A CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS

Abstract: An open topped container (1) for liquids such as paint, which container is provided with a pivotally mounted carrying handle (5), wherein the handle is pivotally mounted substantially off-centre with respect to the container body (2), whereby when a user holds the container suspended by the handle (5), at least a major part of the open top of the container (1) is unobstructed by the presence of the handle (5) and the user's hand. A wide pouring channel (9) is provided located so that any paint left on the channel (9) after pouring drains back into the container (1) as the container (1) is subsequently held by the handle (5) in readiness for painting.

Description: A CO NTA I NER FOR LIQU IDS This invention relates to containers for liquids , particularly, but not exclusively, for surface coating materials , such as paint. The invention is concerned with the problem of making handled paint containers , for example , more practical in use. The container of the present invention comprises an open-topped container body closabie by a lid and provided with a pivotally mounted carrying handle at the open top characterised in that the handle is mounted substantially off-centre with respect to the container body so .that when a user holds the container suspended by the handle at least a major part of the open top of the container is unobstructed • by the presence of the handle and the users hand . I n a preferred form of the invention the container is formed at its lip region to have a pouring channel located so that when the - user holds the container suspended by the handle, the container tips away from the pouring channel . If it is then required to pour the contents from the container the handle can be taken in one hand and the other hand used to tilt the container for pouring below the handle. ~^ e container body may be formed in two parts , namely a lower base part and an upper shroud part prov iding a location for SUBSTITUTE SHEET handle pivoting, a pouring spout, and a lid aperture. The structure above described is of merit especially with a container having an approximate square or rectangular section so that the handle pivots are well spaced despite being off-centre and a reasonably wide pouring channel is available. The container may also include a linear brush wiping strip near its open top . The shroud is preferably shaped to provide a smooth outline with the base part and shaped to provide accommodation for the container handle entirely within the confines of the shroud. I n a preferred form of the invention the container body is transparent or translucent, to render the contents visible, while the shroud on the other hand is pigmented to serve an identification function . The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which : - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plastics container according to the invention ; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container ; SUBSTIT Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the container in use, with its lid removed; Figure 4 is another view of the container in use for pouring; Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base of th container; and Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified embodiment. A plastics paint container 1 according to the invention has body 2 which is made from PET plastics material . The body 2 i generally rectangular , in horizontal section , with rounded corners this configuration provides for comparatively wide and flat displa areas on the container side walls , a wide pouring channel , and wel spaced pivots for the container handle. The square shape lend itself to correct and uniform orientation of the containers when the are stacked or placed in rows at the point of sale. The upper par of the container comprises a separately formed plastics shroud 3 firmly secured to the body 2. The outside surface of the shroud i flush with the outside surface of the container body so that th shroud forms a smooth upward continuation of the body, whil internally the shroud defines a circular opening to receive a plug-lik 'id 4 for the container . A carrying handle 5 of the container pivotally mounted to the shroud. SUBSTITUTE SHEET __j _ The handle 5 is mounted displaced laterally relative to the vertical centre plane of the container at pivots 5a, so that when the container is in use, suspended from the handle, as seen in Figure 3 , the container hangs in a position tipped away from the handle and the user's hand , typically at about 15° to the vertical , with the result that the surface of the paint in the container is open to access by a brush 7 to a substantially greater degree than it would be if the handle had been centrally mounted . The shroud is formed with a recess 8 to receive the handle when the latter is not in use, so that the handle is stowed entirely within the surface of the shroud , thus facilitating stacking and storage of the container . The shroud is formed with a pouring channel 9 on the same side of the vertical centre plane as the handle, so that the pouring channel is on the opposite side from that towards which the container tips when suspended by its handle. This also gives drainage back into the container when used after pouring . A brush wiping member 10 (Fig . 3) is incorporated in the shroud . The member comprises an inner , chord-like, bar 1 1 whose edge defines a linear brush wiping surface , and a sector-like body portion 12 by way of which it is mounted to the shroud . In a preferred modification the member 10 is is shaped so that a straight central part of the bar 1 1 is elevated above the ends of the bar SUBSTITUTE SHEET and the arcuate boundary of the body portion 12. Referring to Figure 5 , a recess 13 is provided around the base of the container body , to facilitate handling but the central area 14 of the base projects downwardly to substantially the same plane as the edges 15 , so as to provide a central surface on which the container can rest if it is stacked on top of another such container in an off-centre position . Figure 6 shows a modification in which the handle 5 , when in its stowed position , is received in a recess 16 defined in the upper side of the shroud , rather than in its top surface . Slots 17 are provided around the lid opening , for the insertion of a tool such as a screw-driver to lever out the lid 18 , which in this embodiment is provided with an outwardly directed rim for this purpose . In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 the lid has an inwardly directed rim to enable it to be removed manually by the user . SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: CLA IMS 1 . A lidded container (1 ) comprising an open topped container body ( 2) closeable by a lid (4) provided with a pivotally mounted carrying handle (5) at the open top , characterised in that the handle (5) is pivotally mounted substantially off-centre with respect to the container body (2) , so that when a user holds the container (1 ) suspended by the handle (5) , at least a major part of the open top of the container (1 ) is unobstructed by the presence of the handle (5) and the user's hand . 2. A container (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the container (1 ) has at least one pair of opposite sides which are straight and mutually parallel and the handle (5 ) extends between said sides . 3. A container (1 ) as claimed in claim 2 , which is formed at its lip region with a pouring channel (9) so located that, when a user holds the container suspended by the handle (5) the container (1 ) tips away from the pouring channel (9) . 4. A container (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , which the container body is made of plastics and comprises a thin-walled lower container body part (2) provided around its open top with a separately formed plastics shroud part (3) which externally forms an upward continuation and termination of the container body wall and internally defines an opening to receive a lid (4) of the container ( 1 ) in plug fashion . 5. A container (1) as claimed in claim 1 which is prov.ided internally, at or near its top, and inwardly of the container body wall, with a bar (11) defining a linear edge for wiping excess paint from a brush during use. 6. A container (1) as claimed in claim 5 wherein a major, central, part of said brush wiping edge is elevated above the opposite ends thereof. 7. A container (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the container body is formed with an annular recess (13) surrounding a central, unrecessed, area (14) which extends in the same plane as the edge (15) of the base. 8. A handled and lidded paint container (1) comprising a base body part (2) of basic rectangular section and an upper shroud part (3) in smooth continuous relationship with the body part, said shroud part providing off-centre pivots (5a) for the handle (5) of the container and providing pouring channels (9) below the handle when the handle is raised. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: KELSEY STEVEN FREDERICK, KELSEY, STEVEN, FREDERICK
Applicants: CROWN BERGER EUROP, CROWN BERGER EUROPE LIMITED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B44D3, B65D25