Bucket lifting device

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to bucket harness devices and more particularly pertains to a new bucket harness device for facilitating lifting and tipping of a bucket to empty the contents of the bucket.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The use of bucket harness devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that has certain improved features that accommodates buckets of varying sizes. Additionally, the device should be graspable adjacent a bottom end of the bucket to facilitate tipping of the bucket.

[0005] The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a sleeve receiving a bottom end of the bucket, wherein the sleeve extends around a portion of the bucket. A handle is coupled to the sleeve. The handle is graspable to facilitate lifting and tipping of the bucket when the sleeve receives the bottom end of the bucket.

[0006] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0007] The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new bucket harness device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the bucket 2 lifting device 10 generally comprises a sleeve 12 receiving a bottom end 1 of a bucket 2, wherein the sleeve 12 extends around a portion of the bucket 2. The sleeve 12 includes a pair of terminal ends 14 defining a split 16 therebetween to permit expansion and contraction of the sleeve 12 to accommodate buckets 2 of varying sizes. The sleeve 12 includes a base wall 18 and a peripheral wall 20 extending upwardly from the base wall 18. The base wall 18 abuts the bottom end 1 of the bucket 2 when the sleeve 12 receives the bottom end 1 of the bucket 2. The peripheral wall 20 extends along the portion of the bucket 2 when the bottom end 1 of the bucket 2 abuts the base wall 18.

[0019] A handle 22 is hingedly coupled to the sleeve 12. The handle 22 is graspable to facilitate lifting and tipping of the bucket 2 when the sleeve 12 receives the bottom end 1 of the bucket 2. The handle 22 is positioned diametrically opposite the split 16 in the sleeve 12.

[0020] A latch assembly 24 is coupled to the sleeve 12. The latch assembly 24 is actuated to compress the sleeve 12 against the bucket 2 to secure the sleeve 12 to the bucket 2. The latch assembly 24 includes a receiving nub 26 coupled to the peripheral wall 20 adjacent one of the terminal ends 14. A lever 28 is hingedly coupled to the peripheral wall 20 adjacent one of the terminal ends 14 and positioned across the split 16 from the receiving nub 26.

[0021] The latch assembly 24 also includes a cinching ring 30 pivotally coupled to the lever 28. The cinching ring 30 is extended across the split and extended around the receiving nub 26. The cinching ring 30 draws the terminal ends 14 together to compress the sleeve 12 around the bucket 2 when the lever 28 to pivoted towards the sleeve 12.

[0022] In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sleeve 12 has only the peripheral wall 20 to allow the sleeve 12 to be placed at a variety of places along the bucket 2. In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, has a second sleeve 32 that does not include the handle 22 and only has the peripheral wall 20. A portion of the second sleeve 32 adjacent a top edge 34 protrudes outwardly to form a pour spout 36. The pour spout 36 is positioned diametrically opposite the latch assembly 24. The second sleeve 32 in this embodiment is positioned on the bucket 2 opposite the sleeve 12. The pour spout 36 helps to direct the liquid being poured from the bucket 2.

[0023] In use, the bottom end 1 of the bucket 2 is inserted into the sleeve 12 so that the bottom end 1 abuts the base wall 18 and the peripheral wall 20 extends partially up of a portion of the bucket 2. The cinching ring 30 is extended around the receiving nub 26 and the lever 28 is pivoted to draw the terminal ends 14 together and compress the sleeve 12 against the bucket 2. The handle 22 is grasped while the bucket 2 is being lifted to facilitate lifting of the bucket 2 and tipping of the bucket 2 to pour the contents of the bucket 2 out.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.