Container support bracket

A container support bracket for use with a ladder to support a container having a wire handle is provided. The container support bracket has a container support member preferably pivotally attached to a rung engagement structure. The container support member has a second extension member, a first support member and a second support member, which in combination are preferably in the form of an inverted T-shape. For use with hollow rung ladders, the rung engagement structure has a first extension member which is adapted to be inserted into a hollow rung of the ladder. For use with flat rung ladders, the rung engagement structure is adapted to engage a flat rung of the ladder. Such structures are provided which have at least one support member which rests on the top of the engaged rung and anti-rotation member to keep the structure in place when a paint can is hung from the container support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a device for safely hanging a paint can from a 
ladder while painting. The device is a bracket that may be used with flat 
rung ladders whereby the bracket engages the rung of the ladder in such a 
way as to prevent rotation in both the horizontal and vertical planes. 
The invention also pertains to a container support means whereby a handle 
of a container--such as a paint can--is held at two points along the 
handle of the can by an attachment means. The attachment means may be 
tightened onto the handle to prevent the handle from sliding on the 
attachment means. This container support means may be used with the above 
described bracket or with any other bracket. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Amateur and professional painters alike have typically painted high 
surfaces while perched on a ladder with a paint can hung precariously 
nearby. Dropped cans, spilled paint, and tired backs have prompted 
countless painters to strive to produce the perfect paint can holder. 
An early paint can holder is made from a single piece of stiff wire (U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,508,258). This device has a U-shaped saddle that wraps around 
one-half of the paint can, just under the rim of the can. The can with its 
handle removed is held in place with screws at either end of the saddle 
which are inserted into the holes in the side of the can which originally 
engaged the handle. One end of the saddle is attached to a portion adapted 
to fit a ladder with round rungs. This portion hooks over the rung and is 
supported against the leg of the ladder which prevents the holder from 
rotating about the rung. The other end of the saddle is attached to a 
second portion designed to attach to a ladder with flat rungs. This second 
portion functions like the first one, it hooks over the rung and is 
supported against the leg of the ladder which prevents the holder from 
rotating about the rung. Although this design allows the same holder to be 
used with both flat and round rung ladders, it suffers because the 
U-shaped saddle portion can only fit a single size can. 
Another prior art paint can holder is also composed of a single piece of 
stiff wire (U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,658). This holder may be placed on the 
ladder in one of two orientations. In the front position, the wire wraps 
around a leg of the ladder and rotation is prevented by a portion that 
hooks over the rung. In the rear position, the wire wraps around the rung 
and rotation is prevented by a portion that hooks over the leg. In either 
case, the can is held by a single long hair pin loop. This design allows 
the can to hang on either side, in front or behind the ladder. The wire is 
sufficiently thin as to allow use with a telescoping ladder. However, like 
many holders, this one suffers because the paint can dangles freely from 
the hair pin loop and can slide along its handle. 
A variation of this design is a single stiff wire design which combines the 
wire holder with a circular ring that holds the paint can coupled with a 
base that helps support the can (U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,939). The holder 
attaches to the ladder by wrapping around the leg of the ladder and 
hooking over the rung. A disadvantage of this holder is that the circular 
ring fits a narrow range of paint can sizes. Thus, different devices are 
required for different size cans. 
The above described paint can holders share the common feature of being 
adapted to fit the rung and a side leg of the ladder. An alternative prior 
art design consists of a rod shaped member designed to fit inside the 
hollow rung of a ladder. 
In one version, the rod is slightly bowed to provide a spring fit inside 
the hollow rung and the outer end of the rod is pivotally connected to a 
single hook from which to hang a paint can (U.K. Pat. No. 683,720). This 
pivotal connection to the hook allows the can to remain vertical even 
though the ladder may tilt somewhat when it is moved from one location to 
another. The main drawback with this design is that the can is allowed to 
swing freely from the hook in several directions and the paint can handle 
can slide from side to side. 
A variation of this design is the straight rod with a wire spring which 
provides a tight fit against the inside of the rung (U.S. Pat. No. 
3,223,369). The outer end of the rod is covered with a boss that has 
elliptical grooves designed to hold the handle of the paint can in such a 
way as to hold the handle to the side of the can allowing maximum access 
to the contents. However, unless the boss is of sufficient diameter, the 
groove is unlikely to contact enough of the handle to adequately control 
the position of the can or to prevent the handle from sliding from side to 
side. The inventor has diagramed the boss as the same width as the paint 
can, making this device somewhat cumbersome for shipment and use. 
Another variation on the rod design is a simple wire rod with a hook at one 
end designed to engage the end of the rung opposite the end of the rung 
where the wire rod is inserted (U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,693). The rod also has 
a hook at its other end to carry the paint can. However, unlike most 
designs, the can is prevented from swinging by a downturned bracket 
portion near the hook which engages the side of the can. The downturned 
portion both stabilizes the can and holds the handle away from the can 
opening. 
The rod design is also combined with a swinging box (U.S. Pat. No. 
4,523,733) and with a circular ring that functions to hold a rimmed bucket 
(U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,957). All of these rod designs may only be used with 
hollow rung ladders and furthermore lack features to prevent the rod from 
rotating inside the rung. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Thus, there is a need for a paint can holder that is easy to use, 
inexpensive and not too bulky, yet holds the paint can at a convenient 
location near the painter, but off to the side of the ladder. The holder 
is preferably adaptable for use with either flat or hollow rung ladders. 
It should allow the can to be positioned on either side of the ladder and 
allow quick and easy repositioning to different heights on the ladder. It 
should not interfere with the painter or the use of the ladder in any way. 
Further, the holder should hold the can firmly and prevent rotation and 
swinging which might lead to spills. Finally, it should preferably allow 
easy access to the contents of the can. Certain ones or all of these 
advantages are provided in various embodiments of the present invention. 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container 
support bracket for use with a ladder to support a container having a wire 
handle. The container support bracket comprises a rung engagement 
structure having a first extension member with a first end and a second 
end and a container support member. The container support member comprises 
a second extension member having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the 
third end is pivotally attached to the second end; a first support member 
and a second support member, wherein the first and second support members 
extend from the fourth end; a first attachment means on the first support 
member for attaching the wire handle to the first support member; and a 
second attachment means on the second support member for attaching the 
wire handle to the second support member. Preferably, the second extension 
member and the first and second support members are in the form of an 
inverted T-shape. 
In one embodiment, the first extension member of the rung engagement 
structure is adapted to be inserted into a hollow rung of the ladder. 
In another embodiment, the rung engagement structure is adapted to engage a 
flat rung of the ladder. In such ladders, each of the flat rungs has a 
top, a bottom, a front edge and a back edge. In this embodiment, the rung 
engagement structure further comprises a third support member, a first 
riser member, a first anti-rotation member and a connecting member. The 
third support member is attached to the second end and oriented to rest 
upon the top of the flat rung which is engaged. The first riser member is 
attached to the third support member and is substantially parallel to the 
second extension member when the bracket is in an installed position. The 
connecting member connects the first riser member and the first 
anti-rotation member. 
Preferably, the rung engagement structure further comprises a securing 
member, which is attached to the anti-rotation member. The combination of 
the securing member and the anti-rotation member substantially has a 
C-shape. The securing member comprises a second riser member, a fourth 
support member and a first hook member. The second riser attached to the 
anti-rotation member on one end thereof and the fourth support member on 
the other end thereof The first hook member is attached to the second 
support member. The second support member and the first support member are 
preferably substantially parallel to each other and rest on top of the 
engaged rung when in an installed position prior to hanging the paint can 
thereon. The first hook member engages the back edge of the engaged rung 
when in an installed position. 
More preferably, the rung engagement structure further comprises a second 
anti-rotation member which extends substantially perpendicularly from the 
connecting member at a position intermediate of the attachment points of 
the first riser member and the first anti-rotation member to the 
connecting member. 
In another embodiment of the rung engagement structure which is also 
adapted to engage a flat rung of a flat rung ladder, the rung engagement 
structure comprises a first securing member which is substantially 
C-shaped and has a first upper end and a first lower end, a second 
securing member which is also substantially C-shaped and has a second 
upper end and a second lower end, and a connecting member. The opening of 
the C-shaped first and second securing members face the same direction. 
The connecting member is attached to the first and second lower ends. The 
second end of the first extension member is attached to the second upper 
end. When the container support bracket is in an installed position on an 
engaged rung, the first and second upper ends engage the back edge of the 
engaged flat rung. In a preferred embodiment, the faces of the planes 
formed by the respective C-shaped first and second securing members are 
substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, the first securing 
member comprises a first anti-rotation member, a second riser member, a 
fourth support member and a first hook member, and the second securing 
member comprises a second hook member, a third support member, a first 
riser member, and a second anti-rotation member. The second riser is 
attached to the anti-rotation member on one end thereof and the fourth 
support member on the other end thereof The first hook member is attached 
to the second support member. The first upper end is one end of the first 
hook member. The first lower end is one end of the anti-rotation member. 
The second upper end is one end of the second hook member. The second 
lower end is one end of the second anti-rotation member. The other end of 
the second hook member is attached to the third support member. The first 
riser member is attached to the third support member on one end thereof 
and to the second anti-rotation member on the other end thereof. In an 
installed position prior to supporting the container, the third support 
member and the fourth support member rest on the top of the engaged rung 
and the first and second hook members engage the back edge of the engaged 
rung.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a support bracket for a container, 
particularly a paint can or pail having a wire handle, for use with a 
ladder. Reference is made to the drawings described above with like 
reference numerals referring to like members in different embodiments. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a support bracket 10 having a first 
extension member 12 with a first end 14 and a second end 16 and a 
container support member 40, which includes a second extension member 18 
having a third end 20 and a fourth end 22, a first support member 24 and a 
second support member 26. The third end 20 is pivotally attached to the 
first end 14 with the second extension member 18 being substantially 
perpendicular to the first extension member 12. The first end 14 may be a 
removable cap, if desired so as to use the container support member 40 of 
the bracket 10 with different rung engagement structure, for example, 
those associated with support brackets 100 and 200 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The 
first and second support members 24, 26 extend from the fourth end 22, in 
this case in opposite directions from each other and substantially 
perpendicular to the plane formed by the first and second extension 
members 12, 18. Accordingly, the second extension member 18, first support 
member 24 and second support member 26 form an inverted T-shape. These 
three members 18, 24, 26 can also form an inverted Y-shape if desired. The 
first support member 24 has a first attachment means 28. The second 
support member 26 has a second attachment means 30. The first and second 
attachments means 28, 30 may each be a hook or a screw. The wire handle 32 
of the paint can 34 would the be hooked on the attachment means 28, 30 as 
shown in FIG. 2. If the attachment means 28, 30 are screws, the screws may 
be tightened into the respective support member 24 and 30 onto the wire 
handle 32. The two point attachment of the wire handle 32 keeps the paint 
can from sliding along the wire handle 32. The screws, if used, further 
secure the wire handle 32 when tightened thereon. 
The support bracket 10 is used by inserting the first extension member 16 
into the hollow rung of a ladder which is shown in ghost relief (that is, 
using dashed lines). 
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a support bracket 100 for use with 
a ladder having flat rungs with each rung having a top, a bottom, a front 
edge and a back edge. The support bracket 100 is like the support bracket 
10 except that the first end 14 of the first extension member 12 is 
attached to a rung engagement structure 110 The rung engagement structure 
110 has a third support member 112, a first riser member 114, a first 
anti-rotation member 116 and a connecting member 118. The third support 
member 112 is substantially perpendicularly attached to the second end 16 
and oriented to rest upon the top of the rung which is engaged. The first 
riser member 114 is also substantially perpendicularly attached to the 
third support member 112 and is substantially parallel to the second 
extension member 18 when the bracket 100 is in an installed position. The 
first anti-rotation member 116 is substantially parallel to the third 
support member 112 and accordingly oriented to engage the bottom of the 
engaged rung. The first anti-rotation member 116 keeps the bracket 100 
from rotating about the third support member 112 when the paint can 34 is 
attached to the bracket 100. The connecting member 118 connects the first 
riser member 114 and the first anti-rotation member 116. In this preferred 
embodiment, the bracket 100 further includes a securing member 120, which 
is attached to the anti-rotation member 116 and which in combination 
therewith has a C-shape. Specifically, the securing member 120 has a 
second riser member 122, a fourth support member 124 and a first hook 
member 126, with the second riser 122 attached to the anti-rotation member 
116 on one end thereof and the fourth support member 124 on the other end 
thereof. The first hook member 126 is attached to the second support 
member 124. The second support member 124 and the first support member 112 
are substantially parallel to each other and accordingly rest on top of 
the engaged rung when in an installed position. The first hook member 126 
engages the back edge of the engaged rung to keep the bracket 100 in 
position and avoid an accidental disengagement. In this embodiment of the 
bracket, the bracket 100 includes a second anti-rotation member 128 which 
extends substantially perpendicularly from the connecting member 118 at a 
position intermediate of the attachment points of the first riser member 
114 and the first anti-rotation member 116 to the connecting member 118. 
It is also noted that the connecting member 118 may be extendable to 
accommodate ladders of varying widths. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown support bracket 200 which is 
another embodiment of the present invention. Support bracket 200 is like 
support bracket 100, except the respective rung engagement structures are 
somewhat different. The support bracket 200 has a second securing member 
220, which like the first securing member 120, is also substantially 
C-shaped and in the same orientation as the first securing member 120, 
that is, the opening of the C-shape faces the same direction and the 
planes formed by the respective C-shape are substantially parallel to each 
other. The second securing member 220 has a second hook member 226, a 
third support member 212, a first riser member 214, and a second 
anti-rotation member 228. The second end 16 of the first extension member 
12 is substantially perpendicularly attached to one end of the second hook 
member 226. The other end of the second hook member 226 is substantially 
perpendicularly attached to the third support member 212. The third 
support member 212 is substantially perpendicularly attached to the first 
riser member 214. The first riser member 214 is substantially 
perpendicularly attached to the second anti-rotation member 228, which in 
turn is attached to the connecting member 118. The remainder of the 
description of the support bracket 200 is like that of support bracket 
100. 
The third support member 212, like third support member 112, and the fourth 
support member 124 rest on the top of the engaged rung. The first and 
second anti-rotation members 116, 226 engage the bottom of the engaged 
rung. The first and second hook members 126, 226 engage the back edge of 
the engaged rung to avoid accidental disengagement of the rung engagement 
structure 210. 
The various portions of the container support bracket may be made of any 
suitable material. For example, the container support member may be made 
of a metal T-shaped member. The rung engagement structure may be solid or 
hollow and may be of wood, metal or plastic. For example, PVC pipe, T's, 
L's and caps may be assembled into the appropriate shapes. Alternatively, 
the structure may be molded plastic.