LADDER TOP CAP BUCKET
A bucket for a ladder is disclosed. The bucket provides an area for workspace or for storage of tools or materials in addition to that provided by the ladder by itself. The bucket is configured to be removably attachable to the top of the ladder when in use or removably attached to the ladder and preferably within the boundaries of the ladder when not in use.
1 . A top cap bucket for a multi-position ladder, comprising:
a bucket top surface defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall;
a bucket use prong selectively mateable to a bucket use prong receiver on a top cap of a multi-position ladder;
a bucket storage clip selectively mateable to a bucket storage clip receiver on an inner rail of the multi-position ladder; and
a bucket width, bucket length, and bucket depth;
wherein the multi-position ladder comprises:
a pair of inner rails defining an inner rail outer surface, the pair of inner rails connected by a plurality of inner rail rungs defining an inner rail rung clearance;
a pair of outer rails defining an outer rail outer surface, the pair of outer rails connected by a plurality of outer rail rungs defining an outer rail rung clearance;
wherein the bucket width is less than the inner rail rung clearance and less than the outer rail rung clearance; and
wherein when the bucket storage clip is selectively mated to the bucket storage clip receiver, the bucket top surface does not extend beyond the outer rail outer surface or the inner rail outer surface.
2 . The top cap bucket of claim 1 wherein the top cap comprises an upper surface and wherein when the bucket use prong is selectively mated to the bucket use prong receiver, the bucket top surface is planar with the top cap upper surface.
3 . The top cap bucket of claim 2 wherein the multi-position ladder comprises
two pairs of inner rails connected by a pair of hinges; and
two pairs of outer rails each pair slidable to a respective pair of inner rails and defining a combined rail depth;
wherein the bucket depth does not exceed the combined rail depth.
4 . The top cap bucket of claim 3 further comprising a rear wall support; and
the top cap comprises a front wall surface;
wherein the rear wall support and front wall surface are parallel and contacting when the bucket use prong is selectively mated to a bucket use prong receiver.
5 . The top cap bucket of claim 4 wherein the top cap front wall surface is parallel to one of the pairs of inner rails.
6 . The top cap bucket of claim 5 further comprising a bucket storage clip tab and a bucket storage clip receiver rear surface, the tab making friction contact with the bucket storage clip receiver when the bucket storage clip is selectively mated to the bucket storage clip receiver.
7 . The top cap bucket of claim 6 further comprising a bucket side handle orifice in each of the right side wall and left side wall.
8 . The top cap bucket of claim 3 wherein the multi-position ladder has a use orientation and a stored orientation, wherein the bucket storage clip is selectively mateable to the bucket storage clip receiver when the multi-position ladder is in either the use orientation or the stored orientation.
9 . The top cap bucket of claim 8 wherein the bucket use prong is selectively mateable to the bucket use prong receiver when the multi-position ladder is in either the use orientation or the stored orientation.
10 . The top cap bucket of claim 1 wherein the bucket is comprised of injection molded polypropylene.
11 . A top cap bucket comprising:
a bucket interior volume defined by a front wall, a rear wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, and a bottom;
a bucket use prong selectively mateable to a bucket use prong receiver on a top cap of a multi-position ladder;
a bucket storage clip selectively mateable to a bucket storage clip receiver on an inner rail of the multi-position ladder;
a bucket rear support configured to be parallel to and contact a top cap front wall; and
a bucket width and a bucket depth.
12 . The top cap bucket of claim 11 further comprising a bucket storage clip tab configured to contact a bucket storage clip receiver rear surface on an inner rail of the multi-position ladder.
13 . The top cap bucket of claim 12 further comprising a bucket side handle orifice in each of the right side wall and left side wall.
14 . The top cap bucket of claim 13 wherein each of the right side wall and left side wall further comprises a lip and orifice ribs, the orifice ribs located between the handle orifice and lip.
15 . The top cap bucket of claim 14 further comprising lip ribs.
16 . The top cap bucket of claim 15 wherein the bucket is comprised of injection molded polypropylene.
17 . The top cap bucket of claim 16 further comprising a bucket front handle.
18 . A multi-position ladder, comprising:
two pairs of inner rails defining an inner rail outer surface, each pair of inner rails connected by a plurality of inner rail rungs defining an inner rail rung clearance and the two pairs of rails connected by a pair of hinges;
two pair of outer rails defining an outer rail outer surface, the pair of outer rails connected by a plurality of outer rail rungs defining an outer rail rung clearance and the two pairs of outer rails each pair slidable to a respective pair of inner rails and defining a combined rail depth;
a top cap comprising a front wall surface parallel to one of the pairs of inner rails, an upper surface, and a bucket use prong receiver;
a bucket storage clip receiver mounted to one of the inner rails;
a top cap bucket comprising a bucket use prong selectively mateable to a bucket use prong receiver on a top cap of a multi-position ladder, a bucket storage clip selectively mateable to the bucket storage clip receiver, and rear wall support; and
wherein when the bucket use prong in mated to the bucket use prong receiver, the top cap bucket rear wall support is parallel to and contacting the top cap front wall surface.
19 . The multi-position ladder of claim 18 wherein the multi-position ladder has a use orientation and a stored orientation and wherein the bucket storage clip is selectively mateable to the bucket storage clip receiver when the multi-position ladder is in either the use orientation or the stored orientation.
20 . The multi-position ladder of claim 19 wherein the bucket use prong is selectively mateable to the bucket use prong receiver when the multi-position ladder is in either the use orientation or the stored orientation.