Patent Publication Number: US-7900746-B2

Title: Lift caddy

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/717,162, filed Sep. 15, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a tool caddy, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a caddy attachable to a personnel lift or aerial work platform for storing and carrying various tools and materials, such as ropes, cables, hoses, light bulbs, drills, hammers, power cables, telecommunications wire, and the like. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     With the demand for performing myriad tasks in an elevated work environment comes the need to have ready access to a wide variety of tools and materials in such an environment. Currently, due to restrictions such as maneuverability and overall size, aerial work platforms are not large enough nor have the means to carry a technician and all the tools and materials needed to complete multiple or even lengthy tasks. Additionally, the weight and/or configuration of many tools make them impossible to carry on one&#39;s person. Finally, restrictions such as time, power, and cost make it infeasible to raise and lower a work platform during the course of a job or to have additional workers positioned below the platform in order to assist by handing materials and tools to the platform worker. 
     To this end, a need exists for a caddy that has the ability to assist a worker in an aerial work environment and house a diverse and numerous assortment of tools and materials. It is to such a caddy that the present invention is directed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a caddy constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown attached to a personnel lift. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the caddy constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown attached to the frame of a personnel lift. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a caddy and a mounting hook of the caddy of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the caddy and mounting hook of the caddy of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a secondary container of the caddy of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partially cutaway, side elevational view of the caddy of  FIG. 2 , shown attached and secured to the frame of the personnel lift. 
         FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are fragmented, side elevational views showing the mounting hook attached to lift frames of different sizes, shapes, and offsets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , shown therein and designated by a reference numeral  10  is a caddy constructed in accordance with the present invention for facilitating work in elevated environments. More particularly, the caddy  10  is shown mounted to a horizontal member  12  of a personnel lift  14 . The personnel lift  14  is a conventional lift, such as sold by Genie Industries, Inc. and may be a vertical telescoping lift, scissor lift, articulating boom lift, telescoping boom lift, or any other lift having a plurality of horizontal members  12  and a plurality of vertical members  15  cooperating to define the vertices of a box-shaped work area having a bottom area defined by a work platform  16 . The caddy  10  can be produced in various sizes and used with a variety of different lifts. The caddy  10  may be constructed from any suitable rigid material, such as sheet metal, plastic, composite, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the caddy  10  is preferably provided with a container  17  for storing and carrying various tools and materials, such as ropes, cables, hoses, light bulbs, drills, hammers, power cables, telecommunications wire, and the like. The preferred embodiment is provided with a box-like container  17  having an upper tray portion  18  and a lower storage portion  20 . The upper tray portion  18  preferably has a lip  22 , with a plurality of holes  24  of various sizes for storing tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and the like. 
     The container  17  may also be provided with one or more passages  26  extending vertically through the container. The passage  26  is preferably constructed of a length of pipe extending through the bottom of the container  17 , through the lower storage portion  20 , into to the upper tray portion  18  to provide a continuous opening through the container  17 . The passage  26  may also be defined by one or more rings, holes cut through one or more surfaces of the container  17 , or the like. The passage  26  provides a guide for hoses, tubes, wires, canopies, and the like that need to be controlled and easily accessed from the lift. For example, a pressure washer could be positioned at ground level with the hose threaded through the passage  26  prior to raising the lift. The sprayer would then be attached to the end of the hose above the passage  26  to prevent the hose from falling. When the lift is in the raised position, the passage  26  provides a lateral constraint to restrict excess motion of the hose which could reduce the stability of the lift  14 . In other embodiments, the caddy  10  may be provided with a variety of containers  17 , such as racks, shelves, trays, spools, hooks, hangars, or any other suitable means for attaching desirable tools and materials to the caddy. 
     The caddy  10  is provided with a mounting hook  28  for attaching the caddy  10  to a horizontal member  12  of the lift  14 . The mounting hook  28  hooks over the horizontal member to suspend the caddy as shown. Thus, the caddy  10  is vertically supported by the mounting hook  28  and is horizontally supported by the exterior surface of the container  17  which rests against an engaging surface of the lift  14 , generally either a lower horizontal member  12  or an outer surface around the perimeter of the work platform  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The length of the mounting hook  28  preferably extends the full width of the caddy  10 , but may also be provided as a shorter segment or in one or more discrete locations along the width of the caddy  10 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the caddy  10  is further provided with a pin  48  connected to each side of the caddy  10  by a cord  50 . The pin  48  may be constructed of any durable material and is preferably threaded. Similarly, the cord  50  may be constructed of any durable material such as steel, plastic, aluminum, or the like, and may be a single strand, a cable, a chain, or the like. 
     The mounting hook  28  is sized so as to be compatible with horizontal members  12  of different sizes and shapes, such as round and square. The caddy  10  may be secured to the lift by hooking the mounting hook  28  over the horizontal member  12 . Preferably, the caddy  10  is secured to the rail so that the container  17  is oriented substantially vertically. As such, the mounting hook  28  may be secured to the rail by selectively inserting pins  48  through the holes  46  of the upper portion  40  with the horizontal member positioned adjacent to the side portion  42  of the mounting hook  28 . In addition, the cord  50  is preferably sized so that it may be wrapped around at least a portion of the horizontal member prior to inserting the pins  48  into the holes  46 . The lower end of the caddy  10  is optionally provided with an additional tab  52  having a hole  54  therethrough. The hole  54  may be used to further secure the caddy  10  to the engaging surface of the lift  14  with any suitable fastener such as a screw, rivet, cord, magnet, or the like. 
     The caddy  10  may optionally be provided with a secondary container  32  attached to the container  17 . The secondary container  32  is preferably attached to the container  17  with nuts and bolts, although any suitable fastening means may be used, such as: screws, rivets, welds, tabs, welds, adhesives, and the like. Additionally, the container  17  is preferably provided with a flange  34  to help support the secondary container  32 . As shown, the secondary container  32  may be constructed as a simple open box. The secondary container  32  may also be provided with nipples  36 , which are adapted to selectively receive accessories  38  such as, for example, pipes or other axles for attaching spools of wire  38   a  and the like. The nipples  36  may be mounted to the interior or exterior of the container  17 . When the nipples  36  are mounted internally, the holes for receiving the accessories preferably extend through the walls of the container  17 . The nipples  36  are preferably offset to allow easy rotation of spools as wire is pulled off, for example. The nipples  36  may be threaded or smooth and may also receive hooks, pins, or other suitable fasteners for attaching additional racks and materials. The secondary container  32  is not limited to the preferred box shape and may also comprise racks, shelves, trays, spools, hooks, hangars, or any other suitable means for attaching desirable tools and materials to the caddy. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the container  17  and mounting hook  28  are shown in isolation without the secondary container  32  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) or the lift  14  ( FIG. 1 ). The mounting hook  28  has a substantially hook-like configuration and preferably includes an upper portion  40 , a side portion  42 , and a lip portion  44 . The upper portion  40  is preferably provided with a plurality of holes  46  formed at each side of the caddy  10  along a line perpendicular to the exterior surface of the container  17 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the container  17  and mounting hook  28  is shown. As described above, the preferred embodiment of the container  17  has a an upper tray portion  18 . The upper tray portion  18  is preferably provided with a lip  22  having a plurality of holes  24  of various sizes for holding tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, and the like. As described above and more clearly shown here, the passages  26  extend through the container  17  into the upper tray portion  18  to provide an opening for hoses, wires, cords, and the like. As also described above, the caddy  10  is provided with a mounting hook  28  preferably having an upper portion  40  with a plurality of holes  46 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  the secondary container  32  of  FIG. 2  is shown in isolation. As described above, the secondary container  32  may be a simple open box. In the preferred embodiment, the secondary container  32  is attached to the container  17  ( FIG. 2 ) with four bolts  56  and wing nuts (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the secondary container  32  provides an additional storage box and is uniquely adaptable to carry one or more spools of wire via nipples  36 . The secondary container  32  is preferably provided with a total of four nipples  36 , two on each side of the secondary container  32  located in corresponding mirror opposite positions. Thus, pipes or other axles may be inserted into the nipples  36  to support spools of wire, for example, either outside or inside of the secondary container  32 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the caddy  10  is shown installed on the horizontal member  12  of the lift  14 . As best shown here, one of the unique aspects of the mounting hook  28  is that it is well suited to hold the container  17  in a substantially vertical orientation when suspended from a horizontal member  12  that is offset from the engaging surface, for example a lower horizontal member  12   a.  In the installed configuration of such an embodiment, the mounting hook  28  is hooked over the horizontal member  12  and the cord  50  is wrapped around at least a portion of the horizontal member  12 . The pin  48  is inserted into the one of the holes  46  that is most closely situated to the edge of the horizontal member  12 . Thus, the horizontal member  12  is fit as snugly as possible between the inserted pin  48  and the side portion  42  of the mounting hook  28 . The pin  48  thereby restricts the horizontal travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 . The pin  48  is held in place by a pin retainer  58  ( FIG. 7   a - 7   d ) which contacts at least a portion of the horizontal member to restrict the vertical travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d,  cutaway views of the mounting hook  28  and exterior surface of the container  17  are shown with a variety of sizes, shapes, and offsets of horizontal members  12  showing the diversity of applications for which the present invention is suited. The cord  50  is omitted from  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  for clarity, but is preferably included for additional strength and safety when connecting the caddy  10  to the lift  14 . 
     More specifically,  FIG. 7   a  depicts the mounting hook  28  and exterior surface of the container  17  of the caddy  10  mounted on a lift with relatively large horizontal members  12  and  12   a  of circular cross-section. As shown, the mounting hook  28  is hooked over horizontal member  12  which is offset from horizontal member  12   a.  The size of the mounting hook  28  allows the container  17  to be suspended in a substantially vertical orientation despite the offset between the horizontal members  12  and  12   a.  The horizontal member  12  is positioned adjacent to the side portion  42  and the pin  48  is inserted through the third of the holes  46  so as to allow the pin  48  to clear the horizontal member  12  as closely as possible. The pin retainer  58  is then threaded onto the pin  48  and tightened to securely restrict the vertical travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the pin retainer  58  is a wing nut and flat washer. However, the pin retainer  58  may also be a pin, integral springs which expand after insertion, notched retainers, or any other suitable retaining mechanism. The pin retainer  58  may also be provided as an elongated member with one or more wings or flanges, the member extending between both pins and secured to the pins with wing nuts or the like. 
       FIG. 7   b  depicts the mounting hook  28  and exterior surface of the container  17  of the caddy  10  mounted on a lift with medium-sized horizontal members  12 ′ and  12   a ′ of rectangular cross-section. As shown, the mounting hook  28  is hooked over horizontal member  12 ′ which is offset from horizontal member  12   a ′. The size of the mounting hook  28  allows the container  17  to be suspended in a substantially vertical orientation despite the offset. The horizontal member  12 ′ is positioned adjacent to the side portion  42  and the pin  48  is inserted through the second of the holes  46  so as to allow the pin  48  to clear the horizontal member  12 ′ as closely as possible. The pin retainer  58  is then threaded onto the pin  48  and tightened to securely restrict the vertical travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 ′. 
       FIG. 7   c  depicts the mounting hook  28  and exterior surface of the container  17  of the caddy  10  mounted on a lift with relatively small diameter horizontal members  12 ″ and  12   a ″ of circular cross-section. As shown, the mounting hook  28  is hooked over horizontal member  12 ″ which is vertically aligned with the horizontal member  12   a ″. The size of the mounting hook  28  allows the container  17  to be suspended in a substantially vertical orientation from the aligned horizontal member  12 ″ as well as from an offset horizontal member  12 , as in  FIG. 7   a.  The horizontal member  12 ″ is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the container  17  and the pin  48  is inserted through the third of the holes  46  so as to allow the pin  48  to clear the horizontal member  12 ″ as closely as possible. The pin retainer  58  is then threaded onto the pin  48  and tightened to securely restrict the vertical travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 ″. 
       FIG. 7   d  depicts the mounting hook  28  and exterior surface of the container  17  of the caddy  10  mounted on a lift with relatively small horizontal members  12 ′″ and  12   a ′″ of rectangular cross-section. As shown, the mounting hook  28  is hooked over horizontal member  12 ′″ which is aligned above horizontal member  12   a ′″. The size of the mounting hook  28  allows the container  17  to be suspended in a substantially vertical orientation from the aligned horizontal member  12 ′″ as well as from an offset horizontal member  12 , as in  FIG. 7   a.  The horizontal member  12 ′″ is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the container  17  and the pin  48  is inserted through the third of the holes  46  so as to allow the pin  48  to clear the horizontal member  12 ′″ as closely as possible. The pin retainer  58  is then threaded onto the pin  48  and tightened to securely restrict the vertical travel of the mounting hook  28  relative to the horizontal member  12 ′″. 
     The present invention alleviates the above noted shortcomings of personnel lifts  14  by having the ability to attach to a lift to house a wide variety of tools and materials. The present invention, therefore, allows a worker to perform the required tasks without the aid of additional workers or the need to raise and lower the platform multiple times to retrieve or return tools and materials. Additionally, the current invention provides a tremendous increase in safety because the worker is no longer compelled to work off the floor of the platform. Therefore, the worker is able to use the entire surface area of the platform for footing and balance. It will be further appreciated that the caddy  10  of the present invention may also be used on other support structures, such as a corral railing, a scaffolding, or the like. 
     From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed.