US 7,607,623 B2Granted

Container device for hollow rung ladder

AssigneeStephan P. Williams

InventorFrancis J. Wesolowski

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Abstract

Disclosed is a simple, inexpensive utility container device for use with a hollow rung ladder. The container device includes a rung insert member and a container for holding a liquid material. The container includes a pair of aligned openings that are offset rearwardly so that the container automatically tips to a suitable forward angle to make it easier for the user to access the contents of the container. In a preferred device, the rung insert member will include a rung insertion portion at each end of the rung insert member, with a container holding portion therebetween, to permit the device to be used in either right or left hand mode. In an alternative embodiment, the rung insert member and container are an integral unit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A container device for use with a hollow rung ladder having a plurality of hollow rungs, each rung having an opening that extends therethrough, the container device comprising, in combination,

a rung insert member and a container for holding a liquid material therein;
the rung insert member comprising a rung insertion portion, a container holding portion and an additional rung insertion portion, wherein the rung insertion portion extends from one end of the rung insert member to a first predetermined point along the length of the rung insert member, the additional rung insertion portion extends from the other end of the rung insert member to a second predetermined point along the length of the rung insert member, and the container holding portion is located between the rung insertion portion and the additional rung insertion portion and extends partway along the length of the rung insert member, wherein each of the rung insertion portion and the additional rung insertion portion is cross-sectionally dimensioned to fit within the opening of said hollow rung and has a length sufficient to enter at least about five inches into said hollow rung;
the container having a base and a continuous surrounding sidewall that extends upwardly from the base to an open upper rim, wherein the upper rim has a first diameter and the base has a second diameter that may be the same or smaller than the first diameter, and including a pair of aligned openings located near the open upper rim that are dimensioned and arranged to permit the container holding portion of said rung insert member to be inserted there-through and thereby support the container, wherein said pair of aligned openings is offset rearwardly from the central horizontal axis of said container, thereby allowing the container to tip forwardly when the container includes liquid material;
and wherein the container holding portion of said rung insert member has a length at least sufficient to pass through said pair of aligned openings in said container.

1 more element

A container device for use with a hollow rung ladder having a plurality of hollow rungs, each rung having an opening that extends therethrough, the container device comprising, in combination,

a rung insert member and a container for holding a liquid material therein;
the rung insert member comprising a rung insertion portion that extends from one end of the rung insert member to a predetermined point along the length of the rung insert member, and a container holding portion that extends partway along the length of the rung insert member, wherein the rung insertion portion comprises an elastomeric surface, is cross-sectionally dimensioned to fit within the opening of said hollow rung and has a length sufficient to enter at least about five inches into said hollow rung;
the container having a base and a continuous surrounding sidewall that extends upwardly from the base to an open upper rim, wherein the open upper rim lies substantially in a plane, and including a pair of aligned openings located near the open upper rim that are dimensioned and arranged to permit the container holding portion of said rung insert member to be inserted there-through and thereby support the container, wherein said pair of aligned openings is offset rearwardly from the central horizontal axis of said container, thereby allowing the container to tip forwardly when the container includes liquid material;
and wherein the container holding portion of said rung insert member has a length at least sufficient to pass through said pair of aligned openings in said container.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.