Plastic container with integral bail
View Patent ↗A one-piece, molded plastic container ( 10 ) comprises a base ( 16 ) and a circumferential sidewall ( 20 ) extending upwardly from the base. The upper end ( 18 ) of the sidewall forms an open top of the container which is closed by a lid ( 19 ). A bail ( 14 ) for lifting and carrying the container is integrally molded with the container body in a mold ( 100 ). The ends of the bail attach to bosses ( 22 a, 22 b ) integrally molded therewith into the container sidewall. The spacing of the bosses is less than 180° in one direction about the circumference of the container, so the container, when lifted by the bail, does not hang vertically. A base section ( 14 b ) of the bail has a substantially uniform thickness throughout the length of the bail.
1. In a one-piece, molded plastic container, the improvement comprising:
a container body having a base and a circumferential sidewall extending upwardly from the base, the upper end of the sidewall forming an open top for the container; and,
a bail for lifting and carrying the container, the bail being a plastic bail integrally molded with the container body and the bail having a bail base and a bail sidewall, the respective ends of the bail being formed with the sidewall of the container body adjacent an upper, open end thereof, the sidewall having bosses integrally molded therewith and projecting outwardly from the sidewall for connecting the ends of the bail with the container body, the spacing of the bosses being less than 170° apart whereby the container, when empty and lifted using the bail does not hang vertically, but when full does hang vertically and whereby the thickness of the bail base is uniform throughout the length of the bail, and the base and sidewalls of the bail are of substantially the same thickness as the sidewall of the container body such that the bail has a bend radius that is free from having a living hinge at the connection of the bail and the bosses.
2. The improvement of claim 1 in which the bosses are spaced approximately 140° apart.
3. The improvement of claim 1 in which the cross-section of the bail is transformed from a channel shape to a substantially flattened shape at a point intermediate the ends of the bail and substantially equidistant from the bosses on the side of the container body where the bail attaches to the container.
4. The improvement of claim 1 further including a ring attached to the upper end of the container, the ring having a flange extending outwardly from the container and tabs being integrally formed on the bail and on the container body, wherein the tabs separate from the container body and bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is lifted to a vertical position and wherein the tabs bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is returned to a horizontal position.
5. The improvement of claim 4 in which, when the bail is raised to the vertical position for carrying the container, the substantially flattened shape of the bail extends horizontally, parallel to the ground, to facilitate lifting and carrying of the container, the weight of the container now being distributed across the fingers of the person lifting and carrying the container thereby reducing the stress on the fingers.
6. The improvement of claim 5 further including grooves formed on the substantially flattened shape of the bail to further reduce stress on the fingers.
7. A container for paint and other fluent materials comprising:
a container body including a base and an integrally molded circumferential sidewall extending upwardly from the base, the upper end of the sidewall forming an open top for the container;
a bail for lifting and carrying the container, the bail being a plastic bail integrally molded together with the container and the bail having a bail base and a bail sidewall, the bail being initially attached to the container body by tabs formed in the mold with the bail and the container body, the bail being subsequently detached from the container body by breaking off the tabs from the container body, the sidewall having attachment bosses integrally molded therewith and projecting outwardly from the sidewall for connecting the ends of the bail to the container body, and wherein the thickness of the base is uniform throughout the length of the bail, and the bail base and sidewalls of the bail are of substantially the same thickness as the sidewall of the container body such that the bail has a bend radius that is free from having a living hinge at the connection of the bail and the bosses; and,
a ring fitting onto the upper end of the container and having a flange extending outwardly from the container, wherein the tabs bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is lifted to a vertical position and wherein the tabs bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is returned to a horizontal position.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein the spacing of the bosses is less than 170° apart whereby the container, when empty and lifted using the bail does not hang vertically; but when full, does hang vertically.
9. The container of claim 8 in which the bosses are spaced approximately 140° apart.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein the bail comprises a generally U-shaped channel, in cross-section, having a base and respective sidewalls, the base and sidewalls being of a constant thickness.
11. The container of claim 10 in which the cross-section of the bail is modified from a channel shape to a substantially flattened shape at a point intermediate the ends of the bail and substantially equidistant from the bosses on the side of the container body where the bail attaches to the container body.
12. The container of claim 11 in which the substantially flattened shape of the bail extends vertically, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the container body when the container is set in place.
13. The container of claim 12 in which, when the bail is raised to a vertical position for carrying the container, the flattened aspect of the bail extends horizontally, parallel to the ground, to facilitate lifting and carrying of the container, the weight of the container now being distributed across the fingers of the person lifting and carrying the container thereby reducing the stress on the fingers.
14. A paint can comprising:
a plastic molded can body including a base with an integrally formed circumferential sidewall extending upwardly from the base, the upper end of the sidewall forming an open top for the container;
a plastic lid for covering the opening to shut the can; and,
a bail for lifting and carrying the container, the bail being a plastic bail integrally molded together with the can and attached to the can by tabs formed in the mold and the bail having a bail base and a bail sidewall, the bail subsequently being detached from the can by breaking off the tabs from the can body, and the sidewall of the can body having attachment bosses integrally molded therewith and projecting outwardly from the sidewall for connecting the ends of the bail to the can, and wherein the thickness of the bail base is uniform throughout the length of the bail, and the base and sidewalls of the bail are of substantially the same thickness as the sidewall of the container body such that the bail has a bend radius that is free from having a living hinge at the connection of the bail and the bosses.
15. The paint can of claim 14 wherein the spacing of the bosses being less than 180° apart for the paint can, when empty and lifted using the bail does not hang vertically, but when full does hang vertically.
16. The paint can of claim 15 in which the bosses are spaced approximately 140° apart.
17. The paint can of claim 14 wherein the ball comprises a generally U-shaped channel, in cross-section, having a base and respective sidewalls, the base and sidewalls being of a constant thickness.
18. The paint can of claim 17 in which the cross-section of the bail is modified from a channel shape to a substantially flattened shape at a point intermediate the ends of the bail and substantially equidistant from the bosses on the side of the container body where the bail attaches to the container body.
19. The paint can of claim 18 in which, when the bail is raised to a vertical position for carrying the container, the substantially flattened shape of the bail extends horizontally, parallel to the ground, to facilitate lifting and carrying of the container, the weight of the container now being distributed across the fingers of the person lifting and carrying the container thereby reducing the stress on the fingers.
20. The paint can of claim 14 further including a ring attached to the upper end of the container, the ring having a flange extending outwardly from the container and tabs being integrally formed on the bail, the tabs bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is lifted to a vertical position and wherein the tabs bias against the flange in order to extend past the flange when the bail is returned to a horizontal position.