GB2292330A - Device for picking up a container - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for enabling a container to be picked up, said device 10 comprising an open-ended receptacle 11 having support means such as resilient members 12, 12', 12" located at one end of such receptacle 11. Handle or gripping means 13 enable a user to hold or grip such device. The support means 12, 12' 12" are displaceable to permit a container to pass into said receptacle 11 and for supporting the base of said container when at least the base portion of said container is located in said receptacle 11. The device may also have a spring-biased trigger release mechanism arrangement (14 - 18 Fig 4) which enables a container to be picked up from one surface and put down on another surface while being operated remotely. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR PICKING UP A CONTAINER The present invention concerns improvements in relation to a device for picking up a container. The device of the present invention is particularly applicable for assisting a person to pick up a container, such person being disabled to some degree or for elderly people or, for people with stiff joints, weak muscles or other disability or handicap, either permanent or temporary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for enabling containers, such as bottles of milk or bottles of juice or the like, to be picked up without the person having to bend down, as will be the case, for example, when a milk or juice bottle, which has been delivered by a milkman, has been left on the step.

At the present time, it is not believed that any devices exist which can be utilised by persons having a disability which prevents them from bending down and/or gripping a bottle, to pick such bottle up.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for enabling a container to be picked up, said device comprising an open-ended receptacle having support means at, adjacent, or in the region of, one end of such receptacle, and a handle or gripping means for enabling a user to hold or grip such device, said support means, in use, being displaceable to permit a container to pass into said receptacle and for supporting the base of said container when at least the base portion of said container is located in said receptacle.

In one embodiment of the invention the support means are resilient means.

The receptacle is preferably tubular and is suitably in the form of a hollow cylinder and has said resilient means located at, adjacent, or in the region of, one open end of said tubular receptacle. The resilient means preferably comprises a plurality of resilient plastic members located symmetrically around said one end of said tubular receptacle. The members are preferably in the form of L-shaped angled members with the vertically extending portion of each of said L-shaped members being connected to said tubular receptacle and the horizontal short portion of each of said L-shaped members extending inwardly at said one end of such tubular receptacle.

The handle or gripping means can be of any suitable form or shape to enable the device to be gripped or held. The handle or gripping means would preferably be of a height such that the user could place the base of the receptacle on the floor by utilising said handle or gripping means without having to bend down. In one embodiment, the handle is an elongate bar or the like which is attached to the tubular receptacle and enables same to be gripped or picked up. In another embodiment, such means can be in the form of a handle of inverted Ushape with the free arms of said U-shaped member being connected to said tubular receptacle. Furthermore the handle may be T-shaped or of any other suitable shape.

In use, the device of the invention is held by the gripping or handle means so that the tubular receptacle extends vertically. The normally lower end of the tubular receptacle is lowered onto and over the container to be picked up, such as a milk bottle, and the resilient members are displaced outwardly so as to enable the container to pass upwardly into and through the tubular receptacle. When the base of the container has passed upwardly into the receptacle, by the application of downward pressure on the handle or gripping means, the resilient members will reassume their original position and the normally horizontal portion of each L-shaped resilient strip member acts to support a portion of the base of the container.Two, or preferably three, of such resilient L-shaped strip members are utilised and same are symmetrically arranged around the circumference of the lower open end of the tubular receptacle and support the container in position. The device can then be lifted upwardly by means of the handle or gripping means and transferred to a surface which is more easily accessible to the user. Once the base of the tubular receptacle is placed on such surface, then the container can be removed from such receptacle. Alternatively, the handle or gripping means may be detachably connected to the receptacle. Once the base of the receptacle has been placed on such surface, the handle or gripping means can be detached and replaced by other handle or gripping means. Such other means may assist in subsequent usage of the container, e.g. for enabling liquid to be poured from such container.In such case additional means may be provided to assist in holding the container in place.

The receptacle will be of such size and dimension and so shaped as to approximate to the shape of the container to be picked up. Moreover, a plurality of such devices can be associated one with another so that a plurality of containers can be picked up.

The device of the present invention can be formed from any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, it is anticipated that such device will be formed from plastics material, and in which case the resilient members may be formed in the tubular wall of the receptacle, suitably utilising moulding techniques, although the tubular receptacle and the handle or gripping means may be formed of metal if required.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device includes means for enabling an empty container to be put down or returned to a surface from which it had previously been picked up. In such arrangement, means would be provided which would enable the support means of the device to be retracted from their normal support position to enable the empty container to be placed on a surface. In such arrangement, the empty container would be placed in the tubular receptacle and the base of such container would be supported by the resilient means. Once the device had been moved downwardly, by the gripping and/or handle means, to return the container to a surface, suitable retracting means could be operated whereby the resilient means no longer support the base of the empty container.

In use, the device would then be lifted upwardly and the empty container would be left on the surface.

Thereafter, the resilient means would be returned to their normal position of operation by reverse operation of said retracting means and the device could then be used once again to pick up a container.

In such preferred embodiment, the device of the invention may include means to enable a container to be picked up from one surface and to be put down on another surface. Such means comprises a spring-biased trigger release mechanism arrangement. Such arrangement, when the trigger is pressed against the spring bias will enable the tubular receptacle to be placed over a container and then the trigger mechanism is released.

Such will engage the support means in its support position. The device may then be picked up and transferred to another surface wherein the receptacle will be placed thereon and by operation of the trigger release mechanism, the receptacle may be lifted off the container.

It will thus be seen that the device of the present invention provides an economic and effective means for enabling a person with a disability who could not previously safely pick up a container from a surface, to utilise the device of the invention and thereby enable the container to be picked up.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is perspective view from below of a preferred device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view from below of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a device according to the invention incorporating a trigger release mechanism; Fig. 4 is the same view as in Fig. 3 but with various parts of the trigger release mechanism being shown in section; and Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of the use of the device of Figs. 3 and 4 for picking up a container from one surface and placing same down on another surface.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the device of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. Such device comprises an open-ended tubular receptacle 11 having a plurality of, in the present case three, resiliently mounted members 12, 12', 12'' located around the circumference of the lower open end of the receptacle 11. A handle 13 is provided whereby the device may be lifted up or placed down depending upon the intended use therefor.

When picking up a container such as a milk bottle, the device 10 is moved downwardly so that the lower open end is located above the top of the container to be picked up. Further downward movement causes the resilient members 12, 12', 12'' to move outwardly to permit the main portion of the container to be picked up to pass therethrough. Once the device 10 has been moved sufficiently downwardly whereby the lower open end of the receptacle 11, and associated resilient members 12, 12', 12'' passes beneath the base of the container, then the resilient members 12, 12', 12'' move back into their normal position in an unstressed state and act as support members for the base of the container to be picked up.

Upward movement of the handle 13 of the receptacle 11 holding the container therein enables the container to be moved to a more easily assessable location for the person utilising such device.

As illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, another embodiment of the device of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. Such device comprises an open-ended tubular receptacle 11 having a displaceable support means 12 associated therewith and located at the lower open-end cf the receptacle 11. The handle incorporates a trigger release mechanism and comprises an elongate rod-like member 13, a handle 14 and a trigger 15. The handle also incorporates a spring means 16 which is normally biased so that the support means 12 cannot be displaced.

In operation, the trigger member 15 is pressed against the spring 16 which means that the end 17 of the rod 18 is moved upwardly and therefore the support means 12 may then be displaced. Release of the trigger means that the end 17 of the rod 18 moves downwardly and thereby prevents displacement of the support means 12.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates the manner of operation of the device of Figs. 3 and 4. In step 1, the trigger member is actuated and the device is lowered over the container, in this case a milk bottle. The support means 12 is displaceable and the receptacle moves over the milk bottle.

In step 2, the trigger mechanism is released and the support means 12 is then fixedly located in its support position and the milk bottle may be lifted from its surface.

In step 3, the device of the invention is then placed on another surface and in step 4, operation of the trigger mechanism enables the support means to be displaced and thereby upon lifting the device the milk bottle is left on said surface.

Claims (12)

1. A device for enabling a container to be picked up, said device comprising an open-ended receptacle having support means at, adjacent, or in the region of, one end of such receptacle, and a handle or gripping means for enabling a user to hold or grip such device, said support means, in use, being displaceable to permit a container to pass into said receptacle and for supporting the base of said container when at least the base portion of said container is located in said receptacle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the support means are resilient means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which the receptacle is tubular and is in the form of a hollow cylinder, said resilient means being located at, adjacent, or in the region of, one open-end of said tubular receptacle.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the resilient means comprise a plurality of resilient plastic members located symmetrically around said one end of said tubular receptacle.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which said members are in the form of L-shaped angled members with the vertically extending portion of each of said L-shaped members being connected to said tubular receptacle and the horizontal short portion of each of said L-shaped members extending inwardly at said one end of said tubular receptacle.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle or gripping means comprises an elongate bar or like member which is attached to the receptacle and enables same to be gripped or picked up.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the handle or gripping means comprises an inverted U-shaped member with the free arms of said Ushaped member being connected to said receptacle.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle or gripping means is detachably connected to said receptacle.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, additionally including means for enabling an empty container to be put down or returned to a surface from which it had been previously been picked up.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means comprises a spring-biased trigger release mechanism arrangement.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, in which, in the actuated position, the trigger release mechanism enables a container to be located in or removed from said receptacle, and in said disengaged position supports the container in said receptacle.

12. A device for enabling a container to be picked up, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.