GB2244972A

GB2244972A - Container with pivotally mounted handle

Info

Publication number: GB2244972A
Application number: GB9013100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven John Blanks
Original assignee: Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd
Current assignee: Linpac Mouldings Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-12
Filing date: 1990-06-12
Publication date: 1991-12-18
Also published as: GB9013100D0

Abstract

A container assembly comprises a plastics moulded container 3 and a plastics handle pivotally mounted on an upstanding side wall 5. The side wall 5 has external upstanding channels 11 on opposite sides of the container. Each channel is of T-section and provided with an upper stop 18 and a lower stop 16. Carried at the ends of legs 9 of the handle are spigots 10 with enlarged heads 20 which are accommodated and retained in the respective channels. The heads 20 may have mutually perpendicular broader and narrower dimensions (X, Y Figure 2), the narrower dimension facilitating snap fitting the head into the channel. The broad dimension of the head 20 is presented to the upper stop 18 when the handle is in its carrying position. Alternatively, the handle spigots 10 can be located in the channels 11 through openings in the lower ends thereof and displaced upwardly through the channels to snap engage over the lower stops 16. The container is preferably rectangular in cross section and the handle may flex so that in its stored position it allows containers to be stored in side-by-side abutting relationship. The upper stop may be a restriction at the top of the channel or an end closure of the channel. The handle may be initially fitted in a retracted upstanding position with its spigots beneath the lower stops 16. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE '1A container assembly" TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND ART The present invention relates to a container assembly and particularly concerns such assemblies which comprise a container with a plastics upstanding side wall and a handle pivotally mounted thereon.

The invention was primarily developed for relatively small plastics moulded containers which, typically, as may be used for the storage and transport of paint or emulsion.

Known containers of this type are often provided with a carrying handle such as a plastics or metal strap which is attached to the container side wall to be pivotal from an upstanding carrying position in which the handle straddles a top opening of the container to a stored position in which the handle is clear of the top opening and straddles the side wall. Conventionally the ends of the handle are secured to the container side wall by rivets which are considered inconvenient, an expensive assembly operation, unsightly and can lead to possible weakening of the side wall.A further method of attachment is to mould externally projecting bosses on the side wall which snap engage within apertures at the ends of the handle; while this means of attachment is convenient for assembly, the projecting bosses are often unsightly, provide obstructions during storage and carriage of the assembly and the apertures in the handle may provide a source of weakness.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly of a container with a handle pivotally mounted thereon and in which the attachment of the handle can be achieved in a convenient and inexpensive manner to present and aesthetically pleasing structure which alleviates the disadvantages of the prior proposals.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION & ADVANTAGES According to the present invention there is provided a container assembly comprising a container and a handle pivotally mounted thereon, the container having an upstanding plastics side wall and a top opening, the side wall including two opposed upstanding channels one on each of opposite sides of the container and externally thereof, each channel having an upper part thereof provided with first stop means and a lower part thereof provided with second stop means, and wherein the handle comprises opposed legs which straddle the container and each of which carries a spigot, said spigots being accommodated and retained one in each channel between the first and second stop means for the handle to be pivotal between a carrying position in which it extends upwardly to straddle the top opening and the spigots abut the first stop means in their respective channels during carrying of the assembly and a stored position in which the handle straddles the side walls and the spigots abut the second stop means in their respective channels.

The container is preferably formed as a plastics moulding and usually the handle will consist of a one piece plastics moulding. With such components the channels in the side wall can be aesthetically moulded-in with the spigots unobtrusively engaging therewith to provide a relatively strong connection for the required pivotal movement of the handle, preferably so that in its stored position the handle closely accommodates the profile of the side wall which it straddles.This latter feature is particularly beneficial for containers which are substantially rectangular in plan with the channels being located in substantially parallel and opposed upstanding side wall parts of the container wall so that when the handle is in its stored position it lies closely against the side wall of the container around the periphery thereof between the spigots and the fact that the latter may be unobtrusive permits several similar rectangular containers to be stored in side-by-side relationship with efficient use of the storage space available.

In a preferred structure the channels are of substantially T-shaped section forming a broad slideway and a narrow mouth communicating therewith and the spigots comprise heads which are retained in the slideway and shanks by which the heads are connected to their respective handle legs through the narrow mouths. For convenience of assembly the spigot heads may snap engage in their respective channels through the narrow mouths thereof. As an alternative means of assembly the channels may open downwardly at lower ends thereof and the handle may be attached to the container by locating the spigots in these lower end openings of the channels, displacing the spigots upwardly along the channels and forcing the spigots over a restriction presented by the second stop means to locate the spigots in the respective channels between the first and second stop means.

Preferably the channels are closed at the upper ends thereof, conveniently by an external flange or rim part of the container, and such closure provides the first stop means for the spigots. Alternatively the channels may open at the upper ends thereof in a rim of the container with the first stop means being formed by a restriction in a respective channel. This restriction is conveniently formed by an external shoulder on the rim of the side wall beneath which the respective spigot abuts in the carrying position of the handle. The second stop means may also be formed by a restriction in the respective channel, such restriction conveniently comprising a boss, pip or similar projection which is easily moulded with the side wall.

DRAWINGS One embodiment of a container assembly constructed in accordance wi th the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembly with the handle shown in a stored position 1 or an alternative carrying position 2; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the handle; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a front, side and rear elevation of a spigot on the handle; Figure 6 diagrammatically illustrates a modified form of channel in the container; Figure 7 shows, in section, the handle in its carrying position when engaged with the channel of Figure 6 and Figure 8 shows, in section, the handle engaged with the channel in the container of Figure 1 or Figure 6 and in its carrying position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The container assembly illustrated will typically be used for the retail sale of paint or emulsion and comprises a container 3 formed as a one piece moulding in plastics with a flat base 4 upstanding from which is a side wall 5 forming a top opening 6 to which a lid will usually be fitted. The container has a substantially rectangular, conveniently square, shape in plan to opposed parallel side wall parts of which is fitted a handle 7. For convenience, only one side wall part 8 and the handle fitting thereto has been shown - it being realised that a corresponding side wall part and handle fitting is provided on the opposite side of the assembly.

The handle 7 is formed as a one piece moulding in plastics to have a generally part rectangular or C-shape as shown in Figure 2 with opposed legs 9 carrying spigots 10 at the free ends thereof. The spigots 10 are to be pivotally attached one to each of the opposed side wall parts 8 so that the handle can be pivotted on the container 3 between a carrying position shown at 2 in Figure 1 where the handle extends upwardly to straddle the top opening 6 and a stored position shown at 1 in Figure 1 where the handle is seated on the side wall 5 of the container to straddle part of the periphery of that side wall which is closely accommodated within the handle.

For the purpose of fitting the handle, each side wall part of the container 3 has moulded therein an upstanding and centrally disposed channel 11 which is of substantially T-shape in section (as is best seen from Figure 6) to form a broad slideway 12 access to which is provided through a relatively narrow mouth 13 formed by opposed flanges 14 along the sides of the channel. Moulded onto a rear wall 15 of the channel is a bottom stop in the form of a hemispherical retaining pip 16.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the channel 11 extends over the side wall 5 to open downwardly in the base.

15 and upwardly in a top rim 17 of the container.

However, in Figure 1 the channel is restricted at a position spaced from and above the retaining pip 16 by internal shoulders 18 beneath the top rim. In the modification shown in Figure 6 the channel 11 again opens downwardly in the base 15 but is closed at its uppermost end as shown at 19 by the top rim of the container. The shoulders 18 in Figure 1 and the top rim part 19 in Figure 9 provide an uppermost stop in the channel between which and the lowermost stop formed by the retaining pip 16 the handle is to be attached by its spigots 10 to the channels 11.

As is best seen from Figures 2 to 5, each spigot 10 has a substantially flat head 20 which is carried on the end of the respective handle leg 9 through a cylindrical shank 21. The head 20 is generally elongated to have a broad dimension X and a relatively narrower dimension Y which dimensions extend substantially perpendicularly relative to each other. In addition, the heads 20 have their broader dimension extending perpendicularly relative to the general plane of the handle 7 as is best seen in Figures 2 and 5. To fit the handle to the container 3 the spigots 10 are located over the respective channels 11 between the lower stop 16 and the upper stop 18 or 19 as the case may be with the handle 7 in its stored position 1 so that the heads 20 extend with their broad dimensions X substantially parallel with the mouths 13 of the channels.

The spigots are now press fitted through the narrow mouths 13 so that the heads snap engage in the broad slideways 12 beneath the channel flanges 14 while the shanks 21 extend through the mouths 13. The heads 20 are a relatively close but sliding fit within the channels 11 and are retained therein by the channel flanges 14 for restricted movement between the lower and upper stops 16 and 18 or 19.

It will be appreciated that the channels and the narrow dimension Y of the spigots are appropriately dimensioned to achieve the aforementioned press fitting with snap engagement.

When the handle is pivotted to its carrying position 2 and the assembly lifted, the spigot heads 20 rotate within their respective channels so that the broader dimensions is presented towards the upper stop 18 or 19 as the case may be and moves into abutment with that upper stop as the load from the container is applied to the handle. Opposed flats are provided on the head of each spigot as a convenient means of forming the narrow and broad dimensions and these flats extend over the broader dimension X to abut against the shoulders 18 in Figure 1. In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7 the spigot head 20 moves upwardly to engage beneath the top rim part 19 and the load from the container 3 may be applied directly to the shank 21 fro a downwardly extending flange 19a of the upper rim part.

When the handle is pivotted to its stored position 1 its plastics material may flex from its normal shape and as shown in Figure 8 to closely follow the profile of the container side wall. Although it is not intended for the container to be lifted by the handle when in its stored position 1, this possibility may occur by a person gripping the legs 9 along the side wall of the container; having tis in mind it is desirable to ensure In the Figure 1 embodiment that the restriction presented by the shoulders 18 should be adequate for the intended load of the container to be lifted safely without the spigots 10 passing through the top opening of their respective channels.From Figure 8 it will be apparent that the pivotal connection and handle generally are unobtrusive on the side walls thereby permitting several of the rectangular containers to be stored in abutting and parallel side-by-side relationship for efficient utilisation of the storage space available.

Press fitting of the spigots to the channels as above described is preferred and to facilitate this the relevant side edges of the spigot heads may be chamfered or tapered to provide appropriate lead-in surfaces 30 which slide over and snap engage with the channel flanges 14 (the side edges of these flanges 14 may also be chamfered if required).

Press fitting and snap engagement of the spigots as above described may not however be essential. As an alternative form of fitting and as will be apparent from Figure 1, the heads 20 of the spigots can be moved into the respective channel slideways 12 through bottom end openings to those channels and displaced upwardly to meet the bottom retaining pips 16. Pressure can then be applied to force the spigot heads over the retaining pips to the position shown in Figure 10. The resilience of the plastics material and design of the retaining pips should permit such fitting without difficulty bearing in mind that the retaining pips are unlikely to be subjected to excessive loading from the handle once fitted.If required, the retaining pips can be in the form of ramps which facilitate snap engagement of the spigot heads as they move along their respective channels into their pivotal position.

The opening of the channels in the bottom of the container may serve for locating the spigots as aforementioned but is particularly convenient for moulding the container. The lower ends 14a of the channel flanges 14 may be tapered to facilitate removal of the moulding from the mould tool and this tapering can also permit convenient access for locating the spigot heads in the channels from the side of the container prior to displacement of the spigot heads along the channels to their pivotal position. In the arrangement where the spigot heads are moved into their pivotal positions by sliding along the respective channels from an end of those channels it will be appreciated that there is no requirement for the spigot heads to have different dimensions X and Y.

A preferred feature of the container assembly is that with the handle 7 in its upstanding position to straddle the top opening, the spigots 10 can be located along their respective channels 11 to locate the handle in a retracted position where a central or mid part length 7A of the handle lies centrally over and adjacent to the top opening of the container 3. If a substantially flat lid is fitted to the top opening 6, the central part length 7A of the handle may therefore lie unobtrusively on the lid while the remaining end part lengths 7B of the handle lie unobtrusively against the side wall of the container. The facility for retraction of the handle is advantageous in that it can permit several container assemblies (usually with fitted lids) to be stacked vertically one on another and also several containers to be stored in side-by-side relationship with their side walls in abutment unobstructed by handles extending over those side walls - thereby providing efficient use of a storage space. The facility to retract the handle 7 as aforementioned may be achieved by appropriate spacing of the lowermost stops from the uppermost stops in the channel or by displacing the spigots 10 downwardly over the lowermost stops so that they are located below those stops in the channels. Typically the handle 7 will be fitted initially in its retracted upstanding position for initial storage and transport of the assembly among several similar loaded container assemblies (by initially locating the spigots 10 in their respective channels below the retaining pips 16) and when the assembly is first lifted by the handle, the load which is applied to the handle causes the spigots to slide upwardly along their respective channels and move over the retaining pips 16. The facility to locate the handle in a retracted position may be provided with a relatively rigid handle of appropriate shape or with a handle which is flexible (such as a strap) between its spigots.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising a container and a handle pivotally mounted thereon, the container having an upstanding plastics side wall and a top opening, the side wall including two opposed upstanding channels one on each of opposite sides of the container and externally thereof, each channel having an upper part thereof provided with first stop means and a lower part thereof provided with second stop means, and wherein the handle comprises opposed legs which straddle the container and each of which carries a spigot, said spigots being accommodated and retained one in each channel between the first and second stop means for the handle to be pivotal between a carrying position in which it extends upwardly to straddle the top opening and the spigots abut the first stop means in their respective channels during carrying of the assembly and a stored position in which the handle straddles the side walls and the spigots abut the second stop means in their respective channels.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the channels are of substantially T-shaped section forming a broad slideway and a relatively narrow mouth and the spigots comprise heads which are retained in the slideway and shanks by which the heads are connected to their respective legs through the narrow mouths.

3. An assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the channels open upwardly at the upper ends thereof in a rim of the container and the first stop means comprises a restriction in the respective channel.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the restriction is formed by a shoulder on the side wall against and beneath which shoulder the respective spigot abuts to accommodate the load of the container with the handle in its carrying position.

5. An assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the channels are closed at their upper ends by a rim of the container which rim provides the first stop means and against which the respective spigot abuts to accommodate the load of the container when the handle is in its carrying position.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second stop means comprises a restriction in the respective channel.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which the restriction comprises a projection such as a boss or pip in the channel and moulded with the side wall.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the spigots snap engage in their respective channels through narrow mouths of those channels.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which at least one of said narrow mouths of the channels and the spigots have tapered edges which provide lead-in surfaces to facilitate the snap engagement.

10. An assembly as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 when appendant to claim 2 in which each spigot head has a broad dimension and a narrow dimension which extend substantially perpendicularly relative to each other, the broad dimension of each spigot head being substantially parallel with the narrow mouth of its respective channel when the handle is in its stored position to facilitate snap engagement of its narrow dimension with the channel and the broad dimension of each spigot extending substantially perpendicularly to the narrow mouth when the handle is in its carrying position for the spigot to present its broad dimension to abut the first stop means.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each channel is provided with a lower opening and the spigots are fitted to their respective channels by location in said lower openings and subsequently displaced upwardly along the channels and beyond the second stop means to their respective pivotal positions in the channels between the first and second stop means.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which the spigots are displaced along their respective channels and into their pivotal positions by snap engagement over the second stop means.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the side wall extends upwardly from a base of the container and the channels open downwardly at said base.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle in its stored position accommodates and closely conforms to the profile of the side wall which it straddles.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each of the container and the handle is moulded in plastics.

16. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container is substantially rectangular in plan and the channels are located in opposed side wall parts of the container side wall.

17. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which with the handle extending upwardly to straddle the top opening, the spigots are locatable in their respective channels with the handle in a retracted position whereby a mid part length of the handle lies substantially unobtrusively over and adjacent to the top opening and end part lengths of the handle lie substantially unobtrusively adjacent to the side wall of the container.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 17 in which the spigots are located in their respective channels below the second stop means when the handle is in its retracted position.

19. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is flexible over its length which extends between the spigots.

20. A container assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.