Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct
Patent
1997-07-03
1999-01-26
Castellano, Stephen J.
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
206509, 215384, 215398, 220771, 220770, B65D 2530
Patent
active
058629416
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a container and particularly to a container which is configured in such a manner that it can be lifted only in an ergonomically correct manner.
BACKGROUND ART
Almost all current containers which are designed to be lifted and carried by a person do so by providing a handle on the top of the container. The handle forces the person to carry the container to one side of the body which places stresses and strains on the vertebrae in the lumbar region of the back and is potentially crippling. The awkwardness of having a handle on a container lends itself to a hazardous situation every time the container is manually handled when full or partially full. Other injuries that are experienced as a direct result of mishandling the container includes neck, shoulder and arm injuries, cuts and abrasions, sprains and strains to other parts of the person's body. Pouring the contents of the container again requires an awkward and unnatural pose to be adopted by the person, which again adds to injury.
In Australia alone, work-place injuries cost approximately ten billion dollars per year in reported cases. It is further estimated that for every reported case, there are approximately four unreported cases. This then equates to an approximate loss of forty billion dollars per year. Statistics show that between 25-37% of work-place injuries are directly related to injuries sustained from incorrect manual handling techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to provide a container which can be lifted and carried in an ergonomically correct position. This has been achieved by providing hand grippable portions which are positioned such that when the container is lifted and carried by the hand grippable portions, the ergonomically correct posture is provided
It is an object of the invention to provide a container which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful and commercial choice
In one form, the invention resides in a container of the type which can be lifted and carried by a person, the container being provided with a first hand grippable portion on a bottom wall and adjacent one side of the container, and a second hand grippable portion on a side wall and adjacent an opposed side of the container.
By having the hand grippable portions provided in the above-referenced manner, a person can lift a container by gripping the hand grippable portion on the bottom wall, and can steady the container with the second hand grippable portion and in doing so will adopt a posture which is more ergonomically correct than would be the case if the container was lifted by a carry handle.
The container may be of the type which can contain liquids, flowable solids, solids, and the like. The size of the container can vary depending on the shape, size and weight of the contents of the container. For containers holding liquids, a typical volume will be between 10-50 liters. Larger containers can, of course, be used if the contents held by the containers are relatively light-weight.
The shape of the container can vary to suit the contents, storage, transportation, and the like. Common containers are those which are substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and side and these containers are typically formed from blow-moulded or injection-moulded plastics and hold a variety of liquids. Other common containers are those which are substantially cylindrical or drum-like in configuration. The container can be made from metal.
The container may be provided with an outlet or an inlet/outlet. For containers containing solids, the outlet may be in the form of a lid which can be of various conventional designs. For containers containing liquids, the outlet may be in the form of a pouring spout which is typically located on the top wall and adjacent a front side wall of the container to facilitate pouring.
The first and second hand grippable portions may comprise recesses in or on the container into which at least a portion of the person's hand can pass. Th
REFERENCES:
patent: 1447838 (1923-03-01), Donaldson
patent: 3270922 (1966-09-01), Schmidt
patent: 4541529 (1985-09-01), Hestehave et al.
patent: 4666054 (1987-05-01), Jaicks
patent: 4792170 (1988-12-01), Gipson et al.
patent: 4805793 (1989-02-01), Brandt et al.
patent: 4969571 (1990-11-01), Bartz
patent: 5226574 (1993-07-01), Durinzi, Jr.
LandOfFree
Container with ergonomically positioned hand grips does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container with ergonomically positioned hand grips, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container with ergonomically positioned hand grips will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1444121