US20100059536A1

US20100059536A1 - Multi-handled jerry can

Info

Publication number: US20100059536A1
Application number: US12/253,209
Authority: US
Inventors: Terry Stolk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-09
Filing date: 2008-10-16
Publication date: 2010-03-11
Also published as: CA2676631A1

Abstract

There is a multi-handled jerry can having at least two gripping handles in the base of the container. The jerry can has a pouring spout and a lifting handle. In some embodiments, the jerry can may have at least three gripping handles in the base of the container. In some embodiments, at least three gripping handles may be in an array of evenly spaced handles in the base of the container. The gripping handles may be lifted by a user in a ladder action to allow for easy lifting and pouring of fluids in the jerry can. In some embodiments, the gripping handles comprise recessed handles.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates to multi-handled containers, and in particular to multi-handled jerry cans.

BACKGROUND

Jerry cans are containers used to hold fluids, such as motor fuels. Jerry cans are made in various sizes and can carry as many as 20 liters of fluid or more. When full, a jerry can may be difficult to lift due to its weight. A full jerry can may weigh as much as 50 lbs. Jerry cans generally have a handle at the top of the container to allow a user to transport the jerry can. However, the single top handle does not allow for easy pouring of the jerry can. Due to the weight of the container and the lack of supports on the container below the top handle, fluids may be spilled when pouring from the jerry can.
When dealing with fluids such as motor fuels, the spilled liquid may be expensive and may also be damaging to the environment. Also, a heavy jerry can that does not have additional supports may be unwieldy for people such as the elderly or for people who have back problems or otherwise have difficulty lifting heavy objects. There is a need for a jerry can that may be lifted easily and may be controlled when pouring. There is a need for a jerry can that can be poured without causing liquids to spill. Indents on the base of a container may not be sufficient to allow a user to easily lift the container at its base. This document addresses these problems.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, there is a jerry can comprising a fluid-sealed container having a base, a plurality of side walls and a top. A spout is connected to the container for discharging fluid from the container. At least two gripping handles are lying on the base of the container.
In another embodiment, a jerry can is disclosed comprising a fluid-sealed container having a base, a plurality of side walls and a top. A spout is connected to the container for discharging fluid from the container. A handle ladder is provided comprising at least three gripping handles spaced radially about a pouring axis of the jerry can.
These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jerry can having three gripping handles in the base and an indented side handle;

FIG. 2 is a side section view of a jerry can of FIG. 7;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a jerry can having three recessed handles in the base;

FIG. 4 is a side section view from the axis A of the jerry can of FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a jerry can having three recessed handles in the base; and

FIG. 6 is a side section view from the axis B of the jerry can of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a jerry can having two gripping handles in the base;

FIG. 8 is a side section view of the five handled jerry can of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 show embodiments of a jerry can 10 forming a fluid-sealed container 12 having a top 14 and a base 16. A spout 18 is connected to the container 12 for discharging fluid from the container 12. The spout 18 lies at the top of the container 14. A first gripping handle 24 is shown lying on the base 16 of the container 12. A lifting-handle 20 lies on the top 14 of the container 12. The container 12 has a plurality of side walls, including a front wall 28 and a rear wall 30. A second lifting-handle 22 is attached to the rear 30 of the container. Referring to FIG. 1, second lifting-handle 22 may be indented as shown. As shown in FIG. 2 the first gripping handle 24 lies at the base 16 of the container 12 adjacent to the front wall 28 and a second gripping handle 26 lies at the base 16 of the container 12 adjacent to the rear wall 30.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the jerry can 10 shown in FIG. 7 having three gripping handles. FIG. 4 shows a section view along the axis A-A of FIG. 3. The first gripping handle 24 lies at the base 16 of the container 12 adjacent to the front wall 28 and the second gripping handle 26 lies at the base 16 of the container 12 adjacent to the rear wall 30 and a third gripping handle 32 lies along the base 16 between the first and second gripping handles 24, 26. The first, second and third gripping handles 24, 26, 32 are recessed handles lying in the base 16 of the container 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first, second and third recessed handles 24, 26, 32 are integrally formed from a part of the container and comprise a bar lying in a hollow portion of the container.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the jerry can 10 shown in FIG. 7 having three gripping handles 34, 36, 38 which comprise gripping handholds embedded in the base 16. FIG. 6 shows a section view along the axis B-B in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the gripping handholds 34, 36, 38 are shaped to permit a hand to grip the base 16. The gripping handholds 34, 36, 38 form an array of spaced handles lying on the base 16 of the container 12. The handles may be spaced evenly. Referring to FIG. 1, the at least one side gripping handle (illustrated as second lifting-handle 22) and the at least two gripping handles may form the array of spaced handles.
In operation, a user may lift the jerry can 10 using the handle 20. When the jerry can 10 is in position to be poured, the user may grab the rearmost handle of the gripping handles, for example, the second gripping handle 26 (FIG. 4) or gripping handhold 38 (FIG. 6). The user may then carry the weight of the jerry can with the second gripping handle 26 (FIG. 4) or gripping handhold 38 (FIG. 6). As fluid is poured from the container 12, the base of the jerry can 10 must be lifted higher to maintain fluid flow from the spout 18. The user may then reach forward and lift the base 16 of the container 12 from the next successive recessed handle on the base of the container. For example, the user may grab gripping handle 24 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 or the third recessed handle 32 in the embodiment of FIG. 3. The user may then lift the jerry can 10 by lifting the gripping handles in a ladder action, by lifting successive handles, until the container 12 is empty. The ladder action of the user allows the user to grab success handles each of which lie closer to the front wall 28 of the container than the previous lifted handle. The ladder action of the user allows the user to more easily lift and control the pouring of fluid from the container 12.
The jerry can 10 may be made from various materials, including steel, hard plastics or other suitable materials for containing fluids. Various styles of container, including various styles of handles, spouts and other common features of jerry cans may be used. Various designs of gripping handles may be used. The gripping handles must be designed to allow a person to grip and lift the jerry can while fluid is being poured from the jerry can. In some embodiments the gripping handles may be handles lying flush with the base of the container that extend at least partially from the sidewalls of the container.
Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a jerry can 10 may comprise a handle ladder 40 comprising at least three gripping handles spaced radially about a pouring axis 42 of the jerry can 10. Jerry can 10 is understood as having fluid-sealed container 12 and spout 18. In some embodiments, handle ladder 40 comprise at least four, five, or six gripping handles. In the example illustrated, the handles 24, 26, 32, 22 and handle 20 form a five handled ladder.
Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims.
In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite article “a” before a claim feature does not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A jerry can comprising:

a fluid-sealed container having a base, a plurality of side walls and a top;

a spout connected to the container for discharging fluid from the container; and

at least two gripping handles lying on the base of the container.

2. The jerry can of claim 1, in which the plurality of side walls further comprise a front wall and a rear wall, and the at least two gripping handles further comprise a first gripping handle lying at the base of the container adjacent to the front wall, and a second gripping handle lying at the base of the container adjacent to the rear wall.

3. The jerry can of claim 2 in which the at least two gripping handles further comprise a third gripping handle lying along the base between the first and second gripping handles.

4. The jerry can of claim 1 in which the at least two gripping handles lying on the base of the container further comprise at least three gripping handles.

5. The jerry can of claim 1 further comprising a lifting-handle on the top of the container.

6. The jerry can of claim 1 in which each of the at least two gripping handles further comprise gripping handles integrally formed from a part of the container.

7. The jerry can of claim 1 in which the at least two gripping handles are recessed handles.

8. The jerry can of claim 7 in which each of the at least two gripping handles further comprise a bar lying in a hollow portion of the container.

9. The jerry can of claim 7 in which each of the at least two gripping handles further comprise a gripping handhold in the base of the container.

10. The jerry can of claim 1 in which the at least two gripping handles further comprise an array of spaced handles lying on the base of the container.

11. The jerry can of claim 1 further comprising at least one side gripping handle, the at least one side gripping handle and the at least two gripping handles forming an array of spaced handles.

12. A jerry can comprising:

a fluid-sealed container having a base, a plurality of side walls and a top;

a handle ladder comprising at least three gripping handles spaced radially about a pouring axis of the jerry can.