Abstract:
A ladder including a first ladder section, a second ladder section and a storage compartment. The second ladder section is operably attached to the first ladder section. The storage compartment is attached to at least one of the first ladder section and the second ladder section. The storage compartment includes a storage section with a partially enclosed region formed therein. The storage compartment also includes a closure section that is operably connected to the storage section. The closure section is movable between a closed position where the closure section substantially encloses the partially enclosed region and an open position where the closure portion has a support surface that is capable of supporting at least one object.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to ladders. More particularly, the present invention relates to ladders with storage compartments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Ladders are used in a variety of applications to assist with accessing objects that are located beyond the reach of a person. Ladders are available in a variety of configurations and sizes so that a ladder may be selected that is most appropriate for a particular task.  
         [0003]     For example, extension ladders generally include two ladder sections that are slidably mounted with respect to each other. Step ladders generally include two ladder sections that are pivotally mounted with respect to each other.  
         [0004]     In many applications it is necessary to hold objects while standing on the ladder. These objects are carried by the person using the ladder either in the person&#39;s hands or on in a tool pouch or similar device worn on the person&#39;s body. Carrying the items in the user&#39;s hands reduces the ability of the user to perform tasks on the ladder and potentially impacts the user&#39;s ability to safely use the ladder.  
         [0005]     There are various patents that address the issue of assisting person to hold objects while using ladders. Charlebois, U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,577, describes a storage device for attachment to a ladder. The storage device includes a toolbox and a cover that is pivotally attached to the toolbox. The cover hooks over the top of the ladder.  
         [0006]     Caron, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,862, discusses a modular storage device for use with a ladder. The modular storage device includes a central region that extends over the ladder top. Slots are formed along the sides of the central region for attaching additional storage modules to the central region.  
         [0007]     Katz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,260, and Katz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,443, both disclose a tray that is attached to the top of a ladder. The tray includes a lower section and an upper section that are pivotally attached to each other. The lower section is placed on the ladder top. The upper section pivots away from the lower section to provide a horizontal surface on which objects can be stored.  
         [0008]     Ryszkiewicz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,509, describes a caddy for use with a ladder. The caddy includes a center section that is placed over the ladder top. Containers for holding objects are mounted on opposite sides of the center section.  
         [0009]     Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,102, teaches a ladder having storage compartments in the top and steps. The storage compartment in the top includes a lid that pivots to an open position for storing objects.  
         [0010]     Ferley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,302, describes a toolbox that is suited for attachment to the top of a ladder. A lower surface of the toolbox includes a recess that is adapted to receive the top of the ladder. The top of the toolbox includes a cover to retain objects in the toolbox.  
         [0011]     McGee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,854, and Carty, U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,881, both disclose flexible tool pouches that are designed to be placed over the top of a ladder.  
         [0012]     Schopp et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,134, teaches a utility box that is attachable to the top of a ladder. A pair of resilient clips extends from the bottom of the toolbox for attaching the utility box to the ladder top.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     A ladder having a first ladder section, a second ladder section and a storage compartment. The second ladder section is operably attached to the first ladder section. The storage compartment is attached to at least one of the first ladder section and the second ladder section.  
         [0014]     The storage compartment comprises a storage section having a partially enclosed region formed therein. The storage compartment further comprises a closure section that is operably connected to the storage section. The closure section is movable between a closed position where the closure section substantially encloses the partially enclosed region and an open position where the closure section has a support surface that is capable of supporting at least one object.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ladder with storage compartment according to the present invention where the storage compartment is in a closed configuration.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ladder with storage compartment where the storage compartment is in an open position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the storage compartment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the storage compartment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a lower perspective view of an outer panel of the first closure portion.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an upper perspective view of the outer panel of the first closure portion.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a lower perspective view of an outer panel of the second closure portion.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is an upper perspective view of the outer panel of the second closure portion.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an inner panel for the first closure portion.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a top view of an inner panel for the second closure portion.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the storage compartment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the storage compartment.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the storage compartment.  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternate configuration of the storage compartment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     The present invention is a ladder with storage compartment, as illustrated at  10  in  FIGS. 1-2 . The ladder with storage compartment  10  generally includes a ladder  12  to which a storage compartment  14  is attached.  
         [0030]     The ladder with storage compartment  10  enables objects such as screwdrivers and screws that are used in conjunction with the ladder  12  to be readily stored and accessed in the storage compartment  14 . The ladder with storage compartment  10  thereby eliminates the need for the person using the ladder  12  to hold these objects in his/her hands or on tool belts or similar objects that are worn by the user. The storage compartment  14  also acts as a handle that a person may use while either walking up the ladder  12  or standing on the ladder  12 .  
         [0031]     The ladder  12  preferably includes two ladder sections  20 ,  22  that are pivotally attached to each other to move between a use position where the ladder sections  20 ,  22  are pivoted apart from each other and a storage position where the ladder sections  20 ,  22  are pivoted towards each other.  
         [0032]     While the concepts of the present invention are described with respect to using the storage compartment  14  with the stepladder  12 , a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the concepts of the present invention are suitable for use with a variety of types of ladders.  
         [0033]     The ladder  12  includes at least one step  24  that is operably attached to at least one of the ladder sections  20 ,  22 . As the ladder sections  20 ,  22  are pivoted between the use position and the storage position, the at least one step  24  may pivot with respect to at least one of the ladder sections  20 ,  22  to reduce an overall thickness of the ladder  12 . The ladder  12  can include two steps  24  that are operably attached to each other to pivot in unison with respect to at least one of the ladder sections  20 ,  22 .  
         [0034]     The front ladder section  20  is preferably defined by a pair of side rails  30 . The storage compartment  14  is attached to upper ends of the side rails  30  so that the storage compartment  14  extends between the side rails  30 .  
         [0035]     The storage compartment  14  generally includes a storage section  40  to which a closure section  42  is pivotally attached. The storage section  40  has a front panel  44 , a bottom panel  46 , a back panel  48  and a pair of side panels  50  that define a partially enclosed region  52 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . The storage section  40  preferably has a rectangular configuration with a length that is significantly larger than a width. This configuration reduces a thickness of the storage compartment for storage.  
         [0036]     The front panel  44  preferably includes at least one closure mechanism  54  such as a resilient tab that is capable of engaging the closure section  42  to maintain the closure section  42  in a closed configuration with respect to the storage section  40 .  
         [0037]     The closure section  42  preferably includes a two-part configuration with a first closure portion  60  and a second closure portion  62 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1-2 . The first closure portion  60  and the second closure portion  62  are preferably pivotally attached to each other.  
         [0038]     The first closure portion  60  preferably has a length and a width that are similar to a length and width of the back panel  48 . While the first closure portion  60  may be formed from a single piece, the first closure portion  60  is preferably fabricated from an inner panel  70  and an outer panel  72 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  9 . Fabricating the first closure portion  60  in the two-part configuration enables the first closure portion  60  to resist bending when in the open position while providing an aesthetically appealing relatively smooth outer surface and an inner surface having recesses or other features that facilitate retaining objects in a desired position, as is described in more detail below.  
         [0039]     The second closure portion  62  preferably has a length and a width that are similar to a length and a width of an upper opening of the partially enclosed region  52 . While the second closure portion  62  may be formed from a single piece, the second closure portion  62  is preferably fabricated from an inner panel  74  and an outer panel  76 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  10 . Fabricating the second closure portion  62  in the two-part configuration enables the second closure portion  62  to resist bending when in the open position while providing an aesthetically appealing relatively smooth outer surface and an inner surface having recesses or other features that facilitate retaining objects in a desired position, as is described in more detail below.  
         [0040]     The closure section  42  is preferably pivotally attached to the ladder section  20  using a pair of fastening mechanisms  43 . Each of the fastening mechanisms preferably extends through the closure section  42  into the main section  40  and then through the side rail  30 .  
         [0041]     The closure section  42  is pivotable between a closed configuration ( FIG. 1 ) and an extended configuration ( FIG. 2 ). When the closure section  42  is in the closed position, the first closure portion  60  is preferably substantially parallel to the back panel  48  and the second closure portion  62  substantially seal the upper opening of the partially enclosed region  52 .  
         [0042]     When the closure section  42  is in the extended configuration, the second closure portion  62  is pivoted to a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first closure portion  60  and the bottom panel  46  such that the closure section  42  provides a substantially flat surface on which objects such as screwdrivers and pain cans may be placed.  
         [0043]     The inner surfaces of at least one of the first closure portion  60  and the second closure portion  62  preferably include at least one recess  80  to maintain objects in a desired position with respect to the closure section  42 . The inner surfaces of the first closure portion  60  and the second closure portion  62  may also include at least one extension and at least one aperture for maintaining objects in a stationary position with respect to the closure section  42 .  
         [0044]     The components of the ladder  12  and the storage compartment  14  are preferably either fabricated from metallic materials or plastic materials to provide the ladder  12  with a relatively light weight yet durable construction.  
         [0045]     In operation, the ladder  12  is moved a desired use location with the first and second ladder sections  20 ,  22  in a closed position where they are substantially adjacent to each other. The first and second ladder sections  20 ,  22  are then pivoted apart from each other and the ladder  12  is placed in a standing orientation on a surface where the ladder  12  is to be used.  
         [0046]     The storage compartment  14  is initially in a closed position where the first closure portion  60  is adjacent the back panel  48  and the second closure portion  62  substantially covers the partially enclosed region  52 .  
         [0047]     When it is desired to access objects stored in the storage compartment  14  or when it is desired to rest on the storage compartment  14 , the second closure section  62  is pivoted with respect to the first closure portion  60  and the first closure portion  60  is pivoted with respect to the storage section  40  until the first and second closure portion  60 ,  62  are in a substantially horizontal orientation.  
         [0048]     Once done using the ladder  12 , objects may be placed in the partially enclosed region  52  for storage. The first and second closure portions  60 ,  62  are then pivoted to the closed position and the first and second ladder sections  20 ,  22  are pivoted towards each other.  
         [0049]     In an alternative configuration of the storage compartment  114 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the closure section  142  is attached proximate an upper edge of the storage section  140  and the closure section  142  includes first and second closure portions  160 ,  162  that are pivotally attached to each other.  
         [0050]     In another configuration of the storage compartment  214 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the closure section  242  is attached proximate a lower edge of the storage section  240 . The closure section  242  includes first, second and third closure portions  260 ,  262 ,  264  that are pivotally attached to each other.  
         [0051]     In still another configuration of the storage compartment  314 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the closure section  342  is attached proximate an upper edge of the storage section  340 . The closure section  342  includes a single closure portion  360  that is pivotally attached to the storage section  340 .  
         [0052]     In yet another configuration of the storage compartment  414 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the closure section  442  includes first and second closure portions  460 ,  462  that are separately attached to the storage section  440  so that they can pivot apart from each other to access objects in the storage section  440 .  
         [0053]     It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.