Patent Publication Number: US-6666342-B1

Title: Lockable railing trough

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates generally to devices for holding parts and tools in a temporary work place and more specifically to holding parts and tools within easy reach of a person working on a man lifter, cherry-picker, or other isolated platform with railings. 
     2. Background 
     Man lifters elevate a workman and the tools and parts needed to do a job. Elevations of ninety feet or more may be obtained. The man lifter work space conventionally includes a floor, or platform, surrounded with a railing. Persons working on man lifters and other confined, isolated, elevated platforms conventionally must carry their tools and parts on their person or lay the tools and parts on the floor of the man-lifter. Carrying parts and tools on the person may be impossible for large jobs and is at least fatiguing for medium-sized jobs. Having parts and tools on the man lifter floor is dangerous to the worker who may trip on such items and to those below the platform who may be struck by falling metal parts and tools. Furthermore, having parts and tools on the floor is inefficient due to the time spent bending over to pick them up. The difficulties do not appear to have been addressed in the existing art. 
     A tool box for scaffolding is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,080 to Klimas (1996) discloses a tool box with a lid, the box adapted to hang on a scaffolding bar and required to be supported against rotation by at least one vertical scaffolding bar. Klimas discloses locking the lid of the tool box, but not locking the tool box to the scaffolding. A portable carrier device that attaches to ladder rungs and stiles is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,468 to Preston, et al. (1987), discloses a device that hooks over and clamps to a ladder rung and also engages a ladder stile for stability. Preston does not disclose a lock for securing the carrier to the rung or stile. 
     Neither of these devices nor other conventional methods meet all the needs of those who work on elevated, isolated platforms such as man lifters, cherry pickers, boom-lifts, and other railing-delimited platforms. The workman needs the means to secure tools and parts in a convenient location while ensuring that parts and tools are unlikely to fall off the mobile man lifter. At the same time, the means for carrying tools and parts must not imbalance the man lifter, as a large tool box may do if placed outside the man lifter railing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is to a lockable railing trough for holding tools and parts for a workman in a railing-delimited work space, such as on a man lifter, cherry picker, scaffolding, or boom lifter. The railing trough may have end panels, forming a bin. The locking mechanism comprises a mechanically separate item from the trough. The trough or bin may be hung on a railing, as on a man lifter railing, by a hook portion of the trough or bin and locked there with the locking mechanism, which engages the trough or bin. The trough or bin may hang on the inside of the railing or on the outside of the railing. Matched pairs of troughs and/or bins may be arranged in saddle-bag fashion, with their hook portions overlapping over the railing. A plurality of bins and troughs may be used on a plurality of railings on a single man lifter. The bins and troughs may be adapted to particular work environments such as painting, electrical work, or plumbing. The troughs and bins may comprise compartments, partitions, trays, tool tethers, and other adaptations to particular work requirements. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the lockable railing trough will be apparent from the following more particular description of specific embodiments of the lockable railing trough, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1A-D depict an exemplary embodiment of the lockable railing trough in four different positions; 
     FIGS. 2A-C depict an exemplary trough and bin embodiment of the lockable railing trough on square railings; 
     FIGS. 3A-C depict front, back, and end views of an exemplary embodiment of the lockable railing trough; 
     FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary bin embodiment of the lockable railing trough with tool lanyards; 
     FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary bin embodiment of the lockable railing trough adapted for paint cans and lids; 
     FIG. 6 depicts a bin-side view of another exemplary bin and trough embodiment of the lockable railing trough; 
     FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary bin and trough embodiment of the lockable railing trough in place on a man-lifter. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1A, lockable railing trough  100  comprises a trough  105  and a lock  113 . Trough  105  may be a single sheet of bent metal, such as aluminum. Any substantially rigid material with sufficient strength may be used for forming trough  105 . For example, fiberglass, plastics, or boron-epoxy composites, which may be formed or molded to shape, may be particulary useful where weight is critical. For further examples, metal troughs may be bent to shape in a machine adapted to the purpose, cast, or stamped. In some embodiments, trough  105  may be assembled from parts of a plurality of materials. Trough  105  comprises a hook portion  102  and a container portion  101 . The hook  102  may extend substantially the full length of the container  101  and is sized and shaped to fit over railing  120 . In an alternate embodiments, the hook  102  may extend discontinuously in short sections along a container length. The hook  102  is shown as a squared off hook  102  but, in other embodiments, may be rounded or otherwise adaptively shaped to a particular railing shape and size. Container  101  comprises a bottom, a first side at approximately right angles to the bottom, and a second oblique side. Other shapes and angles are also contemplated. 
     The hook  102  extends from the first side of the container  101 , over the railing  120 , and downward by approximately the entire vertical dimension of the railing  120 . The extent of the downwardly-extending portion of the hook  102  fits with the lock  113  to ensure that any gap between the hook  102  and the closed lock  113  is too small to permit railing  120  to escape. Suspended on the railing  120 , the hook  102  engages the railing  120  at several points. For example, a round railing  120  contacts the top and one or two side interior surfaces of the hook  102 . IN some embodiments, the lock  113  is configured to prevent the railing from simultaneously contacting the lock  113  and all of the interior surfaces of hook  102  contacted in suspension. Thus, the lock  113  will normally contact the railing  120  only in response to some upward impulsive force on the lockable railing trough which would disengage the hook  102  from the railing  120  were it not for the lock. That same force will cause railing  120  to break contact with at least the top interior surface of the hook  102 . 
     The oblique second side of container  101  serves to gravitate loose parts and pipes closer to the railing  120 , thereby reducing how far outboard the workman must reach for a part. In a particular embodiment for a trough mounted outside of a railing, the bottom of the trough may narrow almost to the point of disappearing. For greatest ease of use, the bottom should be about an inch wider than the diameter of pipe or conduit usually carried in the trough. This leaves room for a workman&#39;s fingers to get underneath the pipe or conduit. 
     In some embodiments, interior surfaces of the container  101  and the hook  102  may be finished or coated to increase frictional forces. For example, a neoprene coating may be used to increase frictional engagement between the container  101  walls and parts, such as electrical conduit, laying in the trough  105 . 
     Trough  105  may further comprise a lip  103 . Lip  103  comprises a doubly bent portion of the trough  105 . Lip  103  may serve as a handle and for other purposes. For example, for an embodiment adapted to painting, lip  103  may engage one edge of a drop cloth, perhaps with clamps, that extends under a vertical surface to be painted, thereby preventing paint drips from falling to the floor below. The invention contemplates that trough  105  may be made in a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes, although only one shape is illustrated. In some embodiments, the lip  103  may bend inward, toward the container  101 . 
     Because of its open ends, trough  105  is particularly useful for long items. For example, an electrician may use a trough  105  that is six feet long to hold lengths of electrical conduit that are conventionally ten feet long. The first side of trough  105  may contact vertical railing support  130  to prevent rotation of the trough about the railing  120 , but this is not necessary. The railing  120  and railing supports  130  are not part of the present invention. Alternatively, caps may be added to the ends of the trough  105  or the ends otherwise enclosed to prevent smaller items from falling out. 
     In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1A, lock  113  comprises a support  104  which is adapted to fit around and engage by contact the bottom and portions of the sides of the container  101 . A portion of the support  104  may be adapted to align beneath the hook  102  when the lock  113  is engaging the trough  105 . The top edge of the under-hook portion of the support  104  is approximately level with the bottom of the hook  102 . The support  104  need not contact the railing  120 , and normally does not unless the railing trough  105  is subjected to a mechanical shock. Lock  113  may be used with the trough  105  on any railing  120  that will fit within the hook  102 . Because the design of lockable railing trough  100  makes the shape of the railing  120  irrelevant, the lockable railing trough  100  is highly portable between railing-delimited workspaces of different designs. Furthermore, because the lockable railing trough  100  requires only a railing  120  and perhaps a man-lifter floor edge  720  (FIG. 7) for support, the lockable railing trough  100  is portable between all railing-delimited workspaces having a railing  120 . 
     The under-hook support portion of support  104  may have a slider pin  140  attached to engage the slider slot  108  of the catch  111 . While so engaged, the catch  111  may rotate about the slider pin  140  and translate within the limits of the slot  108 . In embodiment  100 , the slider pin  140  may be a bolt  140 . As shown in FIG. 1A, the catch  111  is about to be rotated into alignment with the hook  102 . In making catch  111 , the opening below the point of catch hook  110  must be large enough to receive hook  102 , and the crook of catch hook  110  must be wide enough to engage hook  102 . Catch  111  may have a locking pin bore  107  through the body  106  of the catch  111 . In embodiment  100 , the body  106  may include a channel  114  between two flanges of body  106 , as shown. The channel  114  is wide enough to slidingly receive the thickness of support  104 . Locking pin bore  107  may extend through both flanges. Likewise, each flange may have a slider slot  108  to receive a slider pin  140  on each side of support  104 . In the closed position (FIG.  1 C), locking pin bores  107  align with locking pin bore  117  in the support  104  to receive a locking pin  150  (FIG.  1 C). In some alternate embodiments, the catch  111  may be spring-biased in the closed position. 
     Lock  113  may further comprise brace  109  which may be attached to support  104 . The brace  109  extends to a nearby fixed object, such as a lower railing  131  (FIG. 3A) or a platform edge  720  (FIG.  7 ). This feature makes reliance on vertical railing supports  130  unnecessary, thereby expanding the range of useful lockable railing trough  100  sizes and shapes. The long edge of brace  109  nearest the railing  120  may be aligned to the exterior surface of the first side of container  101 . The brace  109  may be bolted to the support  104 , as shown. Other methods of attachment, including formed, welded, flexible, lockable, and adjustable attachments, are also contemplated for various other embodiments. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of sets of bolt holes are provided in the support  104  to enable changing the alignment of brace  109  for engaging different types of fixed objects. Brace  109  is shown as a rectangular bar but, in other embodiments, may be of any shape that will perform the function. Likewise, the orientation of the brace  109  may be varied in other embodiments, even to engage an upper railing instead of a lower one  131 . 
     In a particular embodiment adapted to one type of man lifter, the brace  109  may be attached to the trough  105 . For example, the brace  109  may be aligned and attached to the exterior of the oblique second side of the container, extending downward at the oblique angle to engage lower railing  131  (FIG.  3 A). In a variation of this particular embodiment, the attachment of the brace  109  to the container  101  may be a pivot in a plane parallel to the oblique second side, allowing the brace  109  to be stored along the trough  105  side for transport, and pivoted into position while in use. 
     FIG. 1B shows the catch  111  rotated into an aligned position. The catch  111  has received the hook  102  by pivoting about the slider pin  140 . The catch hook  110  is poised to engage the hook  102  when the catch  111  is lowered. Slider pin  140 , in this embodiment 100, may be aligned directly below the center of hook  102 . A wide variety of geometric relationships between the hook  102  and the slider pin  140  are contemplated as adaptations to different operational constraints and specifically adapted catch  111  designs. 
     FIG. 1C shows the catch  111  in the closed position. The catch hook  110  engages the hook  102 , and locking pin  150  is inserted into aligned locking pin bores  107  and  117  (FIG.  1 A). In this closed position, the railing  120  may not be in contact with the lock  113 . However, in the event of a shock or upset to the railing  120  or railing trough  105 , the railing  120  will be retained in the hook  102 . 
     FIG. 1D shows that the lock  113  need not be installed at an end of the railing trough  105 , but may be placed at any convenient point along the railing trough  105 . This provides a significant advantage over locks having fixed positions on the trough  105 . The advantage is in the adaptability of a trough to different railing designs and work environments, allowing the lock  113  to be placed in a convenient location. From another point of view, the precise railing configuration encountered does not impact the location of the lockable trailing trough. 
     It is theoretically possible that the trough  105  may move parallel to the long axis of railing  120  and thereby escape lock  113 . In an embodiment, the inside surface in the crook of catch hook  110  is finished or coated to enhance frictional engagement between the catch hook  110  and the hook  102 , thereby to lower the likelihood of axial disengagement of the trough  105 . In other embodiments, a series of pin-receiving holes may be provided on the top surface of hook  102 , to be aligned with a pin receiving hole in the catch hook  110 . A pin may be inserted through both aligned holes to prevent axial disengagement of the trough  105 . 
     In using embodiment  100 , if a workman needs to get very close to a workpiece, he can place the lockable railing trough  100  on a railing  120  to his side and abut the railing-delimited workspace to the workpiece or to the nearest wall thereto. In other situations, the lockable railing trough  100  may be abutted to a wall or workpiece, and the workman will have parts and tools in front of him at his waist level. 
     FIG. 2A shows embodiment  200  comprising railing troughs  105  and  205 , both held by a similar lock  113 A. Lockable railing trough  205  is similar to lockable railing trough  105  except that the container  201  may be shorter, while the hook  202  may be the same length (See FIG.  6 ), but made wider to fit over hook  102 . Catch hook  110  may be wider to engage hook portion  202  which engages hook  102 . In a particular embodiment, catch hook  110  may be made to have an adjustable width, as is known to those of skill in the art. For example, a C-clamp configuration may be used. 
     FIG. 2A also shows that lockable railing trough  205  has webs  204 , disposed as end panels  204 , which have openings  260  that may serve as handles. “Web,” as used herein, refers to a panel that is not necessarily flat, flat-sided or geometrically regular. Webs  204  may also be used as partitions  204  within the container  201 , with or without openings such as  260 . For example, a partition  204  may segregate small parts from tools in container  201 . In some embodiments, partitions  204  may be temporary or may be user-reconfigurable. Troughs  205  with end webs  204  are also referred to as bins. 
     The lip  203  is bent inward, showing that variations of lip configuration, including no lips  103  and  203 , are contemplated within the invention. In other embodiments, the lips  103  and  203  may be curved, otherwise shaped, or modified to adapt to the needs of particular users. 
     Also depicted in FIG. 2A is a railing  121  that is both square in cross section and significantly smaller than the width of hook  102 . Support  104 A has been adapted to include a portion just below and a portion beside the railing  121 , as shown. Thus support  104 A extends up into the crook of hook  102 . This configuration limits the movement of the lockable railing troughs  105  and  205  in the event of a mechanical shock. However, support  104 A is not normally in contact with railing  121 . 
     FIG. 2B shows a variation of FIG. 2A using lock  113  for a square railing fully engaged by hook  102 . Any shape of railing may be engaged by hook  102 . Rather than directly bind or clamp the railing  121 , lock  113  merely sets a constraint on the relative position of the railing  121  and the hook  102 . 
     FIG. 2C shows an end view of the two-trough configuration. Trough  105  is supported by support  104  of lock  113 . Brace  109  is aligned to the wall of trough  105  nearest the square railing  121  and extends to engage lower square railing  131 . The lock  113  also secures trough  205  by engaging its hook portion  202  (FIG.  2 A). Either or both troughs  105  and  205  may additionally be braced by a vertical railing support  130 , but this is not required. (See FIG.  7 ). 
     FIG. 3A shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a trough  105  having two locks  1   13 . Braces  109  contact lower railing  131  for support. In situations where no lower railing  131  is available, braces  109  may extend further downward to engage an edge of a platform floor  720  (FIG.  7 ). In many embodiments, one lock  113  is sufficient. In some embodiments, where the flexibility of the trough  105  may allow the hook  102  to disengage from the railing  120  (FIG. 1A) at one end of the trough  105  in response to a mechanical shock, two locks  113  may be used. As an alternative, placing the lock  113  at the middle of the trough  105  may provide sufficient constraint. Likewise, having two locks drastically reduces the possibility that the trough  105  will axially disengage from both locks. Axial disengagement occurs when the hook  102  slides along the railing  120  and out from under the lock  113  in reponse to an impulsive force such as in a collision. With two locks, axial disengagement from one lock further inserts hook  102  into the catch hook  110  of the second lock  113 . Locks  113  may be moved inwardly from the edge positions shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B to further lessen the possibility of axial disengagement. Vertical railing support  130  need not be engaged by container  101 , and so need not be present (See FIG.  3 C). 
     FIG. 3B shows a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a trough  105  having two locks  113 . Hook  102  completely covers railing  120  (FIG.  3 C). A vertical railing support  130  may be present to support railing  120 , but is not part of the invention. Trough  105  does not rely on support from railing support  130  because brace  109  engages lower railing  131  to prevent rotation of trough  105  about railing  120 . 
     FIG. 3C shows an end view of an exemplary embodiment of a trough  105  having two locks  113  (one shown in this view). Support  104  may not directly contact the railing  120 . Likewise, lock  113 , as shown, does not clamp the railing  120 . Hook  102  (FIG. 1A) may engage railing  120  at three points. When engaging a smaller diameter railing  120 , a shim may be used between the railing  120  and the interior surface of hook  102 , the shim substituting for the under-hook extension of support  104  shown in FIG.  2 A. 
     In another alternate embodiment, the portions of support  104  engaging the bottom and second side may be omitted, and the portion of support  104  and the brace  109  are vertically aligned proximate the trough  105 , with the brace  109  curving at a lower point to align with the lower railing  131 . In this embodiment, the support  104  may engage only the exterior of the first side of the container  101  (FIG.  3 B). In a variation of this embodiment, the support  104  does not engage the container  101  surfaces at all, the lock  113  exerting all of the torque from the brace  109  on the hook  102  through catch hook  110 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates securing exemplary tools  162 - 165  to openings  160  in lip  103  using tethers  160 . Conventionally, the tools  162 - 165  would remain in the bin  205  when not in use, but are shown outside the bin  205  for the sake of illustration. In most embodiments, the tethers  160  are long enough to allow use of the tools  162 - 165  without disconnecting the tethers  161  from the lip  103 . In some alternate embodiments, holes  160  may engage articulated pins, as are known in the art of cufflinks, the pins attached to the tethers  161  to secure the tools  162 - 165  from falling. In a particular embodiment for a trough  105  (FIG.  1 A), a bean bag or similar conformable weight may be tethered to the lip  103 , for use weighting down conduit or other parts to keep them in place. 
     FIG. 5 shows an exemplary bin  500  having adaptations  502  in the bottom of the container  201  for holding paint cans and further adaptations  503  on the interior surface of the first wall of container  201  to hold paint can lids. The adaptations  502  comprise flat annular surfaces at inwardly descending elevations and having diameters adapted to receive paint cans. Similar adaptations may be made for containers  201  adapted for use in other trades, such as for propane cylinders, spackling cans, etc. Lid holders  503  may also be adapted for the lids of other types of cans, bottles, etc. 
     FIG. 6 shows a rear view of an exemplary trough  105  and bin  205  embodiment. The hook  202  extends beyond the ends of container  201  to allow lock  113  to engage hook  202 . Hook  202  fits over hook  102  (FIG.  1 A), allowing the lock  113  to engage hook  202  from the opposite side from that used if bin  205  where used alone. Because the railing  120  is still limited by lock  113  to stay within hooks  102  and  202 , there is no loss of effectiveness in attaching to the opposite side. The positions of bin  205  and trough  105  may be reversed, with the trough  105  having trough hook  102  extensions adapted to overlap bin hook  202 . 
     In an unusual alternate embodiment, a hole for receiving lock  113  may be cut in the bottom of bin  205 , allowing the lock to be installed in a middle position through the bin. This unusual embodiment prevents axial disengagement of the bin  205  from the railing  120 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the platform  720 , or floor  720 , of a man lifter, together with railings, including circumferential railings  120  and  131 . Trough  105  and bin  205  are secured to railing  120  by lock  113 , in the manner previously discussed. Brace  109  contacts lower railing  131  to limit rotation of the trough  105  and bin  205  about railing  120 . In an alternate embodiment, brace  109  may be secured to lower railing  131  by a clamp, tie, or similar separate or integral constraints to prevent rotation in either direction. Bin  205  is shown holding tools  760  while trough  105  holds parts  710 , such as pipe  720  or electrical conduit  720 . In a particular embodiment, a resilient member may be connected to the lip  103  (FIG. 1A) of trough  105  or the hook  102  (FIG. 1A) configured to secure parts  710  in the trough  105 . The resilient member may be an elastic cord or a spring. 
     Bin  205  and trough  105  may be made in any length, although 6 feet has proven to be sufficient for most purposes. In a particular embodiment, the length of the container  101  or  201  may exceed the length of the railing  120 . All possible configurations and sizes of troughs  105  and bins  205  on one or more railings  120  or  131  are contemplated within the present invention. For example, a deep (i.e., 3 feet) bin  205  that has approximately equal short length and width (i.e., 9 inches) may be used to contain long-handled tools  760  in a vertical orientation. For further example, the trough  105  and bin  205 , each with its own lock  113 , may be on opposite sides of circumferential railing  120  and both be hung to the outside or both hung to the inside of the railings. For yet another example, a series of shorter bins  205  and troughs  105 , each or pair-wise with their own locks  113 , may substitute for the longer bin  205  and trough  105 . The depth of troughs  105  and bins  205  should be limited to avoid the necessity of the workman bending over the railing  120  to retrieve the contents. The workman&#39;s center of mass should remain over the man lifter floor  720  (FIG. 7) at all times. A deep trough  105  might be used to hold large items such as air conditioning filters or panes of glass. 
     Trays and compartments, as are known in the art of tool boxes, adapted to the bins  205  and troughs  105  of the present invention, are contemplated within the present invention. 
     The foregoing description has described selected embodiments of a lockable railing trough. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to selected embodiments thereof, it will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that, as limited only by the appended claims, various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, integrating hooks  102  and  202  into a single unit hinged axially, wherein the containers  101  and  201  may be rotated closed along the axial hinge to form a tool/parts box which can be opened into a “saddle bag” configuration over a railing and subsequently locked thereon, is contemplated within the present invention. For further example, uses for containing objects other than tools and parts are contemplated, as such for a snack-vendor&#39;s wares on a railing in a sports arena or a parade barricade railing, local ordinances permitting. For further example, uses on objects other than railings, such as taut cables, fences, ladders, and plumbing pipes are contemplated. For another example, the container  101  and hook  102  may be curved adaptively to a curved railing  102 .