DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER WITH A HANDLE

DISPOSITIF DESTINE A UN CONTENEUR DOTE D'UNE POIGNEE

English Abstract

The invention is related to a device in a container of the type basket for
merchandise or customer's basket for providing a handle or grip, which is
properly designed from an ergonomic point of view. The handle or grip design,
which is common today, requires the lifting hand to have to be rotated into an
unnatural angle. If the lifting hand would assume the natural angle at rest, a
long side of the basket will be turned forwardly in the walking direction. The
invention solves this by orientating the grip or handle (2) with its
longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a long side of the basket
whereas at the same time the attachment (3, 4) of the handle to the basket
along one long side provides for a maximum amount of availability for handling
merchandise present in the basket.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif destiné à un conteneur de type panier de marchandises ou panier de client, et conçu pour procurer une poignée ou une anse de conception ergonomique. Actuellement, la poignée ou l'anse exigent que la main qui porte le panier doit être tournée dans un angle non naturel. Pour que la main qui porte le panier, ait un angle naturel au repos, il faut mettre un grand côté du panier de face dans le sens de la marche. Pour résoudre ce problème, la poignée ou l'anse (2) est orientée de telle façon que sa direction longitudinale soit sensiblement parallèle au grand côté du panier. De plus, la fixation (3, 4) qui relie l'anse au panier et qui est placée sur toute la longueur d'un grand côté du panier, offre une accessibilité maximale pour la manipulation des marchandises contenues dans le panier.

Claims

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Claims:
1. A device in a container (1) having a handle (2), which is
connected to the container by means of a hinge (11) and which
extends substantially parallel to a pivot axis (12) formed by
the hinge (11 ) at a distance from said pivot axis, characterized
in that the pivot axis (12) is sidewardly displaced from a
centre of the container towards a side of the container.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
hinge (11) is arranged at a side of the container.
3. A device according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in
that the container (1) has an elongated shape and that the
handle extends in the longitudinal direction of the container.
4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the
hinge (11) is arranged at a long side of the container.
5. A device according to any of claims 3 and 4, characterized
in that the extent of the handle in the longitudinal direction
thereof is smaller than the extent of the container along the
handle (2).
6. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the handle (2) is connected to a first part (4) comprised
in the hinge via an arm (3).
7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first
part (4), which extends substantially parallel to the handle
(2), forms the hinge (11) between the container (1) and the
handle (2) together with a second part (7), which is formed in
or connected to a rim (5) on one side of the container (1).
8. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized by
means for making the handle restrictedly pivotably movable

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between a downwardly pivoted position (2a) and a maximally
upwardly pivoted position (2b), which substantially corresponds
to such positioning of the handle that it intersects or
is located close to a vertical line through the centre of the
bottom of the container.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in said
restricting means being formed by the first and second parts
(4, 7).
10. A device according to claim 8, characterized by said
restricting means comprising a band or a string or similar
anchored in the arm (3) and in the container (1).
11. A device according to any of claims 1-4 and 6-10, characterized
in that the handle (2') has substantially the same
extent as the container (1') and is connected to the container
via an arm (3') in each end of the handle.
12. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the handle (2), including an arm or arms (3), together
with the container (1) has such a design that a plurality of
identical units handle/container are stackable.
13. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in
that the container is a stackable carrier for merchandise, in
particular a basket for merchandise.

Description

CA 02320069 2000-08-14
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DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER WITH A HANDLE
The invention is related to a device according to the precharac-
terising part of claim 1. Although the invention generally speak-
ing is applicable to a wide variety of different types of containers
for providing ergonomically advantageous lifts and dis-
placements thereof via the handle of the container, it is particu-
larly preferred to apply the invention to such containers which
have the character of carriers for merchandise, in particular in
the form of baskets for merchandise. These are intended to be
stackable in each other to reduce the space requirement. Such
containers or carriers for merchandise have as a rule an elon-
gated shape in horizontal sections.
It is well known that an ergonomic design of handles or grips is
most important to provide convenient and comfortable lifts also
of relatively modest weights. This is particularly important when
the weight in question also should be displaced. An example of
such a situation is picking and displacement of everyday com
modities in a basket for merchandise or customer's basket.
The baskets presently available are provided with a handle in
the form of a bail arranged transversely to the longitudinal direc-
tion of the basket. The upper horizontal part of this bail func-
tions as a handle. This formation of the grip means that the lift-
ing hand must be rotated, from a position generally parallel to
the walking direction in a relaxed situation, to a direction where
the back of the hand either will be rotated to be turned forwardly
in the walking direction {pronated position) or conversely with
the back of the hand turned backwards (supinated position).

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This involves a load in the form of a tension build up in the mus-
cles and ligaments of the arm as well as the shoulder portion. If
then the load caused by the weight of the basket with its content
discussed in the example is added, it is easily understandable
that the handling becomes inconvenient as well as laborious.
The object of the invention is to reduce this problem by provid-
ing a container having a handle designed to increase the ergo-
nomic comfort.
The solution to the problem appears from the enclosed claims,
and then in particular claim 1.
The invention will be explained more closely hereinafter with
reference to the drawings.
Fig 1 illustrates diagrammatically in a sideview a basket for
merchandise having a carrying handle according to a
first embodiment of the invention.
Fig 2 is a view along the line ll-II in fig 1.
Fig 3 is a view along the line III-III in fig 1.
Fig 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in fig 1.
Fig 5 is a view similar to the one in fig 2 but illustrating a
different embodiment for restricting the freedom of piv-
oting of the handle.
Fig 6 illustrates diagrammatically in a sideview a basket for
merchandise having a carrying handle according to a
second embodiment of the invention.
Fig 7 is a view along the line VII-VII in fig 6.

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Fig 8 illustrates diagrammatically baskets for merchandise in
a stacked state; said baskets having handles according
to any of the embodiments of the invention.
Fig 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention from
above.
Fig 10 illustrates a section along the line X-X in fig 9.
The drawings illustrate diagrammatically a design and connec-
tion of a handle to a basket for merchandise or a customer's
basket. The invention is not only restricted to this purpose but is
intended to be generally applicable also to other types of
containers movable by handpower. The device comprises a
handle 2 connected to at least one arm 3, which in turn is
connected to the container via a hinge 11 forming a pivot axis
12 for the handle 2. This pivot axis 12 is substantially parallel to
the handle 2. The hinge proper is in fig 1-4 formed by a first part
4 and a second part 7, which engage hingedly with each other.
The part 4 connected to the arm 3 forms together with the part
7, which is provided on the container 1 and formed by or
connected to the rim 5, said hinge 11. This hinge provides for
movability of the unit formed by the handle 2, the arm or arms 3
and the part 4 in relation to the container 1. The motion in the
hinge thus formed occurs around the pivot axis 12 comprised in
the part 4. The movement is restricted so that the handle may
assume two extreme positions, on one hand a downwardly
pivoted position, wherein the handle 2 and arm/arms 3 will
assume an almost horizontal position, and on the other hand a
raised position in connection with a lift. In this latter position the
handle 2 is present, as seen in the plane of rotation of the
hinge, in a point substantially within a conceived vertical line
through the centre of the basket.
A first embodiment is illustrated in fig 1, where the handle 2 is
designed with a connection to the container 1 consisting of an

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arm 3 and a part 4. The handle is in this embodiment shorter
than the total length of the basket.
Fig 2 illustrates the same embodiment viewed from a short side
of the basket. The two extreme positions the handle 2 with the
arm 3 may assume appear from fig 2. In this projection the han-
dle will, in its raised position 2b, be present in a conceived ver-
tical plan Lp through the centre of the basket.
Fig 3 illustrates again the first embodiment, this time viewed
from above according to the line III-III in fig 1. The downwardly
pivoted position 2a of the handle and the upwardly pivoted
position 2b thereof appear in the figure.
Fig 4 illustrates an example on how it is possible to restrict the
range of movement within the hinge, which is comprised of the
part 4 and the part 7 formed by the rim 5 or connected to the
rim. The stationary part 7, which belongs to the basket, of the
hinge 11 has a bulb 8 protruding into the space for the part 4.
This bulb interferes with the possibility of movement of the part
4 in a rotating direction and restricts, accordingly, the range of
movement of the arm 3 and the handle 2 in the intended
manner.
25- Fig 5 illustrates another way of restricting pivoting of the handle
2. Holes 9 are provided in the arm 3 and in the rim 5. Between
these holes there is a connection in the form of a band 10 or
string to delimit movement of the handle in the upper position
thereof.
Fig 6 illustrates another embodiment of the handle 2'. The han-
dle is here extended and comprises basically the same length as
the container 1'. Besides, the handle is provided with an arm 3'
connected in each end to the part 4'. The mechanism for re-
stricting the movement in the plane of rotation is the same as
illustrated in fig 4 or 5.

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Fig 7 illustrates the same embodiment of the handle as in fig 6
seen from above according tv the line VII-VII in fig 6.
Fig 8 illustrates a stack of identical baskets.
Fig 9 illustrates a modified embodiment, where the basket has a
narrowed waist, in the area of which the hinge 11" is provided.
The parts 4" and 7" forming the hinge 11" are here substantially
shorter than the longitudinally extent of the basket. For the rest
the arm 3~ has here a more complex shape adapted to the ex-
ternal contour of the basket. The position of the handle 2" for
carrying appears with dashed lines.

Representative Drawing