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.

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.

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.