US2721690A - Bucket bail ear - Google Patents

Description

C. WEIDMAN, SR

BUCKET BAIL EAR Oct. 25, 1955 Filed April 9, 1953 United States Patent Ofiice 2,721 ,690 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 BUCKET BAIL EAR Application April 9, 1953, Serial No. 347,651

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to bail ears for buckets and is more particularly concerned with bail cars which are especially suitable for use with buckets formed from molded pulp and the like, although also suitable for use with buckets formed from other materials.

Buckets formed from molded pulp paper board and other like materials formed from pulped cellulosic fibers, are commonly used as temporary containers either in the form of self-supporting units or as liners for metal or wooden pails. One use of such buckets, particularly those formed from molded pulp, is for carrying bait. These buckets are suitable for lining conventional metal bait buckets or they may be used by themselves. Their particular manner of use is largely a matter of choice by the user and this choice in turn depends somewhat on the type and quantity of bait and the length of intended service. When the molded pulp unit is used as a liner for a metal bucket, no particular problem from the standpoint of carrying the unit arises since the bail on the metal bucket supports the molded pulp liner as well. When, however, the fisherman desires to use the molded pulp unit by itself, then he is confronted with the problem of providing it with readily attachable carrying means. A wire bail is suitable for this purpose but the problem arises in connecting the bail to the bucket. Not only must the connecting means or bail ear be such that it can be supplied separately and can be securely attached to the molded pulp unit at the will of the user, but it must also be attachable without damaging the bucket and must engage the bucket in such manner that the bucket is effectively supported without undue strain placed upon it which would tend to cause the carrying means to tear loose upon continued use. Moreover, since the price to the consumer is an important consideration in the manufacture of articles of this type, the complete carrying means for the molded pulp bucket must be economical to manufacture and must be free from complicated structural features which would unnecessarily increase its manufacturing cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide bail connecting means or bail ears of the character indicated which effectively provide carrying means for molded pulp articles while meeting the foregoing criteria.

It is another object of the invention to provide bail ears for molded pulp buckets which are easily attached by hand and do not require any special tools or machinery.

It is a further object of the invention to provide bail ears of the nature described which may be attached to a molded pulp bucket without damaging it and which engage the bucket without undue strain.

It is another object of the invention to provide a molded pulp bucket provided with carrying means of the type mentioned.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved bucket and bail ear construction.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a bail car which is formed from a single strip of metal which is suitably stamped and formed to provide two spaced apart legs adapted to embrace the wall of the bucket with which the bail ear is employed, one leg of the bail ear being provided with at least one pointed prong which is adapted to be received in a suitably-positioned aperture in the other leg, and one of the legs being formed with an integral bowed portion adapted to receive the end of the bail.

It is a feature of the invention that the bail car may be attached to the bucket merely by pressing the prong through the bucket wall into the complementary aperture and then secured in position by bending over the forward end of the projection.

It is another feature of the invention that the prongs will engage and pass through the bucket wall a distance from the bucket edge such that danger that the bail car will tear loose is eliminated.

Other objects and features of the invention will. be readily apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment and from the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a molded pulp bait bucket provided with a bail ear embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the bail ear shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion of the bucket shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the relative relationships between the bucket wall and the bail ear; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from within the bucket.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates generally the bait bucket illustrated. Bucket 10 and its cover 12 are formed from molded pulp in accordance with any convenient pulp molding process wherein a reticulated mold receives the fibrous portions of an aqueous pulp suspension drawn through it by vacuum. The cover 12 has a circular rim portion 14 which overlies the edge 16 of the bucket wall 17 and an annular recess or depression 18 which separates the rim portion 14 from a central frusto-conical projection 20. Projection 20 has a top surface 21 which lies substantially in the same plane as the rim portion 14 to provide a surface upon which superposed buckets or other objects may rest. The bucket is carried by means of a handle or bail 24 each end of which is attached to the bucket 10 by means of bail car 25. Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the bail ear 25 is formed from a single integral sheet metal strip Which is bent into a substantially U-shaped configuration to provide two spaced apart legs 27 and 28 joined by a connecting strip 29 which is adapted to overlie the edge of the bucket.

ceiving integral bowed portion 32, the prongs 30 and the bowed portion 32 being formed in the metal strip by any convenient stamping means. In leg 27 are formed a pair of apertures 34 which are in alignment with .and positioned to register with the prongs 30 when the free ends of the legs 27 and 23 are pressed toward one another.

The sheet metal strip from which the bail ear 25 is formed is relatively rigid but is sufficiently flexible that the legs 27 and 28 can be pressed together manually to insert the prongs 30 in the apertures 32. For example, the strip may conveniently be formed from 20 gauge carbon steel. The bail 24 is pivotally secured to the bail ears by slipping its free ends through the opening defined by bowed portion 32 of each bail ear and then bent back upon itself as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The preassembled carrying means for the bucket 10 thus comprises the bail 24 with a bail ear 25 attached to its ends, the bail cars 25 being only partially closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the fisherman desires to provide his bait bucket From the leg I 28 are formed a pair of integral prongs 30 and a bail-rewith a carrying means, it is merely necessary for him to slip the bail ears over the edge of the bucket wall 17 and to press the legs together. This pressure causes the sharp prongs 30 to penetrate the bucket wall and to enter the apertures 34 in the opposite leg 27. To secure the bail ear in place, the projecting free ends of the prongs 30 are bent to overlie the adjacent surface of the bail ear leg 27, as shown in Fig. 4.

The bucket is thus quickly and easily provided with an effective carrying means without damage to the bucket. By reason of the bail ear construction, the bucket is effectively supported without undue strain and there is no danger of tearing or other destruction of the bucket wall by the bail ear when in service.

It will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and it is intended therefore that all matter contained in the foregoing description and in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bail ear for securing a bail to the wall of a bucket and the like which comprises a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion adapted to overlie the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide at least one integral prong extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with an aperture positioned and aligned to receive said prong when the legs are moved toward one another, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and adapted to be pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

2. A bail ear for securing a bail to the wall of a bucket and the like which comprises a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion adapted to overlie the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide a plurality of integral prongs extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with a plurality of apertures positioned and aligned to receive said prongs when the legs are moved toward one another, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and adapted to be pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

3. A bail ear for securing a bail to the wall of a bucket and the like which comprises a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion adapted to overlie the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide at least one integral prong extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with an aperture positioned and aligned to receive said prong when the legs are moved toward one another, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut and stamped from said firstnamed leg adjacent said prong and adapted to be pivotally connected to an end of the bail, said strip being sutficiently flexible for manual pressing said legs together to engage said prong in said aperture.

4. A bail ear for securing a bail to the wall of a bucket and the like which comprises a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion adapted to overlie the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide a plurality of integral prongs extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with a plurality of apertures positioned and aligned to receive said prongs when the legs are moved toward one another, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion stamped from said first-named leg adjacent said prong and adapted to be pivotally connected to an end of the 4 bail, said strip being sufficiently flexible for manual pressing said legs together to engage said prongs in said apertures 5. A bucket and means connected thereto for carrying said bucket, said means including a bail and a bail ear connecting each end of the bail to the wall of the bucket, each bail ear comprising a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion overlying the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide at least one integral prong extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with an aperture positioned and aligned to receive said prong when the legs are moved toward one another and said prong penetrates the bucket wall, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

6. A bucket and means connected thereto for carrying said bucket, said means including a bail and a bail ear connecting each end of the bail to the wall of the bucket, each bail ear comprising a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion overlying the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide at least one integral prong extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with an aperture, said prongs passing through said bucket wall and being 7 received in said aperture, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

7. A bucket and means connected thereto for carrying said bucket, said means including a bail and a bail ear connecting each end of the bail to the wall of the bucket, each bail ear comprising a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion overlying the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide a plurality of integral prongs extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with a plurality of apertures, said prongs passing through said bucket wall and being received in said apertures, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

8. A molded pulp bucket and means connected thereto for carrying said bucket, said means including a bail and a bail ear connecting each end of the bail to the wall of the bucket, each bail ear comprising a single integral metal strip bent to define two spaced-apart legs with a connecting portion overlying the edge of the bucket wall, one of said legs being cut to provide a plurality of integral prongs extending from within the periphery of the leg and the other of said legs being formed with a plurality of apertures stamped from said first-named leg, said prongs passing through said bucket wall and being received in said apertures, and an integral bail receiving bowed portion cut from one of said legs and pivotally connected to an end of the bail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 154,931 Vogt Sept. 8, 1874 201,845 Stark Mar. 26, 1878 236,296 Bloom Jan. 4, 1881 387,182 Reilly July 31, 1888 623,927 Parrish Apr. 25, 1899 798,658 Burgert Sept. 5, 1905 1.521,782 Meier Jan. 6, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,677 Great Britain 1909

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