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(11) | EP 0 356 147 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Carrying device |
| (57) A carrying device for transporting fluids such as chemical dyes formed of an outer
lightweight container and at least two inner containers (3) for the fluid held tightly
together within the outer container (4). To enable the device to be transported without
handling damage being caused to the outer container, the two inner containers are
held together within the outer container by means of a linking handle (1) which may
be used to transport the inner containers and the outer container as a single unit.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying device particularly for use in transporting bottles containing chemical substances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is common practice to employ cardboard cartons for transporting plastics bottles containing photographic dyes, usually in twin pack form.
[0003] The bottles, normally fitted with finger grip handles, are individually loaded in the receiving carton in tight fitting relationship with themselves and the walls of the carton, and for purposes of inspection and identification the top of the carton, exposing the handles, is left open with the exception of a rim of carton material which acts to prevent the bottles from falling out of the carton.
[0004] During transportation the cartons are normally handled manually, and accordingly the sides of the carton are provided with perforations defining a section of carton material which may be pressed inwardly thereby providing finger grips for the handler.
[0005] Despite requests placed on the cartons that handling should only occur using the finger grips provided in the carton walls, it has been found that the cartons are generally manhandled by being gripped around the thickened rims of their open tops so destroying the purpose of the rim and endangering the contents of the carton.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a carrying device for transporting bottles of chemicals which may be man handled as a complete unit by means of a lifting force applied directly to the bottles within the carrying carton.
[0007] According to the invention there is provided a carrying device for transporting fluids such as chemical dyes comprising an outer light weight container, at least two inner containers for the fluids in said outer container arranged in close fit relationship therewithin, and an accessible handle linking the inner containers for lifting the inner containers and thus the outer container as a single unit.
[0008] By virtue of the above arrangement the rim portion, as described earlier, of the outer light weight container normally in the form of a cardboard carton, will not be used by the handler to lift the container with the bottles of chemical fluid. Rather the detachable handle, clearly visible through the open top of the carton, will be the prefered lifting means so avoiding the weakening of the carton structure prevalent in the prior art arrangement. Furthermore it is not necessary to provide finger grip openings in the sides of the carton as before.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The drawings accompanying this disclosure illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein:
Figure 1 is a top view of a carrying device in one preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the detachable handle of the carrying device shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a top view of the handle of Figure 1.
BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0010] With reference to the drawings, a detachable handle 1 made of stiff plastics material is shown secured to the respective handles 2 of a pair of bottles 3 for containing chemical fluids, and normally made from a durable plastics material.
[0011] The bottles are located snugly within a cardboard carton 4 having an open top 5 so that the detachable handle 1 is accessible for lifting the bottles 3 together with the carton 4, but which does not project above the top of the carton 4 so enabling several loaded cartons to be stacked one above the other without interference.
[0012] As added security to prevent the bottles 3 from falling out of the carton 4, each side of the rim of the open top 5 of the carton 4, is provided with a flap 6 each of which may be secured in the plane of the open top 5 to leave an opening 8 providing access to the lifting handle 1, while at the same time partially closing the top 5 of the carton 1 to retain the bottles 3 therein.
[0013] The lifting handle 1 comprises a T-shaped elongate lifting portion 9 with a two pronged clamp 10 at each end which may be pushed over the handle 1 of each bottle 3 as shown.
[0014] The prongs 11 of each clamp 10 are spring loaded with respect to one another by virtue of the elastic resiliency of the plastics material, and dimensioned to conform to the profile of each bottle handle 2 in the clamped position as shown, with the opening 12 between the ends of opposing prongs 11 facing upwardly in the clamped position such that when lifting occurs the detachable handle will not be forced from the clamped position.
1. A carrying device for transporting fluids such as chemical dyes comprising an outer
light weight container, at least two inner containers for the fluids in said outer
container arranged in close fit relationship therewithin and an accessible handle
linking the inner containers for lifting the inner containers and thus the outer container
as a single unit.
2. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are two inner containers each being
provided with a separate lifting handle, said accessible linking handle having a resilient
handle grip at either end thereof for respective attachment to the lifting handle
of one of the inner containers.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient grip is in the form of a
two pronged clamp formed of a resilient plastics which is pushed, for engagement,
over a respective said lifting handle.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outer prong of each two pronged clamp
is provided with a stiffening flange
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein, in a clamped position of the linking
handle to the inner containers, the opening between the two prongs of each said grip
faces upwardly in the direction of a lifting movement.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer container is provided
with an overhanging rimmed flap with respect to the inner containers.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inner containers, with the linking handle,
do not project above the rimmed flap so enabling each carrying device to be stacked
one above the other.
8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner containers are made
of plastics and the outer container of cardboard.