Abstract:
A system for carrying a container comprising a plastic handle with tabs for insertion into slots on the container configured so that the tabs may be inserted when the handle is not in an upright or resting position.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is continuation of international application PCT/US 12/53188, filed on Aug. 30, 2012 (currently pending). International application PCT/US12/53188 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/221,056 filed on Aug. 30, 2011 (currently pending). International application PCT/US 12/53188 claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/674,142, filed Jul. 20, 2012 (currently pending). International application PCT/US 12/53188 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to plastic structures, and more particularly to a handle system for a container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The present handle system will be explained, by way of example only, with reference to certain embodiments and the attached figures, in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the front side of one embodiment of a handle of the present invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the handle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the front side of a cap of the handle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the back side of the cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a side view a container comprising an embodiment of a bracket of the present handle system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a horizontal sectional view of the bracket of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the handle inserted into the slots on the brackets in a horizontal position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the handle inserted into the slots on the brackets in an upright position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    A plastic system is provided for securely attaching a movable plastic handle to a plastic container including, without limitation, a paint can. The container may be cylindrical or any other shape suitable for a particular application. The plastic in one embodiment may be polypropylene and the components described herein are formed by injection molding. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ,  8 ,  11 - 12 , the system comprises a handle  1  that attaches to a pair of brackets  10  on the container  8 . More particularly, the handle  1 , which may be of unitary construction and made of plastic, comprises a strap  3  with tabs  2 ,  4  projecting from the strap near either end. As shown in  FIGS. 7-12 , the brackets  10  are affixed to the exterior of the container  8  preferably opposite one another and comprise a slot  11 . As described in more detail below, the tab and slot are sized and shaped to allow the tab to pass with force through the slot in one orientation, but to interlock such that the tab cannot be removed from the slot in all other orientations, including when the handle  1  is in use in an upright position and bearing the load of the container  8 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the handle  1  comprises the strap  3  with tabs  2 ,  4  projecting from the strap  3  near either end. In the embodiment shown, each end of the strap  3  has a cap  5 ,  6  in which the tabs  2 ,  4  are located. In another embodiment, the ends of the strap  3  do not terminate in caps and the tabs  2 ,  4  project from the body of the strap itself. The handle  1  is preferably symmetrical, with one end being a mirror image of the other, and therefore will be described with respect to one end only. It should be understood that such description is applicable to the corresponding features on the other end as well. 
         [0019]    The strap  3  is sufficiently long with respect to the container to form an arc above it, when the tabs are attached to the brackets, preferably with sufficient clearance between strap  3  and the top of the container for a person to grasp the handle without interference from the top of the container. The strap  3  may include a grip  7  near its center, on the side of the strap that will face the container when attached, for comfort and security of the user. 
         [0020]    The tab  2  comprises a three-dimensional head B that tapers from a broader base F to a narrower top A. In one embodiment the head B is attached to the strap  3  or cap  5  by a post C. The cross section of the head B of the tab  2  may be of any shape that allows its insertion into the slot  11  of the bracket  10  in one orientation and which becomes interlocked with the bracket  10  at any other orientation, including without limitation an oval, rectangle or spheroid. This generally requires the cross section to have major and minor axes, with the major axis being longer than the minor axis. Thus, the shapes described below are in all respects illustrative. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the head B is a cone or preferably a frustum. The frustum may be regular or irregular and the cross section defining its base may be any shape which generally has a major axis longer than a minor axis including, for example, a rectangle, an oval, squoval or a spheroid. The head B comprises a top A, opposing minor axis surfaces D defining the head&#39;s thickness in the direction of the minor axis, connected by opposing major axis surfaces E defining its width in the direction of the major axis. In one embodiment, the surfaces E of the head B taper from the broader base F to the narrower top A. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the thickness of the frustum need not be uniform from bottom to top and, in a preferred embodiment the thickness progressively decreases near the top A. In one embodiment, the cross section of the head B is rectangular and, in another embodiment, the shorter sides of the rectangle (in the direction of the minor axis) are convex. In one embodiment the major axis surfaces E may be convex or arcuate. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  the head B is of uniform cross section for some distance from the base F. In a preferred embodiment, the minor axis surfaces D may be convex, such that the cross section at the base F of the frustum is a rectangle with rounded corners and approaches a circle at the top A. This shape reduces deformation of the head B as it is inserted into the slot  11  of the bracket. The post C of the tab  2  may be substantially narrower than the width of the base F of the head B, and, in one embodiment, is circular in cross section. The tab  2  may be solid and of unitary construction with the cap  5 . 
         [0022]    The cap  5  is preferably integral with the strap  3 . The cap  5  is sized and shaped to fit around—but move freely over—the bracket  10  on the container  8 , when the handle  1  is attached to it. In the embodiment shown, the cap  5  comprises a floor  13  with two linear open sides between two opposing sidewalls  12 , which may be defined by segments of a circle. When laid flat, the plane of the floor  13  may be substantially parallel with that of the strap  3  and offset from it by the height of the sidewall  12 . The tab  2  may project perpendicularly from the floor  13  and is preferably located on the floor in the center of the circle defining the sidewalls  12 . As shown, the height of the tab  2  may be the same as that of the sidewalls. The floor  13  may include cutouts or voids around the post C of the tab  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-12 , the brackets  10  are fixed to the outside surface of the container  8 , and in some embodiments are molded integrally as part of the container. Another bracket (shown in  FIGS. 11-12 ) is also fixed to the container, and in some embodiments is opposite the first bracket. Where the container is a cylinder, the brackets should be diametrically opposed. The bracket  10  may be of any shape and construction sufficient to space the slot  11  from the outside surface of the container  8  by a distance at least slightly larger than the height of the head B of the tab  2 . 
         [0024]    As noted above, the head B of the tab  2  and the slot  11  are sized and shaped to allow the head B in one position to be inserted into the slot  11 , but some force should be required to insert the head B into the slot  11 . In one embodiment, at least ten pounds of force is required to insert the head B into the slot  11 . The slot  11  may be of any shape, but as with the cross section of the head B, the slot  11  should have a major axis defining its longest dimension and a minor axis defining its shortest dimension, with the major axis typically longer than the minor axis. Such shapes include an oval, squoval, rectangle or a spheroid. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the slot  11  is a rectangle with rounded corners. In some embodiments, the thickness of the head B is slightly narrower than the minor axis of the slot  11 , and the width of the head B at its base is slightly larger than the major axis of the slot  11 , which requires force to insert the head B through the slot  11 . In another embodiment, the thickness of the head B is slightly larger than the minor axis of the slot. 
         [0025]    The head B is of unitary construction and is solid, i.e., of one piece. It is inserted through the slot  11  by centering the tab  2  over the slot  11  with the long axes of the head B and slot  11  aligned. The head B may then be pushed through the slot  11 . After the head B of the tab  2  is inserted through the slot  11 , the post C may rotate freely in the slot  11 , with the base of the head B bearing against the inside of the slot  11  keeping the handle  1  connected to the container  8  when the handle is in use, for example as in  FIG. 12  when the handle is in an upright position. In the embodiment shown, the long axis of the head B of the tab  2  (i.e., its width at the base) is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strap  3 . The long axis of the slot  11  is parallel to the base of the container  8 . Therefore, the handle  1  must be parallel to the base of the container  8  for the head B of the tab  2  to be inserted into the slot  11  as shown in  FIG. 11 . When the handle  1  is in any other orientation, for example an upright position ( FIG. 12 ) or a resting position against either side of the container, the handle  1  is irremovably connected to the container  8  by the interlocking of the tab  2  and slot  11 .