# Patent

## Title
Flip ladder with tray and method

## Abstract

A climbing apparatus that rests on a surface includes a flip ladder that can move between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. The apparatus includes a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder that moves with the flip ladder between the straight configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder in a stowed position and a stepladder configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface in an open position. A method for climbing includes the steps of moving a flip ladder between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. There is the step of moving a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder from a stowed position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder to an opened position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface. There is the step of moving the flip ladder from the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration which causes the tray to move automatically into the stowed position.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/199,774 filed on Sep. 8, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,870 issued on Mar. 19, 2013, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/644,346 filed Dec. 22, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,076 issued on Sep. 13, 2011, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a flip ladder having a tray. More specifically, the present invention is related to a flip ladder having a tray which when in a stowed position, allows a user to climb or descend the flip ladder without any hindrance by the tray.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of ladder is informally called a flip ladder. These ladders can be used like a stepladder which can stand erect by itself when in use or can be “flipped” open to form a straight ladder for use when leaned up against some surface such as a wall. One limitation of flip ladders today is the lack of a tray for paint cans, tools etc. to be used when the ladder is in the stepladder configuration. The purpose of this invention is to provide a flip ladder having a tray attached to the ladder for use in the stepladder configuration. In addition, a means is provided to positively stow the tray out of the way of the user when the ladder is used in a straight configuration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a climbing apparatus that rests on a surface. The apparatus comprises a flip ladder that can move between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. The apparatus comprises a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder that moves with the flip ladder between the straight configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder in a stowed position and a stepladder configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface in an open position.
The present invention pertains to a method for climbing. The method comprises the steps of moving a flip ladder between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. There is the step of moving a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder from a stowed position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder to an opened position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface. There is the step of moving the flip ladder from the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration which causes the tray to move automatically into the stowed position.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a flip ladder in a closed, a stepladder and straight configuration, respectively.
FIG. 4 shows a flip ladder of the present invention with a tray and two tray links.
FIG. 5 shows the tray in a fully open position.
FIG. 6 shows the tray in a fully stowed position.
FIG. 7 shows the ladder as it is beginning to be moved from the stepladder configuration and tray open condition to the straight configuration.
FIG. 8 shows the ladder as it approaches the straight configuration.
FIG. 9 shows a ladder in the straight configuration.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ladder in the straight configuration.
FIG. 11 shows the locations of key pivot points and the dimensions of the links of the present invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to FIG. 10 thereof, there is shown a climbing apparatus 50 that rests on a surface 52. The apparatus 50 comprises a flip ladder 111 that can move between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. The apparatus 50 comprises a tray 6 having a plane 54 attached to the flip ladder 111 that moves with the flip ladder 111 between the straight configuration where the tray 6 plane 54 is essentially parallel with the ladder in a stowed position and a stepladder configuration where the tray 6 plane 54 is essentially parallel with the surface 52 in an open position.
Preferably, the flip ladder 111 has a front section 1 having steps 2 and a rear upper section 3 having rungs 4, and hinges 5 which connect the front section 1 and rear upper section 3, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The flip ladder 111 preferably can be locked in the stepladder configuration or the straight configuration. Preferably, the flip ladder 111 can be locked in the stepladder configuration or the straight configuration with the hinges 5. The rungs 4 on the rear upper section 3 are preferably double sided.
Preferably, the apparatus 50 includes a pivot rod 8 through which the tray 6 is attached to the rear upper section 3, as shown in FIGS. 4-7. The apparatus 50 preferably includes two tray links 7 through which at one end of each tray link 7 the tray 6 is pivotally attached at link pivots 9, and the other end of each tray link 7 is attached to a respective hinge. Preferably, the apparatus 50 includes studs 10 and wherein each tray link 7 has a slot, and the tray links 7 are connected to the hinges 5 through the studs 10 extending through the slots 11. The slots 11 preferably allow the links to pivot and slide relative to the front section 1.
Preferably, the tray 6 has a fully open position where the tray 6 rests on top of a highest rung of the rungs 4 of the front section 1. The tray 6 preferably has projections 13, and the tray 6 has a fully stored position where the projections 13 rest against a highest rung 12 of the rungs 4 of the rear upper section 3.
Preferably, the flip ladder 111 has a closed configuration where the front section 1 and the rear upper section 3 are adjacent alongside each other and wherein the tray 6 can be moved freely between the opened and stowed positions when the ladder is in either the closed or stepladder configurations.
The slots 11 and the tray links 7 preferably prevent the tray links 7 from interfering with a motion of the tray 6. Preferably, the opening of the ladder from the closed to the stepladder to the straight configuration does not cause the tray 6 to move from the stowed to the open position. When the tray 6 is in the open position as the flip ladder 111 is moved from the stepladder to the straight configuration, the tray links 7 preferably force the tray 6 to move to the stowed position. Preferably, when the tray 6 is in the stowed position, a user is able to climb or descend the flip ladder 111 without any hindrance by the tray 6.
The present invention pertains to a method for climbing. The method comprises the steps of moving a flip ladder 111 between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. There is the step of moving a tray 6 having a plane 54 attached to the flip ladder 111 from a stowed position where the tray 6 plane 54 is essentially parallel with the ladder to an opened position where the tray 6 plane 54 is essentially parallel with the surface 52. There is the step of moving the flip ladder 111 from the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration which causes the tray 6 to move automatically into the stowed position.
Preferably, there is the step of opening the ladder from a closed configuration to the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration does not cause the tray 6 to move from the stowed to the open position. There is preferably the step of locking the ladder in the stepladder configuration.
Preferably, there is the step of sliding tray links 7, pivotally attached to the tray 6 at link pivots 9 and to hinges 5 which connect a front section 1 and a rear upper section 3 of the flip ladder 111, relative to the front section 1 through slots 11 of the tray links 7.
In the operation of the preferred embodiment, a simplified flip ladder 111 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in the “closed”, “stepladder” and “straight” configurations respectively. The ladder is composed of a front section 1 having steps 2, a rear/upper section 3 having rungs 4, and hinges 5 which connect the front and rear sections together. The hinges are made so that the flip ladder 111 can be securely locked into the stepladder and straight configurations, and unlocked to allow the ladder to be freely moved to any of the three configurations. The rungs on the rear/upper section are double-sided so that the user may climb that section when the ladder is in the stepladder configuration and also climb that section when the ladder is in the straight configuration.
FIG. 4 shows the ladder with the addition of a tray 6 and two tray links 7. The tray is shown halfway between the open and stowed positions. The tray is pivotally attached to the rear/upper section with a pivot rod 8. The tray links at one end are pivotally attached to the tray at the link pivots 9. The other end of the links are connected to the part of the hinge which is fastened to the front section by means of studs 10 through the slots 11 of the tray links. These slots allow the tray links to pivot and slide relative to the front section. These items can be seen more clearly in FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 shows the tray in the fully open position. In this position, the tray rests solidly on top of the highest rung 12 of the rear/upper section.
FIG. 6 shows the tray in the fully stowed position. In this position projections 13 on the tray rest against one face 14 of the highest rung of the rear/upper section.
The tray can be moved freely between the open and stowed positions when the ladder is in either the closed or stepladder configurations. The slots in the tray links prevent the tray links from interfering with the motion of the tray.
Also, at no time does the opening of the ladder from the closed to the stepladder to the straight configuration cause the tray to move from the stowed to the open position.
However, if the tray is in the open position as the ladder is moved from the stepladder to the straight configuration the tray links will force the tray to move to the stowed position as will be shown.
FIG. 7 shows the ladder as it is beginning to be moved from the stepladder configuration and tray open condition of FIG. 5 to the straight configuration. Notice that due to the relative motion of the rear/upper section the studs attached to the front section have reached the end of the slots 11 in the tray links. From this point, the tray links pivot the tray toward the stowed position as the ladder continues to move toward the straight configuration.
FIG. 8 shows the ladder as it approaches the straight configuration.
FIG. 9 shows the ladder in the straight configuration. The tray links have caused the tray to pivot until the projections 13 have contacted the face of the rung 16 and the tray is fully stowed. The tray cannot be moved from the stowed position while the ladder is straight.
FIG. 10 is an additional view of the ladder in the straight configuration. Notice that the stowed tray allows the user to climb or descend the ladder without any hindrance.
FIG. 11 shows the locations of key pivot points and the dimensions of the links of the present invention. The dimensions are preferred, but for exemplary purposes. The relationships of the elements are shown in regard to the dimensions, and these relationships can be used to vary the size of the flip ladder 111 in regard to the preferred embodiment, as desired.
Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.

## Claims

1. A climbing apparatus
configured to rest on a surface, the climbing apparatus comprising:
a flip ladder configured to pivot between a straight configuration, a stepladder configuration, and a closed configuration, the flip ladder has a front section and a rear section, the front section having steps connected between a right front rail and a left front rail, the rear section having rungs connected between a right rear rail and a left rear rail, the flip ladder has hinges directly connecting the front section to a rear upper section of said rear section, the flip ladder configured to be locked in the stepladder configuration with the hinges, the flip ladder configured to be locked in the straight configuration with the hinges, the rungs on the rear section being double sided; and
a tray defining a tray plane, the tray configured to move between a stowed position and an open position, the tray and the tray plane being nearly parallel with a major plane defined by the rear section when in the stowed position, the tray and tray plane being nearly perpendicular with the major plane of the rear section when in the open position so that the tray and tray plane are substantially parallel with the surface when in the stepladder configuration, wherein the tray is configured to automatically and simultaneously pivot from the open position to the stowed position when the flip ladder is pivoted from the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration so that the tray is in the stowed position while the flip ladder is in the straight configuration and the tray is in the open position while the flip ladder is in the stepladder configuration, wherein the flip ladder has a pivot rod that extends through the tray and pivotally attaches the tray to the rear upper section, the tray being in the stowed position and disposed within the right rear rail and the left rear rail of the rear upper section while the flip ladder is in the straight configuration so as to allow a user to climb or descend the ladder without hindrance from the tray, and the rails of the front and rear sections are configured to rest on the surface when the flip ladder is in the stepladder configuration; and
two tray links, through which at a first end of each tray link, respectively, the tray being pivotally attached at respective link pivots, and a second end of each tray link, respectively, being attached to a respective hinge of the hinges; and
wherein the closed configuration occurs when a major plane defined by the front section and the major plane of the rear section are parallel and adjacent alongside each other, the stepladder configuration occurs when the major plane of the front section and the major plane of the rear upper section form an upside down V, the straight configuration occurs when the major plane of the rear section is collinear with the major plane of the front section to form a straight alignment, the tray is configured to move freely between the opened and stowed positions when the flip ladder is in the closed configuration, and the tray is configured to move freely between the opened and stowed positions when the flip ladder is in the stepladder configuration.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein when the tray is in the open position as the flip ladder is moved from the stepladder to the straight configuration, the tray links force the tray to move to the stowed position.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 including studs, wherein each respective tray link has a respective slot, and the tray links are connected to the hinges, respectively, through a respective stud of the studs which extend within the slots, respectively.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein the slots allow the links to pivot and slide relative to the front section.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein when the tray is in the open position, it directly rests on top of a highest rung of the rungs of the rear upper section.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein when the tray is in the stowed position, a projection of the tray directly rest against the highest rung.