AU2017100370A4 - Holder for Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a holder comprising a body defining a plurality of compartments each adapted to receive a container having a top through which contents of the container are accessible, each compartment having a side and a bottom, the side comprising a side wall section, the side wall section being open to permit a user to engage a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being configured to support a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being open. The holder may be of unitary construction, with the plurality of compartments integrated in the body. Alternatively, the body of the holder may be constructed in parts adapted to be connected together; with this alternative arrangement, the plurality compartments may be defined by separate parts adapted to be connected together to provide an assembly. Fig 2 35b 25 a35 211a 21 b Fi 271 Fig. 1

Description

1 2017100370 31 Mar 2017

Holder for Containers

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a holder for a plurality of containers.

[0002] The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, for holding two containers intended to be used together.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0004] For certain installation and repair operations, there is a need to join plastic components together in a two-part process, with the first part involving cleaning and/or priming the components and the second part involving application of a bonding agent such as a glue between the components. An example of such an operation is in relation to plumbing involving installation and repair of PVC pipes and fittings for water supply, reticulation, rainwater collection, waste-water discharge, and sewers. The work is typically performed using two separate containers, one with glue and the other with a primer. Commonly, the containers are referred to as pots; specifically a pot of glue and a pot of primer.

[0005] It is desirable that the pots of glue and primer be readily accessible to a user as required while the work is being performed.

[0006] The need for a user to access the pot of primer and the pot of glue at the worksite can be problematic, as it may necessitate the user firstly reaching for one pot, using it, and then returning it, before reaching for the second pot to repeat the process. This can be challenging, or at least generally inconvenient, in confined working spaces and in challenging working conditions such as sandy environments.

[0007] It would be advantageous for there to be a way for a user to hold both pots at the same time, so that either one would be readily available as required. 2 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 [0008] It is against this background, and the problems and difficulties associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.

[0009] SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a holder comprising a body defining two compartments each adapted to receive a container having a top through which contents of the container are accessible, each compartment having a side and a bottom, the side comprising a side wall section, the side wall section being open to permit a user to engage a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being configured to support a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being open.

[0011] The body may also define one or more further compartments, whereby more than two containers can be held by the holder.

[0012] Each compartment may further comprise an open top through which a container can be inserted into and removed from the compartment. The open top may be defined by a peripheral edge of the side.

[0013] Each compartment may be configured as a cylindrical compartment with the side being cylindrical.

[0014] Each compartment may have a central longitudinal axis extending between the open bottom and the open top.

[0015] The open side wall section may comprise one or more opening therein, at least one of the openings being of a size to permit a user to engage a container received in the respective compartment.

[0016] The opening may comprise an elongate opening. Other arrangements are, of course contemplated; for example, the opening may comprise an opening which is circular, rectangular or of other appropriate configuration.

[0017] The elongate opening may have a longitudinal extent with one end adjacent the bottom and the other end remote from the bottom. The other end may be adjacent an open top. 3 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 [0018] The longitudinal extent of the elongate opening may be parallel to the central longitudinal axis. In other words, the elongate opening may extend vertically. Other arrangements are, of course contemplated; for example, the elongate opening may be inclined with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the compartment while still having one end adjacent the open bottom and the other end adjacent the open top.

[0019] The open side wall section may comprise a plurality of openings, at least one of which is of a size to permit a user to engage a container received in the respective compartment.

[0020] The plurality of openings may comprise elongate opening disposed in spaced apart relationship. Where the compartment is cylindrical, the elongate opening may be disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relationship in the cylindrical side.

[0021] With the side wall section and the bottom of each compartment being open, liquids and granular debris such as sand can egress the compartment.

[0022] With the side wall section of each compartment being open, a user may engage a container received in the respective compartment by, for example, inserting one or fingers through the side into the compartment. This may, for instance, be done for the purpose of preventing, or at least retarding, movement of a container within the compartment when the container is being opened or closed, and possibly also in assisting with removal of the container from within the compartment through the open top.

[0023] The body may be of unitary construction, with the two compartments integrated in the body.

[0024] Alternatively, the body may be constructed in parts adapted to be connected together. With such an arrangement, the two compartments may be defined by separate parts adapted to be connected together to provide an assembly.

[0025] The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, as a holder for two containers used together; for example, a pot of glue and a pot of primer used together on a worksite for connecting plastic parts together (such as PVC pipes and fittings). The PVC pipes and fittings may comprise parts used in plumbing (including for example water supply, reticulation, rainwater collection, waste-water discharge, and sewers). 4 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 [0026] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a plumbing accessory comprising a holder for two containers used together, the holder comprising a holder according to the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a holder according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1, with the exception that the holder is depicted with two containers in position;

Figure 3 is a side view of the holder being held by a user with one hand; and Figure 4 is an underside view of the arrangement shown in figure 3.

[0028] The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

[0029] The figures depict an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrates a certain configuration; however, it is to be appreciated that the invention can take the form of many configurations, as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art, whilst still embodying the present invention. These configurations are to be considered within the scope of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0030] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a holder 11 holder for two containers 13 intended to be used together; for example, a pot of glue 13a and a pot of primer 13b for use on a worksite for bonding plastic parts together. Each pot 13a, 13b has a side 5 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 14, and a top 15 through which the contents of the pot are accessible, with the top 15 being provided with a removable closure 17 in the form of a screw cap.

[0031] The holder 11 is adapted to hold the two pots 13 such that they are conveniently available and accessible to a user as required. In particular, the user need only hold the holder 11 for both of the two pots 13 to be conveniently available and accessible; that is, the two pots do not need to be held separately.

[0032] In the arrangement shown, the holder 11 is adapted to be held manually by a user. However, other arrangements are contemplated. By way of example, the holder may be configured for mounting on, or integrated into, a portable unit such as stand. In yet another arrangement, the holder may be adapted to be carried on the body of a user; for example, attached to a harness, sling or belt.

[0033] The holder 11 comprises a body 21 formed of any appropriate material, for example a plastics material. In the arrangement shown, the body 21 comprises two parts 21a, 21b which are made separately and then fixed together. In another arrangement, the body 21 may be formed as a single piece.

[0034] The body 21 defines two compartments 23, each adapted to receive a respective container 13. In the arrangement shown the two parts 21a, 21b of the body 21 each define a respective one of the two compartments 23.

[0035] Each compartment 23 has a side 25, a bottom 27 and an open top 29.

[0036] The side 25 comprises a side wall section 31 having openings 33. The bottom 27 is configured to support a pot 13 received in the respective compartment 23 and also be open. With each compartment 23 having an open side and bottom, any liquid(s) and granular debris such as sand entering the compartment can egress the compartment through the openings. This is particularly useful for work conducted in sandy conditions, where it is likely that grains of sand could fall into the compartments 23 as the work is being performed.

[0037] The open top 29 is defined by the uppermost peripheral edge of the side 25.

[0038] In the arrangement shown, each compartment 23 is configured as a cylindrical compartment with the side 25 being cylindrical. Further, each compartment 23 has a 6 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 central longitudinal axis extending vertically between the open bottom 27 and the open top 29.

[0039] The openings 33 in the side wall section 31 are of a size to permit a user to engage a pot 13 received in the respective compartment 23.

[0040] In the arrangement shown, the openings 33 comprise elongate openings in the form of slots 35. The slots 35 have a longitudinal extent, one end 35a adjacent the bottom 27 and the other end 35b adjacent the top 29. In the arrangement shown, the longitudinal extent of each slot 35 is parallel to the vertical central longitudinal axis of the compartment 23. In other words, the slots 35 extend vertically. Other arrangements are contemplated; for example, the slots 35 may be inclined with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the compartment while still having one end 35a adjacent the open bottom 27 and the other end 35b adjacent the open top 29.

[0041] , The slots 35 are disposed in circumferentially spaced apart relationship in the cylindrical side 25.

[0042] The open bottom 27 comprises a peripheral edge 41 defining a lip 43 upon which a pot 13 received within the respective compartment 23 can rest, and a central opening 45 defined by the peripheral edge.

[0043] In use, a user can grasp the holder 11 in one hand, as illustrated schematically in figures 3 and 4 in which the hand of the user is identified by reference numeral 50. The user then has access to the pots 13 within the two compartments 23 (although the pots are not shown in figures 3 and 4).

[0044] When the user requires access to the contents of either one of the two pots 13, he or she can continue to hold the holder 11 with the one hand 50, and use the other hand (not shown) to access the contents of the respective pot. If the top of the respective pot 13 is closed, the user may need to hold the pot against movement while the pot is being opened. For instance, if the top 15 of the respective pot 13 has a closure 17 in the form of a screw cap, the user may find it necessary to prevent, or at least retard, the pot from turning to enable the closure 17 to be unscrewed using the other hand. The user can do this by pressing on the side 14 of the pot 13 through one or more of the slots 35, with the pressing action serving to hold the pot and restrain it against rotation within the compartment 23. In the same way, the user can restrain the respective pot 13 against movement while the contents of the pot are being accessed 7 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 using the other hand. Similarly, the user can also restrain the pot 13 while the closure 17 is being replaced.

[0045] Any liquid (such as water from rain) entering the compartments 23 can drain through the open side 25 and open bottom 27. Similarly, any debris such as grains of sand entering the compartments 23 can disperse by falling through the open side 25 and open bottom 27.

[0046] From the foregoing, it is evident that the holder 11 according to the embodiment provides a simple yet highly effective arrangement for holding two containers 13 (such as a pot of glue 13a and a pot of primer 13b) in one hand, whereby either one of the two containers can be selectively accessed as required using the other hand.

[0047] In the arrangement described and illustrated, the holder 11 is adapted to receive and hold two containers 13. It should, however, be appreciated that the holder 11 may be configured to receive and hold more than two containers, if so desired.

[0048] The foregoing disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use the particular embodiment described, rather than to limit the true, intended, and fair scope and spirit of the invention. The foregoing description is neither intended to be exhaustive, nor to be limited to the precise forms disclosed.

[0049] Further, it should be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.

[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a particular example embodiment only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0051] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0052] The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0053] Reference to any positional descriptions, such as "top”, “bottom" and “side”, are to be taken in context of the embodiment described (and depicted in the drawings in the 8 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 case of the first embodiment), and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

[0054] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0055] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiment [0056] .When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 2017100370 31 Mar 2017 9 [0057] Additionally, where the terms “system”, “device”, and “apparatus" are used in the context of the invention, they are to be understood as including reference to any group of functionally related or interacting, interrelated, interdependent or associated components or elements that may be located in proximity to, separate from, integrated with, or discrete from, each other.

[0058] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (5)

1. A holder comprising a body defining a plurality of compartments each adapted to receive a container having a top through which contents of the container are accessible, each compartment having a side and a bottom, the side comprising a side wall section, the side wall section being open to permit a user to engage a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being configured to support a container received in the respective compartment, the bottom being open.

2. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the open side wall section comprises a plurality of openings.

3. A holder according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of openings comprise elongate openings disposed in spaced apart relationship.

4. A holder according to any one of the previous claims wherein the body is of unitary construction, with the plurality of compartments integrated in the body.

5. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the plurality of containers are configured as separate parts, each of the containers being adapted to be connected to each other to provide a holder having two or more containers.