TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders which enables the hollow rung to be used to attach accessories such as paint pots, trays, tool holders and other items to the ladder.

BACKGROUND

In hollow rung ladders which include a number of hollow rungs bridging a pair of upright side members or stiles, the rungs may be of various cross-sectional shapes including round, D-shaped and triangular. Even with ladders having runs of the same shape the size of the cross-section is found to vary considerably.

Accessories are known which are inserted into an open end of a hollow rung to enable various items to be mounted at one side of the ladder at a convenient position and working height, but it is important that such items should be firmly affixed to the ladder to prevent tools from falling or paint being spilled for example. It is also important for users that the means of attachment should be quick and easy so that the attachment is easily moved to another position on the ladder when required.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of attachment which is capable of being quickly and firmly secured to a wide variety of hollow rung ladders with various rung sizes and shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which the gripping assembly includes:

- at least two resilient tubular members; and

- a plurality of rigid spacer members, at least some of said rigid spacer members acting to mutually space apart said resilient tubular members;

the arrangement being such that rotation of an adjuster produces axial compression and radial expansion of all of said resilient tubular members.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a tool holder is carried on an elongate element between a gripping assembly and an adjuster. The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a tool holder is rotatable about the axis of an elongate element.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a tool holder comprises a holding clamp.

6The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a pot or tray is held by a clamp.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a tool holder comprises an electric drill holder having spaced rings secured to a limb.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a tool holder comprises a back panel to which various loops or pockets are attached.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a resilient tubular member is formed of rubber or other elastomeric material.

The invention also provides an attachment for use with hollow rung ladders in which a resilient tubular member is formed of a cellular material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view of one section of a typical hollow rung ladder to which the present invention is applicable;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a basic ladder attachment for use with hollow rung ladders, including three-dimensional views of various components thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a preferred form of ladder attachment in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the holding clamp which is shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a similar view of the holding clamp in use with a pot or tray;

Figure 6 is a side view of an electric drill holder for use with the ladder attachment; and

Figure 7 is a front view of another kind of tool holder for use with the ladder attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the present ladder attachment is intended for use with ladders of the kind having a number of hollow rungs R extending between parallel stiles SI, S2. The basic form of ladder attachment which shown in Fig. 2 includes an an elongate bar 1 having an end abutment in the form of a stop washer 5 held by a lock nut 6. Next to the washer 5 the bar 1 carries a tubular resiliently compressible member 4 which may be formed of rubber or other elastomeric material, preferably cellular rubber, which expands radially under axial compression. The resilient member 4 is followed by a non-compressible externally-stepped spacer 3, and a handwheel adjuster 2 which is screwed onto a threaded end portion of the bar 1.

The accessory described above is intended for use with ladders having triangular-section rungs so that the stop washer 5, resilient member 4 and spacer 3 are all of triangular cross-section, as shown, and dimensioned for insertion into one end of a hollow rung up to the external step on the spacer 3. Rotation of the handwheel 2 on the bar 1 causes the adjuster to travel along the bar to produce axial compression of the resilient member 4 between the stop washer 5 and the spacer 3, thereby causing radial expansion of the member 4 into tight gripping engagement with the internal surface of the hollow rung. It will be appreciated that the stop washer 5, resilient member 4 and spacer 3 may be of other cross-sectional shapes to fit rungs of other profiles, e.g. round or D-shaped. Furthermore, a single cross-sectional shape, round for example, may also engage rungs of other cross sectional shapes.

Tool carriers (not shown) may be mounted on the bar 1 as described below.

The modified accessory shown in Fig. 3 reduces the possibility of angular movement within the rung, which could cause the accessory to work loose, and provides even more secure attachment within a smaller range of adjustment of the handwheel 2. This attachment includes two axially spaced resiliently compressible members and a number of non-compressible spacers. The end nut 6 is followed by a first spacer 3A which acts as a fixed abutment, a first, relatively short resiliently compressible member 4A, a second spacer 3B, a second resiliently compressible member 4B and a third spacer 3C. A holding clamp 7 is threaded onto the bar 1 between the third spacer 3C and the handwheel 2 with two further short shapers 3D and 3E in the form of self-lubricating washers, ensuring that the clamp can rotate on the bar. The spacers 3A-3C and compressible elements 4A, 4B are all of the same cross-sectional shape - round, triangular etc. - for insertion into the end of a hollow rung. Rotation of the handwheel 2 causes the two compressible members 4A and 4B to be axially compressed and expand radially into gripping contact with spaced internal portions of the rung, as indicated by the dashed lines.

Referring to Fig. 4, the holding clamp 7 includes a sleeve 8, which is threaded onto the bar 1, joined to a first gripping jaw 9. A second opposable gripping jaw 10 is secured to the first jaw 9 by a clamping screw 11 which is inserted through the jaw 9 into a threaded socket or back-nut associated with the jaw 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the rim of a paint pot, tray or other container 12 can be clamped between the jaws 9 and 10 by tightening the screw 11.

Various other items can be secured to the clamp 7 by means of the screw 11. For example, Fig. 6 shows an electric drill holder 14 having spaced rings 15 and 16 secured to a vertical limb 17. The drill holder can be suspended from the clamp 7 by inserting the screw 11 through a hole 18 at the upper end of the limb. The drill holder can thus be used as a holster for receiving an electric drill 19.

Another kind of tool holder which can be suspended from the clamp 7 is a tool carrier 20, shown in Fig. 7, which includes a back panel 21 to which various loops or pockets 22 are attached. The tool carrier can be suspended from the clamp 7 by inserting screw 11 through a hole 23 at the upper end of the panel. Various tools such as hammers, screw drivers, paint brushes etc. can be inserted into the loops or packets 22 where they are held ready for use. The ladder can be extended and/or folded (depending on the type of ladder) with the ladder attachment still in place. Furthermore, if the handwheel 2 is slackened sufficiently to allow the clamp 7 to rotate on the bar while the accessory is still firmly engaged in the rung, the items suspended from the clamp may remain upright when the ladder is moved.

It will thus be appreciated that the accessory is very quick and easy to attach but is very firmly secured to the ladder. Furthermore, the accessory can easily be removed, for example if it needs to be moved to a more convenient rung, simply by slackening the handwheel 2, which releases the axial pressure on the resilient members 4A and 4B.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.