Abstract:
An open tool box with a cover positionable over a portion of the box. The cover is adapted to hook onto the top of a step ladder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to tool boxes, and in particular, to a tool box specifically adapted for use with a step ladder. 
     Ladders are used extensively to support workers in an elevated position while they perform various tasks. Consequently, numerous devices have been developed expressly for the purpose of supporting articles, such as tools, fasteners, materials, containers, and the like, upon a ladder. In spite of this, a particular limitation of prior art devices is the difficulty in using these devices in environments other than with a ladder. It is believed that applicant&#39;s invention, as defined hereinafter, contains novel features particularly useful in assisting a worker in performing a wide variety of tasks, with and without a ladder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the problem of prior art devices by providing a tool box which, while particularly adapted to use with a step ladder, may be used independently of the ladder. The present invention provides an open tool box with a cover positionable over a portion of the box. The cover is also adapted to hook onto the top of a step ladder. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder mate tool box. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool box with the cover closed. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a step ladder. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the tool box with the cover open and engaged to a step ladder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a ladder mate tool box  25  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The tool box  25  is particularly adapted to engage a step ladder  10 . 
     The step ladder  10  shown is comprised of at least two, main, upright rails  11  and a number of horizontal steps  12  interconnecting the rails  11 . The tops  13  of the rails  11  usually terminate in a generally flat, rectangular, horizontal platform  14 . The platform  14  has an underside  15 , a top side  16 , two side edges  17 , a forward edge  18  and a rearward edge  19 , said rails  11  terminating in the platform underside  15  near to the rearward edge  19  and side edges  17 . The platform  14  has a pair of downwardly extending legs  20  pivotally attached to the platform underside  15  by means of pivots  21  positioned near to the forward edge  18  and side edges  17 . 
     The tool box  25  is made out of a sturdy, lightweight material such as plastic or metal and has a generally rectangular base  30  and corresponding cover  50 . The base  30  is comprised of a substantially parallel front  31  and rear  32  walls, substantially parallel side walls  33  and  34 , and a flat bottom  35  extending from the front  31  to rear  32  walls and from side wall  34  to side wall  35 . The longitudinal axis of the base  30  is defined by the side walls  33 ,  34 . The base  30  has two divider walls  36  and  37  parallel to the side walls  33 ,  34  and extending from the front  31  wall to the rear wall  32 . Other divider walls may be added or subtracted to increase or decrease the number of compartments formed thereby. In this embodiment of the invention, the divider walls  36 ,  37  are each positioned approximately one quarter of the longitudinal distance from a side wall  36 ,  37 , respectively. The area defined by the divider walls  36 ,  37 , front wall  31 , rear wall  32  and bottom  35  is termed the central compartment  39 . The area defined by the side wall  34 , divider wall  36 , front wall  31 , rear wall  32  and bottom  35  is termed an outer compartment  40 . The area defined by the side wall  33 , divider wall  37 , front wall  31 , rear wall  32  and bottom  35  is also termed an outer compartment  41 . 
     The cover  50  is generally flat and has four edges, a front edge  51 , a rear edge  52 , and two sides edges  53  and  54 , respectively. The cover rear edge  52  is pivotally hinged along its length to the top edge of the base rear wall  32 . The cover  50  has a top surface  55  and bottom surface  56 . An elongated element  57  having a half-round cross section is attached to the top surface  55  near to the cover front edge  51  and extending nearly from side edge  53  to side edge  54 . The element  57  has a central longitudinal axis parallel to the cover front edge  51 . The element  57  has an elongated opening  58  defined by the half-round cross section and extending the length of the element  57 , said opening  58  facing rearward toward the cover rear edge  52 . The element  57  has an external surface  59  and an interior surface  60  accessible through the opening  58 . The cover  50  has a longitudinal axis and width defined by the side edges  53 ,  54 . The width of the cover  50  is approximately equal to the distance between the base divider walls  36 ,  37 , whereby only the base central compartment  39  may be covered. The base front wall  31  has a latch  38  attached thereto. The cover top surface  55  has a corresponding latch receptacle  65  attached thereto adjacent to the front edge  51 . The latch  38  is adapted to be removably engaged to the latch receptacle  65 . 
     In operation, the tool box  25  may be used in two different modes. In the first mode, the tool box  25  may be used as a regular tool box with a closable cover. Tools, fasteners, materials, containers, and the like, may be carried in the central compartment  39 . The cover  50  is closable over the central compartment  39  by means of the latching arrangement  38 ,  65 . The elongated element  57  with its elongated opening  58  provides a means for carrying the tool box  25 , i.e., fingers may be slipped into the opening  58  against the interior surface  60  while the curved outer surface  59  of the element  57  fits into a person&#39;s palm. The outer compartments  40 ,  41  are used primarily while performing work. The outer compartments  40 ,  41  provide a place to temporarily hold tools, fasteners, materials, containers, and the like, while the central compartment  39  will generally hold those items not immediately required for the task at hand. 
     In the second mode, the tool box  25  is used in conjunction with a step ladder  10 . The box  25  is opened and the cover  50  is positioned over the step ladder platform top side  16 . The tool box elongated cover element opening  58  is positioned over and engages the platform rearward edge  19 . The tool box base rear wall  32  rests against the step ladder legs  20 . The tool box  25  is thereby open and fully accessible to a worker standing on the step ladder steps  12 . When finished, the worker disengages the tool box cover element  57 , removes the tool box  25  from the step ladder  10 , closes the tool box  25  and removes the tool box  25  to any desired location. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.