Ladder platform accessory
OwnerCharles E. Van Patteninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A platform accessory (20) for use with a straight ladder (22) includes a flat deck (40) adapted both to engage a lower rung (26L) of the ladder (22) and to connect to a higher portion of the ladder by a pair of resilient bracket arms (82). Lower portions (86) of the bracket arms are hingedly connected to the deck (40); intermediate portions (88) of the bracket arms (82) wrap around the ladder's side rails (24); and, upper portions (90) of the bracket arms are insertable into apertures formed in the side rails (24). In one embodiment, apertures (32) in the side rails (24) communicate with interior portions of hollow rungs.
Claims11
A platform accessory selectively attachable to a ladder, said ladder having two side rails connected by a plurality of hollow rungs, said accessory comprising:
- an essentially flat platform member adapted to engage a first rung of said ladder, said platform member having first and second edges oriented essentially parallel to the axis of said first rung;
- bracket means by which said platform member is connected to a second rung of said ladder, said second rung being vertically above said first rung, said bracket means comprising bracket arms associated with each of two said side rails, said bracket arms being oriented essentially vertically when said ladder is in a position of use, each of said bracket arms having a lower bracket end portion, an upper bracket end portion, and an intermediate bracket portion between said upper and lower end portions,
- said lower bracket end portion of each bracket arm being engageable with said second edge of said platform member and extending upwardly therefrom just inside a vertical plane wherein said associated side rail lies;
- said upper bracket end portion of each bracket arm being securely insertable into the hollow portion of said second rung of said ladder, said upper end portion extending into said second rung from outside said vertical plane wherein said associated side rail lies;
- and,
- said intermediate bracket portion extending from just inside said vertical plane portion wherein said associated side rail lies to just outside said vertical plane and bearing against said associated side rail.
A platform accessory selectively attachable to a ladder, said ladder having two side rails connected by a plurality of rungs, said side rails having apertures extending therethrough, said accessory comprising:
- an essentially flat platform member adapted to engage a first rung of said ladder, said platform member having first and second edges oriented essentially parallel to the axis of said first rung;
- bracket means connected to said platform member and engaging said ladder, said bracket means comprising bracket arms associated with each of two said side rails, said bracket arms being oriented essentially vertically when said ladder is in a position of use, each of said bracket arms having a lower bracket portion, an upper bracket end portion, and an intermediate bracket portion between said upper and lower end portions,
- said lower bracket end portion of each bracket arm being engageable with said second edge of said platform member and extending upwardly therefrom just inside a vertical plane wherein said associated side rail lies;
- said upper bracket end portion of each bracket arm being securely insertable into an aperture extending through a side rail associated with said bracket, said upper end portion extending into said aperture from outside said vertical plane wherein said associated side rail lies;
- and,
- said intermediate bracket portion extending from just inside said vertical plane portion wherein said associated side rail lies to just outside said vertical plane and bearing against said associated side rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.