Bucket stack holding apparatus with easy release feature

Abstract

An apparatus attached or formed on the sidewalls of a standard 5 gallon bucket with diverging sidewalls that enables stacked buckets to be vertically stacked and locked together so the handle on the upper bucket may be used to carry the stack of buckets and allows the individual buckets to be easily separated from the stack. The apparatus comprises a ring body made of elastic material with a center opening configured to fit transversely around the middle or upper region of the bucket. The ring body includes a downward facing circular groove sufficiently configured to receive and engage the upper edge on the bucket. Located inside the groove may be a protruding outer lip that extends inward and engages the upper edge. In another embodiment, a plurality of hooks are integrally formed on the top surface of the ring body that engage a laterally extending reinforcement ring on the bucket.

Description

[0001]This utility patent application is based on and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 62 / 210,506), filed on Aug. 27, 2015.[0002]Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention pertains to plastic buckets, and more particularly to plastic buckets that can be vertically stacked and temporarily locked together so they can be transported using the handle on the top bucket, and then easily pulled apart.2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Companies sell their products in 5 gallon plastic buckets with wire handles. Some hardware and home improvement stores with wired handles. Because they are widely used, homeowners and construction worke...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about an apparatus that can be attached to a standard 5 gallon bucket, allowing it to be stacked and temporarily locked together using a wire handle. The apparatus also allows for easy detachment of the buckets. Additionally, the patent describes a reinforcement ring or apron collar on the top of the bucket that may not provide enough inward pressing force to hold a ring body. To address this, the reinforcement ring or apron collar is designed with hook elements or arms that bend outward to capture or increase friction, preventing the ring body from sliding downward over the bucket. Additionally, the apparatus includes an optional extension tab that allows the user to pull the ring body laterally to disengage from the lower bucket. The technical effects of this invention are improved stability and secure locking of buckets in a stack, making it easier to transport and use.

Problems solved by technology

If the upper bucket is pressed too far into the lower bucket, pulling the two buckets apart can be difficult.

These structures may limit how far an upper bucket can be inserted into a lower bucket and may prevent stacked buckets from being locked together entirely, or prevent the user from pressing the upper bucket further into the lower bucket to increase the locking forces that hold the buckets together.

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