Patent Publication Number: US-6658701-B1

Title: Detachable handle for containers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The prior art is replete with handles to be used with paint cans and similar containers, and many of these, such as U.S. Pat. No. 280,274, were filed in the nineteenth century. Much of the prior art also operates in a manner similar to the current invention, by gripping the edge of the container, together with other means for securing the container to the handle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,320,262, like the current invention, grips the channel at the top of the can used to secure the lid, doing so at several points. However, &#39;262 is made of multiple parts, which require active manipulation, rather than being an integrated unit, in contrast to the current invention. U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,751 also grips the lid channel, doing so at a single point, and compressing the channel against the side wall of the container in order to secure the handle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,751, however, does not provide a separate element to prevent the handle from rotating upward about the lid channel, and the description provided does not indicate that any means are provided to do so. 
     The present invention is an improvement on the prior art in several ways. First, it is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, as it is formed as an integrated article of manufacture formed from a single sheet of material. It may be cut or stamped from a sheet of material, or injection molded. In either case, it is fabricated from a compliant, plastic material. Second, it contains a number of elements which, taken together, grip the container securely despite the substantial weight of the container when full of a heavy liquid such as paint. And thirdly, it is easily attached and detached from the container. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle for securely holding containers, such as paint cans, facilitating their ease of use. It is a further object of the invention to provide a simplified handle which is inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to use. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, the handle is affixed to the can by rotating about a center of rotation in a direction of first angular rotation, and removed by rotating in a direction opposite to the first angular rotation. 
     In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the container is horizontally stabilized by locating an upper heel and a lower heel on opposite sides of the paint can side wall. 
     In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the container is vertically stabilized by capturing the container lid channel between an upper arm and a middle arm of the handle. 
     In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, a detent in the middle arm captures an inner or outer edge of the lid channel. 
     In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, an upper grip is located over the approximate center of gravity of the container when the handle is in place. 
     In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, a lower grip is located so that the user grips the handle at the side of the container . 
     In accordance with a final aspect of the invention, the handle further contains a pry tip for use in prying the lid from the container and a ladder hook used to suspend the can while painting. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a user, holding a paint can using one of the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a side elevation view of a paint can having a lid channel. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a side elevation view of part of one of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 depicts a side elevation view of a second alternative embodiment of the invention, having a handle to the side of the paint can. 
     FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation view of an alternative version of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, being held by the handle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, supporting a paint can  2 . The handle in this embodiment is injection molded from polypropylene plastic. It is a substantially planar article of manufacture, in that the cross section perpendicular to the drawing of FIG. 1 is a thin rectangle. In other words, the handle has a uniform thickness throughout. Other materials appropriate for this use include polyester, nylon and others. 
     The handle has an elongated body that serves as a grip. It is noted that the shape of the body is such that the user grips the handle above to the center of gravity of the paint can. At the extreme upper end of the handle is a ladder hook, used to suspend the handle while painting. Because this hook is located approximately above the center of gravity of the can, it may safely be used to suspend the paint can while painting, without support from the user. 
     The paint can itself is seen in cross-section view in FIG.  2 . The can has side wall  10 , and an outer rim  12 , which is integrally formed into a lid channel  14 , and an inner rim  16 , the paint lid pressed into the lid channel between the outer and inner rims when the paint can is stored. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows a side elevation view of the bottom portion of the handle of FIG. 4 inserted into the paint can, the lower arm  24  is seen to terminate in a lower heel  28  that presses against the outside wall  10  of the paint can. The middle arm  22  terminates in a process containing a detent  26 , which engages the outer rim of the paint can, securing it place, pressing downward. This arm which contains a detent is also referred to as a “detent arm”. Note that the detent in this embodiment engages the lid channel where it meets the side wall of the can. The detent location can be adjusted to engage the lid channel at a number of different points, depending upon the geometry of the particular embodiment chosen. 
     A lift point  29  located in the upper arm  20  engages the bottom of the lid channel  14 , transmitting an upper force on the paint can when the handle is used to lift it. The member which contains a lift point is also referred to as a “lift member”. This upward force counters the downward pressure of the detent  26 , stabilizing the paint can in a vertical position. Lower heel  28  further engages the handle to the paint can, creating further stability. As seen in FIG. 1, the middle arm  22  is pressed upwards when the handle is in place, and because of the compliant nature of the plastic, exerts a restoring pressure against the outer rim  12  of paint can. 
     Still referring to FIG. 3, the handle is affixed to the paint can by first inserting the upper heel  30  within the paint can, and rotating the handle about the upper heel in a clockwise direction, until the detent  26  engages the lip at the outer rim of the lid channel. The user may feel the detent snap into place, and will also generally hear a “click” at this point. The handle is removed from the paint can by simply rotating the grip counter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 3, pulling the detent  26  off the outer rim of the paint can. The flexibility of the plastic material allows this rotation by further deforming the middle arm  22 , without breaking the material. 
     A side elevation view of the handle is shown in FIG.  4 . An elongated end  57  of the grip may also be formed into a pry tip for prying the lid from the paint can. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A variation of the first embodiment is shown in side elevation view FIG.  6 . The major difference between this embodiment and that of the first preferred embodiment is the lack of a detent in the embodiment. While the detent is generally optional, it is preferred to change the geometry slightly, so that middle arm  56  is in a substantially horizontal position when the handle is in place as attached securely to the paint can; in comparison, the first embodiment has its middle arm  22  at an acute angle relative to the plane of the top of the paint can. The vertical forces between middle arm  56  and upper arm  591  where it contacts lid channel  14  are substantially orthogonal to the horizontal stabilizing forces between the upper heel  54  and the lower heel  52 , therefore the detent is less important. An upward, and countervailing force is transmitted through the lift point  59 , located on the upper arm  591  in proximity to the upper heel  54 . FIG. 6 further discloses a lid pry  57  at the lower end of lower arm  58 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     A third embodiment is depicted in FIG.  5 . The major difference in the embodiment of FIG. 5 from the previous embodiments is the location of the grip  43 , from that of the previous embodiments. The grip in this case is along the side of the paint can, so that the body  40 , is adjacent to, and substantially parallel to the paint can side wall  10 . The third embodiment, like the previous two, provides horizontal stability by means of upper heel  44  and lower heel  42 . Vertical stability is likewise provided by trapping the lid channel  14  between the detent  48 , at the end of middle arm  46 , and the lift point  49  located on the upper arm  45  in proximity to the upper heel  44 , where the lift point contacts the bottom point of the lid channel. 
     Like the embodiment of FIG. 6, changing the geometry of this embodiment slightly can eliminate or change the location of the detent. The location of the grip at the side of the paint can makes the handling of the paint can more convenient under some circumstances: it makes tipping the can to access the paint easier when the can is almost empty. However, it does not allow for hanging of the paint can on a ladder. It also requires more strength to be exerted holding the can, which tends to rotate in the user&#39;s hand, while the first two embodiments require only a vertical force because of the location of the handle over the center of gravity of the paint can. 
     A final, and preferred embodiment may be understood by referring now to FIG.  7 . This embodiment combines the advantages of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5. The embodiment shown if FIG. 4 has an elongated body  4  which is extended upward in a direction that allows the user to grip it above the center of gravity of the paint can. In addition, a hooked upper end  6  can be used to temporarily attach the can to a ladder, or to a similar support so that the user need not constantly hold the can while painting. 
     FIG. 7 also contains a side grip  43  which allows the user to hold the can firmly when it is desired to hold the can and paint at the same time, and like the embodiment of FIG. 5, is more convenient when the paint is low in the can, and the can must be tipped. This preferred embodiment may be configured to contain virtually all the elements of the two above-mentioned embodiments, including, but not limited to the pry tip  57  of FIG.  4 . This pry tip may be located in proximity to the hook  6  in this embodiment, as an alternative to the heel end  28 . 
     As to the detent, it may be included or omitted in almost all of the embodiments shown. Being little more than an extra curve or dimple in the middle arm of the various embodiments ( 22 , 26 , 46 , 56 ) the detent is a cost-free feature, and provides positive feedback to the user that the handle has been affixed in place on the paint can. The detent typically provides a tactile and auditory “click” when it engages the rim of the paint can, so that the possibility of accidents is diminished thereby. 
     It will be apparent that improvements and modifications may be made within the purview of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.