Patent Publication Number: US-9850706-B2

Title: Trade based component case and ladder bucket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/449,457 filed Jun. 7, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,796 issued on Jun. 4, 2013, incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to a ladder having a container that attaches to a top of the ladder. More specifically, the present invention is related to a ladder having a component case or a ladder bucket that attaches to a top of the ladder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Professionals use containers for their tools and small parts. The problem they have is for the tools and small parts in the container to be readily available to them when they are working while on a ladder. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to a ladder system. The system comprises a ladder having a ladder top. The ladder top has at least a first slot. The system has a container having at least a first protrusion that engages with the first slot to hold the container to the top. 
     The present invention pertains to a method for working from a ladder. The method comprises the steps of filling a container with objects. There is the step of engaging a first protrusion of the container with a first slot of a top of the ladder to hold the container to the top. 
    
    
     
       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: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of the case of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the case. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the case and a ladder top. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the case and the ladder top. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the bucket of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the bucket. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of a protrusion of the case or bucket. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of a slot of the top which receives the protrusion. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a ladder with a case. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic representation of a ladder with a bucket. 
     
    
    
     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  FIGS. 3, 5, 9 and 10  thereof, there is shown a ladder system  100 . The system  100  comprises a ladder  25  having a ladder top  11 . The ladder top  11  has at least a first slot  8   a . The system  100  has a container  75  having at least a first protrusion  3   a  that engages with the first slot  8   a  to hold the container  75  to the top  11 . 
     Preferably, the container  75  has a handle  5 . The top  11  preferably has a second slot  8   b , and the container  75  has a second protrusion  3   b  which fits in the second slot  8   b . Preferably, each slot has a diameter which is smaller at its bottom than at its top, and each protrusion has a diameter which is smaller at its bottom than at its top. Each slot is preferably disposed at an edge of the top. Preferably, each protrusion is disposed at a first side  30  of the container  75 . The container  75  preferably has a second side  32  in parallel with the first side  30 , a third side  34  connected with the first and second sides  30 ,  32  and a fourth side  36  in parallel with the third side  34  and connected with the first and second sides  30 ,  32 . 
     Preferably, the sides form a rectangular shape. The ladder  25  is preferably a stepladder. The container  75  can be a case  50 . The case  50  preferably has a lower section  1  and an upper section  2 . Preferably, the upper section  2  is pivotally connected to the lower section  1 . The handle  5  is preferably connected to the upper section  2 . Preferably, on the third side  34  is a first clasp  4   a , and on the fourth side  36  is a second clasp  4   b  which lock the first and second portions together. The container  75  can be a bucket  9 . Preferably, the handle  10  extends from the third side  34  and the fourth side  36 . The container  75  having a top  101  with an opening  103  which defines a container plane  105 . The periphery of the ladder top  11  at the ladder top&#39;s top  111  defining a ladder top plane  113 . The container plane  105  and the ladder top plane  113  in alignment and alongside each other to define an overall plane  115  when the first protrusion of the container  75  is engaged with the first slot of the ladder top  11 . 
     The present invention pertains to a method for working from a ladder  25 . The method comprises the steps of filling a container  75  with objects. There is the step of engaging a first protrusion  3   a  of the container  75  with a first slot  8   a  of a top  11  of the ladder  25  to hold the container  75  to the top. 
     Preferably, the engaging step includes the step of engaging a second protrusion  3   b  of the container  75  with a second slot  8   b  of the top  11  of the ladder  25  to hold the container  75  to the top  11 . There is preferably the step of carrying the container  75  by its handle  5  up the ladder  25 . Preferably, the container  75  is a case  50 , and there is the step of opening an upper portion  2  of the case  50  to access the objects in a lower portion  1  of the case  50 . 
     The new component case  50  and ladder bucket  9  of the present invention allow the user a place to store all of these items while providing a secure storage at the top of the ladder  25 . The component case  50  and ladder bucket  9  can be filled with all of the tools and materials necessary and then quickly and easily fastened high up on the ladder  25 . This makes multiple trips up and down the ladder  25  unnecessary. 
     The component case  50 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , consists of a lower section  1  and an upper section  2 . The two sections  1 ,  2  are connected at the pivot point, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Attached to the middle of the upper lid section  2  is a handle  5 . On each side of the case  50  are clasps  4   a ,  4   b  that lock the two portions together. 
     The two protrusions  3   a  and  3   b  side into ladder top slots  7 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The protrusions  3   a ,  3   b  fit into the corresponding slots  8   a ,  8   b  on the top. The slots  8   a ,  8   b  on the top are in the previous Electrician&#39;s and Pipe Trade Stepladder patent applications having U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/358,626 and 11/416,967, respectively, incorporated by reference herein. The protrusions  3   a ,  3   b  firmly wedge into the slots  8  on the top. The weight of the case  50  is then supported by the protrusions  3  in the slots  8  and by resting on the front of the ladder top  11 . 
     The ladder bucket  9 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is a plastic bucket shaped container with protrusions similar to those on the component case  50 . The plastic bucket  9  has a handle  10  that can be used to carry the bucket  9  to the top of the ladder  25  where it will be attached. 
     The two protrusions  3   a  and  3   b  slide into ladder top  11 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The protrusions fit into the corresponding slots on the top  8   a ,  8   b . The protrusions  3   a ,  3   b  firmly wedge into the slots  8  on the top. The weight of the bucket  9  is then supported by the protrusions  3  in the slots  8  and by resting on the front of the ladder top  11 . 
     The male protrusion  3  is shaped to fit the female geometry  8 . The protrusion  3  has a tapered shape  12 . The feature is larger at the top  17  and gets smaller near the bottom  18 . The female feature  8  is designed with a taper  14  that will fit the male feature  3 . The female feature is larger at the top  15  and gets smaller at the bottom  16 . The feature  8  also is designed with a lead in  13  to guide the male protrusion  3  into the slot  8 . 
     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.