GB1586110A

GB1586110A - Handles for containers

Info

Publication number: GB1586110A
Application number: GB3278077A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bowler & Sons Ltd David
Current assignee: Bowler & Sons Ltd David
Priority date: 1978-02-27
Filing date: 1978-02-27
Publication date: 1981-03-18

Description

(54) HANDLES FOR CONTAINERS (nl) We, DAVID BOWLER & SONS LIMITED, a British company, of Hardley Industrial Estate, Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to handles connected to containers and used for carrying the containers, particularly containers such as paint cans having on the outside of the peripheral wall of the container two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container and which are either integral with the container or formed separately therefrom and secured thereto such as by welding.The invention also relates to a method of attaching a handle according to the invention to such a container.

Such containers which are formed of metal are known and the end wall of each annular member is provided with an aperture through which an end portion of a bent wire handle is inserted. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the wire handle can be rotated so as to lie around the wall of the container when not in use and the annular members ensure that no rupture of the wall of the container is achieved due to excessive forces being applied to the handle as can be the case where the handle is fitted over a rivet or the like attached to the wall of a container.

However, wire handles are unpopular as they tend to cut into the hand when using them to lift a heavy filled container.

For this reason handles formed of elongate strip material are preferred but hitherto they have always been attached by rivets or the like to containers.

The present invention aims to provide a handle formed of elongate strip material attached to the annular members provided on a container.

According to the present invention in one aspect there is provided a handle connected to a container of the type having on the exterior of its peripheral wall two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, said handle comprising an elongate member bent about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis into a semicircular shape, said elongate member having at each end a portion which extends transversely of the elongate member and is provided with a circular bore closed at one end and extending transversely of the elongate member and located such that when the elongate member is bent into a semi-circular shape the bores are coaxial, each bore receiving the annular wall of a respective said annular member and being provided with a resilient projection extending into the bore and engaged with said respective annular member to retain the handle thereon.

The projection may extend axially from the closed end of the bore and be provided with an enlarged head, the head being forced through an aperture provided in the end wall of the respective annular member so as to engage behind the end wall of the annular member.

Alternatively the projection may be in the form of a radially inwardly directed lip or lips provided on the circular wall portion of the bore which are engaged in a recess provided on the exterior of the annular wall of the associated annular member.

According to the present invention in another aspect there is provided a method of attaching a handle according to the present invention to a said container provided on the exterior of its peripheral wall with two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, comprising the steps of stacking a plurality of handles in super posed relationship with said elongate members straight, moving a handle from the stack towards a said container, bending the handle into a semi-circular shape about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis to bring the axes of the bores of the end portions into coaxial alignment with the annular members and moving the end portions of the handle towards each other so that the end portions are pushed over the annular wall of the respective annular member and to engage each resilient inwardly directed projection with the respective annular member.

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a handle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one end of the handle of Figure 1 fitted to an annular member provided on a container; Figure 3 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 2 of a second embodiment; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through one end of a handle constituting a third embodiment; and Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of attaching handles according to the present invention.

The handle 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an elongate member 11 formed of a resilient plastics material which can be bent about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis into the semicircular shape shown. Each end portion of the member 11 is provided with a transversely extending circular bore 12 having a closed end 13. Extending axially inwardly from the closed end 13 is a projection 14 having an enlarged dome-shaped head 15. Alternatively the projection 14 may have a spherical head 15 or a frustoconical head 15.

The handle 10 is fitted to a container 16, which may comprise a paint can, which on its outer side is provided with two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members 17 each having a transverse end wall 19 and which are spot welded to the container 16. The annular members 17 shown in Figure 2 each have a central aperture 18 provided in the end wall 19. The internal diameter of the bores 12 is such that they can be pushed over the annular wall of the respective annular member 17 and the head 15 of the projection 14 pushed through the aperture 18 so as to engage the end wall 17 on the inside of the annular member 17 to thus hold the handle 10 on the annular members 17.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the annular wall of the member 17 is provided with an annular groove 20 on its exterior. The circular bore 12 at its open end is provided with a radially inwardly projecting annular lip 21 which when the bore 12 is pushed over the annular wall of the member 17 engages with the groove 20 to retain the handle 10 on the member 17.

The lip 21 may be formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially inwardly projecting projections.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the projection 14 gradually increases in diameter to form the head 15.

Handles 10 as described above may be attached automatically to containers 16 by a suitable apparatus which can be provided with means enabling a plurality of handles 10 to be stacked in superposed relationship with their members 11 straight, as shown at 23 in Figure 5. A handle 10 is then removed from the stack 23 and bent into an arcuate shape by any suitable means so that the axes of the bores 12 are brought into coaxial alignment with the annular members 17 on a container 16. Means will be provided for then moving the end portions provided with bores 12 axially towards each other to engage the bores 12 with the members 17 and to engage the projections 14 or lips 21 with the members 17, the assembled container 16 and handle 10 then being removed from the apparatus.

The handle 10 is preferably formed of a resilient plastics material but it may be formed of metal, such as tin plate, with the projection 14 formed of a resilient plastics material.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A handle connected to a container of the type having on the exterior of its peripheral wall two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, said handle comprising an elongate member bent about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis into a semicircular shape, said elongate member having at each end a portion which extends transversely of the elongate member and is provided with a circular bore closed at one end and extending transversely of the elongate member and located such that when the elongate member is bent into a semi-circular shaDe the bores are coaxial, each bore receiving the annular wall of a respective said annular member and being provided with a resilient projection extending into the bore and engaged with said respective annular member to retain the handle thereon.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. posed relationship with said elongate members straight, moving a handle from the stack towards a said container, bending the handle into a semi-circular shape about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis to bring the axes of the bores of the end portions into coaxial alignment with the annular members and moving the end portions of the handle towards each other so that the end portions are pushed over the annular wall of the respective annular member and to engage each resilient inwardly directed projection with the respective annular member. Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a handle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one end of the handle of Figure 1 fitted to an annular member provided on a container; Figure 3 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 2 of a second embodiment; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through one end of a handle constituting a third embodiment; and Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of attaching handles according to the present invention. The handle 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an elongate member 11 formed of a resilient plastics material which can be bent about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis into the semicircular shape shown. Each end portion of the member 11 is provided with a transversely extending circular bore 12 having a closed end 13. Extending axially inwardly from the closed end 13 is a projection 14 having an enlarged dome-shaped head 15. Alternatively the projection 14 may have a spherical head 15 or a frustoconical head 15. The handle 10 is fitted to a container 16, which may comprise a paint can, which on its outer side is provided with two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members 17 each having a transverse end wall 19 and which are spot welded to the container 16. The annular members 17 shown in Figure 2 each have a central aperture 18 provided in the end wall 19. The internal diameter of the bores 12 is such that they can be pushed over the annular wall of the respective annular member 17 and the head 15 of the projection 14 pushed through the aperture 18 so as to engage the end wall 17 on the inside of the annular member 17 to thus hold the handle 10 on the annular members 17. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the annular wall of the member 17 is provided with an annular groove 20 on its exterior. The circular bore 12 at its open end is provided with a radially inwardly projecting annular lip 21 which when the bore 12 is pushed over the annular wall of the member 17 engages with the groove 20 to retain the handle 10 on the member 17. The lip 21 may be formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially inwardly projecting projections. Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the projection 14 gradually increases in diameter to form the head 15. Handles 10 as described above may be attached automatically to containers 16 by a suitable apparatus which can be provided with means enabling a plurality of handles 10 to be stacked in superposed relationship with their members 11 straight, as shown at 23 in Figure 5. A handle 10 is then removed from the stack 23 and bent into an arcuate shape by any suitable means so that the axes of the bores 12 are brought into coaxial alignment with the annular members 17 on a container 16. Means will be provided for then moving the end portions provided with bores 12 axially towards each other to engage the bores 12 with the members 17 and to engage the projections 14 or lips 21 with the members 17, the assembled container 16 and handle 10 then being removed from the apparatus. The handle 10 is preferably formed of a resilient plastics material but it may be formed of metal, such as tin plate, with the projection 14 formed of a resilient plastics material. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A handle connected to a container of the type having on the exterior of its peripheral wall two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, said handle comprising an elongate member bent about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis into a semicircular shape, said elongate member having at each end a portion which extends transversely of the elongate member and is provided with a circular bore closed at one end and extending transversely of the elongate member and located such that when the elongate member is bent into a semi-circular shaDe the bores are coaxial, each bore receiving the annular wall of a respective said annular member and being provided with a resilient projection extending into the bore and engaged with said respective annular member to retain the handle thereon.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in

which said projection extends axially from the closed end of the bore and through a hole in said end wall of the associated annular member and said projection is provided with an enlarged head which engages behind the end wall.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 2, in which the head of the projection is spherical or frusto-conical.

4. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which said projection comprises a radially inwardly directed lip or lips provided on the circular wall portion of the bore engaged with a recess provided in the exterior of the annular wall of the associated annular member.

5. A handle as claimed in any preceding claim formed of a plastics material.

6. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the elongate member is formed of metal and said projection is formed of a resilient plastics material.

7. A handle connected to a container of the type having on the exterior of its peripheral wall two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of attaching a handle as claimed in any preceding claim, to a said container provided on the exterior of its peripheral wall with two diametrically opposed outwardly extending annular members each having a transverse end wall spaced from the peripheral wall of the container, comprising the steps of stacking a plurality of handles in superposed relationship with said elongate members straight, moving a handle from the stack towards a said container, bending the handle into a semi-circular shape about an axis extending at a right angle to its longitudinal axis to bring the axes of the bores of the end portions into coaxial alignment with the annular members and moving the end portions of the handle towards each other so that the end portions are pushed over the annular wall of the respective annular member to engage each resilient inwardly directed projection with the respective annular member.