US 5,687,941 AGranted

Hanging apparatus adapted for attachment to a ladder

OwnerSuzanne M. Quintileinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A universally adaptable hanger for suspending a can from a ladder has a ladder rung engaging member which fits over the top and front and rear faces of a ladder rung, and a hanger arm attached generally perpendicularly to the ladder rung engaging member to laterally traverse front and side surfaces of a side vertical member of a ladder and an outboard distal end which extends laterally beyond the side vertical member of a ladder to provide a stable hanging point for a can handle.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A device for hanging a can of paint from a ladder at a point laterally outboard of a vertical member of the ladder, and with a paint can bail oriented generally parallel to rungs of the ladder so that the bail does not obstruct access to the can by a person on the ladder, the device comprising:

a ladder rung engaging member configured to fit over the top of a ladder rung, the ladder rung engaging member having adjustably interconnected rearward and forward sections, the rearward and forward sections each being generally L-shaped with a horizontal part and a vertical part extending downward and generally perpendicular to the horizontal part, the horizontal part of the forward section having an elongate slot in a central area, and the horizontal part of the rearward section aligned with and at least partially overlapping the horizontal part of the forward section, an adjustable fastener through the horizontal part of the rearward section and through the elongate slot in the horizontal part of the forward section, whereby a total length of the horizontal parts of the rearward and forward sections is selectively adjustable to span a top surface of the ladder rung, whereby the vertical part of the rearward section is positionable against a rear surface of the ladder rung, and the vertical part of the forward section is positionable against a front surface of the ladder rung, the vertical part of the forward section further comprising a structural rib formed in a central longitudinal area of the vertical part, and a flange at a bottom distal end which extends generally perpendicularly forward of the vertical part to form a supporting surface which is generally perpendicular to the vertical part and generally parallel to the horizontal part of the forward section,
a hanger arm having an inboard distal end adjustably attached to the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member to extend generally perpendicular from the vertical part of the forward section and laterally from the vertical member of the ladder, a bottom edge of the inboard distal end of the hanger arm resting upon the flange at the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member, the inboard distal end of the hanger arm further comprising an elongate longitudinal slot intersected by a fastener which also intersects the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member whereby an extent to which the hanger arm extends laterally from the ladder rung engaging member is adjustable, the hanger arm further having an outboard distal end and an offset between the inboard distal end and the outboard distal end, the offset being generally perpendicular to the inboard and outboard distal ends and generally parallel the vertical member of the ladder on which the ladder rung engaging member is engaged, whereby the offset is positionable against an outside surface of the vertical member of the ladder by adjustment of the fastener through the slot in the inboard distal end of the hanger arm, whereby the vertical member of the ladder is effectively clamped between the ladder rung engaging member and the offset of the hanger arm, top and bottom edges of the outboard distal end of the hanger arm further comprising a paint can bail hook having a single tab offset from a plane of the outboard distal end and a notch on each side of the tab to form a channel for receiving the paint can bail and orienting the bail in a plane parallel with the outboard distal end of the hanger arm so that access to an interior of the can by the person standing on the ladder to which the device is attached is unobstructed by the bail.

A hanging apparatus for attachment to a ladder to provide a hanging point for suspension of objects to a side of the ladder, the apparatus comprising:

a two part ladder rung engaging member having a generally L-shaped rearward section adjustably connected to a generally L-shaped forward section, the rearward section having a first part positionable across a top surface of a ladder rung and a second part generally perpendicular to the first part and positionable against a rearward surface of the ladder rung, the forward section having a first part positionable across the top surface of the ladder rung and a second part generally perpendicular to the first part and positionable against a frontward surface of the ladder rung, a portion of the first part of the rearward section aligned with and overlapping a portion of the first part of the forward section, an adjustment slot in the first part of the forward section, and a fastener extending through the overlapping portions of the rearward and forward sections and through the adjustment slot, a combined length of the first parts of the rearward and forward sections sufficient to span the top surface of the ladder rung, a bottom edge of the second part of the forward section having a flange which protrudes perpendicularly from the second part of the forward section to form a ledge perpendicular to the second part of the forward section,
a hanger arm having an inboard distal end adjustably attached to the second part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member, the hanger arm positionable to extend laterally and generally perpendicularly from the second part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member, the hanger arm further having an offset adjustably positionable against an outside surface of a vertical member of the ladder by adjustment at the point of attachment to the second part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member, and an outboard distal end extending laterally outward from the offset, with a hook in the form of a tab flanked by two notches to form a channel which is parallel to the outboard distal end of the hanger arm, whereby a load applied to the hook forces the inboard distal end of the hanger arm against the flange of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member which in turn forces an edge of the ladder rung engaging member against an inside surface of the vertical member of the ladder and the offset against the outside surface of the vertical member of the ladder, whereby the hanging apparatus grippingly engages the rung and vertical member of the ladder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a ladder rung engaging member configured to fit over the top of a ladder rung, the ladder rung engaging member having adjustably interconnected rearward and forward sections, the rearward and forward sections each being generally L-shaped with a horizontal part and a vertical part extending downward and generally perpendicular to the horizontal part, the horizontal part of the forward section having an elongate slot in a central area, and the horizontal part of the rearward section aligned with and at least partially overlapping the horizontal part of the forward section, an adjustable fastener through the horizontal part of the rearward section and through the elongate slot in the horizontal part of the forward section, whereby a total length of the horizontal parts of the rearward and forward sections is selectively adjustable to span a top surface of the ladder rung, whereby the vertical part of the rearward section is positionable against a rear surface of the ladder rung, and the vertical part of the forward section is positionable against a front surface of the ladder rung, the vertical part of the forward section further comprising a structural rib formed in a central longitudinal area of the vertical part, and a flange at a bottom distal end which extends generally perpendicularly forward of the vertical part to form a supporting surface which is generally perpendicular to the vertical part and generally parallel to the horizontal part of the forward section,
a hanger arm having an inboard distal end adjustably attached to the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member to extend generally perpendicular from the vertical part of the forward section and laterally from the vertical member of the ladder, a bottom edge of the inboard distal end of the hanger arm resting upon the flange at the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member, the inboard distal end of the hanger arm further comprising an elongate longitudinal slot intersected by a fastener which also intersects the bottom distal end of the vertical part of the forward section of the ladder rung engaging member whereby an extent to which the hanger arm extends laterally from the ladder rung engaging member is adjustable, the hanger arm further having an outboard distal end and an offset between the inboard distal end and the outboard distal end, the offset being generally perpendicular to the inboard and outboard distal ends and generally parallel the vertical member of the ladder on which the ladder rung engaging member is engaged, whereby the offset is positionable against an outside surface of the vertical member of the ladder by adjustment of the fastener through the slot in the inboard distal end of the hanger arm, whereby the vertical member of the ladder is effectively clamped between the ladder rung engaging member and the offset of the hanger arm, top and bottom edges of the outboard distal end of the hanger arm further comprising a paint can bail hook having a single tab offset from a plane of the outboard distal end and a notch on each side of the tab to form a channel for receiving the paint can bail and orienting the bail in a plane parallel with the outboard distal end of the hanger arm so that access to an interior of the can by the person standing on the ladder to which the device is attached is unobstructed by the bail.