Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTI _
This invention is generally concerned with a container
handle and, more particularly, with handles for holding and
positioning cans or similar containers for a variety of
products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently used cans of this type, such as paint cans,
are equipped with a metallic bail handle which is hooked to two
diametrically opposite elements welded to the body wall of the
can. One disadvantage of a metallic bail handle is that the
wall of the can must first be treated and coated to avoid any
welding with corrosion parts of the can. Additionally, the
label that goes on to the body wall must be so shaped as to fit
the contour of the welded parts on the wall.
In Canadian patent No. 933,101 issued September 4,
1973 to Illinois Tool Works Inc. there is disclosed a handle
member which forms an integral part of a plastic sleeve that
is interlocked with the peripherally seamed end of the can
assembly. The sleeve includes a semi-cylindrical slit to form
a semi-cylindrical strap which may be stretched to position
above the can to serve as the handle member when used. One
disadvantage of such a system is that the weight of the can
combined with the effect of having a slit in the sleeve often
results in the tearing off of the handle portion from the
sleeve.
Other types of plastic bands presently used on the
marXet consist of two piece elements which are interconnected
together to form a handle member. `-
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide for use
in combination with a container, a unitary plastic handle which
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provides a tight engagement against the body wall of the
container. This is achieved by providing the band portion
of the handle with a configuration that includes a concave
inner face which, when forced flat against the body wall of
S the container under stretched condition, causes one peripheral
edge thereof to tightly engage beneath the rim of the can.
The present invention therefore pertains to a
handle for use in combination with a container having a body
wall and a rim extending along one peripheral end thereof,
which comprises: an endless band of thermoplastic material
which is resiliently stretchable so that, when inserted on
the container, the band is in a stretched condition on and
in tight engagement with the body wall; and a bail molded
integrally with the band to form a unitary structure, the bail
including a pair of arm portions joined respectively to
generally diametrically opposite portions of the band; the
band has a circumferentially constant cross-section with an
inner face and upper and lower peripheral edges; the inner
face is concave when in a non-stretched condition, the
concavity causing one of the peripheral edges in tight
engagement underneath the rim when the band is in the
stretched condition and flat against the body wall.
In one form of the invention, the peripheral edge,
or both, has a shape complementary to that of the rim to
facilitate the pouring of the material inside the container.
In another form of the invention, the peripheral
edge, or both, has a pointed extremity.
In another form of the invention, the peripheral
edge, or both, is provided with a series of circumferentially
spaced notches for ease of band expansion and for providing
sliding-off resistance to the band.
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Other objects and further scope of applicability of
the present invention will become apparent from the detailed
description given hereinafter; it should be understood however
that this detailed description, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the inventlon, is given by way of illustration
only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit
and scope of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a handle
mounted on a container;
Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view of the band
portion of the handle in the non-stretched condition;
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view taken along
lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the band portion of the
handle in the stretched condition, flat against the container
wall;
partial
Figure 4 is an enlarged/view of another embodiment
of the band portion of a handle made in accordance with the
~0 present invention;
Figure 5 is an elevational view showing another
embodiment of a handle made in accordance with the present - -
invention; and
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines
2~ 6-6-of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED E~OD_MENT
Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a plastic handle,
generally denoted 10, mounted to a metallic container
generally denoted 12.
The container 12 includes a cylindrical body wall 14
and a lid or cover 16. As shown in Fig. 3, the upper peripheral
~. ~ r~ 6 ~7 ~L
edge of the body wall projects outwardly to form a peripheral
rim 18 spaced outwardly from the adjacent surface of the body
wall. A similar peripheral rim 20 is, in most cases, provided
at the lower peripheral edge of the body wall. Some containers
may be constructed without a lower peripheral edge.
The handle 10 is formed of a thermoplastic material
that is resilient, flexible and elastic. The handle consists
of two portions: an endless band 22 and a bail 24 which are
formed together as a unitary assembly by means of a plastic
forming operation, such as by injection moulding. Although
polyethylene is a preferred example of a suitable plastic
material which is resistant to tearing, other functionally
similar materials could be used satisfactorily for the handle 10.
The material of the handle must be resiliently
stretchable for allowing the passage of its band portion 22
over the peripheral rim 18 or 20 of the container.
Bail 24 includes two arm sections 26 and 28; as
shown in Fig. 6, these arm portions preferably have an H-shaped
cross-section for most of its length. At an intermediate point
of the bail, a notch 30 on the inner wall provides a seating
arrangement for a support from which the container may be
suspended. The arm sections 26,28 are connected to generally
diametrically opposite portions of the band by means of flat
connection portions 3Z,34, respectively. These portions are
flat and extend in a plane parallel to the plane of the
endless band 22. The cross-section of these portions 32,34
are reduced compared to the cross-section of the arm sections
26,28 to provide a hinged action when the bail is rotated
relative to the band.
Referring to Fig. 2, the band 22 has an inner concave
surface 36 and upper and lower peripheral edges 38 and 40.
In the embodiment described, the upper edge 38 is slightly
curved to fit the shape of the peripheral rim 18 of the
container. The lower edge 40 is similarly shaped so that
proper positioning of the band during insertion assembly of
the band on a container is eliminated.
To insert the handle on the container, band 22 is
radially expanded by a stretching device, such as described
in applicant Canadian copending application Serial No. 347,360
filed March 10, 1980. Once the band is positioned on the
metallic container, it takes the position shown in Fig. 3
where the concave inner face becomes flat since it remains on
the body wall of the container under stretched condition. The
concavity of the endless band forces the upper extremity 38 in
tight engagement beneath the peripheral rim 18 of the container.
Fig. 4 shows another band 42 which also includes
a concave inner face 44 but with pointed upper and lower
extremities 46,48. In this form of the invention, the pointed
extremity is tightly engaged in the corner formed by the
peripheral rim 18 of the container and the body wall 14.
Fig. 5 shows a handle 10' similarly constructed to
the handle 10 shown in Fig. 1. However, in this form of the
invention, the band portion 22' of the handle is provided with
a series of circumferentially spaced notches 50 which have
a dual function: it serves to ease the expansion of the
endless band during its insertion of the metallic container;
secondly, it provides sliding resistance should the endless
band become partially removed from the peripheral rim.
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