Container with a retractable handle

Abstract

A container, comprising a body comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from said bottom wall; at least one of two opposite side walls comprising a handgrip portion in an upper portion thereof, the handgrip portion comprising an aperture; a handle comprising at least one side arm, the at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between the first and the second ends; the aperture of the handgrip portion receiving the first end of the handle; the side arm being connected to the body by the first end of the handle sliding inside the handgrip portion through the aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where the first end of the handle is locked inside the handgrip portion by the aperture and the side arm is pivotable about the aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body, wherein the first end is engaged deeper in the handgrip portion and the side arm is locked into position by the aperture at a position between the first and the second ends.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a body comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from said bottom wall; at least one of two opposite side walls comprising a handgrip portion in an upper portion thereof, said handgrip portion comprising an aperture;   a handle comprising at least one side arm, said at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between said first and said second ends; said aperture of the handgrip portion receiving said first end of said handle;   said side arm being connected to said body by said first end of said handle sliding inside said handgrip portion through said aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where said first end of said handle is locked inside said handgrip portion by said aperture and said side arm is pivotable about said aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body, wherein said first end is engaged deeper in said handgrip portion and said side arm is locked into position by said aperture at a position between said first and said second ends.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said side arm comprises a discontinuity at said position between said first and said second ends, said discontinuity engaging said aperture of said handgrip portion in said retracted position of the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said side arm has a hook shape, said hook shape being trapped by said aperture within the handgrip portion and stopping a sliding movement of the handle away from the side wall of the body in the pulled-out position. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said side arm is pivotable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical container-carrying position in said pulled-out position. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said discontinuity is a catch provided on the side arm, said catch locking the handle into the retracted position by engagement with the aperture of the handgrip portion. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said discontinuity is a change of curvature, said change of curvature locking the handle into the retracted position by engagement with the aperture of the handgrip portion. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each one of two opposite side walls of said body comprises a handgrip portion, each handgrip portion comprising an aperture; and said handle comprises two opposite side arms, each side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between said first and said second ends; each aperture of each handgrip portion receiving the first end of each side arm;
 each side arm being connected to said body by the first end thereof sliding inside its respective handgrip portion through each respective aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where each first end of each side arm is locked inside said handgrip portion by said aperture and said side arm is pivotable about said aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the side wall of the body, wherein said first end is engaged deeper in said handgrip portion and said side arm is locked into position by said aperture at a position between said first and said second ends.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said side arms are connected by a joining portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said handgrip portion comprises a first aperture and a first slot extending from said first aperture, and the first end of the side arm comprises a locking head supported by a rod extending generally perpendicularly to the side arm, said locking head locking into position in said first aperture in the handgrip portion when the handle is in its retracted position and said side arm sliding along said first slot from said first aperture until reaching an extremity of said first slot opposite said first aperture in the pulled out position of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said handgrip portion comprises a second slot extending at an angle from said extremity of said first slot, said second slot ending into a second aperture opposite said extremity of said first slot, said side arm sliding along said second slot until said locking head locks into position in said second aperture, the handle then being in a container-carrying position. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side arm is a telescopic side arm. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side arm comprises a bellow portion. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side arm comprises folded sections, said folded sections being unfoldable into the length of the side arm. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said second end of said side arm comprises a grip. 
     
     
         16 . A retractable handle for a stackable container comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls extending from said bottom wall; at least one of two opposite of said side walls comprising a handgrip portion, said handgrip portion comprising an aperture; said handle comprising at least one arm, said at least one side arm comprising a first end, a second end and a length between said first and said second ends; said first end of said handle being received in said aperture of the handgrip portion and said first end of said handle sliding inside said handgrip portion through said aperture, from i) a pulled out-position, where said first end of said handle is locked inside said handgrip portion by said aperture and said side arm is pivotable about said aperture, and ii) a retracted position along the sidewall of the body, wherein said first end is engaged deeper in said handgrip portion and said side arm is locked into position by said aperture at a position between said first and said second ends.