GB2156658A - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container usable as a skep comprises an upwardly convex bottom wall 1 and a generally conical side wall 2 upstanding therefrom. At least one manually grippable handle 5 is formed by a step in an outwardly turned rim 4 provided at the upper edge of the side wall 2. At least one recess 11 is formed in the bottom wall 1 adjacent the side wall to provide a hand grip at the base of the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container This invention relates to containers, and in particular to a container which is usable as a skep for handling and transporting goods and materials especially refuse and garbage.

The invention provides a container comprising a bottom wall and a generally conical side wall upstanding therefrom, an outwardly turned rim defined at the upper free edge of the side wall, at least one step in the rim upwards of the general plane thereof defining a manually grippable handle, the bottom wall being upwardly convex, and at least one recess in the bottom wall adjacent the side wall providing a hand grip at the base of the container.

In one form of the container, the or each said recess which provides a hand grip at the base of the container is substantially in vertical alignment with an associated said manually grippable handle in the rim. The bottom wall of the container is strengthened by forming thereon both annular and generally radially extending ribs which project downwardly from the lower face thereof. The recess or recesses forming the hand grip are bounded circumferentially by the two radially outermost annular strengthening ribs, and laterally by two of the generally radially extending ribs.

The side wall may be formed at intervals with annular ridges or steps which increase the rigidity of the container, but may be a plain frustonical wall.

The container according to the invention is particularly suited to be moulded in a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

The manually grippable handles which are formed in the rim may be supplemented by rope pulls which make it easier to slide a filled container across a floor. Preferably there will be four handles, equally spaced at 90 , and four associated recesses providing hand grips at the base of the container.

As already mentioned, the container of the invention has an especial use of a skep for containing refuse. A number of the containers may be loaded with refuse to await collection and, while awaiting collection, the containers may be stacked one above the other in order to minimize the storage space required. Containers which are filled with refuse are commonly filled to a level higher than their rim, at least in the central part of the container.

When a plurality of filled containers are stacked one above the other, the concave bottom together with the downwardly projecting ribs of a container will not only prevent the refuse from falling out of the container that is underneath it in the stack but will also prevent the upper filled container from sliding off the lower filled container. The raised handles will serve as a second guard means to stop the upper container from sliding. The stability of the stacked containers is thus greatly improved and ensured.

Persons handling containers filled with refuse are often somewhat casual about how they handle the containers. Containers can easily be damaged by careless handling. The container of the present invention contributes towards solving this problem by ensuring that there is sufficient provision made to make it difficult to handle the container improperly.

The provision of the recesses in the bottom wall which forms hand grips at the base of the container makes it easier for a handler to take a good grip of the container when he lifts the container to empty the contents by turning the container upside down.

It will normally be adequate to provide four circumferentially spaced recesses in the bottom wall of the container thus providing four hand grips associated with the four handles at the upper edge of the container. However, one cannot always be sure that the container will be gripped by the upper handle when it is lifted for emptying. Quite often the upper edge of the container will be grasped simply at its nearest or most convenient point, which may be anywhere along the upper edge. Nevertheless the handler is quite likely to locate one of the bottom hand grips even so, and even if he does not then the continuous annular recess which extends around the container between the two radially outermost annular strengthening ribs, interrupted only by the radial ribs, will enable the handler to obtain a reasonably adequate grip at the bottom.The risk of damage to the container by careless handling is thus very substantially minimized.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a typical container moulded in a thermoplastic material. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container from above, Figure 2 is an underneath view of the container, Figure 3 is an elevational view of the container, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V in Fig. 2.

The container or skep especially for refuse shown in the drawings comprises a bottom wall 1 which is circular in plan and a side wall 2 upstanding therefrom. The side wall 2 is generally conical and is formed with annular ridges 3 forming steps at intervals throughout its height. Alternatively, the side wall 2 may be a plain frustoconical wall, but the presence of the ridges or steps 3 provides additional strength.

An outwardly turned rim 4 is provided at the upper free edge of the side wall 2 and manually grippable handles 5 are formed in the rim by stepping portions of the rim 4 upwardly of the general plane 6 thereof. The handles 5 are of a size to afford a comfortable grip to the hand. Rope pulls or grips 7 are provided in conjunction with the handles 5, such pulls 7 being formed by a short length of rope the ends of which are passed through apertures in reinforcing ribs 8 moulded at the underside of the juncture of the rim 4 and the side wall 2, the ends of the rope being knotted at 9.

The bottom wall 1 is upwardly convex, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5.

Strengthening ribs project downwardly from the lower face of the bottom wall, and comprise generally radially directed ribs 1 2 and annular ribs 1 3. An annular recess 10 is defined between the two outermost annular ribs 13, and is a continuous annular recess.

The recess 10 is traversed by radial ribs 1 2 but these do not essentially break the continuity of the recess 1 0. The recess 10, is deepened at positions 11 vertically aligned with the four steps in the rim 4 which form the handles 5 to provide hand grips at the base of the container. The presence of the four individual deper recessess 11 is noted in the interior of the container as raised bumps or ridges 14 at the juncture of the side and bottom walls. The recesses 11 provide comfortable hand grips at the base of the container at locations in substantial vertical alignment with the four handles 5 at the container rim. The base can however still be gripped at any point around its circumference in the recess 10, and at any point on the rim.

The features and advantages of the container when used as a skep for refuse have already been pointed out in detail.

The bottom wall 1 is shown a solid, but if drainage is required appropriate drain holes may be drilled therein at preestablished locations 1 6. The side wall 2 is also preferably solid as shown, but a perforated side wall having a basket like appearance is possible.

Claims (5)

1. A container comprising a bottom wall and a generally conical side wall upstanding therefrom, an outwardly turned rim defined at the upper free edge of the side wall, at least one step in the rim upwards of the generel plane thereof defining a manually grippable handle, the bottom wall being upwardly convex and there being provided at least one recess in the bottom wall adjacent the side wall forming a hand grip at the base of the container.

2. A container according to Claim 1, wherein the or each said recess is substantially in vertical alignment with an associated said handle.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising both annular and generally radially directed strengthening ribs projecting from the lower face of the bottom wall.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall is stepped.

5. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.