US2349531A - Can lifting and carrying device - Google Patents

Description

y 23, 1944. R. M. WEIR 2,349,531

CAN LIFTING AND CARRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1'7, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 49 ac /3 I ITEM-E12: /0

I /6 /4 AK /7 3 J 0 ft 20 a 2/ i m 0 i I lrwlwtor @0552 7 MMVQ May 23, 1944. I R. M. WEIR 2,349,531

CAN LIFTING AND CARRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,349,531 H n CAN LIFTING AND CARRYING DEVICE I Robert M. Weir, Salem, Greg. 7 Application December 17, 1943, Serial No. 514,697

4 Claims.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, durable and highly efficient device of the above kind.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a can lifting and carrying device of the above kind which is easy to use and manipulate, and otherwise well adapted to meet the requirements for a successful commercial use.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a lifting and carrying device constructed in accordance with the present invention and operatively engaged with two ice cream cans.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1, with the cans omitted.

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1, drawn on a larger scale, and with parts broken away and in section to more clearly reveal details of construction, the cans being omitted.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present can lifter and carrier comprises a horizontal elongated rigid supporting bar 5 having a rigid arm 6 depending from the intermediate portion thereof, oppositely and outwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws I and 8 being carried by the lower end of the arm 6. Bell crank levers 9 and ID are pivoted at 9a and [a to opposite ends of the supporting bar for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and these levers have arms 9b and Ifib depending below the supporting bar 5 and provided upon their lower ends with oppositely and inwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws II and I2. The other arms 90 and Iflc of the bell crank levers extend inwardly toward each other directly above the supporting bar 5 and have their adjacent inner ends connected by a flexible member I3 consisting of a rubber tube or the like snugly and slidably fitted over the adjacent ends of said lever arms '90 and Illc. Helical compression springs I4 and I5 are seated in cup-shaped members I6 and I1 fixed upon the supporting bar 5, and the upper ends of these springs are connected to the lever arms and H30, as at I8 and I9.

elevate the lever arms 90 and "I00 so as to swing the lever arms 9b and "lb inwardly toward each other.

In using the present device, the lever arms 90 and IUc are formedtoward the supporting bar 5 by manual pressure against the action of springs I4 and I5. The arm ii is disposed between a-pair of adjacent ice cream cans C and C so that the jaws I and 8 respectively engage the adjacent side of the can C and the adjacent side of the can C. The lever arms 90 andIOc are then released so that the springs I-4 and I5 swing the levers 9 and ID to bring the arms 91) and lb inwardly and thereby cause gripping engagement of the jaws II and I2 with the other sides of the respective cans, with the jaws I and 8 and the jaws II and I2 disposed beneath the marginal rims 20 and 2| at the tops of the cans. Upon gripping and pulling upwardly upon the flexible connecting member I3 the bell crank levers will be forced and maintained in position to tightly grip the cans so that they may be conveniently lifted and carried from one place to another. Should it be necessary to set the cans down one or more times before arriving at the desired destination for the. cans, the lifting and carrying device will remain in operative engagement with the cans due to the action of the springs I4 and I5. However, when it is desired to disengage the device from the cans, the member I3 is forced toward the bar 5 so as to swing the levers 9 and ID in a direction to cause outward movement of the arms 91) and Illb and disengagement of the jaws II and I2 from the outer sides of the cans.

The pivotal connections of levers 9 and I0 with the supporting bar 5 are preferably effected by forking the ends of said bar 5 to receive the levers and to provide ears through which the pins of the pivots extend. It will be seen that I have provided a very simple and durable, as well as highly eflicient can-lifting and carrying device of the kind described. The device is easy to use and manipulate and will remain in engagement The arrangement is such that the springs I4 and I5 act to normally supporting bar, an arm rigid with and depending from the intermediate portion of said supporting bar, oppositely and outwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws carried by the lower end of said arm, bell crank levers having arms pivoted to opposite ends of the supporting bar and depending below the latter, further oppositely and inwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws on the lower ends of said arms, said levers having other arms extending inwardly toward each other above the supporting bar, and a flexible connection between the inner ends of said lastnamed arms.

2. A device for simultaneously lifting and carrying two cans, comprising an elongated rigid supporting bar, an arm rigid with and depending from the intermediate portion of said supporting bar, oppositely and outwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws carried by the lower end of said arm, bell crank levers having arms pivoted to opposite ends of the supporting bar and depending below the latter, further oppositely and inwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws on the lower ends of said arms, said levers having other arms extending inwardly toward each other above the supporting bar, and a flexible connection between the inner ends of said last-named arms, said last-named connection comprising a flexible tubular member slidably telescoped onto the adjacentends of said arms.

3. A device for simultaneously lifting and carrying two cans, comprising an elongated rigid supporting bar, an arm rigid with and depending from the intermediate portion of said supporting bar, oppositely and outwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws carried by the lower end of said arm, bell crank levers having arms pivoted to opposite ends of the supporting bar and depending below the latter, further oppositely and inwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws on the lower ends of said arms, said levers having other arms extending inwardly toward each other above the supporting bar, and a. flexible connection between the inner ends of said last-named arms, and helical compression springs interposed between the last-named arms of the levers and said supporting bar for normally yieldingly maintaining the jaws in gripping engagement with the cans.

4. A device for simultaneously lifting and carrying two cans, comprising an elongated rigid supporting bar, an arm rigid with and depending from the intermediate portion of said supporting bar, oppositely and outwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws carried by the lower end of said arm, bell crank levers having arms pivoted to opposite ends of the supporting bar and depending below the latter, further oppositely and inwardly facing arcuate can-engaging jaws on the lower ends of said arms, said levers having,

other arms extending inwardly toward each other above the supporting bar, and a flexible connection between the inner ends of said last-named arms, and helical compression springs interposed between the last-named arms of the levers and said supporting bar for normally yieldingly maintaining the jaws in gripping engagement with the cans, the upper ends of said springs being connected with the lever arms, and cup members on the supporting bar in which the lower ends of said springs are, seated.

ROBERT M. WEIR.

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