STEPLADDER SPREADER BAR TOOL HOLDER
A spreader bar mechanism for a stepladder is disclosed. More specifically, an improved spreader mechanism that has a spreader bar with a tool holder that increases places on the stepladder where tools or other items while using the stepladder. The disclosed tool holder provides a combination handle and tool holder.
1 . A folding stepladder comprising:
a pair of front rails connected by a step;
a pair of rear rails connected by a cross brace;
a top cap connected to at least one of the pair of front rails or the pair of rear rails;
a spreader mechanism comprising:
a C-shaped spreader bar operably connected to each of the pair of front rails;
a pair of hinges, each hinge pivotally connected to the spreader bar and comprising:
a spreader member pivotally connected to a respective rear rail; and
a center bracket having a shared pivot point with the spreader member and the spreader bar; and
a handle affixed to the spreader bar, the spreader bar comprising a tool orifice.
2 . The folding stepladder of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a grip.
3 . The folding stepladder of claim 2 wherein the handle comprises two parts.
4 . The folding stepladder of claim 3 wherein each handle part comprises a tool orifice.
5 . The folding stepladder of claim 3 wherein each handle part comprises a grip.
6 . The folding stepladder of claim 4 wherein C-shaped spreader bar is sandwiched between the two handle parts.
7 . The folding stepladder of claim 6 comprising a means for affixing the two handle parts to the C-shaped spreader bar and the means for affixing traverses the C-shaped spreader bar.
8 . The folding stepladder of claim 7 wherein the handle comprises a length and wherein the spreader bar is completely enclosed within the handle along the entirety its length.
9 . The folding stepladder of claim 7 wherein the means for affixing the two handle parts is a self-tapping screw.
10 . The folding stepladder of claim 7 wherein the means for affixing the two handle parts is a rivet.
11 . The folding stepladder of claim 5 wherein each handle part comprises a tool orifice on either side of the grip.
12 . A folding stepladder comprising:
a pair of front rails connected by a step;
a pair of rear rails connected by a cross brace;
wherein at least one of the pair of front rails and pair of rear rails is pivotally connected a top cap;
a spreader mechanism comprising:
a spreader bar operably connected to each of the pair of front rails;
a pair of hinges, each hinge pivotally connected to the spreader bar and comprising:
a spreader member pivotally connected to a respective rear rail; and
a handle affixed to the spreader bar, the spreader bar comprising a tool orifice.
13 . The folding stepladder of claim 12 wherein the handle comprises two parts.
14 . The folding stepladder of claim 13 wherein each of the two handle parts comprises a tool orifice.
15 . The folding stepladder of claim 14 wherein each of the two handle parts comprises a grip.
16 . The folding stepladder of claim 15 wherein the spreader bar is sandwiched between the two handle parts.
17 . The folding stepladder of claim 16 wherein the two handle parts are affixed to the spreader bar by a screw that traverses the spreader bar.
18 . A spreader mechanism for a ladder comprising:
a C-shaped spreader bar;
a pair of arms, each arm pivotally connected to the spreader bar;
a handle affixed to the spreader bar, the handle comprising a tool orifice.
19 . The spreader mechanism for a ladder of claim 18 wherein the spreader bar comprises a grip.
20 . The spreader mechanism of claim 19 wherein the handle comprises a tool orifice on the inside of the spreader bar and a tool orifice on the outside of the spreader bar.