Abstract:
A ladder tool is disclosed and is useful for supporting tools safely, including tools with hoses or cords attached to them. Disclosed embodiments include a support for inserting into a hollow ladder rung, and a tool holder attached to the support structure. The tool holder has an incomplete polygonal shape and provides an opening for the hose or cord to enter and exit the tool holder, so that the operation of passing the hose or cord through the opening can be performed with one hand. The disclosure also includes a support extension that passes clear through the hollow rung of a ladder has a safety tab that rotates down by gravity to prevent the ladder tool from accidently being pulled out or displaced from the ladder rung.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates to ladders with an open rung, and more specifically tools designed to work in ladders with an open rung. 
     2. Background 
     Workers who use extension ladders often have multiple pieces of equipment or tools that they need to use when they are on a ladder. For example a painter may use a paint sprayer with a hose line, and have a paint roller that are used in conjunction. Other workers use equipment with electrical cords such as a drill, and have other tools that are needed at the same time. 
     Workers will often bring multiple tools up on a ladder, and store some of the tools on the rungs of the ladder until needed. For example, a painter will bring a paint sprayer and a roller up on a ladder, and place the roller resting against a ladder rung while spraying, and then will place the paint sprayer resting on a ladder rung while using the roller to further spread the paint. 
     The past methods present a hazard as a cord or hose can trip the worker when it hangs onto the ladder rungs. When a tool with a cord or hose is stored on one of the ladder rungs, the cord or hose will hang down along the rungs of the ladder where the worker is standing. The hose or cord can interfere with the feet of the worker and cause a hazardous situation. The tool can also be damaged if the worker steps on the hose or cord, or accidently causes the equipment to fall. 
     Tools that do not have a cord or hose can also be hazardous when used on an extension ladder, because the worker needs to hold the tool or balance the tool on the ladder so that it will not fall when it is being used. If the tool is dropped the tool can break, or someone working below the ladder can become injured. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A device is disclosed including a support for inserting into a hollow ladder rung, where the support fits inside the hollow ladder rung. The disclosed device also includes a tool holder coupled to the support. The tool holder includes a first portion substantially parallel to the support and coupled to the support. The tool holder also includes a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion having a shape of an incomplete polygon. The tool holder further comprises a third portion connected to the second portion, wherein the third portion is parallel to the first portion, and extends within proximity of the first portion. 
     The hollow ladder rung may have a cross section with a shape, and the support may have a portion that is approximately the same shape as the cross section of the hollow ladder rung. The tool holder may have a shape with an opening between the first portion and the third portion. The tool holder may be a metal rod formed to have an opening between approximately three-eighths of an inch to approximately three inches, between the first portion and the third portion. 
     The second portion may have a first side, a second side and a third side. The first side is connected to the first portion, and the second side is connected to the first side, and the third side is connected to the second side and to the third portion. The first side may be substantially parallel with the third side, and the first side may have a length, and the third side may have a length. The length of the first side may be shorter than the length of the third side. 
     The second portion may have a first perpendicular side that is substantially perpendicular to the first portion, and that is connected to the first portion, and a second perpendicular side that is substantially perpendicular to the first portion and that is connected to the third portion. 
     The first perpendicular side may have a length, and the second perpendicular side may have a length, and the length of the second perpendicular side may be longer than the length of the first perpendicular side. 
     The hollow ladder rung may have a first side with a first opening, and a second side with a second opening, and the hollow ladder rung may have a length between the first opening and the second opening. The support may have a length that is longer than the length of the hollow ladder rung. 
     In another embodiment a device is disclosed including a support structure having a first section to be inserted into a first ladder rung with a first size wherein the first section is shaped approximately the same shape as the first ladder rung, the support structure having a second section to be inserted into a second ladder rung with a second size that is larger than the first size of the first ladder rung. The first section is connected to the second section along a longitudinal axis. A tool holder may be attached to the second section of the support structure along the longitudinal axis. 
     The second section may be tapered having a smaller circumference at a first end and a large circumference at a second end. The first section may have a generally square cross-section. The second section may have a generally “D” shaped cross-section. 
     In another disclosed embodiment the tool holder includes a first portion substantially parallel to the support structure and coupled to the support structure; a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion having a the shape of an incomplete polygon. A second portion may be connected to the first portion, and the second portion may have a shape of an incomplete polygon having a beginning and an end. The end of the incomplete polygon may extend within proximity of a portion of the incomplete polygon to create an opening. The end of the incomplete polygon may be a distance from the portion of the incomplete polygon within a range of about three-eighths of an inch to approximately three inches. 
     In another embodiment the distance from the end of the incomplete polygon to the portion of the incomplete polygon is about three-quarters of an inch. In another embodiment the distance from the end of the incomplete polygon to the portion of the incomplete polygon is about one inch. 
     Another embodiment is disclosed with a device including a support configured to securely fit into a hollow rung of a ladder having a generally flat top. The support may align a rotation of the support to the flat top of the rung of the ladder, and may prevent rotation of the support when inserted into the hollow rung of the ladder. A tool holder may be connected to the support, with the tool holder fixed rotationally to the support. The tool holder may have the shape of an incomplete polygon generally within a flat plane that is substantially parallel to the generally flat top of the hollow rung. The incomplete polygon may form a shape with a width and length. The incomplete polygon may have an end that forms an opening, with the opening having a distance defined by the narrowest point that would restrict an object passing through the opening into the incomplete polygon. The opening may be narrower than the width of the incomplete polygon, and narrower than the length of the incomplete polygon. The tool holder may be configured to allow a hose to pass through the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of another embodiment of a portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 6 a - g    are views of an embodiment of a support. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a ladder and an embodiment of a ladder tool in use with a hose. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a ladder for use with an embodiment of the ladder tool. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of another ladder for use with an embodiment of the ladder tool. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a ladder tool. 
         FIG. 13  shows and example of a ladder with hollow rungs. 
         FIG. 14  shows an example embodiment with the device inserted into a ladder that has a smaller D-shaped rungs. 
         FIG. 15  shows an exmple embodiment with the device inserted into a tall ladder with large rungs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An example embodiment of a device  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The example device is a ladder tool  20  with support  26  designed to fit inside the rung of a hollow rung ladder. At one end of the support a tool holder  21  is connected to the support  26 . The support has a longitudinal axis  69 , and the tool holder  21  is connected to the support  26  along the longitudinal axis  69 . At the other end of the support  26  a support extension  23  is also connected along the longitudinal axis  69 . The support extension  23  has a first end  25  connected to the support  26 , and a second end  27 . The second end  27  has a slot cut to receive a safety tab  28 . The safety tab  28  is held in place by a fastener such as a rivet  30 . An end cap  29  is also connected to the second end  27  with the fastener  30 . 
     In the illustrated example the ladder tool  20  may be placed into the rung of a ladder such as an extension ladder or an a-frame ladder with open rungs. The support  26  fits tightly into the hollow rung, and the support extension  23  extends into the hollow ladder rung and out the other side of the ladder. The second end  27  of the support extension  23  comes out the other side of the ladder and the safety tab  28  rotates because the rivet is off center in the safety tab  28  and the weight of the safety tab  28  on the one side of the rivet  30  is heavier and naturally rotates down due to gravity. 
     In one embodiment the support extension  23  is a round metal rod or steel pipe. In other embodiments the support extension  23  may be made from other metal material, or from non-metallic materials. The support extension  23  is shown in the illustrated embodiment as round. In other embodiments the support extension  23  may be other shapes including square, triangular, hexagonal, or other shapes. 
     The tool holder  21  can support a tool such as a paint sprayer and allow a worker to safely navigate a ladder or use other tools without holding or balancing the paint sprayer.  FIGS. 3-5  show variations of a tool holder. The tool holder in these embodiments has a first portion  31  that connects to the support  26  and is along the longitudinal axis  69  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the example embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  the tool holder  21  has a second portion  32  with three main sides, a first side  35  connected to the first portion  31  and substantially perpendicular to the first portion  31 . In this example the second side  36  has an angled portion, angled on about a forty-five degree angle between the first side  35  and a portion of the second side  36 . The first side  35  is substantially perpendicular to a portion of the second side  36 . A third side  37  is shown as substantially parallel to the first side  35 , and connected to the second side  36 . 
     The example embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  also shows a third portion  33  of the tool holder  21  that is substantially perpendicular to the third side  37  of the second portion  32 . The third portion  33  is substantially parallel to the first portion  31  and there is a distance that creates an opening  34  (shown between the arrows in the illustration) between the end  38  of the third portion  33  and the first portion  31 . 
     In an example embodiment the distance of the opening  34  is approximately three-quarters of an inch to allow standard size hoses to enter and exit easily, such as the standard size garden hoses, and standard size pressurized paint hoses. In other embodiments the opening  34  is smaller, for example approximately three-eighths of an inch for smaller hoses and for electrical cords. In other embodiments the opening may be of other sizes varying from about three-eighths of an inch to about three inches. 
     The tool holder  21  may be attached to the support  26  in many different ways.  FIG. 4  shows an example embodiment with a threaded end  39  that may be used to secure the tool holder  21  to a threaded piece in the support  26  or a threaded piece in the support extension  23 . A locking nut may be used to secure the threaded end  39 , and the tool holder  21  in a preferred rotational position. In other embodiments the tool holder  21  may be secured to the support extension  23  by welding, and the support  26  may be formed or assembled around the support extension  23 . Other embodiments may use adhesives, or structures to secure the tool holder  21 . For example, the end of the tool holder may have an angle that is designed to be inside the interior of the support that will prevent the tool holder  21  from rotating relative to the support  26 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a tool holder  21 . In this embodiment the second portion  32  is a polygon with a rounded shape to form a place to support a tool and an opening  34  where a cord or hose can enter and exit. 
     In an example embodiment when the ladder tool  20  is inserted into a ladder where the top of the ladder rungs are generally horizontal, the tool holder  21 , is also generally horizontal. The support  26  in this embodiment has one or more generally flat top portions that aligns the ladder tool  20  to the top of a ladder rung and prevents the ladder tool  20  from rotating. In this embodiment the tool holder  21  is generally flat and within a horizontal plane, which is aligned to be substantially parallel to the top of the ladder rung. The tool holder  21  forms an incomplete polygon within the horizontal plane, having an end  38  of the incomplete polygon. The end  38  of the incomplete polygon is close to another part of the tool holder  21 . The shortest distance between two parts of the incomplete polygon near the end  38  define the width of an opening  34 . 
     The incomplete polygon has a length and a width. The width of the opening  34  in this example embodiment is narrower than the length and width of the incomplete polygon. For example, the width of the opening may be about 0.75 inches, and the width of the polygon shown in  FIG. 3  may be about 2.3 inches, and the length, along the third side  37  may be about 3.5 inches. In other embodiments the shape of the incomplete polygon may have a generally round portion. For example  FIG. 5  shows a tool holder  21  with a generally round portion that may have a dimension defined in part by a circle with a diameter. In the example embodiment of  FIG. 5  the opening  34  has a distance that is less than the distance of the diameter of the circle defining a portion of the tool holder. The diameter of the circle in this embodiment is the length of the incomplete polygon. 
       FIGS. 6 a -6 g    show views of an embodiment of a support  26  used with the ladder tool  20 . The illustrated support  26  has a first section  61  that is generally square, and a second section  62  that is generally a d-shape.  FIG. 6 a    is a view of the support  26  from the second end along the longitudinal axis  69 .  FIG. 6 a    shows a tool holder opening  65  which in this embodiment is along the longitudinal axis  69 . 
       FIG. 6 a    shows that a cross section of the second section  62  generally has a d-shape and corresponds with the shape of the inside of the rung of many extension ladders. An example extension ladder  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 8  with a side view showing the generally D-shape of the rung  76  of the ladder  70 , with the flat part of the D-shape at an angle so that when the ladder is placed at an appropriate angle to be safely used, the ladder flat part of the D-shape is close to level. 
       FIG. 6 b    shows a view along the longitudinal axis  69  from the end of the first section  61 . The generally square cross section  67  of the first section  61  is illustrated, as well as the generally D-shape cross section  68  of the second section  62 . The generally square cross section may fit snugly into a ladder with a square cross section, such as a ladder  71  shown in  FIG. 9 . In the example of  FIG. 9  the ladder shown is not an extension ladder, but is a foldable ladder or an articulated ladder that can serve as an a-frame ladder or as a straight ladder. The hollow rungs  78  are generally square and have a generally square cross section.  FIG. 13  shows an example of a ladder  71  with hollow rungs  78  that have a square cross section.  FIG. 13  shows that the device  20  may be inserted into the hollow rung  78  with the first section  61  designed to fit snugly inside the rung. At least a portion of the first section may be inserted into the hollow rung  78 , while the second section  62  and the third section  79  may be outside the hollow rung  78 . 
     In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support  26  has a smaller circumference on the first section  61 , and the first section may have a slight taper. The support  26  may have a taper between the first section  61  and the second section  62 , and the second section may have a taper so that the first end  63  of the second section  62  has a smaller circumference than the second end  64  of the second section  62 . 
     The support  26  may also have a support extension opening  66  that is configured to receive and hold the support extension  23 . In other embodiments the ladder tool does not have a support extension and the device is held in place only with the support. The support  26  may have grooves that improve grip as a worker is holding the support, as well as improving the grip of the support when placed inside the hollow rung of a ladder. 
       FIG. 7  shows an example embodiment of a ladder tool  20  in use on an extension ladder  70  with hollow rungs. A first ladder tool  20  is placed in a hollow rung near the top of the ladder  70  and supports a tool  74 , in this case a hose sprayer that might be used to clean out the gutter of a house. A hose  72  is connected to the tool  74 . The hose also passes through a second ladder tool  20  placed in a lower hollow rung of the ladder  70 . The ladder tool  20  is placed in the first side of the ladder that has a first opening  75 . The second end  27  of the support extension  23  is shown on the second side of the ladder coming out of a second opening of a rung of the ladder. The safety tab  28  is also shown. 
     The ladder tool  20  may be used by placing a first ladder tool  20  near the bottom of the ladder  70  to support the hose  72  away from the ladder  70 . The hose may be moved through the opening  34  (shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ) while holding the tool  74 . In the example embodiment the action of moving the hose  72  through the opening  34  while holding tool  74  may be done with one hand and quickly. A second ladder tool  20  may be placed in the ladder  70  near the top of the ladder  70 . The hose can then easily pass through the lower ladder tool  20  as a worker climbs the ladder and with one hand again pass the hose through the opening  34  to store the tool  74  while other operations are performed. When the tool  74  is needed the hose  72  can pass out through the opening  34  with a one handed operation. 
     The ladder tool  20  may be removed from the ladder  70  by rotating the safety tab  28  to be parallel with the support extension  23 , and pushing the second end  27  of the support extension  23  into the ladder rung. The ladder tool  20  may then be removed from the first side of the ladder  70  through the first opening  75 . 
     The above embodiments are illustrated and discussed as examples. Variations may be made in the shape, materials, function and operation of the above embodiments and remain within the invention as claimed. For example, the support  26  is shown with a flat side on top. In other embodiments the support structure may be round without a flat side and may fit into the hollow rung of a ladder. 
       FIG. 10  shows an example embodiment of a support with a first section  61  that has a generally square shape which is designed to fit snugly into a ladder rung that is generally square. A second section  62  is generally D-shaped to fit within ladder rung with a D-shaped rung. The second section  62  in this embodiment is tapered to allow use with multiple sizes of D-Shaped ladder rungs. The second section  62  is tapered at a first rate or a first angle between a first end  63  and a second end  64 . A third section  79  is shown in the illustration that is tapered at a second rate with a greater angle than the first rate. The second section  62  may allow the support  26  to fit securely into ladder rungs with smaller D-shaped rungs, while the third section  79  may allow the support  26  to fit securely into larger size D-shaped rungs  77 .  FIG. 14  shows an example embodiment with the device  20  inserted into a ladder  70  that has smaller D-shaped rungs  76 . The first section  61  may be inserted entirely into the rung  76 , and the second section  62  may be at least partially inserted into the rung  76  to achieve a secure fit with rung  76 , while the third section  79  may be outside of the rung  76 .  FIG. 15  shows an example embodiment with the device  20  inserted into a tall ladder  73  with large rungs  77 . The device may be used with the tall ladder  73  with the first section  61 , and the second section  62  entirely inside the larger size D-shaped rung  77 , and with at least a portion of the third section  79  inserted into the larger size D-shaped rung  77  to achieve a secure fit with the larger size D-shape rung  77 . 
       FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of a tool holder as a two-prong tool holder  82 . The two-prong tool holder  82  in this embodiment has a first arm  84  and a second arm  86 . The first arm  84  has a first end  85 , and the second arm  86  has a second end  87 . The first arm  84  and second arm  86  may be assembled with the support  26  and secured in a position so that the first arm  84  and the second arm  86  are generally horizontal when the ladder tool  20  is installed into the rung of a ladder. The first end  85  and the second end  87  may be generally vertical when the ladder tool  20  is installed. The two-prong tool holder  82  is shown with a threaded end  39  in the example illustrated embodiment, and may be secured into a position chosen by a worker for example the rotational position may be secured using a locking nut. 
       FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of a tool holder which also has a threaded end  39  and may similarly be installed by a worker into a rotational position. A tool holder with a threaded end  39  may also be removed by a worker and replaced with a different style tool holder. For example, the tool holder shown in  FIG. 4  may be useful for a worker when they are using a tool with a hose, while the tool holder in  FIG. 11  may be useful when a worker is using tape and needs to store rolls of tape. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  the tool holder is a single-prong tool holder  92 , with an arm extension  94  and an extension end  95 . As with the example shown in  FIG. 11 , the single-prong tool holder  92  may be installed so that the extension end  95  is generally vertical when the ladder tool  20  is installed. The single-prong tool holder  92  may be useful for holding bags with tools and supplies, rolls of tape, tools with a hook or opening installed on the tool, as well as other tools and supplies which are used while a worker is on a ladder. 
     The term generally square as applied to ladder rungs includes structures shapes with four equal sides, as well as shapes with two sides long than the other sides. Generally square includes rectangular, and shapes with rounded corners. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, and methods, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.