Portable tool carrier for step ladders

• US 20020092785A1
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lungo, Philip M.
• Original Assignee: Lungo, Philip M.
• Inventors: Lungo, Philip M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/373
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/14 Holders for pails or other equipment on or for ladders

Abstract

A tool carrier for a step ladder includes a top panel adapted to rest on the top step of the ladder, a skirt depending downwardly from the top panel and around the upper portion of the ladder, tool-receiving pockets provided on the skirt, and a handle connected to enable lifting and carrying the tool carrier from above. The skirt includes front, back and side panels associated with respective sides of the ladder and that establish a lower perimeter adapted to enable use as a free-standing tool carrier. The panels are preferably elastically connected to slip snugly around the upper portion of the ladder. Accessory tool holders are adapted to be slipped into snug pockets for holding larger-size tools and other articles not conveniently held in the pockets. A preferred panel-supporting frame structure assists in maintaining the shape of the skirt.

Claims

1. A tool carrier adapted for resting on the top of a step ladder, the tool carrier comprising:

a) a generally rectangular top panel;

b) a skirt having front and back panels and trapezoidal side panels extending downwardly from respective portions of the top panel, the edge portions of the adjacent panels being interconnected with one another, the front, back and side panels having lower edges at equal distance below the top panel for supporting the tool carrier in an upright position on a horizontal surface;

c) a handle connected into position above the top panel; and

d) a plurality of tool-receiving pockets connected to the skirt.

2. The tool carrier as defined in claim 1 in which the lower edges of said front, back and side panels extend continuously between adjacent interconnected panels to define a continuous, generally rectangular lower skirt perimeter at said constant distance from the top panel.

3. The tool carrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising elastic members interconnecting adjacent panels for resilient expansion and contraction therebetween.

4. The tool carrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising a frame structure connected to at least one of said top panel and an upper portion of said skirt, and adapted to assist in supporting the tool carrier in an upright position on a horizontal surface.

5. The tool carrier as defined in claim 4 in which said frame structure includes one of (i) front and back frame members, and (ii) side frame members, connected to associated ones of said panels.

6. A tool carrier adapted for resting on the top of a step ladder, the tool carrier comprising:

a) a generally rectangular top panel;

b) a semi-rigid skirt depending downwardly from the of the top panel, and having front, back and side panels cooperative to define a lower perimeter adapted to support the tool carrier in an upright position on a horizontal surface;

c) elastic members interconnecting adjacent panels such that the panels are moveable for resilient expansion and contraction of the skirt; and

d) a plurality of tool-receiving pockets connected to the skirt.

7. The tool carrier as defined in claim 6 further comprising a handle connected into position above the top panel.

8. The tool carrier as defined in claim 6 further comprising a frame structure connected to at least one of said top panel and an upper portion of said skirt, and adapted to assist in supporting the tool carrier in an upright position on a horizontal surface.

9. The tool carrier as defined in claim 8 in which said frame structure includes one of (i) front and back frame members and (ii) side frame members, connected to associated ones of said panels.

10. A tool carrier adapted for positioning on the top of a step ladder, the tool carrier comprising:

a) a generally rectangular top panel,

b) a skirt depending downwardly from the top panel;

c) a frame structure connected to at least one of the top panel and the upper portion of the skirt, and having a lower perimeter adapted to support the tool carrier in an upright position on a horizontal surface, and

d) a plurality of tool-receiving pockets connected to the skirt.

11. The tool carrier as defined in claim 10 further comprising a handle connected into position above the top panel.

12. The tool carrier as defined in claim 10 in which said skirt includes front, back and side panels extending downwardly from respective portions of the top panel, and said frame structure includes one of (i) front and back frame members and (ii) side frame members, connected to associated ones of said panels.

13. The tool carrier as defined in claim 12 in which said frame structure includes top, front, back and side frame members connected to associated ones of said panels.

14. The tool carrier as defined in claim 12 further comprising elastic members interconnecting adjacent ones of one of (i) said frame members and (ii) said panels such that the frame members and associated panels are moveable together for expansion and contraction of the skirt.

15. The tool carrier as defined in claim 14 further comprising folded material potions connected between adjacent panels.

17. The accessory tool holder as defined in claim 16 further comprising a connection portion between the tube and the legs and defining a slot therebetween for snugly receiving the upper portion of the pocket therein.

18. The tool holder as defined in claim 16 in which said upwardly facing surface is the upper surface of the tube.

19. The tool holder as defined in claim 16 in which said the bottom of the tube is sufficiently closed to establish said upwardly facing surface.

16. An accessory tool holder adapted for use with a tool carrier having a top panel sized for positioning on the top step of a step ladder, a skirt depending downwardly from the top panel and sized to surround the upper portion of the step ladder, and a pair of generally vertically extending, elongated pockets carried on the skirt, the accessory tool holder comprising:

a) a tube having a generally vertically extending cavity for receiving a tool therein and having a generally upwardly facing surface for supporting the tool in said cavity; and

b) a pair of elongated legs extending parallel and generally vertically from said tube for slipping into said pair of snug pockets in the tool carrier.