Abstract:
A bucket holder is disclosed including a base plate ( 102 ) with apertures ( 104 ), a first frame structure ( 106 ) and a second frame structure ( 116 ) that are both adapted to receive standard-sized buckets ( 90 ). The bucket holder is intended to stabilize the buckets during mixing and similar activities. The first and second frame structures comprise upright supports ( 108 ) that attach at one end to the base plate, and a circular member ( 110 ) that attaches to the opposite end of the upright supports. The frame structures are joined with a transverse member ( 112 ), and a centrally located handle ( 120 ) is sized and positioned to locking engage the bucket pivotable handle ( 93 ). By placing buckets in both of the frame structures, the bucket being mixed is stabilized by the weight of the bucket holder and second bucket, and also by the edges of the base plate around the apertures engaging the ground.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/795,636, filed on Apr. 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, and priority from the filing date of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A variety of construction materials of very thick consistency are typically shipped, sold and/or used in relatively large buckets. A standard-sized bucket for such materials is a five gallon bucket, which is typically constructed of a polymeric material. The buckets typically have a wire handle or the like pivotably attached near the top edge, that can be used for carrying the bucket. Five gallon buckets of coating, patching, and/or adhering materials are very common on construction cites. Such construction materials frequently require extensive mixing, agitating and/or thinning prior to use. Examples of thick construction materials that may require in situ mixing include, tile grouts, heavy paints and other surface coating materials, cements and the like, drywall texturing, fireproofing materials, roof coatings and sound proofing and acoustic materials. 
         [0003]    In situ mixing of construction materials is typically accomplished using an electric tool such as a drill fitted with a mixing attachment, which may be shaped like a paddle. Other power mixing tools may alternatively be used. A common problem with mixing high viscosity materials, however, is that the force exerted on the material by the mixing tool is transferred in part through the material to the bucket, which can cause the bucket to rotate. This reduces the ability of the mixing tool to mix the material, increases the work required by the operator, and increases the risk of waste and potentially hazardous conditions if the bucket tips over, is damaged by the mixing tool, or otherwise spills a portion of its contents. The bucket may also be moved or upset by forces from the mixing tool directly on the surface of the bucket during mixing, which can cause spillage, and hazardous or inconvenient messes in the work space. 
         [0004]    In order to effectively mix the material, the user typically must attempt to hold the bucket in a stable and fixed fashion to prevent the problems mentioned above. For example, a worker may attempt to steady the bucket by simply holding the bucket between the worker&#39;s legs while mixing. This method, however, is awkward and potentially injurious to the user. Moreover, attempting to manually restrain the bucket during mixing can be ineffective, resulting in spillage or the like. 
         [0005]    Recognizing the problems associated with such in situ mixing, a number of inventors have proposed various solutions. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,090, Moore discloses a device for holding a bucket that includes upper and lower rings that are interconnected with substantially planar vertical members oriented with an edge extending inwardly. The inward edge of the vertical members are intended to engage the bucket, and thereby limit rotational motion of the bucket during mixing. A disadvantage of the device disclosed by Moore is that it is approximately symmetric about the axis of rotation, and may therefore have a tendency to rotate during mixing. Also, the device has a particular orientation that is intended to limit rotational motion in one direction (clockwise in the disclosed embodiment), which may be inconvenient in some circumstances. 
         [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,915, Foster, Jr. discloses a five-gallon bucket holder platform having an elevated top surface with an aperture sized to receive and frictionally retain a bucket for mixing. A disadvantage of this device is its size and relative non-portability, as well as hazards associated with a user standing on the elevated platform. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A bucket holder is disclosed that is particularly suitable for applications such as construction where more than one large buckets (e.g., five-gallon buckets) containing materials requiring mixing are available. The disclosed apparatus enables the user to stabilize the bucket during mixing by taking advantage of the availability of a second bucket to secure the first bucket. The bucket holder is intended to prevent the bucket from spinning, and to avoid potential tipping and spillage. The bucket holder includes a base plate supporting at least two frame structures that are sized to receive the buckets. The frame structures each include upright supports that extend upwardly from the base plate, and a circular support rigidly attached at the distal end of the upright supports. The circular support may be formed in multiple pieces. A transverse member connects the two frame structures, and a handle extends up from the transverse support. The handle is positioned to engage the conventional pivotable handle on the buckets, thereby locking the buckets against spinning. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment the circular supports are made in multiple distinct parts separated by a gap, and the circular supports are positioned to provide a clamping force on the bucket placed in the associated frame structure resulting from elastic flexure of the upright supports. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the invention the bucket holder is formed from a mild steel, and the base plate includes a plurality of apertures therethrough. The apertures provide additional leverage against movement during mixing, especially when the bucket holder is positioned on uneven ground. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the invention, the handle includes a lower portion that extends between the base plate and the transverse member, the upper end defining a socket, and a removable upper portion that is adapted to be inserted into the socket. 
         [0011]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective environmental view of a bucket holder according to the present in invention, showing two buckets disposed in the bucket holder in phantom; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective isolation view of the bucket holder shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the bucket holder shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the bucket holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Refer now to  FIG. 1 , which shows an environmental view of a bucket holder  100  made in accordance with the present invention. The bucket holder  100  retains two conventional five-gallon buckets  90 ,  90 ′, side by side, each of the buckets  90 ,  90 ′ having a pivotable handle  93 . As discussed above, often in construction applications buckets  90 ,  90 ′ contain materials  91  that require mixing or the like prior to use. Typically a user will use a power mixing apparatus  92 , for example a power drill  94  with a paddle or other mixing attachment  95 . The end of the mixing attachment  95  is placed into the bucket  90  and rotated by the power drill  94  to agitate and mix the materials  91  therein. 
         [0018]    Refer now also to  FIG. 2  showing the bucket holder  100  in isolation, and to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , which show a plan view and a front view of the bucket holder  100 , respectively. 
         [0019]    The bucket holder  100  includes a generally rectangular base plate  102  that is sized to accommodate at least two conventional five-gallon buckets  90 . The base plate  102  includes apertures  104  located to generally underlie portions of the buckets  90 , but sized such that the base of the bucket will not extend through the associated aperture  104 . The apertures reduce the weight and material requirements for the bucket holder  100 , making the empty bucket holder  100  more easily transportable. In the disclosed embodiment the apertures  104  are rectangular for simplicity and for ease of manufacture, but other shapes may alternatively be used, including for example multiple smaller apertures, grid structures, thinned regions or the like. In addition to lowering the overall weight of the bucket holder  100 , when the bucket holder  100  is placed on the ground the apertures  104  may engage portions of the underlying ground, thereby which will further resist movement of the bucket holder  100  when acted on by an external transverse force such as by the mixing apparatus  92 . 
         [0020]    A first frame structure  106  and a second frame structure  116  are rigidly attached to the base plate  102 . The first and second frame structures  106 ,  116  each include a plurality of upright supports  108 . The upright supports  108  have a proximal end  108 A that is rigidly attached to the base plate  102 , and a distal end  108 B disposed away from the base plate  102 . A two-piece support ring  110  is rigidly attached to the distal ends  108 B of upright supports  108  for each of the frame structures  106   116 . Although a two-piece support ring  110  is shown and currently preferred, it will be appreciated that more or fewer pieces may alternatively be used. The support ring  110  is sized to receive the five gallon bucket  90 , such that the bucket  90  rests on the base plate. An advantage of the multiple-piece support ring  110 , disposed at or near the top or distal ends  108 B of the upright supports  108  is that the portions of the support ring  110  can move relative to each other by elastic bending of the upright supports  108 . Therefore the support ring  110  can provide some clamping force on the bucket  90  and/or the tolerances in manufacturing the structure can be relaxed due to the flexibility of the design. 
         [0021]    A transverse connecting member  112  is rigidly attached to each of the circular supports  110 , preferably generally at a centered location. In the current embodiment the transverse connecting member  112  includes a center aperture  114 . An elongate handle  120  extends from a proximal end  120 A rigidly connected to the base plate  102  and through the connecting member center aperture  114 . A curved portion  122  of the handle  120  extends above the first and second frame structures  106 ,  116 . 
         [0022]    In the disclosed embodiment, the handle includes a lower portion  124  that is rigidly attached to the base plate  102 , and having a distal socket  126  that extends to the center aperture  114  of the transverse connecting member  112 , where it is rigidly attached. A separable upper handle portion  128  is sized to fit into the socket  126 , and may be locked thereto, for example with a bolt  127  extending through a wall of the socket  116 . The removable handle makes the bucket holder  100  more easily transported, and allows a user to orient the upper handle portion  128  in any convenient orientation. 
         [0023]    In a current construction, the various parts of the bucket holder  100  are made from a weldable material, such as steel. The upright supports  108  and handle  120  are welded to the base plate  102 , the circular members  110  are welded to the distal end of the upright supports  108 , and the transverse connecting member  112  is welded to the circular members  110 , and to the socket  126  on the lower portion  124  of the handle  120 . It will be appreciated that the circular members  110  are formed in two separate semi-circular portions, which provides some flexibility in the first and second frame structures  106 ,  116 , and makes the construction of the bucket holder  100  simpler. Although it is not currently preferred, it is contemplated that the separate portions of the circular members  110  could be joined with a spring element (not shown) that are sized such that the circular member  110  applies a clamping force on a conventional five gallon bucket  90  when inserted therein. 
         [0024]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , when a bucket  90  is set into the one of first and second frame structures  106 ,  116 , the bucket  90  is retained by the associated frame structure  106  or  116 . The pivotable bucket handle  93  for the bucket  90  to be mixed is placed over the bucket holder handle  120 , to prevent or limit the rotation of the bucket  90  during mixing. The bucket holder  100  stabilizes the bucket  90  for mixing and in particular prevents the bucket from spinning or tipping, as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0025]    It can now be understood that an important aspect of the bucket holder  100  is that it is configured to hold two buckets simultaneously. In a typical application, such as a construction site or the like, many full or partially-filled five gallon buckets  90  are typically available. Many prior art bucket holders require that the user physically prevent the bucket holder (and therefore the bucket) from spinning or otherwise moving during the mixing operation. For example, some prior art bucket holders require the user stand on, or lean against, the bucket holder to prevent the bucket from moving. This can require the user to take an unnatural and/or uncomfortable stance while operating the power mixing apparatus  92 , which can result in injury and/or unnecessary fatigue over the course of a work day. 
         [0026]    The intended use of the bucket holder  100  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The bucket holder  100  is first transported to the desired location, typically without any bucket  90  retained thereon. The user then places a first bucket  90  to be mixed in the first frame structure  106 , and a second bucket  90 ′ in the second frame structure  116 . The second bucket  90 ′ provides a weight to prevent the bucket holder  100  from spinning or otherwise moving during mixing the material in the first bucket  90 . The curved portion  122  of the handle  122  is sized and positioned such that the handle  93  of the first bucket  90  can be readily placed over the curved portion  122  of the handle  120  when the first bucket  90  is placed in the frame structure  106 , to preclude rotation of the first bucket  90  during mixing. Of course, if the material  91  in the second bucket  90  is also needed, the user may conveniently mix the contents of the second bucket  90 ′ after mixing the contents of the first bucket  90 . In general, it is contemplated that the bucket holder  100  would not be intended for use in transporting full buckets  90 , but rather is intended to provide stability during mixing. 
         [0027]    The holder  100  may conveniently be made from metal, such as steel, and includes a base plate  108 , and a pair of spring-loaded split hoops or rings  102  that are disposed upwardly from the base plate  108 , and attached thereto by a plurality of vertical rods  110 . The split rings  102  are each joined at two locations with spring elements  114 , such that the portions of the split rings  102  are movable away from each other to accommodate a bucket. It will also be appreciated that elastic deformation of the vertical rods  110  supporting the rings  102  may be used to produce a clamping force on the bucket  90  by urging the ring  102  portions towards each other. Other attachment mechanisms may alternatively be utilized, including for example, adjustable spring members and overlapping split rings, such that the holder may accommodate buckets of differing sizes. Also, other suitable materials may be used for construction of the holder  100 , including for example, rigid plastics and the like. 
         [0028]    By way of example, and not limitation, the current embodiment is formed primarily from mild steel, the base plate  102  is a 3/16-inch plate approximately 27 inches long and 12.25 inches wide, with two symmetrically-disposed apertures  104  that are approximately 10.5 inches long and 8 inches wide. The upright supports  108  are formed from ⅜-inch RB stock, and are approximately 8⅜-inch long. The support ring  110  is also formed from ⅜-inch RB. Currently preferred dimensions and materials are shown in the FIGURES as a guide to the currently preferred embodiment, and are not intended to be limiting to the invention. However, it will be apparent that the diameter of the rings  102  should be selected to be slightly less than the functional diameter of the bucket to be retained therein, such that the rings  102  will exert a clamping force on the retained bucket during use. 
         [0029]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the handle structure may be changed without departing from the present invention. However, it is desirable that the handle be sized and positioned to readily engage the bucket handle when the bucket is retained by the frame structure  106 .