Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-16
2001-07-24
Ramirez, Ramon O (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S210000, C182S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264151
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to work stations and more particularly a pair of bracket support members attachable to a ladder for supporting a work surface, platform or equipment.
2. Background to the Invention
Today, an individual working with tools and equipment is often faced with a problem of quantity. Specifically, one at a construction site or fixing something around the house will oftentimes need tools, such as screwdrivers and hammers, and equipment, such as power drills or saws. Unfortunately, depending both on the task at hand and the individual, there are frequently the issues of limited personnel to carry and move such materials and limited space to work. For example, if a table or platform is needed at the site, one may need to bring an actual table or platform to the site, or erect/make one, such as with a couple of sawhorses and board.
Many, if not most, workers setting out to the above activities have a ladder. This ladder, while oftentimes six feet or greater, serves one purpose, to permit one to climb it to reach a higher elevation. Sometimes, one may rig a ladder for other purposes, e.g., nailing items to the side thereof, supporting a can of paint. This can, at times, be dangerous. It is, nevertheless, an inconvenience.
Accordingly, there is a need for safe multi-task use of a ladder to alleviate some of the above noted issues and problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device that can be easily attached, permanently or temporarily, to a ladder for converting the ladder into a multi-task piece of equipment. A bracket support member is attached to each of the two legs of the ladder. The bracket support members can be “folded” for storage and during transportation of the ladder. Or, the brackets can be pivoted into position for use. When in a use position, the brackets can safely and securely support numerous items, such as a table top or plank, on either side of the ladder. This table top or plank can also be used as a shelf to support items, such as paint, tools, equipment (e.g., table saw or miter saw), clamps, a vice, etc., or the plank/table top can be used to hang items from, such as a tool belt, plumb bob, etc. The brackets can be further used as an easel to support items standing up thereon and leaning against the ladder. Or, the brackets can be used on stud walls. Further, the item supported (e.g., table top) can be configured (i.e, with an opening, switch, rail, etc ) to work in conjunction with bench top power tools, such as a power miter box, grinder, router, etc. One can also use the brackets to form a lay-out table, to cut pipe, or as a saw horse. Additional brackets located at different heights can be used as shelving at a job site for multiple or multi-tool tasks. In some situations, the bracketed plank/table top can support an individual, thus converting the single ladder to a platform, a scaffold or even a seat.
Each bracket permits attachment at different levels of the ladder, permitting selective heights for supporting the plank/table top. The brackets are also constructed to support planks or table tops of different thicknesses. The brackets can be used at either side of the ladder, the stepping side or supporting side. And, the brackets of the present invention can be used for regular ladders and extension ladders.
Turning to the specifics of the workstation, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a work station is provided for use in combination with a ladder having at least two legs. The work station includes a pair of support members, with each support member being rotatably connected at a fixed height to a leg of the ladder. Each of these support members has an opening at the distal end thereof for holding an object disposed within the opening and means within the member for supporting an object parallel to the ground. In particular, the opening is formed of at least two contiguous slots juxtaposed adjacent one another. Both slots share a lower wall; each slot has an upper wall parallel the common lower wall; and, the distance between the upper wall of the first slot and the lower wall is less than the distance between the upper wall of the second slot and the lower wall. An object, such as a table top, plank, saw table, router table, drill press, etc. is thus held and disposed between the lower wall and the upper wall of either the first slot or the second slot.
According to another aspect of the present invention, each slot has a stop formed by a back wall of that slot for preventing the object disposed within the opening from contacting the leg of the ladder. And, a first support ledge projects outwardly adjacent and along the lower wall of the contiguous slots, a second support ledge projects outwardly adjacent and along the upper wall of the first slot, and a third support ledge projects outwardly adjacent and along the upper wall of the second slot. Each of the first support ledge, second support ledge and third support ledge can be a separate outwardly projecting flanges lending structure support to the slot walls.
According to still another aspect of the invention, an inwardly projecting first bumper is configured so as to abut the leading edge of the leg of the ladder and to position the support member against the outer surface of the leg of the ladder and totally within the imaginary planes formed by extending the leading and rear edges of the leg of the ladder. There is also an inwardly projecting second bumper positioned so as to contact the leading edge of the leg of the ladder when the object being supported is substantially parallel to the ground. The first bumper is an inwardly projecting flange and the second bumper is a rear edge of the inwardly projecting flange forming the first bumper.
In practice, the distance between the lower wall and the upper wall of the first slot is generally {fraction (13/16)} inches and the distance between the lower wall and the upper wall of the second slot is generally 1{fraction (9/16)} inches. Moreover, the lower wall is approximately 2½ inches. Thus, the object being held within the opening, having a substantially flat surface, can have a nominal or stock thickness of approximately either 1½ inches or ¾ inches and a width at least the distance between the outer edges of the two legs of the ladder supporting the support members.
The bracket can be made of several materials, such as plastic or metal.
Other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3985203 (1976-10-01), Erlenbach
patent: 4222541 (1980-09-01), Cillis
patent: 4318454 (1982-03-01), Johnson
patent: 4424949 (1984-01-01), Kimmett et al.
patent: 4445659 (1984-05-01), LaChance
patent: 4660794 (1987-04-01), Given
patent: 4995578 (1991-02-01), Monheim
patent: 5259525 (1993-11-01), Wion
patent: 5526897 (1996-06-01), Schiller
patent: 5865409 (1999-02-01), Nimer
Ramirez Ramon O
Szumny Jon
Wallenstein & Wagner LTD
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