STORAGE BUCKET ASSEMBLY

A storage bucket assembly has a bucket and a hanging member. The bucket has a bucket body, two connecting portions formed on an outer surface of the bucket body, and an abutting portion disposed on a top of the bucket body. The hanging member is pivotally mounted on the bucket and has two connecting plates, a top plate, and two supports. The two connecting plates are connected pivotally to the two connecting portions, respectively. The top plate is connected to the two connecting plates. The two supports are disposed on the top plate. The two supports and the abutting portion are formed as a three-point support to make the storage bucket assembly steadily mounted on an edge of a table. The storage bucket assembly occupies very little space on a top surface of the table.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage bucket assembly, and more particularly to a storage bucket assembly that can be hung and abut an edge of a table.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional storage bucket is used for storing objects. Take wine bottle storage for example. The conventional storage bucket for wine bottles has a flat inner bottom surface. Ice cubes can be stored in the conventional storage bucket for cooling the wine bottle put in the conventional storage bucket, such that temperature of wine in the wine bottle can be decreased, improving the mouthfeel of cold wine drinking. The conventional storage bucket is usually put on a table for users to easily take the wine bottle from the conventional storage bucket.

However, the conventional storage bucket put on the table occupies quite a lot of space on the table. Moreover, due to condensation formed on an outer sidewall of the conventional storage bucket, the table becomes wet and messy. For increasing the available space on the table and keeping the table tidy, the conventional storage bucket may be put on the ground instead. When the conventional storage bucket is put on the ground, the users need to stoop to take the wine bottle from the conventional storage bucket. Furthermore, when put on the ground, the conventional storage bucket is not easily noticeable and is prone to be collided by the users.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a storage bucket assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a storage bucket assembly that may solve the problems that the conventional storage bucket put on the table occupies too much space above the table-top surface, the condensate water drops on the outside of the conventional storage bucket stain the table-top surface, the conventional storage bucket put on the ground is prone to be collided, and the wine bottle in the conventional storage bucket on the ground is hard to retrieve.

The storage bucket assembly has a bucket and a hanging member. The bucket has a bucket body, two connecting portions, and an abutting portion. The bucket body has a top, an outer surface, a front side, a chamber, and an opening. The chamber of the bucket body is formed in the bucket body. The opening of the bucket body is formed on the top of the bucket body and communicates with the chamber of the bucket body. The two connecting portions are formed on the outer surface of the bucket body at a spaced interval. The abutting portion is disposed on the top of the bucket body and is disposed adjacent to the opening of the bucket body. The hanging member is pivotally mounted on the bucket and has two connecting plates, a top plate, and two supports. The two connecting plates are respectively connected pivotally to the two connecting portions of the bucket and each of the connecting plates has a top end. The top plate spans the opening of the bucket body, is connected to the two top ends of the two connecting plates, and has a bottom surface, a back side, and two supporting portions. The two supporting portions are formed on the bottom surface of the top plate at a spaced interval and are adjacent to the back side of the top plate. The two supports are mounted on the bottom surface of the top plate and are respectively disposed at the two supporting portions.

In use, the storage bucket assembly is hung down from an edge of a table with the hanging member disposed on the edge of the table. When the storage bucket assembly is located beside the edge of the table, the storage bucket assembly occupies very little space on a top surface of the table and keeps the top surface of the table tidy. The two supports and the abutting portion are formed as a three-point support to make the storage bucket assembly steadily mounted on the edge of the table. The two connecting plates can sway relative to the bucket body to adjust the angle between the bucket and the hanging member. The storage bucket assembly can be applied to tables of different thicknesses.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage bucket assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 1, showing a hanging member swaying forward away from limiting stoppers;

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

FIG. 5 is a side view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view in partial section of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an operational cross-sectional side view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 1, showing the hanging member abutting an edge of a table;

FIG. 8 is an operational front view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an operational cross-sectional side view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 7, showing a wine bottle and ice cubes put in the storage bucket assembly;

FIG. 10 is another operational cross-sectional side view of the storage bucket assembly in FIG. 7, showing the wine bottle and the ice cubes put in the storage bucket assembly; and

FIG. 11 is an operational side view showing two storage bucket assemblies of FIG. 1 stacked together.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a storage bucket assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a bucket 10 and a hanging member 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the bucket 10 has a bucket body 11, two connecting portions 12, and an abutting portion 13. The bucket body 11 has a top, an outer surface, a front side, a chamber 14, and an opening 15. The chamber 14 is formed in the bucket body 11. The opening 15 of the bucket body 11 is formed on the top of the bucket body 11 and communicates with the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11. The two connecting portions 12 are formed on the outer surface of the bucket body 11 at a spaced interval. Specifically, the connecting portions 12 are oppositely disposed on the outer surface of the bucket body 11. The abutting portion 13 is disposed on the top of the bucket body 11 and adjacent to the opening 15 of the bucket body 11. Preferably, the abutting portion 13 is made of silica gel and provides a good anti-slip effect.

Furthermore, the bucket body 11 has two limiting stoppers 16. The limiting stoppers 16 are formed on the bucket body 11 and are disposed behind the two connecting portions 12 respectively. In addition, the bucket body 11 has an inner bottom surface, a positioning protrusion 17, and a raising protrusion 18. The inner bottom surface is formed in the bucket body 11. The positioning protrusion 17 is formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body 11 and protrudes to the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11. The raising protrusion 18 is formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body 11 and is located between the positioning protrusion 17 and the front side of the bucket body 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the hanging member 20 is pivotally mounted on the bucket 10 and has two connecting plates 21, a top plate 22, and two supports 23. The two connecting plates 21 connect pivotally to the two connecting portions 12 of the bucket 10, respectively. Each of the connecting plates 21 has a top end. The top plate 22 spans the opening 15 of the bucket body 11, are connected to the two top ends of the two connecting plates 21, and has a bottom surface, a back side, a front side, and two supporting portions 24. The two supporting portions 24 are formed on the bottom surface of the top plate 22 at a spaced interval and are adjacent to the back side of the top plate 22. Furthermore, the top plate 22 has an indentation 25 formed in the front side of the top plate 22. The two supports 23 are mounted on the bottom surface of the top plate 22 and are respectively disposed at the supporting portions 24. Preferably, the two supports 23 are made of silica gel and provide a good anti-slip effect. In addition, the two limiting stoppers 16 are respectively disposed behind the two connecting plates 21, and selectively abut against the two connecting plates 21 to prevent the two connecting plates 21 from further swaying backward.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the two connecting plates 21 has a pivot hole 211 and an expansion gap 212. The pivot hole 211 is formed through the connecting plate 21 and adjacent to a lower end of the connecting plate 21. The expansion gap 212 is formed through the connecting plate 21 and communicates with the pivot hole 211. Each of the two connecting portions 12 has a shaft 121 and a limiting plate 122. The shaft 121 is formed on the outer surface of the bucket body 11 and is pivotally mounted in the pivot hole 211 of a corresponding one of the connecting plates 21. The limiting plate 122 is formed on the shaft 121 and holds the corresponding one of the connecting plates 21 between the limiting plate 122 and the bucket body 11.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, to dispose the storage bucket assembly on an edge of a table 30, the two supports 23 on the top plate 22 abut against a top surface of the table 30 and the connecting plates 21 abut against the edge of the table 30. Thus, the hanging member 20 is hung on the edge of the table 30. With the two connecting plates 21 of the hanging member 20 pivotally connected to the two connecting portions 12 of the bucket 10, the bucket 10 that is hung down from the connecting plates 21 of the hanging member 20 will sway until the abutting portion 13 abuts against a bottom surface of the table 30. The two supports 23 that contact the top surface of the table 30 serve as supporting points for hanging the bucket 10. The abutting portion 13 that abuts against the bottom surface of the table 30 prevents the bucket body 11 from shaking. The two supports 23 and the abutting portion 13 are formed as a three-point support to make the storage bucket assembly steadily mounted on the edge of the table 30. Accordingly, the storage bucket assembly can be steadily disposed on the edge of the table 30.

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, when the storage bucket assembly is in use, the storage bucket assembly is disposed on the edge of the table 30 and a wine bottle 40 is put into the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11. Ice cubes 42 are also put into the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11 and are spread around the wine bottle 40 for cooling the wine bottle 40. A bottom surface of the wine bottle 40 is put on the positioning protrusion 17 of the bucket body 11 with the positioning protrusion 17 protruding into a recess formed on the bottom surface of the wine bottle 40 for positioning the wine bottle 40. The raising protrusion 18 raises a part of the bottom surface of the wine bottle 40 and the wine bottle 40 tilts toward the hanging member 20. Thus, the wine bottle 40 leans on the top plate 22 and is mounted in the indentation 25 of the top plate 22. The indentation 25 of the top plate 22 allows the top plate 22 to stably hold the wine bottle 40 at a specific position, such that the wine bottle 40 is stably mounted in the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11. The storage bucket assembly that is disposed on the edge of the table 30 occupies very little space above the top surface of the table 30, and keeps the top surface of the table 30 tidy. Accordingly, aesthetic appeal of the top surface of the table 30 is improved.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the storage bucket assembly can be disposed on the edges of the tables 30 of different thicknesses. Since the hanging member 20 spans and is able to sway relative to the bucket 10, the storage bucket assembly can be hung on the tables 30 of different thicknesses. The abutting portion 13 and the two supports 23 are made of silica gel and have good deformation elasticity. When the abutting portion 13 abuts the bottom surface of the table 30 and the two supports 23 abut on the top surface of the table 30, an angle formed between the bucket 10 and the bottom surface of the table 30, or between the hanging member 20 and the top surface of the table 30, can be adjusted by the two connecting plates 21 for adjusting the anti-slip effect. Furthermore, since the two connecting plates 21 can sway to adjust the angle between the bucket 10 and the hanging member 20 and the abutting portion 13 and the two supports 23 have good deformation elasticity, the storage bucket assembly is applicable to the tables 30 of a wide range of thicknesses.

With reference to FIG. 11, to store multiple storage bucket assemblies, the hanging member 20 of each storage bucket assembly sways forward and the top plate 22 sways to the front side of the bucket body 11. The storage bucket assemblies can be stacked, so as to save a storage space.

The storage bucket assembly as described has the following advantages. With the hanging member 20 disposed on the edge of the table 30, the bucket 10 is hung down from the edge of the table 30. The storage bucket assembly occupies very little space on the top surface of the table 30 and keeps the top surface of the table 30 tidy. The two supports 23 and the abutting portion 13 are formed as a three-point support to make the storage bucket assembly steadily mounted on the edge of the table 30. Accordingly, the aesthetic appeal of the top surface of the table 30 is improved. The storage bucket assembly is located beside the table 30 for convenience of retrieving an object, such as the wine bottle 40, from the storage bucket assembly. The two connecting plates 21 can sway relative to the bucket body 11 to adjust the angle between the bucket 10 and the hanging member 20. The storage bucket assembly is applicable to the tables 30 of different thicknesses. Therefore, the storage bucket assembly is practical for use. Furthermore, the raising protrusion 18 that raises the bottom surface of the wine bottle 40 allows the wine bottle 40 to tilt toward the hanging member 20 and mounted in the indentation 25 of the top plate 25. Therefore, the wine bottle 40 can be stably mounted in the chamber 14 of the bucket body 11.

Claims

1. A storage bucket assembly comprising:

a bucket having a bucket body having a top; an outer surface; a front side; a chamber formed in the bucket body; and an opening formed on the top of the bucket body and communicating with the chamber of the bucket body; two connecting portions formed on the outer surface of the bucket body at a spaced interval; and an abutting portion disposed on the top of the bucket body and being adjacent to the opening of the bucket body; and
a hanging member pivotally mounted on the bucket and having two connecting plates respectively connected pivotally to the two connecting portions of the bucket, and each of the connecting plates having a top end; a top plate spanning the opening of the bucket body, connected to the two top ends of the two connecting plates, and having a bottom surface; a back side; and two supporting portions formed on the bottom surface of the top plate at a spaced interval and being adjacent to the back side of the top plate; and two supports mounted on the bottom surface of the top plate and respectively disposed at the two supporting portions.

2. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bucket body has two limiting stoppers formed on the bucket body and disposed behind the two connecting portions respectively and behind the two connecting plates respectively, and the two limiting stoppers selectively abut against the two connecting plates.

3. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bucket body has

an inner bottom surface formed in the bucket body;
a positioning protrusion formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body and protruding to the chamber of the bucket body; and
a raising protrusion formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body and located between the positioning protrusion and the front side of the bucket body.

4. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bucket body has

an inner bottom surface formed in the bucket body;
a positioning protrusion formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body and protruding to the chamber of the bucket body; and
a raising protrusion formed on the inner bottom surface of the bucket body and located between the positioning protrusion and the front side of the bucket body.

5. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each of the two connecting plates has a pivot hole formed through the connecting plate and adjacent to a lower end of the connecting plate; and an expansion gap formed through the connecting plate and communicating with the pivot hole; and
each of the two connecting portions has a shaft formed on the outer surface of the bucket body and pivotally mounted in the pivot hole of a corresponding one of the connecting plates; and a limiting plate formed on the shaft and holding the corresponding one of the connecting plates between the limiting plate and the bucket body.

6. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein

each of the two connecting plates has a pivot hole formed through the connecting plate and adjacent to a lower end of the connecting plate; and an expansion gap formed through the connecting plate and communicating with the pivot hole; and
each of the two connecting portions has a shaft formed on the outer surface of the bucket body and pivotally mounted in the pivot hole of a corresponding one of the connecting plates; and a limiting plate formed on the shaft and holding the corresponding one of the connecting plates between the limiting plate and the bucket body.

7. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein

each of the two connecting plates has a pivot hole formed through the connecting plate and adjacent to a lower end of the connecting plate; and an expansion gap formed through the connecting plate and communicating with the pivot hole; and
each of the two connecting portions has a shaft formed on the outer surface of the bucket body and pivotally mounted in the pivot hole of a corresponding one of the connecting plates; and a limiting plate formed on the shaft and holding the corresponding one of the connecting plates between the limiting plate and the bucket body.

8. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein

each of the two connecting plates has a pivot hole formed through the connecting plate and adjacent to a lower end of the connecting plate; and an expansion gap formed through the connecting plate and communicating with the pivot hole; and
each of the two connecting portions has a shaft formed on the outer surface of the bucket body and pivotally mounted in the pivot hole of a corresponding one of the connecting plates; and a limiting plate formed on the shaft and holding the corresponding one of the connecting plates between the limiting plate and the bucket body.

9. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

10. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

11. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

12. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

13. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

14. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

15. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

16. The storage bucket assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top plate has an indentation and the indentation is formed in a front side of the top plate.

Patent History
Publication number: 20200047949
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 13, 2018
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2020
Inventor: VICTOR LIN (KAOHSIUNG CITY)
Application Number: 16/101,675
Classifications
International Classification: B65D 25/32 (20060101);