Ladder Carriage Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The field of invention relates to ladder support structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus wherein the same permits the selective positioning and mounting of a support container structure relative to a ladder assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Support container structure of various types are utilized throughout the prior art to provide for the positioning and mounting of paint assisting components and structure relative to a ladder assembly. Such apparatus is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,684 to Kellstad wherein a paint pan is fixedly mounted relative to a support bracket that in turn is secured to the ladder rung of an associated ladder.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,925 to Gorecki sets forth a ladder caddy having a container arranged for relatively fixed positioning to a ladder structure.

Further examples of step-ladder type tray support structure is exemplified in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,874,147 to Ory, et al.; 4,318,523 to Weatherly; and 4,310,134.

The prior art has heretofore failed to provide for the mobility available as set forth by the instant invention to permit selectively positioning and latching of container structure relative to a ladder assembly and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ladder support tray structure now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a ladder carriage apparatus wherein the same is arranged for ease of adjustment and displacement relative to a ladder assembly. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art ladder supported tray structure and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention provides an apparatus having first and second floor plates defining a floor opening to receive a ladder therethrough, with the floor plates having first and second side plates mounted to opposed ends of the floor plates, with the side plates arranged in a parallel coextensive relationship. At least one of the side plates includes a support container, and optionally, both side plates may include support containers hingedly mounted to permit pivotment together in adjacency forwardly of the apparatus. Roller structure is mounted interiorly of the side plates to guide and direct ladder legs of the ladder within the floor opening. Further, a brake lever is arranged for engagement relative to a rear wheel guide for selective positioning of the organization relative to the ladder. A floor hook cooperative with a ladder ring pulley for selective securement to an associated ladder rung is arranged to permit selective lifting of the carriage apparatus relative to the ladder.

My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art ladder tray supports and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such ladder carriage apparatus economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic view, taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic view, taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of the container structure having adjusting rings mounted to the floor thereof.

FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of the invention having a plurality of support containers.

FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration of the plurality of support containers pivoted to a confronting relationship relative to one another.

FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration of the invention prior to securement to the ladder assembly.

FIG. 8 is an orthographic side view of the invention illustrating the use of a further brake assembly.

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 8 thereof, a new and improved ladder carriage apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

More specifically, the ladder carriage apparatus 10 of the instant invention essentially comprises the apparatus mounted in an adjustable relationship longitudinally along a ladder member 11 formed with ladder legs 12 having rungs directed orthogonally between the ladder legs at spaced intervals therebetween. A first floor plate 13 is arranged in a parallel, spaced, and coextensive as well as coplanar relationship relative to a second floor plate 14 defining a ladder receiving floor opening 21 directed therebetween. Respective first and second side plates 15 and 16 are arranged in a parallel and coextensive relationship at opposed ends of the first and second floor plates 13 and 14. A first fixed roller 17 is mounted to an interior and confronting surface of each of the side plates positioned adjacent the second floor plate 14 in adjacency to the floor opening 21. A first adjustable roller 18 is movably mounted within an arcuate slot 19 that is oriented above each fixed roller 17 of each side plate, with the arcuate slot 19 extending to a position over the floor opening 21 from the second floor plate 14. A second fixed roller 20 is mounted to each interior and confronting surface of the side plates 15 and 16 and positioned above the first floor plate 13 in adjacency to the floor opening 21. The first and second fixed rollers in cooperation with the adjustable roller that in turn may be spring biased towards the floor opening at a forwardmost extend of the arcuate slot 19 operate in concert to position the ladder legs 12. Further it should be noted that the ladder legs 12 are spaced apart a predetermined spacing substantially equal to a spacing between the side plates 15 and 16. One of the side plates includes a pivotally mounted flange having a brake arm 28 mounted thereto, with the brake arm extending from a position below the first floor plate 13 for an orientation spaced from the floor opening 21 to a second position projecting into the floor opening into contiguous communication between the second fixed roller 20 and an associated ladder leg 12. A first floor plate hook 22 is mounted medially to a top surface of the first floor plate 13, including cooperation with a ladder rung hook 23 that is arranged for selective positioning to a ladder rung positioned above the first floor plate. A pulley 24 is mounted to the ladder rung hook 23, with a lift rope 25 fixedly mounted at a first end to the first floor plate hook 22 and extending over the pulley 24 to a position through the floor opening 21 and extending therebelow. In this manner, lifting of the first and second floor plates, as well as the attendant structure by the lift rope, is provided, whereupon release of pressure effects weight of the organization directed onto the rollers 17, 18, and 20 in cooperation with the brake arm 28.

A support container 26 is mounted to an exterior surface of one of the side plates 15 or 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 for example, forwardly of the ladder legs in adjacency to the second side plate 14 spaced from the first side plate 13. The support container 26 includes a support container floor 27 for positioning and storing various components thereon, such as painting accessories. The support container 26, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is afforded an arcuate flange 30 positioned in confronting relationship relative to a movable arcuate flange 31. The movable arcuate flange 31 includes a threaded rod 32 mounted medially of the movable flange 31 and projecting through a side wall of the container 26. A spring member 33 captured between the movable flange 31 and the aforenoted side wall of the container 26 biases positioning of the movable flange towards the fixed flange to position components such as a bucket therebetween.

A second support container 26a is mounted to the second side plate 16. In the organization as illustrated in the FIGS. 5 and 6 for example, a first hinge 40 pivotally mounts the container 26 to the first side plate 15, with a second hinge 41 (see FIG. 6) pivotally mounting the second container 26a to the second side plate. The second support container is provided with a second support container floor 27a having respective first, second, and third floor apertures 34, 35, and 36 directed therethrough to secure various painting components such as a scraping tool 37, a paint container 38, and a brush 39 through the apertures 34-36 respectively. When the containers 26 and 26a are pivoted in adjacency relative to one another, a latch hook 49 mounted to the first container 26 cooperates with a latch hook 50 mounted to the second container 26a to secure the containers in the forward position for transport and storage thereof and assist in initial positioning of the organization relative to the ladder member 11, in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The FIG. 8 illustrates a modified brake construction in lieu of the brake arm 28, with a brake arm 42 pivotally mounted about a brake arm pivot axle 42a. The brake arm 42 includes a first end 43 extending above the first floor plate 13 cooperating with a forward end of the first side plate 15 utilizing a brake arm spring 47 interposed between the first end 43 and the forward end of the first side plate. A brake arm hook 45 is mounted to the first end of the brake arm spaced from the spring 47 and includes a release cable 46. A guide boss 51 is mounted to an exterior surface of the first side plate 15 between the second side plate 16 and the brake arm pivot axle 42a. A brake arm second end 44 includes a friction pad 48 mounted thereto for engagement with one of the ladder legs 12. Release of the brake arm from above the first side plate 13 effects mere lifting of the release cable 46 to effect release of the friction pad 48 and the brake arm relative to the ladder leg. To release the brake arm in association with the ladder leg from below, the release cable 46 is directed over the guide boss 51 that is forwardly of the brake arm pivot axle to effect displacement of the friction pad relative to the ladder member 11. In this manner, release of the adjustment of the organization along the ladder member is permitted.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.