Patent Publication Number: US-6698548-B1

Title: Ladder platform

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Application Serial No. 60/352,645, filed Jan. 29, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the art of article holding platforms that attach to ladders. 
     Ladders allow users to perform tasks in an elevated position. In order to reduce trips up and down the ladder for fetching tools, the user often times performs the balancing act of holding tools at the top of the ladder while also performing the intended task. Moreover, some tasks require more tools than can be held at the top of a ladder. 
     While there have been attempts to attach various devices that provide additional workspace to the top of ladders, a further need exists for a novel ladder platform. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention recognizes and addresses various drawbacks of prior art constructions and methods. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ladder platform having means for rapid attachment and removal. 
     The present invention provides a platform that attaches to a step on a ladder and has a tray that holds tools, work pieces or other articles. The tray attaches to the step using a support member and a latch, such as a spring-loaded latch. The platform can be removed from the step by moving the latch to its open position. The distance between the support member and latch can be adjusted to support various sizes of ladder steps. The platform can also be used while the ladder is supported against a wall. 
     Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are achieved by various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed elements, which are discussed in greater detail below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the platform attached to a ladder according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the platform attached to a ladder along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the platform along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred latch assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred support member according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the platform attached to a ladder and supported against a wall. 
    
    
     Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can by made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a platform  2  that attaches to a ladder  4 . A ladder is a structure, often portable, for climbing up and down. There are many types of ladders available, each designed for a specific purpose. A straight ladder has two parallel sides joined by a series of steps that serve as footrests. In use, a straight ladder is supported by a wall or other structure. A step ladder generally has an A-frame shape with a ladder structure hinged to a support structure. While platform  2  has been described below with respect to a step ladder, platform  2  could be adapted to be attached to other types of ladders, including a straight ladder. 
     In one embodiment, the step  6  to which platform  2  will be attached has a pair of opposing holes  8  and  10  (shown in FIG. 2) to accommodate the attachment mechanism of platform  2 . The ladder may be manufactured with these holes to accommodate platform  2 . Alternatively, the user may form holes in the ladder step  6  to accommodate platform  2 . 
     Platform  2  has a tray  12  that rests on top of the step  6  to provide an area for storing tools, work pieces or other articles. Tray  12  may be formed in various shapes to accommodate specific tools or other articles. Tray  12  may also have a ledge  18  (shown in FIG. 2) around its periphery that deters articles from falling off. In this embodiment, tray  12  is secured to the ladder  4  using a support member  20  and a latch  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3 , and  5 , support member  20  has a base portion  24  and an attachment portion  26 . Base portion  24  fastens to the bottom of tray  12 . In one embodiment, base portion  24  has holes  28  that receive bolts  30  therethrough. Nuts  32  have internal threads that mate with the external threads of bolts  30  to fasten base portion  24  to the bottom of tray  12 . As one skilled in the art will recognize, base portion  24  may also be fastened to the bottom of tray  12  using screws, nails, adhesive or other fastening objects. Also, base portion  24  may be integrally formed in the bottom of tray. 
     Attachment portion  26  of support member  20  is approximately perpendicular to base portion  24  and carries a pin  34 . Pin  34  is dimensioned and configured to be received by a hole  8  in the step  6  of the ladder  4 . Hole  8  has a sufficient diameter for pin  34  to freely move therein. Support member  20  may also be attached to the step using other detachable fasteners. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , latch  22  has a base portion  36  that attaches to the bottom of tray  12 . On opposing ends and approximately perpendicular to base portion  36 , latch  22  has a front member  38  and a rear member  40 . A latch bolt  42  is slidably received by a hole  44  and  46  in both front member  38  and rear member  40 . Latch bolt  42  has a front end  48  that may be received by a hole  10  in the step  6  of the ladder  4 . Rear end  50  of latch bolt  42  has a handle  52  that may be gripped by the user to move latch bolt  42 . 
     Latch bolt  42  may move between a closed position in which the front end  48  is received by the step hole  10  and an open position where the front end  48  of latch bolt  42  is not received by the step hole  10 . In the closed position, latch bolt  42  creates an interference that prevents removal of platform  2  from ladder  4 . In the open position, however, platform  2  may be removed from the ladder  4 . Latch bolt  42  preferably has a washer or flange  54  thereon that retains a spring  56 . Spring  56  urges latch bolt  42  into the closed position. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the position of latch  22  may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of ladder steps. Slots  58  contained in base portion  36  allow positional adjustment of latch  22 . To move latch  22  to a desired position, the user would untighten nuts  60  from bolts  62  sufficiently to allow movement of latch  22  along slots  58 . Once latch  22  has been moved to the desired location, with front member  38  of latch  22  adjacent to step  6 , the user would retighten nuts  60  to secure latch  22  in place. It should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that other detachable fasteners could be substituted for the embodiment described above. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, platform  2  may be used with a ladder  4  supported against a wall  64 . Bumpers  66  or other suitable means may be used to prevent scratches on the wall. Bumpers  66  may be formed from rubber, fabric or other materials that would not likely scratch a wall  64 . 
     In operation, the user would attach platform  2  by inserting pin  34  of support member  20  into a step hole  8 . With latch bolt  42  moved to its open position, the user will then align front end  48  of latch bolt  42  with the step hole  10 . Latch bolt  42  may then be moved to its closed position to fasten platform  2  in place. To remove platform  2 , the user would reverse the steps for attaching platform  2 . 
     It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a ladder platform having novel properties. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications and variations may be made thereto by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to be limitative of the invention.