Container handle and related methods

• US 20010027980A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ropak Corporation (Mauser Packaging Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Ropak Corporation (Mauser Packaging Solutions)
• Inventors: Luburic, Frano, Perkins, Ralph G., Bingisser, Josef E., McLean, Norris
• Granted Patent: US 6,494,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/764
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/32 Bail handles, i.e. pivoted rigid handles of generally semi-circular shape with pivot points on two opposed sides or wall parts of the conainter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2525/285 removable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2525/289 Handgrip-element made separately from the handle

Abstract

A handle useful in combination with a container includes a plastic strap or bail and a plastic sleeve thereon. The bail or strap of the handle is pivotably connected to the container, and the sleeve can be rotated about the bail. Structures are provided to distribute load forces between the bail and sleeve. Structures are also provided to retain the sleeve along the longitudinal axis of the bail. One or more clip members can be provided on the bail to engage the container. The clip member includes positioning elements to locate and engage the handle in a selected position with respect to the container. Preferred methods for assembling and using the apparatus (including the combination of the handle and container) are disclosed.

Claims

1. A handle for a container, said handle including a plastic bail and a plastic sleeve member on said bail, said sleeve member providing a gripping surface for manipulating said container.

2. The handle of

claim 1

wherein said bail includes a plurality of structures for transmitting load forces between said bail and said sleeve member.

3. The handle of

claim 1

wherein said sleeve member is rotatably mounted on said bail, further including corresponding engagement structures on said bail and said sleeve member to retain said sleeve member at a selected position along a lengthwise axis of said bail.

4. The handle of

claim 1

or

claim 2

or

claim 3

in which said bail has a first end and a second end, and said bail includes a clip member adjacent at least one of said ends for engaging with the container, said clip member having positioning means thereon for locating and engaging said handle in a selected position with respect to the container.

5. The handle of

claim 4

wherein said positioning means permits said handle to be positioned and kept in a substantially vertical position when the container is in its normal upright position and not being carried or used.

6. A strap member for transporting a container wherein said strap member includes at least one load-distributing structure for distributing load forces between said strap member and a surrounding generally cylindrical sleeve member.

7. The strap member of

claim 6

wherein at least one of said load-distributing structures engages with one or more beads located on an inner surface of said generally cylindrical sleeve member.

8. The strap member of

claim 6

or

claim 7

including clip means formed thereon, said clip means having an elliptically shaped stem having at least one rib element thereon to provide selectable positioning of said strap member when said strap member is engaged with a container.

9. A sleeve member for a container handle wherein said sleeve member is retained along the length of a strap member by detent means located on the inner surface of said sleeve member.

10. The sleeve member of

claim 9

wherein said retained sleeve member is rotatable about said strap member.

11. A clip element on an elongated container handle strap member wherein said clip element includes a wide portion and a narrow portion situated between said wide portion and said strap member, wherein said narrow portion includes at least one rib element thereon to provide selectable positioning of the handle with respect to a container on which it is engaged.

12. The clip element of

claim 11

, in which said wide portion is configured to permit a rotatable sleeve to slide thereover for assembly on the container handle at a position spaced from said clip element.

13. The clip element of

claim 11

or

claim 12

wherein said narrow portion is elliptical in cross section.

14. A clip element to engage a handle with a container, wherein said clip element includes a narrow portion and a wide portion, said narrow portion being shaped to provide greater strength to said clip element in the direction of load normally applied to the handle.

15. The clip element of

claim 14

wherein said narrow portion of said clip element is elliptical in cross section.

16. An opening in a container to permit engagement of a handle therewith, in which said opening includes at least one groove to engage a corresponding rib on the handle.

17. A selectably positionable handle and container assembly, including corresponding mateable elements on each of said container and said handle, in which said container and said handle are formed from plastic and said corresponding mateable elements permit said handle to be positioned and retained in at least one selected position.

18. The handle and container assembly of

claim 17

, in which said container includes at least one slot formed thereon for receiving a clip formed on said handle, in which said mateable elements include at least one interengageable groove and corresponding rib.

19. A method of assembling a plastic handle for use on a container including the steps of:

a) sliding a plastic sleeve member over an elongated plastic strap member; and

b) engaging a positioning bead on the inner surface of said sleeve member with an engagement site of said strap member.

24. The method of

claim 19

or-

claim 20

or

claim 21

wherin said steps are automated.

20. A method of connecting a handle to a container including the steps of:

a) providing an elongated strap having a clip member with a stem portion thereof having an elliptically-shaped cross-section;

b) positioning said stem portion adjacent a slot formed on said container so that a shorter axis of said elliptically-shaped cross-section is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said slot;

c) sliding said stem portion through a narrow portion of said slot while said axes are generally perpendicular to each other, into a wider portion of said slot; and

d) rotating said stem portion so that said shorter axis of said elliptically-shaped cross-section is out of said generally perpendicular alignment with respect to said longitudinal axis of said slot.

21. The method of

claim 20

further including the steps of providing at least a pair of cooperating engaging members on said stem portion and said wider portion of said slot, and temporarily affixing said handle against rotation about the stem by engaging said cooperating engaging members.

22. The method of

claim 20

or

claim 21

, including the steps of assembling a cylindrical sleeve member on said elongated strap;

and engaging said cylindrical sleeve member with said strap along the length thereof by engaging a positioning bead on the inner surface of said sleeve member with an engagement site on said strap.

23. The method of

claim 21

, further including the step of printing information on said container while said handle is so temporarily affixed.

25. A bucket and handle combination, including:

a) a bail ear opening on said bucket;

b) a clip formed on said handle; and

c) cooperating engagement means acting between said bail ear opening and said clip whereby said handle can rotate through a range of movements with respect to said bucket and can be temporarily retained into at least one selected position with respect to said bucket.

26. The bucket and handle combination of

claim 25

, in which said cooperating engagement means includes at least one locating groove in said bail ear opening and at least one detent formed in a cooperating location on said clip.

27. A method of imprinting information on a container having a handle associated therewith, including the steps of providing at least a pair of cooperating engaging members on handle and an abutting portion of said container, temporarily affixing said handle against rotation about the stem by engaging said cooperating engaging members, and imprinting said information.