Abstract:
A portable work tray designed to receive objects therein whereby the tray has a leveling assembly operatively connected thereto to allow the tray to be placed in a generally level manner upon engagement with a sloped surface. The tray includes four walls and a bottom with a pair of pivot arms oppositely mounted along two of the walls. Intermediately mounted to the pivot arms distal to walls is a support arm. The support arm has substantially disposed thereon a coating and/or a serrated edge to prevent the tray from traversing down the sloped surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a work tray apparatus, and more specifically, but not by a work of limitation, to a work tray adaptable to be configured to a plurality of sloped surfaces such as but not limited to roofs. The work tray includes a mechanism which allows the work tray to be oriented in a substantially level manner so as to facilitate retention of the items placed therein while the work tray is engaged with the sloped surface.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Individuals and/or professionals routinely find it necessary to engage in a repair or other similar task that requires working on a sloped surface, such as on the rooftop of a house. Facilitating the repairs of water leaks or painting are just a few of the many tasks that require an individual to work from the rooftop of a house.  
         [0003]     One problem with performing repairs or painting from a sloped surface such as a rooftop is that the required tools such as but not limited to wrenches, brushes and paint cans slide down and fall to the ground when placed on the sloped surface. This requires that the individual either have a belt that can accommodate all the tools necessary to perform the desired task or that the individual be assisted by another person that is responsible for the tools or paint.  
         [0004]     Another problem specifically relates to painting surfaces while positioned from or working on a rooftop. Paint containers that are full of paint can not be placed on the roof as the container will either slide down the roof and fall to the ground or the container will lose some of the paint contained therein as placing the container on a sloped surface causes the paint to spill from the container.  
         [0005]     Accordingly there is a need for a work tray that can accommodate a plurality of different type of tools and containers such as but not limited to paint cans, and that can be adjusted to create a level surface so that tools and paint can contained therein remain secure when the work tray is engaged with a sloped surface. Furthermore, at least a portion of the work tray should be coated with a material or be designed so as to inhibit sliding of the tray.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is the object of the present invention to provide a container that is adjustable in order to provide a level surface for retaining items therein such as but not limited to paint cans and tools while the container is engaged with a sloped surface such as but limited to a rooftop.  
         [0007]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a container that can adjust to a plurality of sloped surfaces and maintain the container in a level position.  
         [0008]     Yet another object of the present invention to provide a container that is adjustable in order to provide a level surface that also includes a method of securing the work tray upon engagement with a sloped surface.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container that can be adjusted to provide a level working surface while engaged with a sloped surface that is lightweight and inexpensive.  
         [0010]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Attention is called to the fact that the drawing is illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE  
       [0011]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring now to the embodiments in  FIG. 1  and wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale, there is illustrated a work tray  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention.  
         [0014]     The work tray  100  comprises a storage compartment  10  generally hollow and rectangular in shape. The storage compartment  10  has four walls  20  and a bottom  15  configured to define an interior volume of the storage compartment  10  and an opening  17  at the top of the storage compartment  10 . The four walls  20  and bottom are constructed of plastic or other suitable rigid material such as but not limited to aluminum. The storage compartment  10  is configured to receive objects therein such as but not limited to paint cans or tools. Although it is shown as one generally rectangular compartment, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the storage compartment  10  could consist of a plurality of different sized compartments adapted for holding specific objects. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the storage compartment  10  could have disposed therein an additional wall generally annular in shape and being of an appropriate diameter to receive a standard one gallon paint can therein.  
         [0015]     Although no specific measurement is required for the storage compartment  10 , good results have been achieved with a storage compartment that is approximately twenty inches in length and eighteen inches in width. Although no specific measurement is required for the height of the walls  20 , good results have been achieved with walls  20  that are approximately two inches in height. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous configurations using a plurality of wall configurations could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the configuration of the walls  20  described herein to achieve the functionality of the storage compartment  10  as described herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the storage compartment  10  illustrated is generally rectangular in shape, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that numerous different shapes of the storage compartment  10  could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the shape illustrated to achieve the functionality suggested herein of the storage compartment  10 .  
         [0016]     Pivotally mounted on opposing side walls  55  and adjacent thereto is the first component of the level assembly  60 , a pair of pivot arms  25 . The pivot arms  25  are generally flat and rectangular in shape and constructed of a suitable rigid material such as but not limited to plastic or aluminum. The pivot arms  25  have a first end  26  that are mounted approximately in the middle of each of the side walls  55  with an attachment mechanism  50 . The attachment mechanism  50  rotatably secures the pivot arms  25  in a multiplicity of positions with an approximate range of one hundred and eighty degrees of motion with respect to the bottom  15  of the storage compartment  10 . This allows a user to secure the pivot arms  25  within a range including a first position generally extending downward from the bottom  15  of the storage compartment  10  to a second position wherein the pivot arms  25  are generally parallel with the side walls  55 . In the second position, the second end  27  of the pivot arms  25  are adjacent to and parallel with the front wall  40 . The pivot arms  25  must be of sufficient length whereby in the second position the second end  27  of the pivot arms  25  extends beyond the front wall  40 . The pivot arms  25  can be secured at any point within this range by the attachment mechanism  50  in order to position the work tray  100  in a level manner when placed on a sloped surface. The attachment mechanism  50  is constructed of a conventional wingnut and bolt with a lock washer to prevent the pivot arms  25  from slipping once secured in a desired position. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous conventional mechanical fasteners could be utilized in place of and/or in conjunction with the attachment mechanism in order to achieve the desired functionality suggested herein.  
         [0017]     Contiguous with the second end  27  of each pivot arm  25  and integrally formed therewith is the support arm  30 . The support arm  30  is intermediate of each second end  27  of opposing pivot arms  25 . The support arm  30  is generally perpendicular with the second end  27  of each pivot arm  25  being flat and rectangular in shape and manufactured from the same suitable rigid material as the pivot arms  25 . The support arm  30  provides support for the storage compartment  10  upon placement of the work tray  100  on a sloped surface. The support arm  30  swings beneath the plane of the bottom  15  to engage with the sloped surface underneath the work tray  100 . Upon engagement with a sloped surface the leveling assembly  60  can be secured in a plurality of positions that will allow the user to position the bottom  15  of the storage compartment  10  in a generally level manner. This will allow objects placed therein to remain in position regardless of the slope of the surface upon which the work tray  100  has been placed, such as but not limited to a rooftop.  
         [0018]     The support arm  30  has a coating  35  substantially disposed thereon. The coating  35  is manufactured from conventional rubber or plastic and is designed to prevent the support arm  30  from slipping on the sloped surface once the leveling assembly  60  has been secured in the desired position to place the bottom  15  of the storage compartment  10  in a generally level manner. Although a coating  35  to prevent slippage of the leveling assembly  60  is shown in the illustration submitted herewith, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the support arm  30  could be configured in numerous configurations to prevent slippage. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the support arm  30  could further be comprised of a plurality of teeth integrally formed along the bottom to engage with the sloped surface and prevent slippage of the work tray  100  upon placement in a level position.  
         [0019]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes of the leveling assembly  60  could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the shape suggested herein. More specifically but not by way of limitation the leveling assembly could be constructed of an aluminum flat bar. Although the leveling assembly  60  is shown with two pivot arms  25  and a support arm  30  mounted therebetween, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the leveling assembly  60  could consist of a single pivot arm  25  attached to the work tray  100  with a support arm  30  perpendicularly secured to the pivot arm  25 .  
         [0020]     Mounted opposite the front wall  40  is the rear wall  45 . The rear wall  45  is integrally formed with the bottom  15  and adjacent side walls  55 . The rear wall  45  is configured in a manner upon where the angle of configuration is generally 90 degrees with respect to the bottom  15  and side walls  55 .  
         [0021]     It is further contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that a small level could be either integrated with one of the walls  20 , or could be removably attached with a clip or the like. The small level would ensure that work tray  100  is positioned level during use.  
         [0022]     Referring to the drawing submitted herewith, a description of the operation of the work tray  100  is as follows. In use, the user will transport the work tray  100  to the desired work location such as a rooftop. The user will then place the rear wall  45  generally adjacent to the rooftop. The user then releases the attachment mechanism  50  and engages the support arms  30  of the leveling assembly  60  in a position such that the bottom  15  of the work tray is configured in a generally level manner. Once the desired level position has been achieved, the user then secures the pivot arms  25  of the leveling assembly  60  to prevent the leveling assembly  60  from moving with the attachment mechanisms. The design and/or coating  35  of the support arm  30  facilitates the prevention of slippage of the work tray  100  on the rooftop. The user then places the desired objects such as paint cans or tools into the storage compartment  10 . After performing the desired task, the user will repeat this process in a second desired location on the rooftop.  
         [0023]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to utilize the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.