Claims
- 1. A laundry basket, comprising:
- (a) a walled container having a peripheral rim about a substantial portion thereof;
- (b) a pair of opposing hand openings adjacent said peripheral rim; and
- (c) a pair of handle members extending, respectively, about said rim and through said hand openings, each of said handle members including a bottom portion positioned below said rim, said bottom portion defining an upper boundary of one of said hand openings and a top portion, said top portion being connected to said bottom portion, each said bottom portion of said handle members being in the form of a generally semicylindrical shell having a longitudinal axis, each said bottom portion of said handle members terminating in an outwardly protruding lip substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said outwardly protruding lip forming a first hook-like member, each said top portion of said handle members being generally semicylindrical having a longitudinal axis therethrough, said top portion having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, each said top portion of said handle members terminating at said fist longitudinal end in a second hook-like member;
- wherein said second hook-like member is configured to lockingly engage with said first hook-like member of said bottom handle portion so as to lockingly join said top portions of said handle members to said bottom portions of said handle members.
- 2. The laundry basket of claim 1, wherein each said bottom portion of said handle members is integral to and positioned below said peripheral rim.
- 3. The laundry basket of claim 2, wherein each said integral bottom portion of said handle members includes a curved exterior surface.
- 4. The laundry basket of claim 3, wherein each said top portion of said handle members includes a curved exterior surface and an interior surface.
- 5. The laundry basket of claim 4, wherein each said top portion of said handle members further includes two opposing end walls extending generally perpendicularly from said interior surface of said top portion and positioned adjacent to said second longitudinal end of said top portion of said handle members.
- 6. The laundry basket as described in claim 2 wherein said peripheral rim includes a generally horizontal portion and a downwardly extending portion opposing the exterior surface of said walled container, said bottom portions of said handle members each being positioned at least partially between the downwardly extending portion of the rim and the exterior surface of said walled container.
- 7. A handle assembly for a rimmed container such as a laundry basket or the like, comprising:
- (a) a bottom portion integral to the rimmed container having an elongate, at least generally semicylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, said integral bottom portion terminating in an outwardly protruding lip substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said outwardly protruding lip forming a fist hook-like locking member; and
- (b) a top portion having an elongate, at least generally semicylindrical body, said top portion being of a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal, said first longitudinal end having a second hook-like locking member, said second hook-like locking member configured to lockingly engage with said first hook-like locking member of said integral bottom portion so as to lockingly join said bottom portion to said top portion, said first and second hook-like locking members comprising said interlocking means;
- wherein said top portion being configured to engage the rim portion of the container.
- 8. The handle assembly of claim 7, wherein said bottom portion has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
- 9. A molded thermoplastic laundry basket comprising:
- (a) a walled container including a peripheral rim, said rim including a generally horizontal portion;
- (b) a hand opening extending through a wall of said container and adjacent to said rim;
- (c) a handle member extending about said rim, said handle member including a curved exterior surface defining an upper boundary of said hand opening; and
- (d) means for securing said handle member to said rim;
- wherein said means for securing said handle member to said rim includes an upper handle member, said upper handle member including an elongate body having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration, said upper handle member receiving at least a portion of said rim, said upper handle member including a protrusion extending through said rim and lockingly engaging said handle member.
- 10. The thermoplastic laundry basket of claim 9, wherein said rim includes a downwardly extending portion in opposing relation to the walls of said container, said handle member positioned at least partially between the downwardly extending portion of said rim and the outer surface of said walled container.
- 11. The thermoplastic laundry basket of claim 10, including at least one rib extending between the downwardly extending portion of said rim and the outer surface of said walled container, said rib being positioned adjacent to said hand opening.
- 12. The thermoplastic laundry basket of claim 11, wherein said walled container includes a plurality of openings distributed over substantial portions thereof so as to provide ventilation within the basket.
- 13. The thermoplastic laundry basket of claim 9, wherein said walled container includes a plurality of openings distributed over substantial portions thereof so as to provide ventilation within the basket.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 07/606,213, filed on Oct. 31, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,472.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
606213 |
Oct 1990 |
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