GB2303536A - Receptacle with inclined handles to facilitate tilting - Google Patents

Abstract

A receptacle 2 comprises an upwardly open circular cross-section container 4, which includes a planar base 6 and an oblique handle 8 secured to the container wall to extend outwardly therefrom. The handle 8 has an oval shaped cross-section and includes an upper contact surface 10 and a lower contact surface 12 with the two contact surfaces 10, 12 being obliquely inclined to the base 6 at an angle in the region 5{ to 30{. The first and second contact surfaces 10, 12 are arranged to be contacted by the thumb and fingers respectively of a user's hand. As a result of the construction, less strain may be incident upon the wrists of a user when pouring from the receptacle. There may be a diametrically-opposed pair of the handles 8.

Description

RECEPTACLE This invention relates to a receptacle and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a pan, cauldron, pot, bowl, dish or the like.

Known receptacles of the type described generally comprise an upwardly open container which is circular in cross-section and has a planar base. Two short handles are provided at diametrically spaced positions towards the open end of the container. The handles include respective first contact surfaces which face upwardly and are arranged to be contacted in use by the thumbs of user, and second contact surfaces which face downwardly and are arranged to be contacted by the index fingers (and optionally other fingers) of the user.

The contents of receptacles of the type described may be discharged by a user contacting both handles with his/her hands and then twisting his/her wrists to tilt the container and discharge the contents.

It has been found that known receptacles can be difficult to use, especially for elderly, weak, handicapped or injured users. Also, frequent users may experience increasing difficulties as they tire. This is because to deliver the contents a user's wrist must be pivoted through a relatively large angle (up to about 90 ) and this may be difficult where the user has limited or restricted comfortable wrist movement.

It is an object of the present invention to address problems associated with known receptacles.

According to the invention, there is provided a receptacle having a base and a handle, the handle being arranged to be pivoted by a user in order to discharge the contents of the receptacle, said handle having a contact part arranged to be contacted by a hand of a user in order to effect pivotal movement, said contact part extending in a direction oblique to said base as viewed in a direction extending from a free edge of the handle radially inwards.

A receptacle having a handle arranged as described has been found to be relatively easily and comfortably used particularly by elderly, weak, handicapped or injured users.

The handle is preferably arranged to be gripped by a user with his/her wrists in a substantially relaxed position. Discharge of the contents of the receptacle may be achieved by a user pivoting his/her wrist in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

Said contact part may be angled downwardly at an angle of less than 300 relative to said base. More preferably, said contact part is angled downwardly at an angle of less than 250. Said contact part may be angled downwardly at an angle of at least 50, preferably at least 100.

Said contact part preferably comprises a first contact surface, suitably arranged to be contacted by the thumb of the hand of the user. Said first contact surface preferably defines one major surface of the handle. Said first contact surface is preferably substantially planar.

In the context of the specification, the term "substantially planar" includes cases wherein the surface is generally planar but not exactly planar. For example, slightly curved or arcuate surfaces fall within the term.

Where the first contact surface is arcuate the arc may subtend an angle of less than 200, preferably less than 100. Said first contact surface preferably faces upwardly. Said first contact surface is preferably angled downwardly at the angles as described above for said contact part.

Said contact part preferably includes a second contact surface, suitably arranged to be contacted by the fingers of the hand of the user. Said second contact surface preferably defines one major surface of the handle. Said second contact surface is preferably substantially planar as described above for said first contact surface. Said second contact surface preferably faces downwardly. Said second contact surface is preferably angled downwardly as described above for said contact part.

Where the contact part includes first and second contact surfaces as described, said surfaces are preferably spaced apart by a distance which is less than, preferably by a factor of at least two, the width of said surfaces.

Said contact part may have a symmetrical, noncircular cross-section. A plane of symmetry of said contact part is preferably obliquely inclined to said base.

Said receptacle preferably includes two handles which are diametrically spaced apart. A first handle is suitably arranged as described above and a second handle may be of any desired type. The second handle preferably includes a contact part extending in a direction oblique to said base as viewed in a direction extending from a free edge of the handle radially inwards. Said contact part of said first handle and said contact part of said second handle preferably face in substantially the same directions.

The invention extends to a method of discharging the contents from a receptacle using a receptacle as described herein.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of a receptacle looking down the handle and with the base of the receptacle disposed horizontally prior to the receptacle being pivoted by a user; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the receptacle of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view as in Figure 1 except that the receptacle has been pivoted by a user so that its base is inclined to the horizontal for pouring the contents therefrom; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the receptacle in a direction perpendicular to a diameter between the handles; and Figure 5 is a side elevation of an alternate receptacle in a direction perpendicular to a diameter between the handles.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the receptacle 2 comprises an upwardly open circular cross-section container 4 which includes a planar base 6. Diametrically spaced apart handles 8 are secured to the walls of the container and extend outwardly away therefrom. Each handle 8 has an oval-shaped cross-section and includes an upper contact surface 10 and, parallel thereto, a lower contact surface 12. Each handle 8 is arranged such that contact surfaces 10, 12 are obliquely inclined to the base 6 (when looking down the handle as seen in Figure 1) at an angle in the range 10 to 20 . Also, each handle 8 extends parallel to the base when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the extent of the handle as seen in Figure 4. It should be noted that the upper contact surfaces 10 of the handles face in the same direction.

In use, a user may move his/her arms towards the handles 8 from a position above the handles and in a direction which is transverse to the direction of the diameter between the handles, as represented by arrow 14 in Figures 1 and 2. The user's hands may then contact the handles with the thumbs suitably contacting respective upper contact surfaces 10 and respective fingers being extended around the handles to contact or be positioned generally opposite respective lower contact surfaces 12.

It is found that a user contacting the receptacle 2 will initially grip the handles with his/her wrists in generally untwisted or relaxed positions. In order to pour the contents from the receptacle, the user must pivot the handles from the Figure 1 position to the Figure 2 position and this involves pivoting the wrists in a direction towards the user. However, the angle through which the wrists must be pivoted in order to pour the contents from the saucepan is 10-20 less than that needed to pour from a previously known receptacle. Thus, less strain may be incident upon the wrists and, consequently, this may make pouring easier.

If the user wishes to pour away from himself/herself, the receptacle may initially be rotated through 180O from its Figure 1 position so that upper contact surfaces 10 generally face towards the user. The user may then grip the handles and pivot the receptacle away from himself/herself to deliver its contents.

It is found that a receptacle of the type described is relatively user-friendly and may reduce strain on a user's wrists during pouring. Furthermore, it is found that the contents of the receptacle can be delivered in a more controlled manner.

The handles 8 may be modified in a number of ways.

For example, the handles may have a trapezium-shaped cross-section in plan view, with the narrower parallel side of the trapezium being closest to the receptacle.

Other cross-sections, wherein the handles taper inwardly towards the receptacle may also be provided. Also, the handles may be obliquely inclined to the base when viewed in a direction as shown in the embodiment of Figure 5. In a further embodiment, one handle 8 may be provided on one side of the receptacle and a conventional handle may be provided on the other side. In another embodiment, a receptacle may be provided with a single handle 8 which is obliquely inclined when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the elongate axis of the handle.

Means may be provided to direct a user to approach and grip the handles in the correct way. For example, arrows or other indicators may be provided on the handles to indicate the correct direction of approach.

It should now be appreciated that a receptacle of the type described may, by virtue of its ergonomic design, be relatively easily and comfortably used by a user.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (16)

1. A receptacle having a base and a handle, the handle being arranged to be pivoted by a user in order to discharge the contents of the receptacle, said handle having a contact part arranged to be contacted by a hand of a user in order to effect pivotal movement, said contact part extending in a direction oblique to said base as viewed in a direction extending from a free edge of the handle radially inwards.

2. A receptacle according to Claim 1, wherein said contact part is angled downwardly at an angle of less than 30 relative to said base.

3. A receptacle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said contact part is angled downwardly at an angle of at least 5 .

4. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein said contact part includes a first contact surface arranged to be contacted by the thumb of the hand of a user.

5. A receptacle according to Claim 4, wherein said first contact surface defines one major surface of the handle.

6. A receptacle according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein said first contact surface is substantially planar.

7. A receptacle according to any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said first contact surface faces upwardly.

8. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein said contact part includes a second contact surface arranged to be contacted by the fingers of the hand of a user.

9. A receptacle according to Claim 8, wherein said second contact surface defines one major surface of the handle.

10. A receptacle according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein said second contact surface faces downwardly.

11. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein said contact part has a symmetrical, non-circular cross-section.

12. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein a plane of symmetry of said contact part is obliquely inclined to said base.

13. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, the receptacle including two handles which are diametrically spaced apart.

14. A method of discharging the contents from a receptacle using a receptacle according to any of Claims 1 to 13.

15. A receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

16. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.