Container assembly with interchangeable rigid handle and strap

Abstract

A container assembly includes a container body, one or more first buckle connectors, a strap, and a rigid handle. The container body includes a liner. The first buckle connectors are attached to the liner. The strap includes one or more second buckle connectors at the ends of the strap. The rigid handle includes one or more arms, a cross-bar, and one or more third buckle connectors. Each arm includes a cross-bar end and a buckle end. The cross-bar end is connected to an end of the cross-bar. The buckle end is connected to one of the third buckle connectors. Each second buckle connector and each third buckle connector are interchangeably coupled to each first buckle connector such that the strap and the rigid handle are interchangeable with and removably connectable to the one or more first buckle connectors.

1 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a container body comprising a band near an upper end of the container body;   one or more first buckle connectors attached to an outer surface of the band;   a strap comprising one or more second buckle connectors at ends of the strap;   a rigid handle comprising one or more arms, a cross-bar, and one or more third buckle connectors, wherein each of said one or more arms comprises a cross-bar end and a buckle end, the cross-bar end is connected to an end of the cross-bar, and the buckle end is connected to one of the third buckle connectors; and   wherein each said second buckle connector and each said third buckle connector are configured to be interchangeably coupled to each said first buckle connector such that the strap and the rigid handle are interchangeable with and removably connectable to the one or more first buckle connectors.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container body is a jug or a bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said container body is a hardside cooler or a softside cooler. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more first buckle connectors and each of the one or more second buckle connectors or the one or more third buckle connectors are each a pair of side-release buckles. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more first buckle connectors are male buckles when the one or more second buckle connectors and the one or more third buckle connectors are female buckles, or the one or more first buckle connectors are female buckles when the one or more second buckle connectors and the one or more third buckle connectors are male buckles. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each said male buckle comprises a center arm and one or more spring arms spaced from the center arm, each said spring arm comprising a retaining catch that terminates at one end. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 6 , each said female buckle comprises a front opening and one or more side openings, and each side opening operably receives the spring arm and secures the male buckle by engaging the retaining catch. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container assembly comprises a jug assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the jug assembly further comprises a cap, and the container body further comprises a spout extending from the top of the container body. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 9 , the jug assembly further comprises a cap assembly comprising the cap at one end and a hinge at another end, the hinge pivotally coupled to the top of the container body such that the cap pivotally rotates around the hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cap seals the spout in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , each said first buckle connector is rotatably coupled to the band wherein said band is formed on a liner. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 11 , each said first buckle connector comprises a fastener extended from the first buckle connector. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , the fastener is coupled to a boss, said fastener extending radially into the liner. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , the rigid handle further comprises one or more hook elements, wherein each said hook element comprises a hook end and an arm end, a hook terminating at the hook end, and the arm end rotatably coupled to the cross-bar end of each of said one or more arms. 
     
     
         15 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a container body comprising a band formed near top of the container body, said band defined by a liner;   one or more first buckle connectors attached to an outer surface of the liner;   a rigid handle comprising one or more arms, a cross-bar, one or more third buckle connectors, each of said one or more arms comprising a cross-bar end and a buckle end;   one or more hook elements, each said hook element comprising a hook end and an arm end; and   wherein:
 the cross-bar end is connected to an end of the cross-bar, and the buckle end is connected to one of the third buckle connectors; 
 a hook terminating at the hook end, and the arm end rotatably coupled to the cross-bar end of each of said one or more arms; 
 each said third buckle connector is operably coupled to each said first buckle connector such that the rigid handle is removably connectable to the liner. 
   
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the container body is a jug or a bucket. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said container body is a hardside cooler or a softside cooler. 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the container assembly further comprises an attachment comprising one or more second buckle connectors. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , the attachment is a strap, wherein the one or more second buckle connectors extend at ends of the strap. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each said second buckle connector and each said third buckle connector are configured to be interchangeably coupled to each said first buckle connector such that the attachment and the rigid handle are interchangeable with and removably connectable to the one or more first buckle connectors. 
     
     
         21 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more first buckle connectors and each of the one or more second buckle connectors or the one or more third buckle connectors are each a pair of side-release buckles. 
     
     
         22 . The container assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more first buckle connectors are male buckles when the one or more second buckle connectors and the one or more third buckle connectors are female buckles, or the one or more first buckle connectors are female buckles when the one or more second buckle connectors and the one or more third buckle connectors are male buckles. 
     
     
         23 . The container assembly of  claim 22 , wherein each said male buckle comprises a center arm and one or more spring arms spaced from the center arm, each said spring arm comprising a retaining catch that terminates at one end. 
     
     
         24 . The container assembly of  claim 23 , each said female buckle comprises a front opening and one or more side openings, and each side opening operably receives the spring arm and secures the male buckle by engaging the retaining catch. 
     
     
         25 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the container assembly comprises a jug assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The container assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the jug assembly further comprises a cap, and the container body further comprises a spout extending from the top of the container body. 
     
     
         27 . The container assembly of  claim 26 , the spout comprising a connection configured to removably connect to the cap. 
     
     
         28 . The container assembly of  claim 26 , the jug assembly further comprises a cap assembly including the cap at one end and a hinge at another end, the hinge pivotally coupled to the top of the container body such that the cap assembly pivotally rotates around the hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cap seals the spout in the closed position. 
     
     
         29 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , each said first buckle connector is rotatably coupled to the liner. 
     
     
         30 . The container assembly of  claim 15 , each said first buckle connector comprises a fastener extended from the first buckle connector. 
     
     
         31 . The container assembly of  claim 30 , the fastener is coupled to a boss running radially into the liner.