Plastic bucket and lid

Abstract

A plastic bucket includes at least one undercut adjacent an upper end of the bucket defined by a bucket wall which extends upwardly and inwardly along a diagonal path. An annular, vertical section may be provided at the upper end of the diagonal path. Above the vertical section, the bucket wall extends radially outwardly to create an annular, horizontal flange. In addition, an uppermost annular rim may extend upwardly from the horizontal flange and be located approximately midway between inner and outer radii of the flange.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An integrally molded plastic bucket having an upright, annular bucket wall terminating in an annular lip to form an open bucket mouth with a single annular undercut located adjacent the mouth at the upper end of said bucket, said lip defined by a first upwardly and radially inwardly extending wall section along a diagonal path, a second wall section extending vertically upwardly from the first section and a third wall section extending horizontally radially outwardly from the second section, the improvement comprising, in combination: 
 first and second integrally molded pairs of spaced ribs, each rib connecting respectively the third section of the lip to the bucket wall or the first section of the lip, each pair of ribs having opposed, laterally spaced edges, each pair of ribs also spaced from the second section, each pair of ribs positioned on opposite sides of the bucket mouth to provide first and second handle cages; and    an integrally molded handle, said handle including a disc positioned between each pair of ribs in the undercut, and fragible sprue connection from the first or second wall section positioned in opposed relation to the space between at least one pair of ribs, said handle section including at least one handle retention disc connected to the sprue connection and said handle further including a rod section connecting the discs.    
     
     
         2 . The bucket and handle of  claim 1  or  claim 11  wherein the rod section includes laterally projecting wings positioned intermediate the opposite ends thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein the ribs connect the third wall section directly to the bucket wall.  
     
     
         4 . The improvement of  claim 1  including an upwardly extending annular rim from the third wall.  
     
     
         5 . The improvement of  claim 1  or  claim 11  wherein the first wall has a thickness greater than the thickness of the bucket wall.  
     
     
         6 . The improvement of  claim 1  or  claim 11  including a sprue connection to each end of the handle.  
     
     
         7 . The improvement of  claim 1  or  claim 11  wherein no ribs or rings are formed on the container wall in the area of said undercut.  
     
     
         8 . The improvement of  claim 1  or  claim 11  wherein the ribs forming each cage include a vertical run.  
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein the ribs connect the third wall section directly to the first wall section.  
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 1  or  claim 11  wherein the ribs forming each cage include a vertical run with an inside surface opposing one of said discs and each disc includes a bearing surface face opposing the inside face of one of said cages.  
     
     
         11 . In an integrally molded plastic bucket having an upright, annular bucket wall terminating in an annular lip to form an open bucket mouth with a single annular undercut located adjacent the upper mouth at the end of said bucket, said lip defined by a first upwardly and radially inwardly extending wall section along a diagonal path and a second wall section extending horizontally radially outwardly from the first wall section, the improvement comprising, in combination: 
 first and second integrally molded pairs of spaced ribs, each rib connecting respectively the second section of the lip to the bucket wall or the first section of the lip, each pair of ribs having opposed, laterally spaced edges, each pair of ribs also spaced from the first wall section, each pair of ribs positioned on opposite sides of the bucket mouth to provide first and second handle cages; and    an integrally molded handle, said handle including a disc positioned between each pair of ribs and in the undercut, and a fragible sprue connection from the first wall section positioned in opposed relation to the space between at least one pair of ribs, said handle section including at least one handle retention disc connected to the sprue connection and said handle further including a rod section connecting the discs.    
     
     
         12 . The improvement of  claim 11  wherein the ribs connect the second wall directly to the bucket wall.  
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 11  including an upwardly extending annular rim from the second wall.  
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 11  wherein the ribs connect the second wall section directly to the first wall section.