# US 12,411,438 B2 · Toner container handle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,411,438 B2 - Document ID: US12411438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/762,008 - Filed: 2024-07-02 - Published: 2024-10-24 - Granted: 2025-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-15 - Assignees: Lexmark International, Inc. - Applicants: Lexmark International, Inc. - Inventors: Emily Stefano Adams; Brian Lester Boettcher; Patrick Lawrence Ransom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12411438B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape} - G03G 21/1842: {for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks (G03G21/1864 and G03G21/1871 take precedence)} - G03G 21/1846: {using a handle for carrying or pulling out of the main machine, legs of casings} - G03G 2215/068: having a box like shape - G03G 2221/1846: using a handle for carrying or pulling out of the main machine - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a pivotable handle. The handle includes a front segment extending along a front of a body of the toner container when the handle is in a first position for contacting a corresponding pry surface in an image forming device when the handle moves from the first position to a second position. The handle includes a rear segment extending along a rear of the body when the handle is in the first position permitting a user to actuate the rear segment to move the handle from the first position to the second position. The handle includes a first side segment extending along the first side of the body and a second side segment extending along the second side of the body. The first and second side segments connect the front segment and the rear segment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toner container for use in an image forming device, comprising: a body having a top and a bottom relative to an operative orientation of the toner container when the toner container is installed in the image forming device, the body having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the second side is opposite the first side, the fourth side is opposite the third side, the body has a reservoir for holding toner; a downward facing outlet port positioned on the first side of the body for exiting toner from the toner container; a handle pivotable relative to the body about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position, the handle includes a front segment extending along the first side of the body when the handle is in the first position for contacting a corresponding pry surface in the image forming device when the handle moves from the first position to the second position for lifting the toner container from a corresponding toner container receptacle in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device; and a notch in the first side of the body below the front segment of the handle when the handle is in the first position providing clearance for the corresponding pry surface in the image forming device during removal of the toner container from the corresponding toner container receptacle in the image forming device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toner container of claim 1, wherein when the toner container is in the operative orientation, the front segment extends horizontally along the first side of the body when the handle is in the first position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toner container of claim 1, wherein when the toner container is in the operative orientation, a bottom contact surface of the front segment positioned to contact the corresponding pry surface in the image forming device when the handle moves from the first position to the second position is positioned higher than the pivot axis when the handle is in the first position and lower than the pivot axis when the handle is in the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toner container of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a rear segment extending along the second side of the body when the handle is in the first position permitting a user to actuate the rear segment to move the handle from the first position to the second position for removing the toner container from the corresponding toner container receptacle in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The toner container of claim 4, wherein when the toner container is in the operative orientation, the rear segment extends horizontally along the second side of the body when the handle is in the first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The toner container of claim 4, wherein when the toner container is in the operative orientation, the rear segment is positioned lower than the pivot axis when the handle is in the first position and higher than the pivot axis when the handle is in the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The toner container of claim 4, further comprising a notch in the second side of the body providing clearance for a user's hand permitting a user to manually actuate the rear segment to move the handle from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toner container of claim 1, wherein the notch in the first side of the body includes a tapered bottom surface that tapers upward in a direction from the first side of the body toward the second side of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The toner container of claim 8, wherein the notch in the first side of the body includes first and second tapered side surfaces that taper inward toward each other in the direction from the first side of the body toward the second side of the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toner container of claim 1, wherein the notch in the first side of the body includes a first notch positioned proximate to the third side of the body and a second notch positioned proximate to the fourth side of the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The toner container of claim 10, wherein when the toner container is in the operative orientation, a vertical position of the first notch is aligned with a vertical position of the second notch.