Ergonomically-shaped plastic bail and container

Abstract

An ergonomically-shaped one-piece molded plastic lifting bail for attachment to a molded plastic container by means of attachment structures at the opposite longitudinal ends of the bail. A center portion of the bail is crescent shaped over a length of at least approximately four inches to provide increased rigidity and a smoothly rounded bottom surface which the user's hand engages when lifting the pail. The attachment structures permit the bail to be rotated relative to the pail so as to move between an upright lifting position and a laid over storage position.

1 . A one-piece molded plastic bail for lifting an attached container comprising: 
 a flat band of solid moldable plastic having longitudinally opposite ends and a non-flat center portion; and    attachment structures integrally molded into said opposite ends for snap-in rotatable attachment to bail receivers;    said center portion, over a length approximating the width of an adult human hand, being characterized by increased rigidity relative to the balance of the flat band and a smoothly rounded bottom surface which is engaged by the hand when lifting the bail and attached container.    
   
   
       2 . A bail as defined in  claim 1  wherein the center portion of the bail is crescent shaped in cross section.  
   
   
       3 . A bail as defined in  claim 1  wherein each attachment structure comprises a cylindrical body integrally connected with the band such that the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical body is at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of the band, each structure further comprising first and second arcuate flanges at spaced apart locations proximate an end of the body such that the body may be forced into a slotted opening in a bail receiver with the flanges internally of the receiver.  
   
   
       4 . In combination: 
 a molded plastic pail having bail receiver structures integrally molded into an outer body surface thereof at diametrically opposite positions;    a molded plastic bail for lifting the container when attached thereto and comprising a generally flat band of solid moldable plastic having longitudinally opposite ends and a non-flat center portion; and    attachment structures integrally molded into said opposite ends for snap-in rotatable attachment to said bail receivers;    said center portion, over a length approximating the width of an adult human hand, being characterized by increased rigidity relative to the balance of the flat band and a smoothly rounded bottom surface which is normally engaged by the hand when lifting the bail and attached container.    
   
   
       5 . The combination defined in  claim 4  wherein the receiver structures comprise slotted walls integral with but radially spaced outwardly from the outer surface of the pail and having key hole shaped slots for receiving the attachment structures of the bail therein, said attachment structures comprising flanged cylindrical bodies which snap-fit into the key hole shaped slots.  
   
   
       6 . The combination defined in  claim 4  wherein the bail receiver bodies are integrally molded with first and second spaced circumferential bands on the outer surface of the pail.