Handle attachment for a container

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a container and handle assembly comprising a container having a neck, and handle attachment formed separately from the container and assembled thereto. The attachment includes a handle extending to a ring adapted to fit over and secure with the container neck for mounting the handle attachment to the container. The handle attachment ring includes internal threads along the inner wall complementary with external threads positioned on a shoulder of the neck. The ring also includes notches for receiving radially extending projections on the neck shoulder to prevent unthreading of the handle attachment from the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plastic containers having attachable handles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers for flowable products, such as liquids and granular products, have been formed of plastic by a variety of methods. For example, plastic containers have been blow molded to provide an integral container body, neck finish and handle. Other plastic containers have been formed with an integral container body and neck finish, and a separate handle attached to the container body and/or finish. Still other plastic containers have been formed by positioning an integral handle and neck finish in a blow mold (for a container body), whereby during blowing of the container body (from a separate preform) the handle and the neck finish become attached to the container body.

In some instances, it may be desirable to form the container body in a blow mold without the handle being present so that the blow mold can be simpler in design, e.g., does not require recesses or pockets to form or hold the handle. It also may be desirable to use a different plastic material for the handle (than for the container body) for reasons such as strength, color, aesthetics or cost. It may further be desirable to provide a handle attached at the neck rather than the body of the container, for ease of pouring and/or one-handed use of the container and handle assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a container and handle assembly is provided comprising a container and a handle attachment. The container comprises a neck and a body where a portion of the neck is surrounded by a radially outwardly extending shoulder proximal to the body, the shoulder having at least one external thread and at least one notch. The handle attachment comprises a handle and a ring, an inner wall of the ring having at least one internal thread complementary with the at least one external thread of the container shoulder, the inner wall further comprising at least one radially extending projection for receipt by the at least one notch of the container shoulder to prevent unthreading of the handle attachment from the container.

The container neck and the handle attachment may be made of any plastic material, and they may be made of different plastic materials. For example, the container neck, as well as the entire container, may be made of polyethylene terephthalate, while the handle attachment can be made of polypropylene. In one embodiment, an integral blow molded and substantially transparent PET beverage container is provided with the handle attachment.

Another embodiment provides a container comprising a neck and a body, where a portion of the neck is surrounded by an annular shoulder proximal to the body. The shoulder includes a plurality of thread segments and a plurality of notches on the circumference of the shoulder, each notch being positioned between two thread segments. The neck encompasses a mouth and further comprises at least one external closure thread adjacent the mouth for securing a threaded closure, wherein the shoulder thread segments provide a diameter greater than that afforded by the at least one external closure thread.

Another embodiment provides a container having a neck portion surrounded by an annular shoulder containing a plurality (two or more) of thread segments and a plurality of notches on a circumference of the shoulder. Each notch is positioned between two thread segments. The neck further comprises at least one external closure thread above the shoulder for securing a threaded closure (e.g., a cap). The shoulder thread segments provide a diameter greater than that afforded by the at least one external closure thread.

Another embodiment provides a handle attachment for a container, the handle attachment comprising a handle integral with a ring, the ring having an inner wall containing internal thread segments and a plurality of radially extending projections on the circumference of the inner wall, each projection being positioned between two internal thread segments, the internal thread segments being complementary with external thread segments of a shoulder of the container for securing the handle attachment to the container, and wherein the projections are capable of being received by notches in the container shoulder to prevent unthreading of the handle attachment from the container.

Another embodiment provides a preform comprising a neck and a body, the neck comprising:

an annular shoulder surrounding the neck, the shoulder including at least one external thread and at least one notch; and

at least one external closure thread above the shoulder, for securing a threaded closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a ring of a handle attachment, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the handle attachment, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of the neck of the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container and handle assembly showing the handle attachment secured to the container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container and handle assembly, showing the handle attachment separate from the container;

FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of another embodiment of a container neck;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of a handle attachment;

FIG. 8 is a detailed side view of another embodiment of a container neck; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of a handle attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a top plan view and sectional side view, respectively, of an embodiment of the handle attachment. FIG. 3 provides a detailed side view of an embodiment of the neck of the container. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of a container and handle assembly 10 in a secured and unsecured arrangement, respectively.

Referring in more detail to FIGS. 4 and 5, assembly 10 includes a container 12 that is formed separately from a handle attachment 30, the latter being attachable to the container 12 after the container is formed (e.g., post blow mold). Alternatively, the handle attachment can be secured to a preform neck, prior to blow molding of the preform body (into a container body). Container 12 is constructed to be secured to handle attachment 30 by engaging matching threads (screw type threads) on substantially cylindrical neck 20 of container 12 and ring 32 of handle attachment 30.

The container 12 may be substantially of any shape and material, e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottle or the like, to define an interior volume in which a product is to be received. The container 12 can be blow molded, injection molded, extrusion blow molded, or the like. The handle attachment 30 is formed separately from the container 12, and can be prepared by injection molding, extrusion molding, compression molding, or the like. The handle attachment 30 may be formed of a different plastic material and/or color than the container 12, thereby increasing the choice of materials available and potentially reducing the material cost of the overall container and handle assembly. For example, the handle attachment 30 may be formed of polypropylene or the like. Providing the handle attachment 30 separately from the container 12, and attaching it after the container is formed, can simplify the design of the container 12 and of the mold used to make it.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of neck 20, positioned adjacent body 14 of the container. Neck 20 has at least one external closure thread 21 proximal to container mouth 24 for securing a closure (e.g., cap) to the container. Radially outwardly extending shoulder 25 is provided proximal to body 14. “Proximal to body” can mean a shoulder abutting body 14 or displaced by a relatively small amount (compared to the overall height of the neck), leaving a portion of neck 20 abutting body 14. An external thread 26 is provided on shoulder 25. Above the shoulder 25 is radially outwardly extending annular bead 22 positioned between external threads 21 and 26. Bead 22 is designed to cooperate with a plastic closure (not shown). When a plastic closure is removed by twisting upwards along the threads 21, it tears along a perforation from an annular tamper-evident band, which is retained on the container by bead 22. Bead 22 is shown sloped outwardly towards body 14, but alternatively, can be horizontal, e.g., flat.

FIG. 3 shows an optional recess 23 between bead 22 and shoulder 25, having a diameter less than that of shoulder 25 and bead 22. An external thread 26 and recessed notch 28 on shoulder 25 provide the features used to connect container 12 to handle attachment 30.

The external thread 26 on shoulder 25 can be of the same material as the neck and formed by injection molding and the like. External thread 26 can be continuous or interrupted (segmented), e.g., having two or more of sloped segments, which provide a threaded pathway, like a continuous thread but with interrupted sections. As used herein, “thread” includes a single continuous thread, a portion thereof (e.g., segment), or multiple portions (e.g., segments) of threads.

Shoulder 25 contains at least one notch 28 to ensure that the container and handle assembly does not unthread, as discussed in more detail below. Notch 28 is positioned in a manner that does not interfere with the threaded engagement between shoulder 25 and ring 32. FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of notch 28 positioned between two external thread segments 26, although other arrangements can be readily constructed. In one embodiment, a plurality (two or more) of notches 28 can be positioned on the circumference of shoulder 25, and can be equally spaced from each other.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show top plan and side views, respectively, of handle attachment 30, comprising ring 32 and handle 33. Ring 32 is secured onto shoulder 25 of neck 20 while handle 33 provides a gripping portion for grasping by a user. Ring 32 and handle 33 can be formed integrally, or formed separately with subsequent attachment. The inner surface of handle 33 may include ergonomic features such as ribbed finger recesses (not shown).

Ring 32 comprises inner wall 34 having at least one internal thread 36 and at least one internal radially extending projection 38. The at least one internal thread 36 can be segmented or continuous and is complementary with external thread(s) 26 to allow shoulder 25 to engage ring 32. After the engagement, the tip or end of projection 38 is received by the recess of notch 28. Projection 38 can take any shape or form, e.g., a finger (as shown in FIG. 1) or a tab, where notch 28 would have a corresponding shape. In one embodiment, projection 38 is angulated with respect to the circumference 35 of inner wall 34. The angle can be selected such that when turning the ring in the screw direction, the projection 38 can slide in and out of notch 28. In contrast, turning the ring in the unscrew direction locks projection 38 onto notch 28. In another embodiment, notch 28 can likewise be angulated, or have a conforming shape to catch projection 38 when the ring is turned in the unscrew direction but not when the ring is turned in the screw direction.

In one embodiment, the locking engagement between projection 38 and notch 28 can be further secured by the use of two or more corresponding projections 38 and notches 28. In one embodiment, the at least one projection 38 can comprise a plurality of projections 38 around the circumference of inner wall 34, e.g., each projection 38 can be equally spaced from another, in a manner that corresponds to the number and spacing of notches 28.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the container 12 includes a blow-molded body 14 of any suitable shape or length, as illustrated by the cutaway 18. A substantially cylindrical neck 20 can define an open upper end and mouth portion 24 of the container 12 through which a product may be added to or discharged from the container 12. Body 14 of container 12 may have an upper tapered (e.g., conical) section 16 below neck 20 to provide a space 15 for a user to grip the handle 33 when assembled to container 12. Alternatively, handle 33 can be sufficiently drawn out and angled to provide space 15.

When forming assembly 10, ring 32 of handle attachment 30 is lowered around neck 20 of container 12, until positioned adjacent shoulder 25, and then turned (screwed) into a locked position. The diameter of internal thread(s) 36 (and thus, ring 32) is greater than that of the external closure threads 21 to enable ring 32 to access shoulder 25. Ring 32 is then turned to cooperatively fit internal thread(s) 36 with external thread(s) 26 until projection(s) 38 are retained and locked in the recess of notch(s) 28.

In one embodiment, locking mechanisms can be provided on handle attachment 30 and/or container 12 to prevent ring 32 from completely rotating down shoulder 25 and bottoming out onto container 12. In one embodiment, ring 32 contains at least one lip 37. FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a handle attachment 30 containing two opposing lips 37 positioned on top of ring 32. In another embodiment, it can be readily appreciated that one or more such lips can be placed at various positions on ring 32. FIG. 6 shows a corresponding neck constructed to cooperate with the ring attachment of FIG. 7, where neck 20 has at least one corresponding protuberance 27 (two shown in FIG. 6) can be positioned along shoulder 25. When ring 32 is rotated about external threads 26, lip 37 eventually butts against protuberance 27, and further rotation is thereby prevented.

Alternatively, an appropriately designed lip or protrusion can be placed along inner wall 34 of ring 32 (and corresponding protuberance along wall of shoulder 25) so long as the lip or protrusion does not substantially interfere with the rotation of ring 32 to engage corresponding threads with shoulder 25 and insertion of projection 38 into notch 28.

In another embodiment, FIG. 9 shows a handle attachment 30 fitted with a detent or notch 39 positioned on handle 33, the detent 39 being immediately adjacent and below ring 32. Correspondingly, FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of neck 20, which can be provided with a corresponding detent or flange 29 lying below shoulder 25. Rotating ring 32 eventually causes detent 39 to contact the top of flange 29, which prevents further downward movement of ring 32.

Another embodiment provides a preform having a neck 20 as described above for container 12. The preform can be initially prepared by injection molding, in which the neck features are implemented, e.g., an annular shoulder including at least one external thread and at least one notch. The neck further comprises at least one external closure thread above the shoulder, for securing a closure. The preform can be subsequently inserted into a blow molding apparatus to form the blow molded container. Shoulder 25 (or flange 29, if present) can doubly function as a supporting flange to facilitate handling the preform during blow molding.

There has thus been described embodiments of a container and handle assembly that provides various benefits. Forming a handle attachment separately from the container enables the container to be of a simpler design and permits the use of a standard blow molder. Providing a handle attachable to the container neck, rather than to the container body, facilitates ease of pouring and handling of the container assembly, e.g., one-handed pouring. Also, the handle attachment may be clamped onto the container with conventional packaging assembly equipment. The material used for the container body can be different from the material used for the handle attachment. Desirably, a less expensive material can be chosen for each part to provide a more economical manufacture while still achieving the desired functions. The handle and container may also be formed by different methods as desired for a wide range of applications.

A number of modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. Directional words such as top, bottom, upper, lower, radial, circumferential, lateral, longitudinal and the like are employed by way of description and not limitation. The invention is intended to embrace all modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container and handle assembly comprising:

a container comprising a neck and a body, a portion of the neck being surrounded by a radially outwardly extending shoulder proximal to the body, the shoulder having at least one external thread and at least one notch; and

a handle attachment comprising a handle and a ring, an inner wall of the ring having at least one internal thread complementary with the at least one external thread of the container shoulder, the inner wall further comprising at least one radially extending projection for receipt by the at least one notch of the container shoulder to prevent unthreading of the handle attachment from the container.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one external and internal threads comprise a segmented thread.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one notch is positioned between the thread segments.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the neck further comprises a mouth and at least one external closure thread proximal to the mouth, for securing a threaded closure.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the neck further comprises a detent positioned between the at least one external thread on the shoulder and the body, the detent contacting a corresponding detent on the handle adjacent and below the ring, to prevent rotation of the ring through the shoulder.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the neck further comprises at least one protuberance positioned on the shoulder which, when contacting at least one corresponding lip on the ring, prevents rotation of the ring through the shoulder.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one radially extending projection of the ring is angulated with respect to the circumferential direction of the inner wall.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one radially extending projection comprises a plurality of projections equally spaced around the circumference of the inner wall.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches equally spaced around the circumference of the shoulder, for engaging the plurality of projections.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the neck is made of one plastic material, and the handle attachment is made of a different plastic material.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the plastic material of the container neck is polyethylene terephthalate and the plastic material of the attachment is polypropylene.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the container comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage container.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the container comprises an integral blow-molded and substantially transparent PET beverage container.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is integral with the ring.

15. A container comprising a neck and a body, a portion of the neck being surrounded by an annular shoulder proximal to the body, the shoulder including a plurality of thread segments and a plurality of notches on the circumference of the shoulder, each notch being positioned between two thread segments, the neck encompassing a mouth and further comprising at least one external closure thread adjacent the mouth for securing a threaded closure, wherein the shoulder thread segments provide a diameter greater than that afforded by the at least one external closure thread.

16. A container comprising a neck portion surrounded by an annular shoulder containing a plurality of thread segments and a plurality of notches on a circumference of the shoulder, each notch positioned between two thread segments, the neck further comprising at least one external closure thread above the shoulder for securing a threaded closure, and the shoulder thread segments providing a diameter greater than that afforded by the at least one external closure thread.

17. A handle attachment for a container, the handle attachment comprising a handle integral with a ring, the ring having an inner wall containing internal thread segments and a plurality of radially extending projections on the circumference of the inner wall, each projection being positioned between two internal thread segments, the internal thread segments being complementary with external thread segments of a shoulder of the container for securing the handle attachment to the container, and wherein the projections are capable of being received by notches in the container shoulder to prevent unthreading of the handle attachment from the container.

18. The attachment of claim 17, wherein the internal thread segments are complementary with external thread segments of a container.

19. A preform comprising a neck and a body, the neck comprising:

an annular shoulder surrounding the neck, the shoulder including at least one external thread and at least one notch; and

at least one external closure thread above the shoulder, for securing a threaded closure.