Lightweight handle

Abstract

Disclosed is a light weight handle assembly adapted to transport a heavy duty container which may contain sensitive electronic components. The handle assembly of the present invention generally comprises a stationary bracket which mounts to a container wall and a movable handle pivotally connected to the bracket. The bracket is formed with an inner portion that is adapted to rotatably engage with a pair of pivoting arms extending from the movable handle so that the light weight handle may easily be assembled and disassembled. The stationary bracket is also formed with two stationary stop members while each of the pivoting arms are formed with a corresponding movable stop member. The stationary stop members and movable stop members each have a substantially planar contact surface which are designed such that when the movable handle is pivoted to the lifting/operative position, the movable stop members are in contact with the stationary stop members with less stress in the materials than in conventional handles. The lower stresses enable a strong handle to be made of plastic material such as polyethylene.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A handle assembly disposed on a container wall for lifting and transporting said container, the handle assembly comprising: 
       a stationary bracket member affixed to the container wall, said bracket member having inner and outer portions;  
       a movable handle member comprising a hand grip portion and first and second arms extending from said hand grip portion, each of said first and second arms including an outer portion and a pivot portion substantially parallel to said hand grip portion, each of said pivot portions being rotatable within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member so that said movable handle member may be pivoted between a first position and a second position;  
       first and second stationary stop members disposed on the outer portion of said stationary bracket member; and  
       first and second movable stop members disposed on the outer portion of said first and second arms of said movable handle;  
       each of said stationary stop members and movable stop members having a substantially planar contact surface which come into contact when said movable handle is pivoted from its first position to its second position so as to limit said pivotal movement of said movable handle; and  
       said planar contact surfaces of said movable handle and said stationary bracket being disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the container wall when in contact with one another whereby said movable handle is positioned such that said arms thereof are at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said container wall.  
     
     
       2. The handle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said inner portion of said stationary bracket member includes first and second retainer members for retaining said first and second pivot portions of said movable handle member. 
     
     
       3. The handle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said each of said pivot portions of said movable handle member further includes a cylindrical portion adapted to rotate within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member. 
     
     
       4. The handle assembly of  claim 3 ,  A handle assembly disposed on a container wall for lifting and transporting said container, the handle assembly comprising: 
       
         a stationary bracket member affixed to the container wall, said bracket member having inner and outer portions;  
       
       
         a movable handle member comprising a hand grip portion and first and second arms extending from said hand grip portion, each of said first and second arms including an outer portion and a pivot portion substantially parallel to said hand grip portion, each of said pivot portions being rotatable within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member so that said movable handle member may be pivoted between a first position and a second position;  
       
       
         first and second stationary stop members disposed on the outer portion of said stationary bracket member;  
       
       
         first and second movable stop members disposed on the outer portion of said first and second arms of said movable handle;  
       
       
         each of said stationary stop members and movable stop members having a substantially planar contact surface which come into contact when said movable handle is pivoted from its first position to its second position so as to limit said pivotal movement of said movable handle;  
       
       
         said planar contact surfaces of said movable handle and said stationary bracket being disposed at an angle of about  45  degrees with respect to the container wall when in contact with one another whereby said movable handle is positioned such that said arms thereof are at an angle of approximately  90  degrees with respect to said container wall;  
       
       
         wherein said each of said pivot portions of said movable handle member further includes a cylindrical portion adapted to rotate within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member; and 
       
       wherein each of said pivot portions of said movable handle member further includes a flange portion extending outwardly from said cylindrical portion so as to limit the axial movement of said pivot portion within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member.  
     
     
       5. The handle assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first pivot portion further includes a spring support member axially disposed with said cylindrical portion and a torsion spring member disposed thereon, said spring support member having a spring attachment portion for securing one end of said torsion spring, said other end of said torsion spring being attached to said stationery bracket member. 
     
     
       6. The handle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said inner portion of said stationary bracket member comprises a first cavity for rotatably receiving said first pivot portion of said first arm and a second cavity for rotatably receiving said second pivot portion of said second arm, said first retainer member being disposed in said first cavity and said second retainer being disposed in said second cavity. 
     
     
       7. The handle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said inner portion of said stationary bracket member further includes a third cavity for receiving said flange portion of said first pivot portion of said first arm and a fourth cavity for receiving said flange portion of said second pivot portion of said second arm. 
     
     
       8. A handle assembly for lifting a container and constructed to reduce stress in the handle assembly, comprising: 
         a )  stationary stop members connected with said container;    
         b )  a bracket having an axial opening, said bracket being mountable on a wall of said container;    
         c )  a hand grip assembly including a hand grip portion and two extension portions extending from both ends of said hand grip portion, said two extension portions each extending generally perpendicularly to said hand grip portion and in the same direction as one another, said two extension portions each having stop members thereon, said portions being adapted to simultaneously engage said bracket in a hinged relationship such that said hand grip assembly is pivotable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein said stop members upon said two extensions contact said stationary stop members on said container at about a  45 ° angle to said wall upon which said handle assembly is mounted and said extension portions are at an angle of approximately  90  degrees to said container wall.   
     
     
       9. A handle assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein when said handle assembly is unattached to said container, said hand grip assembly is disengageable from said bracket. 
     
     
       10. A handle assembly disposed on a container wall for lifting and transporting said container, the handle assembly comprising: 
       
         a stationary bracket member affixed to the container wall, said bracket member having inner and outer portions;  
       
       
         a movable handle member comprising a hand grip portion and first and second arms extending from said hand grip portion, each of said first and second arms including an outer portion and a pivot portion substantially parallel to said hand grip portion, each of said pivot portions being rotatable within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member so that said movable handle member may be pivoted between a first position and a second position;  
       
       
         first and second stationary stop members located to be contacted by first and second movable stop members disposed on the outer portion of said first and second arms of said movable handle;  
       
       
         each of said stationary stop members and movable stop members having a substantially planar contact surface which come into contact when said movable handle is pivoted from its first position to its second position so as to limit said pivotal movement of said movable handle;  
       
       
         said planar contact surfaces of said movable handle and said stationary stop members being disposed at an angle of about  45  degrees with respect to the container wall when in contact with one another whereby said movable handle is positioned such that said arms thereof are at an angle of approximately  90  degrees with respect to said container wall. 
       
     
     
       11. A handle assembly disposed on a container wall for lifting and transporting said container, the handle assembly comprising: 
       
         a stationary bracket member affixed to the container wall, said bracket member having inner and outer portions;  
       
       
         a movable handle member comprising a hand grip portion and first and second arms extending from said hand grip portion, each of said first and second arms including an outer portion and a pivot portion substantially parallel to said hand grip portion, each of said pivot portions being rotatable within said inner portion of said stationary bracket member so that said movable handle member may be pivoted between a first position and a second position;  
       
       
         first and second stationary stop members on said container;  
       
       
         first and second movable stop members disposed on the outer portion of said first and second arms of said movable handle;  
       
       
         each of said stationary stop members and movable stop members having a substantially planar contact surface which come into contact when said movable handle is pivoted from its first position to its second position so as to limit said pivotal movement of said movable handle, said planar contact surfaces of said movable handle and stationary stop members being disposed at an angle of about  45  degrees with respect to the container wall when in contact with one another whereby said movable handle is positioned such that said arms thereof are at an angle of approximately  90  degrees with respect to said container wall; and  
       
       
         said bracket and said moveable handle being substantially hollowed in predetermined locations whereby weight and material are reduced and strength is maintained.