Suspension Device for Containers

Abstract

The suspension device is formed: by a ring incorporating two opposite radial pins and being ascendingly seated and locked against an external peripheral rib of the body of the container; and by a U-shaped handle having end portions articulated in the radial pins and being angularly displaced between inoperative and operative positions. The ring incorporates a lock means to retain the handle in the inoperative position. Each end portion of the handle has a through opening, supporting a radial pin and presenting a width, in the direction transversal to the extension of the handle, sufficient to tightly support, in said direction, the radial pin, and a length, in the longitudinal direction of the handle, sufficient to support the radial pin, both with the handle in the inoperative position, and with the handle in angular displacement from the inoperative position to the operative position.

1 . A suspension device for containers, comprising a body having a surrounding lateral wall, an upper edge and an external peripheral rib, the device being formed: by a ring which incorporates a pair of external and opposite radial pins and which is ascendingly seated and locked against the external peripheral rib, around the body; and by a U-shaped handle having a median portion and end portions respectively articulated around the radial pins, so as to be displaced, around the radial pins, between an inoperative position, lateral to the body, and an elevated operative position, disposed over the body, the device being characterized in that the ring further incorporates a lock means actuating against an adjacent portion of the handle and stabilizing the latter in its inoperative position, each end portion of the handle being provided with a through opening through which is supported a respective radial pin, said through opening presenting a width, in the direction transversal to the extension of the handle, sufficient to tightly support, in said direction, the radial pin, and a length, in the longitudinal direction of the handle, sufficient to support the radial pin, both with the handle in the inoperative position and stabilized by the lock means, and with the handle in angular displacement from the inoperative position to the operative position. 
     
     
         2 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the median portion of the handle is provided with a through hole, the lock means comprising a lock pin, radially and externally incorporated to the ring, provided with an enlarged head and to be fitted through the through hole of the median portion, by elastic deformation of at least one of the parts defined by the handle, and by the enlarged head of the lock pin, locking the handle in its inoperative position. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the lock means comprises a radial projection, superiorly and externally incorporated to the ring and provided with an end lower projection, the median portion of the handle, in the inoperative position of the latter, being fitted and locked under the radial projection. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1  characterized in that the through opening, of each end portion of the handle, presents opposite lateral edges, parallel and rectilinear, against which are tightly seated opposite regions of the cross section of the respective radial pin, said through opening also presenting an outer end edge, against which is seated the respective radial pin, when the handle is in the operative position and suspending the container. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 4 , characterized in that each radial pin incorporates an enlarged head with the contour larger than the width of the through openings, each of the latter presenting an inner end opposite to the outer end edge and opened to an enlarged hole with a contour dimensioned to allow the passage of the enlarged head of the radial pin. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the through opening of each end portion of the handle presents opposite lateral edges, parallel and rectilinear, each radial pin presenting a polygonal cross section, comprising: two first faces, opposite to each other, according to the axis direction of the ring and each being tightly seated on one of the opposite lateral edges of the respective through opening when the handle is in the inoperative position, the first faces of each radial pin defining the lock means which stabilizes the handle in its inoperative position. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 6 , characterized in that the polygonal cross section of each radial pin also comprises two second faces, opposite to each other, according to a direction orthogonal to that of the axis of the ring, and each being tightly seated on one of the opposite lateral edges of the respective through opening when the handle is in the operative position, the second faces of each radial pin defining the lock means which stabilizes the handle in its operative position. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 6 , characterized in that the through opening, of each end portion of the handle, also presents an outer end edge, against which is seated one of the first faces of the polygonal cross section of the respective radial pin, when the handle is in the operative position and suspending the container. 
     
     
         9 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that the polygonal cross section of the radial pins is square and that the outer end edge of the through openings is rectilinear and orthogonal to the opposite lateral edges. 
     
     
         10 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 8 , characterized in that each radial pin incorporates an enlarged head with the contour larger than the width of the through openings, each of the latter presenting an inner end, opposite to the outer end edge and opened to an enlarged hole with a contour dimensioned to allow the passage of the enlarged head of the radial pin. 
     
     
         11 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 5 , characterized in that the opposite lateral edges, of each through opening, are provided of respective projections so as to limit the free displacement of the radial pins towards the enlarged hole of the respective through opening. 
     
     
         12 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the ring comprises: an upper edge which is cutout so as to define an inner annular step, turned upwards and recessed in relation to said upper edge and to be ascendingly seated and locked against the peripheral rib of the body; and a lower edge which is cutout so as to define an outer annular step, turned downwards and recessed in relation to said lower edge, which is seated on the inner annular step of other ring disposed immediately below, in a stack of rings. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , characterized in that the external peripheral rib is defined by deforming a circumferential region of the body of the container, axially spaced from the upper edge of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension device, as set forth in  claim 1 , the body being provided with an upper wall peripherally double seamed to the upper edge of the surrounding lateral wall, the device being characterized in that the external peripheral rib is defined by double seaming the upper wall to the surrounding lateral wall of said body.