REPLACEMENT GRIPPING MEMBER

Abstract

An improved gripping member for a weight bearing container. The gripping member is specifically designed to either replace an existing gripping member, or improve a two part handle for a weight bearing container by providing a larger diameter gripping surface. The improved gripping member is formed of two mating halves that can be releasably attached to form a cylindrical gripping surface with a relatively large diameter. When attached about an existing gripping member or wire handle portion of a two part handle the inventive gripping member provides a large diameter gripping surface to distribute the weight of the container about a larger portion of the user's palm.

Description

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to handles. More specifically, the invention relates to a replacement gripping member or handle which can be placed over an existing handle.

STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART

Replacement handles for various items are well known in the art. The replacement handles are generally made of a molded plastic and serve to provide a larger or “grippier” surface area as compared to the original. The handles of the prior art typically replace, as opposed to cover, the original handles.

Replacement handles and/or gripping members for buckets or other large containers which can hold relatively heavy contents are of particular concern. The existing bucket or “heavy container” handles typically come in two parts. The first part comprises an elongate metal wire or arm. The metal arm is bent into a generally semi-circular shape. The ends of the arm are bent to engage portions of the top of the cylindrical container. The arm also includes a central section intermediate the ends of the arm. The second part of the handle is a cylindrical gripping member which rotatably fits on the central section of the arm and which is shaped to comfortably contour to the hand of a user. The cylindrical gripping member is typically made from plastic, and is sized to prevent the wire from “digging” into the user's hand when the container is heavily laden. The plastic comprising the gripping member degrades and breaks, especially when subjected to sunlight. After the gripping member breaks, the bucket is often discarded because a new gripping member is not readily available.

Typical of these devices is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,415 issued to one Crawley for a replacement gripping member for a bucket. The device consists of a single molded plastic piece formed of two nearly identical halves which interlock over a central portion of the wire handle of the bucket. While Crawley is effective, it can only be employed by either removing the existing gripping member or waiting for the gripping member to fail and then replacing it. The present invention can be used either as a replacement handle or to increase the diameter of the existing gripping member.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an improved gripping member for a weight bearing container. The gripping member is specifically designed to either replace an existing gripping member, or improve a two part handle for a weight bearing container by providing a larger diameter gripping surface. The improved gripping member is formed of two mating halves that can be releasably attached to form a cylindrical gripping surface with a relatively large diameter. When attached about an existing gripping member or wire handle portion of a two part handle the inventive gripping member provides a large diameter gripping surface to distribute the weight of the container about a larger portion of the user's palm.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member for a weight bearing container which has a larger diameter gripping surface than a conventional gripping member or wire handle.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member which can replace or improve an existing gripping member.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member which can be positioned about an existing gripping member or a wire handle.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member which has opposing abutment surfaces to limit horizontal displacement of a user's hand.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member having a male and a female half adapted for locking engagement.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member having a male and a female half with locking tabs and corresponding recesses configured to reduce accidental lateral displacement.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member having reinforced locking tabs to increase the load bearing capacity of the member.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved gripping member having a cylindrical channel or bore of sufficient diameter to enclose an existing gripping member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the gripping member of the invention applied to a wire handle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male half of the inventive gripping member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a female half of the gripping member.

FIG. 4 is close up of a locking tab of the male half of the gripping member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female half of the gripping member with a standard wire handle and grip inserted therethrough.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the gripping members illustrating the interaction of the male half locking tabs with the recesses of the female half while engaged.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the gripping members illustrating the interaction of the male half locking tabs with the recesses of the female half when disengaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7 the inventive device, generally indicated by the numeral 10 is shown. The invention, which is essentially an enhanced gripping member 10, is designed as an “oversized” grip to spread the weight of an attached container, vessel, etc. more broadly and evenly within a user's hand. The gripping member 10 of the invention is designed primarily for use with buckets or other containers where relatively heavy loads may be placed. Buckets are of particular concern because they tend to carry liquids, and liquids are dense and therefore very heavy per volume. The prior art addresses this weight issue by providing a two part handle.

The first part of a typical prior art handle comprises an elongate metal wire or arm having a diameter of about one-eighth of an inch. The metal arm is bent into a generally semi-circular shape. The ends of the arm are bent to engage portions of the top of the cylindrical container. The arm also include a central section intermediate the ends of the arm. The second part of the handle is a cylindrical gripping member which rotatably fits on the central section of the arm and which is shaped to comfortably contour to the hand of a user. The cylindrical gripping member is typically made from plastic and includes a honeycomb interior. The gripping members of prior art handles are typically about ¾ inches in diameter, this being a standard size which is used with the vast majority of prior art 1-5 gallon buckets. The problem with this arrangement is that the plastic comprising the gripping member, typically some type of polymer, degrades and breaks, especially when subjected to sunlight or repeated stress. After the gripping member breaks, the bucket is often discarded because a new gripping member is not readily available and the bare metal arm will tend to “dig” into the hand of the user, an effect greatly exacerbated when the container is heavily laden. The prior art addresses the problem by providing replacement handles or replacements for the gripping member. The gripping member replacements can only be employed by removing the existing handle which, given the thickness and hardness of the plastic typically used in these applications, can be quite difficult. Also, the replacements are invariably roughly the same diameter as the original and as such, are inadequate to provide sufficient weight distribution when held in the hand of an average adult.

The present invention 10 can be used as either a replacement gripping member or an enhanced (essentially a larger diameter) gripping member. To that end, the device 10 is formed of two halves 20, 22 which, when mated, form a relatively large gripping member having an “oversized” cylindrical opening or channel 24. Channel 24 has a sufficient interior diameter to allow a “standard” wire arm 26 or a typical grip 28 to pass therethrough. Thus, the channel 24 is preferably at least about ¾ inches in diameter. The relatively large inner diameter of channel 24 does not adversely affect performance of the device 10 when either the wire arm 26 or grip 28 is positioned therein and it should be noted that the standard arrangement does include some “play” or extra space between the inner diameter of the grip 28 and the arm 26. The channel 24 can accommodate a wire arm 26 or grip 28 of about ¾ inches in diameter so that the device 10 can be used with virtually any container handle as almost none have a diameter (either wire arm 26 or grip 28) greater than ¾ inches. Also, the device 10 can be used to “enhance” an existing grip 28 even if that grip 26 is cracked or otherwise damaged. This is because when the device 10 is enclosed about an existing grip 28, any damaged portion of the grip 28 which cannot be easily removed will be contained within channel 24. Finally, when the device is positioned about an existing grip 28, channel 24 is sized to receive the grip 28 in snug frictional engagement so that relative lateral displacement is not possible.

A key aspect of the invention 10 is that it is removable i.e., detachable, so that it can be used on more than one container, either as a replacement grip or to enhance an existing grip. Accordingly, male and female halves 20, 22 are designed to be releasably attached. This arrangement therefore creates a possibility of unintended separation which, in the event a heavy load is being carried, could be dangerous to the user. Accordingly, the device 10 must be designed to minimize unintended lateral or vertical displacement of the two halves. To that end, a series of locking tabs and corresponding recesses are provided on the male and female halves 20, 22, respectively. The tabs and recesses are configured to perform three functions, namely, the joining of male and female halves 20, 22, the prevention of relative lateral movement between the halves 20, 22, and the prevention of vertical separation between the halves 20, 22.

Male 20 and female 22 halves are joined by way of a series of linearly spaced male tabs 30 and corresponding recesses 32. Male half 20, like female half 22 is substantially semi-cylindrical though it could be rectangular or any other elongated shape. The semi-circular end portions 34, 35 of male 20 and female 22 halves expand diametrically outwardly so that the exterior surface of end portions 34, 35 form arcuate abutment surfaces 36 to restrict lateral movement of the user's hand when the halves 20, 22 are joined. Flat co-planar attachment surfaces 40, 42 extend between end portions 34, 35.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4, the male half 20 is shown. It can be seen that the locking tabs 30 extend from surfaces 40. As shown, there are six locking tabs 30 but there may be more or fewer provided that they are reinforced to prevent unintended separation of the male 20 half from the female half as will be explained in more detail later. Each tab 30 includes an upstanding wall 44 with a co-extensive flange 46 which extends perpendicular to the wall 44. The flange 46 is positioned along the top of the wall 44 with a rearmost portion 48 of the flange 46 extending from the top to the bottom of the wall and serving as both a stop and a reinforcement to prevent unintended disengagement of the device 10 as will be explained in more detail later. A semicircular protrusion 50 positioned approximately centrally lengthwise on said wall 44 is sized and positioned to engage an indentation 52 formed in tab receiving recess 32 formed in the female half 22 of the device 10.

Female half 22 is substantially identical to male half 20 with the exception of recesses 32 as previously discussed. The recesses 32 are essentially elongated slots formed in attachment wall 60, which wall terminates at attachment surface 42. Each recess 32 has a flange engaging lip 58 adjacent a tab 30 receiving opening 59. The lip 58 includes arcuate indentation 52 sized to receive protrusion 50 by “snap-fit”.

Unintended separation of the male 20 half from the female 22 half can be a concern when carrying heavy loads. Accordingly, the device 10 is reinforced to greatly reduce that possibility. To that end protrusion 50 is made robust, that is, relatively large. While this oversized arrangement makes even intended separation somewhat difficult, the device 10 can still be used (i.e., intentionally separated) by an adult of average strength. While protrusion 50 and indentation 52 serve to lock halves together while limiting unintended disengagement from translational displacement, the rearmost portion 48 of the flange 46 serves to limit vertical displacement of the male member 20 relative to the female 22. Since protrusion 50 and indentation 52 serve to limit relative horizontal movement of male 20 and female 22 halves of the device 10, rearmost portion 48 of the flange 46 provides additional mass to the tab 30 thereby providing greater resistance to vertical shear.

In operation, the user can remove any damaged original grip or portion thereof from an existing wire (or plastic or other material) handle, if necessary. The gripping member 10 of the invention is positioned approximately centrally along the wire handle of the container with the halves 20, 22 separated. If the original grip is still in place, the gripping member 10 is positioned to cover or overlap the original grip, effectively increasing the diameter of the original grip as stated above. The halves are then aligned so that attachment surfaces are approximately parallel, so that tabs 30 may be slid into snap engagement within recesses 32. The device 10 may be removed by sliding the male and female halves in opposite directions and used with another container if desired.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:

Claims

1. A gripping member for a weight bearing container having a wire handle comprising:

a male and female half, the male half having tabs and the female member having tab receiving recesses, said tabs and recesses allowing for selectively joining said male and female half;

each tab having a semi-cylindrical protrusion and a co-extensive flange with a rear wall, each recess having a flange engaging lip with an arcuate indentation;

whereby both unintended lateral and vertical separation of said male and female half is limited by interaction of said tabs within said recesses.

2. The gripping member of claim 1 having an internal channel when said male and female halves are joined.

3. The gripping member of claim 2 wherein said internal channel has at least a ¾ inch diameter.

4. A gripping member for a weight bearing container having a standard sized wire handle with a centrally positioned grip comprising:

a male and female half, the male half having tabs and the female member having tab receiving recesses, said tabs and recesses allowing for selectively joining said male and female half about said centrally positioned grip;

each tab having a semi-cylindrical protrusion and a co-extensive flange with a rear wall, each recess having a flange engaging lip with an arcuate indentation;

whereby both unintended lateral and vertical separation of said male and female half is limited by interaction of said tabs within said recesses.

5. The gripping member of claim 4 having an internal channel sized to receive said centrally positioned grip in snug, non-sliding relation when said male and female halves are joined.

6. A method of improving a handle for a weight bearing container, said handle having a gripping area and an original grip, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an enhanced grip, said enhanced grip initially formed of a male and female half and sized to surround said original grip when said male and female half are joined;

positioning said male and female halves about said original grip; and,

interlocking said male and female halves of said enhanced grip about said original grip.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of removing said original grip and positioning said enhanced grip about a central portion of said handle.