Vented Suitcase-Style Container

Abstract

A container (20; 300) comprises: a body (22; 302) having an interior (32); and a handle (24; 304) mounted to the body to span between a first portion (50A; 320A) of the body and a second portion (50B; 320B) of the body and provide a gap (52) between the handle and the body between the first portion and second portion and shiftable between: an open condition exposing the interior of the body to an exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion; and a closed condition blocking communication of the interior of the body to the exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/671,684, filed May 15, 2018, and entitled “Vented Suitcase-Style Container”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to liquid dispensing. More particularly, the disclosure relates to household containers such as for use in dispensing laundry detergent.

The state of the art in containers for laundry detergent involves two main areas. A first area is drain-back spout containers. One example of this is United States Patent Application Publication 20100043910A1, of Szekely, et al., Feb. 25, 2010. The second area is containers having push-button valves and separate vent caps. An example of this is United States Patent Application Publication 20080237276A1, of Lester, et al., Oct. 2, 2008. Variations on push-button containers include so-called suitcase containers where the body has a handle between the necks that respectively mount the valve and vent cap.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure involves a container comprising: a body having an interior; and a handle mounted to the body to span between a first portion of the body and a second portion of the body and provide a gap between the handle and the body between the first portion and second portion and shiftable between: an open condition exposing the interior of the body to an exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion; and a closed condition blocking communication of the interior of the body to the exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the said shiftability of the handle is via rotation.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the handle has a first end and a second end and has end-to-end symmetry such that the container would open and close even if the first and second ends were reversed.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the handle has: a first end section and a second end section; a first passageway from a first radial port on the first end section to a first axial port on the first end section; and a second passageway from a second radial port on the second end section to a second axial port on the second end section.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the first portion and the second portion each comprise a passageway receiving the handle; and at least one end of the handle has barbed tabs axially retaining such end from retraction into the adjacent first or second end portion.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the open condition and the closed condition are separated by a 90° rotation of the handle element about a handle longitudinal axis.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, said shiftability of the handle is via translation.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the body comprises: a base; and a cover mounted to the base and including the first portion and second portion.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the base is an injection molding of HDPE, the cover is an injection molding of polypropylene, and the handle is an injection molding of polypropylene.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the container further comprises a liquid within the interior.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the liquid is a laundry detergent.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a method for assembling the container comprises: introducing a liquid to the base; and after the introducing, assembling to the base a preassembled subassembly of the cover and handle.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, a method for using the container comprises: shifting the handle from the closed condition to the open condition; and partially inverting the container to pour the liquid through a first passageway through the first portion and handle and while venting air into the interior through a second passageway through the second portion and handle.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the shifting comprises rotation.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the rotation comprises rotation by 45°-315°.

In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing embodiments, the partial inverting comprises rotation to cause the container to be supported on the base and cover.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a first container a closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the closed first container taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a detailed view of a portion of the container of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the container of FIG. 2 in an open condition.

FIG. 3A is a detailed view of a portion of the container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3B is a detailed view of an intra-body junction in the container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a view of a handle of the container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a detailed view of an end portion of the handle of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a view of a cover member of the body of the first container.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cover of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view of a base portion of the body of the first container.

FIG. 7A is a detailed view of an upper rim area of the base of FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the first container during dispensing.

FIG. 9 is a view of a second container in a closed condition.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the container of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of a portion of the container of FIG. 10.

10.

FIG. 11 is a view of the container of FIG. 10 in an open condition.

FIG. 11A is an enlarged view of a portion of the container of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view centrally along a handle of the closed second container.

FIG. 12A is a detailed view of a latch of the container of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view centrally along the handle of the open second container.

FIG. 13A is a detailed view of a latch of the container of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a view of a handle of the second container.

FIG. 15 is a second view of the second container handle.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the second container handle.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the second container handle.

FIG. 18 is a central vertical sectional view taken along line 17-17 of the handle.

FIG. 19 is a view of a cover member of the second container.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the cover member.

FIG. 21 is a second view of an intra-body junction in the first container or second container.

FIG. 22 is a vertical sectional view of the second container during dispensing.

FIG. 23 is a partial sectional view of the container of FIG. 22 taken along line 23-23.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a container 20 having a body 22 and a handle 24 mounted to the body. As is discussed further below, the handle 24 cooperates with the body to form a vented dispensing valve. The handle 24 is rotatable relative to the body about an axis 500 between a closed condition (FIG. 2) and an open condition (FIGS. 3 and 8).

The exemplary body 22 (FIG. 1) is a two-piece body having a lower portion or base 26 and an upper portion or cover 28. For purposes of reference, upper and lower are viewed in a normal transportation and filling orientation wherein the handle is at the top and an underside 30 (FIG. 2) of the base is supported atop a horizontal support surface.

The body 22 defines/bounds an interior 32 (FIG. 2) for containing liquid (discussed below).

As is discussed below, the handle 24, base 26, and cover 28 may each be molded of an appropriate plastic material.

The handle 24 has a central portion or section 40 (FIG. 2) and two end portions 42A, 42B (FIG. 4) at opposite ends of the central portion and extending to respective ends 44A, 44B. The end portions 42A, 42B each have a sidewall 46 (FIG. 2A) having an outer diameter (OD) surface 48. The exemplary sidewall and OD surface 48 are, over at least a length, circular cylindrical. The handle is mounted to the body via the respective end portions 42A, 42B being captured by associated portions 50A, 50B of the body (in particular of the cover 28 in the example). FIG. 2 shows a gap 52 formed between the handle central portion 40 and a central portion 53 of the cover and the cover portions 50A and 50B to allow gripping of the handle with a user's fingers accommodated in the gap 52.

The exemplary portions 50A, 50B each comprise an inner diameter (ID) surface 54 (FIG. 5) surrounding a passageway 56.

The ID surfaces 54 are dimensioned and positioned to accommodate and contact the OD surfaces 48 of the respective handle end portions 42A, 42B with the handle installed and all share the axis 500 as a central longitudinal axis. FIG. 2 shows the portions 50A and 50B as each including an associated port 60 formed as an aperture extending between the interior 32 and the respective ID surface 54. As is discussed below, during dispensing, one of these ports 60 passes liquid out of the container while the other vents air into the container. For purposes of illustration, the exemplary container has symmetry across a transverse centerplane 502 (FIG. 2) thus either may port 60 equivalently be used for dispensing. However, for purposes of illustration, the port 60 of the first portion 50A will be described as doing the dispensing and the port 60 of the second portion 50B as doing the venting.

In the exemplary embodiment, these two ports 60 are the only ports in the body. FIG. 2A further shows, in the closed condition, the ports 60 as blocked by intact portions of the surface 48 of the respective handle end portions 42A, 42B. However, the handle end portions 42A, 42B each have a port 70 (FIG. 3A) which may be rotated into registry/communication with the associated port 60. An exemplary rotation comprises a rotation of the handle about the axis 500 by 90° to the FIG. 3/3A condition. FIG. 3A shows the portions 42A, 42B each having a passageway 72 extending from one end of the passageway at the port 70 to an opposite end of the passageway at a port 73 at a rim 74 at the outboard end of the end portion 42A, 42B. Thus, in the FIG. 3 open condition, the interior 32 is exposed to an exterior of the container through the respective passageways 72 of the end portions 42A, 42B.

FIG. 8 shows the container in a dispensing/pouring orientation at least partially inverted from the filling/transport orientation of FIG. 2. The exemplary orientation involves an essentially 90° rotation to be supported on its side on a horizontal support surface 80. FIG. 8 further shows a surface 82 of a liquid body 84 in the interior with a headspace 86 above containing air. FIG. 8 further shows an outlet flow 88 of the liquid and an inlet venting flow 90 of air as discussed above.

An exemplary installation of the handle 24 to the cover 28 is via translation parallel to the axis 500. To permit this installation and subsequent retention in the installed condition, at least one end portion 42A, 42B of the handle (FIG. 4A) has a radially outwardly protruding barb 104 (both in the illustrated embodiment). The barbs have a relatively radial proximal surface or underside 106 and a relatively off-radial distal or outboard surface 108 (forming a camming surface) extending from a distal end rim 110 to an outer diameter (OD) rim or apex 112. In the installed condition, FIG. 2A shows the barb underside 106 in backlocked close facing or contacting engagement with an axially outboard rim 114 of the associated cover portion 50A, 50B to axially retain the handle. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the end portion(s) may be segmented via axial slots to allow the resulting circumferential array of tabs to be radially inwardly compressed (flexed) during installation and then snap back out in the installed condition.

Exemplary installation of the handle 24 thus involves inserting one end of the handle through one portion 50A, 50B of the cover and then through the other. For example, the second end portion 42B may be inserted through the cover first portion 50A with the camming surface 108 of the portion 42B encountering the rim 114 of the cover first portion 50A to be driven radially inward and then into the passageway 56 with the outer rim 112 sliding along the surface 54. Eventually, the handle second portion 42B passes fully through the cover first portion 50A with the handle first portion barb 104 passing out beyond the cover first portion inboard rim 116 so that the barb relaxes radially outward. Insertion then continues with the handle center portion 40 passing through the cover first portion 50A and the handle second portion 42B spanning the gap between cover end portions 50A, 50B to then encounter the cover second portion 50B.

Further insertion causes the camming surface 108 of the barb of the handle second end portion to engage the inboard rim 116 of the cover second portion 50B and then be driven radially inward allowing the handle second end portion 42B to pass into the cover second portion 50B with the outboard rim 112 sliding along the ID surface 54. Eventually, the handle second end portion barb 104 reaches the outboard rim 114 of the cover second portion 50B and snaps radially outward to retain the handle. During this installation stage, the handle first end portion slides into the cover first portion 50A.

Exemplary mating of the cover 28 to the base 26 is via a snap fit engagement. FIG. 7 shows the base 26 as having a sidewall 140 extending upward from the bottom 30 to a rim 142. The exemplary base has a modified rectangular planform or footprint with four outwardly bowed sides connected by beaded corners. FIG. 7 further shows the base as having an interior/inboard surface 144 and an exterior/outboard surface 146. FIG. 7A shows an upper portion 150 of the base sidewall 140 as being slightly inset to be accommodated within a receiving portion (discussed below) of the cover. To retain the base to the cover, the exemplary configuration includes a plurality of outward barbs 152 along the upper portion 150. The barbs are at the upper ends of short wall branches 154 protruding above a shoulder 155. The barbs have an upper camming surface 156 and an underside 158.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 21 show the cover 28 as having a sidewall 160 extending upward from a lower rim 162. A lower portion 164 of the sidewall is dimensioned to receive the base upper portion 150. FIG. 6 shows each side of the sidewall lower portion as having a slot 166 complementary to the associated barb 152 for receiving the barb and backlock it.

FIG. 3B shows, for sealing, the sidewall 160 as including a channel 170 receiving an uppermost portion of the base sidewall adjacent the rim 142. The exemplary channel 70 is formed by a short inner wall 180 extending to a lower rim 182 and having an angled outer surface 184 to guide the base sidewall uppermost portion into the channel.

Thus, an installation of the cover to the base may be via relative vertical translation. Initially, the uppermost portion of the base will pass upward beyond the cover rim 162. Eventually, an upper surface 156 (FIG. 7A) of the barb 152 will contact the rim 162 and relatively deform one or both of the base and cover (respectively inward and outward). The base will continue to pass upward with the rim 142 being guided by the inner surface of the cover until it reaches the channel 170 where it will be further guided by a camming action between the rim 142 and the surface 184. Eventually, as the uppermost portion of the base sits in the channel 170, the barbs 152 will register with the openings 166 and there will be at least partial relaxing as the barbs project into the openings with the undersides 158 of the barbs being captured against lower ends of the openings 166.

An exemplary manufacture and filling sequence involves molding each of the handle, cover, and base and preassembling the handles to the covers. Bases may then be filled before cover installation. This allows a filler assembly line easy access to the bases to quickly vertically pour the liquid into the bases on an assembly line. Covers are then snapped onto the bases via downward absolute and relative translation.

The body and handle may be made using otherwise conventional or yet-developed materials (e.g., typically plastics) and techniques (typically molding). For example, the base may be injection molded such as of HDPE while the cover and handle may be injection molded such as of polypropylene. The polypropylene offers advantages of rigidness to maintain the circularity (and thus sealing of the cover end portions with the handle). In contrast, the typically more flexible HDPE may help seal to the cover at the joint.

FIG. 9 shows a second container 300 which, except as otherwise described below, may have similar or same form, manufacture, and use to those of the first container 20. The key difference is the construction and operation of the handle 304 relative to the handle 24 and cooperating features of the body 302. Rather than a rotation about the handle longitudinal axis 500, shifting between closed and opened conditions for the second container 300 is via handle translation parallel to/along the axis 500. In particular, FIG. 9 shows a closed condition and an opening involves translation of the handle 304 in a direction 520. A closing involves the reverse translation.

Because of this altered dynamic, the handle 304 does not have the exemplary symmetry end-to-end that the handle 24 does. Similarly, the exemplary cover end sections 320A, 320B to a lesser extent lack the symmetry of the cover sections 50A, 50B. FIG. 10 shows the cover 308 having ports 322A, 322B to the inner diameter surfaces 324 of the respective passageways 326A, 326B (FIG. 19) in the sections 320A, 320B. The sections/passageways (320A, 320B/326A, 326B) have inboard rims 327A, 327B and outboard rims 328A, 328B (FIG. 3). The handle first end portion 330 (FIG. 10A) has a passageway 332 extending from a port 334 on an outer diameter (OD) surface 336 to a port 338 at an axial end 340A.

The second end portion 350 (FIG. 14) of the handle is differently formed. The exemplary second end portion includes means for rotationally keying the handle to the cover so as to prevent handle rotation about the axis 500. The exemplary second end portion further includes means for detenting the closed condition of the handle. For angular registration, the handle includes a pair of radially-protruding axial rails 352 having first and second axial ends 353, 354. The ends 354 are proximate the second end 340B.

To install the exemplary handle to the exemplary cover, installation may comprise an axial shift of the handle along the axis 500 relative to the cover in the same direction 520 as the subsequent shift from the closed condition to the open condition. For example, initially, the handle first end portion 330 will pass through the cover second section 320B, then the handle center section as the handle first end portion passes across the gap between cover sections. Eventually, the rail ends 353 will approach the distal/outboard rim of the second section 320B. This will occur at approximately the same time as the handle first end approaches the inboard rim 327A of the cover end section 320A (FIG. 20).

FIG. 19 shows radially outward extending slots 364 extending outward from the cylindrical inner diameter surface 324 dimensioned to accommodate the rails 352. At approximately the same point of insertion that the camming surface 108 (FIG. 10A) encounters the inboard rim 327A (FIG. 10A) the rails enter the slots. Ultimately, when the first end barb 104 passes out beyond the outboard rim 328A, the cover will snap behind the underside 106 causing the handle to be axially captured for a range of motion between open and closed conditions. Essentially just after this snap back, the handle is in the closed condition. The closed condition is detented by a pair of radial protrusions 380A, 380B (FIGS. 10 and 17) that are complementary to the respective ports 322A, 322B to snap into engagement with the ports and both seal the ports and detent the closed condition.

To shift to the open condition, a user may press the end 340B releasing the detent action of the protrusions 380A, 380B and ports 322A, 322B allowing a further insertion to the open condition. The motion may be stopped in the open condition (e.g., to prevent full extraction of the handle). Exemplary means comprises a radially protruding flange 390 or other member at the end 340B. To close, the user may simply pull back on the handle second portion (or press in on the handle first end portion) to return to the detented closed condition. Further motion in that direction may be stopped by means of the barb 104.

Whereas in the closed condition of FIG. 10A, the port 322A is blocked/sealed by the protrusion 380A, the translation unblocks the port exposing it to the passageway 332. Similarly, in the closed condition, the protrusion 380B blocks/seals the port 322B.

Discharge flow out the first end of the handle is similar to that of the first embodiment. Venting flow is slightly different. The shift to the open condition exposes the port 322B to an opening 420 (FIG. 14) to a chamber 422 (FIG. 23). The outer wall 424 of the chamber serves to connect the rest of the handle to an endplate portion 430 at the second end 340B. A notch 440 (FIG. 14) at the base of the wall 430 provides an inlet to a path through the chamber that allows the venting airflow 90 to pass circumferentially to the port 322A.

The use of “first”, “second”, and the like in the description and following claims is for differentiation within the claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a claim of one element as “first” (or the like) does not preclude such “first” element from identifying an element that is referred to as “second” (or the like) in another claim or in the description.

One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, when applied to an existing basic system, details of such configuration or its associated use may influence details of particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A container (20; 300) comprising:

a body (22; 302) having an interior (32); and

a handle (24; 304) mounted to the body to span between a first portion (50A; 320A) of the body and a second portion (50B; 320B) of the body and provide a gap (52) between the handle and the body between the first portion and second portion and shiftable between: an open condition exposing the interior of the body to an exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion; and a closed condition blocking communication of the interior of the body to the exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion.

2. The container (20) of claim 1 wherein:

said shiftability of the handle is via rotation.

3. The container (20) of claim 2 wherein:

the handle has a first end (44A) and a second end (44B) and has end-to-end symmetry such that the container would open and close even if the first and second ends were reversed.

4. The container (20) of claim 2 wherein the handle has:

a first end section (42A) and a second end section (42B);

a first passageway (72A) from a first radial port (70A) on the first end section to a first axial port (73A) on the first end section; and

a second passageway (72B) from a second radial port (70B) on the second end section to a second axial port (73B) on the second end section.

5. The container (20; 320) of claim 2 wherein:

the first portion and the second portion each comprise a passageway (56; 326A, 326B) receiving the handle; and

at least one end of the handle has a barb (104) axially retaining such end from retraction into the adjacent first or second end portion.

6. The container (20) of claim 1 wherein:

the open condition and the closed condition are separated by a 90° rotation of the handle element about a handle longitudinal axis (500).

7. The container (300) of claim 1 wherein:

said shiftability of the handle is via translation.

8. The container (20; 300) of claim 1 wherein the body comprises:

a base (26); and

a cover (28; 308) mounted to the base and including the first portion and second portion.

9. The container (20; 300) of claim 8 wherein:

the base is an injection molding of HDPE;

the cover is an injection molding of polypropylene; and

the handle is an injection molding of polypropylene.

10. The container (20; 300) of claim 1 further comprising:

a liquid (84) within the interior.

11. The container (20; 300) of claim 10 wherein:

the liquid is a laundry detergent.

12. A method for assembling the container (20; 300) of claim 1, the method comprising:

introducing a liquid (84) to the base; and

after the introducing, assembling to the base a preassembled subassembly of the cover and handle.

13. A method for using the container (20; 300) of claim 1, the method comprising:

shifting the handle from the closed condition to the open condition; and

partially inverting the container to: pour the liquid through a first passageway through the first portion and handle while venting air into the interior through a second passageway through the second portion and handle.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the shifting comprises rotation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the rotation comprises rotation by 45°-315°.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the partial inverting comprises rotation to cause the container to be supported on the base and cover.