U.S. patent number 3,635,382 [Application Number 04/881,108] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-18 for handle grip for bails.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sales & Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Earl Wilson.
United States Patent |
3,635,382 |
Wilson |
January 18, 1972 |
HANDLE GRIP FOR BAILS
Abstract
A handle grip for bails on buckets and the like in which the
grip snaps into position from the inner concave side of the bail
and has transverse slits so that the grip can more readily bend
into chordal segments in accordance with the arch of the bail.
Inventors: |
Wilson; Earl (Seattle, WA) |
Assignee: |
Sales & Services, Inc.
(Seattle, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
25377794 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/881,108 |
Filed: |
December 1, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
294/166; D22/107;
294/171; 16/411; 16/DIG.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F
5/102 (20130101); A45F 5/10 (20130101); A45F
5/1046 (20130101); Y10T 16/4576 (20150115); A45F
2005/1073 (20130101); Y10S 16/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45F
5/10 (20060101); A45F 5/00 (20060101); A45f
005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;224/45,45.14,50,51,52,53,54,56 ;248/345.1 ;52/689 ;16/108 ;220/85E
;150/12 ;190/57 ;229/52AL,52AW |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Forlenza; Gerald M.
Claims
I claim:
1. A handle grip for a bail of a given diameter comprising an
elongated flexible channel of substantially uniform cross section,
said channel having a base with an inner longitudinal concave seat,
outwardly bowed sides, and a pair of inturned spaced lips directed
toward said seat and defining a longitudinal entry therebetween
narrower than said diameter, said lips sloping toward one another
to give a tapered mouth for said entry, said lips being spaced from
the sides of said seat a distance less than said diameter and being
adapted to spring apart to widen said entry during application of
the channel onto the bail and to then spring back to press said
lips against the bail and hold it against said seat, said base
having a pair of inner longitudinal ribs defining said seat
therebetween and spaced apart a distance less than said diameter of
the bail for centering said grip on said bail.
2. A handle grip for a bail of a given diameter comprising an
elongated flexible channel of substantially uniform cross section,
said channel having a base with an inner longintudinal concave
seat, outwardly bowed sides, and a pair of inturned spaced lips
directed toward said seat and defining a longitudinal entry
therebetween narrower than said diameter, said lips being spaced
from the sides of said seat a distance less than said diameter and
said outwardly bowed sidewalls being generally V-shaped in cross
section between said seat and said lips wherein said lips are
adapted to spring apart to widen said entry during application of
the channel onto the bail and to then spring back to press against
the bail and hold it against said seat.
3. The handle grip of claim 1 in which the body of said channel has
transverse cuts at spaced intervals therealong which extend from
said entry through said lips and about halfway through the width of
said sidewalls.
4. The handle grip of claim 2 said base having a pair of inner
longitudinal ribs defining said seat therebetween and spaced apart
a distance less than said diameter of the bail.
5. The handle grip of claim 2 in which the body of said channel has
transverse cuts at spaced intervals therealong which extend from
said entry through said lips and about halfway through the width of
said sidewalls.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improved handle grips for holding
bails of the type commonly applied as handles to buckets and other
containers. These bails are usually formed of wire and when the
filled container is relatively heavy, the bail tends to
uncomfortably press into the palm of the hand while it is being
carried. In the past, bails have in some instances been equipped
with wood sleeve handles but these have had to be applied before
the bails were bent into shape, thus making a relatively expansive
installation.
The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved
handle grip of unusually simple and economical construction which
may be readily applied to a bail after it is attached to a
container.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved handle
grip which will conform to the curvature of the bail and thereby
eliminate any need to form a straight central section at the top of
the bail.
Other objects are the providing of a handle grip which will firmly
grip the bail, will be attractive in appearance and will provide
flat surfaces for the printing of advertising or instructions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a handle grip embodying
the present invention in use;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle grip before
application to a bail;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the handle grip in operative
position on a bail shown fragmentarily;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along
the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but with the bail
shown in full line at the entry position and in phantom at the
installed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawing it is seen that the handle grip 10 of the
present invention is illustrated applied to an arched bail 11
serving as the handle for a container 12 of the type, for example,
commonly used for paint or other liquids. Such a bail is normally
formed of metal wire, but the term "bail" is used in this
description and accompanying claims in the broad sense in that it
can be a loop formed of metal or plastic wire, multiple woven fiber
strands, a single twisted paper strand, etc., and may have a
straight central portion.
The grip 10 is formed by extruding a strip of suitable inexpensive
resilient plastic such as polyethylene to the desired cross section
and then cutting into individual handle pieces about 31/2 inches
long. Broadly speaking, the grip 10 is a channel having a base 13,
sides 14 and 15, and an entry 16 opposite the base. This entry is
defined by a pair of inturned lips 17 which slope inwardly somewhat
at the top to form a tapered mouth for the entry and then curve
outwardly a short distance to edges 18.
The inner lip edges 18 face a pair of longitudinal ridges or ribs
20 located at the sides of the base 13 and forming therebetween a
seat 21 facing the entry 16. Between the ribs 20 and the lips 17,
the sides 14 and 15 of the channel bulge outwardly in a V
configuration. As a consequence the upper portions 14a and 15a
become spring flanges for the lips 17. The flat outer faces of the
sides may be used as printing surfaces for advertising or
instructions.
It will be noted by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 that the width of
the entry 16 and of the seat 21 is made narrower than the diameter
of the bail 11 on which the respective handle grip is to be used.
Similarly, the distance from the lips 17 to the ribs 20 is less
than the bail diameter. As indicated by the phantom position of the
bail in FIG. 5, the lip edges 18 and the opposing upper free ends
of the ribs 20 define the corners of an approximate rectangle as
viewed in cross section whose diagonals are preferably shorter in
length than the diameter of the bail on which the handle grip is to
be used.
When the bail 11 is arcuate at the top, the grip 10 is formed at
spaced intervals of its length with transverse slots or slits 22
which pass through the lips 17 and the upper halves 14a and 15a of
the sides 14 and 15. These slits 22 may be easily cut during
production before the plastic extrusion is subdivided into the
handle grip lengths.
The handle grip 10 is easily positioned in a bail by pushing the
grip entry-side up from the concave underside of the bail so that
as the bail starts into the entry as indicated in FIG. 5 the lips
17 and side portions 14a and 15a will be wedged by the bail apart
and away from the base 13 with the apex 23 at each side as the
fulcrum to permit the bail to enter the channel whereupon the lips
spring back part way so that their edges 18 bear against the upper
convex side of the bail and retain the bail seated by its lower
concave side between the ribs 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the slits 22
in the handle grip spread open during application of the grip so
that the grip can longitudinally take by chordal increments, the
curvature of the bail. If the bail has a straight central portion,
the slits 22 are perforce not required.
* * * * *