CONTAINER HANDLES FOR LIFTING A CONTAINER IN AN INVERTED ORIENTATION

Abstract

A container (10), wherein the container (10) comprises a base (12) and upstanding walls (14) on the base (12), wherein the upstanding walls (14) each comprise a top edge (20), the top edges (20) defining a top opening (34) therebetween, wherein the container (10) comprises an inverted lifting handle (100) to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container (10) when the container (10) is in an inverted orientation, and wherein the inverted lifting handle (100) is at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base (12), and distal from an elevation of the top opening (34).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a container with container handles for lifting the container in an inverted orientation. In particular, but not exclusively, they relate to the container being a tote box for two-handed lifting.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Containers include boxes and the like. Some container types are tote boxes for manual handling. Some container types are dimensioned for two-handed lifting.

Containers are typically mass-produced at high speed and at low cost, using molding to form a base and upstanding walls, the top edges of which define a top opening. The top edges of the upstanding walls can be geometrically complex and may comprise integrally-molded handles for lifting the container. The bottom edges of the upstanding walls are typically geometrically simple plain edges to ensure that straight-pull molding can be used.

When the container is not in use, some users may prefer to store the container in an inverted orientation, for example to prevent pooling of water therein. In the inverted orientation, a top opening of the container faces downwards, and the base of the container faces upwards.

When the container is in the inverted orientation, a user can lift the container by placing their hands on opposing upstanding walls, near the base, and lifting with the friction of their hands. Alternatively, the user may bend down to pick up the ground-abutting top edges of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a container, wherein the container comprises a base and upstanding walls on the base,

• • wherein the upstanding walls each comprise a top edge, the top edges defining a top opening therebetween,
  • wherein the container comprises an inverted lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an inverted orientation, and
  • wherein the inverted lifting handle is at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base, and distal from an elevation of the top opening.

This provides the technical effect of improved ergonomics. This is because the container in the inverted orientation is easier to lift, especially by people having a small arm-span in relation to the size of the container.

In this disclosure, ‘up’ and ‘high’ means towards the elevation of the top edges and top opening, and ‘down’ and ‘low’ means towards the elevation of the base, irrespective of the orientation of the container.

The inverted lifting handle may be located at a first upstanding wall of the upstanding walls.

The container may comprise a second inverted lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the (first) inverted lifting handle.

This further improves ergonomics because the container can be lifted with both hands.

The first inverted lifting handle and the second inverted lifting handle may be located at opposite upstanding walls of the container.

The second inverted lifting handle may be at substantially the same elevation as the first inverted lifting handle.

The inverted lifting handle may comprise a finger engaging surface for imparting a reaction force against an upwards lifting force applied to the finger engaging surface when the container is in the inverted orientation.

The finger engaging surface further improves ergonomics because the container is less likely to slip through the user's digits (fingers).

The finger engaging surface may be oriented so that the reaction force against the upwards lifting force comprises a downwards reaction force component.

The finger engaging surface may face, at least in part, an opposite direction than an underside of the base.

The finger engaging surface may comprise a planar horizontal surface.

The finger engaging surface may comprise a minimum dimension greater than or equal to one centimetre. This provides enough of a ledge to receive a digit (e.g., fingertip) of a hand of the user.

The finger engaging surface may comprise a maximum dimension (e.g., width) greater than three centimetres or greater than seven centimetres. This provides space to receive a plurality of digits of the hand of the user.

The finger engaging surface may substantially or at least partially face a first one of the top edges. The finger engaging surface may be a surface of a handle lip substantially facing the first top edge.

The finger engaging surface may comprise a transitional distal edge. The transitional distal edge refers to the edge of the finger engaging surface that is laterally distal from the base.

An advantage is improved ergonomics because skin contact with a sharp edge is avoided.

The transitional distal edge may be vertically angled towards an elevation of the base. The transitional distal edge may comprise a convex fillet.

The inverted lifting handle may comprise a reinforcing portion. The reinforcing portion may comprise a reinforcing rib. The inverted lifting handle may comprise a plurality of reinforcing portions.

An advantage is improved durability.

The inverted lifting handle may comprise a drain. The drain may comprise a drain hole. The drain may allow water to drain through the inverted lifting handle in either direction, depending on the orientation of the container. The drain may be located at the finger engaging surface. The inverted lifting handle may comprise a plurality of drains.

The container may comprise an upright lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an upright orientation. The upright lifting handle may be at a same upstanding wall as the inverted lifting handle. The container may comprise a second upright lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the (first) upright lifting handle.

The inverted lifting handle may be recessed. The container may comprise a finger recess for the inverted lifting handle. The finger recess may be a wall recess.

An advantage is that the footprint area of the base region of the container is maintained, because the inverted lifting handle is recessed into an upstanding wall rather than protruding laterally outwardly from the base region of the container.

The finger recess may be an undercut relative to the inverted lifting handle. The finger recess may be sized to enable a plurality of digits of a hand of the user to reach the inverted lifting handle.

The finger recess may sacrifice some interior volume of the container. An interior surface of the container comprising an interior side of the finger recess may be non-planar due at least to the finger recess.

In addition, the interior surface may comprise a ribbed shape, comprising one or more ribs. The ribs may be in an upright orientation, on upstanding walls. The ribs may be wall ribs. If the finger recess is adjacent an inwardly-protruding rib, the top of the finger recess may be dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib. If the finger recess is alongside an outwardly-protruding rib, the top of the finger recess may be dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the finger recess.

The container may comprise nesting separators and nesting platforms above the nesting separators. The nesting platforms may be configured to receive the nesting separators of another container nested within the container to provide a minimum vertical nesting separation distance between the top edges of the other container and the top edges of the container. The minimum vertical nesting separation distance may be greater than the vertical height of the finger recess from the base of the container. Therefore, the nesting platforms will prevent the base of the other container from hitting the finger recess of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a container in an upright orientation;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a container arrangement;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a container in an inverted orientation;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an inverted lifting handle;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an inverted lifting handle viewed from another perspective; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an example top view of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings show a container 10 which comprises a base 12 and four upstanding side walls 14 on the base 12. The walls comprise first and second opposite long walls 16A, 16B. The walls further include third and fourth opposite short walls 18A, 18B extending between the long walls 16A, 16B.

The upstanding walls 14 each comprise a top edge, the top edges 20 defining a top opening 34 therebetween. The upstanding walls 14 each comprise a bottom edge 21 connected to the base 12.

The illustrated container 10 is a tote box for manual handling. The container 10 is dimensioned for two-handed lifting. The container 10 has an internal volume within the range 50 litres to 100 litres. In other examples, the container 10 is a different type of container or has different dimensions.

The container 10 comprises a pair of inverted lifting handles 100 to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container 10 when the container 10 is in an inverted orientation. The inverted lifting handles 100 each provide a grabbing surface, proximal to the base 12 of the container 10, when the container 10 is lifted while in the inverted orientation. In another example, the container 10 comprises a single inverted lifting handle 100.

The inverted lifting handles 100 are at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base 12, and distal from an elevation of the top opening 34. The inverted lifting handles 100 may be proximal to the bottom edges 21 and distal from the top edges 20. The inverted lifting handles 100 may be formed by an undercut, e.g., a side action during a molding process, leaving handle lips 103 which can be grabbed.

A first inverted lifting handle 100 is located at a first upstanding wall 18A and a second inverted lifting handle 100 is located at a second upstanding wall 18B, opposite the first upstanding wall 18A. The first and second upstanding walls 18A, 18B may be the short walls.

Referring to the close-up views of FIGS. 4-5, the inverted lifting handle 100 comprises a finger engaging surface 104 for imparting a reaction force, including a downwards reaction component, against an upwards lifting force applied to the finger engaging surface 104 when the container 10 is in the inverted orientation. The finger engaging surface 104 faces, at least in part, an opposite direction than an underside of the base 12.

From the user's perspective, the finger engaging surface 104 faces upwards when the container 10 is in an upright orientation and faces downwards when the container 10 is in an inverted orientation.

The illustrated finger engaging surface 104 comprises a planar horizontal surface to be contacted by the user's fingers. However, in other examples the finger engaging surface 104 can be non-horizontal but is within X degrees of horizontal, wherein X is a value selected from the range 0 to 60 degrees or 0 to 45 degrees. In some examples, the finger engaging surface 104 is not planar, and may be curved for example.

The finger engaging surface 104 may comprise a minimum dimension greater than or equal to one centimetre. In some examples, the minimum dimension may be greater than or equal to approximately 1.5 centimetres. The minimum dimension may be the depth of protrusion from the first upstanding wall 18A.

The finger engaging surface 104 may comprise a maximum dimension greater than three centimetres or greater than seven centimetres. In some examples, the maximum dimension may be greater than or equal to approximately 10 centimetres. The maximum dimension may be the width of the finger engaging surface 104, parallel to the first upstanding wall 18A.

In the illustrated example, the finger engaging surface 104 is a surface of the handle lip 103, substantially facing the top edge 20 of the first upstanding wall 18A.

The illustrated finger engaging surface 104 comprises one or more optional transitional edges. The edge of the finger engaging surface 104 that is distal from the first upstanding wall 18A and base 12 can comprise a transitional distal edge 110. This is the edge which is generally in contact with the sides of the fingers during a lifting operation. The transitional distal edge 110 is vertically angled towards an elevation of the base 12. The transitional distal edge 110 may comprise a convex fillet.

The illustrated inverted lifting handle 100 comprises a plurality of optional reinforcing portions 106. The reinforcing portions 106 each comprise a reinforcing rib. In other examples, the inverted lifting handle 100 comprises a single reinforcing portion. In other examples, the inverted lifting handle 100 is a solid handle without cutouts and without reinforcing portions 106.

The reinforcing portions 106 reinforce the finger engaging surface 104. The reinforcing portions 106 may be located to an opposite side of the handle lip 103 than the finger engaging surface 104 of the handle lip 103. The reinforcing portions 106 are behind the finger engaging surface 104 to distribute loads associated with lifting the container in the inverted orientation to the first upstanding wall 18A.

The inverted lifting handle 100 comprises optional drains 108. The drains 108 may each comprise a drain hole. The drains 108 allow water to drain through the inverted lifting handle 100 in either direction, depending on the orientation of the container 10.

In other examples, the inverted lifting handle 100 comprises a single drain.

The illustrated drains 108 are open at one end to the finger engaging surface 104. The illustrated drains 108 are open at their other ends to troughs between neighbouring reinforcing portions 106. This prevents pooling of water in the troughs between the reinforcing portions 106, when the container 10 is in the inverted orientation.

The illustrated inverted lifting handle 100 is recessed. The first upstanding wall 18A comprises a finger recess 102 for the first inverted lifting handle 100. The second upstanding wall 18B comprises a finger recess 102 for the second inverted lifting handle 100.

The finger recess 102 is sized to receive a plurality of digits of a hand of the user. For example, the finger recess 102 may comprise a width and depth at least equal to the width and depth of the finger engaging surface 104, and a height greater than or equal to approximately two centimetres (through which that width and depth is at least maintained).

The finger recess 102 may be an undercut relative to the handle lip 103. The finger recess 102 may be created as an undercut by a side-action tool, during molding.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the finger recesses 102 sacrifice some interior space of the container 10.

An interior surface of each upstanding wall 18A, 18B that comprises an interior side of a finger recess 102 may be non-planar due to the finger recess 102 and due to other, pre-existing recessed features. An example of a pre-existing recessed feature is shown in the Figures, wherein each upstanding wall 18A, 18B comprises a ribbed shape having one or more wall ribs 22 or 24. The wall ribs 22, 24 are in an upright orientation, extending up the upstanding walls 18A, 18B.

The finger recess 102 of the first upstanding wall 18A is on a central wall portion 25 between a pair of wall ribs 22. The pair of wall ribs 22 protrude (are recessed) inwardly into the container internal space 36, relative to the interior base corners 32 of the first upstanding wall 18A. At least the top of the finger recess 102 is dimensioned not to protrude into the container internal space 36 more than the pair of wall ribs 22.

The finger recess 102 of the second upstanding wall 18B is on a central wall portion 26 between a pair of inverse wall ribs 24 having an opposite shape than the wall ribs 22 of the first upstanding wall 18A. The inverse wall ribs 24 protrude (are recessed) outwardly relative to interior base corners 32 of the second upstanding wall 18B. At least the top of the finger recess 102 is dimensioned not to protrude into the container internal space 36 beyond the interior base corners 32 of the second upstanding wall 18B.

Therefore, the shape and dimensions of items that the container 10 can store is substantially unaffected by the presence of the recessed inverted lifting handles 100.

The function of the wall ribs 22, 24 is outside the scope of this disclosure. To briefly summarise, the wall ribs may enable user control over a nesting depth of nestable containers. In the illustrated examples, the container 10 is a nestable container.

FIG. 2 shows a container arrangement 1 in the form of an array comprising first and second nested containers 10, 10B, the second container 10B being nested within the first container 10. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the first container 10 is the lowermost of the two containers. The features of the second container 10B are the same as the features of the first container 10.

To facilitate the nesting of containers, the upstanding walls 14 of each container 10 splay outwardly from the base 12 with increasing vertical height above the base 12.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 illustrate the container 10 comprising nesting separators 28 and nesting platforms 23 above the nesting separators 28. The nesting platforms 23 are configured to receive the nesting separators 28 of the second container 10B nested within the container 10 to provide a minimum vertical nesting separation distance between the top edges 20 of the other first container 10 and the top edges of the second container 10B.

The nesting platforms 23 are proximal to an elevation of the top edges 20 of the container 10. The nesting platforms 23 are (slightly) recessed relative to the top edges 20. The nesting platforms 23 are illustrated to an interior side of the upstanding walls 14. The nesting platforms 23 are illustrated directly above the nesting separators 28. The nesting separators 28 are illustrated to an exterior side of the upstanding walls 14. The nesting separators 28 extend down (towards the base 12) from an elevation of the nesting platforms 23. Although a plurality of distinct nesting platforms 23 are shown, in other examples a single nesting platform extends continuously around the interior side of the collar (top edges 20) of the container 10. The number of nesting separators 28 also depends on implementation.

To prevent the base 12 of the nested second container 10B from hitting the top of the finger recess 102 of the first container 10, the minimum vertical nesting separation distance is greater than the vertical height of the top of the finger recess 102 from the base 12 of the container 10, measured at the interior side of the upstanding walls 14. The minimum vertical nesting separation distance is defined as the vertical distance between the nesting platforms 23 of the container 10 and the platform-abutting ends of the nesting separators 28 of the container 10.

FIGS. 1 and 3 also illustrate the container 10 as comprising upright lifting handles 30 to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container 10 when the container 10 is in an upright orientation. Therefore, a set of handles is available for each orientation of the container 10. The first upstanding wall 18A comprises a first upright lifting handle 30 and the second upstanding wall 18B comprises a second upright lifting handle 30.

On each upstanding wall, the upright lifting handles 30 may be opposite the inverted lifting handles 100. The upright lifting handle 30 may be proximal to the top edge of the upstanding wall and the inverted lifting handle 100 may be proximal to a bottom edge 21 of the upstanding wall.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A container, wherein the container comprises a base and upstanding walls on the base, wherein the upstanding walls each comprise a top edge, the top edges defining a top opening therebetween,wherein the container comprises an inverted lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an inverted orientation, andwherein the inverted lifting handle is at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base, and distal from an elevation of the top opening.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the inverted lifting handle is a first inverted lifting handle, and wherein the container comprises a second inverted lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the first inverted lifting handle.

3. (canceled)

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a finger engaging surface to impart a reaction force against an upwards lifting force applied to the finger engaging surface when the container is in the inverted orientation.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the finger engaging surface faces, at least in part, an opposite direction than an underside of the base.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the finger engaging surface comprises at least one of: a minimum dimension greater than or equal to one centimeter, to provide enough of a ledge to receive a digit of a hand of a user; or a maximum dimension greater than three centimeters to provide space to receive a plurality of digits of a hand of a user.

7. The container of claim 4, wherein the finger engaging surface comprises a transitional distal edge, the transitional distal edge being the edge of the finger engaging surface that is laterally distal from the base of the container, wherein the transitional distal edge is vertically angled towards an elevation of the base, and wherein the transitional distal edge comprises a convex fillet.

8. (canceled)

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a reinforcing portion, wherein the reinforcing portion comprises a reinforcing rib.

10. (canceled)

11. The container of claim 9, wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a plurality of the reinforcing ribs.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a drain.

13. (canceled)

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the drain is located at the finger engaging surface.

15. (canceled)

16. The container of claim 1, comprising an upright lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an upright orientation, wherein the upright lifting handle is at a same one of the upstanding walls as the inverted lifting handle.

17. (canceled)

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a finger recess for the inverted lifting handle.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. The container of claim 18, wherein an interior surface of the container, comprising an interior side of the finger recess, is non-planar due at least to the finger recess.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein the interior surface comprises a ribbed shape, comprising one or more wall ribs in an upright orientation, on opposite upstanding walls of the upstanding walls of the container.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the finger recess is adjacent an inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, or wherein the finger recess is alongside an outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the finger recess.

24. The container of claim 18, wherein the container comprises nesting separators and nesting platforms above the nesting separators, wherein the nesting platforms are configured to receive the nesting separators of another container nested within the container to provide a minimum vertical nesting separation distance between the top edges of the other container and the top edges of the container.

25. The container of claim 24, wherein the minimum vertical nesting separation distance is greater than a vertical height of the finger recess from the base of the container, to prevent the base of the other container from hitting the finger recess of the container.

26. The container of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a finger recess for the inverted lifting handle, wherein an interior surface of the container, comprising an interior side of the finger recess, is non-planar due to the finger recess and due to the interior surface comprising a ribbed shape, comprising wall ribs in an upright orientation, on opposite upstanding walls of the upstanding walls of the container, andwherein the finger recess is adjacent an inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, orwherein the finger recess is alongside an outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the finger recess.

27. The container of claim 26, wherein the inverted lifting handle is a first inverted lifting handle and the finger recess is a first finger recess, wherein the container comprises a second inverted lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the first inverted lifting handle, and a second finger recess for the second inverted lifting handle,wherein the first finger recess is adjacent the inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the first finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, andwherein the second finger recess is alongside the outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the second finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the second finger recess.

28. The container of claim 26, wherein the wall ribs extend up the upstanding walls further than the finger recess.