Patent Publication Number: US-2011073609-A1

Title: Container with a retractable handle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/245,860, filed on Sep. 25, 2009. All documents above are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a container provided with a retractable handle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a container, comprising a body comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from said bottom wall; at least one of two opposite side walls comprising a handgrip portion in an upper portion thereof, the handgrip portion comprising an aperture; a handle comprising at least one side arm, the at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between the first and the second ends; the aperture of the handgrip portion receiving the first end of the handle; the side arm being connected to the body by the first end of the handle sliding inside the handgrip portion through the aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where the first end of the handle is locked inside the handgrip portion by the aperture and the side arm is pivotable about the aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body, wherein the first end is engaged deeper in the handgrip portion and the side arm is locked into position by the aperture at a position between the first and the second ends. 
     There is further provided a retractable handle for a stackable container comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall; at least one of two opposite of the side walls comprising a handgrip portion, the handgrip portion comprising an aperture; the handle comprising at least one arm, the at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between the first and the second ends; the first end of the handle being received in the aperture of the handgrip portion and the first end of the handle sliding inside the handgrip portion through the aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where the first end of the handle is locked inside the handgrip portion by the aperture and the side arm is pivotable about the aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body, wherein the first end is engaged deeper in the handgrip portion and the side arm is locked into position by the aperture at a position between the first and the second ends 
     Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the appended drawings: 
         FIG. 1  are perspective part views of a container according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention: a) with an handle in a retracted position thereof; and b) with the handle in a container-carrying position thereof; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a body of a container according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bodies of two containers according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, in a stacked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective part view of a container according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, with the handle in a pulled-out position thereof; 
         FIG. 6  show handles: a) perspective view of a handle according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; b) perspective view of a handle according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and c) top view of the handle of  FIG. 6   b;    
         FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  show different shapes for free ends of the side arms of a handle according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the body of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement with the cover of the container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates insertion and locking of a handle according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  illustrate insertion and locking of a one side arm handle according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  illustrates insertion and locking of a handle according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples. 
     A shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  10  generally comprises a body  12  and a handle  14 . The container may further comprise a cover  160 . 
     The body  12 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 , has a generally parallelepiped shape, with two first opposite sidewalls  20 ,  22  and two second opposite sidewalls  34 ,  36  extending from a bottom wall. The top portion thereof may comprise an upper flange  16  running over at least part of the perimeter thereof. The flange  16  can extend around the perimeter of the body  12 . Typically, two opposite sidewalls  20  and  22  of the body  12  are provided with a handgrip portion  18 . The handgrip portion  18  on each one of the opposite sidewalls need not be positioned at the same position along the respective width of the opposite sidewalls. 
     The handle  14  is shown in a retracted position in  FIG. 1   a , in a container-carrying position in  FIG. 1   b , and in a pulled out position in  FIG. 5 . 
     The handle  14  is generally shaped to match the envelope of the body  12 , with opposite side arms  28  and  30  adapted to slide along opposite sidewalls  20 ,  22  of the body  12  for example and a joining portion  32 . When the joining portion  32  is of a width essentially similar to the width of the sidewall  34  of the body  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , for example, the handle  14  can be retracted very closely against the body, which may be advantageous for stacking purposes for example. In this case, the joining portion  32  may be provided with a grip  37 , i.e. a portion slightly set back from the remaining of the joining portion  32  for example, allowing a user to easily grasp the handle  14 , especially when the handle  14  is in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 1   a  for example. 
     The free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  respectively of the handle  14  may have a hook shape, which stops the sliding movement of the handle  14  away from the sidewall  34  of the body  12 , in the pulled-out position shown in  FIG. 5 , by being trapped within the handgrip portion  18  at an aperture  44  of the handgrip portion  18  as shown in  FIG. 2  for example. In this pulled-out position, the handle  14  provides sufficient clearance space from the body  12  for a user to grasp the handle  14  with one hand for example. 
     Once in its pulled-out position, the handle  14  can be pivoted from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical container-carrying position (see arrow A in  FIG. 5 ), and is then operable like a conventional handle (see  FIG. 1   b ). 
     A catch  46 ,  48 , such as an inverted pine tree as illustrated in  FIG. 6   a , may be provided on the side arms  28 ,  30 , for locking the handle  14  into the retracted position of  FIG. 1   a , by engagement with the aperture  44  in the handgrip portion  18  in the corresponding upper portion of the body  12 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 6   b  and  6   c , substantially at the same position along the side arms  28 ,  30 , instead of a catch as illustrated in  FIG. 6   a , each side arm may be provided with a discontinuity  50 ,  52 , which allows locking the handle  14  into its retracted position by engagement with the aperture  44  in the handgrip portion  18 . 
     Thus the handle  14  can be secured into its retracted position during transport or other operations that require it. In this retracted position along opposite sidewalls of the body  12  of the container  10 , the handle  14  is positioned in close contact with the body  12 , thereby not compromising the overall shape of the body  12 , in a mostly non intrusive way, i.e. without interfering with designs or labels or features on the body  12  for example. As people in the art will appreciate, such out of the way position may be most advantageous on container filling units and during transportation for example. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , two containers  10  and  10 ′ can be stacked together within a minimum volume, with the handgrip portion  18 ′ of top container  10 ′ resting on the upper flange  16  of the bottom container  10 , without the handles  14 ,  14 ′ of the stacked containers interfering. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show details of the engagement of the handle  14  with the sidewalls of the body  12 . As shown in  FIG. 7   a , first the free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  are inserted into the apertures  44  in the handgrip portions  18  in the corresponding upper portions of the body  12  (see arrow B in  FIG. 7   a ). Then the side arms  28 ,  30  may be maintained in this position by the locking engagement of the free ends  40 ,  42  with the aperture  44  (see  FIG. 8   a ) and thus the handle  14  is in the pulled-out position of  FIG. 5 . The side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  can also be pushed forward further through the apertures  44  (see arrow C in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   c ), until the joining portion  32  of the handle  14  rests on the sidewall  34  of the container, as shown in  FIGS. 8   b  and  8   d.    
     The catches  46 ,  48  of  FIG. 6   a , or the discontinuities  50 ,  52  of  FIGS. 6   b ,  6   c  may then allow securing the side arms  28 ,  30  thus inserted, by engagement with the apertures  44 , thereby locking the handle  14  into its retracted position. 
     The apertures  44  may have a number of shapes, provided they allow insertion of the free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  and part of the side arms  28 ,  30  there through until engaging the catches  46 ,  48  of  FIG. 6 , or the discontinuities  50 ,  52 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 9 , the handgrip portion  14  may be provided with a double key hole type of locking aperture  55 , and the free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  may be provided with a locking head  56  supported by a rod  54  extending generally perpendicularly to the side arms  28 ,  30 . As shown in  FIG. 9   a , the locking head  56  may be locked into position in a first aperture  58  in the handgrip portion  18  when the handle  14  is in a retracted position (see  FIG. 9   b ). Then, the side arm  28 ,  30  can be pulled (see arrow F in  FIG. 9   b ) along a first slot  60  of the double key hole type of locking aperture  55  in the handgrip portion  18  into its pulled out position when it reaches the extremity of this first slot  60  opposite the first aperture  58 . Then, the locking head  56  of the side arms  28 ,  30  can be moved up along a second slot  62 , up to a second aperture  64  of the double key hole type of locking aperture  55  where it locks again (see arrow G in  FIG. 9   c ). The handle  14  has then reached a container-carrying position (see  FIG. 9   c ). 
     Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 10  for example, the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  may each be formed of telescopic arms, i.e. it may be formed by sections that can telescopically retract into a housing  51  (see arrows (D)). The housing  51  is pivotally attached to the sidewall  20  of the body of the container (see arrow E) so as to allow rotation of the handle into a generally vertical position when the handle  14  is in the pulled-out position (see arrow F). The handle  14  is then able to swivel from one sidewall  34  of the container to the opposite sidewall  36  thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11   a , the side arms of the handle  14  may have a bellows like portion  70 , which can be retracted so as to retract the handle  14  (see  FIG. 11   c ) and straightened so as that the handle is in its pulled out position and able to rotate about its pivot  72  on the sidewall of the container. 
     In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14  can have a folded position (see  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b ), and from there can be unfolded (see arrow H  FIG. 12   b ). The side arms  28 ,  30  may be formed of segments of material connected by thinner sections  73 ,  75  allowing folding thereof, for example. 
     In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the handgrip portion  18  of the container is provided with a slot  90  in which a locking head  92  at the free ends of the side arms  28 ,  30  can be inserted by force, the side arms  28 ,  30  then being able to be moved along the slot  90  by the rod  94  sliding therein, a wall  95  preventing the side arms  28 ,  30  to move up or down from the position of the slot  90 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrate different shapes for the free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14 . 
     In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the free ends  40 ,  42  of the side arms  28 ,  30  each comprises a slot  76  ending in an aperture  78 . The handgrip portion  18  of the container is provided with a locking head  82  supported by a rod  84  extending generally perpendicularly from the surface of the handgrip portion  18 , so that the locking head  84  engages the slot  76  securing the handle  14  to the body of the container. Then, the side arms  28 ,  30  can be pulled out by sliding the slot  76  over the rod  84  until the rod  84  locks into the aperture  78 , allowing the handle to rotate about the pivot formed by the head  82  in its aperture  78 . 
     In  FIG. 16 , the locking of the side arms  28 ,  30  on the slot  76  is achieved by a locking head  85  directly protruding from the surface of the handgrip portion  18 . 
     According to a further embodiment, the handle  14  may be secured to and retractable from the cover  160 , or other places of the body  12  of the container, as shown for example in  FIG. 17 . Connections as described hereinabove between the handle  14  and the body  12  of the container can be used, or still others, for example as illustrated in  FIGS. 17   b  and  17   c.    
     In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the body  12  of the container does not comprise handgrip portions. The side wall  20  itself comprises an aperture  90  for engagement with the side arms  28 ,  30  of the handle  14 , and the handle  14  enters the inside of the container. 
     In all the embodiments described hereinabove, it may be contemplated using a handle  140  comprising a single side arm  280  and a grasping portion  360  for example, as shown for example in  FIG. 19 . 
     Although the above embodiments have all dealt with parallelepiped bodies, the container of the present invention may also have a round body or other shapes as well, as shown for example in  FIG. 20 . Alternatively, the handle  14  could be secured to the container on opposite corners of the container, provided the handle  14  is made in a material that is flexible enough so as to match the envelope of the container. 
     Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of specific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.