US20060086746A1

US20060086746A1 - Bucket having primary and secondary handles

Info

Publication number: US20060086746A1
Application number: US10/972,331
Authority: US
Inventors: Chia-Shih Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2004-10-26
Publication date: 2006-04-27

Abstract

A bucket includes a bottom wall, a surrounding wall, a skirt extending downwardly from the bottom wall, and primary and secondary handles. The primary handle has an intermediate grip part which is disposed outwardly of and which is spaced apart from a top end of the bucket when the primary handle rests on the top end. The secondary handle is connected to the bottom wall or the skirt, and defines together with a bottom surface of the bottom wall a fingers space. The secondary handle permits a user to firmly grasp the bucket at a location adjacent to the bottom wall when the primary handle is held by the user so that the bucket may be easily tilted.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bucket, more particularly to a bucket that has primary and secondary handles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional bucket 1 includes a container body 11, and a handle 12. The container body 11 has a substantially frusto-conical shape, and includes a bottom wall 111, an upper surrounding wall 112 extending upwardly and divergingly from a periphery of the bottom wall 111, and a lower surrounding wall 113 extending downwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall 111. The bottom wall 111 and the upper surrounding wall 112 define therebetween a receiving chamber 114 for holding a substance, such as water, oil, mud, sand, etc. The lower surrounding wall 113 supports stably the container body 11 on a planar surface, such as the ground, so that the substance in the receiving chamber 114 will not spill. The handle 12 has two opposite engaging portions 121 connected pivotally to the upper surrounding wall 112, and a grip portion 122 to facilitate moving of the container body 11. The handle 12 is pivotable relative to the container body 11 along an axis of rotation. Normally, the grip portion 122 rests on a top periphery of the upper surrounding wall 112.
However, with this typical positioning of the grip portion 122 of the handle 12 resting on the top periphery of the upper surrounding wall 112, the user cannot easily extend his/her fingers between the grip portion 122 and the upper surrounding wall 112 such that the aforementioned bucket 1 is inconvenient to use.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the substance in the bucket 1 is to be poured out, the user generally has one hand gripping the handle 11, while the other hand grips the lower surrounding wall 113, after which the container body 11 is tilted. However, since the lower surrounding wall 113 is not provided with a grip portion, it is difficult for the user to grip and exert a balancing force on the lower surrounding wall 113. As a result, the substance in the bucket 1 is prone to spill out in an uncontrolled manner and even splash onto the body of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a bucket with primary and secondary handles to facilitate carrying and pouring of a substance in the bucket.
According to one aspect of this invention, a bucket comprises a container body, a pair of pivot seats, a primary handle, and a secondary handle. The container body has a bottom wall, a surrounding wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and having a top end, and a skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall. The pivot seats are provided on the top end of the surrounding wall. The primary handle has an intermediate grip part, two ends pivotally and respectively connected to the pivot seats, and two curved portions each extending between the grip part and one of the two ends. The curved portions are spaced apart from each other by a distance which permits the curved portions to rest on the top end of the surrounding wall. The grip part is disposed outwardly of and is spaced apart from the top end when the curved portions rest on the top end. The secondary handle is connected to at least one of the bottom wall and the skirt, and defines together with a bottom surface of the bottom wall a fingers space. The secondary handle is provided at one of the sides of an imaginary plane which passes through an axis of rotation of the primary handle and which is substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall.
According to another aspect of this invention, a bucket comprises a container body, a pair of pivot seats, and a primary handle. The container body has a bottom wall, a surrounding wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and having a top end, and a skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall. The pivot seats are provided on the top end of the surrounding wall. The primary handle has an intermediate grip part, two ends pivotally and respectively connected to the pivot seats, and two curved portions each extending between the grip part and one of the two ends. The curved portions are spaced apart from each other by a distance which permits the curved portions to rest on the top end of the surrounding wall. The grip part is disposed outwardly of and is spaced apart from the top end when the curved portions rest on the top end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bucket;
FIG. 2 illustrates the conventional bucket in a state of use;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a bucket according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the bucket in an inverted position to illustrate a secondary handle of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates the bucket of FIG. 3 in a state of use;
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative form of the secondary handle of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative form of the secondary handle of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 8 illustrates still another alternative form of the secondary handle of the first preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a bucket according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a bucket 2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise a container body 3, a pair of pivot seats 35, a primary handle 5, and a secondary handle 4.
The container body 3 has a substantially frusto-conical shape, and includes a bottom wall 31, a surrounding wall 32 extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall 31 and having a top end, and a skirt 34 extending downwardly from the periphery of the bottom wall 31. The surrounding wall 32 has a flanged portion 33 which projects outwardly and then downwardly from the top end thereof. The flanged portion 33 has a top face 331 and a lateral face 332. The bottom and surrounding walls 31, 32 define therebetween a receiving chamber for holding a substance, such as water or sand. The skirt 34 supports stably the container body 3 on a planar surface, such as the ground.
The pivot seats 35 are provided on the top face 331 of the flanged portion 33.
The primary handle 5 has an intermediate grip part 52, two opposite ends 51 connected pivotally and respectively to the pivot seats 35 by passing through pivot holes in the respective pivot seats 35, and two curved portions 53, each of which extends between the grip part 52 and one of the two ends 51. The curved portions 53 are spaced apart from each other by a distance which permits the curved portions 53 to rest on the top face 331 of the flanged portion 33 of the surrounding wall 32. The dimensions of the primary handle 5 are such that the grip part 52 extends outwardly of and is spaced apart from the top face 331 of the container body 3 when the curved portions 53 rest on the top face 331. The primary handle 5 is pivotable relative to the container body 3 along an axis of rotation 54.
The secondary handle 4 is provided at one of two sides of an imaginary plane which passes through the axis of rotation 54 of the primary handle 5 and which is substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall 31. The secondary handle 4 includes a plate 40 having a grasp portion 421 that is spaced apart from the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31 to define a fingers space 43. The plate 40 extends from the grasp portion 421 toward the periphery of the bottom wall 31 for connection therewith. Specifically, the plate 40, in this embodiment, has a shape substantially resembling a segment of a circle, and includes a first side 41 which has a substantially arc-shape, and a second side 42 extending substantially in a chordal direction. The first side 41 is connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 31. The second side 42 has two ends connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 31, and is arched to extend away from the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31. The grasp portion 421 is disposed adjacent to the second side 42. Hence, the secondary handle 4 permits the user to firmly grasp the container body 3 at a location adjacent to the bottom wall 31 when the primary handle 5 is held by the user. With the bucket 2 held in this manner, the container body 3 may be easily tilted.
When the receiving chamber of the container body 3 is filled with a substance, since the grip part 52 is spaced apart from the container body 3, the user can easily grasp the grip part 52 when it is desired to move the container body 3 to a different location.
Referring to FIG. 5, when the user desires to pour out the substance from the receiving chamber of the container body 3, one hand of the user holds the primary handle 5, while the other hand of the user grips the grasp portion 421 of the secondary handle 4 with the user's fingers extending into the fingers space 43, after which the container body 3 is tilted to one side. Because the bucket 2 of the present invention is provided with the grasp portion 421 at the bottom portion of the container body 3, the user can stably tilt the container body 3 when pouring out the substance held therein.
Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of the secondary handle is indicated by 4A, and includes a plate 40A having two opposite third sides 44A extending between first and second sides 41A, 42A. The second side 42A is opposite to the first side 41A, and is spaced apart from the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31. The third sides 44A respectively have flanges 441 projecting toward the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31. The grasp portion 421A is disposed at and adjacent to the second side 42A, and cooperates with the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31 to define the fingers space 43.
In another alternative embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7, a first side 41B of a plate 40B of a secondary handle 4B is connected to a bottom end 341 of the skirt 34 so that the plate 40B is spaced apart from and cooperates with the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31 to define the fingers space 43.
In still another alternative embodiment, with reference to FIG. 8, a plate 40C of a secondary handle 4C has two opposite first and second sides 41C, 42C, and two opposite third sides 44C interconnecting the first and second sides 41C, 42C. The first side 41C is spaced apart from the periphery of the bottom wall 31, while the third sides 44C are connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 31. The first and second sides 41C, 42C are spaced apart from the bottom surface 311 of the bottom wall 31 to define the fingers space 43.
Referring to FIG. 9, the second preferred embodiment of a bucket 2′ according to the present invention is shown to be substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the top end of the surrounding wall 32′ has a flanged portion 33′ which projects outwardly and then downwardly, and a flange-free portion 62 provided at one side of the imaginary plane opposite to the secondary handle 4 (see FIG. 3). The flange-free portion 62 facilitates the scooping of a substance into the receiving chamber of the container body 3′.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A bucket comprising:

a container body having a bottom wall, a surrounding wall extending upwardly from a periphery of said bottom wall, and a skirt extending downwardly from said periphery of said bottom wall, said surrounding wall having a top end;

a pair of pivot seats provided on said top end of said surrounding wall;

a primary handle having an intermediate grip part, two ends pivotally and respectively connected to said pivot seats, and two curved portions each extending between said grip part and one of said two ends, said curved portions being spaced apart from each other by a distance which permits said curved portions to rest on said top end of said surrounding wall, said grip part being disposed outwardly of and being spaced apart from said top end when said curved portions rest on said top end; and

a secondary handle connected to at least one of said bottom wall and said skirt and defining together with a bottom surface of said bottom wall a fingers space, said secondary handle being provided at one of the sides of an imaginary plane which passes through an axis of rotation of said primary handle and which is substantially orthogonal to said bottom wall.

2. The bucket of claim 1, wherein said top end of said surrounding wall has a flanged portion which projects outwardly, and a flange-free portion, said flange-free portion being provided at said top end on one side of said imaginary plane opposite to said secondary handle.

3. The bucket of claim 1, wherein said secondary handle includes a plate which has a grasp portion spaced apart from said bottom surface of said bottom wall to define said fingers space, said plate extending from said grasp portion toward at least one of said bottom wall and said skirt for connection therewith.

4. The bucket of claim 3, wherein said plate has a shape substantially resembling a segment of a circle, and includes a first side which has a substantially arc-shape, and a second side extending substantially in a chordal direction, said grasp portion being disposed adjacent said second side, said first side being connected to said periphery of said bottom wall, said second side having two ends connected to said periphery of said bottom wall and being arched to extend away from said bottom surface of said bottom wall.

5. The bucket of claim 3, wherein said plate has a first side connected to said periphery of said bottom wall, a second side opposite to said first side and spaced apart from said bottom surface of said bottom wall, and two opposite third sides extending between said first and second sides of said plate, said third sides respectively having flanges projecting toward said bottom surface of said bottom wall, said grasp portion being disposed adjacent to said second side.

6. The bucket of claim 3, wherein said plate has a shape substantially resembling a segment of a circle, and includes a first side which has a substantially arc-shape, and a second side extending substantially in a chordal direction, said grasp portion being disposed adjacent to said second side, said first side being connected to a bottom end of said skirt.

7. The bucket of claim 3, wherein said plate has two opposite first and second sides, and two opposite third sides interconnecting said first and second sides, said first side being spaced apart from said skirt and said periphery of said bottom wall, said third sides being connected to said periphery of said bottom wall, said first and second sides being spaced apart from said bottom surface to define said fingers space.

8. A bucket comprising:

a pair of pivot seats provided on said top end of said surrounding wall; and

a primary handle having an intermediate grip part, two ends pivotally and respectively connected to said pivot seats, and two curved portions each extending between said grip part and one of said two ends, said curved portions being spaced apart from each other by a distance which permits said curved portions to rest on said top end of said surrounding wall, said grip part being disposed outwardly of and being spaced apart from said top end when said curved portions rest on said top end.