Thank you for visiting our website. The Ladder Hat Inc. is a young company and we will be making changes to this site as we progress and grow. The Ladder Hat Inc. was launched in October 2004. The Ladder Hat utility tray was designed in 1998 by Dewell F. Williams (Fred), a plumber in Woodbridge, Virginia. The patent was issued in October 1999. The whole concept came about because Fred was tired of things falling off his stepladder every time he tried to move the ladder, or move around on it. To avoid this, many tradesman cut a 5 gallon bucket in half and screw them to their ladder. It keeps everything together, but it's very cumbersome, hard to keep organized, and a pain to remove. So Fred designed a utility tray that is practical, as well as easy to use on and off the ladder. For years, Fred tried to get someone else to manufacture and distribute the device. Finally, he decided to go for it on his own. His daughter, Angela, is currently handling the distribution and circulation on the west coast. She lives in Oakland, Calif., and also designed the label and logo. Fred chose Engineered Plastics Inc. (EPI), a plastic injection molding company in Lake City, Penn, to manufacture The Ladder Hat. The product could have been made cheaper internationally, but Fred is a firm believer in supporting the U.S. economy and wants to ensure the product is made with the highest possible quality. Erik Helsley, along with the owners of EPI, worked with Fred to guarantee that The Ladder Hat is durable, strong, and as resistant to chemicals as possible. As the owner of a plumbing company, Fred was able to have his employees use the utility trays in the field, in order to work out the bugs. The tray has changed slightly from the first prototype to the final model. Some changes that maximize efficiency include an archway under the strap hole and added support ribs on both sides of the archway. This made it easier to strap the tray to the stepladder. We also added support ribs on the underside of each corner to strengthen them. These few changes helped make The Ladder Hat a stronger, safer, and more user-friendly utility tray. We at The Ladder Hat Inc. believe that anyone who tries our product will be amazed at how much easier and time-saving this utility tray truly is. We're always open to comments about the product and suggestions for improvement. If you have any questions or comments please contact us. Thank you from all of us, and we hope you enjoy The Ladder Hat.