Lifting Harness for Wire-Handled Bucket Load Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Five-gallon buckets with wire handles are cumbersome and pose safety risks due to uneven weight distribution, causing strain on the body, particularly when carrying heavy loads on narrow or slippery surfaces, as they require one-sided engagement and can be difficult for users to manage safely.

Innovation Solution

A lifting apparatus comprising a semi-circular lifting tray and a tubular grip connected by a cable or strap system that allows both sides of the body to engage the bucket's weight, distributing the load evenly and promoting good posture, while being lightweight, reusable, collapsible, and adaptable to various handle types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wire handled buckets are used for carrying goods, then utility and versatility are improved, but safety and ease of operation deteriorate due to uneven weight distribution and body strain

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveutilityVSAvoidease of carrying

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lifting apparatus comprising a lifting tray and grip as an intermediary device between the user and the bucket. The lifting tray engages with the bucket handle while the grip provides a comfortable holding point, mediating the interaction to distribute weight evenly across both hands and eliminate body strain while maintaining versatility with various bucket types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting apparatus segments the carrying function into distinct components: the lifting tray that engages the bucket handle, the cable that transmits force, and the grip that the user holds. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the tray providing stable engagement and the grip providing ergonomic control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If wire handled buckets are used for carrying goods, then utility is improved, but safety deteriorates due to trunk-twisting loads and body strain

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveutilityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting apparatus acts as a safety intermediary that eliminates harmful trunk-twisting loads by providing a balanced carrying mechanism. The apparatus distributes the bucket weight evenly across both hands, preventing the asymmetric loading that causes body strain and safety hazards, while remaining compatible with various bucket configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting apparatus provides beforehand cushioning by preemptively distributing the load across both hands before any harmful strain can occur. The ergonomic grip and lifting tray configuration prevent excessive force concentration on any single body part, cushioning against potential injury before it happens

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If grip sleeves are added to wire handles, then hand protection is improved, but finger compression and pinching risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand protectionVSAvoidfinger compression

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting apparatus introduces a new intermediary - the ergonomic grip - that replaces direct hand contact with the bucket handle. This new intermediary provides hand protection without the compression risks of grip sleeves, as it distributes pressure evenly across the palm and fingers through its contoured design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If a lifting apparatus is introduced to distribute weight evenly, then ease of operation and safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of carryingVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting apparatus applies local quality by providing ergonomic features only where needed - the contoured grip where hand contact occurs and the lifting tray where bucket engagement is required. The rest of the system uses simple, minimal components like a straightforward cable connection, maintaining overall simplicity while improving ease of operation at critical interaction points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12256829B2Apparatus to facilitate lifting and carrying wire handled buckets

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 ADAMS MICHAEL E

AI summary

An apparatus to facilitate lifting and carrying wire handled buckets has a lifting harness and a lifting tray. The lifting harness includes a grip and a connector. The connector connects the grip to the lifting tray. The grip is tubular and comfortable to grasp. The lifting tray is semi-circular in shape and has a notch on one end and is attached to the connector at the other end. In one embodiment, the connector is a cable and is attached with crimp sleeve to the grip and a spherical fitting to the lifting tray. Both the grip and the lifting tray are made of plastic. A method of carrying wire handled buckets includes placing the bucket handle in the lifting tray and holding the lifting tray with one hand and grasping the grip in the other hand to allow both sides of the body to directly engage the bucket's weight.