U.S. patent application number 10/924681 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-02 for container with breakaway handle.
Invention is credited to Cory R. Backes.
Application Number | 20060043098 10/924681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35941597 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060043098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Backes; Cory R. |
March 2, 2006 |
Container with breakaway handle
Abstract
A container includes a receptacle and a handle. The handle is
coupled to the receptacle to facilitate carrying of the receptacle
by a person holding the handle.
Inventors: |
Backes; Cory R.; (Shawnee,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
35941597 |
Appl. No.: |
10/924681 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/760 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/760 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/32 20060101
B65D025/32 |
Claims
1. A container comprising a receptacle and first and second handle
portions coupled to the receptacle, the first and second handle
portions cooperating to provide means for allowing the first and
second handle portions to couple to one another to form a handle
and to uncouple from one another to disassemble the handle in
response to application of an uncoupling force to the
container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the means includes a first
coupler tab included in the first handle portion, a second coupler
tab included in the second handle portion, a first retainer
aperture formed in the first handle portion and configured to
receive and retain the second coupler tab, and a second retainer
aperture formed in the second handle portion and configured to
receive and retain the first coupler tab.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the first handle portion
includes an elongated first body coupled to the first coupler tab
and the receptacle and formed to include the first retainer
aperture and the second handle portion includes an elongated second
body coupled to the second coupler tab and the receptacle and
formed to include the second retainer aperture.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the first coupler tab includes
a first head and a first neck, the first head extends through the
second retainer aperture and engages the second body at the second
retainer aperture when the first and second handle portions are
coupled to one another, the first neck is located between the first
head and the first body and has a width narrower than the first
head and the first body, the second coupler tab includes a second
head and a second neck, the second head extends through the first
retainer aperture and engages the first body at the first retainer
aperture when the first and second handle portions are coupled to
one another, and the second neck is located between the second head
and the second body and has a width narrower than the second head
and the second body.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the means includes a
transition aperture and a transition arm, the transition aperture
is formed in the second body and located between the second
retainer aperture and the second coupler tab, the transition arm is
located between the second retainer aperture and the transition
aperture, and the first neck extends from the transition aperture
over the transition arm to the second retainer aperture when the
first and second handle portions are coupled to one another.
6. The container of claim 3, wherein the means includes a
transition aperture formed in the second body and located between
the second retainer aperture and the second coupler tab and the
first coupler tab extends through the transition aperture into the
second retainer aperture when the first and second handle portions
are coupled to one another.
7. The container of claim 2, wherein each of the first retainer
aperture and the second retainer aperture is trapezoid-shaped.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the first handle portion
includes a first longer edge, a first shorter edge parallel to the
first longer edge, and a pair of non-parallel first side edges
connecting the first longer edge and the first shorter edge, the
first longer edge, the first shorter edge, and the pair of first
side edges cooperate to define the first retainer aperture, the
first longer edge is located between the first shorter edge and the
first coupler tab, the second handle portion includes a second
longer edge, a second shorter edge parallel to the second longer
edge, and a pair of non-parallel second side edges connecting the
second longer edge and the second shorter edge, the second longer
edge, the second shorter edge, and the pair of second side edges
cooperate to define the second retainer aperture, and the second
longer edge is located between the second shorter edge and the
second coupler tab.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second handle
portions are positioned in overlapping relation when the first and
second handle portions are coupled to one another.
10. A container comprising a receptacle and first and second handle
portions coupled to the receptacle, the first and second handle
portions being arranged to be coupled to one another to form a
handle and arranged to be uncoupled from one another to disassemble
the handle in response to application of an uncoupling force to the
container.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the first handle portion
includes a first retainer aperture, the second handle portion
includes a second retainer aperture, the first handle portion
extends into the second retainer aperture and engages the second
handle portion adjacent the second retainer aperture when the first
and second handle portions are coupled to one another, and the
second handle portion extends into the first retainer aperture and
engages the first handle portion adjacent the first retainer
aperture when the first and second handle portions are coupled to
one another.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the first handle portion
includes a first coupler tab received in the second retainer
aperture when the first and second handle portions are coupled to
one another and the second handle portion includes a second coupler
tab received in the first retainer aperture when the first and
second handle portions are coupled to one another.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second
handle portions includes a proximal end portion coupled to the
receptacle and a distal end portion spaced apart from the proximal
end portion, the first coupler tab provides the distal end portion
of the first handle portion, and the second coupler tab provides
the distal end portion of the second handle portion.
14. The container of claim 12, wherein the first handle portion
includes an elongated first body coupled to the first coupler tab
and the receptacle and formed to include the first retainer
aperture and the second handle portion includes an elongated second
body coupled to the second coupler tab and the receptacle and
formed to include the second retainer aperture.
15. The container of claim 14, wherein the first coupler tab
includes a first head and a first neck, the first head extends
through the second retainer aperture and engages the second body at
the second retainer aperture when the first and second handle
portions are coupled to one another, the first neck is located
between the first head and the first body and has a width narrower
than the first head and the first body, the second coupler tab
includes a second head and a second neck, the second head extends
through the first retainer aperture and engages the first body at
the first retainer aperture when the first and second handle
portions are coupled to one another, and the second neck is located
between the second head and the second body and has a width
narrower than the second head and the second body.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the first neck includes
spaced-apart concave side edges connecting the first body and the
first head.
17. The container of claim 15, wherein the second neck includes
spaced-apart side edges connecting the second body and the second
head, each side edge includes a vertex, a first side edge portion
extending laterally outward from the vertex to the second body, and
a second side edge portion extending laterally outward from the
vertex to the second head.
18. The container of claim 12, wherein the second handle portion is
formed to include a transition aperture located between the second
retainer aperture and the second coupler tab and the first coupler
tab extends through the transition aperture when the first and
second handle portions are coupled to one another.
19. The container of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second
retainer apertures is trapezoid-shaped.
20. The container of claim 10, wherein the first handle portion
includes a first coupler tab coupled to the second handle portion
when the first and second handle portions are coupled to one
another and the second handle portion includes a second coupler tab
coupled to the first handle portion when the first and second
handle portions are coupled to one another.
21. The container of claim 20, wherein each of the first coupler
tab and the second coupler tab includes a convex peripheral
edge.
22. A container comprising a receptacle and first and second
flexible handle strips made of plastics material and arranged to
move relative to one another from a handle-formation position in
which the first and second handle strips are coupled to one another
to form a handle to a handle-disassembly position in which the
first and second handle strips are uncoupled from one another to
disassemble the handle in response to application of an uncoupling
force to the container, the first handle strip including a first
coupler tab and an elongated first body coupled to the first
coupler tab and the receptacle, the first body being formed to
include a first retainer aperture, the second handle strip
including a second coupler tab and an elongated second body coupled
to the second coupler tab and the receptacle, the second body being
formed to include a second retainer aperture and a transition
aperture, wherein, in the handle-formation position, the first and
second bodies are positioned in overlapping relation to one
another, the first coupler tab extends through the transition
aperture into the second retainer aperture, and the second coupler
tab extends into the first retainer aperture, and, in the
handle-disassembly position, the first coupler tab is not
positioned in the transition aperture and the second retainer
aperture and the second coupler tab is not positioned in the first
retainer aperture.
23. The container of claim 22, wherein the first body includes
opposite first and second end portions, the first handle strip
includes a first lug coupled to the first end portion of the first
body and the receptacle, the first coupler tab is coupled to the
second end portion of the first body, the second body includes
opposite first and second end portions, the second handle strip
includes a second lug coupled to the first end portion of the
second body, and the second coupler tab is coupled to the second
end portion of the second body.
24. The container of claim 22, wherein the second body further
includes a transition arm located between the second retainer
aperture and the transition aperture and the first coupler tab
overlies the transition arm as the first coupler tab extends from
the transition aperture to the first retainer aperture when the
first and second handle strips are positioned in the
handle-formation position.
25. The container of claim 24, wherein the first coupler tab
includes a head and a neck positioned between the head and the
first body and having a width narrower than the head and the first
body, and, in the handle-formation position, the head is positioned
in the second retainer aperture and the neck overlies the
transition arm.
26. The container of claim 22, wherein the first coupler tab
includes a first head and a first neck located between the first
head and the first body and having a width narrower than the first
head and the first body, the second coupler tab includes a second
head and a second neck located between the second head and the
second body and having a width narrower than the second head and
the second body, and, in the handle-formation position, the first
head is positioned in the second retainer aperture and the second
head is positioned in the first retainer aperture.
27. The container of claim 22, wherein each of the first and second
retainer apertures is trapezoid-shaped.
28. The container of claim 22, wherein the transition aperture is
rectangle-shaped.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a container. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a container
including a handle.
[0002] Containers are used to carry a variety of objects. Some
containers include a receptacle for receiving the objects and a
handle coupled to the receptacle. The handle may be used by a
person to carry the receptacle and objects located in the
receptacle.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to the present disclosure, a container includes a
receptacle and first and second handle portions coupled to the
receptacle. The first and second handle portions are arranged to be
coupled to one another to form a handle and are arranged to be
uncoupled from one another to disassemble the handle in response to
application of an uncoupling force to the container.
[0004] Illustratively, the first handle portion includes a first
coupler tab and an elongated first body coupled to the first
coupler tab and the receptacle and the second handle portion
includes a second coupler tab and an elongated second body coupled
to the second coupler tab and the receptacle. The first body is
formed to include a first retainer aperture and the second body is
formed to include a second retainer aperture and a transition
aperture. To form the handle, the first coupler tab extends through
the transition aperture into the second retainer aperture and the
second coupler tab extends into the first retainer aperture. When
the uncoupling force is applied to the container, the first coupler
tab withdraws from the second retainer aperture and the transition
aperture and the second coupler tab withdraws from the first
retainer aperture so that the first and second handle portions
separate from one another resulting in disassembly of the
handle.
[0005] Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the
best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently
perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container that
includes overlapping first and second handle portions coupled to
one another to form a breakaway handle of the container;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first and second
handle portions uncoupled from one another due to application of an
uncoupling force to the container;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with portions broken away,
showing insertion of a first coupler tab of the first handle
portion through a transition aperture provided in an elongated body
of the second handle portion during formation of the handle;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with portions broken away,
showing the first coupler tab extending from the transition
aperture over a transition arm included in the elongated body of
the second handle portion into a second retainer aperture provided
in the elongated body of the second handle portion during formation
of the handle;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, with portions broken away,
showing insertion of a second coupler tab of the second handle
portion into a first retainer aperture provided in an elongated
body of the first handle portion during formation of the
handle;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing connection of the first
coupler tab to the second handle portion;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing that the first coupler tab
includes a head and a neck extending between the head and the
elongated body of the first handle portion;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing that the transition aperture
is rectangle-shaped and that the second retainer aperture is
trapezoid-shaped;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing connection of the second
coupler tab to the first handle portion;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing that the second coupler tab
includes a head and a neck extending between the head and the
elongated body of the second handle portion; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing that the first retainer
aperture of the first handle portion is trapezoid-shaped.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A container 10 includes a receptacle 12 having an open end
portion 14 and a closed end portion 16 and a breakaway handle 18,
as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. The handle 18 includes a
first handle portion 20 and a second handle portion 22 arranged to
move between a handle-formation position shown, for example, in
FIG. 1 and a handle-disassembly position shown, for example, in
FIG. 2.
[0020] The handle portions 20, 22 are arranged to break apart,
separate, or otherwise uncouple from one another in response to a
breakaway or uncoupling force F shown, for example, in FIG. 2. When
coupled, the first and second handle portions 20, 22 are positioned
in overlapping relation to one another, as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1 and 6.
[0021] The receptacle 12 has a bottom wall 23 and a side wall 25
that extends upwardly from the bottom wall 23 toward the open end
portion 14. The side wall 25 adjacent to the open end portion 14 is
formed to include first and second lug-receiving apertures 27 and
31, respectively, for connecting the handle portions 20, 22 to the
receptacle 12. Illustratively, the receptacle 12 is generally
cylinder-shaped. It is within the scope of this disclosure for the
receptacle 12 to have other shapes.
[0022] The handle 18 includes first and second handle portions 20,
22, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6. Illustratively,
each of first and second handle portions 20, 22 is a one-piece
construction configured as an elongated flexible strip made of
plastics material.
[0023] The first and second handle portions 20, 22 are coupled to
the side wall 25 for pivotable movement relative thereto, as shown,
for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2. A first proximal end portion 60 of
the first handle portion 20 includes a first lug 82 which extends
through the first lug-receiving aperture 27. A second proximal end
portion 62 of the second handle portion 22 includes a second lug 88
which extends through the second lug-receiving aperture 31.
[0024] The first handle portion 20 is formed to include a first
retainer aperture 28 and the second handle portion is formed to
include a second retainer aperture 30, as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1-5 and 7-12. The first handle portion 20 extends into the
second retainer aperture 30 and engages the second handle portion
22 adjacent the second retainer aperture 30 when the first and
second handle portions 20, 22 are coupled to one another. During
coupling of the first and second handle portions 20, 22, handle
portion 22 extends into the first retainer aperture 28 and engages
the first handle portion 20 adjacent the first retainer aperture
30.
[0025] The first handle portion 20 includes a first coupler tab 24
and second handle portion 22 includes a second coupler tab 26, as
shown, for example, in FIGS. 3-5. When the first and second handle
portions 20, 22 are coupled to one another, the first coupler tab
24 is received in the second retainer aperture 30 and a transition
aperture 44 formed in the second handle portion 22 and the second
coupler tab 26 is received in the first retainer aperture 28. First
coupler tab 24 provides a first distal end portion 64 of first
handle portion 20. Second coupler tab 26 provides a second distal
end portion 66 of second handle portion 22.
[0026] The first handle portion 20 includes an elongated first body
32 and the second handle portion 22 includes an elongated second
body 34, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 9, and 12. The
first body 32 is formed to include the first retainer aperture 28
and includes a first end portion 78 coupled to the first lug 82 and
an opposite second end portion 80 coupled to the first coupler tab
24 for coupling of the first body 32 to the receptacle 12. The
second body 34 is formed to include the second retainer aperture 30
and the transition aperture 44 and includes a first end portion 84
coupled to the second lug 88 and an opposite second end portion 86
coupled to the second coupler tab 26 for coupling of the second
body 34 to the receptacle 12. The transition aperture 44 is located
between the second retainer aperture 30 and the second coupler tab
26. A transition arm 46 included in second body 34 is located
between the second retainer aperture 30 and the transition aperture
44.
[0027] The first coupler tab 24 includes a first head 36 and a
first neck 38, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6-8. The
first head 36 includes a convex peripheral edge 102 to facilitate
insertion of the first head 36 through apertures 30, 44. The first
neck 38 is located between the first head 36 and the first body 32
and has a width that is narrower than the first head 36 and the
first body 32. The first neck 38 includes spaced-apart concave side
edges 68 connecting the first body 32 and the peripheral edge 102
of the first head 36.
[0028] The second coupler tab 26 includes a second head 40 and a
second neck 42, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11. The
second head 40 includes a convex peripheral edge 104 to facilitate
insertion of the second head 40 through aperture 28. The second
neck 42 is located between the second head 40 and the second body
34 and has a width narrower than the second head 40 and the second
body 34. The second neck 42 includes spaced-apart convex side edges
70 connecting the second body 34 and the second head 40. Each side
edge 70 includes a vertex 72, a first side edge portion 74
extending laterally outward from the vertex 72 to the second body
34, and a second side edge portion 76 extending laterally outward
from the vertex 72 to the peripheral edge 104 of the second head
40.
[0029] The first retainer aperture 28 is trapezoid-shaped to
facilitate insertion and withdrawal of second head 40 through
aperture 28 during formation of handle 18 and retention of second
head 40 in aperture 28 upon formation of handle 18, as shown, for
example, in FIG. 12. The first body 32 includes a first longer edge
48, a first shorter edge 50 parallel to the first longer edge 48,
and a pair of non-parallel first side edges 52 connecting the first
longer edge 48 and the first shorter edge 50. The first longer edge
48, the first shorter edge, and the pair of first side edges 52
cooperate to define the trapezoid shape of the first retainer
aperture 28. The first longer edge 48 is located between the first
shorter edge 50 and the first coupler tab 24.
[0030] The second retainer aperture 30 is trapezoid-shaped to
facilitate insertion and withdrawal of first head 36 through
aperture 30 during formation of handle 18 and retention of second
head 36 in aperture 30 upon formation of handle 18, as shown, for
example, in FIG. 9. The second body 34 includes a second longer
edge 54, a second shorter edge 56 parallel to the second longer
edge 54, and a pair of non-parallel second side edges 58 connecting
the second longer edge 54 and the second shorter edge 56. The
second longer edge 54, the second shorter edge 56, and the pair of
non-parallel second side edges 58 cooperate to define the trapezoid
shaped of the second retainer aperture 30. The second longer edge
54 is located between the second shorter edge 56 and the second
coupler tab 26.
[0031] The transition aperture 44 is rectangle-shaped, as shown,
for example, in FIG. 9. The rectangle shape of aperture 44
facilitates insertion of first coupler tab 24 therethrough.
[0032] During formation of handle 18, the first coupler tab 24 is
moved through the transition aperture 44 over the transition arm 46
into the second retainer aperture 30 and the second coupler tab 26
is moved into the first retainer aperture 28, as suggested, for
example, in FIGS. 3-5. In the handle-formation position, the second
body 32 overlies the first body 34, the first neck 38 extends from
the transition aperture 44 over the transition arm 46 to the second
retainer aperture 30, the first head 36 extends through the second
retainer aperture 30 so that the peripheral edge 102 engages side
edges 58 to retain first coupler tab 24 in place, and the second
head 40 extends through the first retainer aperture 28 so that the
peripheral edge 104 engages side edges 52 to retain second coupler
tab 26 in place.
[0033] Handle portions 20, 22 are moved from the handle-formation
position to the handle-disassembly position in response to
application of the uncoupling force F to container 10. The
uncoupling force F may be applied to one or more of first handle
portion 20, second handle portion 22, and receptacle 12 to cause
separation of handle portions 20, 22 from one another. The first
coupler tab 24 is withdrawn from the second retainer aperture 30
and the transition aperture 44 so that the first coupler tab 24 is
not positioned in apertures 30, 44 when the first handle portion 20
assumes the handle-disassembly position. The second coupler tab 26
is withdrawn from the first retainer aperture 28 so that the second
coupler tab 26 is not positioned in aperture 28 when the second
handle portion 22 assumes the handle-disassembly position.
* * * * *