Removable handle for beverage containing cans and method of mounting same

Claim 2

A removable handle for beverage containing cans which has a slotted opening in one end, said handle comprising: a grip portion adapted to extend along a side of the can, and a connecting arm portion connected to the grip portion and extending across at least a portion of said one end of the can, said connecting arm portion having spaced retention means thereon, one of said retention means being adapted to extend into said slotted opening in the one end of the can and be releasably retained in the slot by a side edge of said opening and the other of said retention means being adapted to be compressively engaged with a side of the can effecting a tension in the connecting arm to securely attach the handle to the can.

Claim 3

The handle of claim 1 wherein said can has a peripheral rim around said one end and wherein said other of said retention means is adapted to fit beneath said rim.

Claim 4

The handLe of claim 2 wherein said one of said retention means defines a protrusion from said connecting arm, said protrusion having means for defining a recess in which an edge of the can around said slotted opening can be removably received.

Claim 5

The handle of claim 3 wherein said protrusion is in the form of a spherical ball.

Claim 6

The handle of claim 2 wherein said other of said retention means comprises lip means adapted to engage a side of the can.

Claim 7

The handle of claim 4 wherein said other of said retention means comprises a pair of laterally spaced lips adapted to engage a side of the can.

Claim 8

The handle of claim 1 wherein said grip portion extends along the side of the can in spaced substantially parallel relation with the side of the can.

Claim 9

The handle of claim 5 wherein said lip means and connecting arm straddle the peripheral rim of the can when the handle is mounted on the can.

Claim 10

The handle of claim 2 wherein said connecting arm is generally triangular in shape with said one of said retention means being positioned in one corner of the triangular arm and with the other of said retention means comprising a protruding lip beneath the remaining corners of the triangular arm, said lips, each cooperating with the arm in straddling the peripheral rim of the can to establish a positive attachment system whereby the handle can be removably attached to the can.

Claim 11

A removable handle for cylindrical beverage containing cans which have a slotted drinking opening in one end and a peripheral rim around said one end comprising: a connecting arm adapted to extend partially across said one end of the can, said connecting arm adapted to over lie a portion of said peripheral rim at one end and overlie at least a portion of said slotted opening at its other end, said arm having a depending spherical retention ball at said other end adapted to be inserted into said slotted opening to retain a side edge of the opening between said connecting arm and the retention ball, a grip portion defining a substantially perpindicular extension from said one end of the connecting arm and adapted to extend in parallel spaced relationship with the cylindrical wall of a can, and a retention lip on said handle adapted to extend beneath the peripheral rim of the can to retain the rim between said lip and the connecting arm, said retention lip and retention ball being spaced apart a distance less than the radius of the can so that the handle can be positioned relative to the can such that the connecting arm is placed in tension and the said one end of the can placed in compression thereby positively and removably securing the handle to the can.

Claim 12

A removable handle for cylindrical beverage containing cans which have a slotted drinking opening in one end and a peripheral rim around said one end comprising: a connecting arm adapted to extend partially across said one end of the can, said connecting arm adapted to over lie a portion of said peripheral rim at one end and overlie at least a portion of said slotted opening at its other end, said arm having a depending spherical retention ball at said other end adapted to be inserted into said slotted opening to retain a side edge of the opening between said connecting arm and the retention ball, a grip portion defining a substantially perpindicular extension from said one end of the connecting arm and adapted to extend in parallel spaced relationship with the cylindrical wall of a can, and a retention lip on said handle adapted to extend beneath the peripheral rim of the can to retain the rim between said lip and the connecting arm, said retention lip and retention ball being spaced apart a distance less than the radius of the can so that the handle can be positioned relative to the can such that the connecting arm is placed in tension and the said one end of the can placed in compression thereby positively and removably securing the handle to the can.

Claim 15

A method as defined in claim 11 including the step of compressing a portion of the wall of the can between the connecting arm and the second retention means of said handle to eliminate substantially accidental rotation of the handle relative to the can.