Gutter caddy

Abstract

A universal utility device to be suspended from a structure, such as a roofing gutter or ladder, includes a generally rigid frame having a central opening for removably receiving an insert. The insert may be a plastic bag or a rigid formed insert designed to allow the device to perform a multitude of tasks. For example, the rigid formed insert may include a tray, a reel, or a combination thereof. The frame may include a structure engagement section designed to position the top surface of the frame at least as high as the top of the gutter when the device is suspended from the gutter. In another embodiment, the frame includes at least one wheel for facilitating the movement of the device along the gutter. The frame may also include a handle as well as a ladder engagement portion to suspend the device from a ladder.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A universal utility device to be suspended from a structure having a top surface, said universal utility device comprising: 
 a generally rigid frame having: 
 a top, a bottom, an inner and an outer surface;  
 a central receiving region having dimensions sized for removably receiving an insert; and  
 at least one structure engagement section disposed on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame for suspending said universal utility device from said structure, such that said top surface of said generally rigid frame is positioned at least as high as said top surface of said structure when said universal utility device is suspended from said structure.  
   
     
     
         2 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said generally rigid frame further includes at least one wheel disposed horizontally on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame.  
     
     
         3 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said generally rigid frame further comprises a handle disposed on said top surface.  
     
     
         4 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said generally rigid frame further includes a plurality of fasteners for suspending a container.  
     
     
         5 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes an engagement portion designed to allow said universal utility device to slide freely on along said roofing gutter.  
     
     
         6 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one lip.  
     
     
         7 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes a plurality of hooks.  
     
     
         8 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said generally rigid frame is adapted to support a removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         9 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes an edge which engages said top surface of said generally rigid frame and supports said removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         10 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said removable rigid formed insert further includes a handle.  
     
     
         11 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a tray.  
     
     
         12 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a reel.  
     
     
         13 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a supporting structure for suspending a container.  
     
     
         14 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said supporting structure includes a means for retaining said container.  
     
     
         15 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said supporting structure includes an opening for allowing access to said container.  
     
     
         16 . he universal utility device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said removable insert includes a plastic bag and said generally rigid frame is adapted to support said plastic bag.  
     
     
         17 . A universal utility device to be suspended from a structure gutter having a top surface, said universal utility device comprising: 
 a rigid formed insert; and    a generally rigid frame adapted to removably engage with said rigid formed insert, said generally rigid frame having a top, a bottom, an inner, and an outer surface, a central opening for removably receiving said rigid formed insert, and at least one structure engagement section disposed on said generally rigid frame.    
     
     
         18 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said generally rigid frame further includes at one least wheel disposed horizontally on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame.  
     
     
         19 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said generally rigid frame further comprises a handle disposed on said top surface of said generally rigid frame.  
     
     
         20 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said generally rigid frame further includes a plurality of fasteners for suspending a plastic bag.  
     
     
         21 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes an engagement portion designed to allow said universal utility device to slide freely on along said structure.  
     
     
         22 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one lip.  
     
     
         23 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one hook.  
     
     
         24 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes an edge which engages said top surface of said generally rigid frame and supports said removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         25 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said removable rigid formed insert further includes a handle.  
     
     
         26 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a tray.  
     
     
         27 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a reel.  
     
     
         28 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a supporting structure for suspending a container.  
     
     
         29 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said supporting structure includes a means for retaining said container.  
     
     
         30 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said supporting structure includes an opening for allowing access to said container.  
     
     
         31 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said at least one structure engagement section is disposed on said generally rigid frame such that said top surface of said generally rigid frame is positioned at least as high as said top surface of said structure when said universal utility device is suspended from said structure.  
     
     
         32 . A universal utility device to be suspended from a ladder, said universal utility device comprising: 
 a rigid formed insert; and    a generally rigid frame adapted to removably engage with said rigid formed insert, said generally rigid frame having a top and an inner surface, a central opening for removably receiving said rigid formed insert, and at least one ladder engagement portion for suspending said universal utility device in a level position from said ladder.    
     
     
         33 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  further comprising at least one structure engagement section disposed on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame for suspending said universal utility device from an object having a groove.  
     
     
         34 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes an engagement portion for allowing said universal utility device to slide freely on along said groove of said object.  
     
     
         35 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one lip.  
     
     
         36 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one hook.  
     
     
         37 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said rigid formed insert includes an edge which engages said top surface of said generally rigid frame and supports said removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         38 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said rigid formed insert further includes a handle.  
     
     
         39 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said rigid formed insert includes a tray.  
     
     
         40 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said rigid formed insert includes a reel.  
     
     
         41 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said rigid formed insert includes a supporting structure for suspending a container.  
     
     
         42 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 41  wherein said supporting structure includes a means for retaining said container.  
     
     
         43 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 41  wherein said supporting structure includes an opening for allowing access to said container.  
     
     
         44 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said at least one structure engagement section is disposed on said generally rigid frame such that said top surface of said generally rigid frame is positioned at least as high as a top surface of said groove on said object when said universal utility device is suspended from said groove on said object.  
     
     
         45 . A universal utility device to be suspended from a structure having a top surface, said universal utility device comprising: 
 a generally rigid frame having: 
 a top, a bottom, an inner and an outer surface;  
 a central receiving region having dimensions sized for receiving a container;  
 at least one structure engagement section disposed on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame for suspending said universal utility device from said structure; and  
 at least one wheel disposed horizontally on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame for facilitating the movement of said universal utility device along said structure.  
   
     
     
         46 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said at least one structure engagement section is positioned on said inner surface of said generally rigid frame such that said top surface of said generally rigid frame is positioned at least as high as said top surface of said structure when said universal utility device is suspended from said structure.  
     
     
         47 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said generally rigid frame further comprises a handle disposed on said top surface.  
     
     
         48 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said generally rigid frame further includes a plurality of fasteners for suspending a plastic bag.  
     
     
         49 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes an engagement portion designed to allow said universal utility device to slide freely on along said roofing gutter.  
     
     
         50 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one lip.  
     
     
         51 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said at least one structure engagement section includes at least one hook.  
     
     
         52 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said container includes a removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         53 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes an edge which engages said top surface of said generally rigid frame and supports said removable rigid formed insert.  
     
     
         54 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said removable rigid formed insert further includes a handle.  
     
     
         55 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a tray.  
     
     
         56 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a reel.  
     
     
         57 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 52  wherein said removable rigid formed insert includes a supporting structure for suspending an object.  
     
     
         58 . The universal utility device as claimed in  claim 57  wherein said supporting structure includes a means for retaining said object.