GB1588975A

GB1588975A - Container with pivot assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1588975A
Application number: GB1105677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Reads Ltd
Current assignee: American Can UK Ltd
Priority date: 1977-03-16
Filing date: 1977-03-16
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: FR2383841A1; DE2811141A1; FR2383841B1

Description

(54) CONTAINER WITH PIVOT ASSEMBLIES (71) We, READS LIMITED, a British Company, of Orrell Lane, Liverpool L9 8BW, 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 is concerned with the attachment of handles to containers such as, for example, paint cans.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pivot assembly for a container that is efficient, secure, simple and inexpensive.

The present invention is a container having a wall and handle pivot assemblies secured on the exterior of said wall, each assembly comprising an attachment member which defines an aperture, and a resilient stud located in said aperture and having a head adapted to trap the apertured end of a handle between the member and the head of the stud.

Preferably the end of the stud inserted in the attachment member is compressible for passage through the aperture, resilient expansion of that end of the stud after passage through the aperture securing the stud in the aperture.

The present invention is also a container as defined in the last two preceding paragraphs having a handle whose ends are secured to the assemblies.

The present invention is also a method of securing a handle to a container, the method comprising locating a resilient stud in apertures in the handle and an attachment member on the exterior of the wall of said container, one end of the stud being passed through the aperture in the attachment member and then expanding to secure the stud to the attachment member, the handle being trapped between the member and a head on the stud.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevation of the top of a container showing the container handle extending between two pivot assemblies; Fig. 2 is a cross section through one of the pivot assemblies of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate the assembly of a second embodiment of the invention; Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate the assembly of a third embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1 a container 10, in this embodiment a paint can, is provided with a handle 11 whose ends are pivotally mounted in respective pivot assemblies 12. As seen in Fig. 2 a pivot assembly comprises a conventional attachment member or button 15 welded to the wall of the container, and a retaining stud 16, preferably of a plastics material and in this embodiment nylon, which has a head 17 at one end. The other end of the stud 16 is in the form of a resilient nose 18 which can be pressed through the central aperture of the button 15 and which then expands to retain the stud in the aperture.

The stud 16 is also formed with an annular bearing surface 20 adjacent the head 17 and engageable by the aperture at the end of the handle 11 to allow the handle to pivot thereon.

On assembly the nose of the stud 17 is passed through the aperture in the handle and is then pressed into position in the button 15 where expansion of the nose 18 retains it, the handle being trapped between the button 15 and the head.

In Figs. 3 to 5 a modified embodiment is shown in which the button 15 on the wall of the container 10 is provided with an annular recess 30 dimensioned to receive an inturned boss 31 around the aperture 32 in a strip metal handle 33, the handle 33 being formed so that it spring biases the boss 31 into the recess 30 as shown in Fig. 4. The boss at the other end of the handle is, of course, simultaneously biased towards and located in its companion recess. The handle is thus pre-located on the container 10 and the insertion of the retaining stud 35 simultaneously through the aperture 32 and into the button 15 is a simple matter.

It should be noted that the stud 35 of Fig.

5 is essentially identical to the stud 16 of Fig. 2.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a further embodiment in which the aperture 60 in the handle 61 is substantially the same size as the aperture in the button 15 so that the stud 62 may be pre-assembled on the handle and held captive there as shown in Fig. 6 for subsequent attachment to the button 15. This embodiment is particularly suitable for a handle made of a plastics material. Also it should be noted that the stud 62 is modified slightly from the stud of the previously described embodiments as there is no need in this embodiment for a separate handle bearing surface 20 (Fig. 2), i.e. in this embodiment the shank of the stud 62 is of uniform diameter. In this embodiment also, if desired, can be provided the boss and recess arrangement of the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 5.

The embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 allows pre-assembly of the stud 80 to the button 15 or to the handle 81 which in this embodiment is made of a plastics material. At each end of the handle is provided a keyhole slot 82 the upper end of which is sufficiently large to allow the head 83 of the stud 80 to pass through, while the lower end of the slot is a snug fit round the bearing surface 85 on the shank of the stud 80.This arrangement allows pre-assembly of the stud 80 and the button 15 and subsequent attachment of the handle 81 to the stud 80 by passing the head 83 of the stud through the upper end of the keyhole slot and then raising the handle to locate the bearing surface 85 in the lower end of the slot 8. The alternative of preassembly of the handle and the stud may be achieved in a similar manner, the stud being subsequently secured to the button 15 in the usual way. To retain the stud in position on the handle (or vice versa) a pair of resiliently deformable pips 88 are provided on the handle at the edges of the keyhole slot, the pips 88 being deformable to allow the head 83 of the stud to pass downwardly to the lower end of the slot while preventing or at least making more difficult the return movement of the head.Of course, this embodiment could be modified by making the handle of metal strip.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A container having a wall and handle pivot assemblies secured on the exterior of said wall, each assembly comprising an attachment member which defines an aperture, and a resilient stud located in said aperture and having a head adapted to trap the apertured end of a handle between the member and the head of the stud.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which, in each pivot assembly, the end of the stud inserted in the attachment member is compressible for passage through the aperture, resilient expansion of that end of the stud after passage through the aperture securing the stud in the aperture.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which an annular bearing surface is provided on each stud adjacent the head.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each said attachment member is formed with a recess around said aperture.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each pivot assembly is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, having a handle whose apertured ends are secured to said assemblies.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which said assemblies are as claimed in claim 4, and in which a boss is provided round each aperture in the handle ends and engages the recess round the aperture in the respective member.

8. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the apertures in the ends of the handle are substantially the same size as the respective apertures in the members.

9. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the apertures in the ends of the handle are keyhole shaped, one end of each aperture permitting passage therethrough of the head of the stud.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9, in which deformable pips are provided at each end of the handle adjacent the keyhole apertures.

11. A method of securing a handle to a container, the method comprising locating a resilient stud in apertures in the handle and an attachment member on the exterior wall of said container, one end of the stud being passed through the aperture in the attachment member and then expanding to secure the stud to the attachment member, the handle being trapped between the member and a head on the stud.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which said end of the stud is compressed to pass through the aperture in the handle also.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the head of the stud is passed through one end of a keyhole slot in the handle and is then engaged with the other end of said slot.

14. A method of securing a handle to a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims

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

5 is essentially identical to the stud 16 of Fig. 2.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a further embodiment in which the aperture 60 in the handle 61 is substantially the same size as the aperture in the button 15 so that the stud 62 may be pre-assembled on the handle and held captive there as shown in Fig. 6 for subsequent attachment to the button 15. This embodiment is particularly suitable for a handle made of a plastics material. Also it should be noted that the stud 62 is modified slightly from the stud of the previously described embodiments as there is no need in this embodiment for a separate handle bearing surface 20 (Fig. 2), i.e. in this embodiment the shank of the stud 62 is of uniform diameter. In this embodiment also, if desired, can be provided the boss and recess arrangement of the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 5.

The embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 allows pre-assembly of the stud 80 to the button 15 or to the handle 81 which in this embodiment is made of a plastics material. At each end of the handle is provided a keyhole slot 82 the upper end of which is sufficiently large to allow the head 83 of the stud 80 to pass through, while the lower end of the slot is a snug fit round the bearing surface 85 on the shank of the stud 80.This arrangement allows pre-assembly of the stud 80 and the button 15 and subsequent attachment of the handle 81 to the stud 80 by passing the head 83 of the stud through the upper end of the keyhole slot and then raising the handle to locate the bearing surface 85 in the lower end of the slot 8. The alternative of preassembly of the handle and the stud may be achieved in a similar manner, the stud being subsequently secured to the button 15 in the usual way. To retain the stud in position on the handle (or vice versa) a pair of resiliently deformable pips 88 are provided on the handle at the edges of the keyhole slot, the pips 88 being deformable to allow the head 83 of the stud to pass downwardly to the lower end of the slot while preventing or at least making more difficult the return movement of the head.Of course, this embodiment could be modified by making the handle of metal strip.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A container having a wall and handle pivot assemblies secured on the exterior of said wall, each assembly comprising an attachment member which defines an aperture, and a resilient stud located in said aperture and having a head adapted to trap the apertured end of a handle between the member and the head of the stud.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which, in each pivot assembly, the end of the stud inserted in the attachment member is compressible for passage through the aperture, resilient expansion of that end of the stud after passage through the aperture securing the stud in the aperture.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which an annular bearing surface is provided on each stud adjacent the head.
4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each said attachment member is formed with a recess around said aperture.
5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each pivot assembly is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, having a handle whose apertured ends are secured to said assemblies.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which said assemblies are as claimed in claim 4, and in which a boss is provided round each aperture in the handle ends and engages the recess round the aperture in the respective member.
8. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the apertures in the ends of the handle are substantially the same size as the respective apertures in the members.
9. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which the apertures in the ends of the handle are keyhole shaped, one end of each aperture permitting passage therethrough of the head of the stud.
10. A container as claimed in claim 9, in which deformable pips are provided at each end of the handle adjacent the keyhole apertures.
11. A method of securing a handle to a container, the method comprising locating a resilient stud in apertures in the handle and an attachment member on the exterior wall of said container, one end of the stud being passed through the aperture in the attachment member and then expanding to secure the stud to the attachment member, the handle being trapped between the member and a head on the stud.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which said end of the stud is compressed to pass through the aperture in the handle also.
13. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the head of the stud is passed through one end of a keyhole slot in the handle and is then engaged with the other end of said slot.
14. A method of securing a handle to a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.