Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Container with a retractable handle
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container. More specifically, the
present invention is concerned
with a container provided with a retractable handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a container,
comprising a body comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from said
bottom wall; at least one of
two opposite side walls comprising a handgrip portion in an upper portion
thereof, the handgrip portion
comprising an aperture; a handle comprising at least one side arm, the at
least one side arm comprising a
first end, a second end and a length between the first and the second ends;
the aperture of the handgrip
portion receiving the first end of the handle; the side arm being connected to
the body by the first end of the
handle sliding inside the handgrip portion through the aperture, from i) a
pulled out-position, where the first
end of the handle is locked inside the handgrip portion by the aperture and
the side arm is pivotable about
the aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body,
wherein the first end is engaged
deeper in the handgrip portion and the side arm is locked into position by the
aperture at a position between
the first and the second ends.
[0003] There is further provided a retractable handle for a stackable
container comprising a bottom wall
and sidewalls extending from the bottom wall; at least one of two opposite of
the side walls comprising a
handgrip portion, the handgrip portion comprising an aperture; the handle
comprising at least one arm, the
at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length
between the first and the second
ends; the first end of the handle being received in the aperture of the
handgrip portion and the first end of
the handle sliding inside the handgrip portion through the aperture, from i) a
pulled out-position, where the
first end of the handle is locked inside the handgrip portion by the aperture
and the side arm is pivotable
about the aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the
body, wherein the first end is
engaged deeper in the handgrip portion and the side arm is locked into
position by the aperture at a position
between the first and the second ends
[0004] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon
reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments
thereof, given by way of example
only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] In the appended drawings:
[0006] Figures 1 are perspective part views of a container according to an
embodiment of an aspect of the
present invention: a) with an handle in a retracted position thereof; and b)
with the handle in a container-
carrying position thereof;
[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a body of a container according to an
embodiment of an aspect of
the present invention;
[0008] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bodies of two containers
according to an embodiment of an
aspect of the present invention, in a stacked position;
[0009] Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 3;
[0010] Figure 5 is a perspective part view of a container according to an
embodiment of an aspect of the
present invention, with the handle in a pulled-out position thereof;
[0011] Figures 6 show handles: a) perspective view of a handle according to an
embodiment of an aspect
of the present invention; b) perspective view of a handle according to another
embodiment of an aspect of
the present invention; and c) top view of the handle of Figure 6b;
[0012] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in
engagement with the body of the
container according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 9 illustrates insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the container
according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;
[0014] Figures 10 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0015] Figures 11 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0016] Figures 12 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0017] Figures 13 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
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[0018] Figures 14 show different shapes for free ends of the side arms of a
handle according to an
embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;
[0019] Figures 15 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0020] Figures 16 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the body of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0021] Figures 17 illustrate insertion and locking of the handle in engagement
with the cover of the
container according to another embodiment of an aspect of the present
invention;
[0022] Figure 18 illustrates insertion and locking of a handle according to
another embodiment of an
aspect of the present invention;
[0023] Figures 19 illustrate insertion and locking of a one side arm handle
according to another
embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; and
[0024] Figure 20 illustrates insertion and locking of a handle according to
another embodiment of an
aspect of the present invention,
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the
following non-limiting examples.
[0026] A shown in Figures 1, the container 10 generally comprises a body 12
and a handle 14. The
container may further comprise a cover 160.
[0027] The body 12, as best seen in Figure 2, has a generally parallelepiped
shape, with two first opposite
sidewalls 20, 22 and two second opposite sidewalls 34, 36 extending from a
bottom wall. The top portion
thereof may comprise an upper flange 16 running over at least part of the
perimeter thereof. The flange 16
can extend around the perimeter of the body 12. Typically, two opposite
sidewalls 20 and 22 of the body 12
are provided with a handgrip portion 18. The handgrip portion 18 on each one
of the opposite sidewalls
need not be positioned at the same position along the respective width of the
opposite sidewalls,
[0028] The handle 14 is shown in a retracted position in Figure la, in a
container-carrying position in
Figure 1b, and in a pulled out position in Figure 5.
[0029] The handle 14 is generally shaped to match the envelope of the body 12,
with opposite side arms
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28 and 30 adapted to slide along opposite sidewalls 20, 22 of the body 12 for
example and a joining portion
32. When the joining portion 32 is of a width essentially similar to the width
of the sidewall 34 of the body 12,
as shown in Figures 5 and 6, for example, the handle 14 can be retracted very
closely against the body,
which may be advantageous for stacking purposes for example. In this case, the
joining portion 32 may be
provided with a grip 37, i.e. a portion slightly set back from the remaining
of the joining portion 32 for
example, allowing a user to easily grasp the handle 14, especially when the
handle 14 is in the retracted
position shown in Figure 1a for example.
[0030] The free ends 40, 42 of the side arms 28, 30 respectively of the handle
14 may have a hook shape,
which stops the sliding movement of the handle 14 away from the sidewall 34 of
the body 12, in the pulled-
out position shown in Figure 5, by being trapped within the handgrip portion
18 at an aperture 44 of the
handgrip portion 18 as shown in Figure 2 for example. In this pulled-out
position, the handle 14 provides
sufficient clearance space from the body 12 for a user to grasp the handle 14
with one hand for example.
[0031] Once in its pulled-out position, the handle 14 can be pivoted from a
generally horizontal position to
a generally vertical container-carrying position (see arrow A in Figure 5),
and is then operable like a
conventional handle (see Figure 1b).
[0032] A catch 46, 48, such as an inverted pine tree as illustrated in Figure
6a, may be provided on the
side arms 28, 30, for locking the handle 14 into the retracted position of
Figure 1a, by engagement with the
aperture 44 in the handgrip portion 18 in the corresponding upper portion of
the body 12.
[0033] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 6b and 6c, substantially at the same
position along the side arms
28, 30, instead of a catch as illustrated in Figure 6a, each side arm may be
provided with a discontinuity 50,
52, which allows locking the handle 14 into its retracted position by
engagement with the aperture 44 in the
handgrip portion 18.
[0034] Thus the handle 14 can be secured into its retracted position during
transport or other operations
that require it. In this retracted position along opposite sidewalls of the
body 12 of the container 10, the
handle 14 is positioned in close contact with the body 12, thereby not
compromising the overall shape of the
body 12, in a mostly non intrusive way, i.e. without interfering with designs
or labels or features on the body
12 for example, As people in the art will appreciate, such out of the way
position may be most advantageous
on container filling units and during transportation for example.
[0035] Moreover, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, two containers 10 and 10' can be
stacked together within a
minimum volume, with the handgrip portion 18' of top container 10' resting on
the upper flange 16 of the
bottom container 10, without the handles 14, 14' of the stacked containers
interfering.
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[0036] Figures 7 and 8 show details of the engagement of the handle 14 with
the sidewalls of the body 12.
As shown in Figure 7a, first the free ends 40, 42 of the side arms 28, 30 of
the handle 14 are inserted into
the apertures 44 in the handgrip portions 18 in the corresponding upper
portions of the body 12 (see arrow
B in Figure 7a). Then the side arms 28, 30 may be maintained in this position
by the locking engagement of
the free ends 40, 42 with the aperture 44 (see Figure 8a) and thus the handle
14 is in the pulled-out position
of Figure 5. The side arms 28, 30 of the handle 14 can also be pushed forward
further through the apertures
44 (see arrow C in Figures 8a and 8c), until the joining portion 32 of the
handle 14 rests on the sidewall 34
of the container, as shown in Figures 8b and 8d.
[0037] The catches 46, 48 of Figure 6a, or the discontinuities 50, 52 of
Figures 6b, 6c may then allow
securing the side arms 28, 30 thus inserted, by engagement with the apertures
44, thereby locking the
handle 14 into its retracted position.
[0038] The apertures 44 may have a number of shapes, provided they allow
insertion of the free ends 40,
42 of the side arms 28, 30 of the handle 14 and part of the side arms 28, 30
there through until engaging the
catches 46, 48 of Figure 6, or the discontinuities 50, 52.
[0039] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 9, the handgrip portion 14 may be
provided with a double key
hole type of locking aperture 55, and the free ends 40, 42 of the side arms
28, 30 of the handle 14 may be
provided with a locking head 56 supported by a rod 54 extending generally
perpendicularly to the side arms
28, 30. As shown in Figure 9a, the locking head 56 may be locked into position
in a first aperture 58 in the
handgrip portion 18 when the handle 14 is in a retracted position (see Figure
9b). Then, the side arm 28, 30
can be pulled (see arrow F in Figure 9b) along a first slot 60 of the double
key hole type of locking aperture
55 in the handgrip portion 18 into its pulled out position when it reaches the
extremity of this first slot 60
opposite the first aperture 58. Then, the locking head 56 of the side arms 28,
30 can be moved up along a
second slot 62, up to a second aperture 64 of the double key hole type of
locking aperture 55 where it locks
again (see arrow G in Figure 9c). The handle 14 has then reached a container-
carrying position (see Figure
9c).
[0040] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 10 for example, the side arms
28, 30 of the handle 14 may
each be formed of telescopic arms, i.e. it may be formed by sections that can
telescopically retract into a
housing 51 (see arrows (D)). The housing 51 is pivotally attached to the
sidewall 20 of the body of the
container (see arrow E) so as to allow rotation of the handle into a generally
vertical position when the
handle 14 is in the pulled-out position (see arrow F). The handle 14 is then
able to swivel from one sidewall
34 of the container to the opposite sidewall 36 thereof.
[0041] As shown in Figure 11a, the side arms of the handle 14 may have a
bellows like portion 70, which
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can be retracted so as to retract the handle 14 (see Figure 11c) and
straightened so as that the handle is in
its pulled out position and able to rotate about its pivot 72 on the sidewall
of the container.
[0042] In an embodiment illustrated in Figures 12, the side arms 28, 30 of the
handle 14 can have a folded
position (see Figures 11 a and 11 b), and from there can be unfolded (see
arrow H Figure 12b). The side
arms 28, 30 may be formed of segments of material connected by thinner
sections 73, 75 allowing folding
thereof, for example.
[0043] In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 13, the handgrip portion 18 of
the container is provided with
a slot 90 in which a locking head 92 at the free ends of the side arms 28, 30
can be inserted by force, the
side arms 28, 30 then being able to be moved along the slot 90 by the rod 94
sliding therein, a wall 95
preventing the side arms 28, 30 to move up or down from the position of the
slot 90.
[0044] Figures 14 illustrate different shapes for the free ends 40, 42 of the
side arms 28, 30 of the handle
14.
[0045] In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 15, the free ends 40, 42 of the
side arms 28, 30 each
comprises a slot 76 ending in an aperture 78. The handgrip portion 18 of the
container is provided with a
locking head 82 supported by a rod 84 extending generally perpendicularly from
the surface of the handgrip
portion 18, so that the locking head 84 engages the slot 76 securing the
handle 14 to the body of the
container. Then, the side arms 28, 30 can be pulled out by sliding the slot 76
over the rod 84 until the rod 84
locks into the aperture 78, allowing the handle to rotate about the pivot
formed by the head 82 in its aperture
78.
[0046] In Figures 16, the locking of the side arms 28, 30 on the slot 76 is
achieved by a locking head 85
directly protruding from the surface of the handgrip portion 18.
[0047] According to a further embodiment, the handle 14 may be secured to and
retractable from the
cover 160, or other places of the body 12 of the container, as shown for
example in Figures 17. Connections
as described hereinabove between the handle 14 and the body 12 of the
container can be used, or still
others, for example as illustrated in Figures 17b and 17c.
[0048] In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 18, the body 12 of the container
does not comprise handgrip
portions. The side wall 20 itself comprises an aperture 90 for engagement with
the side arms 28, 30 of the
handle 14, and the handle 14 enters the inside of the container.
[0049] In all the embodiments described hereinabove, it may be contemplated
using a handle 140
comprising a single side arm 280 and a grasping portion 360 for example, as
shown for example in Figures
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19.
[0050] Although the above embodiments have all dealt with parallelepiped
bodies, the container of the
present invention may also have a round body or other shapes as well, as shown
for example in Figure 20.
Alternatively, the handle 14 could be secured to the container on opposite
corners of the container, provided
the handle 14 is made in a material that is flexible enough so as to match the
envelope of the container.
[0051] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of
specific embodiments
thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings
of the subject invention as
defined in the appended claims.
