CARRYING DEVICE

Abstract: A carrying device for transporting fluids such as chemical dyes formed of an outer lightweight container and at least two inner containers (3) for the fluid held tightly together within the outer container (4). To enable the device to be transported without handling damage being caused to the outer container, the two inner containers are held together within the outer container by means of a linking handle (1) which may be used to transport the inner containers and the outer container as a single unit.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carrying device particularly for use in transporting bottles containing chemical substances. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to employ cardboard cartons for transporting plastics bottles containing photographic dyes, usually in twin pack form. The bottles, normally fitted with finger grip handles, are individually loaded in the receiving carton in tight fitting relationship with themselves and the walls of the carton, and for purposes of inspection and identification the top of the carton, exposing the handles, is left open with the exception of a rim of carton material which acts to prevent the bottles from falling out of the carton. During transportation the cartons are normally handled manually, and accordingly the sides of the carton are provided with perforations defining a section of carton material which may be pressed inwardly thereby providing finger grips for the handler. Despite requests placed on the cartons that handling should only occur using the finger grips provided in the carton walls, it has been found that the cartons are generally manhandled by being gripped around the thickened rims of their open tops so destroying the purpose of the rim and endangering the contents of the carton. As representative prior art, reference may be had to French patent specifications 2 195 561 and 2 271 986. The former document discloses a lifting handle especially designed to lift parcels or packets tied up with string and has a pair of lifting arms at the end of the handle which can be inserted beneath the string and retained thereon by specially designed re-entrant projections. The latter document discloses a handle system for linking the handles of several receptacles contained within a carton to facilitate ease of removal without destroying the carton packaging and incorporates a series of hook shaped members attached to a main handle for securing to each respective handle of the receptacles thereby to lift the receptacles bodily from the carton. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a carrying device for transporting bottles of chemicals which may be manhandled as a complete unit by means of a lifting force applied directly to the bottles within the carrying carton. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided transportation apparatus for transporting fluids such as chemical dies comprising an outer light weight container having an open top provided with a rimmed flap, at least two inner containers for the fluids disposed in said outer container beneath said flap, the inner containers having lifting handles and arranged in close-fit relationship with each other and with the outer container characterised by the provision of a one-piece elongate rectilineal handle made of stiff plastics material and removably attached to the handles of the inner containers for lifting the inner containers together with the outer container as a single unit, said elongate handle having a resilient plastics two-armed clamp at least at either end thereof for respective pushon attachment to a lifting handle of the inner containers so as to link the containers together. By virtue of the above arrangement the rimmed flap, as described earlier, of the outer light weight container normally in the form of a cardboard carton, will not be used by the handler to lift the container with the bottles of chemical fluid. Rather the detachable handle, clearly visible through the open top of the carton, will be the preferred lifting means so avoiding the weakening of the outer carton structure prevalent in the prior art arrangement. Furthermore it is not necessary to provide finger grip openings in the sides of the carton as before. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings accompanying this disclosure illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein: Figure 1 is a top view of a carrying device in one preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the detachable handle of the carrying device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of the handle of Figure 1. BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings, a detachable handle 1 made of stiff plastics material is shown secured to the respective handles 2 of a pair of bottles 3 for containing chemical fluids, and normally made from a durable plastics material. The bottles are located snugly within a cardboard carton 4 having an open top 5 so that the detachable handle 1 is accessible for lifting the bottles 3 together with the carton 4, but which does not project above the top of the carton 4 so enabling several loaded cartons to be stacked one above the other without interference. As added security to prevent the bottles 3 from falling out of the carton 4, each side of the rim of the open top 5 of the carton 4, is provided with a flap 6 each of which may be secured in the plane of the open top 5 to leave an opening 8 providing access to the lifting handle 1, while at the same time partially closing the top 5 of the carton 1 to retain the bottles 3 therein. The lifting handle 1 comprises a T-shaped elongate lifting portion 9 with a two pronged clamp 10 at each end which may be pushed over the handle 1 of each bottle 3 as shown. The prongs 11 of each clamp 10 are spring loaded with respect to one another by virtue of the elastic resiliency of the plastics material, and dimensioned to conform to the profile of each bottle handle 2 in the clamped position as shown, with the opening 12 between the ends of opposing prongs 11 facing upwardly in the clamped position such that when lifting occurs the detachable handle will not be forced from the clamped position. To strengthen the lifting handle 1 the outer prong 11' of each clamp 10 is provided with a stiffening flange 13 as shown.

Claims: Transportation apparatus for transporting fluids such as chemical dies comprising an outer light weight container (4) having an open top (5) provided with a rimmed flap (6), at least two inner containers (3) for the fluids disposed in said outer container (4) beneath said flap (6), the inner containers (4) having lifting handles (2) and arranged in close-fit relationship with each other and with the outer container (4) characterised by the provision of a one-piece elongate rectilineal handle (1) made of stiff plastics material and removably attached to the handles (2) of the inner containers (3) for lifting the inner containers (3) together with the outer container (4) as a single unit, said elongate handle (1) having a resilient plastics two-armed clamp (10, 11) at least at either end thereof for respective push-on attachment to a lifting handle (2) of the inner containers (3) so as to link the containers together. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer arm of each two armed clamp is provided with a stiffening flange (13). Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein, in a clamped position of the linking handle (1) to the inner containers (3), the opening between the two arms (11) of each said clamp (11) faces upwardly in the direction of a lifting movement. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the removable handle (1), with the inner containers (3), do not project above the rimmed flap (6) so enabling one said outer container (4) with the inner container (3) installed therewithin to be stacked one above the other. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner containers (3) are made of plastics and the outer container (4) of cardboard. A lifting handle for removable attachment to the handles (2) of two or more containers (3) for transporting fluid such as chemical die installed in snug-fit relationship within an outer light weight container (4) characterised in that said lifting handle is formed of a one-piece elongate plastics rectilineal body (1), a plastics clamp (10) at each end of the handle (1), the clamp (10) having an inner and outer radiused arm (11) to form a gripping area of part-circular cross-section to grip, by push-on attachment, a lifting handle (2) of said inner containers (3) of similar cross-section so as to link the containers together whereby to enable the inner containers (3) to be lifted together with the outer container (4) as a single unit. A lifting handle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the outer arm (11') of said two-armed clamp (10) is provided with a stiffening flange (13).

Inventors: JORDAN, CYRIL GEORGE
Applicants: JORDAN, CYRIL GEORGE
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: A45F5