BUCKET

Abstract

A bucket and a method of using a bucket are provided. In one example, the bucket may include a side wall and bottom wall together defining a cavity for receiving contents such as solids and liquids. The bucket also includes a pour handle coupled to the side wall, a pour spout defined in the side wall opposite the pour handle, a carrying handle rotatably connected to the side wall, a portion of the side wall being translucent to allow a user to view the contents or a shadow of the contents of the bucket, and a plurality of volume indicators on the side wall for assisting a user with determining the quantity of the contents within the bucket. In some constructions, the plurality of volume indicators may be positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,540, filed May 30, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to large volume buckets including multiple style handles, a pour spout, and a translucent portion facilitating identification of the volume of contents within the buckets.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one example, a bucket is provided.

In another example, a bucket is provided and includes a side wall and a bottom wall together forming a cavity for receiving contents such as solids or liquids. The bucket also includes a first handle coupled to or unitarily formed with the side wall and a pour spout defined in the side wall opposite the first handle. The bucket further includes a second handle rotatably coupled to the side wall and rotatable between a raised position, in which the second handle is displaced upward from the side wall, and a nested position, in which the second handle engages and is supported by a lip defined at or near a top edge of the side wall.

In yet another example, a bucket is provided and includes a side wall and a bottom wall together forming a cavity for receiving contents such as solids or liquids. A portion of the side wall is translucent to allow a user to view the contents in the cavity of the bucket. The bucket also includes a plurality of volume indicators assisting a user with identifying the quantity of the contents within the cavity of the bucket. The plurality of volume indicators may be positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall.

In still another example, a container is provided and includes a bottom wall, a side wall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall together defining a cavity for receiving contents, the side wall having a translucent portion and a non-translucent portion, the translucent portion diffuses less light than the non-translucent portion, and a plurality of volume indicators positioned on the side wall.

In a further example, a bucket is provided and includes a bottom wall, a side wall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall together defining a cavity for receiving contents, the side wall having a translucent portion comprising less than a majority of the side wall and a non-translucent portion comprising a majority of the side wall, the translucent portion diffuses less light than the non-translucent portion, and a plurality of volume indicators positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall.

Independent features and independent advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of an exemplary bucket shown with a carrying handle removed;

FIG. 2 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1, the bucket including a side wall and a portion of the side wall being translucent;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bucket taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a carrying handle of the bucket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a bottom, front perspective view of another exemplary bucket;

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the bucket shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the bucket shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top, rear perspective view of the bucket shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a side view of a carrying handle of the bucket shown in FIG. 10.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, an exemplary container or bucket 20 is illustrated and is adapted to receive a variety of contents including both solids and liquids. The bucket 20 includes a side wall 24 and a bottom wall 28, together defining a cavity 32 for containing the contents therein. The side wall 24 extends from the bottom wall 28 at an obtuse angle 36 (see FIG. 3) relative to the bottom wall 28 such that opposing portions of the side wall 24 are spaced further away from one another the further the opposing portions are spaced from the bottom wall 28 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The bucket 20 also includes a plurality of volume indicators 40 incrementally positioned along the side wall 24 to assist a user with identifying the quantity of content volume within the bucket 20. In some embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-8, the plurality of indicators 40 are located on both a front side 44 and a rear side 48 of the side wall 24. More particularly, a first set of volume indicators 40 are positioned on an exterior surface 52 of the front side 44 and a second set of volume indicators 40 are positioned on an interior surface 56 of the rear side 48. In other embodiments, the plurality of volume indicators 40 may be located solely on the front side 44 or rear side 48 of the side wall 24 and may be on either the interior surface 56 or exterior surface 52 of the front or rear sides 44, 48. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of volume indicators 40 may be located on both the exterior and interior surfaces 52, 56 of both the front and rear sides 44, 48. In still other embodiments, the plurality of volume indicators 40 may be located anywhere on the side wall 24 as long as a user is capable of viewing the volume indicators 40 to identify the quantity of the contents within the bucket 20. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the volume indicators 40 include both English and International System (SI) volume indicators 40 to accommodate both measurement systems. More particularly, the illustrated volume indicators 40 include liter indicators and quarts indicators. Alternatively, the volume indicators 40 may include only one system of measurement (i.e., English or SI), may include any number of indicators 40 at any desirable increment, and may represent any desirable measuring unit.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the side wall 24 of the bucket 20 includes an opaque portion 60 and a translucent portion 64. The translucent portion 64 of the side wall 24 allows a user to view through the side wall 24 of the bucket 20 to identify the quantity of the contents within the bucket 20, while the opaque portion 60 of the side wall 24 does not allow a user to view therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the volume indicators 40 are positioned on the translucent portion 64 of the side wall 24, which allows a user to simultaneously view the volume indicators 40 and the contents within the bucket 20 to determine the quantity of the contents within the bucket 20. In other embodiments, the volume indicators 40 may be positioned on an interior surface 56 of the side wall 24 opposite the translucent portion 64 to allow a user to view through the translucent portion 64 to the volume indicators 40 positioned on the opposite side. In the illustrated embodiment, the bucket 20 includes a single translucent portion 64 on a front side 44 of the bucket 20. Alternatively, the bucket 20 may include a second translucent portion on the rear side 48 opposite the first translucent portion 64 to allow a user to view into the bucket 20 from both the front and rear sides 44, 48 of the bucket 20. Also, in the alternative, the bucket 20 may include any number of translucent portions 64 to allow a user to view into the bucket 20 from any number of positions. Further, in the alternative, the bucket 20 may include the same number of translucent portions 64 as sets of volume indicators 40 and the sets of volume indicators 40 may be positioned on the translucent portions 64. In some embodiments, the translucent portion 64 may be clear or completely transparent. In other embodiments, the translucent portion 64 may not be completely transparent and may diffuse some light while allowing other light to pass therethrough, thereby still allowing a user to view the contents or at least a shadow of the contents within the bucket 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the translucent portion 64 of the side wall 24 extends substantially the entire height of the side wall 24 and is a four-sided polygon in shape. Alternatively, the translucent portion 64 may be any size and shape as long as a user may view the contents of the bucket 20.

One way to achieve the translucent area within the plastic that allows one to view the measuring marks within, is to highly polish the area of the mold within the area highlighting the measuring marks to create the finished look of translucent properties, whereas, the areas surrounding that highly polished section are prepared with an acid etched or other treatment that creates a roughness in the mold, thereby creating an opaque esthetic to the plastic once it is molded.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-8, the bucket 20 further includes a first handle or pour handle 68 rigidly connected to the side wall 24. In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the pour handle 68 is unitarily formed as one-piece with the side wall 24. In other embodiments, the pour handle 68 may be formed separately from the side wall 24 and rigidly connected to the side wall 24 in a variety of manners including, but not limited to, fastening, adhering, bonding, etc. The pour handle 68 includes a first handle portion 72 extending away from a top edge 74 of the side wall 24 and includes a second handle portion 76 extending downward from the first handle portion 72. The bucket 20 also includes a pour spout 80 defined in the side wall 24 opposite the pour handle 68. The pour spout 80 facilitates easy pouring of the contents from the bucket 20.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1-9, the exemplary bucket 20 includes a second handle or carrying handle 84 (see FIG. 9) that may be rotatably connected to the side wall 24. The side wall 24 includes a flange 88 extending upward from the top edge 74 of both the front and rear sides 44, 48 of the side wall 24, and an aperture 92 is defined in both flanges 88. The carrying handle 84 is arcuate or semi-circular in shape and includes a grip 96 near a middle of the carrying handle 84 and a connector 100 at each end of the carrying handle 84. The connectors 100 extend outward, are insertable through the apertures 92 defined in the flanges 88, engage the flanges 88, and are rotatable within the apertures 92 to facilitate rotation of the carrying handle 84 relative to the side wall 24. A lip 104 is defined in the interior surface 56 of the side wall 24 near the top edge 74 thereof and completely around the interior surface 56 of the side wall 24. The top edge 74 and the lip 104 are sufficiently large such that when the carrying handle 84 rotates down toward the lip 104, the carrying handle 84 is positioned within the side wall 24 and supported from below by the lip 104. In this manner, the carrying handle 84 is nested within the side wall 24 of the bucket 20. The lip 104 includes a pair of depressions 108 (one shown in FIG. 1) positioned below the apertures 92 defined in the flanges 88. The depressions 108 inhibit substantial interference between the connectors 100 of the carrying handle 84 and the lip 104 during rotation of the carrying handle 84.

Operation of the bucket 20 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-9. The bucket 20 is capable of containing a variety of solids and/or liquids for a variety of different purposes. Plus, the contents may be introduced into the cavity 32 of the bucket 20 in a variety of manners. As the contents are being introduced into the cavity 32, a user may ascertain the quantity of the contents within the cavity 32 by utilizing the volume indicators 40 on the side wall 24. As described above and illustrated in FIG. 3, the volume indicators 40 may be positioned on the translucent portion 64 of the side wall 24 to enable a user to simultaneously view both the contents within the bucket 20 and the volume indicators 40, thereby allowing a user to determine the quantity of the contents within the bucket 20. If a user desires to transport the bucket 20, the user may do so in several manners. First, a user may solely grip the pour handle 68 with one hand and transport the bucket 20 by the pour handle 68. Second, a user may grip the pour handle 68 with one hand and grip a portion of the side wall 24 or bottom wall 28 with the other hand. Typically, a user will transport the bucket 20 in the second manner if the bucket 20 contains a quantity of contents too heavy for a user to transport via the pour handle 68 with a single hand. Third, a user may grip the carrying handle 84 with one or two hands as desired and rotate the carrying handle 84 in an upward direction away from the top edge 74 of the side wall 24. The user may carry the bucket 20 via the carrying handle 84. It should be understood that the bucket 20 may be carried in a variety of manners other than those described herein and, accordingly, the described examples are not intended to be limiting.

It may be desirable for the contents of the bucket 20 to be poured or otherwise dispensed from the bucket 20. The contents of the bucket 20 may be poured or dispensed from the bucket 20 in a variety of manners. For example, a user may solely grip the pour handle 68, lift the bucket 20 via the pour handle 68, and tilt the bucket 20 toward the pour spout 80 such that the contents of the bucket 20 pour from the cavity 32 over the pour spout 80. In another example, a user may grip the pour handle 68 with one hand and grip a portion of the side wall 24 or bottom wall 28 with the other hand, such as, for example, under the pour spout 80, and tilt the bucket 20 toward the pour spout 80 such that the contents of the bucket 20 pour from the cavity 32 over the pour spout 80. In yet another example, a user may grip the carrying handle 84 with one hand, rotate the carrying handle 84 in an upward direction away from the top edge 74 of the side wall 24, grip another portion of the bucket 20 with the other hand, such as for example the pour handle 68, a portion of the side wall 24, or the bottom wall 28, and tilt the bucket 20 toward the pour spout 80 such that the contents of the bucket 20 pour from the cavity 32 over the pour spout 80. It should be understood that the contents of the bucket 20 may be poured therefrom in a variety of manners other than those described herein and, accordingly, the described examples are not intended to be limiting.

With reference to FIGS. 10-14, another exemplary bucket 20A is illustrated. Components of the bucket 20A illustrated in FIGS. 10-14 that are similar to components of the bucket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 are identified with the same reference number and an “A”. The bucket 20A illustrated in FIGS. 10-14 is substantially the same as the bucket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 except for the configuration of the carrying handle and associated components. More particularly, the bucket 20A includes a flange 112 that extends downward from the top edge 74A of both the front and rear sides 44A, 48A of the side wall 24A. The flanges 112 also extend externally of the side wall 24A and include an aperture 116 (see FIG. 12) defined therethrough. The carrying handle 84A includes a connector 100A (see FIGS. 11 and 14) at each end thereof. The connectors 100A extend inward toward each other, are insertable through the apertures 116 defined in the flanges 112, engage the flanges 112, and are rotatable within the apertures 116 to facilitate rotation of the carrying handle 84A relative to the side wall 24A. The carrying handle 84A is arcuate in shape and has a diameter larger than the top edge 74A of the side wall 24A such that the carrying handle 84A passes by and below the top edge 74A of the side wall 24A and may rest against an exterior surface 52A of the side wall 24A below the top edge 74A when the carrying handle 84A is not in use. The bucket 20A illustrated in FIGS. 10-14 may be transported and the contents poured or otherwise dispensed therefrom in similar manners to those described above in connection with the bucket 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 and, therefore, will not be described again herein.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions were selected to best explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable other skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of the invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a bottom wall;

a side wall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall together defining a cavity for receiving contents, the side wall having a translucent portion and a non-translucent portion, wherein the translucent portion diffuses less light than the non-translucent portion; and

a plurality of volume indicators positioned on the side wall.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion is transparent.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the non-translucent portion is opaque.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion is transparent and the non-translucent portion is opaque.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of volume indicators are positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of volume indicators are positioned on the non-translucent portion of the side wall.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the plurality of volume indicators are positioned on an interior surface of the non-translucent portion of the side wall and are viewable through the translucent portion from an exterior of the container.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of volume indicators is a first plurality of volume indicators positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall, the container further comprising a second plurality of volume indicators positioned on the non-translucent portion of the side wall.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the translucent portion is on a first side of the side wall and the second plurality of volume indicators is positioned on an interior surface of the non-translucent portion of the side wall at a second side of the side wall opposite the first side.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion comprises less than a majority of the side wall and the non-translucent portion comprises a majority of the side wall.

11. The container of claim 1, further comprising a pour handle including a first portion extending outward from the side wall near a top edge of the side wall and a second portion extending downward from the first portion of the pour handle.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the pour handle extends from a first side of the side wall, the container further comprising a pour spout defined in a second side of the side wall opposite the first side.

13. The container of claim 12, further comprising a carrying handle pivotally connected to the side wall near a top edge of the side wall.

14. The container of claim 1, further comprising a carrying handle pivotally connected to the side wall near a top edge of the side wall.

15. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is capable of containing at least eight quarts of contents.

16. A bucket comprising:

a bottom wall;

a side wall extending from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall together defining a cavity for receiving contents, the side wall having a translucent portion comprising less than a majority of the side wall and a non-translucent portion comprising a majority of the side wall, wherein the translucent portion diffuses less light than the non-translucent portion; and

a plurality of volume indicators positioned on the translucent portion of the side wall.

17. The bucket of claim 16, wherein the plurality of volume indicators is a first plurality of volume indicators, the container further comprising a second plurality of volume indicators positioned on the non-translucent portion of the side wall.

18. The bucket of claim 17, wherein the second plurality of volume indicators is positioned on an interior surface of the non-translucent portion of the side wall, opposite the translucent portion.

19. The bucket of claim 16, wherein the translucent portion is transparent.

20. The bucket of claim 16, wherein the non-translucent portion is opaque.

21. The bucket of claim 16, wherein the translucent portion is transparent and the non-translucent portion is opaque.

22. The container of claim 16, further comprising a pour handle including a first portion extending outward from the side wall near a top edge of the side wall and a second portion extending downward from the first portion of the pour handle.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the pour handle extends from a first side of the side wall, the container further comprising a pour spout defined in a second side of the side wall opposite the first side.

24. The container of claim 23, further comprising a carrying handle pivotally connected to the side wall near a top edge of the side wall.

25. The container of claim 1, further comprising a carrying handle pivotally connected to the side wall near a top edge of the side wall.