Container handles for lifting a container in an inverted orientation

Abstract

A container (10), wherein the container (10) comprises a base (12) and upstanding walls (14) on the base (12), wherein the upstanding walls (14) each comprise a top edge (20), the top edges (20) defining a top opening (34) therebetween, wherein the container (10) comprises an inverted lifting handle (100) to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container (10) when the container (10) is in an inverted orientation, and wherein the inverted lifting handle (100) is at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base (12), and distal from an elevation of the top opening (34).

1 . A container, wherein the container comprises a base and upstanding walls on the base,
 wherein the upstanding walls each comprise a top edge, the top edges defining a top opening therebetween,   wherein the container comprises an inverted lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an inverted orientation, and   wherein the inverted lifting handle is at an elevation proximal to an elevation of the base, and distal from an elevation of the top opening.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inverted lifting handle is a first inverted lifting handle, and wherein the container comprises a second inverted lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the first inverted lifting handle. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a finger engaging surface to impart a reaction force against an upwards lifting force applied to the finger engaging surface when the container is in the inverted orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the finger engaging surface faces, at least in part, an opposite direction than an underside of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the finger engaging surface comprises at least one of: a minimum dimension greater than or equal to one centimeter, to provide enough of a ledge to receive a digit of a hand of a user; or
 a maximum dimension greater than three centimeters to provide space to receive a plurality of digits of a hand of a user.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the finger engaging surface comprises a transitional distal edge, the transitional distal edge being the edge of the finger engaging surface that is laterally distal from the base of the container, wherein the transitional distal edge is vertically angled towards an elevation of the base, and wherein the transitional distal edge comprises a convex fillet. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a reinforcing portion, wherein the reinforcing portion comprises a reinforcing rib. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a plurality of the reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inverted lifting handle comprises a drain. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the drain is located at the finger engaging surface. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising an upright lifting handle to enable, at least in part, lifting of the container when the container is in an upright orientation, wherein the upright lifting handle is at a same one of the upstanding walls as the inverted lifting handle. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a finger recess for the inverted lifting handle. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein an interior surface of the container, comprising an interior side of the finger recess, is non-planar due at least to the finger recess. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the interior surface comprises a ribbed shape, comprising one or more wall ribs in an upright orientation, on opposite upstanding walls of the upstanding walls of the container. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the finger recess is adjacent an inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, or
 wherein the finger recess is alongside an outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the finger recess.   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the container comprises nesting separators and nesting platforms above the nesting separators, wherein the nesting platforms are configured to receive the nesting separators of another container nested within the container to provide a minimum vertical nesting separation distance between the top edges of the other container and the top edges of the container. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the minimum vertical nesting separation distance is greater than a vertical height of the finger recess from the base of the container, to prevent the base of the other container from hitting the finger recess of the container. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a finger recess for the inverted lifting handle,
 wherein an interior surface of the container, comprising an interior side of the finger recess, is non-planar due to the finger recess and due to the interior surface comprising a ribbed shape, comprising wall ribs in an upright orientation, on opposite upstanding walls of the upstanding walls of the container, and   wherein the finger recess is adjacent an inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, or   wherein the finger recess is alongside an outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the finger recess.   
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the inverted lifting handle is a first inverted lifting handle and the finger recess is a first finger recess,
 wherein the container comprises a second inverted lifting handle to a second opposite side of the container than the first inverted lifting handle, and a second finger recess for the second inverted lifting handle,   wherein the first finger recess is adjacent the inwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the first finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond the inwardly-protruding rib, and   wherein the second finger recess is alongside the outwardly-protruding rib of the wall ribs, a top of the second finger recess being dimensioned not to protrude beyond interior base corners of the upstanding wall having the second finger recess.   
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the wall ribs extend up the upstanding walls further than the finger recess.