Handle with openable end

Abstract

An end openable handle structure is provided for association with an object, such as a container or the like. The handle structure includes an elongated arm for hand grasping, a leg for supporting the arm at one end, and a bridging link for extending between the other or open arm end and an object to which the leg is attached. One end of the bridging link is attached pivotably to either the open arm end or to the object. The other end of the bridging link either abuts against the other one of either the object or the open arm end, thereby closing the bridging link handle structure, or pivots to an spaced, gap defining position relative to the closed position. Stop means limits travel of the bridging link beyond the closed position, and spring biasing means yieldingly urges the bridging link into the closed position.

1 . An end openable handle structure for association with an object, said handle structure comprising in combination: 
 an elongated arm for grasping in a hand, said arm having a proximal end portion and an opposite distal end portion;    a leg for supporting said proximal end portion, said leg having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, said first end portion being joined to said proximal end portion and including joining means, and said second end portion being connectable to said object;    a bridging link for extending between said distal end portion and said object, said bridging link having opposing forward and rearward portions, said rearward portion including pivot means that is connectable to one of either said distal end or said object whereby said forward portion is locatable at a first position that is in adjacent, abutting relationship relative to the other one of either said object or said distal end, and whereby said forward portion is reversibly pivotable relative to said rearward portion from said first position to a second position that is in spaced relationship relative to said first position, is generally inward relative to said arm, and is generally towards said leg, thereby defining at said second position a gap between said distal end portion and said bridging link;    spring biasing means cooperatively associated with said bridging link for yieldingly urging said bridging link into said first position; and    stop means cooperatively associated with said first position for limiting travel of said forward portion beyond said first position in a direction generally opposite to said second position;    whereby, when a force sufficient to cause said bridging link to pivot towards said second position is applied to said bridging link, said forward portion is pivotable to said second position.    
   
   
       2 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said object is transportable.  
   
   
       3 . The handle structure of  claim 2  wherein said object is a lidded container.  
   
   
       4 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said first end portion and said proximal end are integrally joined together with an acute angle therebetween.  
   
   
       5 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said second end portion is associated with connecting means for connecting said second end portion to said object.  
   
   
       6 . The handle structure of  claim 5  wherein said connecting means includes clip means adapted to engage a portion of said object.  
   
   
       7 . The handle structure of  claim 6  wherein said object is a container having a mouth that defines a lip, and said clip means is adapted to extend over and engage a portion of said lip whereby said handle structure is engaged with said container.  
   
   
       8 . The handle structure of  claim 7  wherein said second end portion further includes an integrally formed ring structure that is adapted to extend around, overlie said clip means, and engage portions of said lip.  
   
   
       9 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said rearward portion is pivotably engaged with said object and said first position is located between said distal end portion and said forward portion.  
   
   
       10 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said rearward portion is pivotably engaged with said distal end and said first position is located between said object and said forward portion.  
   
   
       11 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said rearward portion includes: 
 a pair of outwardly extending terminal ears that are pivotably associated with a leaf member by a pintle pin that associates with said ears and said leaf member, and    said leaf member is connectable with one of either said distal end or said object, including connecting means.    
   
   
       12 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said rearward portion includes: 
 a pair of outwardly extending terminal ears, and    one of either said distal end or said object has an outwardly extending leaf member that extends between said terminal ears, and that is pivotably connected therebetween by a pintle member;    whereby said rearward portion is pivotable about said pintle member.    
   
   
       13 . The handle structure of  claim 11  wherein said leaf member is integrally formed with said arm at said distal end portion.  
   
   
       14 . The handle structure of  claim 11  wherein said leaf member associates with a hook-like projection on said object.  
   
   
       15 . The handle structure of  claim 11  wherein said spring biasing means includes a spring that has a central coil which extends around portions of said pintle member and that has outwardly extending opposite end portions that each rest yieldingly against a different one of said bridging link and said leaf member.  
   
   
       16 . The handle structure of  claim 11  wherein said forward portion includes a forwardly extending tongue and the other one of either said object or said distal end has a groove defined therein that is sized to receive therein said tongue when said forward portion is in said first position.  
   
   
       17 . The handle structure of  claim 11  wherein said bridging link pivots about said pin member in a direction that extends towards said leg.  
   
   
       18 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said arm and said leg are unitarily formed.  
   
   
       19 . The handle structure of  claim 18  wherein said arm and said leg have a core portion over which is molded a plastic.  
   
   
       20 . The handle structure of  claim 19  wherein said core includes a hollow central, elongated portion.  
   
   
       21 . The handle structure of  claim 20  wherein, at said second end portion, said core defines clip means that is adapted to extend over and engage an edge portion defined in said object whereby said handle structure is engageable with said object.  
   
   
       22 . The handle structure of  claim 21  wherein said clip means is fixed relative to said edge portion.  
   
   
       23 . The handle structure of  claim 1  wherein said second end portion and said rearward portion are each connected to support means that is associatable with said object.  
   
   
       24 . The handle structure of  claim 23  wherein said support means is fixedly connected to said object.  
   
   
       25 . The handle structure of  claim 23  wherein said support means is disconnectably connected to said object.  
   
   
       26 . The handle structure of  claim 25  wherein said support means comprises a mounting cage-type structure that connects with said second end portion and also with said rearward portion and that slidably and circumferentially is extendable around cylindrical side wall portions of a container.  
   
   
       27 . The handle structure of  claim 26  wherein said mounting cage type structure comprises in unitary combination a top ring to which said second end portion is connected, a bottom ring to which said rearward portion is connected, and a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced spars whose respective upper end portions are joined to said top ring and whose respective lower end portions are joined to said bottom ring.  
   
   
       28 . The handle structure of  claim 27  wherein said second end portion is unitarily formed with a support ring that is adapted to extend circumferentially around said cylindrical side wall portions and that has bottom edge portions that are configured to engage with mating top edge portions of said top ring of said mounting cage type structure.  
   
   
       29 . An end openable handle structure for association with an object, said structure comprising in combination: 
 an elongated arm for grasping in a hand, said arm having a proximal end portion and an opposite distal end portion;    a leg having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, said first end portion being joined to said proximal end portion and including joining means, and said second end portion including connecting means for connecting said second end portion to said object;    a bridging link for extending between said distal end portion and a portion of said object that is located in spatially adjacent, spaced relationship to said distal end portion, said bridging link having opposing terminating forward and rearward portions, said rearward portion being pivotally mounted to one of either said distal end or said adjacent object portion and including pivotal mounting means, and said forward portion being locatable in adjacent, abutting relationship relative to the other one of either said adjacent object portion or said distal end, whereby said forward portion is reversibly pivotable relative to said pivotal mounting means between a first location that corresponds to said adjacent abutting relationship and a second location that corresponds to a spatial position that is in spaced, adjacent relationship relative to said first location;    spring biasing means cooperatively associated with said pivotal mounting means and with said bridging link for yieldingly biasing said bridging link into said adjacent, abutting relationship; and    stop means cooperatively associated with said first position for limiting travel of said forward portion beyond said first position in a direction generally opposite to said second position;    the interrelationship between said handle structure and said object when said connecting means is so connected with said object being such that:    (a) when said bridging link is pivoted by said pivoting means, said distal end is exposed and available for a reversible hooking-type association with a hookably associatable structure that is engageable with said elongated arm by relative movement of said hookably-associatable structure through the spatial region located between said distal end and said adjacent object portion, and    (b) after said arm is so associated with said hookably-associatable structure, said bridging link is self-pivotable by means of said spring biasing means back into said first position.    
   
   
       30 . The handle structure of  claim 29  wherein connecting means and said pivotal mounting means are each connected to a support means that is disconnectably associated with said object.