Container

Abstract

A container for carrying and pouring flowable materials having a bucket portion with a side portion, a closed bottom portion and an upper rim area at least partially defining an open top; a handle attached near or on the upper rim area; at least three gripping surfaces located in the closed bottom portion of the bucket portion to permit multiple means of gripping the container. A method for dispensing flowable materials having the steps of gripping a handle rotatably affixed to a container having material therein with a first hand, wherein at least a portion of the handle is located above a discharge opening of the container; gripping a gripping surface located about the middle of the bottom of the container with a second hand; and tipping the container to discharge material from within the container using the first hand and the handle as a pivot point while lifting the bottom of the container with the second hand gripping the gripping surface.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A container for carrying and pouring flowable materials comprising:
 a bucket portion having a side portion, a closed bottom portion and an upper rim area at least partially defining an open top;   a handle attached near or on said bucket portion to permit multiple means of gripping said container; and   wherein said handle includes first and second gripping members defined generally about an outer periphery of the closed bottom portion and a third gripping member defined generally between the first and second gripping members, and   wherein said closed bottom portion includes first and second depressions spaced from one another by the third gripping member, each depression configured to receive at least one finger of a cupped hand when said cupped hand is gripping the third gripping member, and wherein the third gripping member provides a palm receiving surface for said cupped hand when said cupped hand is gripping the third gripping member, and wherein the thumb of the cupped hand is received in one of the first and the second depressions.   
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein each depression includes a first recess and a second recess, wherein the first recess is configured to receive fingers of a gripping hand and the second recess is configured to receive a palm of a gripping hand. 
   
   
       24 . A container according to  claim 23 , wherein said closed bottom portion has an outer peripheral edge and wherein said depressions are spaced from said outer peripheral edge. 
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 23 , wherein said depressions are spaced apart from one another and are each defined by a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall. 
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein said depressions are spaced apart from one another by a distance of approximately about 20-25% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion. 
   
   
       27 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said depressions has a depth of approximately about 1.5 inches. 
   
   
       28 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said depressions is spaced apart from said outer peripheral edge by a distance of approximately about 15-20% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion. 
   
   
       29 . A container according to  claim 28 , wherein said depressions are spaced apart from said outer peripheral edge by a distance of approximately about 15-20% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion. 
   
   
       30 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of said depressions has a width of approximately about 15-25% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion. 
   
   
       31 . A container according to  claim 30 , wherein each of said depressions has a width of approximately about 15-25% of the diameter of the closed bottom portion. 
   
   
       32 . A container according to  claim 25 , wherein the space between said depressions and said outer peripheral edge are at least partially raised surfaces relative to said bottom walls of said plurality of depressions. 
   
   
       33 . A container according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said gripping surfaces is defined by the side portion of the bucket portion, an at least partially raised surface between one of said depressions and said outer peripheral edge and one of said side walls of one of said depressions. 
   
   
       34 . A container according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said gripping surfaces is defined by one sidewall and the at least one partially raised surface. 
   
   
       35 . A container according to  claim 32 , where each of said gripping surfaces is at least partially defined by one of said at least partially raised surfaces. 
   
   
       36 . A container according to  claim 32 , wherein said gripping surface is configured to be gripped by the entire hand of a user. 
   
   
       37 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein the width of each said gripping surface is about at least one-fifth of the diameter of said closed bottom portion of said bucket portion. 
   
   
       38 . A container according to  claim 22 , further comprising leg extensions lifting said closed bottom portion of said container off of a surface on which said container is placed. 
   
   
       39 . A container according to  claim 38 , wherein said leg extensions comprise two substantially parallel supports that do not impinge on any of said gripping surfaces. 
   
   
       40 . A container according to  claim 38 , wherein said leg extensions life and closed bottom portion of said container off a surface supporting said container an amount sufficient to permit a user's hand to grasp one of said gripping surfaces without contacting the surface. 
   
   
       41 . A container for carrying and pouring flowable material comprising:
 a bucket having a bottom wall from which extends a sidewall having an outer edge defining a rim;   a handle comprised of a link pivotally attached to opposed portions of the container sidewall and comprising a handgrip; and   wherein the container includes a plurality of pairs of handgrips with a plurality of the handgrips each comprised of a recess integrally formed in the bottom wall and another one of the handgrips comprising a portion of the bottom wall disposed between the plurality of integrally formed recesses.