paint can 25 about supports 28, 29, yet handle 25a can rest on 
plate 18. 
The supporting system is advantageous over the prior art because there is 
no need to remove the handle of the paint can 25 to install it on the 
paint can supporting plate 18 and because the handle 25a is readily 
accessible for removing the paint can 25 from the support. 
The paint can 25 is pivoted about an exis parallel to the rungs 2 and 3 
while the paint can supporting plate 18 is pivoted about an axis 
transverse to the pivot axis of the paint can 25; such an arrangement 
permits the paint can to remain in a level position independently of the 
angle of the ladder 1 in any directions.