Adjustable implement holder for stepladders

Claim 1

An apparatus for adjustably supporting diverse articles on a stepladder wherein the apparatus comprises: a base unit including a base member whose outboard edges are adapted to frictionally engage the exterior surface of the stepladder legs; a support unit rotatably mounted on said base unit comprising: a support plate having a plurality of tang elements projecting outwardly therefrom, wherein said plurality of tang elements are dimensioned to slidingly receive the said article securing means, at least one of said plurality of tang elements having a floor element that provides a support surface for said article securing means; an article securing means releasably engaged by said support unit, and adapted to operatively support diverse articles; said article securing means includes: a flanged plate element having an article support portion thereon, said article support portion including a lipped tray member secured to the top of said flanged plate element, the improvement comprising: a releasable locking means operatively associated with said base unit, and said support unit for restricting the relative rotation between said base unit and said support unit; a mounting bracket unit comprising a bracket member, having outwardly projecting arms that are adapted to frictionally engage the interior surface of the stepladder legs, when the bracket member is operatively connected to the base member via suitable fastening means; support unit means for operably receivably attaching a second article securing means thereto; and means for removably attaching said support unit means to one side of said lipped tray member.

Claim 2

An apparatus for adjustably supporting diverse articles on a stepladder wherein the apparatus comprises: a base unit including a base member whose outboard edges are adapted to frictionally engage the exterior surface of the stepladder legs; a support unit rotatably mounted on said base unit comprising: a support plate having a plurality of tang elements projecting outwardly therefrom, wherein said plurality of tang elements are dimensioned to slidingly receive the said article securing means, at least one of said plurality of tang elements having a floor element that provides a support surface for said article securing means; an article securing means releasably engaged by said support unit, and adapted to operatively support diverse articles; said article securing means includes: a flanged plate element having an article support portion thereon, said article support portion including a lipped tray member secured to the top of said flanged plate element, the improvement comprising: a releasable locking means operatively associated with said base unit, and said support unit for restricting the relative rotation between said base unit and said support unit; a mounting bracket unit comprising a bracket member, having outwardly projecting arms that are adapted to frictionally engage the interior surface of the stepladder legs, when the bracket member is operatively connected to the base member via suitable fastening means; support unit means for operably receivably attaching a second article securing means thereto; and means for removably attaching said support unit means to one side of said lipped tray member.