Abstract:
A bucket has an upper opening and an interior cavity, a floor having a rear portion and a front portion within the body, and a handle extending upwardly from a first side the body. The handle has a gripping member and a pair of side portions that define a receiver opening, and the handle does not materially extend over the receiver opening. The body is eccentrically weighted by a weight member attached to the first side of the body so that the bucket is balanced when suspended by the handle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The pre sent invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, it relates to a bucket system for allowing unobstructed insertion of an object into the bucket while providing a balanced bucket. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Container such as buckets are known and used. A conventional container is comprised of a cylindrical structure with an interior cavity, a floor and a pivotally attached handle. A removable lid may be attached about the upper opening of the container during non-use. The handle is pivotally attached to the outer side portions of the container and is above a center portion of the container when the user is grasping the handle. 
     A problem with conventional containers is that the position of the handle makes it extremely difficult to insert an object into the container for accessing and/or removing the contents. For example, the handle obstructs a paintbrush that is in the container to retrieve paint. In addition, when using a conventional paint container, the user&#39;s hands typically become covered with paint from the paintbrush during entry and exiting of the container. 
     The invention allows unobstructed insertion of an object such as a cloth, dipper or paintbrush into the container while an individual comfortably supports the bucket. Conventional container devices do not allow for easy insertion and exiting of such objects from the container, while also providing a container that is balanced when supported by the handle. 
     In these respects, the bucket or container according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing unobstructed insertion of a paintbrush while an individual comfortably supports the bucket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of containers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new bucket system construction wherein the same can be utilized for allowing unobstructed insertion of an object, and is balanced so that the user may comfortably support the bucket. 
     The present invention generally comprises a body having an upper opening and an interior cavity, a floor having a rear portion and a front portion within the body, and a handle attached to a front edge of the body. The handle has a gripping member and a pair of side portions that define a receiver opening for comfortably receiving the hand of a user. The body is eccentrically weighted so that the bucket is balanced when suspended by the handle. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bucket that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide a bucket for allowing unobstructed insertion and removal of an object while an individual comfortably supports the bucket. 
     Another object is to provide a bucket that reduces the likelihood of material in the bucket being inadvertently applied to the user&#39;s hand. 
     A further object is to provide a bucket that remains balanced during usage. 
     An additional object is to provide a bucket that increases the efficiency of use. 
     A further object is to provide a bucket that is comfortable for a user to support. 
     Another object is to provide a bucket that requires only one hand of a user to support. 
     An additional object is to provide a bucket that is easy to clean. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader, and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation of an additional embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 7, with the bucket rotated ninety degrees from FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG.  1  through FIG. 8 illustrate a paint bucket system which comprises a body  20  having an upper opening  26  and an interior cavity, a floor  30  having a rear portion  32  and a front portion  34  within the body  20 , and a handle  40  attached to a front edge  28  of the body  20 . The handle  40  has a gripping member  44  and a pair of side portions  46  that define a receiver opening  42  for comfortably receiving the hand of a user. The rear portion  32  of the floor  30  is thicker than, or is elevated from, the front portion  34 , for distributing an increased percentage of the volume of paint within the body  20  toward the front portion  34  thereof to assist in counterbalancing the position of the handle  40 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4 ,  5   7 , and  8  of the drawings, the body  20  is a cylindrical structure having an outer surface  22  and an inner surface  24 . The body  20  may have various shapes and sizes as can be appreciated. The body  20  may be comprised of one or more walls having various cross sectional shapes. The inner surface  24  of the body  20  and the floor  30  define a reservoir for retaining the paint. The body  20  may also be tapered as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  4  of the drawings. The body  20  is preferably constructed of a plastic material, however, various other types of materials may be utilized to construct the body  20 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the body  20  includes an upper opening  26  for receiving the paint and a paintbrush  12 . The upper opening  26  is preferably broad enough for allowing a paintbrush  12  to be easily inserted within. The upper opening  26  has a front edge  28  and a rear edge  29  as best shown in FIGS. 3,  5  and  6  of the drawings. 
     As best shown in FIG.  6  and in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the portion of the body  20  adjacent the front edge  28  and the handle  40  preferably has a thicker wall portion that the portion of the body  20  opposite thereof, or an added weight. Weight member  50  may be positioned within the body  20  adjacent the front edge  28  for increasing the weight further on the front side of the handle  40 . As shown, the weight  50  is positioned below handle  40  and on the same side of the body as the handle. The thicker portion of the body  20  and/or the added weight increases the weight on the front side of the handle  40 , thereby counterbalancing the increased weight of the body  20  and the paint within the rear side of the handle  40 . The weight member  50  may be comprised of any well-known material such as but not limited to lead. The weight member  50  may also be attached to the outer surface  22  of the body  20  by utilizing conventional attachment means. 
     Opposite of the upper opening  26  a floor  30  encloses the lower portion of the body  20  thereby defining the reservoir as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings. The floor  30  may be comprised of various shapes and designs. The floor  30  has a front portion  34  that is below the front edge  28  and a rear portion  32  that is below the rear edge  29  of the body  20 . The floor  30  is preferably angled downwardly from the rear portion  32  toward the front portion  34  thereby decreasing the volume of paint positioned to the rear of the handle  40  within the body  20  as best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A base  21  may be attached to the body  20  opposite of the upper opening  26  as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the handle  40  is attached to the front edge  28  of the body  20 . The handle  40  may have various shapes such as straight or curved. The handle  40  is comprised of a pair of side portions  46  that extend upwardly to support a gripping member  44  with a receiver opening  42  within as best shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  of the drawings. The handle  40  is preferably ergonomic and may include finger grooves. The handle  40  may also include an aperture  48  extending through the gripping member  44  for receiving a hook or other extended member. 
     As best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the gripping member  44  is positioned closer to the front edge  28  of the body  20  than the rear edge  29  of the body  20  to avoid obstructing the upper opening  26  within the body  20 . The position of the gripping member  44  also positions the pivot axis of the body  20  forwardly thereby requiring additional weight within the front portion  34  to maintain the body  20  within a substantially vertical position. As further shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the paintbrush  12  may be partially inserted into the receiver opening  42  of the handle  40  thereby supporting the bristles of the paintbrush  12  within the paint thereby engaging the floor  30 . 
     In use, the user inserts paint or other liquid into the body  20  through the upper opening  26 . Because the floor  30  is inclined downwardly from the rear portion  32  to the front portion  34 , the depth of the paint above the front portion  34  is greater than the depth of the paint above the rear portion  32 , thereby effectively increasing the volume and weight of the paint on the front of the gripping member  44  thereby counterbalancing the position of the gripping member  44 . In addition, the wall of the body  20  is preferably thicker below the front edge  28 , thereby increasing the weight to counterbalance the position of the gripping member  44 . Also, a weight member  50  that acts as a counterweight may be positioned on or within the body  20  below the front edge  28  for increasing the weight in front of the gripping member  44 . The user grasps the gripping member  44  with their hand and the body  20  maintains a substantially vertical position because of the increased weight to the front of the gripping member  44 . When the paintbrush  12  is not in use, the user positions a portion of the paintbrush  12  within the receiver opening  42  for supporting the bristles within the paint to maintain the bristles in a moist condition. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. The bucket or container is ideally suited as a paint container, but can be used for other purposes, such as containing cleaning materials, wherein a sponge or similar device may be easily inserted or withdrawn, or the bucket could contain ice or beverages that are removed with tongs or a dipper. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.