Bucket Connector

Abstract

A connector is used to securely attach two nested, stacked buckets together so they may be easily transported using the handle on the upper bucket but also maintains an air gap between the sidewalls of the buckets when in a nested, stacked configuration enabling the buckets to be easily separated. Each bucket connector includes a biasing arm extending downward from an apron formed on the upper bucket. The biasing arm includes a hook configured to automatically engage the upper lip onto a lower bucket when the upper bucket is stacked inside the center cavity formed in the lower bucket. The biasing arm is configured to disengage the hook from the upper lip selectively. Formed or attached to the biasing arm is a stop surface configured to limit the downward of the upper bucket into the storage space. The stop surface is configured so that an air gap is formed between adjacent sidewalls when the upper bucket is stacked over the lower bucket.

Claims

1. A connector used to attach an upper bucket to a lower bucket aligned in a stacked orientation, each said bucket being cylindrical with converging sidewalls, a center storage space, a top opening, an upper lip formed on said sidewall near said top opening, and one apron extending outward from said sidewall and below said upper lip, said connector comprising: a. a biasing arm extending downward from said apron, said biasing arm includes a hook configured to automatically engage said upper lip on said lower bucket when said upper bucket is stacked inside said center cavity formed in said lower bucket thereby locking said upper bucket and lower bucket together in a stacked configuration, said biasing arm configured to be selectively moved to disengage said hook from said upper lip on said lower bucket enabling stacked said buckets to separate; and b. a stop surface formed on said biasing arm or said apron configured to limit the downward movement of said upper bucket into said storage space, said stop surface configured so that an air gap is formed between adjacent said sidewalls of said buckets when said upper bucket is stacked over said lower bucket.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1, further including a support member attached to said biasing arm, said support arm includes a slot configured to capture a reinforcement ring formed on said bucket above said apron.

3. The connector as recited in claim 1, further including an alignment arm attached to said biasing arm configured to fit inside said apron and press against an area of said sidewall of said bucket adjacent to said apron.

4. The connector as recited in claim 3, wherein said stop surface is a vertical leg extending downward from said alignment arm.

5. The connector as recited in claim 3, wherein said alignment arm includes an upward extending abutment arm configured to extend into said apron and press against said sidewall adjacent to said apron.

6. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said biasing arm being configured to partially fit inside said apron and includes an elongated hook that extends downward from said apron.

7. The connector as recited in claim 6, wherein said biasing arm includes a peg that selectively engages a hole formed on said apron to lock said biasing arm onto said apron.

8. The connector as recited in claim 7, wherein said biasing arm includes a hook member that captures said upper lip formed on said lower bucket.

9. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said biasing arm partially extends below said apron and includes a hook configured to capture said upper lip on said lower bucket.

10. The connector as recited in claim 9, wherein said stop surface is a partition formed inside said apron.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of two nested, stacked buckets. Each bucket includes an apron and at least one upper reinforcement ring located above the apron and shows one embodiment of the bucket connector used to hold the buckets together.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of two stacked, nested buckets, each with an apron and no upper reinforcement ring located above the apron and with another embodiment of the bucket connector used to hold the buckets together.

[0023] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing two stacked buckets found in the prior art showing the apron on the upper bucket being placed around the upper lip on the lower bucket and the air gap between the two buckets narrowing.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates two stacked buckets found in the prior art showing the apron on the upper bucket in an elevated position above the upper lip on the lower bucket that maintains the air between the two buckets.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a side, top perspective view on the first embodiment of the bucket connector.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a front view of the bucket connector shown in FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 5-7

[0029] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 5-10.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGS. 5-9 being used to hold two stacked buckets together.

[0031] FIG. 11 is a side, top perspective view of a second embodiment of the bucket connector.

[0032] FIG. 12 is a front view of the bucket connector shown in FIG. 11.

[0033] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0034] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 11-13

[0035] FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 11-14.

[0036] FIG. 16 is a sectional side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGS. 11-15 being used to hold two stacked buckets together.

[0037] FIG. 17 is a side, top perspective view of a third embodiment of the bucket connector.

[0038] FIG. 18 is a front view of the bucket connector shown in FIG. 17.

[0039] FIG. 19 is a rear view of the bucket connector shown in FIGS. 17 and 18

[0040] FIG. 20 is a sectional side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGS. 17-19 being used to hold two stacked buckets together.

[0041] FIG. 21 illustrates a bucket with a modified apron with a hook and a modified partition an inward extending blocking arm located inside the apron's cavity configured to block and prevent excessive upward movement of the upper lip on the lower bucket into the apron cavity. Also, the distal edge of the apron includes a flexible hook that extends inward and captures the upper lip formed on the lower bucket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0042] Bucket connectors 30, 50, and 70 are used to attach and stacked 3 or 5-gallon buckets 5, 5′ for easy transport using the wire handle 15 on the upper bucket 5. The bucket connectors 30,50, and 70 also allow the buckets 5, 5′ to be easily separated by maintaining an air gap 24 between the sidewalls 12, 12′ of the stacked bucket 5, 5′, respectively.

[0043] Each bucket connector 30, 50 and 70 includes features that enable it to manually attach to an apron 18 formed on the sidewalls 12 on the upper bucket 5. Each bucket connector 30, 50 and 70 also includes features that block the upper bucket's 5 excessive downward movement in the storage cavity 17′ formed on the lower bucket 5′. By blocking the excessive movement of the upper bucket 5 inside the lower bucket 5′ into the storage cavity 17′ in the lower bucket 5′, an air gap 24 is maintained between the sidewalls 12, 12′ of the two buckets 5, 5′, respectively, when stacked.

[0044] The first three embodiments of the bucket connectors 30, 50 and 70 are configured to be selectively attached a circular apron 18 integrally formed on the sidewall 12 of the upper bucket 5. The first embodiment of the bucket connector, indicated by reference number 30 in FIGS. 5-10, includes a biasing arm 32 configured to extend vertically over the outside surface of the apron 18. Attached to the inside surface of the biasing arm 32 near its midline axis is a support member 35. The support member 35 is spaced apart from the biasing arm thereby creating a void area 37 that enables the upper edge of the biasing arm 32 to bend inward above the apron and towards the bucket's sidewall. The upper portion of the support member 35 bends and forms an optional horizontally aligned slot 36 configured to extend around and engage the outward extending upper ring 16 formed on the outside surface of the bucket 5 and above the apron 18.

[0045] Formed inside the lower portion of the biasing arm 32 is an abutment arm 40 that extends horizontally under the apron 18 The distal end of the abutment arm 40 presses against the outside surface of the bucket 5 adjacent to the apron 18.

[0046] Also attached to the abutment arm 40 is an upward extending alignment arm 38. The alignment arm 38 extends into the apron cavity 21 and then bends inward and presses against the outside surface of sidewall of bucket 5. The alignment arm 38 includes a straight section that is spaced inward from the long, straight section of the support member 35 thereby forming a vertical slot 41, which receives the outer flange of the apron 18. The upper slot 36, the alignment arm 38 and the vertical slot 41 all act to securely hold the bucket connector 30 around the apron 18.

[0047] The lower end of the alignment arm 38 is integrally formed or attached to the inwardly directed abutment arm 40. Extending down from the bottom surface of the abutment arm 40 is a spacer arm 42. The distal end of the abutment arm 40 extends inward and presses against the outside surface of the bucket's sidewall 12. The spacer arm 42 is located near the midline axis of the abutment arm 40 and extends downward, and acts as a stop surface that prevents excessive upward movement of the upper lip 14′ formed on the lower bucket 5′ when the upper and lower buckets are being stacked.

[0048] The upper end 33 of the biasing arm 32 acts as a finger-pressing surface and extends upward and outward from the outer flange 19 of the apron 18. Formed on the lower end of the biasing arm 32 is a hook 34 configured to extend inward and capture the upper lip 14′ on the lower bucket 5′. When the upper end 37 of biasing arm 32 is pressed inward, the hook 34 swings outward and disengages the upper lip 14′ enabling the buckets to separate.

[0049] FIGS. 11-16 show a second embodiment of the bucket connector, indicated by reference number 50, including a biasing arm 52, a support member 55, and alignment arm 60 similar to the biasing arm 32, the support member 35 and alignment arm 38, respectively used in bucket connector 30. Attached to the biasing arm 52 is the support arm 55 configured to wrap around the apron 18. The support arm 55 also includes a vertical slot 56 that receives the upper ring 16 on the bucket 5.

[0050] The abutment arm 60 is configured to extend under the apron 18. The distal end of the abutment arm 60 bends inward and forms a perpendicularly aligned alignment leg 62. Formed on the distal end of the alignment leg 62 is an upward extending alignment foot 63 that presses against the outside surface of the bucket 5. The length of the abutment arm 60 is sufficient to extend below the apron 18 so that the alignment foot 63 acts as a stop surface that prevents downward movement of the upper bucket 5 over the lower bucket 5′.

[0051] Like alignment arm 38 on bucket connector 30, the alignment arm 60 extends into the apron cavity 21 and bends inward, and presses against the inside surface of bucket 5. The lower portion of the alignment arm 60 is spaced inward from the support member 55, thereby forming a vertical slot 61, which receives the outer flange 19 of the apron 18. Formed on the lower end of the biasing arm 52 is a hook 54 configured to automatically engage the upper lip 14′ on the lower bucket 5′ when the two buckets 5, 5′ are stacked.

[0052] FIGS. 17-21 show a third embodiment of the bucket connector, indicated by reference number 70. The bucket connector 70 includes a biasing arm 72 with a diagonally aligned upper section 73 that partially extends into the apron cavity 21 formed on the apron 18. The biasing arm 72 also includes a lower portion 75 that extends below the apron cavity 21. Formed on the lower portion 75 is an inward-directed hook 74 configured to automatically engage the upper lip 14′ formed on the lower bucket 5′ when the upper bucket 5 is forced into and stacked over the lower bucket 5. The upper portion 73 of the biasing arm 72 is V-shaped and includes a straight support leg configured to rest against the inside surface of the apron 18. Attached or formed on the lower end of the inside leg of the biasing arm 72 is an abutment arm 77 that extends outward and presses against the upper lip 14′ and prevents downward movement of the upper bucket 5 on the lower bucket 5′. A space is created between the tip of hook 74 and abutment arm 77, allowing the upper lip 14′ to move upward and downward to engage and disengage the hook 74.

[0053] Formed on the front diagonal surface 73 of the biasing arm 72 is an optional peg 80 that slides into a hole 20 formed on the outside surface of the apron 18. By inserting the peg 80 into the hole 20, the bucket connector 70 becomes locked into the apron 18.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 20, the user uses his finger to apply upward pressure on the pointed, finger lifting surface on the biasing arm 72. The hook 74 formed on the end of the finger lifting surface extends upward and inward to capture the upper lip 14′ on the lower bucket 5′. To disengage the hook 74 from the upper lip 14′, the applies an upward force to the finger lifting surface causing to distort and allows the upper bucket 5 to be removed from the lower bucket 5. It should be understood that peg 80 and hole 20 are one way to connect the bucket connector 70 to the apron 18 and that other types of connectors may be used such as mechanical fasteners, adhesives, solvents, thermal or sonic welding, may be used,

[0055] FIG. 21 shows a fourth embodiment of the bucket connector indicated by reference number 100 integrated into a modified apron 102 formed on the upper bucket 5A. The modified apron 102 includes an integrally formed hook 106 on its lower edge. The hook 106 is configured to capture the upper lip 14′ formed on either a second upper bucket 5A′ of a standard bucket 5′ shown in FIGS. 5-10. The sidewall of the modified apron 102 is made of flexible material, which allows the user to apply an outward bending force to the lower edge to disengage the hook 106 from the upper lip 14′.

[0056] The modified apron 102 also includes rib-like partitions 13 that extend outward from the outside surface of the sidewall and support the apron 102. The partitions 13 are spaced apart along the perimeter of the upper bucket 5A. Formed or attached to some or all of the partitions 13 are extenders 108 that act as stop surfaces that prevent excessive upward movement of lower bucket 5′ on the upper bucket 5A. The lower edge of each partition extender 108 extends below the lower edge of the adjacent partitions. In one embodiment, the upper bucket 5 has two partition extenders 108 placed on opposite sides of the apron 100. When the upper bucket 5 with partition extenders 108 is nested and stacked over a lower bucket 5′, the upper lip 14′ of the lower bucket 5′ extends into the lower opening of the apron cavity 110 and engages the hook 106. The lower surface of each partition extender 108 is elevated above the lower opening to the apron cavity 110, thereby enabling the upper lip 14′ of the lower bucket 5′ to be partially inserted into the apron cavity 110. The distance between the lower surfaces of the partition extenders 108 and the lower opening of the apron cavity 110 is relatively short (approximately % inch) to prevent excessive upward movement of the upper lip 14′ on the lower bucket 5′ into the apron cavity 110.

[0057] In all of the embodiments, when the buckets are nested and stacked, an air gap is maintained between the sidewalls of the upper and lower buckets. The actual width of the air gap depends on the draft of the buckets and how far the upper bucket fits into the storage cavity in the lower bucket. Typically, the air gap is 1/32 to ⅛ inches wide. In a typical bucket with a modified apron and partition extenders discussed above, the draft of each bucket is between 1 to 3 degrees (typically 1.75 degrees). The lower edges of the partition extenders extend approximately 0.3 inches (indicated by the letter ‘X’ in FIG. 21) below the lower edges of the adjacent partitions.

[0058] In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific on structural features. The invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.