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 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to plastic containers having attachable handles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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 
       [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment provides a preform comprising a neck and a body, the neck comprising: 
         [0010]    an annular shoulder surrounding the neck, the shoulder including at least one external thread and at least one notch; and 
         [0011]    at least one external closure thread above the shoulder, for securing a threaded closure. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various embodiments of the invention will be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a ring of a handle attachment, according to one embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the handle attachment, taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a detailed side view of the neck of the container; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container and handle assembly showing the handle attachment secured to the container; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the container and handle assembly, showing the handle attachment separate from the container; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a detailed side view of another embodiment of a container neck; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a sectional side view of another embodiment of a handle attachment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a detailed side view of another embodiment of a container neck; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of another embodiment of a handle attachment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    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. 
         [0023]    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 . 
         [0024]    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. 
         [0025]      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. 
         [0026]      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 . 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    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. 
         [0029]      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). 
         [0030]    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. 
         [0031]    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 . 
         [0032]    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 . 
         [0033]    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 . 
         [0034]    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. 
         [0035]    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 . 
         [0036]    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 . 
         [0037]    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. 
         [0038]    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. 
         [0039]    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.