Combination Carrying Handle And Pour Spout

Abstract

An inexpensive multi-purpose device which is adapted for use with cans such as paint cans and the like, as a pour spout, an easy grip handle for carrying one or two of such cans, as a wiping surface for removing, for example, excess paint from paint brushes, and as a carrying handle for packages.

Description

This invention relates to a simple, inexpensive multi-purpose device which, among is various uses, is particularly adapted for use with cans such as paint cans and the like, as a pour spout, as an easy grip carrying handle for carrying one or two of such cans, and as a wiping surface for removing, for example, excess paint from paint brushes.

Numerous products, particularly house paint, are purchased in gallon cans, and the latter generally have wire bails affixed thereto, for carrying them. These wire bails usually are very uncomfortable to carry these gallon cans for any length of time, or for any distance. Many stores therefore provide a simple clip-on handle in the form of a flat or slightly curved elongated strip of heavy paperboard or plastic material which is affixed to the bail and which is much easier on the hands. Some paint companies, and some stores, affix clip-on handles in the form of a short length of tubular resilient material such as rubber or plastic to the wire bails, for the same purpose. These clip-on handles certainly make it easier to carry the cans, however, they are not entirely satisfactory and, furthermore, they are usually of a construction such that they are usable only for the purpose of carrying a can.

Numerous pour spouts for cans such as paint cans presently are available, however, they, like the handles described above, function solely as pour spouts.

The multi-purpose device of the present invention, on the other hand, functions as both an easy grip carrying handle and as a pour spout. Furthermore, it is of a construction such that it can be used to carry only a single can, or two cans. In addition, when it is affixed to the can for use as a pour spout, it also functions as a wiping surface for removing, for example, excess paint from a paint brush. When used as a pour spout and/or wiping surface, its design is such as to prevent the product from entering the annular recess or channel in which the lid is usually frictionally fitted to affix it to the can. The value of this latter feature will be apparent to anyone who has done any painting.

In addition to these above-mentioned uses, the device also is adapted for use as an easy grip carrying handle for packages, by affixing it about the string or twine normally wrapped about the packages. Of course, after carrying the packages home, the device still can be retained and used as a pour spout and/or a wiping surface, if desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved easy grip handle for use with cans such as paint cans and the like.

Another object is to provide an improved pour spout for use with cans such as paint cans and the like.

Still another object is to provide an improved device which is adapted for use with cans such as paint cans and the like, as both an easy grip carrying handle and a pour spout. It is further contemplated that the device be adapted to function as a wiping surface for wiping, for example, paint brushes to remove excess paint from them.

Still another object is to provide an improved device of the above-described type which is adapted for use as an easy grip carrying handle for packages.

A still further object is to provide an improved device of the above-described type which can be easily and inexpensively fabricated.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the device;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the manner in which the device is affixed to a wire bail of a can to form a carrying handle for the can;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the manner in which the device is affixed to a wire bail having a resilient pad thereon, to form a carrying handle for the can;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the manner in which two cans can be carried with the device;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged partial views of the device illustrating the manner in which the two cans are carried;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view illustrating the manner in which the device is affixed to a can for use as a pour spout;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the manner in which the device can be used as a carrying handle for a package; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 are a top plan view and a front plan view, respectively, of the device showing a modification thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a multi-purpose device 10 exemplary of the invention which preferably and advantageously is formed as an integral unit by, for example, molding it of a plastic or similar type material, so that it can be easily and inexpensively formed. The device 10 has a pair of flanges 12 and 13 which extend outwardly from an end wall 11, in a fashion such as to form a substantially U-shaped channel 14 between them. The end wall 11 is generally arcuate-shaped, and has a number, two, as illustrated, of upstanding nibs 18 and 19 formed on it, interiorly of the U-shaped channel 14 and centrally between the flanges 12 and 13. These nibs 18 and 19 form friction locking slots 20 and 21, between their edges and the flanges.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 12 is substantially wider in width than the flange 13, and the opposite ends of both of the flanges 12 and 13 have locking slots 22 and 23 formed in them. The purpose of the greater width of the flange 12 and the function of the locking slots 22 and 23 both will become apparent from the description below.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the device 10 is illustrated affixed to a wire bail 26 of a can 25, to form an easy grip carrying handle for the can. It can be seen that the wire bail 26 simply is inserted within the U-shaped channel 14 of the device 10, and the device 10 then is forcibly urged upwardly against the wire bail 26 until the latter is lockingly engaged within the locking slots 20, or 21, as can be best seen in FIG. 5. This locking of the device 10 to the wire bail 26 usually can be accomplished simply by inserting it within the U-shaped channel 14 and then lifting the can 25. Once affixed to the wire bail in this manner, the device 10 will generally stay fixed to it until it is forcibly removed. The device 10, therefore, will not fall off each time the can is set down.

As indicated above, some paint companies and some stores presently are using a wire bail which is of a linear design and has a flat gripping portion thereon, rather than being of a curved design, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, a short length of tubular resilient material is affixed about this flat gripping portion, to provide a more comfortable carrying handle on the cans.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a can 28 having a wire bail 29 of the above described construction affixed to it, with a short length of tubular resilient material 30 affixed about the flap gripping portion thereof. The device 10 also is adapted to frictionally receive the tubular resilient material 30 within its U-shaped channel 14, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to releasably lock it thereon. Again, this usually can be accomplished simply by placing the material 30 within the U-shaped channel 14 and then lifting the can 28.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the device 10 further is adapted to carry two cans 32 and 33, whether they both have wire bails of the type illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, or the type illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, or one of each of the two different types. In this case, the bails are disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device 10, and within either the locking slots 22 or 23, depending upon the type of bail. In the illustrated example, the can 32 has a wire bail 34 of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 9, it can be seen that the wire bail 34 seats within the locking slot 22, and is lockingly retained therein by means of the locking projection or nib 35 which is formed to partially overlie the entrance to the locking slot 22. Accordingly, once the wire bail 34 is engaged within the locking slot 22, it is lockingly retained therein by the locking nib 35 so that the device 10 will not fall free.

The locking slots 22 and 23 on both the opposite ends of both of the flanges 12 and 13 are aligned with one another, so that the wire bail 34 actually is locked in both the locking slots 22 in the two flanges. This fact, and the fact that the flanges 12 and 13 are spaced apart, prevent the can 32 from twisting, to some degree, so that the cans can be more easily carried.

The can 33 is illustrated as having a wire bail 37 with a short length of tubular material 38 affixed about it. In this case, the locking slot 23 is proportioned to frictionally receive the tubular material 38 in it, as can be best seen in FIG. 10. A locking nib like the locking nib 35 generally is not required since the resiliency of the tubular material 38 in combination with the frictional fit within the locking slot 23 usually is sufficient to lockingly engage the device 10 thereon, however, such a locking nib can be easily provided if deemed necessary.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the manner in which the device 10 is affixed to a can 40 to function as a pour spout is illustrated. The can 40 is of a standard construction and has a cylindrical side wall 41. The upper edge of the side wall 41 carries an inwardly projecting annularly shaped rim 42. The outer marginal portion of the rim 42 is folded or lapped over the upper edge of the side wall 41, as indicated at 43. The balance of the rim 42 is usually shaped with an upwardly opening recess or channel 44, the inner marginal portion thereof being folded over, as indicated at 45, to form a bead located in a plane usually slightly below the upper edge of the side wall 41.

The end wall 11 of the device 10 is proportioned so that the flanges 12 and 13 frictionally grip the channel 44 between them. In this fashion, the device 10 is releasably frictionally locked to the can 40, as illustrated in FIG. 12, and the product is prevented from flowing around the flange 13 and into the channel 44.

The outer edge 17 of the flange 13 also has a radius substantially corresponding to that of the side wall 41 of the can 40, and its width is proportioned so that the outer edge 17 just butts against or is slightly spaced from the interior surface of the side wall 41, when the end wall 11, or more specifically, the nibs 18 and 19 thereon, are butted against the wall 49 of the channel 44.

The flange 12 is proportioned so that it overlaps the edge of the side wall 41, when the device 10 is affixed to the can 40 as described above. This overlapping relationship prevents the product being poured from entering into and clogging the channel 44. Accordingly, the channel 44 is maintained clean of the product so that the lid which normally is affixed to the can to close it by frictionally fitting it into the channel 44 can be easily re-affixed to the can without the necessity of first cleaning the product out of the channel.

Assuming that the can 40 contains paint, it can be seen that the device 10 when affixed to the can in the manner described above also functions as a wiping surface for wiping excess paint from a paint brush. Furthermore, its construction is such that the excess paint wiped off the brush will not flow into the friction locking channel 44 for the lid, as it generally does when the brush is merely wiped against the upper inside edge of the can. Accordingly, the device 10 when used as both a pour spout and as a wiping surface keeps the channel 44 clean so that the lid can thereafter be easily and quickly re-affixed to the can.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the device 10 can be formed in numerous different sizes, with all or only some of its various different features. For example, the device 10 can be formed to function solely as an easy grip carrying handle and, in such a case, the flanges 12 and 13 both can be of the same width, preferably the smaller width of the flange 13, so as to reduce cost. Also, the locking slots 22 and 23 need not be provided in the opposite ends of the flanges, however, as explained above, they do add to the versatility of the device 10 by permitting it to be used to easily carry two cans. If the locking slots 22 and 23 are eliminated, the extending portions of these flanges also can be eliminated to thereby further reduce the cost of fabricating the device.

The end wall 11 is arcuately shaped to conform to the shape of the bails used on the cans. Generally, most products such as house paints and the like are purchased in gallon cans, and it has been found that an end wall 11 having a radius which substantially corresponds to the radius of a cylindrical-shaped gallon can will receive and function with almost any size or shape bail.

Also, an end wall 11 of this radius is preferred since the device 10 generally finds its greatest use with gallon cans, particularly gallon cans of paint. By adapting a radius corresponding to the gallon can, the device 10 is easily adapted or formed to further function as a pour spout, since the end wall will fit to the contour of the inner edge of the rim of the can. It is only necessary to form the flanges 12 and 13 with correspondingly radiused outer edges.

The width of the end wall 11 also can be varied. For example, the device 10 can be formed so that it will receive and lockingly retain simply a wire bail. In such a case, the width of the end wall 11 is such that the U-shaped channel 14 is of a width to frictionally and grippingly receive a wire bail therein. When formed in such a fashion, however, it will be appreciated that the device 10 most likely cannot be affixed to a can to function as a pour spout. Again, then, certain advantages are realized from spacing the flanges 12 and 13 apart sufficiently to frictionally grip the rim of a can between them, so that the device can function as a pour spout. Here again, it is generally found that this spacing is appropriate for frictionally receiving the tubular resilient material affixed about some of the bails, in the manner described above.

Considering all of the above-discussed factors, it will be appreciated that considerable inventive skill was exercised in designing such a simple, inexpensive device so that it is adaptable for use in the various described manners. Its use for carrying only a single can of, for example, paint, is extremely useful, and yet, it has the additional advantageous features of being able to carry two such cans, having the same or different types of bails on them, and to be used as a pour spout and a wiping surface. Since it is so simple and can be so inexpensively formed, large retail stores can readily afford to provide them free to purchasers of products such as paint. It is well-known that purchasers appreciate these small, but yet useful, articles or devices, and they contribute substantially to the sales of certain products. It is, therefore, apparent that the device 10 can be a valuable sales producer.

While the device 10 has been described above for use with cans, as pour spouts and as handles therefor, it also is useful simply as an easy grip carrying handle for packages. Its use in this manner is illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein it can be seen that a package 50 has string or twine 51 wrapped about it. By wrapping the string or twine 51 generally in the manner illustrated, it can be extended through and locked in the locking slots 22 in generally the same fashion as a wire bail. Once affixed in this fashion, the device 10 functions as a convenient easy grip carrying handle for the package. Furthermore, it can be saved for future use as a pour spout and/or wiping surface after the package is carried home.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, there is illustrated still another modification which can be made to the device 10, to provide a slightly more spill-proof pour spout. This modification simply requires the addition of a pair of spaced-apart, upwardly extending walls 60 and 61 atop the flange 12, so as to form a trough between them. These walls 60 and 61 tend to prevent the product from flowing over the outer side edges of the flange 12.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, certain changes may be made in the above article. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a cylindrical shaped can having an inwardly projecting annular shaped rim about its open end and a wire bail for carrying it; and an easy grip carrying handle and pour spout for use with said can having an arcuate-shaped end wall and a pair of flanges affixed thereto along one edge thereof and extending outwardly in the same direction therefrom, said pair of flanges forming a substantially U-shaped channel for receiving and retaining therein said wire bail to thereby provide an easy grip carrying handle for said can, said pair of flanges further being spaced apart to frictionally receive and releasably retain therebetween said inwardly projecting annularly shaped rim of said can, one of said flanges being of a width and having a radius on its outer edge so as to overlap said inwardly projecting annularly shaped rim and to extend over the edge of the side wall of said can to thereby provide a pour spout for pouring a product from said can.