WO1991017061A1

WO1991017061A1 - Container holder and opener

Info

Publication number: WO1991017061A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000189
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam William Sams
Original assignee: Adam William Sams
Priority date: 1990-05-07
Filing date: 1991-05-07
Publication date: 1991-11-14

Abstract

A container holder and opener (1) suitable for use with paint cans, brackets and the like. The container holder and opener (1) comprised of an elongate member (2) with a supporting hook (3) at one end and a stabilizer (4) at the other end. A clip (5) adapted to releasably engage with the lip of a paint can, the stabilizer (4) adapted to support the side of the paint can. The container holder and opener (1) being provided with mounting devices (7, 8) to allow for attachment to ladders, stands and the like.

Description

CONTAINER HOLDER AMD OPENER

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the holding of containers and the opening thereof where applicable and in particular to the holding and opening of paint cans and the holding of pails of water. Whilst the invention is according to one embodiment directed towards and primarily described with reference for use with paint cans it is suitable for use with buckets and other receptacles.

Background

Washing windows, home maintenance and in particular, painting, are jobs most people put off, or avoid totally because they are usually time consuming, messy and for the most part difficult. Even professional painters find some aspects of painting tedious. In particular, painting from ladders.

Disclosure of Invention

It is the intention of the present invention to overcome the tedium and difficulty associated with washing windows, home maintenance and in particular painting by allowing a pail of water, bucket of tools or can of paint to be securely attached to a ladder or the like in such a manner so as to ensure the can, pail or bucket is easily accessible by a person particularly when elevated on an extension ladder, step ladder or the like.

The present invention also has provision for the painter or home handyman to carry the can of paint, pail of water or bucket of tools to the ladder or the like after attachment of the invention thereto.

If a can of paint or the like has a lid which requires removal, the present invention also has provision for the opening or removal of that lid.

In one form the present invention is a holder for a container having an open end with a lip means on the inner periphery thereof, said holder comprising: an elongate member having a front surface and a rear surface, a hook means located at or near a first end and extending outwardly from said front surface of said elongate member; a stabilizer means at or near the other end of said elongate member; and a releasable clip located on said front surface of said elongate member intermediate said hook means and said stabilizer means, wherein in use the clip means is adapted to releasably connect under said lip means on the inner periphery of said container, cooperating with said stabilizer means which engages with the outer surface of the container to hold said container securely against the holder when said holder is suspended.

The invention will now be described by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a side view of the invention.

Mode for Carrying Out Invention

In Figure 1 there is shown a container holder and opener 1 which is comprised an elongate member 2 at one end of which is formed a supporting hook 3 and at the other end of which is attached a stabilizer 4. A clip 5 is pivotally mounted between the ends of the elongate member 2, the clip 5 being biased by a spring (not shown) . A mounting device 7 is removably securable to the back of the elongate member 2 by fastening means. In the preferred embodiment depicted, the mounting device is provided with a threaded male portion which is adapted to engage with the female threaded opening 16 on the elongate member 2. Figure 1 also depicts a second mounting device 8 which may be removably secured to the elongate member 2. As shown the second mounting device 8 has an elongate portion 17 adapted to slidably engage the recess formed by c-shaped protrusion 18 on said elongate member 2. The elongate portion 17 would preferably be provided with a securing means (not shown) such that it cannot be accidentally detached from the elongate member 2. In use with a paint can 9 (a portion of which is shown in dotted lines), the clip 5 is opened against the biasing spring by applying pressure to the upper end 15 thereof, the container holder and opener 1 is then placed adjacent to the paint can 9 so that the opened clip 5 is located inside the paint can 9. The clip 5 is then allowed to close with the aid of the biasing spring, the lower hook portion 10 of the clip 5 coming into contact with the inside surface of the paint can 9. The container holder and opener 1 is then lifted by the supporting hook 3 causing the hook portion 10 of the clip 5 to rise up under the lip 11 of the paint can 9. As the paint can 9 is lifted off its supporting surface, the stabilizer 4 is caused to contact the outside wall of the paint can 9 thus stabilizing the paint can 9 and preventing any side ways movement of the can. The weight of the paint can 9 causes the hook portion 10 of the clip 5 to firmly grip the paint can 9 under the lip 11 and thus prevents the dropping of the paint can 9.

The container holder and opener 1 with the attached paint can 9 can then be hooked over the rung of an extension ladder using the supporting hook 3 at one end of the elongated body 2, attached to an aluminium rung ladder by inserting the mounting device 7 into the open end of a rung, or alternatively utilising the second detachable mounting device 8 and attaching the container holder and opener 1 to a step ladder or the like by locating the second mounting device 8 around the side and over the step of the step ladder or the like.

The mounting device 7 may have a removable sheath of a resilient material which would assist the positive location of the detachable mounting device 7 in the open end of a rung.

To remove the paint can 9 from the container holder and opener 1, the weight of the paint can 9 must be supported so as to allow the hook portion 10 of the clip 5 to be lowered from under the lip 11 of the paint can 9, when the clip may be opened against the biasing spring and the container holder and opener 1 removed from the paint can. In use with a pail that does not have a lip (not shown) , the handle of the pail may be placed over the upper end 15 of the clip 5 so the handle of the pail locates in the locating notch 14 of the clip 5.

As with the paint can, the stabilizer 4 prevents the sideways movement of the pail and the container holder and opener 1 with the attached pail may be supported off an extension ladder, aluminium rung ladder, step ladder, stand, or the like as previously described.

To remove the pail from the container holder and opener 1 the handle of the pail is simply lifted out of the notch 14 and over the upper end 15 of the clip 5.

In the preferred embodiment the container holder and opener 1 may also comprise an attachment hook 19 protruding from the elongate member . The attachment hook 19 allowing a user to attach a can or bucket to a belt, webbing or the like being worn by the user, thereby allowing the user to be able to carry a can or bucket hands free.

To facilitate the opening of paint cans or the like, the stabilizer 4, as best shown in Fig. 1, is tapered at its tips. By placing a tapered tip under the lip of a paint can lid and using the outer lip of the paint can as a fulcrum the stabilizer may be used as a lever to remove the paint can lid.

In the preferred embodiment the elongate member 2 would be manufactured from extruded aluminium, the stabilizer 4 being fitted and swaged into slot 20.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is of wider application than described above with specific reference to paint cans and pails and as such it is not the intention of this application to limit the scope of this invention to the preferred embodiments as described.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. In one form the present invention is a holder for a container having an open end with a lip means on the inner periphery thereof, said holder comprising: an elongate member having a front surface and a rear surface, a hook means located at or near a first end and extending outwardly from said front surface of said elongate member; a stabilizer means at or near at the other end of said elongate member; and a releasable clip located on said front surface of said elongate member intermediate said hook means and said stabilizer means, wherein in use the clip means is adapted to releasably connect under said lip means on the inner periphery of said container, cooperating with said stabilizer means which engages with the outer surface of the container to hold said container securely against the holder when said holder is suspended.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip means is pivotally connected to said elongate member and has a hook adapted to engage under said lip means on the inner periphery of the container.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said clip means is pivotally connected intermediate its two ends, said hook being at or near the end facing the stabilizer means and a lever located at or near the other end of said clip means, to open and close said clip means.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said clip means is biased to its lip engaging position.

5. A holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said stabilizer means comprises two legs which extend outwardly away from the front surface and away from each other.

6. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, comrpising an elongated mounting device adapted to be releasably connected to the elongate member so as to extend from the rear surface, wherein the elongated mounting device is so configured so as to be able to be inserted within an elongate recess, to support said holder.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said elongate recess is the hollow portion of a ladder rung.

8. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a belt hook projecting from the rear surface of said elongate member, wherein said belt hook is adapted to be attached to a user's belt, webbing or the like.

9. A holder according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a mounting hook pivotally releasably connected to said elongate member, wherein said mounting hook provides a means of suspending said holder.

10. A holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lever of the clip means is configured such that the handle of a container can be suspended therefrom.

11. A holder for a container as substantially herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.