Patent Publication Number: US-7708242-B1

Title: Bucket holding apparatus and associated method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/824,911, filed Sep. 8, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to bucket holders and, more particularly, to a bucket holding apparatus for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures. 
     2. Prior Art 
     For do-it-yourselfers and tradesmen, the development and introduction of power tools made the accomplishment of many jobs much easier and less physically demanding. Starting with the introduction of the power-driven screwdriver in 1987 and then the arrival of 18 and 24 volt cordless drills, battery-powered electric tools have gained wide acceptability among both do-it-yourselfers and contractors. Battery charging times, which initially were measured in hours, have been compressed to minutes. 
     Cordless tools have proved immensely popular on outdoor job sites and in areas, including many foreign markets, where electric power supplies are unreliable. According to newly released U.S. Census of Manufactures data, product shipments of battery-powered tools have more than doubled in the last ten years. However, one job which must be performed fairly often by do-it-yourselfers and many tradesmen which has not been made any easier by the use of power tool is the basic job of mixing various types of substances such as caulks, compounds, paints, drywall mud, and other materials. 
     This job is normally accomplished by pouring a substance in a bucket and holding the bucket with the legs and knees while the substance is being stirred to form a homogenous mixture. Even if an electric drill is used, this is still a time consuming and labor intensive task which frequently results in a fair amount of spillage. Obviously, it would be advantageous to provide a means for eliminating or alleviating the problems of spillage and physical effort required to mix various types of substances within a bucket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,208 to Kennard discloses a support for a mixer bucket which includes a raised platform having a recess shaped to accommodate a mixer bucket. Resistance means are provided in the recess that engages against the bucket to maintain the bucket stationary while the contents of the bucket are being mixed. Unfortunately, this prior art example can not be used on all horizontal surfaces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,001 to Durand discloses a container holder for mixing slurry material in a 2½ or 5 gallon bucket. The container holder is formed from a one-piece raised top portion having a centrally disposed aperture allowing insertion of a stirring paddle. Depending from the top portion are two legs that extend downwardly and span the entire height of the bucket to be mixed with foot pads joined at the bottom of the legs extending outwardly therefrom which allow an individual to stand on during the mixing operation. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be easily moved or stored. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,184 to Lytle discloses an apparatus for retaining a canister having an adjustable base and at least one swing member attached to the base and preferably two swing members attached to the base opposite each other. The base further has a spring member disposed thereupon and in contact with the swing member to keep the swing member in a first open position. The swing member has a first end that is rotatably attached to the base via a hinge member and a second end that has a semicircular recess formed therein. The base is adjustable to provide an adjustable range of motion of the swing member with respect to the base. In operation, the apparatus moves from a first open position to a second closed position upon application of a force upon the swing members to retain a canister placed between the swing members. Use of the apparatus results in no temporary movement or constricting of a worker&#39;s limbs that may result in imbalance or injury, nor requires a second person to stabilize the canister. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not designed to be easily moved or stored. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an apparatus that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures. The bucket holding apparatus is comprised of two interconnected sections that are placed on any horizontal surface for use. The apparatus advantageously allows the user to quickly and easily mix materials within a bucket without running the risk of knocking the container over, and spilling the contents thereof. This saves the user a considerable amount of time, energy, and also money that would otherwise be lost to wasted product as the result of a spill. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a bucket holding apparatus. 
     A bucket holding apparatus includes first and second carriages with pivotally attached inner edges arranged in such a manner that the first and second carriages freely rotate upwardly from a horizontal plane defined on a support surface. Each of such first and second carriages effectively articulates about a shared fulcrum axis confronting the inner edges, and each of the first and second carriages include a rubber mat directly conjoined to respective top surfaces thereof. Such rubber mats cover a major surface area of the first and second carriage top surfaces and terminate laterally from the first and second walls respectively. 
     The first carriage pivots along a counter clockwise path and the second carriage pivots along a clockwise path when the lever is biased towards the support surface. The first carriage is conveniently pivotal along a 180 degree arcuate path while the second carriage remains statically positioned on the support surface such that respective bottom surfaces of the first and second carriages lay coplanar and directly abut each other. 
     The bucket holding apparatus further includes first and second arcuate walls directly conjoined to the first and second carriages and oppositely situated from the inner edges such that the first and second arcuate walls define a circular cavity within a combined perimeter thereof. Each of such walls advantageously include a rubber mat directly conjoined to an inner surface thereof and travel along a major surface area of the inner surfaces for providing a frictional surface against which the bucket is engaged. The first wall is vertically aligned beneath the second wall when the first and second carriages are coplanar. 
     The bucket holding apparatus further includes an arcuate lever directly and statically conjoined to the second carriage and extending laterally upwards away from an outer edge thereof. The first and second carriages are effectively pivoted about the fulcrum axis when the lever is biased downwardly towards the support surface such that the first and second walls extend apart from a horizontal equilibrium position and thereby increase a diameter of the cavity for receiving the bucket therein. 
     A method for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures includes the steps of: pivotally attaching inner edges of first and second carriages together such that the first and second carriages freely rotate upwardly from a horizontal plane defined on a support surface when each of the first and second carriages are articulated about a shared fulcrum axis confronting the inner edges; conjoining first and second arcuate walls directly conjoined to the first and second carriages by oppositely situating the first and second arcuate walls from the inner edges such that the first and second arcuate walls define a circular cavity within a combined perimeter thereof; providing an arcuate lever directly and statically conjoined to the second carriage and extending laterally upwards away from an outer edge thereof; and pivoting the first and second carriages about the fulcrum axis by biasing the lever is biased downwardly towards the support surface such that the first and second walls extend apart from a horizontal equilibrium position and thereby increase a diameter of the cavity for receiving the bucket therein. 
     The method further includes the steps of: directly conjoining a rubber mater to respective top surfaces of each of the first and second carriages such that the rubber mats cover a major surface area of the first and second carriage top surfaces and terminate laterally from the first and second walls respectively; pivoting the first carriage along a counter clockwise path; and simultaneously pivoting the second carriage along clockwise path by biasing the lever towards the support surface. 
     The method further including the steps of: directly conjoining a rubber mat to an inner surface of each of the walls such that the rubber mats travel along a major surface area of the inner surfaces for providing a frictional surface against which the bucket is engaged; pivoting the first carriage along a 180 degree arcuate path while the second carriage remains statically positioned on the support surface such that respective bottom surfaces of the first and second carriages lay coplanar and directly abut each other; and vertically aligning the first wall beneath the second wall by adapting the first and second carriages to a coplanar position. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top planar view of a bucket holding apparatus, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a bucket holding apparatus, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a bucket holding apparatus, showing the pivotal motions of the inner edges, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top planar view of the second carriage, in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view, taken along line  5 - 5 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
     The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-5  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to protect a bucket holding apparatus. It should be understood that the apparatus  10  may be used to hold many different types of bucket apparatuses and should not be limited in holding only those types of buckets mentioned herein. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , a bucket holding apparatus  10  includes first and second carriages  20 ,  21  with pivotally attached inner edges  22  arranged in such a manner that the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  freely rotate upwardly from a horizontal plane defined on a support surface. Each of such first and second carriages  20 ,  21  articulates about a shared fulcrum axis confronting the inner edges  22 , and each of the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  include a rubber mat  23  directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to respective top surfaces  24 ,  25  thereof. Such rubber mats  23  cover a major surface area of the first and second carriage top surfaces  24 ,  25  and terminate laterally from the first and second walls  26 ,  27  respectively. The rubber mats  23  provide a user a slip-free surface area to stand on during use, thereby preventing movement of the apparatus  10  during mixing procedures. 
     The first carriage  20  pivots along a counter clockwise path and the second carriage  21  pivots along a clockwise path when the lever  28  is biased towards the support surface. The first carriage  20  is pivotal along a 180 degree arcuate path while the second carriage  21  remains statically positioned on the support surface such that respective bottom surfaces of the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  lay coplanar and directly abut each other, without the use of intervening elements. The pivotal ability of the carriages  20 ,  21  allows the carriages  20 ,  21  to be folded together for easy portability of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , the bucket holding apparatus  10  further includes first and second arcuate walls  26 ,  27  directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  and oppositely situated from the inner edges  22  which is essential such that the first and second arcuate walls  26 ,  27  define a circular cavity  29  within a combined perimeter thereof. Each of such walls  26 ,  27  include a rubber mat  30  directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to an inner surface  31  thereof and travel along a major surface area of the inner surfaces  31  for providing a frictional surface against which the bucket is engaged. The first wall  26  is vertically aligned beneath the second wall  27  when the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  are coplanar. The first and second walls  26 ,  27  form a circular cavity  29  perfectly sized for securely supporting a bucket during mixing procedures. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , the bucket holding apparatus  10  further includes an arcuate lever  28  directly and statically conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the second carriage  21  and extending laterally upwards away from an outer edge thereof  32 . The first and second carriages  20 ,  21  are pivoted about the fulcrum axis when the lever  28  is biased downwardly towards the support surface which is vital such that the first and second walls  26 ,  27  extend apart from a horizontal equilibrium position and thereby increase a diameter of the cavity  29  for receiving the bucket therein. The lever  28  further includes a bulbous stopper  50  that prevents the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  from directly touching when the lever is biased downward for easy transportation. The lever  28  serves as a handle for simply and easily transporting the bucket holding apparatus  10  from one location to another. 
     The present invention, as claimed, provides the unexpected and unpredictable benefit of providing a portable bucket holding apparatus that folds for easy transportability and storage. The arcuate lever  28  provides the unexpected benefit of serving as a mechanism for easily facilitating the opening and closing of the carriages  20 ,  21  and also serves as a handle for carrying and transporting the apparatus  10 . In addition, the rubber mats  23  serve as a non-slip surface for a user to stand on, thereby preventing movement of the apparatus  10  during mixing procedures. Such benefits overcome the above noted shortcomings. 
     In use, a method for holding a bucket at a stationary position during operating procedures includes the steps of: pivotally attaching inner edges  22  of first and second carriages  20 ,  21  together such that the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  freely rotate upwardly from a horizontal plane defined on a support surface when each of the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  are articulated about a shared fulcrum axis confronting the inner edges  22 ; conjoining first and second arcuate walls  26 ,  27  directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  by oppositely situating the first and second arcuate walls  26 ,  27  from the inner edges  22  such that the first and second arcuate walls  26 ,  27  define a circular cavity  29  within a combined perimeter thereof; providing an arcuate lever  28  directly and statically conjoined to the second carriage  21  and extending laterally upwards away from an outer edge thereof; and pivoting the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  about the fulcrum axis by biasing the lever  28  is biased downwardly towards the support surface such that the first and second walls  26 ,  27  extend apart from a horizontal equilibrium position and thereby increase a diameter of the cavity  29  for receiving the bucket therein. 
     In use, the method further includes the steps of: directly conjoining, without the use of intervening elements, a rubber mat  23  to respective top surfaces  24 ,  25  of each of the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  such that the rubber mats  23  cover a major surface area of the first and second carriage top surfaces  24 ,  25  and terminate laterally from the first and second walls  26 ,  27  respectively; pivoting the first carriage  20  along a counter clockwise path; and simultaneously pivoting the second carriage  21  along clockwise path by biasing the lever  28  towards the support surface. 
     In use, the method further including the steps of: directly conjoining, without the use of intervening elements, a rubber mat  31  to an inner surface of each of the walls  26 ,  27  such that the rubber mats  31  travel along a major surface area of the inner surfaces for providing a frictional surface against which the bucket is engaged; pivoting the first carriage  20  along a 180 degree arcuate path while the second carriage  21  remains statically positioned on the support surface such that respective bottom surfaces of the first and second carriages lay coplanar and directly abut each other; and vertically aligning the first wall  26  beneath the second wall  27  by adapting the first and second carriages  20 ,  21  to a coplanar position. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.