Ergonomic handles for containers
View Patent ↗Handles for containers and sterilization containers are provided. For example, a handle for a sterilization container comprises a base portion, a grip portion connected to the base portion, and a stop. The base portion is repositionable with respect to the container to change an orientation of the grip portion with respect to a bottom surface of the container. In some embodiments, a sterilization container comprises a body having a bottom surface, a lid, a first handle attached to a first end of the body, and a second handle attached to a second end of the body. Each handle includes a base portion rotatable within a plane parallel to the respective end of the body to reposition the handle with respect to the body, which changes an orientation of a grip portion of each handle with respect to the bottom surface.
1. A sterilization container, comprising:
a body having
an open top portion and an opposite bottom surface,
a first side and a second side, and
a first end and a second end, the first end extending vertically between the open top portion and the bottom surface and horizontally between the first side and the second side; and
a handle comprising
a mounting plate attached to the first end of the body,
a base portion secured to the mounting plate such that the base portion is rotatable within a plane parallel to the first end of the body to change an orientation of the base portion with respect to the bottom surface,
a grip portion connected to the base portion, and
a stop for holding the base portion in position with respect to the body,
wherein the base portion is rotatable with respect to the body to change an orientation of the grip portion with respect to the bottom surface.
2. The sterilization container of claim 1 , wherein the grip portion extends along a line, and
wherein the orientation of the grip portion includes a first orientation in which the line is parallel to the bottom surface, a second orientation in which the line is at an angle between 30° and 60° with respect to the bottom surface, and a third orientation in which the line is perpendicular to the bottom surface.
3. The sterilization container of claim 2 , wherein the angle of the second orientation is approximately 45° with respect to the bottom surface.
4. The sterilization container of claim 1 , wherein the stop engages the mounting plate to hold the base portion in position with respect to the sterilization container.
5. The sterilization container of claim 4 , wherein the stop is moveable between a first position in which the stop engages the mounting plate and a second position in which the stop is disengaged from the mounting plate for repositioning the base portion.
6. The sterilization container of claim 1 , wherein a pair of arms connects the grip portion to the base portion, each arm having a length.
7. The sterilization container of claim 6 , wherein each arm of the pair of arms pivots with respect to the base portion such that the grip portion has a non-extended position in which the grip portion is adjacent to the base portion and an extended position in which the grip portion is spaced apart from the base portion by the length of each arm.
8. The sterilization container of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lid for covering the open top portion of the body to close the sterilization container, the body and the lid together defining an interior of the sterilization container; and
a gasket for sealing the interior against an ingress of contaminants.
9. The sterilization container of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second handle comprising
a second mounting plate attached to the second end of the body,
a second base portion secured to the second mounting plate such that the second base portion is rotatable within a plane parallel to the second end of the body to change an orientation of the second base portion with respect to the bottom surface,
a second grip portion connected to the second base portion, and
a second stop for holding the second base portion in position with respect to the body,
wherein the second base portion is rotatable with respect to the body to change an orientation of the second grip portion with respect to the bottom surface.
10. The sterilization container of claim 9 , wherein a pair of second arms connects the second grip portion to the second base portion, each second arm having a length.
11. The sterilization container of claim 10 , wherein each second arm of the pair of second arms pivots with respect to the second base portion such that the second grip portion has a non-extended position in which the second grip portion is adjacent to the second base portion and an extended position in which the second grip portion is spaced apart from the second base portion by the length of each second arm.
12. The sterilization container of claim 1 , wherein the grip portion extends parallel to the base portion and to the first side of the body.
13. The sterilization container of claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a knob and a plunger carried by the base portion, and wherein a plurality of catches are defined in the mounting plate, each catch of the plurality of catches configured to receive the plunger.
14. The sterilization container of claim 13 , where the plurality of catches are defined along the mounting plate in an arc shape.
15. The sterilization container of claim 14 , wherein an uppermost catch is defined closer to the open top portion than the bottom surface along a vertical direction, and wherein a bottommost catch is defined closer to the bottom surface than the open top portion along the vertical direction.
16. A sterilization container, comprising:
a body having
an open top portion and an opposite bottom surface, and
a first end and an opposite second end;
a lid for covering the open top portion of the body to close the sterilization container, the body and the lid together defining an interior of the sterilization container; and
a pair of handles, a first handle of the pair of handles attached to the first end of the body and comprising a first grip portion, a second handle of the pair of handles attached to the second end of the body and comprising a second grip portion, each of the first and second handles being repositionable with respect to the body,
wherein a base portion of the first handle is rotatable within a first plane parallel to the first end of the body to reposition the first handle with respect to the body,
wherein a base portion of the second handle is rotatable within a second plane parallel to the second end of the body to reposition the second handle with respect to the body,
wherein repositioning the first handle with respect to the body changes an orientation of the first grip portion within the first plane and with respect to the bottom surface of the body, and
wherein repositioning the second handle with respect to the body changes an orientation of the second grip portion within the second plane and with respect to the bottom surface of the body.
17. The sterilization container of claim 16 , wherein the orientation of the grip portion of each of the first handle and second handle includes a first orientation that is parallel to the bottom surface, a second orientation that is at an angle between 30° and 60° with respect to the bottom surface, and a third orientation that is perpendicular to the bottom surface.
18. The sterilization container of claim 17 , wherein the angle of the second orientation is approximately 45° with respect to the bottom surface.
19. The sterilization container of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first stop for holding the base portion of the first handle in position with respect to the first end of the body; and
a second stop for holding the base portion of the second handle in position with respect to the second end of the body.
20. A sterilization container, comprising:
a body having an open top portion and an opposite bottom surface:
a lid for covering the open top portion of the body to close the sterilization container, the body and the lid together defining an interior of the sterilization container; and
a first handle attached to a first end of the body, the first handle including
a first mounting plate attached to the first end,
a first base portion rotatable within a plane parallel to the first end of the body to reposition the first handle with respect to the body,
a first grip portion, and
a first plunger carried by the first base portion that engages one catch of a plurality of catches defined in the first mounting plate to hold the first base portion in position with respect to the first end; and
a second handle attached to a second end of the body, the second handle including
a second mounting plate attached to the second end,
a second base portion rotatable within a plane parallel to the second end of the body to reposition the second handle with respect to the body,
a second grip portion, and
a second plunger carried by the second base portion that engages one catch of a plurality of catches defined in the second mounting plate to hold the second base portion in position with respect to the second end,
wherein repositioning the first handle with respect to the first end changes an orientation of the first grip portion with respect to the bottom surface of the body, and
wherein repositioning the second handle with respect to the second end changes an orientation of the second grip portion with respect to the bottom surface of the body.