Stair stand for a bucket

Abstract

A device for holding a bucket on a staircase is disclosed. The device provides a longer and more secure base for a bucket than a typical step or horizontal portion of a staircase. The bucket may be a paint bucket, such as a five gallon paint bucket. The device may be comprised of a thick portion which rests on a first horizontal portion of the staircase, and a thin portion which rests on a second horizontal portion of the staircase. The device may have an indentation for holding the bucket, wherein the indentation may extend beyond an edge of the first horizontal portion of the staircase, when the device is placed on the staircase. The indentation may be substantially circular. The thin portion may have a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached, and the thick portion may have a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached. The thin portion may have a length about the length of a first horizontal portion of the stair case, and the thick portion may have a length about the length of a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to methods and apparatus concerning holding buckets particularly paint buckets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Buckets containing various fluids, such as paint, can be easily tipped over or spilled, particularly if placed on stairs. There is a need for a device which prevents or inhibits such spills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention in one embodiment discloses a device for holding a bucket on a staircase. The device provides a longer and more secure base for a bucket than a typical step or horizontal portion of a staircase. The bucket may be a paint bucket, such as a five gallon paint bucket.

[0004] The device may be comprised of a thick portion which rests on a first horizontal portion of the staircase, and a thin portion which rests on a second horizontal portion of the staircase. The device may have an indentation for holding the bucket, wherein the indentation may extend beyond an edge of the first horizontal portion of the staircase, when the device is placed on the staircase. The indentation may be substantially circular.

[0005] The thin portion may have a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached and the thick portion may have a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached. The thin portion may have a length about the length of the first horizontal portion of the stair case, and the thick portion may have a length about the length of the second horizontal portion of the stair case. The thin portion may have a width about half of the width of the first horizontal portion of the stair case. The thick portion may have a width about half of the width of the second horizontal portion of the stair case. A first portion of the indentation for holding the bucket may be located in the thin portion of the device and a second portion of the indentation may be located in the thick portion of the device.

[0006] The present invention includes a method comprising the steps of placing a device for holding a bucket on a stair case and placing the bucket into an indentation of the device. The indentation may extend beyond a first horizontal portion of the stair case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a staircase and a device for holding a bucket on the staircase;

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the staircase and device for holding a bucket of FIG. 1 with a bucket shown held by the device; and

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a staircase 100 and a device 10 for holding a bucket on the staircase 100. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the staircase 100 and the device 10 with a bucket 200 shown held by the device 10. FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0011] The device 10 includes a thin portion 22 which has a height, H1, which may be one and one half (1 and {fraction (1/2)}) inches. The device 10 also includes a thick portion 11 which has a height, H2, which may be ten inches. The thin portion 22 and the thick portion 11 are shown separated by a dashed line L1, but may actually be integrated together into one piece.

[0012] The thin portion 22 may have a width W1 shown in FIG. 3, which may be thirteen inches, which may be about one half the width WS of the staircase 100, shown in FIG. 1. The thin portion 22 may have a length, L2 shown in FIG. 3, which may be ten inches, which may be about the same as the length, LS, of a horizontal portion of staircase 100, such as a horizontal portion 140, shown in FIG. 1. The device 10 may have a circular indentation 14 having a surrounding edge 16. The circular indentation may have a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of a bucket, to be placed in the indentation 14, such as the bucket 200 shown in FIG. 2. The bucket 200 may be a five gallon paint bucket. A portion 14a of the indentation 14 is located in the thin portion 22 and a portion 14b of the indentation 14 is located in the thick portion 11. In this manner, the indentation 14 extends beyond an edge 121 of the horizontal portion 120, so that the length for stabilizing a bucket, such as bucket 200, is increased beyond the length LS of a horizontal portion 120 of the staircase 100.

[0013] The thick portion 11 may have a width W1 which is the same as the width W1 of the thin portion 22. The thick portion 11 has a length, L3 shown in FIG. 3, which may be six inches, which may be about the length of a stair of the staircase 100, such as length LS of stair 140.

[0014] The thin portion 22 may have a bottom surface 22d on which are located legs or bumpers 23, 25, and 27. Bumpers 23, such as bumper 23a, are located near side 22b of thin portion 22; bumpers 25, such as bumper 25a, are located near side 22a; and bumpers 27, such as bumper 27a, are located near side 22c. The thick portion 11 may have a bottom surface 13 on which are located legs or bumpers 17, 19, and 21. Bumpers 17, such as bumper 17a, are located near side 24 of the thick portion 11; bumpers 21, such as bumper 21a, are located near side 20; and bumpers 19, such as bumper 19a, are located near side 18 of the thick portion 11. The bumpers 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27 may be rubber and may prevent the device 10 from scratching a hard wooden floor, for example. The bumpers 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 may also provide substantial friction to prevent the device 10 from sliding from the position shown in FIG. 1 or from falling off of the staircase 100.

[0015] The staircase 100 includes horizontal portions 110, 120, 130, and 140; vertical portions 112, 122, 132, and 142.; and edges 111, 121, 131, and 141. Each horizontal portion, together with its corresponding vertical portion, such as 110 and 112, form a stair or step. The horizontal portions 110, 120, 130, and 140 are typically the same size, and the vertical portions 112, 122, 132, and 142 are typically the same size and they are all typically structurally supported by a solid base 170. The staircase 100 may lie next to a wall 150 and a door 160 may be located near horizontal portion 110.

[0016] In operation, a user places the device 10 on the staircase 100 so that the bottom surface 22d of the thin portion 22 is parallel and adjacent to the horizontal portion 120, and the bottom surface 13 of the thick portion 11 is parallel and adjacent to the horizontal portion 130 as shown by referring to FIGS. 1 and 3. The device 10 thus spans two horizontal portions 120 and 130. The device 10 can be enlarged so that it spans more than two horizontal portions, such as for example horizontal portions 120, 130 and 140.

[0017] The device 10 is placed so that the side or edge 22c of the thin portion 22 is substantially parallel to and closely adjacent to or touching the vertical portion 112 and so that the inner side 9 of the thick portion 11 is substantially parallel to and closely adjacent to or touching the vertical portion 122. When situated, as in FIG. 1, all or substantially all of the bumpers 23, 25, and 27 from the thin portion 22 contact the horizontal portion 120 and all or substantially all the bumpers 17, 19, and 21 from the thick portion 11 contact the horizontal portion 130. In the position of FIG. 1, the device 10 is solidly placed on the staircase 100 and is not easily slid or tipped over.

[0018] Following the placement of the device 10 as in FIG. 1, a bucket 200 is placed inside the indentation 14 of the device 10, as shown by FIG. 2. The edge 16, prevents the bucket 200 from sliding out of the indentation 14. The bucket 200 can now be used and is not easily tipped over. The indentation 14, which extends beyond the edge 121 of the horizontal portion 120, provides greater stabilization then the horizontal portion 120 by itself.

[0019] Typically the length of horizontal portions of a typical staircase, such as the length of the horizontal portion 120 (which is typically the same as 140), is smaller than the diameter of a large bucket, such as a five gallon paint bucket, such as bucket 200. The device 10 extends the area on which the bucket 200 can rest and thereby also stabilizes the bucket 200.

[0020] When placed as shown in FIG. 1, a top surface 22e of the thin portion 22 and the top surface 12 of the thick portion 11 are parallel, in the same plane and are both perpendicular to the horizontal portion 120 of the stair case 100. Also the bottom surface 22d of the thin portion 22 and the bottom surface 13 of the thick portion 11 are parallel. The bottom surface 22d is perpendicular to the horizontal portion 120 and the bottom surface 11 is perpendicular to the horizontal portion 130. Horizontal portions 110, 120, 130, and 140 are parallel to one another.

[0021] Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a device for holding a bucket on a staircase.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is comprised of

a thick portion which rests on a first horizontal portion of the staircase; and

a thin portion which rests on a second horizontal portion of the staircase.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device has an indentation for holding the bucket;

wherein the indentation extends beyond an edge of a first horizontal portion of the staircase, when the device is placed on the staircase.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

the indentation is substantially circular.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the thin portion has a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached; and

the thick portion has a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the thin portion has a length which is about equal to a length of a first horizontal portion of the stair case;

and the thick portion has a length which is about equal to a length of a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the thin portion has a width which is about half of a width of a first horizontal portion of the stair case;

and the thick portion has a width which is about half of a width of a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the device has an indentation for holding the bucket;

wherein the indentation extends beyond an edge of a first horizontal portion of the staircase, when the device is placed on the staircase;

and wherein a first portion of the indentation is located in the thin portion and a second portion of the indentation is located in the thick portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein

the indentation is able to hold a five gallon paint bucket.

10. A method comprising the steps of

placing a device for holding a bucket on a stair case; and

placing the bucket into an indentation of the device;

wherein the indentation extends beyond a first horizontal portion of the stair case,

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

the device is comprised of a thick portion and a thin portion;

and further comprising

placing the thin portion on the first horizontal portion of the stair case; and

placing the thick portion on a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein

the indentation is substantially circular.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein

the thin portion has a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached; and

the thick portion has a bottom surface to which bumpers are attached.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein

the thin portion has a length which is about equal to a length of the first horizontal portion of the stair case;

and the thick portion has a length which is about equal to a the length of a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein

the thin portion has a width which is about half of a width of the first horizontal portion of the stair case;

and the thick portion has a width which is about half of a width of a second horizontal portion of the stair case.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein

the indentation is able to hold a paint bucket.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein

the indentation is able to hold a five gallon paint bucket.