US3910622A

US3910622A - Container handling device

Info

Publication number: US3910622A
Application number: US477038A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lynn E Nies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-06-06
Filing date: 1974-06-06
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07

Abstract

A container handling device adapted to be held in one hand for placement over a plurality of side-by-side positioned containers and also operable by the hand for gripping the containers such that the device and containers can be lifted in unison.

Description

United States Patent Nies Oct. 7, 1975 CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE 2,401,578 6/1946 Miller 294/872 2,409,357 10 1946 Jackson 294/8712 [7,61 Inventor: 3465 9 2,454,178 11/1948 Howell 294/8726 Santa Clara, Callfi 95051 2,592,017 4/1952 Engstrom 294/8726 2,597,128 5/1952 Reinking 294/8726 [22] June 1974 2,597,181 5/1952 Reinking 294/8726 21 Appl. No.: 477,038

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk 52 11.8. C1 294/872; 206/150; 224/45 AA; Assistant Examiner-Johnny Cherry 294/8726 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGerald L. Moore 51 1111.131. B651) 71/00 [58] Field 61 Search 294/87 R, 87.2, 87.22, [57] ABSTRACT 294/8724, 87.26, 87.28; 206/139, 142, 143, 150, 151, 224/45 A, 45 AA, 45 AB 45 A container handlmg devlce adapted to be held 1n one,

BA hand for placement over a plurality of side-by-side po- I sitioned containers and also operable by the hand for 5 References Cited gripping the containers such that the device and con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainers can be lifted in unison.

2,133,877 10/1938 Stevenson 294/8726 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 U.S. Patfint Oct. 7,1975 Sheet2 01 2 3,910,622

CONTAINER HANDLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Normally such containers as bottles which are transported in cases, generally twenty-four to a case, must be loaded into or taken from the case by hand whereby each bottle is individually handled. Such an operation can be time consuming. If an attempt is made to grasp more than one container by one hand there always exists the danger of causing the containers to come together or otherwise breaking or dropping a container. It is the primary object of this invention to enable the grasping and handling of a plurality of containers in unison and with relative ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A container handling device comprising a housing having gripping means on the bottom thereof adapted to receive and operable to grip a plurality of containers positioned in side-by-side order, with the housing also including on the top a handle adapted to be grasped by the hand and having an associated lever operable also by the same hand for causing the gripping means to grip the containers and thereby allow the lifting in unison of the device and plurality of containers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1 is a perspective view of the handling device and containers showing the manner of manipulation by the hand;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view partially in cross section of the handling device;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device with the handle and top cover removed; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 but showing the device in partially exploded form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 is shown the invention in the form of the device which is adapted to be grasped by the hand 11 for the lifting of a plurality of containers 12 positioned in side-by-side relationship in a container or case 14. The normal manner of operating the device is to grip the handle 15 extending from the top surface of the housing 16 such that the fingers fit between the handle and the housing top surface 17 so that a lifting force can be imparted thereon. The thumb also extends around and under the handle 15 to rest against a lever 18A slidably mounted within the housing and extending through an opening 19 in the top cover 17 thereof. The slide primarily is held in position by the extending arms 18C passing through the slots 19 in the top cover. The top cover 17 is fixed to the housing by screws 20 and the handle 18A also is mounted on the slide 18 by screws 21.

With the top cover 17 and handle 18A removed as shown in FIG. 3 it can be seen that the housing bottom 22 includes a plurality of openings 24 for receiving the tops of the aligned containers. These openings are positioned in accordance with the size and grouping relationship of the containers to be handled.

For gripping the container tops there is provided a pair of cables 25A and 258 which are fixed at one end of the housing by passage through

openings

26A and 26B therein and knotted at the end or otherwise tied to the housing. These cables extend down one side of the cooperating openings 24 and around a pair of

end posts

27A and 27B to thereafter pass back past the other side of the openings and around another end post 28A and 288, respectively, for attachment to the slide body 18. Each cable is positioned by the associated posts so as to pass across a small portion or chord of the opening 24 in a manner to extend around and grip the container top represented by the dotted outline 12A (see FIG. 3).

The cables preferably press against the container neck below the container cap or closure. However, norinally the cable is in the non-gripping position because of being biased in that position by a plurality of springs 29 which extend between posts 30 and the cables within the housing. For attachment to the cables, it is preferable that the cable be passed through the looped spring end 31 to permit some lengthwise movement of the cable relative to the spring. A plurality of guide posts 32 are positioned between the openings. Thus, it can be seen that by pulling the cables taut, the cables are caused to pass across a portion of the opening for gripping the container top.

For pulling the cable the slide 18 is movable within the housing in the direction of the arrow 34 and operable by the thumb pressing against the lever 18A. Thus when the lever is operated to the container gripping position, the cable is pulled taut to the shadow line 25C for grasping the container tops and permit lifting of the containers in unison. The cables are fixed to the lever by use of a plurality of screws 35 threaded into the slide body in a manner to press against the cable which is passed through the center opening 36 in the slide body. Additionally, an elongated groove 37 can be included in the device bottom 22 for use if the containers are held in a carton. This groove normally will permit the carton handle to clear the device bottom sufficiently to permit the container tops to pass into the openings 24 sufficiently to be gripped by the gripping means.

In the manner described there is provided a simple and effective device for handling a plurality of containers in unison which device can be operated and lifted by one hand.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container handling device comprising:

a housing;

gripping means on the housing bottom adapted to receive and operable to grip a plurality of container tops positioned in side-by-side order, said gripping means including a plurality of openings in the housing bottom adapted to receive the container tops;

a handle fixed to the housing and adapted to be grasped by a hand;

lever means positioned immediateley adjacent to the handle and operable by the fingers of the hand grasping the handle for operating the gripping means;

said gripping means comprising a plurality of openopening from each side and thereby tightened lngs'in the housing bottom adapted to receive the around to grasp the container tops therein when container tops with means for gripping the conthe lever means is Operated; and

tainer tops positioned within the housing comprismeans for spring loading the cable and lever to a noning a cable supported ad acent the contamer tops and threaded within said housing so as to extend gnppmg posmon whereby sa ld devlce can down two sides of each opening with the cable Placed Over a plurality of contamel's and Operated being spring biased away from the opening and by hand to lift a plurality of containers in unison. adapted to be pulled tight and pressed towards the

Claims

1. A container handling device comprising: a housing; gripping means on the housing bottom adapted to receive and operable to grip a plurality of container tops positioned in side-by-side order, said gripping means including a plurality of openings in the housing bottom adapted to receive the container tops; a handle fixed to the housing and adapted to be grasped by a hand; lever means positioned immediateley adjacent to the handle and operable by the fingers of the hand grasping the handle for operating the gripping means; said gripping means comprising a plurality of openings in the housing bottom adapted to receive the container tops with means for gripping the container tops positioned within the housing comprising a cable supported adjacent the container tops and threaded within said housing so as to extend down two sides of each opening with the cable being spring biased away from the opening and adapted to be pulled tight and pressed towards the opening from each side and thereby tightened around to grasp the container tops therein when the lever means is operated; and means for spring loading the cable and lever to a non-grippIng position, whereby said device can be placed over a plurality of containers and operated by hand to lift a plurality of containers in unison.