Can holding device
O United States Patent 11 1 1111 Emmert Apr. 8, 1975 [54] CAN HOLDING DEVICE 2,987.23l 6/1961 Lewis 2. 224/25 R [76] Inventor: Raymond L. Emmert, Sl l2 N.W.  
  Prmrarr Examiner-Robert J. S ar 19 ,Okl &#39;cr,01 1&#39;.73127 P th ahomd I y d Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 339.020 1 i ABSTRACT Related Appnanion Dam A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both [63] Cominuation of Ser NO 165 um Jul 971 hands to be free. having a strut with an inner end and abandoned. an outer end. means at the outer end of the strut for affixing a can thereto, a strap having one end adapted [52] Us Cl 224/25 224/5 R to loop about the neck or the shoulders of the user. l5l] Int. Cl. 45f 5/00 the Oher end being affixed to the Strut adjacent the [58] Field of Search 224/25 R 5 A 5 B 5 R outer end thereof, and body contact means affixed to 224/5 5 V 26 R 5 Q. 5 M 25 A the strut inner end having an engaging portion in a plane displaced downwardly of the plane of the strut [56] References Cited so that weight imparted on the strut at the outer end increases Contact pressure of the engagement portion UNITED STATES PATENTS with the body of the user. 794948 7/1905 Rischard 224/25 R 592.688 4/1952 Hillfpup et al. 224/25 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures IZ &#39;XENTECAFR 8M5 INVENTOR.  
 RAYMOND L. EMMERT ATTORNEYS CAN HOLDING DEVlCE This is a continuation of application Ser. 165,010, filed July 77 I971. now abandoned.  
  This device may be used for a variety of purposes but its use is primarily exemplified as an aid to painters, and will be so described. When a painter is painting a wall in an area wherein there is nothing adjacent on which a paint can can be placed the painter is required to carry a paint can. Even if the painter has a place for sitting a can of paint time is lost in reaching from his painting position to the paint can.  
  lfthe painter carries a can of paint it is difficult to insert and remove the brush therefrom since the bail always extends over the top of the can.  
  Others have suggested means for holding a can extended from the body of the painter but other known types of apparatus have not proven to be completely successful. In spite of the efforts of others in the past to this time there is no apparatus in widespread use by painters for holding paint cans in a desirable position.  
  It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device for holding a paint can to the body of a worker.  
  A more particular object of this invention is to provide a can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands of the worker to be free.  
  A still more particular object of this invention is to provide a can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free including improved means of insuring positive contact of the apparatus with the body so that the can is held in an appropriate position and is not easily dislodged.  
  Another particular object of the invention is to provide a can holder for use by a worker so as to free both hands wherein the apparatus is quickly put on or taken off by the worker without any special attachments to be buckled or snapped in place.  
  These objects. as well as other objects of the invention. will become apparent from the following description and claims. taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the apparatus of this invention as shown in use by a worker for supporting a paint can.  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view ofthe apparatus of this invention.  
 FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus.  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device for easily affixing and disengaging the apparatus from a can, as shown along the lines 44 of FIG. 3.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows an outline of a worker using the apparatus of this invention to support a can 12. The can 12 may be utilized for any purpose to contain or receive material utilized by the worker 10. The function of the apparatus to be described is to support can 12 to worker 10 in such a way that the can 12 is held in an appropriate position. in a comfortable arrangement, leaving both hands of the worker free, and in an arrangement wherein the apparatus may be easily put on or taken off by the worker. Can 12 may be a bucket. pail or any other such similar receptacle.  
  The apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 14, includes the basic elements, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, of a strut 16 having inner end 16A and outer end 163&#39;. a means generally indicated by the numeral 18 at the outer end of the strut 16 for affixing to a can 12; a strap 20 having one end adapted to loop about the neck or shoulders of the user and the other end being affixed to strut 16 adjacent the outer end 168 thereof; and a body contact means generally indicated by the numeral 22 affixed to the strut inner end 16A. These general portions of the apparatus will now be described in greater detail.  
  In the illustrated arrangement the strut 16, can affixing means 18, and body contacting means 20 are all integrally formed out of a single length of tubing 24 of stiff material. such as aluminum. In this manner the strut portion 16 consists of two parallel lengths of such tubular material. The can affixing means 18 consists of a semicircular yoke configuration of the tubular material, the yoke including a first portion 26A and a second portion 265. At the outer end of strut 16, where it joins the yoke, is a plate 28 affixed to the tubing 24. Secured to the plate 28 is a bracket 30 having a slot therein which receives a loop of strap 20 (see FIG. 3). The outer loop 20A of the strap 20 is adapted to be placed around the users neck or shoulders, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and may include a resilient padding portion 32 to improve comfort to the user.  
  The yoke portion 26A and 26B each have at the outer end small diameter posts 34A and 348. The posts extend coaxially towards each other. Posts 34A and 34B are of a diameter and in configuration to be received in openings in can 12. Paint cans universally include opposed ear protrusions on the outer cylindrical surface adjacent the top. each having an opening therein for receiving a bail by which the can is carried. With the illustrated embodiment of the invention the bail is discarded and the can is supported directly by posts 34A and 348.  
  Post 3413 is illustrated as being permanently affixed to the outer end of the yoke portion 268 such as by means of a post bracket 36 which is riveted to the yoke portion. In order to facilitate attachment of the apparatus to and disengagement from a can, post 34A is secured to the outer end of yoke portion 26A in a pivotal arrangement. A post pivot bracket 38 is pivotally affixed to the outer end of yoke portion 26A by means ofa bolt or rivet 40, which forms an axis for the pivotation of member 38. Post 34A is affixed to the post pivot bracket 38. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the pivot bracket 38 includes a tab portion 42 which can be used for the pivotation of the bracket. In order to insure the secure attachment of the apparatus to a can means is provided for resiliently urging the post pivot bracket 38 towards the opposing post 348. This is accomplished in one way by a leaf spring 44 attached to yoke portion 26A by means of rivets 46. The outer end 44A of spring 44 engages pivotal bracket 38 to urge it inwardly and to thereby prevent post 34A from becoming disengaged from a can except when the user manually pivots the bracket out of normal position. Means of locking bracket 38 in the inward position may also be provided.  
  The construction of the body contact means 22 is of great importance. Body contact portion 22 includes an engaging portion, generally indicated by the numeral 48, which is in a plane displaced downwardly from the paralleled plane of strut l6. ln the illustrated arrangement the integral tube 24 is curved to form a Y- configuration at the inner end 16A of strut l6 and is then curved downwardly and horizontally to form the engaging portion 48. Thus, the engaging portion 48 is lower than the plane of the strut 16. The importance of this arrangement is best illustrated in the dotted lines of HO, 3. The point of pivotation of the apparatus is the bracket 30 to which strap is attached. The force supporting the weight of can I2 is transmitted in the di rection of the strap and is indicated by arrow 50A. The weight imparted by can I2 is indicated by arrow 50B. This must be counterbalanced by a downwardly applied force from the body via contact means 22. lf the inner end 16A of strut l6 contacted the body of the user the vector force exerted against the body by the strut [6 would be substantially straight upwardly as shown by arrow 50C. With this invention, however, in which the engaging portion 48 is displaced downwardly from the plane of strut 16, a vector force is imparted against the body to counteract the weight of can 12, this force being illustrated by the arrow 50D. Note that the direction of arrow 50!) has a substantial vector component inwardly towards the body of the user Thus, while the displacement of portion 48 into a lower plane than portion l6 is not absolutely necessary to the function of the device. nevertheless. in the illustrated embodiment the weight of can 12 increases the force component towards the body of the user to more effectively frictionally contact the body of the user to retain the apparatus in the correct position. The arrow 50D shows the contact force against the body of the user when strut I6 is in the horizontal position, which is a position in which the device would be used with diminished effectiveness. In actual application the apparatus is used in a position in which strut I6 is downwardly inclined as shown in FIG. 1 in which case the force applied by engaging portion 48 towards the body is even more pronounced causing increased effectiveness to retain the apparatus in proper position.  
  To improve effectiveness of the device a friction increasing cushion 52, which may be in the form ofa soft rubber or plastic hose slipped over the tubing 24, is preferably utilized,  
  The can holding device described fulfills all of the objectives set forth and provides an improved apparatus over the known art. While the invention has been described with a great deal of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplitication, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.  
 What is claimed is:  
  I. A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free, comprising:  
 a strut having an inner end and an outer end;  
 yoke means at the outer end of said strut and having spring urged post means engagable with the outer periphery of the can for affixing a can thereto;  
 a strap having one end adapted to loop about the neck or shoulders of the user, the other end being affixed to said strut as a point intermediate the outer and inner ends providing a weight supporting pivot point; and  
 a generally horizontal body engaging means affixed to said strut inner end, the engaging means being generally perpendicular to said strut, the engaging means being in a plane displaced below the paralleled plane of said strut, the distance of displacement of said engaging means below the plane of said strut being sufficient that the force of weight imparted on the strut at the outer end thereof is rotated around said pivot point providing a vector force towards the body of the user which increases contact pressure of said engaging means with the body of the user.  
 2. A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free, comprising:  
 a strut having an inner end and an outer end;  
 means at the outer end of said strut for affixing a can thereto;  
 a strap having one end adapted to loop about the neck or shoulders of the user, the other end being affixed to said strut at a point intermediate the outer and inner ends providing a weight supporting pivot point; and  
 contact means affixed to said strut inner end having an engaging portion in a plane displaced below the paralleled plane of said strut, the distance of displacement of said body contact means below the plane of said strut being sufficient that the force of weight imparted on the strut at the outer end thereof is rotated around said pivot point providing a vector force towards the body of the user which increases contact pressure of said engaging means with the body of the user;  
 said can having opposed small diameter exterior openings in the upper end thereof, and wherein said means at the outer end of said strut for affixing a can thereto comprises:  
 a semicircular yoke member of a diameter larger than the can to be carried, the outer end of said strut being rigidly affixed to said hoke member intermediate the ends thereof;  
 a small diameter post affixed to each end of said yoke member extending coaxially towards each other, said post members being receivable in the can openings; and  
 means for moving said posts away from each other to provide means for connecting to or disengaging from a can.  
 3. A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free according to claim 2 including:  
 a post support member pivotally affixed to one end of said yoke member, one of said posts being affixed to said pivotal post support member whereby said post support member may be pivoted in the direction opposite the opposing post to permit connecting to or disengagement from a can.  
  4. A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free according to claim 3 including:  
 spring means affixed to said yoke member adjacent said pivotal post support member and resiliently urging said post affixed tosaid post support mem ber towards the opposite post.  
  5. A can holder for use by a worker so as to enable both hands to be free according to claim 2 wherein said strut, and said body contact means and said yoke member are integrally formed of a single length of stiff tubular material, the strut portion consisting of paralleled portions of said tubular material and the body contact portion being formed of a loop intermediate the length of said tubular material.