GB2228464A - Paint can handle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A paint can handle assembly comprises a paint can and a handle extending laterally from the can, the handle being integral with the can (Figure 14) or separable therefrom. The handle is preferably rigid and L shaped and attached by a nut and bolt arrangement to an extension 2 of a flexible strip 5 which encircles the can. The strap may be adjustable (Figure 11) and may include an angled annular splash guard (Figure 13). A clip 7 for gripping a paint brush and optionally providing a cloth hanging means may be attached to the handle. Alternatively the handle may be attached to a boss on the can (Figure 12) or the handle may be D-shaped and fixed by adhesive to the can (Figure 16) or by a tray fitting under the can (Figure 10). <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER HANDLE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a removable handle assembly suitable for gripping a can of paint.

The activity of painting will be familiar to both doit-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts and decorators alike.

Usually the paint is applied to a surface that is to be painted by means of a brush. It is preferable for the painter to have easy access to a can which contains the paint to be applied to the surface, and in particular the painter will prefer the can of paint to be close to hand so that the risk of paint being dripped from the brush, once dipped into the paint, falling onto surfaces that are not intended to be painted are reduced. The painter will also want to reduce the amount of movement or distance he has to move between the can of paint (in order to apply fresh paint onto the brush) and the surface, such as a wall or ceiling, that is to be painted. However, having the can of paint in close proximity to the painter can itself cause problems.

Firstly, the painter may wish to place the can of paint on a raised level surface where he has easy access to the can of paint in which to dip the brush. As may be apparent, this often runs the risk that the can of paint will be knocked off the raised surface accidentally, resulting in unwanted spillage of the paint. Secondly, if the can of paint is placed on the floor close to the painter, there is the inevitable danger that the painter will accidentally kick over or even step into the can of paint which again may result in unwanted spillage of paint and, perhaps more undesirably, result in the painter 5 garments or clothing, such as shoes or trousers, being coated with paint.

Thirdly, if the painter decides to hold the can of paint while painting by means of a looped handle over the top of the can of paint, it will be realised that access to the paint inside the can may be impaired or hindered by the presence of the painter's hand grasping the paint can handle. This may arise when te can of paint is above a 1 litre size, for example a paint can of 2.5 litre capacity, where a plastics material handle is provided looped over the top of the can. This can result in the painter accidentally applying paint to his own hand that is holding the can of paint. For most painters this is clearly undesirable, inefficient, a waste of paint and a nuisance in that the painter's hand must be cleaned of paint either regularly or once the task of applying the paint has been completed.

A fourth problem encountered is with smaller size paint cans such as 1 litre capacity and below. These size paint cans are generally not supplied with any type of handle with which to hold the can, unlike larger sizes such as 2.5 litres. The painter is therefore faced with how to hold the paint can while painting, which is usually solved by either grasping around a side of the paint can or balancing the paint can in the palm of the hand while gripping the side with fingers and thumb.

However, it will be appreciated that paint is often accidentally applied to the side of the can either when removing a lid off the can or while wiping excess paint removing a lid off the can or while wiping excess paint off the brush on a lip of the can. Thus the paint that runs down the side of the can is undesirably transferred onto the painter's hand while holding the can. This is not only messy but it makes the outside of the can slippery and thus difficult to hold.

Furthermore, painters with small hands, in particular women, find it even more difficult to be able to grip around the side of the paint can due to the size of their hands.

Further problems arise if the painter wishes to release the brush, for example when he or she wishes to inspect their work, wipe away excess paint from a surface using a piece of cloth such as a rag, or even to avail themselves of a liquid beverage in what may be a welcome break in the task of painting. However, there may be no appropriate raised surface or place for placing the soiled brush which is close to hand, and even if there is the painter must be careful that the paint left on the brush is not transferred to a surface where paint is not desired.The painter does however have the option of placing the brush across the can of paint, for example balanced across the lips of the can but as many painters have found to their cost, a perfect balance of the brush across the paint can is not always achieved, and as a result paint is transferred to the brush handle or the paint brush falls into the paint, more often than not handle first.

There is therefore a need to provide a device which overcomes or at least mitigates some of the problems discussed above.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a removable handle assembly for a paint can comprising a gripping element attached to a handle and adapted to grip the can, the handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

The present invention therefore provides a convenient means of holding a paint can that allows people with small hands (such as women) to grip the can easily and comfortably while avoiding the undesirable result of paint getting on a painter's hand.

It will be appreciated that the term "paint can" is intended to encompass all containers for decorators material, such as pots, tins, cups and even small buckets. The invention may be particularly useful where the container has a large opening, relative to the overall size of the container, to allow access to the decorators material inside the container, of which a can is a typical example. The invention is applicable to paint cans of any cross-section, including square cross-section and of course the more common circular cross-section. The invention is particularly suitable for common circular cross-section paint cans, which have circular sides and a circular opening which can be sealed with a push-fit correspondingly sized circular lid.

By decorators material it is intended to include both solid and liquid decorators material for "internal and external decoration". Thus the term encompasses paint, varnish, glue, filler, thinners, creosote, wallpaper paste and the like.

The assembly of the present invention, being removable from the paint can, can be attached to and removed from the paint can whether or not the paint can lid has been removed from the can of paint itself. The paint can is gripped and therefore held by the gripping element so that a painter can hold the handle and at the same time the paint.

The term "laterally" when used in connection with the handle means that the handle extends away from the paint can at a variety of angles as long as the handle does not substantially extend above a plane defined by a lip or an edge of an opening of the can. Often in the case of a paint can the opening, which is to allow access to the paint inside the can, will be a circular opening with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the can itself and in this case the edge or lip of the paint can opening is to be taken as being within a plane above which the handle will not extend.

Extending laterally is also to be construed as meaning that a plane through the handle and a centre of the paint can is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by a portion of an external surface of the paint can which is closest to the handle, when the paint can is gripped by the gripping element. It is preferable that the handle extends substantially perpendicularly to the paint can, and where the paint can is of a circular cross-section then the handle extends along a line radially extending from the centre of the paint can. Here "centre" means the geometrical centre of the paint can. The handle may extend away from the opening of the can, such as in a direction generally downwards towards a base of the can while away from a side of the can.

By extending laterally from the paint can when the handle is being held by the painter means the painter's hand will not obstruct the opening of the can and therefore the chances of the painter getting paint on his or her hand from a soiled brush may be greatly reduced. Furthermore, the painter's hand is spaced away from the can which also reduces the chances of the painter accidentally spreading paint on his or her hand.

The handle is preferably rigid and may be tubular or rod-like, for example the handle may be substantially "L-shaped". In this case the handle may comprise a main shank (which is to be clasped in the hand of a painter) and a side arm, so that the handle is similar to an L-shape but with one arm relatively longer than the other. Suitably the handle will be the same height as the paint can being gripped by the gripping element when the handle assembly is attached to the can.

It is preferable that the handle is provided with at least one contacting surface which is capable of abutting the can. This may provide stability such that movement between the handle and the paint can is reduced. Usually only one contacting surface will abut the can at any one time while the assembly of the invention is in use, however, that is not to say that the handle may not possess two or more contacting surfaces. The positioning of the contacting surface on the handle may determine the relative angle between the handle and the side of the can such that each different contacting surface, when abutting the paint can, places the handle in a different respective configuration. In particular, two preferred positions of the handle relative to the can are envisaged where the handle is provided with two contacting surfaces.A first configuration has the handle at approximately 900 to an exterior or side of the can which may be termed a "panhandle" configuration where the handle extends laterally from the paint can in a manner similar to a handle on a cooking pan. In a second configuration the relative angle between the handle and the side of the paint can is very much less, for example between 20 and 400, which may be termed a "pistol-grip" configuration.

It will be appreciated that the positioning of the contacting surface may be varied to give a range of different relative angles between the handle and the paint can, although it has been found that the pistolgrip and pan handle grip may be particularly efficient in preventing wrist-ache. Moreover, the handle may be provided with more than one contacting surface so that the painter may choose a particularly comfortable and satisfactory angle of the handle with respect to the paint can, for example the handle may possess contacting surfaces to allow him to choose between the pistol-grip and pan-handle configurations. The handle therefore may be adapted to abut the can in one or more configurations.

The handle may have only one contacting surface which is capable of abutting the side of a paint can, while still allowing a variety of angles between the handle and paint can to be achieved. This may be done if the handle is pivotable, such as when an end of the handle is pivotable inside a housing, which contains a pivot for the handle. The pivot may be a nut and bolt arrangement so that external surfaces of the housing, which may be made of a flexible material, may be compressed externally to grip and thereby hold the handle in a specific position relative to the paint can. The handle may therefore have means to be secured at a specific and desired angle relative to the side of a paint can, such as may be provided by a nut and bolt arrangement.

In one embodiment the handle may form a loop, for example be substantially "D"-shaped. The handle may therefore comprise a gripping portion (which is to be gripped in the painter's hand) and one or more joining portions at opposite ends of the gripping portion to complete the loop of the handle. Depending on the configuration of the loop, which may be in the form of a polygon or of a rounded shape, the handle may or may not be provided with a contacting surface with which to abut the paint can. Where a contacting surface is provided on the loop-type handle, this may be on the gripping portion but preferably on one or more of the joining portions. For example, the handle may comprise a gripping portion extending at an angle of from 30-50 from the side of the can, and have three joining portions to complete the loop.A first and second joining portion may extend substantially horizontally away from a respective end of the gripping portion (when the handle assembly is attached to the paint can which is placed horizontally). A third joining portion may thus connect ends of the first and second joining portion to form a loop. The third joining portion may be substantially parallel to the side of the can and may be provided with a contacting surface which abuts the side of the can which may run along substantially all of the length of the third joining portion.

It is not essential that the handle, in either the rodlike or loop form embodiments, be provided with a contacting surface to abut the side of the can.

However, in such cases the handle may be provided with at least one joining portion, which may be provided with a contacting surface itself, and may serve to join the handle or gripping portion of the handle to the gripping element.

In a further embodiment the handle may be integral with the paint can. The handle may thus be in the form of the rod-like or loop form embodiments, for example with one part of the loop being formed by the side of the paint can. For example, the handle may take the form of the loop form embodiment, with a gripping portion and one or more joining portions as previously described, and where the third joining portion is replaced by the side of the paint can. The gripping portion may be oval in cross-section, and the side of the paint can may be indented at surfaces corresponding directly facing the gripping portion, to allow sufficient space between the gripping portion and paint can side to accommodate the painter's hand. Both the handle and paint can may be blow-moulded using a plastics material.The paint can may be of any suitable capacity, such as 1 litre or below, or of varying cross-section such as square, rectangular or of circular cross-section. The paint can may possess a conventional push-fit type lid or a screw top lid.

The handle may be provided with a series of grooves and/or ridges or even a raised roughened surface to assist in gripping of the handle by the painter.

Suitable materials for the handle include plastics materials, for example polypropylene such as ABS polypropylene, nylon, or metal such as die-cast metal, such as aluminium. The handle may be made in a moulded fashion, using foam-type plastics materials where the inside of the handle comprises solidified bubbles of the plastics material but has a hard outer layer.

Alternatively, the handle may be completely hollow inside to save weight.

The handle assembly of the present invention is preferably provided with clip means and/or hook means which may be removably attached, e.g. to the handle, by attachment means. The clip means is adapted to hold a brush thereby freeing the otherwise painting hand of the painter. The clip means is preferably positioned so that once a brush has been clipped into the clip means the end of the brush is directly above the opening of the paint can, so that any paint that may drip off the brush will fall through the opening of the paint can and into the reservoir of paint inside the can. This avoids the problem of having to balance the brush over the opening thereby preventing paint getting on a brush handle and the brush dripping paint outside the can or running down the side of the can.

The clip means may comprise one, two or even more clips for clasping the paint brush. The hook means may allow a painter to attach a piece of cloth or rag which the painter may wish to have close at hand to be fixed to the handle assembly of the present invention. The piece of cloth or rag is therefore conveniently placed should the painter wish to use such an item, for example in wiping off excess paint from a painted surface. The clip means and/or hook means are preferably provided on the handle, such as at one end of the gripping portion or shank which, for convenience, may be at the end closest to the gripping element or can opening. The clip means and/or hook means can be attached to the handle assembly of the present invention by attachment means. The handle is preferably provided with one or more recesses adapted to co-operate with the attachment means.Such attachment means may be a secondary clip means such as a clip or clip-fit arrangement but in a particularly preferred form comprises two or more flexible arms which may fit over a portion of the handle. The two arms once fitted onto the handle may thus be biased away from each other and the spring thus induced between the two arms is sufficient to hold the clip means and/or hook means in place. It is preferred that one or more recesses are capable of co-operating with the attachment means to give a flush fit, e.g. the two arms fit into corresponding recesses in the handle.

For example, the arms may be square or rectangular and thereby be capable of fitting into corresponding square or rectangular recesses placed, for example, on opposite sides of the handle. This thus allows the arms to fit onto the handle to form a flush fit. The clip means and/or hook means preferably clip on to the side arm, shank, gripping portion or joining portion of the handle. One or more of the arms may have a pawl or protrusion, such as extending towards another arm capable of engaging with the handle, e.g. fit into a corresponding recess(es) or hole(s) in the handle. The protrusion may thus fit into either another recess or a hole provided in one of the recesses, so that the clip means and/or hook means may therefore be pushed onto the handle and the protrusion(s) on the arms clip-fit into a corresponding hole formed in (e.g. a recess) in the handle.The clip means and/or hook means may be made of the same materials as used for the handle, but steel spring clips are particularly preferred.

The gripping element is capable of having sufficient contact with the side of the paint can such that it can grip the paint can sufficiently to allow the paint can to be picked up by the painter while holding the handle. It is preferred that the gripping element substantially follows the contours of the can, for example if the can is of a circular cross-section then the gripping element will be substantially circular in shape. The gripping element is preferably a flexible strap which may be made of any of the materials listed above for the handle and clip means and/or hook means.

In one embodiment the gripping element is of fixed length, the length dependent on the size of the paint can to be gripped. In fact, the handle assembly of the present invention may be sold with different size gripping elements, for example in a pack, so as to accommodate various commonly found can sizes, for example 500ml, 750ml, and 1000ml.

The gripping element may be provided with attachment means for attachment to the handle. Such attachment means are preferably the same attachment means as described for the clip means and/or hook means.

Therefore, the handle may be provided with the same recesses and holes for attachment of the gripping element.

The gripping element may be attached to the handle by attachment means, which may be the same as for the hook means and/or clip means. For example, one or more of the recesses provided, such as on the handle, may be adapted to co-operate with the attachment means as the gripping element. The gripping element preferably has two end portions, at least one of which has a hole therethrough, which corresponds with a hole in one or more of the recesses provided on the handle. The hole may allow passage of a bolt or rivet therethrough which will allow attachment of the gripping element to the handle. For this purpose, the handle may be provided with a suitably sized hole. However, it is preferred that the handle is provided with suitable recesses such that when the gripping element is attached to the handle, the flexible element is flush with the handle. For example, if the ends of the gripping element are substantially square or rectangular, one or more corresponding square or rectangular recesses may be provided in the handle to achieve a flush appearance. Moreover, such square or rectangular recesses may be of the same size as the square or rectangular recesses that may be provided in the handle to accommodate the hook means and/or clip means which are attached to the handle by an attachment means.

It is therefore possible to have same size square or rectangular recesses to serve both the purpose of both attachment of the clip means and/or hook means as well as attachment of the grip means element. For example, the handle may be provided with two pairs of recesses, one pair for the clip means and/or hook means, and another pair for the gripping element. The hook means and/or clip means and gripping element may therefore be interchanged on the handle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, two recesses may be provided on opposite sides of the handle to form a pair of recesses. Between these pair of recesses may be placed the contacting surface which abuts on the side of the paint can.Therefore, if there are two such pairs of recesses, each may define therebetween a contacting surface allowing the handle to have two respective configurations such as a pistol-grip and pan handle configuration which the painter may choose at his convenience, and use one pair of recesses for the hook means and/or clip means while the other pair of recesses may be used to attach the gripping element.

However, the other configuration may be achieved when the gripping element and clip means and/or hook means are interchanged. The gripping element may be made of a material mentioned above that may be used for the handle or clip means and/or hook means.

In one particular embodiment the gripping element may be adjustable so it is capable of gripping a variety of different diameter paint cans by using a pawl or ratchet system or a JUBILEE (Trade Mark) clip. In this embodiment there will therefore be no need to provide more than one gripping element which are different lengths or diameters. The length of the gripping element may therefore be adjustable by adjustment means, such as by using a ratchet arrangement, or even by a worm drive, and the gripping element may be provided with appropriately placed teeth and grooves.

The adjustment means may be provided inside a housing (for example the same housing as a pivot for the handle) and may have a release mechanism, such as a lever, for releasing the gripping element and therefore the paint can.

Preferably the gripping element is provided with an angled strip which may act as splash guard for any paint that may be wiped off onto the angled strip from the paint brush which, when in use, will allow the paint to run down the angled strip and into the paint can. The angled strip is angled with respect to the side of the can and preferably overhands the edge or lip of the opening of the paint can. Any excess paint that is removed from the brush after contact with the angled strip will therefore run transversely across the angled strip and drip into the paint can. The angled strip may be made of the same materials previously mentioned for the clip means and/or hook means but is preferably flexible and of the same material as the gripping element.The angled strip, in combination with the gripping element, may form fastening means capable of clasping or hooking the edge or lip of the paint can opening.

In another embodiment, the gripping element comprises a tray having a locking or gripping device capable of gripping the can in the tray. The tray may be provided with different size recesses, such as circular recesses, to accommodate appropriately sized paint cans.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a paint can and removable handle assembly combination comprising a paint can gripped by a gripping element, the gripping element attached to a handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

Preferred features of the second aspect are as the first aspect of the present invention mutatis mutandis.

The invention in a third aspect contemplates a paint can and handle assembly comprising a paint can and an integral handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

Preferred features for the third aspect, where applicable, are as for the first and second aspects mutatis mutandis.

By "integral" it is meant to include the following: a) the handle and paint can are a single, and not separate, item, made of the same material; b) the handle may be attached to the paint can by attachment means as discussed previously either for the clip means and/or hook means or the gripping element; c) the handle may be as the loop type handle previously mentioned which is glued, bonded, riveted or otherwise attached to a side of the paint can.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a handle assembly in accordance with the present invention showing a paint brush engaged with a clip means and a gripping element gripping a paint can; Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle assembly without clip means; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the handle assembly with the handle in a different configuration; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a handle assembly in a second embodiment with a pivotable handle; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the handle assembly in Figure 2; Figure 6 is an end elevation of a handle only; Figure 7 is a side elevation of a handle in a third embodiment; Figures 8 and 9 are end elevations of hook means and clip means in a fourth embodiment; Figure 10 is a side elevation of a handle assembly in a fifth embodiment;; Figure 11 is a plan view of the handle assembly of a sixth embodiment; Figure 12 is a vertical cross-section of a paint can with a modified form of handle assembly; Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of part of a drip guard as shown in Figure 11; Figure 14 is a side elevation of a paint can and handle assembly in a seventh aspect; Figure 15 is a side elevation of a paint can and integral handle in an eighth aspect; and Figure 16 is a side elevation of a paint can and handle assembly in a ninth aspect.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is provided a handle assembly 1 comprising a handle 3, a gripping element such as a flexible strap 5 and clip means in the form of a clip 7. The handle 3 is rigid and substantially rod-like and resembles an L-shape with one arm longer than the other, such that the handle comprises a shank 9 and a side arm 11. At the end of the side arm 11 there is provided a first contacting surface 13 which abuts an external side 15 of a paint can 17 of circular cross-section. The side arm 11 is provided with a first hole 19 which is capable of allowing passage of a nut and bolt arrangement 21 therethrough. An end of the shank 9 closest to a circular opening 23 of the paint can 17 is provided with a second contacting surface 25 which abuts the external side 15 in a "handle-grip" configuration as shown in Figure 3.The arrangement in Figure 1 where the first contacting surface 13 abuts the external side 15 is termed a "pistol-grip" configuration.

The flexible strip 5 is substantially circular and thereby follows the contours of the external side 15 of the circular paint can 17. For convenience the flexible strap 5 is placed so that it grips the paint can 17 near the opening 23, so that the handle 3 will be of a similar height to the paint can 17 when in the pistol grip configuration. The flexible strap 5 is provided with two end portions 27, each of which are provided with holes (obscured) of a similar size to the hole 19 which will allow the nut and bolt arrangement 21 to pass through both end portions 27 and the handle 3 thereby securing the flexible strap 5 to the handle 3 and at the same time gripping the paint can 17. The side arm 11 is provided with a first pair of recesses 31 which are rectangular in shape on either side of the handle 3 and sandwich the first contacting surface 13.

The end portions 27 are either square or rectangular in shape so that they correspond substantially to the shape of the first pair of recesses 31 enabling the flexible strap 5 to be attached to the handle 3 to give a flush appearance.

The clip 7 is provided with two arms 33 in a U-shaped configuration and each arm 33 is provided with a protrusion 35 on an inner surface facing an opposing inner surface of the other arm 33. Each clip arm 37 is splayed at its furthest end to facilitate the arms to be forced apart against their natural spring tension to enable the clip 7 to be attached to the handle 3. The clip also comprises a pair of clip arms 37, each clip arm 37 having a semi-circular portion 29 co-operating to define a space to accommodate a paint brush 39.

The handle 3 is provided with a second pair of recesses 41 either side of a second contacting surface 25. A second hole 43 is provided through the handle 3 through the second pair of recesses 41 in the same fashion as the first hole 19 is provided through the first pair of recesses 31. Both the first pair of recesses 31 and the first hole 19 therethrough the the second pair of recesses 41 and the second hole 43 therethrough are substantially identical to allow either the clip 7 or flexible strap 5 to be fitted onto the handle 3 using either the first hole and first pair of recesses (19,31) or second hole and second pair of recesses (43,41). This enables a painter to choose between the pan-handle and pistol-grip configurations, while still retaining the clip 7.The protrusions 35 on the clip arms 37 engage with either the second hole 43 or the first hole 19 to secure the clip 7 onto either the shank 9 (see Figure 1) or side arm 11 (see Figure 3).

In Figure 2 the nut and bolt arrangement 21 is provided with two covers 45 in which a nut and bolt may be secured respectively. The covers are in the form of knurled knobs making rotation of the bolt relative to the nut easier.

Figure 4 shows a handle assembly similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 3 except the handle 3 is pivotable about a pivot 47, where the pivot 47 is the same arrangement as the nut and bolt arrangement 21, optionally with the covers 45 (not shown).

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a handle assembly 1 or handle 3 similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 3 except the handle 3 is either provided with a raised portion 49 which may be roughened to help gripping of the handle 3 (see Figure 5) or a set of parallel grooves and ridges 51 running the substantial length of the shank 9 which may also improve grip on the handle 3 (see Figure 6).

Figures 8 and 9 show a clip 7, the embodiment in Figure 9 having two prongs 53 spaced away and either side from clip arms 37, which can be used to hold or hook a piece of cloth or rag, for example for wiping excess paint off a surface.

Figure 10 shows a handle assembly 1 which comprises a handle 3 which is a loop and D-shaped and does not contact a paint can 17. The handle assembly 1 has a tray 55 which supports a paint can 17 (e.g. a 1 litre size) while gripping the paint can 17 with a gripping element such as a locking device 57. Smaller can sizes (e.g. 750 ml and 500 ml) are shown in broken lines.

Figure 11 shows a handle assembly similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the flexible strap 5 is adjustable and provided with a row of small teeth or recesses 59 on a surface of the flexible strap opposite to the side gripping the paint can 17. A pawl or ratchet 61 is provided which is capable of engaging with the teeth or recesses 59 to hold the flexible strap 5 in a tightened configuration so that the flexible strap 5 is under tension and thereby grips the paint can 17. The flexible strap may be released by a release mechanism 63.

Figures 12 and 13 show another embodiment of the handle assembly 1 where the flexible strap 5 is provided with an angled strip 65 which acts as a splash or drip guard for any paint. The angled strip 65 is so positioned that an edge 67 overhangs a lip 69 on the can opening 23 so that any paint falling or wiped on the angled strip 65 will be directed into an interior of the paint can 17. The angled strip 65 and flexible strap 5 together form a clip which fits over the lip 69 to securely fix the flexible strap 5 on to the can 17.

Figure 14 shows a paint can and integral handle assembly 1 comprising a handle 3 integrally joined to a paint can 17 and both made of a plastics material.

The handle 3 comprises a gripping portion 71 and two joining portions 73 thereby forming a loop. The gripping portion 71 is oval in cross-section and the can -17 is provided with a recess (not shown) opposite the gripping portion 71 to allow easier access of the painter's hand around the gripping portion 71.

In Figure 15 a handle 3 (not shown) can be attached to a boss 75 which is square in shape and provided with a hole 77 therethrough. The boss will be seen to be almost identical to an end portion 27 of a flexible strap 5 as discussed previously. A handle 3 such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 can be attached to the boss 75 in the same fashion as the flexible strap 5 is attached to the handle 3.

Figure 16 shows a paint can 17 and handle assembly 1 where the handle 3 is in loop form and substantially Dshaped. The handle 3 comprises a gripping portion 79 and three joining portions 81, 83 and 85 completing the loop. A first and second joining portion 81 and 83 extend horizontally from opposite ends of the gripping portion 79 to opposite ends of a third (and vertical) joining portion 85. The third joining portion abuts a side 15 of the paint can 17 by a contacting surface 87 running the length of the third joining portion, and may be suitably attached to the paint can 17 by an adhesive.

Claims (29)

1. A removable handle assembly for a paint can comprising a gripping element attached to a handle and adapted to grip the can, the handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is adapted to extend perpendicularly from the can.

3. An assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the handle extends along a line radially extending from a centre of the paint can.

4. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the handle extends away from a paint can opening.

5. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the handle is substantially "L"-shaped.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the handle comprises a shank and a side arm.

7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the handle is provided with one or more contacting surfaces capable of abutting the paint can.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein each different contacting surface, when abutting the paint can, places the handle in a different respective configuration.

9. An assembly as claimed in claims 7 or 8 wherein the handle is provided with two contacting surfaces adapted to place the handle, when in use, in a pistol grip or pan handle configuration respectively.

10. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the handle is pivotable.

11. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 provided with clip means and/or hook means.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the clip means and/or hook means are removably attached by attachment means.

13. An assembly as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein the clip means and/or hook means are provided on the handle.

14. An assembly as claimed in claims 12 or 13 wherein the clip means and/or hook means are removably attached by secondary clip means.

15. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the handle is provided with one or more recesses adapted to co-operate with the attachment means.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein one or more recesses are capable of co-operating with the attachment means to give a flush fit.

17. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the attachment means comprise two or more arms, at least one provided with a protrusion, capable of engaging with the handle.

18. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17 wherein at least one recess is provided with a second smaller recess or a hole.

19. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18 wherein the gripping element substantially follows the contours of an external surface of the paint can.

20. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 wherein the gripping element is a flexible strap.

21.An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20 wherein the gripping element is substantially circular.

22. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21 wherein the gripping element is removably attached to the handle by attachment means.

23. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 15 to 22 wherein one or more of the recesses are adapted to cooperate with the attachment means on the gripping element.

24. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 15 to 23 wherein the gripping element is provided with two end portions, at least one of which has a hole therethrough, which corresponds with a hole in one or more of the recesses provided on the handle.

25. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 26 wherein the gripping element is adjustable.

26. A paint can and removable handle assembly combination comprising a paint can gripped by a gripping element, the gripping element attached to a handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

27. A combination as claimed in claim 26 wherein the handle assembly is as claimed in any of claims 2 to 24.

28. A paint can and handle assembly comprising a paint can and an integral handle adapted to extend laterally from the can.

29. A removable handle assembly for a paint can as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.