Latching removable handle for tall and short cans

Abstract

A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position. The lower retainer structure includes separate retainers to engage lower rims of multiple sizes of cans.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A handle apparatus for releasable attachment to a container having opposite container ends and comprising:
 (a) an elongated handle member adapted to be manually grasped and having opposite handle ends;   (b) a first retainer positioned at a first end of the handle member to engage a first end of a container having a first size;   (c) a second retainer positioned at the first end of the handle member in spaced relation to the first retainer to engage a first end of a container having a second size;   (d) a single latch member engaged directly with the handle member at a second end of the handle member to enable movement of the latch member relative to the handle member between a released position and a latched position; and   (e) the latch member having a third retainer positioned to engage a second end of a container in the latched position of the latch member.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is curved and has a first radius; and 
 (b) the second retainer is curved, has a second radius, and is spaced radially outward from the first retainer. 
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is spaced a first distance from the third retainer; and 
 (b) the second retainer is spaced a second distance from the third retainer which is less than the first distance. 
 
     
     
         4 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member is pivotally connected to the handle member to enable pivotal movement of the latch member between the released position and the latched position. 
 
     
     
         5 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member is pivotally connected to the handle member to enable pivotal movement of the latch member between the released position and the latched position; and 
 (b) a resilient member is engaged between the latch member and the handle member and normally biases the latch member toward the latched position of the latch member. 
 
     
     
         6 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member is adapted to enable deployment to latched position upon engagement of the second end of the handle member with a container. 
 
     
     
         7 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member includes a cam surface positioned and oriented to enable deployment of the latch member to the latched position upon engagement of the second end of the handle with an end of a container. 
 
     
     
         8 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  and including:
 (a) a latch mechanism engaged between the latch member and the handle member to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position thereof to thereby releasably attach the handle apparatus to a container. 
 
     
     
         9 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  and including:
 (a) a lock member engaged with the handle member and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; 
 (b) the lock member being moved to the locked position thereof to lock the latch member in the latched position thereof to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position; and 
 (c) the lock member being moved to the unlocked position to enable the latch member to be selectively moved between the latched position and the released position thereof. 
 
     
     
         10 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member is slidably engaged with the handle member to enable sliding movement between the released position and the latched position. 
 
     
     
         11 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the latch member is slidably engaged with the handle member to enable sliding movement between the released position and the latched position; 
 (b) a pawl is positioned on one of the latch member and the handle member; 
 (c) a strike is positioned on the other of the latch member and the handle member; and 
 (d) the pawl and strike cooperate to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position. 
 
     
     
         12 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  and including:
 (a) a stabilizer pad positioned at the second end of the handle member to engage a container to reduce movement of the handle with respect to such a container. 
 
     
     
         13 . A handle apparatus for releasable attachment to a container having opposite first and second ends, the handle apparatus comprising:
 (a) an elongated handle member adapted to be manually grasped and having opposite handle ends;   (b) a first retainer positioned at a first end of the handle member to engage a first end of a container having a first size;   (c) a second retainer positioned at the first end of the handle member in spaced relation to the first retainer to engage a first end of a container having a second size;   (d) a single latch member pivotally connected directly with the handle member at a second end of the handle member to enable movement of the latch member relative to the handle member between a released position and a latched position;   (e) the latch member including a cam surface positioned and oriented to enable deployment of the latch member to the latched position upon engagement of the second end of the handle with an end of a container;   (f) a resilient member engaging between the latch member and the handle member and normally biasing the latch member toward the latched position thereof; and   (g) the latch member having a third retainer positioned to engage the container second end in the latched position of the latch member.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is curved and has a first radius; and 
 (b) the second retainer is curved, has a second radius, and is spaced radially outward from the first retainer. 
 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is spaced a first distance from the third retainer; and 
 (b) the second retainer is spaced a second distance from the third retainer which is less than the first distance. 
 
     
     
         16 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  and including:
 (a) a latch mechanism engaged between the latch member and the handle member to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position thereof to thereby releasably attach the handle apparatus to a container. 
 
     
     
         17 . A handle apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  and including:
 (a) a lock member engaged with the handle member and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position; 
 (b) the lock member being moved to the locked position thereof to lock the latch member in the latched position thereof to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position; and 
 (c) the lock member being moved to the unlocked position to enable the latch member to be selectively moved between the latched position and the released position thereof. 
 
     
     
         18 . A handle apparatus for releasable attachment to a container having opposite container ends and comprising:
 (a) an elongated handle member adapted to be manually grasped and having opposite handle ends;   (b) a first retainer positioned at a first end of the handle member to engage a first end of a container having a first size;   (c) a second retainer positioned at the first end of the handle member in spaced relation to the first retainer to engage a first end of a container having a second size;   (d) a single latch member engaged directly with the handle member at a second end of the handle member to enable movement of the latch member relative to the handle member between a released position and a latched position;   (e) the latch member having a third retainer positioned to engage a second end of a container in the latched position of the latch member;   (f) the latch member being slidably engaged with the handle member to enable sliding movement between the released position and the latched position;   (g) a pawl positioned on one of the latch member and the handle member;   (h) a strike positioned on the other of the latch member and the handle member;   (i) the pawl and strike cooperating to releasably retain the latch member in the latched position;   (j) a spring engaged between the latch member and the handle member and biasing the latch member toward the released position thereof; and   (k) the pawl including a release member operable to release the pawl from the strike to enable the spring to return the latch member to the released position.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is curved and has a first radius; and 
 (b) the second retainer is curved, has a second radius, and is spaced radially outward from the first retainer. 
 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein:
 (a) the first retainer is spaced a first distance from the third retainer; and 
 (b) the second retainer is spaced a second distance from the third retainer which is less than the first distance.