STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containers for carrying and scooping material.
2. Relevant Art
One type of container having a handle is a bucket made up of a cylindrical body with a closed bottom end, an open top end, and a handle mounted in the upper portion of the bucket so that the handle swivels. Such a bucket can be filled with material, carried, and emptied of its contents. One way to fill the bucket is to pour material into it while it is standing upright. Another way to fill the bucket is to use it as a scoop.
One method for using the bucket as a scoop involves grasping the bucket's handle in one hand and swiveling it toward oneself while tipping up the bottom of the bucket with the other hand. This motion places the open mouth of the bucket either roughly parallel with the material to be scooped or facing downward toward the material, depending upon the height at which the bottom of the bucket is lifted. The bucket is then dragged through the material by pulling on the handle and pushing on the bottom of the bucket, or by simply pushing on the bottom of the bucket alone. At the end of the scooping action, the bottom of the bucket is dropped and the bucket is lifted by the handle. This causes the material captured by the scooping action to settle within the bucket.
Scooping material in this way can involve bending over at the waist so as to reach the material with the bucket. The lower the material to be scooped, the further one will likely need to bend to get at the material.
A bucket can be carried by a handle mounted near the top of the bucket. For heavier loads, one might be required to use two hands on the handle to carry the bucket. This generally calls for each hand to be placed side by side on the handle and the bucket to be held out in front of one as one walks. Because of the relatively great weight of the bucket's contents, the bucket typically needs to be carried close to the body. The position of the bucket held out in front of one and held close to the body makes a normal gait difficult, resulting in one taking smaller steps as the load is carried.
A handle of a bucket can also be useful in emptying contents from the bucket. One way to empty a bucket is to grasp the handle in one hand to stabilize the bucket and to grab the bottom of the bucket in the other hand. The bottom of the bucket is then tipped up. The lifting motion provided by the hand on the bottom of the bucket controls the rate at which the contents of the bucket are emptied.
When emptying a heavy bucket of material, the weight of the contents is lifted as the bottom of the bucket is initially tipped up. As the contents of the bucket pours out, the weight of the material remaining in the bucket naturally decreases, thereby requiring less effort to lift the remaining contents of the bucket. If the bucket of material is relatively heavy, initially tipping up the bottom of the bucket can make it difficult to control the speed at which the material is emptied from the bucket.
What is needed is a container that decreases the amount of bending required to scoop material into the container, that allows one to more conveniently carry heavy containers of material, and that provides more control when emptying material from a container.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the present invention, a container is provided that employs a lower handle and that allows for the stacking of multiple containers. With the present invention, the amount of bending required to scoop material into a container is decreased, carrying heavy containers of material is made more convenient, and more control is provided when emptying material from a container. A container embodying features of the present invention comprises a body having a sidewall and a lower handle assembly mounted in a recess in the lower portion of the body.
The body of the container has an enclosing bottom and an open top. The body also has multiple recesses in a lower portion of its exterior surface. The formation of each recess in the exterior surface produces a corresponding protuberance in the interior surface of the body. The recesses and protuberances together allow for the stacking of multiple containers.
The lower handle assembly is housed within one of the recesses in the lower portion of the exterior surface of the body of the container. Generally, the entire assembly is contained within the recess. The lower handle assembly contains a lower handle that is capable of extending outwardly from the recess and retracting back within the recess.
In some embodiments, an upper handle is attached to the upper portion of the container body. The upper handle is an elongated member that attaches loosely to the body. This loose attachment allows the upper handle to swivel in relation to the body of the container. In some of these embodiments, a grip is mounted over the center portion of the upper handle to afford more comfort in carrying the container.
In some embodiments, a retainer flange is attached to the top of the recess that houses the lower handle assembly. The retainer flange secures the handle portion of the lower handle assembly within the recess. The retainer flange is attached so as to be generally flush with the exterior surface of the body of the container. To use the lower handle, the handle is removed from the retainer flange and extended outwardly from the recess.
The lower handle is used in a variety of ways. One way is to help in scooping material into the container. Extending and grasping the lower handle allows one to stand more upright when getting at the material, as opposed to grabbing the bottom of the container and bending, or bending further, to reach the material.
The lower handle is also used in conjunction with an upper handle to carry a heavy container of material. By grasping the upper handle in one hand and the lower handle in the other, one is able to hold the container more to one side as one walks, allowing one generally to take fuller strides. By and large this would be preferable to carrying the container by two hands on the upper handle. Carrying the container in this manner can lead to the container being carried out in front of oneself close to the body, resulting in the likely need to take smaller steps.
Another way the lower handle is used is in emptying material from a container. By pulling up on the lower handle, rather than tipping up the bottom of the container, one generally has more control over the speed at which the material is emptied from the container, particularly when dealing with a heavy container of material. Pulling up on the lower handle, rather than tipping up the bottom of the container, can also make it easier to empty the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and to its method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container with a lower handle fully extended, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container in FIG. 1 with a lower handle stowed;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the container in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the container in FIG. 3 with a lower handle partially extended;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 6, focusing on the partially extended lower handle;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the container in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 8, focusing on the partially extended lower handle;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of four containers stacked one within the other, in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a cutaway side elevational view of the container shown in FIG. 10, taken along line X-Y;
FIG. 12 is a cutaway side elevational view of two stacked containers similar to FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a cutaway side elevational view of three stacked containers similar to FIGS. 11 and 12;
FIG. 14 is a cutaway side elevational view of four stacked containers similar to FIGS. 11-13; and
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of four containers stacked together from a different angle than shown in FIGS. 11-14.
DESCRIPTION
Embodying the principles of the present invention is a container depicted in FIGS. 1-9 that is capable of being stacked within other containers, as depicted in FIGS. 10-15.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container 30 comprises an open top 34, a closed bottom 36, a body 40 forming an enclosing sidewall extending from the top 34 to the bottom 36, an upper handle 100, and a lower handle assembly 190. The body 40 is in the general shape of a gradually tapering cylinder, with an upper portion of the body 40 that is adjacent to the top 34 of the container 30 being wider and a lower portion of the body 40 that is adjacent to the bottom 36 of the container 30 being narrower. The upper handle 100 is mounted to the body 40 near the top 34 of the container 30, as described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The lower handle assembly 190 is mounted to the body 40 near the bottom 36 of the container 30, as described below with reference to FIGS. 6-9.
Continuing with FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper handle 100 comprises a handle member 103 and a grip 105. The handle member 103 is a length of curved, elongated material, such as a length of stiff metal rod. Each end of the handle member 103 attaches to the body 40 of the container 30 allowing the upper handle 100 to pivot or swivel in relation to the body 40, as described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The curvature of the handle member 103 is sufficient to allow the handle member 103 to swivel easily on the body 40. The grip 105 of the upper handle 100 is substantially a plastic cylinder open at both ends. The grip 105 is normally rotatable on the upper handle 100 or may be fitted securely over the center portion of the handle member 103 so that approximately an equal length of the handle member 103 appears on either side of the grip 105.
Regarding FIGS. 1 and 2, in the current embodiment, the upper handle 100 pivots easily back and forth over the body 40 of the container 30. In some alternate embodiments, however, an upper handle 100 can be configured to be stationary. In other alternate embodiments, an upper handle 100 can be configured so as to allow the handle 100 to be positioned within a range of possible positions and to remain stationary in the given position until repositioned. In addition, in alternate embodiments the handle member 103 of the upper handle 100 can be constructed of another material, such as rope, cord, or a metal or plastic band. Also in alternate embodiments, the grip 105 can be made of other materials, such as rubber, wood, or metal.
Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the body 40 of the container 30 comprises a pair of opposing ends 48 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), an interior wall surface 50 (see FIG. 5), a bottom 90 (see FIG. 5), an exterior wall surface 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), a lip 200, a mount ridge 210 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), a pair of upper handle mounts 220 (one shown in FIG. 3 and another shown in FIG. 4), and a circumferential stacking stop 230 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The bottom 90 of the body 40 is formed with or attached to a bottom end 48 of the body 40. In this way, the container 30 is closed at the bottom end 48 so as to hold material disposable into the container 30. The container 30 is open at the opposing top end 48 so as to accept material placed into the container 30.
Regarding FIGS. 3-5, in the current embodiment, the body 40 of the container 30 is made of plastic. In alternate embodiments, a body 40 can be constructed of a different material, such as metal, fabric, woven material, or wood.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lip 200 is located on the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40 of the container 30 at the top end 48 of the body 40. The lip 200 is a narrow projection that encompasses the circumference of the body 40. The mount ridge 210 is a narrow projection that encompasses the circumference of the body 40. The mount ridge 210 is formed with the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40 and is oriented generally parallel to the lip 200. The mount ridge 210 also projects approximately the same distance from the exterior wall surface 110 as does the lip 200. A portion of the mount ridge 210 is generally adjacent to each of the upper handle mounts 220.
Continuing with FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of upper handle mounts 220 (one shown in FIG. 3 and another shown in FIG. 4) are attached to the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40, between the mount ridge 210 and the stacking stop 230. The upper handle mounts 220 are attached to opposing ends of a diameter drawn across the top end 48 of the body 40. The opposing upper handle mounts 220 are aligned generally along the same horizontal axis. An eye 223 is located in the approximate center of each mount 220. Opposing ends of the handle member 103 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the upper handle 100 are inserted into each eye 223 to attach the upper handle 100 to the body 40. The upper handle 100 attaches loosely to the pair of upper handle mounts 220, allowing the upper handle 100 to pivot or swivel in relation to the body 40 of the container 30.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the stacking stop 230 is a broad projection that encompasses the circumference of the body 40. The stacking stop 230 is formed with or attached to the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40 and is oriented generally parallel to both the mount ridge 210 and the lip 200. The stacking stop 230 also projects approximately the same distance from the exterior wall surface 110 as does the mount ridge 210 and the lip 200. A portion of the stacking stop 230 is generally adjacent to each of the upper handle mounts 220. When stacking a second container 30 within a like first container 30, a stacking stop 230 on the second container 30 provides a broad projection that catches on the lip 200 of the first container 30 to help prevent the second container 30 from being lowered further into the first container 30.
Regarding FIGS. 3 and 4, the lip 200, the mount ridge 210, the pair of upper handle mounts 220, and the stacking stop 230 are all molded portions of the body 40 of the container 30. In alternate embodiments, each of these elements can attach to the body 40 in some other way rather than being molded into the body 40. Also in alternate embodiments, an upper handle 100 can attach to the body 40 in a different manner known in the art.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40 of the container 30 comprises a lower handle recess 160, an intermediate recess 170, and a short recess 180. As the designations imply, the three recesses 160, 170, 180 are recesses in the exterior wall surface 110. The three recesses 160, 170, 180 are slightly spaced horizontally from each other. The recesses 160, 170, 180 come into their function when stacking containers 30 within one another, as described below with reference to FIGS. 10-15. In addition, the lower handle recess 160 is also used to hold the lower handle assembly 190, as described below with reference to FIGS. 6-9.
Continuing with FIG. 3, the lower handle recess 160 comprises a pair of opposing ends 168 and is taller than it is wide (see FIGS. 6 and 7). A bottom end 168 of the lower handle recess 160 is located generally at the bottom end 48 of the body 40 of the container 30. A top end 168 of the lower handle recess 160 is located approximately halfway up the exterior wall surface 110 of the body 40, making the recess 160 approximately half the height of the body 40 of the container 30. The lower handle recess 160 is positioned so that the center of the upper handle 100 is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the recess 160. The intermediate recess 170 comprises a pair of opposing ends 178. A bottom end 178 of the intermediate recess 170 is located generally at the bottom end 48 of the body 40. The intermediate recess 170 is approximately the same width as the lower handle recess 160 and approximately half the height of the lower handle recess 160. The intermediate recess 170 is positioned between the lower handle recess 160 and the short recess 180. The short recess 180 comprises a pair of opposing ends 188. A bottom end 188 of the short recess 180 is located generally at the bottom end 48 of the body 40. The short recess 180 is approximately the same width as both the lower handle recess 160 and the intermediate recess 170. The short recess 180 is approximately half the height of the intermediate recess 170.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the interior wall surface 50 comprises a lower handle protuberance 60, an intermediate protuberance 70, and a short protuberance 80. As their names imply, the three protuberances 60, 70, 80 are protuberances in the interior wall surface 50. The three protuberances 60, 70, 80 are complementary structures to the three recesses 160, 170, 180 (see FIG. 3) in the exterior wall surface 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In other words, each protuberance 60, 70, 80 projecting from the interior wall surface 50 is the result of an indentation formed by a corresponding recess 160, 170, 180 in the exterior wall surface 110. As a result, each protuberance 60, 70, 80 has approximately the same height and width as its counterpart. The lower handle protuberance 60 corresponds to the lower handle recess 160, the intermediate protuberance 170 corresponds to the intermediate recess 170, and the short protuberance 80 corresponds to the short recess 180. As with the three recesses 160, 170, 180, the three protuberances 60, 70, 80 are also employed when stacking containers 30 within one another, as described below with reference to FIGS. 10-15.
Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, a lower handle assembly 190 comprises a pair of opposing, spaced support ribs 192, a retainer flange 195, and a lower handle 196. The support ribs 192 and retainer flange 195 reside within the lower handle recess 160. When the lower handle 196 is deployed for use, the lower handle 196 extends outside of the lower handle recess 160, as shown in FIGS. 6-9. When the lower handle 196 is stowed within the recess 160, however, generally no portion of the lower handle 196 extends beyond the plane of the exterior wall surface 110 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 11-15).
Continuing with FIGS. 6-9, the pair of opposing, spaced support ribs 192 are molded into the lower handle recess 160 longitudinally along a center portion of the lower handle recess 160. The pair of support ribs 192 are generally parallel to each other, and both support ribs 192 are approximately of the same length. The support ribs 192 extend from generally the top end 168 of the lower handle recess 160 to proximate the bottom end 168 of the recess 160. Each support rib 192 includes an eye or pivot hole 193 that extends through a lower portion of each support rib 192. The eyes 193 of the support ribs 192 attach the lower handle 196 to the support ribs 192, as described below with reference to FIGS. 6-9.
Still referring to FIGS. 6-9, the lower handle 196 comprises a handle element 197 and a pair of opposing, spaced legs 198. The handle element 197 and pair of opposing legs 198 are both part of the same continuous, elongated body of material, such as a length of thick-gauge wire or a thin rod. The handle element 197 is formed from the center portion of the material, while each leg 198 is formed from an end of the material. The handle element 197 is elongated to allow for easy grasping and holding of the handle 196. The pair of opposing legs 198 are generally parallel to each other and approximately of the same length. A lower portion of each leg 198 is splayed outwardly from a space between the opposing legs 198 at approximately a ninety-degree angle. An end of the lower portion of each leg 198 fits into a respective eye 193 of the corresponding proximate support rib 192, thereby attaching the lower handle 196 to the two support ribs 192. The lower handle 196 pivots easily within the eyes 193 of the support ribs 192, allowing the handle 196 to extend outside of the lower handle recess 160 and to withdraw back within the recess 160.
Continuing with FIGS. 6-9, the retainer flange 195 is molded into the lower handle recess 160, generally in the center of the top end 168 of the lower handle recess 160. The retainer flange 195 maintains the lower handle 196 within the lower handle recess 160 when the lower handle 196 is in the stowed position within the recess 160. To stow the lower handle 196, the handle element 197 of the lower handle 196 is pressed against the retainer flange 195 until the upper portion of the handle element 197 snaps into place beneath the flange 195. To extend the lower handle 196 for use, the handle element 197 of the handle 196 is pulled out from beneath, or unsnapped from, the retainer flange 195.
Regarding FIGS. 6-9, in alternate embodiments, a lower handle assembly 190, including a lower handle 196, can be configured differently. For example, the lower handle 196 can be configured to allow the handle 196 to be positioned within a range of possible positions and to remain stationary in the given position until repositioned. Also in alternate embodiments, the lower handle 196 can be constructed of another material, and a lower handle 196 can be constructed in a different shape.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-15, to stack containers 30 together, the three recesses 160, 170, 180 (see particularly FIG. 15) in the exterior wall surface 110 (see FIG. 15) of the body 40 of the container 30 and the corresponding three protuberances 60, 70, 80 (see particularly FIGS. 13 and 14) in the interior wall surface 50 (see FIGS. 11-14) of the body 40 of the container 30 are aligned in a specific configuration relative to the other container 30 or containers 30 in the stack. To help illustrate this, FIG. 10 depicts a top view of four containers 30 stacked together. FIGS. 11-14 are cutaway side views of the containers 30 shown in FIG. 10, all taken along line X-Y. FIG. 11 shows the bottom container 30, FIG. 12 shows the bottom two containers 30a, 30b, FIG. 13 shows the bottom three containers 30a, 30b, 30c, and FIG. 14 shows all four containers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. FIG. 15 depicts a side view of the four containers 30 stacked together from an angle that differs from that shown in FIGS. 11-14.
Regarding FIGS. 10-15, the three inwardly directed protuberances 60, 70, 80 (see particularly FIGS. 13 and 14) in the interior wall surface 50 (see FIGS. 11-14) of the body 40 of the container 30 are complementary structures to the three outer recesses 160, 170, 180 (see particularly FIG. 15) in the exterior wall surface 110 (see FIG. 15), such that each protuberance 60, 70, 80 projecting from the interior wall surface 50 is the result of an indentation formed by a corresponding recess 160, 170, 180 in the exterior wall surface 110, as described above with reference to FIG. 5. In describing FIGS. 12-14, the position of a recess 160, 170, 180 not shown in a drawing can be ascertained from referring to the position of a corresponding protuberance 60, 70, 80 that is shown.
Referring now to FIG. 12, as a second container 30b is slid down within a first container 30a, a stacking stop 230b of the second container 30b comes into contact with a lip 200a of the first container 30a. This prevents the second container 30b from being slid further into the first container 30a. The second container 30b fits within the first container 30a, such that an intermediate recess 170b of the second container 30b slides over an upper portion of a lower handle protuberance 60a of the first container 30a, and a short recess 180b (not shown) of the second container 30b slides over an upper portion of an intermediate protuberance 70a (not shown) of the first container 30a.
Referring now to FIG. 13, as a third container 30c is slid down within the second container 30b, a stacking stop 230c of the third container 30c comes into contact with a lip 200b of the second container 30b. This prevents the third container 30c from being slid further into the second container 30b. The third container 30c fits within the second container 30b, such that an intermediate recess 170c (not shown, but identical to the intermediate recess 170b shown in FIG. 12) of the third container 30c slides over an upper portion of a lower handle protuberance 60b of the second container 30b, and a short recess 180c of the third container 30c slides over an upper portion of an intermediate protuberance 70b of the second container 30b.
Referring now to FIG. 14, as a fourth container 30d is slid down within the third container 30c, a stacking stop 230d of the fourth container 30d comes into contact with a lip 200c of the third container 30c. This prevents the fourth container 30d from being slid further into the third container 30c. The fourth container 30d fits within the third container 30c, such that an intermediate recess 170d (not shown, but identical to the intermediate recess 170b shown in FIG. 12) of the fourth container 30d slides over an upper portion of a lower handle protuberance 60c of the third container 30c, and a short recess 180d (not shown, but identical to the short recess 180c shown in FIG. 13) of the fourth container 30d slides over an upper portion of an intermediate protuberance 70c of the third container 30c.
Regarding FIGS. 10-15, note that when the fourth container 30d is stacked within the third container 30c, a recursive nesting structure is initiated, in which the recesses 160, 170, 180 and protuberances 60, 70, 80 of the second 30b, third 30c, and fourth containers 30d are aligned in a manner similar to those of the first 30a, second 30b, and third containers 30c. In other words, a short recess 180d of the fourth container 30d slides over an upper portion of an intermediate protuberance 70c of the third container 30c, while the corresponding intermediate recess 170c of the third container 30c slides over the upper portion of the lower handle protuberance 60b of the second container 30b. An intermediate recess 170d of the fourth container 30d, then, slides over an upper portion of a lower handle protuberance 60c of the third container 30c. A lower handle recess 160d of the fourth container 30d does not slide over any of the protuberances 60c, 70c, 80c of the third container 30c. When a fifth container 30e (not shown) is stacked within the fourth container 30d, the recursive nesting structure continues with the recesses 160, 170, 180 and protuberances 60, 70, 80 of the third 30c, fourth 30d, and fifth containers 30e aligned in a manner similar to those of the second 30b, third 30c, and fourth containers 30d. Also note that the stacking of containers 30 is not limited to stacking only four or five containers 30. In theory, any number of containers 30 could be stacked together.
Although the present invention has been described in detail herein with reference to a certain preferred embodiment, other embodiments are possible. For example, in an alternate embodiment, either an upper handle 100, a lower handle 196, or both handles 100, 196 can be fitted with a protective sleeve or grip or the like to protect one from injury or discomfort while using a container 30. In another alternate embodiment, an upper handle 100, a lower handle 196, or both handles 100, 196 can be removable. In yet another alternate embodiment, an upper handle 100 can be formed as part of a body 40 of a container 30. Another alternate embodiment can include a spout for pouring from a container 30. Yet another alternate embodiment can include a container 30 with a lid for protecting material stored in the container 30. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained herein.
Patent Application
20090266738
