Bucket Handle Grip

Abstract

A grip for a bucket handle to aid in weight distribution and provide improved ergonomics for a user. A grip comprises a body with an interior cavity configured to receive the bucket handle, and a latch to actuate between open and closed positions. A cavity is preferably sized and shaped to conform to standard plastic handles typically found on five-gallon buckets. A sidewall and enlarged areas in the cavity provide a better fit for most standard plastic handles and aid in keeping the grip from rotating relative to the plastic handle during use. A single, centrally located latch preferably has a uniformly loaded cantilevered beam deflection configuration. A latch may comprise an elongated U-shaped hook and an elongated catch body that allows the hook to snap over the catch body.

1 . A grip for a bucket handle, the grip comprising:
 a grip body comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an opening disposed between the first portion and the second portion;   a cavity disposed inside the grip body and configured to receive a portion of the bucket handle;   a latch configured to be selectively actuated between an open position and a closed position; and   wherein the cavity is accessible through the opening when the latch is in the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the latch is a single latch disposed in a longitudinally central position on the grip body. 
     
     
         3 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein the single latch comprises a hook and a catch;
 wherein the hook is connected to the first portion of the grip body; and 
 wherein the catch is disposed on the second portion of the grip body. 
 
     
     
         4 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein the single latch is disposed on an exterior of the grip body. 
     
     
         5 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein the hook comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm disposed between the first arm and the second arm;
 wherein the first arm and the second arm are connected to the first portion of the grip body; 
 wherein the third arm is disposed between the first arm and the second arm. 
 
     
     
         6 . The grip of  claim 5  wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are disposed in a common plane as the single latch is actuated between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The grip of  claim 6  wherein the hook is substantially U-shaped;
 wherein the grip body has a first length; and 
 wherein a longitudinal distance between an interior side of the first arm and an interior side of the second arm is a second length. 
 
     
     
         8 . The grip of  claim 7  wherein the second length is around 29 to 32% of the first length or wherein the second length is around 1.65 to 1.67 inches and the first length is around 4.55 to 4.67 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The grip of  claim 8  wherein the catch comprises a catch body and a lip disposed on outer longitudinal edge of the catch body. 
     
     
         10 . The grip of  claim 9  wherein the catch body has a third length; and
 wherein the third length is around 90 to 93% of the second length. 
 
     
     
         11 . The grip of  claim 10  wherein the third arm of the hook is configured to be releasably held by the lip when the single latch is in the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The grip of  claim 10  wherein the third arm of the hook is disposed under the lip when the single latch is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The grip of  claim 5  wherein the hook is substantially U-shaped;
 wherein the first arm comprises (1) a first flexible end and (2) a first connecting portion configured to connect the first flexible end to a first end of the third arm; 
 wherein the second arm comprises (1) a second flexible end and (2) a second connecting portion configured to connect the second flexible end to a second end of the third arm; and 
 wherein first flexible end and the second flexible end are configured to bend as the single latch is actuated between the open position and the closed position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The grip of  claim 13  wherein the first flexible end and the second flexible end are directly connected to the first portion of the grip body. 
     
     
         15 . The grip of  claim 13  wherein the first portion of the grip body comprises a first recess area;
 wherein the first flexible end and the second flexible end are directly connected to the first portion of the grip body in the first recess area; and 
 wherein the first connecting portion, the second connecting portion, and the third arm are disposed in a common plane as the single latch is actuated between the open position and the closed position. 
 
     
     
         16 . The grip of  claim 5  further comprising a first hinge to rotatably connect the first arm to the first portion of the grip body and a second hinge to rotatably connect the second arm to the first portion of the grip body. 
     
     
         17 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the grip body is substantially U-shaped and further comprises a connecting portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and substantially opposite from the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The grip of  claim 17  wherein the grip body further comprises a set of finger grips spaced apart longitudinally along the grip body;
 wherein the set of finger grips comprises four recessed areas in the grip body each configured to receive a finger of a user holding the grip; and 
 wherein the set of finger grips wrap around at least part of the grip body, extending vertically down at least a part of the first portion of the grip body, laterally over the connecting portion of the grip body, and vertically up at least a part of the second portion of the grip body. 
 
     
     
         19 . The grip of  claim 18  further comprising a set of grip surfaces for each of the four recessed areas in the set of finger grips; and
 wherein the set of grip surfaces comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses or a plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions. 
 
     
     
         20 . The grip of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of grip surfaces disposed on the grip body; wherein the plurality of grip surfaces comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses in the grip body or a plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions in the grip body. 
     
     
         21 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the cavity comprises a sidewall that is substantially cylindrical and comprises a first end and a second end, a first enlarged portion disposed at each of the first end and the second end of the sidewall, and a second enlarged portion disposed in a substantially central position of the sidewall. 
     
     
         22 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the cavity comprises a first part disposed in the first portion of the grip body and a second part disposed in the second portion of the grip body;
 wherein the first part and the second part mirror each other; and 
 wherein the opening is at least partially disposed between the first part and the second part of the cavity. 
 
     
     
         23 . The grip of  claim 22  wherein the first part and the second part of the cavity each comprise:
 a sidewall that is substantially semi-cylindrical and comprises a first end and a second end; 
 a first enlarged portion disposed at each of the first end and the second end of the sidewall; and 
 a second enlarged portion disposed in a substantially central position of the sidewall. 
 
     
     
         24 . The grip of  claim 23  wherein the first enlarged portion has a first height;
 wherein the second enlarged portion has a second height; 
 wherein the sidewall has a third height; 
 wherein the first height and the second height are larger than the third height; and 
 wherein the first height and the second height are substantially equal. 
 
     
     
         25 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein the bucket handle comprises a rod connected at each end to a five-gallon bucket and a plastic body connected to the rod; and
 wherein the portion of the bucket handle is the plastic body. 
 
     
     
         26 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein the grip body comprises a longitudinal axis and an interior wall forming an angle of around 36.5 to 37.0° relative to the longitudinal axis; and
 wherein the interior wall defines a portion of the opening. 
 
     
     
         27 . The grip of  claim 17  wherein the grip body comprises a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, and a first interior wall disposed at the first end, and a second interior wall disposed at the second end;
 wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall each form an angle of around 36.5 to 37.0° relative to the longitudinal axis and measured in a direction towards the connecting portion of the grip body; and 
 wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall define a portion of the opening. 
 
     
     
         28 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein the latch comprises a loaded cantilevered beam deflection configuration; and
 wherein the grip is configured to allow the bucket handle of a five-gallon bucket to pass through the opening to the cavity when the latch is in the open position. 
 
     
     
         29 . The grip of  claim 28  further comprising a set of grip surfaces disposed on an exterior of the grip body;
 wherein the grip body is substantially U-shaped and further comprises a connecting portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and substantially opposite from the opening; 
 wherein the set of grip surfaces comprises a plurality of recesses and each of the plurality of recesses is disposed in substantially longitudinal direction, are spaced apart and are disposed on the first portion of the grip body, the second portion of the grip body, and the connecting portion of the grip body. 
 
     
     
         30 . The grip of  claim 28  wherein the grip body is substantially U-shaped and further comprises a connecting portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and substantially opposite from the opening; and
 wherein the connecting portion of the grip body comprises an outwardly bowed surface extending from a first end of the grip body and a second end of the grip body disposed longitudinally opposite from the first end of the grip body. 
 
     
     
         31 . The grip of  claim 30  wherein the grip body does not comprise any finger grip recesses. 
     
     
         32 . The grip of  claim 30  wherein the grip body is substantially U-shaped and does not include any recesses configured to receive a finger of a user. 
     
     
         33 . The grip of  claim 32  further comprising an anti-slip surface disposed on an exterior of the grip body. 
     
     
         34 . The grip of  claim 33  wherein the anti-slip surface comprises a plurality of narrow recesses disposed longitudinally on the exterior of the grip body.