US2785826A - Receptacle handle - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1957 A. J. MAPPES RECEFTACLE] HANDLE Filed June 6, 1955 INVENTOR. ALFRED J MAPPES ATTORN E United States Patent RECEPTACLE HANDLE Alfred J. Mappes, Carthage, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Robert I. Rigsby, Reading, Ohio Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,182

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-96) This invention relates to a receptacle handle or bail, and involves the provision of means to selectively hold the handle in an upright position in readiness for grasping when. the user desires to move or carry the receptacle.

An object of the invention is to provide a handle structure of the character stated, which eliminates reliance upon springs or metal temper for its proper operation, so that the container equipped wit-h the improved handle structure may be subjected to flame heating from time to time for removal of residual paint or similar material accumulated within the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle structure of the kind referred to, which may be manufactured andv assembled with a minimum or expense, using simple and inexpensively formed parts few in numher.

A further object is to provide means in a device of the character stated, for automatically guiding the handle to upright carrying position. when. flipped or swung casually toward said position, thereby obviating any need for a deliberate disposition of the handle to said position.

Another object is to include in the structure means precluding accidental detachment of the handle from the receptacle in use or transport.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a container equipped with the improved handle structure of the invention, the handle being shown in the upright carrying or operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the handle in the inoperative or lowered position, other positions being indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragment-a1 cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Containers or receptacles of the general type illustrated upon the drawing are commonly used as paint pots, glue pots, or the like, and when so used it is considered desirable to at times latch the handle in an upright position, or lower it to an inoperative non-interfering position substantially parallel to the rim 7 of the receptacle. Disposition of the handle to the upright position of Fig. l latches it against inadvertent displacement from that position, and not only maintains the handle in readiness for grasping, but makes possible also the use of the handle as a firm means for suspending paint brushes or other objects above the open top of the receptacle. For suspension purposes, the handle 8 may be provided with one or more laterally extended loops or hangers 9 formed integrally from the wire or rod constituting the handle, or if preferred, such loops or hangers may be applied to the handle as separate attachments, in known manner.

The receptacle or container 10 has the usual rim 7, bot- 2,785,826 Patented Mar. 19,. 1957 tom 12, and side wall 13 formedcommonly from sheet metal. It may or may not. include a lid or cover. At oppositev ends of a diameter of the rim are attached the handle socket member 14, which may be stamped or formed from sheet, metal or other suitable material, and adapted to embrace opposite end portions of the handle. The socket members may be secured to the receptacle side wall in any acceptable manner, preferably below the rim 7, as by means of rivets or welds 15.

Each socket member may consist of a metallic body comprising a central cup-16 forming a chamber 17 closed by the receptacle side wall, said cup being flanked by oppositely extending ears or Wings 18 which serve as mounts for the socket members. The ears may be formed as extensions of a flange 19 which is integral with the cup and lends rigidity thereto. In the preferred form of theinvention, though not of necessity, each cup 14 is provided with a top wall or hood 20 to exclude foreign objects or substances that might enter and interfere with freedom of handle movements. The cup may includea-lso apair of opposed sidewalls 21, and a pair of oppositely disposed upwardly and outwardly inclined bottom walls 22, the inner faces of which provide inclined tracks upon which may slide the terminal end 23 of the handle as the handle is, swung upwardly toward the operative position of Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower ends of the inclined bottom walls 22 are separated by a slot or opening 24 dimensioned to receive the terminal end 23 of the handle, when the handle is upright as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 3, thereby to latch the. handle in the upstanding operative position.

Each end portion of the handle is bent to substantial Z-shape, providing an inwardly projected bearing portion 25, and a forwardly projected finger portion 26 which includes the terminal end 23. The finger portion is oflset from, and may be substantially parallel to, the unbent handle wire where it extends upwardly from the bearing portion 25. The bearing portion may meet the finger 26 at an angle approximating a right angle, or perhaps a somewhat lesser angle. The fingers 26, hearing portions 25, and the remaining extent of the handle may all rest in a common plane, by preference.

To provide for pivotal swinging of the handle relative to the socket members, each socket member is provided with a vertically elongated slot 27 formed in the main upright wall 28 of the cup element 16, which slot forms a bearing for the intermediate journal or bearing portion 25 of the handle. The cup chamber 17 envelopes the finger 26 and part of the bearing portion 25 as shown. The length of the bearing slot 27, and its location in the wall 28, are such that the handle may be lifted vertically upwardly to withdraw the finger 26 and its terminal end 23 clear of the opening 24, thereby to release the handle for lateral swinging movement relative to the socket. In so lifting and swinging the handle, its terminal end 23 will clear the inclined tracks of the walls 22 of the cup.

Assuming now that the handle is to be swung from the inoperative position shown in full lines at 8 of Fig. 4, upwardly and toward the vertical, the handle will tend to settle in the slot 27 and thereby cause the terminal end 23 to ride downwardly along the adjacent inclined track 22, until finally said end 23 plunges into the bottom opening 24 to latch the handle in the upright operative position. In this position, the bearing portion 25 of the handle will repose at the extreme lower end of slot 27, which limits the downward shifting of the handle and establishes the extent to which the finger 26 may enter the bottom opening 24 of the socket, to latch the handle in the upright operative position.

Subsequent bodily lifting of the handle disables the latch and permits swinging of the handle to the inoperative or lowered position as previously explained.

In the preferred construction, the finger portion 26 of the handle is made longer than the slot 27 of the socket, so that the handle may not be detached from the socket, subsequently to initial assembly. This ensures complete reliability of performance, and prevents such accidents as might resultfrom insecure handle mountings.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the device of the invention is simple, easy to operate, and durable in construction. The latching of the handle in the operative position is automatic, and due to the absence of any dependency upon springs or inherent resiliency of the metal parts employed, the device will never fail in operation after subjection to the usual burning treatment employed in removing sediment or accumulations of substances from the pot or receptacle.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having opposite side wall portions, a handle having ends spanning the latter, said handle including a depending finger at one end of the'handle, and a bearing portion adjacent to said finger, a socket member fixed to a side wall portion of the receptacle, said socket member being in the form of a hollow cup having a vertically slotted main wall in which the bearing portion of the handle is journalled for swinging movement of the handle from an inoperative lowered position to an operative upright position, a bottom wall on the hollow cup having a bottom opening receptive of the finger when the handle is upright, the vertical slot of the main wall being of such length that bodily lifting of the handle relative to the slot withdraws the finger from the bottom opening of the cup to release the handle for swinging movement, and means on the receptacle for pivotally supporting the remaining end of the handle.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, wherein is included aninclined track on the'bottom wall of the cup, the track having an end terminating at the opening in the bottom wall of the cup, and the finger of the handle having a terminal end to ride upon the inclined track as the handle is swung from the inoperative position to the upright operative position aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having opposite side wall portions, a swingable handle having ends spanning the latter, said handle including a' depending finger at one end of the handle, and a bearing portion adjacent to said finger, a socket member fixed to a side wall portion of the receptacle, said socket member having a vertically slotted main upright wall and an apertured bottom wall, the slot of said main upright wall providing a journal for the bearing portion of the handle, and the aperture of the bottom wall being receptive of the finger of the handle when the latter is disposed in upright operative position, the slot aforesaid being of such length that bodily lifting of the handle when upright withdraws the finger from the bottom wall aperture, the slot being limited in length to a dimension smaller than the length of the finger, and means on the receptacle for pivotally supporting the remaining end of the handle.

4. A device as specified in claim 3, wherein the socket includes a hood above the bottom Wall aperture of the socket, to preclude entry of foreign matter into the socket from above.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,841 Bertels Nov. 19, l90l 1,199,680 Fabian a- Sept. 26, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 499,367 Belgium Mar. 1, 1951

Images