US2926038A - Handle-holding for beverage cans and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1960 H. B. HYAMS 2,926,038

HANDLE-HOLDING FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1958 IN VE N TOR BY $255276. //Y4M5 mil /Mr 9 HANDLE-HOLDING FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Herbert B. Hyams, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December '5, 1958, Serial No. 778,474

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-33) This invention relates to a holding and handle device for beverage cans whereby the can or container may be employed as a stein to drink from.

Prior art discloses a number of holder'and handle devices, some of which employ bases and tubular holding portions to support the container or can and some of which utilize elements which interfit with the top and bottom ends or beads of the cans to secure a handle thereto. Most of such devices of the prior art are rather bulky and can not be collapsed in compact form for shipment and handling. The cost of manufacture in most instances is prohibitive from the standpoint of supplying the same gratis with a case or series of filled beverage cans or the like.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive holder and handle structure which may be very readily assembled to efliciently retain itself to a cylindrical, beaded beer can or other beverage container of generally similar structure and which when disassembled comprises two essential sheet metal parts which may be readily housed and packaged in container cartons or even in carrier packages such as six-packs between the respective cans therein.

A further object is the provision of a holding and handle device of the class described which may be manufactured at such low cost that it may be supplied to a purchaser without extra charge housed within a cardboard carrier pack or a carton case.

A still further object is the provision of a holding and handle device for beaded drink cans and the like which may be when assembled, instantly applied to a can to convert it to a stein and which may be very quickly detached from that can and applied to other cans for similar purposes.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention operatively applied to a conventional metal container or can for beer;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the body and embracing member of my structure;

Fig. 3 is an upper perspective view of the readily attachable handle element constituting an important component of my improved structure; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide an encircling body member indicated as an entirety by the numeral 6 having an upper edge 6a lying in a horizontal plane for abutment and engagement against the head or chime conventionally formed at the upper end of a metal, sealed beverage can or container C. The body 6 is symmetrically formed having the lower edge 6b disposed parallel States Patent O with upper edge 6a, the entire body in cross sectional shape being substantially arcuate but actually contoured on a curve slightly sharper than arcuate for, when tensioned, surrounding and closely engaging slightly more than half of the circumference of a conventional metal container. The medial portions of the body member 6 are tapered from the main upstanding portion and extend laterally therefrom forming the embracing arms 60 and 6d of the curved shape previously described.

In the central and upstanding portion of the body member adjacent upper and lower edges thereof are provided apertured and struck out interlocking or coupling elements indicated as entirety by the numeral 6e adapted to closely interfit and interlock with cooperating coupling elements provided in the curved and outwardly projecting handle element to be later described.

I provide a resilient integral handle element 7 illustrated in disassembled condition in Fig. 3 and preferably constructed from an integralstrip of resilient sheet metal having an elongated slightly curved main portion 7a and having upper and lower inwardly curved terminal portions 7b and 70 respectively. The extremities of each of the terminal portions of the handle are provided with T-shaped interlocking'or coupling elements 8 which are adapted to precisely interfit and be interlocked-with the struck up and recessed coupling elements 62 of the body member 6. Interlocking and coupling of the handle element with the body member can only be achieved when the handle member is flexed or bowed inwardly to contract the length thereof. At such time the coupling T- heads 8 may be slid into the recessed correspondingly shaped portions 6 of the body member with other elements interlocking as will hereafter be recited. When the tension on the handle element is relieved, the cooperating interlocking elements are firmly afixed and cannot become disengaged unless the handle element is again bowed inwardly to shorten the over-all length thereof.

Specifically describing the cooperating coupling elements apertured and struck up from the upper and lower portions of body member 6, it will be Seen from Figs. 2 and 4 that the struck up spaced tongues 6e will inter lock with the arms of T-head element 8 of the appropriate end of the handle while the shank portion 8a of the T-head is confined between said tongues 62. The very efiicient interlocking of the upper and lower ends of the handle element 7 is thus obtained and the device may be assembled very quickly without the use of any tools.

It will of course be understood'that the specific cooperating interlocking and coupling elements provided on the extremities of handle element 7 and upon the appropriate upper and lower portions of the body 6 are merely exemplary and various other specific interlocking elements may be employed all within the scope of my invention.

It will further be understood that with the structure of my holder as previously described when strong and highly resilient material is used for the body 6 the abutment edges 6a and 6b in cooperation with the beads of the cans are not essential. In other words, the surrounding and embracing clamping action of the resilient arms 6c and 6d are entirely adequate to secure the holder to the can for user purposes.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a can-holding and handle device especially adapted for beverage cans of the beaded end type which may be constructed simply from two inexpensive metal stampings capable of quick interconnection to form a resultant structure. The two essential members 6 and 7 being of thin, elongated shape, may be compactly housed between adjacent cans in a package or carton 3 without requirement of additional space or redesign of the package medium.

The handle element 7 may be constructed of a thinner and highly resilient metal of greater length between the coupling, T-heads than as disclosed whereby the handle may. be bowed throughout its length when interconnected with the body 6 and thusmay be straight in packaged contour Without having inwardly curved attachment ends.

It will be understood that the embracing arms 6c and 6d when tensioned, conform closely to the shape of slightly more than 180 of the cylindrical contour of the can, thereby adequately holding the can while the upper supporting edge 6a of the body member underlies the upper bead of the can to eificiently support the same.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible holding and handle device for beverage cans of the type having an upper beaded edge having in combination an encircling body member constructed of resilient material and having a concave area curved to closely embrace and grip at least half of the circumference of such a can when said member is tensioned, said body member having an upper curved edge lying in a plane. for abutting engagement below the upper bead of the can, an independent but connectible handle element having a substantial and intermediate portion thereof spaced from said body member when the two parts are coupled and having inwardly curved terminal portions, said terminal portions and the central portion of said body member being provided with cooperating interlocking elements for respective coupling together to positively connect the body member and handle element into a unitary structure.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the coupling elements of one of said components comprise T-shaped heads and wherein the coupling elements of the other components comprise upstruck and recessed receiving portions for engaging said T-shaped heads and also the shank stock portions of the other components adjacent said heads.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by the spacing of said coupling elements on the terminal portions of said handle element being slightly greater than the spacing of the coupling elements on the body member whereby contractile flexing of said handle element is required to interconnect the respective coupling elements thereby when released placing tension on the handle element and its connections.

4. A two-piece holding and handle device for beverage cans of the type having an upper beaded edge, having in combination a body member having a central upstanding, portion and having oppositely extending resilient arms contoured to closely embrace and grip at least half of the circumferenceof such a can when tensioned, said body member having an upper edge for abutting engage ment below the upper bead of the can and an independent but connectible handle element constructed of resilient material and having terminal portions of T- shaped construction for interconnection with upper and lower portions of said upstanding body portion respectively, said body portion having complementary shaped coupling elements formed therein for reception and interlocking with said T-heads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 902,236 Kintz Oct. 27, 1908 2,215,402 McDonald Sept. 17, 1940 2,484,531 Simmons Oct. 11, 1949 2,855,120 Bramming Oct. 7, 1958

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