Selectively attachable bucket handle

Abstract

A selectively attachable bucket handle for a bucket configured to detachably engage with, and accommodate, certain features of a bucket such that the bucket handle is rigidly secured to a bucket, and such that the bucket handle translates a lifting force, applied to the bucket handle, onto a bucket. The bucket handle is also configured to detachably engage with a bucket without preventing a bucket from receiving a lid. The bucket handle is configured to detachably engage with a bucket such that the rest of the bucket handle projects perpendicularly away from a side of a bucket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A selectively attachable bucket handle for a bucket, the bucket having a cylindrical side wall with a rim, the bucket also having a collared skirt and at least one flange integral with and running circumferentially around the side wall, the collared skirt spaced outwardly from the side wall such that a space is defined between the collared skirt and the side wall, a plurality of vertical planar ribs interposed radially along the space and buttressing the collared skirt, the selectively attachable bucket handle comprising:
 a) a handling component; and   b) a first attachment component and a second attachment component, each, integral with, and spaced from, the handling component, the first attachment component configured to detachably engage with a length along the collared skirt and a corresponding rib of a bucket, the second attachment component configured to detachably engage with a length along the at least one flange of a bucket;   wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket via the first attachment component and the second attachment component:
 the first attachment component and the second attachment component are fixed in place along the length of the collared skirt and along the length of the at least one flange, respectively; and 
 the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component are integrated such that a lifting force, applied to the handling component, is translated onto the bucket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein the length along the collared skirt of the bucket is on the side adjacent to the space between the collared skirt and the side wall, and the length along the at least one flange of the bucket is on the side wall between the at least one flange and the collared skirt. 
     
     
         3 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component of the bucket handle are elongated, the longitudinal length of the first attachment component is parallel to the longitudinal length of the second attachment component such that a space is defined there between, and the longitudinal length of the handling component is parallel to the space between the first attachment component and the second attachment component. 
     
     
         4 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment component of the bucket handle comprises a rib groove along its length, the rib groove configured to receive the corresponding rib of a bucket. 
     
     
         5 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein the handling component of the bucket handle is configured for manual engagement by a user. 
     
     
         6 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 5 , wherein the handling component of the bucket handle has a non-slip surface defining a set of ergonomic contours. 
     
     
         7 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket via the first attachment component and the second attachment component, the handling component extends away from the bucket and is positioned to receive a lifting force parallel to, but laterally offset from, the central longitudinal axis of the bucket. 
     
     
         8 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket via the first attachment component and the second attachment component, neither the first attachment component, the second attachment component, nor the handling component interfere with the second flange or the rim. 
     
     
         9 . A selectively attachable bucket handle for a bucket, comprising:
 a) a handling component; and   b) a first attachment component and a second attachment component, each integral with and spaced from the handling component, the first attachment component configured to detachably engage with a first attachment region of a bucket, the second attachment component configured to detachably engage with a second attachment region of a bucket;   wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket, the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component are integrated such that a lifting force, applied to the handling component, is translated onto the bucket; and   wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket and the handling component is receiving a lifting force parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the bucket, the first attachment component pivots about, and is fixed in place along, the first attachment region, and the second attachment component presses against, and is fixed in place along, the second attachment region.   
     
     
         10 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 9 , wherein the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component of the bucket handle are elongated, the longitudinal length of the first attachment component is parallel to the longitudinal length of the second attachment component such that a space is defined there between, and the longitudinal length of the handling component is parallel to the space between the first attachment component and the second attachment component. 
     
     
         11 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 9 , wherein the first attachment component of the bucket handle comprises a rib groove along its length. 
     
     
         12 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 9 , wherein the handling component of the bucket handle is configured for manual engagement by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 12 , wherein the handling component of the bucket handle has a non-slip surface defining a set of ergonomic contours. 
     
     
         14 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket, neither the first attachment component, nor the second attachment component, nor the handling component interfere with a lid receiving region of the bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment component of the bucket handle comprises a skirt groove along its length, the skirt groove configured to engage with a length along the first attachment region of the bucket. 
     
     
         16 . A selectively attachable bucket handle for a bucket, comprising:
 a) a handling component; and   b) a first attachment component and a second attachment component, each integral with and spaced from the handling component, the first attachment component and the second attachment component defining an attachment space there between, the first attachment component comprising a first groove along its length, the first groove accessible from the attachment space and configured to engage with a length along a first attachment region of a bucket, the second attachment component configured to detachably engage with a second attachment region of a bucket;   wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket, the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component are integrated such that a lifting force, applied to the handling component, is translated onto a bucket; and   wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket, and the handling component is receiving a lifting force parallel to the central longitudinal axis of a bucket:
 the first attachment component pivots about, and is fixed in place along, the length of the first attachment region engaged with the first groove; and 
 the second attachment component presses against, and is fixed in place along, the second attachment region. 
   
     
     
         17 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 16 , wherein the first attachment component, the second attachment component, and the handling component of the bucket handle are elongated, the longitudinal length of the first attachment component is parallel to the longitudinal length of the second attachment component, and the longitudinal length of the handling component is parallel to the attachment space between the first attachment component and the second attachment component. 
     
     
         18 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 16 , wherein the first attachment component of the bucket handle additionally comprises a second groove along its length, the second groove perpendicular to the first groove of the first attachment component. 
     
     
         19 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 16 , wherein the handling component of the bucket handle has a non-slip surface defining a set of ergonomic contours. 
     
     
         20 . The selectively attachable bucket handle of  claim 1 , wherein, when the bucket handle is detachably engaged with a bucket via the first attachment component and the second attachment component, neither the first attachment component, nor the second attachment component, nor the handling component interfere with a lid receiving region of the bucket.