BUCKET

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present invention include improved bucket designs that have one or more handles located toward a base portion of a bucket. For example, the bucket can include a body portion that defines an interior portion of the bucket. In addition, the bucket can include a base portion below the body portion of the bucket. Further, the bucket can include one or more voids located in the base portion that form a handle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/833,007 entitled “BUCKET,” filed on Jun. 10, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/887,180 entitled “BUCKET,” filed on Oct. 4, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/889,257 entitled “BUCKET,” filed on Oct. 10, 2013, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to buckets, and in particular, to multi-functional buckets with an improved design to allow a user of the bucket to easily lift the bucket when the bucket is filled with material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buckets are a useful tool with many uses in many industries. One particular use of a bucket is to move material from one location to another. For example, a bucket may be filled with paint, water, dirt, debris, cement mixture, or other type of material and transported using the bucket. In summary, buckets provide a tool for a user to move various materials from one location to another in a relatively inexpensive and efficient way.

Conventional buckets, however, suffer from a number of limitations and drawbacks. For example, a bucket can become heavy and difficult to lift when filled with heavy materials. This often becomes an issue with larger buckets, such as buckets holding five gallons or more, but depending on the material, can also be an issue for buckets holding less than five gallons. Many conventional buckets are supplied with a wire handle to aid in lifting the bucket. Wire handles, however, often cause awkward lifting positions or cause discomfort to a user. Awkward lifting can cause inadvertent spills from the bucket or, in extreme cases, may cause injury to a user.

In many cases, a user may need to lift a bucket filled with material to transport and dump the material at a particular location. Using a conventional bucket may cause discomfort to a user, particularly when the bucket is raised above the waist level. Further, when dumping the material from a conventional bucket, the user generally has to hold the wire handle in one hand while holding the bottom of the bucket with the other hand. Conventional buckets, however, provide no ergonomic way to securely hold the bottom of the bucket. Therefore, users often experience difficulty getting a secure grasp on the bucket and/or the grasp becomes very uncomfortable. This can cause additional discomfort or pain when repeated several times a day.

While there are attempts to resolve problems with conventional buckets, the attempts generally end up providing a much more expensive bucket. Additionally, many attempts to improve buckets have resulted in buckets that cannot stack with other conventional buckets, thus causing storage and organization issues where businesses or users have many buckets on a job site.

Accordingly, there are a number of considerations to be made in providing a new and improved bucket that maintains some or all of the advantageous features of conventional buckets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention include improved bucket designs that have one or more handles located toward a base portion of a bucket. In one example, the bucket can include a body portion that defines an interior portion of the bucket. In addition, the bucket can include a base portion below the body portion of the bucket. Further, the bucket can include one or more voids located in the base portion that form a handle.

In one or more additional embodiments, the bucket can include various features that provide an ergonomic way to lift and transport the bucket. For example, the bucket can include one or more handles in the base portion of the bucket that a user can grasp while lifting, holding, and/or transporting material in the bucket. Additionally, the bucket can include one or more features to facilitate easier transition between transporting material in the bucket to dumping the material from the bucket.

Furthermore, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the bucket can include the above and other features while maintaining advantageous features of conventional buckets. For example, the bucket can include ergonomic features described herein while maintaining a shape and volume that is consistent with the shape and volume of conventional buckets. Due to the consistent shape and volume, the bucket can not only provide the ergonomic features described herein, but can also permit the stacking of the bucket with other buckets having similar ergonomic features, as well as facilitating the stacking of the bucket together with conventional buckets of similar size and shape.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the embodiments can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale, and that elements of similar structure or function are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, principles will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing a base portion of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 a perspective view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing a base portion of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 is a right side elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 18 is another perspective view showing a base portion of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 20 is a right side elevational view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 23 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a bucket in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention include an improved bucket. In particular, the improved bucket can include one or more ergonomic features to facilitate easier lifting, transporting, and/or emptying of the bucket. For example, the bucket can include a body portion having a floor and a body wall where the body portion defines an interior portion of the bucket. Further, the bucket can include a base portion positioned below the body portion where a base wall substantially aligns with the body wall. Additionally, the bucket can include a void located in the base portion that forms a handle having a grip.

The bucket disclosed herein has several advantages compared to conventional buckets. For example, the void in the base portion can form a handle located toward a lower portion of the bucket. The handle can provide a location at which a user can securely grasp the lower portion of the bucket while lifting the bucket to move material contained in the bucket and/or more easily empty contents of the bucket at a desired location. In some embodiments, the bucket can include additional voids in the base portion that form multiple handles in the base portion of the bucket. Each of the handles can facilitate easier lifting, transporting, and dumping materials held within the body portion of the bucket. Additionally, handles formed in the base portion of the bucket can facilitate lifting of the bucket above the waist of a user with reduced strain and/or risk of injury.

Additionally, example embodiments of the bucket provide ergonomic features described herein while maintaining advantageous features of conventional buckets. For example, some embodiments of the bucket can include a base portion having a base wall that substantially aligns with a body wall of a body portion of the bucket. Having aligning portions can facilitate stacking the bucket having ergonomic features with other buckets having similar features as well as conventional buckets that don't have similar ergonomic features.

Further, the bucket can include additional features to facilitate better functionality. For example, some embodiments of the bucket can include a flat bucket floor, which allows materials to be easily mixed within the bucket. Additionally, some embodiments of the bucket can include the base portion as an independent piece from the body portion, which allows for the bucket to have a standard volume (e.g., consistent with the volumes of conventional buckets) while also providing ergonomic features within the base portion.

In addition to increased functionality, one or more embodiments of the bucket can provide for efficient manufacturing of the bucket. For example, some embodiments of the bucket can be manufactured in a single piece through efficient manufacturing techniques. In particular, due to the novel and innovative design, a bucket having one or more of the ergonomic features described herein can be manufactured in a single piece using an injection molding process. A single piece injection molding process can provide for a bucket having increased stability and durability properties, as well as reduce the cost of manufacturing the bucket by reducing the number of processes necessary to manufacture the bucket. Thus, example embodiments of the bucket disclosed herein can provide an improved bucket as compared to conventional bucket designs.

The bucket can be further understood with a discussion of the Figures. For example, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate various views of one example embodiment of a bucket 100. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the bucket 100 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. FIGS. 2-8 each illustrates different views of the bucket 100 shown in FIG. 1. Reference will be made to each of FIGS. 1-8 in describing various example features of the bucket 100.

The bucket 100 can include a body portion 102 and a base portion 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the body portion 102 can have a position above the base portion 104 of the bucket 100. In particular, the bucket 100 can include a body portion 102 located toward the top of the bucket 100 and a base portion 104 located toward the bottom of the bucket 100. In some embodiments, the body portion 102 is directly adjacent to the base portion 104.

In some embodiments, the body portion 102 can align with the base portion 104. In particular, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, for example, the body portion 102 can include a body wall 106 that defines an interior portion 108 of the bucket 100. Further, the base portion 104 can include a base wall 110 that aligns with the body wall 106. In one or more embodiments, a surface of the body wall 106 forms a continuous surface with the base wall 110 from the top of the bucket 100 toward the bottom of the bucket 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the body wall 106 and the base wall 110 may not share a continuous surface, e.g., the body wall 106 can have a first angle with respect to ninety degrees, and the base wall 100 can have a second angle with respect to ninety degrees. For example, the base wall 100 can allow the base portion 104 to flare out toward the bottom of the bucket 100.

In some embodiments, a single piece of material can make up the body portion 102 and the base portion 104. In particular, the bucket 100 can include a single piece of durable material that makes up the body portion 102 and the base portion 104, as shown in FIGS. 1-8. In one example, the body portion 102 and the base portion 104 can be manufactured using a single mold plastic injection molding process. Alternatively, the body portion 102 and the base portion 104 can be made from separate pieces of material. In particular, the body portion 102 can can be made from a first piece of material (e.g., a first mold plastic injection molding process), while the base portion 104 can be made from a second piece of material (e.g., a second mold plastic injection). The body portion 102 and the base portion 104 can be made from different materials or the same similar materials. For example, the body portion 102 can be made from stiff plastic material, while the base portion 104 is made from a softer plastic or rubber material. In one or more embodiments, the base portion 104 can be fused or otherwise permanently coupled to the body portion 102.

In the event the body portion 102 and the base portion 104 are separate pieces, the base portion 104 can selectively couple to the body portion 102. For instance, the base portion 104 can include a coupling mechanism whereby a user can mechanically couple the top of the base portion 104 to the bottom of the body portion 104. Alternatively, the body portion 102 can include a coupling mechanism whereby a user can couple the base portion 104 to the body portion 104. Further, in some embodiments, both the body portion 102 and base portion 104 can include coupling mechanisms for attaching the base portion 104 to the body portion 102.

In coupling the base portion 104 to the body portion 102, the base portion 104 can include one or more attachment points through which a screw, bolt, or other connection mechanism can pass in order to fasten the base portion 104 to the body portion 102. For example, attachment points can include holes in the top of the base portion 104 that align with corresponding attachment points in the floor 112 of the body portion 102 through which the screws, bolts, or other connectors can secure the base portion 104 in position relative to the body portion 102.

In another embodiment, the base portion 104 can include an attachment mechanism integrated into the material of the base portion 104 that fastens the base portion 104 to the body portion 102. For example, the base portion 104 may include a screw protruding from the top of the base portion 104. The screw can fit into a hole in the floor 112 of the body portion 102 configured to receive the screw. The base portion 104 can be configured to rotate and screw into the body portion 102 thus securing the base portion 104 to the body portion 102 by way of the screw. Alternatively, the attachment can be integrated into the body portion 102 to fasten the floor 112 of the body portion 102 to the base portion 104.

In some embodiments, the base portion 104 can attach to the body portion 102 by way of one or more attachment points around the base wall 110 and/or body wall 106. For example, the base portion 104 can include one or more clips or other fastening mechanisms that can attach to the body wall 106 of the body portion 102. Further, the body portion 102 can include one or more receiving points to which the clips or other fastening mechanisms on the base portion 104 can attach. Alternatively, the body portion 102 can attach to the base portion 104 by way of one or more attachment points around the body wall 106 that fasten to one or more receiving points on the base wall 110.

In yet another embodiment, the base portion 104 can couple to the body portion 102 by fitting a portion of the base portion 104 within the body portion 102. For example, the body portion 102 can include a body wall 106 having a slightly larger circumference than the base wall 110. The base portion 110 can fit within the body wall 106 (e.g., using a slip fit connection) by placing a top of the base portion 104 into the bottom of the body portion 102. Alternatively, the body portion 102 can fit within the base portion 104.

As mentioned above, the body portion 102 can have the body wall 106 that defines an interior portion 108 of the bucket 100. The interior portion 108 can include a variety of combination of shapes, cross-sectional areas, and volumes. For example, the volume of the interior portion 108 can vary from one embodiment to the next. In some embodiments, the interior portion 108 can have a volume of about five gallons. In particular, one or more embodiments can have an interior portion 108 having an identical configuration and volume as a conventional five-gallon bucket. In alternative embodiments, the interior volume can be more or less than five gallons.

As mentioned above, the body wall 106 can define an interior portion 108 having variety of combination of shapes, cross-sectional areas, and volumes. For example, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the interior portion 108 can have a substantially cylindrical shape. In some embodiments, a substantially cylindrical shape can include a shape having a larger horizontal cross sectional area toward the top of the interior portion 108 and a smaller horizontal cross sectional area toward the bottom of the interior portion 108. For example, the top of the body portion 102 can have a larger cross sectional diameter than a cross sectional diameter toward the bottom of the body portion 102, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for example. Accordingly, a user can stack the bucket 100 within the interior portion 108 of other buckets having an interior portion of similar size and shape.

In alternative embodiments, the body portion 102 of the bucket 100 can have variety of shapes, cross-sectional areas, and volumes. For example, the bucket 100 can have an oval, rectangular, cubic, or other shape, depending on the application of the bucket 100. One benefit of the bucket 100 disclosed herein is that because of the handles 118 in the base portion 104, the interior volume of the bucket 100 can be larger than the standard five-gallon buckets while still allowing the user to lift, transport, empty, or otherwise use the bucket 100 with ease even with a larger volume of material within the interior portion 106 of the bucket 100.

Regardless of the various shapes of the interior portion 108, the body portion 102 can include a floor 112 defining a bottom of the interior portion 108, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 7. In particular, the floor 112 can provide a flat surface extending across a cross-section of the body portion 102 that defines a bottom surface of the interior portion 108 enclosed by the body wall 106. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, and 7, the floor 112 can extend completely across a cross section of the interior portion 108 forming a flat surface across the entire area of a horizontal cross section extending between the body wall 106.

In general, although one or more embodiments provide a handle integral within the base portion 104 of the bucket 100, the floor 112 of the bucket 100 remains flat providing one or more benefits. In particular, having a flat surface for the floor 112 can facilitate easy mixing of materials (e.g., cement, paint, liquids) within the bucket 100. Additionally, having a flat surface for the floor 112 can provide efficient measuring of the volume of material contained within the bucket 100.

The floor 112 can further provide a barrier between the body portion 102 and the base portion 104 of the bucket 100. In particular, the floor 112 can define a bottom surface of the interior portion 108 while defining a top surface of the base portion 104. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates one view of the floor 112 separating the bottom surface of the body portion 102 from the top surface of the base portion 104. In addition to providing a barrier between the body portion 102 and the base portion 104, the floor 112 can further facilitate the interior portion 108 having an independent volume from the base portion 104. In particular, all elements and features of the base portion 104 can have a position below the floor 112, thus providing an interior portion 108 having a volume and other dimensions independent from any features of the base portion 104.

The body portion 102 can include additional features that provide various advantages to the ergonomics and structure of the bucket 100. For example, the bucket 100 can include one or more stabilizer rings 114. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7, the bucket 100 can include multiple stabilizer rings 114. Alternatively, the bucket 100 can include a single stabilizer ring 114. The stabilizer rings 114 can protrude from the outside of the body wall 106 to reinforce the shape of the body portion 102 when the interior portion 108 is filled with various materials. Additionally, the stabilizer rings 114 can reinforce the shape of the body portion 102 when the bucket 100 is carried by a user. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 7, the bucket 100 can include stabilizer rings 114 positioned towards the top of the body portion 102. Alternatively, the stabilizer rings 114 can have a position at various heights with respect to the body portion 102.

Other features of the body portion 102 can include a top handle (not shown). For example, a top handle can extend from the body wall and loop over the top of the bucket 100. In some embodiments, ends of the top handle can connect to the body wall 106 by way of one or more handle connection points, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Further, the top handle can include a metal wire loop extending over the top of the bucket 100. The top handle can provide an additional engagement point for a user to carry and/or steady the bucket 100 when it is full of material. For example, a user can engage the bucket 100 with one hand on the top handle and another hand on a handle formed in the base portion 104 of the bucket 100.

In particular, and as mentioned above, the bucket 100 can include one or more handles 118 in the base portion 104. In one or more embodiments, the base portion 104 can include a void 116 in the base wall 110. In particular, the void 116 can have a size and configuration to form a handle 118 in the base portion 104 of the bucket 100. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 7, and 8, a void 116 can pass through the base wall 110 forming an opening in the base wall 110 and defining a handle 118 that provides one or more ways to engage the base portion 104 of the bucket when lifting, transporting, emptying, and/or otherwise using the bucket 100.

As mentioned above, the handle 118 can include one or more features to facilitate various ways to engage the bucket 100 when lifting, transporting, emptying, and/or otherwise using the bucket 100. For example a user can engage the handle 118 from underneath the bucket 100. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the void 116 can pass into the base wall 110 and through the bottom of the base portion 104. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 7, and 8, in some embodiments, the void 116 can form a handle 118 having a grip portion 120 accessible from the bottom of the bucket 100. In particular, a bottom surface of the grip portion 120 can face downward and be accessible from the bottom of the base portion 104. Thus, a user can grab the handle 118 and lift upward by engaging a bottom portion of the grip portion 120 formed by the void 116.

In addition to providing an engagement point under the base portion 104 of the bucket 100, the grip portion 120 can further include features to enable a variety of ways for a user to engage and/or otherwise grip the base portion 104 of the bucket 100. For instance, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 7, and 8, the grip portion 120 can include a portion of the base wall 110 formed under the void 116 that a user can grip when using the bucket 100. The grip portion 120 can further include a gradual transition from the handle 118 to the bottom of the bucket 100, thus avoiding any sharp edges or corners that may irritate a user's hand when lifting the bucket 100 by way of the grip portion 120. Thus, the grip portion 120, including the portion of the base wall 104 positioned under the void 116, can provide an engagement point for a user to secure a hold of the bucket 100 when lifting, transporting, emptying, and/or otherwise using the bucket 100. For example, the user can engage the grip portion 120 from the side of the bucket (e.g., when carrying an empty bucket 100) or, alternatively, from the bottom of the base portion 104 (e.g., when lifting a full bucket 100 in a way to pour material and empty the bucket 100).

In addition to the grip portion 120, the handle 118 can include one or more features to facilitate additional engagement points by which a user can engage the bucket 100. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the void 116 can form an opening in the side of the base wall 110 by which a user can engage the bucket 100. For example, in some embodiments, the opening to the handle 118 can include a groove, lip, or rim around the opening formed by the void 116. In some embodiments, a user can engage the opening of the handle 118 by placing a hand through the opening formed by the void 116 and lifting the bucket 100.

In addition to defining an opening in the base wall 110, the void 116 can define an interior surface of the handle 118 lining the inside of the void 116. A user can engage the bucket 100 in one or more ways by engaging the interior surface of the handle 118. In particular, a user can engage the handle 118 by inserting a hand through an opening in the base wall 110 formed by the void 116 and lifting against the interior surface of the handle 118.

In some embodiments, the interior surface of the handle 118 can include a bottom surface of the floor 112 that can serve as a further engagement point by which a user can grip and/or lift the bucket 100. For example, as mentioned above, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, and 8, a top interior surface of the handle 118 can comprise a portion of the bottom surface of the floor 112. When using the bucket 100, a user's hands can engage the floor 112 of the body portion 102 when lifting upwards and engage the floor 112 by way of the opening in the base wall 110 formed by the void 116. This engagement of the bucket 110 could be particularly advantageous when lifting a bucket 100 full of material as lifting the bucket 100 would not require engaging an underside of a full and/or heavy bucket 100 that is on the floor or other hard surface.

In some embodiments, the handle 118 can include one or more ergonomic features to facilitate efficient and ergonomic use of the bucket 110. For example. The handle 118 can include one or more finger indentations on the grip portion 120 of the handle. In some embodiments, the handle 118 can include finger indentations on an underside of the grip portion 120 (e.g., from the bottom of the base portion 104). Additionally or alternatively, the handle 118 can include finger indentations on the top, inside, and/or outside of the grip portion 120.

In some embodiments, the handle 118 can include finger indentations on an inner surface of the handle 118. For example, the handle 118 can include one or more finger indentations on a top interior surface of the handle 118 formed by the void 116. Thus, when a user engages the bucket 100 by way of the opening in the base wall 110 formed by the void 116, the user can further engage one or more finger indentations on an upper surface of the handle 118. In one example, the handle 118 can include finger indentations on an underside of the floor 112 that the user engages by way of the opening in the base wall 110.

The handle 118 can include additional ergonomic features. For example, the handle 118 can include a foam or other similar material on the grip portion 120 of the handle 118. A foam material can provide a more secure and/or comfortable grip when grasping the grip portion 120, either from the underside of the base portion 104 or at any point around the grip portion 120 of the handle 118. In some embodiments, the foam material can include any material that provides additional comfort and/or static friction between a user's hands and the grip portion 120 to facilitate a better grip when grabbing the grip portion 120.

In another example of ergonomic features, the handle 118 can include a foam or other similar material lining an interior surface of the handle 118 formed by the void 116. In particular, the interior surface of the void 116 can have a foam material lining to facilitate a more ergonomic and secure surface by which the user can lift, transport, empty, and/or otherwise use the bucket 100. For example, where a user lifts the bucket 100 by inserting fingers through the void 116 and lifting upward, the fingers can come into contact with a foam lining along the upper surface of the handle 118. Thus, even without using the grip portion 120, the foam material lining the inside of the handle 118 can provide an ergonomic way to lift and/or otherwise use the bucket 100. In some embodiments, the bottom side of the floor 112 can include a foam material lining to facilitate a more secure grip when using the bucket 100.

While the base portion 104 can include a single void 116 in accordance with some embodiments described herein, the base portion 104 can include more than one void 116. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 7, bucket 100 can include two voids 116 positioned on the base wall 110. Each of the voids 116 can define a respective handle 118 that can be engaged by a user. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-7, the two voids 116 can have a position on opposite sides of the base portion 104. Thus, a user can engage the base portion 104 from opposite sides of the bucket 100 by way of the two handles 118 formed by the voids 116. In particular, a user can use both hands to lift the bucket 100 using both handles 118. Alternatively, the base portion 104 can include multiple voids 106 at non-opposing locations along the base wall 110.

In some embodiments, the base portion 104 can include any number of voids 116 positioned throughout the base portion 104 forming any number of handles 118. For example, the base portion can include three or more voids 116, each forming a respective handle 118. In some embodiments, the base portion 104 can include multiple voids 116 spaced out evenly around the base wall 110 providing multiple options for a user to engage the handles 118 formed from the multiple voids 116. Additionally, the base portion 104 can include an even number of voids 116 including multiple pairs of voids 116, each void pair including a void 116 positioned on opposite sides of the base portion 104 from a corresponding void 116. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the multiple voids 116 can have a similar position along the height of the base portion 102. Alternatively, the voids 116 can be positioned at different heights of the base portion 102. In some configurations, the bucket 100 can include handles 118 at any position along the height of the bucket 100.

As described above, the base portion 104 can include a void 116 in the base wall 110. In particular, the void 116 can extend through the base wall 110. Additionally, the void 116 extending through the base wall 110 can form a handle 118 that is flush with the base wall 110. Thus, the handle 118 can be formed within the base portion 104 of the bucket 100 without having any parts protruding from the base wall 110. Providing a handle 118 that is interior to the base portion 104 can enable a user to stack the bucket 100 with other similar buckets 100 or other conventional buckets having similar shape and dimensions.

In some embodiments, the void 116 can pass between the base wall 110 and a bottom of the base portion 104. For example, the base portion 104 can include a flat surface (not shown) extending across a bottom portion of the base portion 104. The flat surface can form a bottom surface of the base portion 104. In some embodiments, the void 116 can extend through the bottom surface of the base portion 104 such that the handle 118 defined by the void 116 is accessible from both the base wall 104 and through the bottom surface of the base portion 104. Additionally, a bottom surface of the base portion 104 can provide a surface to sit or stand on in an alternative use of the bucket 100. Alternatively, the bottom surface of the base portion 104 can have a sloped or curved surface.

The base portion 104 can further include one or more features to facilitate a more durable structure and/or ergonomic use of the bucket 100. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, the base portion 104 can include an open space in a center portion of the base portion 104. Having an open space can facilitate saving material cost as well as providing a bucket 100 that weighs less than a bucket 100 having a base portion 104 of solid material. Alternatively, the base portion 104 can be made using a solid piece of plastic or other durable material.

Additionally, the base portion 104 can include one or more stabilizer elements 122. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, one or more stabilizer elements 122 can extend inward from the base wall 110. Stabilizer elements can provide additional structure to the base portion 104 as well as reinforce the shape of the base portion 104 when pressure is applied to the base portion 104 (e.g., when pressure is applied due to heavy material in the interior portion 108). The base portion 104 can include any number of stabilizer elements 122.

FIGS. 9-16 illustrate various views of another exemplary embodiment of a bucket 200 in accordance with principles described herein. The bucket 200 illustrated in FIGS. 9-16 can include one or more of the features described above in connection with FIGS. 1-8. For example, the bucket 200 can include a body portion 202, base portion 204, body wall 206, interior portion 208, base wall 210, floor 212, stabilizer rings 214, void 216, handle 218, grip portion 220, and stabilizer elements 222. Each of the body portion 202, base portion 204, body wall 206, interior portion 208, base wall 210, floor 212, stabilizer rings 214, void 216, handle 218, grip portion 220, and stabilizer elements 222 can include similar features as corresponding elements described herein. In some embodiments, the bucket 200 can include additional and/or alternative features and characteristics.

For example, the void 216 can form a path between the base wall 210 and a bottom of the base portion 204. In particular, the void 216 can define curved tunnel that passes horizontally through the base wall 210 and vertically through a bottom of the base portion 204. Thus, the handle 118 can include a tunnel with openings in the base wall 210 and the bottom of the base portion 204. In some embodiments, the tunnel formed by the void 216 passing through the base portion 204 can transition from a horizontal path through the base wall 210 to a vertical path at a ninety-degree angle through a bottom of the base portion 204. Alternatively, the void 216 can define a cave-like handle 218 that does not pass through the bottom of the base portion 204. For example, the void 216 can define a handle 218 having a cave-like opening that a user can engage exclusively from the base wall 210 without also facilitating access from the bottom of the base portion 204.

Additionally, the handle 218 can include a handle backing 224 on an inner portion of the handle 218 towards the center of the base portion 204. In particular, as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 14, 16, and 17, the handle backing 224 can define a back portion of the handle 218 that guides a hand of a user through the void 216. In some embodiments, the handle backing 224 can provide additional structure of the handle 218 preventing breaking or unintentional bending of the handle 218. Additionally, the handle backing 224 can prevent material or other debris that inadvertently enters the void 216 through the base wall 210 from becoming stuck underneath the bucket 200 (e.g., within an open area of the body portion).

FIGS. 17-24 illustrate various views of another exemplary embodiments of a bucket 300 in accordance with principles described herein. The bucket 300 illustrated in FIG. 17-24 can include one or more of the features described above in connection with FIGS. 1-16. For example, the bucket 300 can include a body portion 302, base portion 304, body wall 306, interior portion 308, base wall 310, floor 312, stabilizer rings 314, void 316, handle 318, grip portion 320, and stabilizer elements 322. Each of the body portion 302, base portion 304, body wall 306, interior portion 308, base wall 310, floor 312, stabilizer rings 314, void 316, handle 318, grip portion 320, and stabilizer elements 322 can include similar features as corresponding elements described herein. In some embodiments, the bucket 300 can include additional and/or alternative features and characteristics.

For example, similar to the bucket 200 described above in connection with FIGS. 9-16, the bucket 300 illustrated in FIGS. 17-24 can include a void 316 forming a path between the base wall 310 and a bottom of the base portion 304. In particular, similar to other embodiments described herein, the void 316 can define a handle 318 passing horizontally through the base wall 310 and vertically through a bottom of the base portion 304. Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 17-24, the void 316 passing through the base portion 304 can gradually transition from a horizontal path through the base wall 310 to a vertical path through the bottom of the base portion 304. Different embodiments can include various degrees of the gradual transition from the horizontal path to the vertical path.

Additionally, similar to the bucket 200 described above in connection with FIGS. 9-16, the bucket 300 can include a handle backing 324 on an inner portion of the handle 318 towards the center of the base portion 304. Further, as shown in FIGS. 18, 22, 23, and 24, the handle backing 324 can define a back portion of the handle 318 that guides a hand of a user through the void 316.

FIG. 25 illustrates an additional embodiment of the present invention. The bucket 400 of FIG. 25 can include one or more of the features describe above in connection with FIGS. 1-24. For example, the bucket 400 can include a body portion 402, base portion 404, body wall 406, interior portion 408, base wall 410, floor 412, stabilizer rings 414, void 416, handle 418, grip portion 420, and stabilizer elements 422. Each of the body portion 402, base portion 404, body wall 406, interior portion 408, base wall 410, floor 412, stabilizer rings 414, void 416, handle 418, grip portion 420, and stabilizer elements 422 can include similar features as corresponding elements described herein. Additionally, the bucket 400 can include additional and/or alternative features and characteristics.

In particular, FIG. 25 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example bucket 400 having a body portion 402 and a base portion 404. The body portion 402 can define an interior portion 408. Further, the bucket 400 can include one or more voids 416 that each define a handle 418 in the base portion 404 of the bucket 400. In some embodiments, the handles can include a void 418 passing directly between the base wall 410 and through a bottom of the bucket 400. As illustrated in FIG. 25, the void 416 defining the handle 418 can pass directly, along a straight path, between the base wall 410 and the bottom of the bucket 400 to form a handle 418 whereby a user can engage the bucket 400.

Additionally, the bucket can include a floor 412 of the body portion. In particular, the floor 412 can define one or more surfaces that make up a bottom portion of the interior portion 408 of the bucket 400. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the floor 412 can include a flat surface 426 and one or more sloped portions 428. In some embodiments, the sloped portion 428 is defined by the handle 418 formed in the base portion 404 of the bucket 400. Providing handles 418 that define the sloped portion 428 in the floor 412 can facilitate a bucket 400 having a lower height than buckets having an interior portion 408 that is independent from the base portion 404 of the bucket 400. Accordingly, the bucket 400 illustrated in FIG. 25 can have an overall height similar to the height of conventional buckets having a similar volume. Further, the bucket 400 can be stacked within one or more similar buckets and/or conventional buckets having similar shape and dimensions.

Regardless of the final design of the bucket 100, 200, 300, 400, the bucket 100, 200, 300, 400 can be made using a variety of materials. In one example, the bucket 100, 200, 300, 400 includes a high strength plastic material. Nevertheless, other materials may be used, such as metals, composites, etc.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A bucket, comprising:

a body portion having a floor and a body wall, the body portion defining an interior portion;

a base portion positioned below the body portion, the base portion comprising a base wall coupling with the body wall; and

a void located in the base wall of the base portion, the void sized and configured to form a handle.

2. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the void extends through the base wall.

3. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the void extends from the base wall through a bottom portion of the base portion.

4. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the handle is accessible from a bottom portion of the base portion.

5. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the floor separates the interior portion from the base portion.

6. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the floor comprises a flat surface extending completely between a first end of the body wall and a second end of the body wall.

7. The bucket of claim 1, wherein a volume of the interior portion is independent from the base portion and the handle.

8. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a flat surface extending across a bottom portion of the base portion forming a bottom surface of the base portion.

9. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the bucket comprises a single piece of plastic material for the base portion and the body portion.

10. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the bucket comprises a first piece of plastic material for the base portion and a second piece of plastic material for the body portion.

11. The bucket of claim 10, wherein the base portion and the body portion are fused together.

12. The bucket of claim 10, wherein the base portion is selectively joined to the body portion.

13. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises one or more ergonomic features.

14. The bucket of claim 13, wherein the one or more ergonomic features comprises finger indentations on a grip of the handle.

15. The bucket of claim 13, wherein the one or more ergonomic features comprises a foam material on a grip of the handle.

16. The bucket of claim 13, wherein the one or more ergonomic features comprises a foam material lining a surface of the handle formed by the void.

17. The bucket of claim 1, wherein the bucket is stackable within an interior portion of another bucket having a cylindrical shape and a similar volume.

18. A bucket, comprising:

a body portion having a floor and a body wall, the body portion defining an inner portion;

a base portion positioned below the body portion, the base portion comprising a base wall coupling with the body wall;

a first void located in the base wall of the base portion, the first void sized and configured to form a first handle; and

a second void located in the base wall on an opposing side of the base portion from the first void, the second void sized and configured to form a second handle.

19. The bucket of claim 18, wherein the bucket comprises one or more additional voids located in the base wall of the base portion, each of the one or more additional voids sized and configured to form an additional handle.

20. The bucket of claim 19, wherein the first void, second void, and one or more additional voids are spaced out evenly across the base wall.