Self leveling paint can holder attachment for ladders

May 5, 1964 r. j. anderson etal 3,131,900

SELF LEVELING PAINT CAN HOLDER ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS

Filed May 15, 1962

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ATTORNEY

United States Patent Office

3,131,900

Patented May 5, 1964

3,131,900

SELF LEVELING PAINT CAN HOLDER ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS

Robert J. Anderson, 1716 7th St NE., and Douglas A. Moline, 3609 3rd Place NW., both of Rochester, Mum.

Filed May 15,1962, Ser. No. 194,900 1 Claim. (Cl. 248—210)

This invention relates broadly to holders for paint cans and the like; more particularly to a paint can holder at- io tachment for ladders of all kinds; and specifically to a self-leveling paint can holder attachment for ladders.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a paint can holder of the class described -that is entirely self-leveling when attached to the side rails of a ladder. 15

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint can holder of the class described wherein in addition to _ its self-leveling feature, may also be locked at a -tilted angle if so desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a paint 20 can holder of the class described that is free for longitudinal movement along either side rail of a conventional ladder of any type and which may be locked on said side rails of the ladder at any desired position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a paint can holder of the class described -that is capable of supporting cans of various sizes without adjustment and which will still maintain its self-leveling abilities.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint can holder of the class described that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is rugged, is easy to attach and detach from a ladder, and which is easy to clean.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-leveling paint can holder attachment for ladders that may be left positioned on the side rails of said ladders while the same are adjusted relative to the supporting surfaces against which the ladder may rest within almost any angular limits.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and claim when 40 taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the following devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claim.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention attached to the side rail of a conventional ladder.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of -the invention attached to a ladder fragmentarily shown, and,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the exception that the invention is shown in side elevation.

The numeral 4 will hereinafter be directed to the invention as an entirety, the numeral 5 to the paint can supported thereby, and the numeral 6 to the ladder as an entirety.

The numeral 7 indicates -a relatively open cage-like receptacle or basket for supporting and confining a standard size paint can. This receptacle as shown in one preferable form comprises a pair of crossed metal straps 8 forming a substantially open bottom portion thereof said strap-like members being thence upturned at 90 degrees to the plane of the said bottom members to form side members 9 of the receptacle 7. A relatively wide annular rim 10 rigidly secured to the upturned vertically disposed side members provides a top member of the receptacle. It will be understood -that the receptacle 7, with the exception of the annular top rim 10 may be stamped from a single sheet of material to form the bottom and side members -thereof, or the same may be formed of independent strap members one of which is provided with an offset at its longitudinal center to afford a level unbroken surface where the said independent straps are crossed. This is a manufacturing detail but worthy of note to anyone contemplating the manufacture of the device -as obviously, this construction will prevent rocking movements of a paint can supported on the bottom members 8.

A relatively heavy screw-threaded stud 11 is pivotally mounted in the upper end portion of one of the side members 9 of -the receptacle 7 and the annular rim 10 and is held -therein securely against any endwise or lateral wobble movements by any conventional means. A sleeve 12 is mounted to encircle the stud 11 -and is acted upon by a locking member 13 that has screw-threaded engagement -with the stud 11. The inner end portion of the sleeve 12 has abutting engagement with -the outer upper end portion of one of the side members 9 to which the stud 11 is pivotally secured and the outer end portion of said sleeve 12 has abutting engagement with the inner face of the locking member 13.

It may be well to note at this time that in actual manufacturing practice it may be necessary to weld a relatively heady boss, not shown, to the outer upper end portion of the said side member 9 on which the stud 11 is mounted 25 to provide a more rigid pivot point, and mount, between said stud 11 and said receptacle 7. In such construction, the inner end portion of the sleeve 12 would abut -against -the boss rather than the upper end portion of the outer side of the side member 9 as shown.

Obviously, by turning the screw-threaded locking member 13 into engagement with the sleeve 12 the pivotal movements of the receptacle 7 can be controlled for either self-leveling -adjustment or be locked in any desired position relative to the ladder 6.

Secured to -the outer end portion of the screw-threaded stud 11 is a relatively heavy C-clamp having a fixed jaw 15 and a movable jaw 15' that is rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of an advancing screw 16. The main frame of the C-clamp 14 including the fixed jaw 15 is constructed -and dimensioned to engage the side rails 17 of the ladder 6 with a -relatively loose working fit to facilitate endwise longitudinal movement along the said side rail 17. As indicated by the numeral 18, the main frame of the C-clamp is offset in the form of a depression _4g to afford clearance for the several types of protrusions found on most ladders to secure the same in assembled relation and in some instances, to strengthen the rungs 19 of the ladder 6.

The screw-threaded advancing screw 16 and its mounted gQ movable jaw 15' has screw-threaded engagement with a side leg 20 of the main frame of -the C-clamp 14. As shown, a fixed nut 21 is rigidly mounted on the side leg 20 to afford -a greater bearing surface for the advancing screw 16, however, it will be understood, that in actual gg manufacturing practice a fixed boss could be formed integral with the said side leg 20.

Obviously, to install -the invention on either side rail 17 of the ladder 6 it is only necessary to open the Cclamp 14 to sufficient width to permit the same to be ₆₀ positioned on the said side rail with the clamp held in engagement with the side rail the advancing screw 16 is turned down until its movable jaw 15' engages the opposite side of the rail than that engaged by the fixed jaw 15 of the main C-clamp -frame and is then tightened suf_6g ficiently to prevent slippage of the clamp on said rail.

As stated, the locking member may be adjusted at this time to control the pivotal -movements of the receptacle or said locking member 13 may remain out of engagement with the sleeve 12 to permit free self-leveling movement of the receptacle 7.

It will be understood that to achieve the self-leveling action of the receptacle relative to the C-clamp and the

3,131,900 ladder the receptacle 7 must be attached to the screwthreaded stud 11 at a point where the preponderance of weight of the receptacle is below the pivot point.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce -still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claim as are stated herein or required by the prior art.