US4982869A — Pivoting handle type pitcher for thin walled cont…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 66 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion including a relatively rigid handle portion pivotally mounted at one end to said lower carrier portion, and provided with a container neck engaging portion provided at the other end, said upper carrier portion being pivotable about a vertical axis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 66 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion including a relatively rigid handle portion pivotally mounted at one end to said lower carrier portion, and provided with a container neck engaging portion provided at the other end, said upper carrier portion being pivotable about a vertical axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower carrier portion is provided with a mounting bracket adjacent said upper peripheral edge and including a recess for receiving said one end of said handle portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 2 wherein said recess is provided with a rib extending at least partially along an interior surface of said recess substantially parallel to said vertical axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 3 wherein said one end of said handle portion includes a pivot pin portion receivable in said recess, said pivot pin portion including surface means for engaging said rib to limit pivoting movement of said upper carrier portion about said vertical axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 4 wherein said pivot pin portion and said recess are generally cylindrical in shape, and wherein said surface means are located on a circumferential surface of said pivot pin portion, at locations spaced about 90° relative to each other, to thereby define a first container loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 5 wherein said surface means includes detent means for receiving said rib at said locations to thereby releasably hold said upper carrier portion in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 5 wherein said container neck engaging portion has a substantially inverted U-shape in plan, and opens in a direction permitting swinging movement of said upper carrier portion between said first and second positions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 7 wherein said surface means includes detent means for receiving said rib at said locations to thereby releasably retain said upper carrier portion in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The container carrier of claim 1 wherein said container neck engaging portion is substantially inverted U-shape in plan and comprises at least one substantially horizontally extending rib.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

The container carrier of claim 7 wherein said rib includes a first portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a corresponding radius of curvature of said container neck, and second portions extending from opposite ends of said first portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The container carrier of claim 8 wherein said first portion has an arcuate extent of greater than 270°.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 10 wherein said container neck engaging portion opens in a direction permitting swinging movement of said upper carrier portion between a first container loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 9 and wherein said container neck engaging portion includes a second container neck engaging rib located above said at least one rib, wherein said first and second ribs are adapted to engage vertically spaced portions of an associated container neck.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 98 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion pivotally secured to said lower portion about a vertical axis; said upper carrier portion including a handle portion and a substantially inverted U-shaped container neck engaging portion, said upper carrier portion swingable about said vertical axis between a first position where said upper carrier portion lies outside an area defined by said upper peripheral edge and a second position where said neck engaging portion engages a neck of an associated container.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 98 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion pivotally secured to said lower portion about a vertical axis; said upper carrier portion including a handle portion and a substantially inverted U-shaped container neck engaging portion, said upper carrier portion swingable about said vertical axis between a first position where said upper carrier portion lies outside an area defined by said upper peripheral edge and a second position where said neck engaging portion engages a neck of an associated container.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

A container carrier assembly according to claim 14 wherein said lower carrier portion includes a bracket adjacent to said upper peripheral edge, said bracket including a recess adapted to receive a pivot pin portion extending downward from said handle portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

A container carrier assembly according to claim 15 wherein said pivot pin portion includes a pin received in an aperture provided at a lower end of said recess.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 41 words

A container carrier assembly according to claim 16 wherein said recess is provided with an elongated stop rib cooperable with stop means on said pivot pin portion to limit pivoting movement of said upper portion between said first and second positions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 15 wherein said bracket is formed by a substantially hollow, three sided housing including a top wall and an open bottom; the top wall having an aperture therein which receives a substantially cylindrical sleeve defining said recess.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 15 wherein a stiffening wall extends between the substantially cylindrical sleeve and said peripheral side wall.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 15 wherein said lower carrier component is provided with a plurality of apertures in said peripheral side wall.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The container carrier assembly according to claim 14 wherein said stop means on said lower end portion of said handle limits said pivoting movement to about 90°.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The container carrier assembly according to claim 14 wherein said pivot pin lies in a vertical plane containing a vertical center axis of the container carrier.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 72 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall and an upper peripheral edge, said lower carrier portion further comprising a mounting bracket including a recess; and (b) an upper carrier portion including an elongated handle terminating at an upper end in a container neck engaging portion and at a lower end in a substantially vertically oriented pivot pin portion receivable within said recess.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 72 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall and an upper peripheral edge, said lower carrier portion further comprising a mounting bracket including a recess; and (b) an upper carrier portion including an elongated handle terminating at an upper end in a container neck engaging portion and at a lower end in a substantially vertically oriented pivot pin portion receivable within said recess.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

The container carrier according to claim 23 wherein said container neck engaging portion comprises a substantially vertical wall and a first substantially horizontal container engaging rib projecting inwardly from said vertical wall.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 50 words

The container carrier according to claim 24 wherein said first container engaging rib includes a first portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a corresponding radius of curvature of said container neck; and second portions extending away from said container neck at opposite ends of said first portion.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The container carrier according to claim 25 and wherein said container neck engaging portion includes a second container neck engaging rib above said first container engaging rib, and projecting inwardly from said vertical wall.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The container carrier according to claim 23 wherein said upper and lower portions are constructed of relatively rigid plastic material.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

The container carrier according to claim 23 wherein said lower portion has a plurality of apertures in said peripheral side wall.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 73 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion including a handle portion pivotable about a vertical axis between a first container loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position; and (c) means for limiting pivotal movement of said upper carrier portion about said vertical axis to movement between said first and second positions,

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 73 words

A container carrier assembly comprising: (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall and an upper peripheral edge; (b) an upper carrier portion including a handle portion pivotable about a vertical axis between a first container loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position; and (c) means for limiting pivotal movement of said upper carrier portion about said vertical axis to movement between said first and second positions,

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 110 words

A container and carrier assembly comprising: (a) a container carrier including a lower portion having a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; an upper portion including a handle portion having a lower end pivotably secured in said lower portion for swinging movement about a vertical axis, and including a container neck engaging portion at an upper end of the handle portion; and (b) a flexible and collapsible container adapted to be carried by the carrier assembly, and having a relatively thin peripheral side wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, said top wall having an integrally formed neck portion including closure receiving means formed thereon.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 110 words

A container and carrier assembly comprising: (a) a container carrier including a lower portion having a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; an upper portion including a handle portion having a lower end pivotably secured in said lower portion for swinging movement about a vertical axis, and including a container neck engaging portion at an upper end of the handle portion; and (b) a flexible and collapsible container adapted to be carried by the carrier assembly, and having a relatively thin peripheral side wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, said top wall having an integrally formed neck portion including closure receiving means formed thereon.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 41 words

The container and carrier assembly according to claim 30 wherein said lower and upper portions are provided with cooperable means for permitting said upper portion to pivotably swing between a first container loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 49 words

The container and carrier assembly according to claim 31 wherein said container is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange in said neck portion, adapted to be supported within said container neck engaging portion of said upper carrier portion when said upper carrier portion is in said second position.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 39 words

The container and carrier assembly according to claim 31 wherein said cooperable means includes a mounting bracket on said lower carrier portion and a pivot pin portion at said lower end of said handle portion receivable within said bracket.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 23 words

The container and carrier assembly according to claim 33 wherein said cooperable means limits swinging movement of said upper portion to about 90°.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The container and carrier assembly according to claim 33 wherein said cooperable means releasably holds said upper carrier portion in either of said first and second positions.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 27 words

The container carrier of claim 30 wherein said container neck engaging portion is substantially inverted U-shape in plan and comprises at least one substantially horizontally extending rib.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 41 words

The container carrier of claim 36 wherein said rib includes a first portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to a corresponding radius of curvature of said container neck, and second portions extending from opposite ends of said first portion.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 18 words

The container carrier of claim 37 wherein said first portion has an arcuate extent of greater than 270°.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 37 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 37 wherein said container neck engaging portion opens in a direction permitting swinging movement of said upper carrier portion between a first loading/unloading position and a second container neck engaging position.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 46 words

The container carrier assembly of claim 36 and wherein said container neck engaging portion includes a second container neck engaging rib located above said at least one rib, wherein said first and second ribs are adapted to engage vertically spaced portions of an associated container neck.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-07	1994-07-09	1995-01-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-07	1998-07-09	1999-01-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-07	2002-07-09	2003-01-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pivoting handle type pitcher for thin walled container

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