Replacement Bucket Handle

Abstract

The present invention provides for a replacement handle including a lower body and upper body that are formed congruence and when attached one to another define a system cavity that is constructed and arranged to nest an exisitng handle therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Persons that deal with tools and implements realize that repairs and replacements are sometimes very difficult. A simple yet difficult replacement happens to be replacement of handles. Although there have been various attempts to provide efficient and effective handle replacements, there is still a need to provide such an item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Replacement Bucket Handle of the invention is configured to replace the standard bucket handle that comes on basically all 5-gallon buckets, and on many smaller sized buckets that are commonly sold in the marketplace. The bucket handle that is supplied on most 5-gallon buckets is small and does not have the best ergonomic qualities beneficial with extended use. This becomes especially obvious when carrying heavier loads in the buckets. Furthermore, the handle that comes standard on the 5-gallon buckets will usually crack and break after extended use as they become old and deteriorate.

The Replacement Bucket Handle is larger in diameter, has greater length, and is made to fit the human hand more ergonomically than the handle provided with the bucket.

The bucket handles currently on the market have an overall length that is less than the length of the straight section of the wire handle. The present invention also mounts on the straight section of the wire handle, but the handle body extends in length on both ends, past the straight wire section. The additional length is advantageous, because it creates a longer and more comfortable contact surface with your hand while carrying the bucket. This larger contact surface is especially beneficial while carrying heavier loads in the bucket.

The bucket handles currently on the market have a larger diameter in the center of the handle, and they taper down to a smaller diameter on the ends of the handles. The present invention has a consistent contoured diameter throughout the full length of the handle but has a larger diameter on each end. The larger diameter is achieved with the addition of a circular band on each end. This larger circular band serves the purpose as a feature to help stop the handle from sliding out of your hand, especially when carrying heavier loads in the buckets.

The Replacement Bucket Handle is configured to fit over the existing handle whether it’s fully intact or has been broken into multiple pieces. It can also be used if the original bucket handle is totally gone from the wire hoop on the bucket. Furthermore, the Replacement Bucket Handle is configured so that it may be removed from the bucket it was added to and used on a different bucket in the case of the bucket being damaged and no longer usable. The Replacement Bucket Handle is a long-term solution which provides stability and durability

The Replacement Bucket Handle was created to replace the current bucket handle that comes standard on basically all of the 5-gallon buckets that are currently in the marketplace. This handle was designed to not only replace the existing handle, but also to create a Superior design to the other replacement bucket handles that are currently on the market.

The Replacement Bucket Handle is a one-piece plastic injection molded part that is symmetrical in design so that two of them, as opposing halves, are put together to create one full bucket handle. The two parts together will fit over the existing 5-gallon bucket handle on the wire hoop or over multiple broken pieces of the existing handle. It will also fit on the wire hoop of the 5-gallon bucket if the original bucket handle is completely gone. Once the two halves of the Replacement Bucket Handle are put together on the wire hoop, they are finally secured together with 4 small self-tapping screws. Because the two handle halves are secured together with screws, the handle can be taken off and reused on a different bucket in the future, if for some reason the bucket it is on becomes damaged and is no longer usable. The Replacement Bucket Handle is larger in diameter and is much longer, along with ergonomic contours which fit very comfortably on the hand while in use.

Current known replacement handles slide on the wire hoop from underneath the handle for use, with some being molded plastic and some being rubber. Other known handles are both molded plastic and both handles “snap” together and are not able to be removed after installation. The “Snappy Grip” handle has 8 snapping features, and the old handle must be removed from the wire hoop in order to mount this handle. The “BIGGS Handle” does go over the original handle and has a snapping feature on each end. The handles on the market are a smaller diameter and are only slightly longer than the original handle that comes with the buckets.

The handle of the present invention is quite a bit larger in diameter and longer, so that it fits comfortably under larger hands, along with finger grooves molded into it. The most attractive feature that is in the handle of the present invention is the fact that it can be reused multiple times because it is screwed together and can be taken off and mounted to another bucket if needed in the future.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a replacement handle system comprising:

• a lower body having a lower body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said lower body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;
• an upper body formed congruent to said lower body, said upper body having an upper body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said upper body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;
• wherein in each of said upper body and lower body are constructed and arranged to mate and define a system cavity configured to nest an existing handle therein and extend beyond a length of said existing handle.

In one embodiment, each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

In one embodiment, each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors configured as a rectangular tabs for said male connectors and rectangular slots for said female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

In one embodiment, each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors configured as 3 rectangular tabs for said male connectors and 3 rectangular slots for said female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

In one embodiment, the each of said rectangular slots have formed thereon three slot protrusions positioned in a triangular pattern with two slot protrusions on one side, and third protrusion on a side opposite said two slot protrusions on one side, wherein said third protrusion is located exactly halfway in between the initial two protrusions.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a replacement handle system consisting of:

• a lower body having a lower body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said lower body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;
• an upper body formed congruent to said lower body, said upper body having an upper body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said upper body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;
• wherein in each of said upper body and lower body are constructed and arranged to mate and define a system cavity configured to nest an existing handle therein and extend beyond a length of said existing handle, wherein each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors configured as a rectangular tabs for said male connectors and rectangular slots for said female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure, whereby each of said rectangular slots have formed thereon three slot protrusions positioned in a triangular pattern with two slot protrusions on one side, and third protrusion on a side opposite said two slot protrusions on one side, wherein said third protrusion is located exactly halfway in between the initial two protrusions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an existing bucket handle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the handle bottom section of present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle bottom section with handle nested therein according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper and lower handle separated with handle nested therein according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a top view of the bottom handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a top expanded view from FIG. 5A of the receiving tab according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As generally understood and demonstrated in the accompanying drawings, handle system 10 is used with an existing bucket handle 20 is supported by a existing handle support 22. The present invention includes a lower replacement handle body 30 and an upper replacement handle body 40. They are constructed and arranged with congruent components such that when they are attached one to another a central cavity provides a configuration to nest handle 20 therein.

Lower body 30 has a lower cavity portion 32 extending lengthwise within lower body 30 and terminating at a pair of retaining walls 34 with one retaining wall positioned on a first end and a second retaining wall positioned on a second end. Lower body cavity 32 has a plurality of lower guide portions 36 constructed and arranged to facilitate the nesting of handle 20.

Lower body 30 has formed therein screw entrance 37 to access screw cavity 38 constructed for screw 39 to pass therethrough and secure info screw receiver 35.

The invention further includes upper body 40 having form there in upper body cavity 42 extending lengthwise within upper body 40 and terminating a repair of retaining walls 44 with one retaining wall positioned on the first and the second retaining wall positioned on a second end. Upper body 40 additionally includes upper body guide portions 46 constructed and arranged to facilitate the nesting of handle 20. Although not shown, upper body cavity 42 is similarly formed with screw entrance, screw cavity 38 constructed for screw 39 to pass therethrough and secure info screw receiver as described above in relation to lower body 30.

As generally understood, when upper body 40 is connected to lower body 30 upper body guide portions 46 and lower guide portions 36 positioned together form an advantageous rigid structure for supporting system 10. The advantageous increased strength and rigidity over prior articles is further enhanced in the positioning of upper body guide portions 46 and lower guide portions 36 immediately proximate to the screws 39 when screws 39 are attached and secured into screw cavity 38.

As demonstrated, system 10 of the present invention includes lower body 30 and upper body 40 connected one to another and being constructed and arranged for handle 22 nest in the clothed configuration.

In one embodiment, the two symmetrical halves of the replacement bucket handle are initially positioned together by sliding the Rectangular Tabs 50 into the Rectangular Slots 52. There are three Tabs and three Slots located on the outside edge of each bucket handle half, and these will line up with each other when the two handle halves are positioned together. Because there are three slots and tabs on each handle, there ends up being a total of 6 areas of interference fit.

As demonstrated in FIG. 5B, on the inside of each Rectangular Slot 52 are three slot protrusions 54 that create a strong interference fit to hold the handle together tightly while inserting the screws. These three protrusions are positioned in a triangular pattern, when looking down into the slots. There are two slot protrusions on one side, and the third protrusion is on the opposite side, located exactly halfway in between the initial two protrusions.

These protrusions improve the strength of the system while securing the four self-tapping screws in place. Alternatively, without the interference fit, the two handle halves would be much more difficult to hold together while deploying the screws.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A replacement handle system comprising: a lower body having a lower body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said lower body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;an upper body formed congruent to said lower body, said upper body having an upper body interior cavity extending from a first end to a second end, whereby said upper body interior cavity is defined by a pair retaining walls positioned proximate to each of said first and second ends;wherein in each of said upper body and lower body are constructed and arranged to mate and define a system cavity configured to nest an existing handle therein and extend beyond a length of said existing handle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors configured as a rectangular tabs for said male connectors and rectangular slots for said female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said upper body and lower body are configured with male-female connectors configured as 3 rectangular tabs for said male connectors and 3 rectangular slots for said female connectors to secure upper body and lower body in a friction fit closure.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said rectangular slots have formed thereon three slot protrusions positioned in a triangular pattern with two slot protrusions on one side, and third protrusion on a side opposite said two slot protrusions on one side, wherein said third protrusion is located exactly halfway in between the initial two protrusions.