Paint container handling system

A paint container handling system for removably coupling a paint can and a gripping device for facilitating the holding of the can by a painter during use, the coupling and holding being done in a safe, ergonomic, convenient, and economical manner, the system comprising, in combination:

• the paint can having a circular open top and a circular closed bottom and a cylindrical side wall between the open top and closed bottom, a circular upper edge between the open top and cylindrical side wall, the upper edge and the cylindrical side wall having a first radius of curvature, an annular recess formed in the circular upper edge, the can being formed of a rigid material;
• a handle having free ends pivotably coupled to the side wall of the can at diametrically spaced locations adjacent to the upper edge, the handle having an arcuate central section between the free ends, the arcuate section having a second radius of curvature, the handle being fabricated of a rigid metallic material;
• a gripping device in a monolithic configuration, the gripping device having an upper surface and a lower surface and a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, a lower slot formed in the gripping device extending upwardly from the lower surface, the lower slot having an arcuate configuration with a third radius of curvature equal to the first radius of curvature, the lower slot having an upper ledge, an inwardly facing finger formed in the lower surface extending radially interiorly into the lower slot, the inwardly facing finger positionable in the annular recess of the upper edge of the paint can;
• the gripping device having an upper extent elevationally above the upper ledge and above the paint can during use when coupled to the paint can, the gripping device having a lower extent elevationally below the upper ledge during use when coupled to the paint can, the gripping device having an interior extent radially interior of the can during use when coupled to the paint can, the gripping device having an exterior extent radially exterior of the paint can during use when coupled to the paint can, the upper extent having a primary height, the lower extent radially interior of the lower slot having a secondary height, the lower extent radially exterior of the lower slot having a tertiary height, the tertiary height being greater than the secondary height;
• an upper slot extending downwardly from the upper surface of the gripping device, the upper slot being arcuate with a fourth radius of curvature equal to the second radius of curvature for removably receiving the handle;
• and
• an inner groove formed in the interior surface of the upper extent of the gripping device, the inner groove being at an acute angle with respect to horizontal for receiving a thumb of the painter, outer grooves formed in the exterior surface, the outer grooves being at an acute angle with respect to horizontal for receiving fingers of the painter, the outer grooves including one upper groove above the ledge and at least one lower groove below the ledge.