Abstract:
A reusable bottle holder for holding and manipulating a plastic bottle typically for soft drinks such as two and three liter, and proposed, four liter, bottles. The bottle holder has a partial annulus flexible neck locking portion for snap-locking onto the annular neck of the bottle immediately adjacent and below a neck flange. The handle also has an attached partial annulus member attached to it for partially encircling and securing the lower side wall portion of the bottle. While the neck locking portion of the handle is integrally fixed to the handle portion, the lower side wall securing, annular member is fixed to the handle by complementary male and female fittings to facilitate packing and shipping of the handle member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is generally directed to holders or carriers for packages or containers, and has particular reference to holders for plastic soft drink bottles. 
     Soft drink manufacturers have been introducing progressively larger capacity soft drink bottles with corresponding economies of scale. These bottles may be of two or three liter capacity (a four liter capacity is proposed), are made of plastic, and are of a generally large exterior diameter such that handling of the bottles to pour or otherwise manipulate them is somewhat difficult, especially for the elderly or for children. These high capacity bottles typically have a flange like projection from the bottle neck for purposes of strengthening the bottle and perhaps for other reasons. 
     It has been previously proposed to provide a reuseable handle or reuseable holder for soft drink bottles or the like. Some examples of such prior art are found in the following U.S. patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 547,713, Courtenay, (1895) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 601,988, Smalley, (1898) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 622,862, Pierce, (1899) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 626,262, Wright, (1899) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,446,474, Mahnken, (1923) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,464,789, Ward, (1923) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,075,217, Milburn, (1935) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,744, Buys, (1940) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,309, Simpson, (1964) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,671, Conger, (1971) 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to provide removable and/or replaceable handles for various kinds of bottles and containers as a holding and manipulating aid. Examples may be found in the following prior U.S. patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,936, Killigrew, Jr., (1972) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,370, Lockhart et al., (1974) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,246, Thompson, (1981) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,826, Thompson, (1983) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,578, Schuler, (1983) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,043, Rais, (1984) 
     Examples of a handle or holder for a multi-liter plastic soft drink bottles are particularly illustrated in Schuler and Rais. However Rais relies upon a prong member physically inserted between the bottle sidewall and a bottom cup while Schuler specifically teaches completely closed annular body support members which may not be sufficiently flexible to conveniently accommodate expected variations in bottle diameter. 
     The present invention brings an improved and creative and economic approach to the art of providing a reuseable bottle holder particularly suited for aiding the holding and manipulation of larger sized soft drink bottles or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a presently preferred exemplary embodiment, a reuseable bottle holder is used with a bottle having an annular neck flange and an upper portion and a lower enlarged annular side wall portion. The bottle holder has a neck locking portion forming a partial annulus which locks around the annular neck of the bottle immediately adjacent and below a neck flange projection. The neck locking portion has a tapered internal bore for a generally close fit around the neck and shoulder of the bottle, and is flexible so as to snap onto and enclose the neck thus holding it securely. 
     The exemplary reuseable bottle holder has a lower partially annular member for partially encircling a lower portion of the bottle thus holding the bottle. The lower member is expandable to accomodate fluctuation in the diameter of the bottle side wall. 
     The exemplary bottle holder also has a handle connected to the neck locking portion and the lower partially annular member. The handle is integrally fixed to the neck locking portion, and fastened to the lower partially annular member by a male-female fitting. 
     In operation the lower partially annular side securing portion of the bottle holder is placed over the bottle neck and lowered, sliding and pressing along the side of the bottle until the neck locking portion of the bottle holder is proximate the neck and immediately beneath the neck flange. The neck locking portion is then pressed against the bottle neck until the neck locking portion of the holder snaps around the neck immediately below and adjacent to the neck flange. The handle of the bottle holder can then be grasped, enabling manipulation of the bottle. When the bottle is empty the process of attaching the bottle holder to the bottle is reversed thus freeing the bottle holder for reuse. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by carefully reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of this invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is an overall view of the reuseable bottle holder according to a first preferred exemplary embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section through 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section through 4--4 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed top view of the sidewall securing portion; 
     FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a right hand side view of the second embodiment; and 
     FIG. 13 is a cross section through 13--13 of FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the first exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a reuseable bottle holder while in use holding a bottle 12. The illustrated bottle 12 is a plastic (for example, made of a dense polyethylene, including for example polyethylene terephthalate) soft drink bottle having a fairly large diameter annular side wall 13. The bottle 12 may be of variable capacity including for example, 2,3 or 4 liter volumes. The bottle 12 may be of variable height, but for example, commonly about 13.25 inches for a 3 liter bottle. The side wall 13 may be of variable thickness. The bottle has a neck 14 where the neck 14 is generally of a much smaller diameter than the side wall 13. The side wall is of variable diameter, but commonly about 16.25 inches for a 3 liter bottle. A soft drink bottle of this type usually has a flange like member 15 projecting from the neck 14 immediately below a threaded or capped portion at the terminus of the neck 17 which is of variable diameter, but for example, commonly about 1.5 inches diameter for a 3  liter bottle. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the neck locking portion 30 is a partial annular member having a top aperture 31 and a bottom aperture 32. The neck locking means 30 typically encompasses between 270 to 360 degrees closure. Top aperture 31 is slightly greater in diameter than the neck of the bottle 16 but is tapered outwardly and downwardly so that aperture 32 has a greater diameter than aperture 31. The top and bottom aperture 31 and 32 of the neck locking portion 30 are of a size to closely fit the neck portion 16 of the bottle. The handle portion 40 of the bottle holder 10 rigidly (albeit releasably in this two-piece exemplary embodiment) connects the neck locking portion 30 to the side securing portion 60. The upper portion of the handle 40 is reinforced with several structural webs or panels; an outside panel 41, a middle panel or web 42 and an inside panel 43. The webs and/or panels 44-43 provide a characteristic cross-section shape to the handle portion 40, including an &#34;H&#34; shaped cross-section for reinforcement purposes and also for gripping purposes. The handle portion 40 may be of sufficient length to enable a two-handed grip. 
     The lower portion of the bottle holder handle 40 terminates in a male fitting 50 which fits into a female fitting 61 on the side securing portion 60. The male fitting 50 is attached to the lower portion of the handle 40 by means of an inner reinforcing plate or web 48 and a continuation of the center portion of the handle 44 gradually forming a reinforcing outer plate 47 attached to the lower edge of male fitting 50. The male fitting 50 has the general shape of a wedge wherein the lower portion 51 of the male fitting is broader than the top portion 52 with upwardly and inwardly sloping sides 53 and 54. The top portion 52 of the male fitting 50 is formed into a latching structure 55, which, upon engagement with the female fitting 61, fits snuggly on the top portion of the female fitting. 
     The female fitting 61 is generally shaped to complement and correspondingly engage the structure of the male fitting 50. The female fitting 61 has a vertical recess 62 formed to engage the male fitting 50 and an axial recess 63 formed to admit and engage the inside lower reinforcing member 48 of the handle 40. The vertical recess 62 of the female fitting 61 is broader at the bottom than the top to complement the broad base 51 and narrow top 52 of the male fitting 50. 
     The female fitting 61 is fastened to a wide partial annular member 68. The annular member 68 typically encompasses between 270 to 360 degrees closure. The semiannular member 68 forms a partial annulus in a direction opposite to that of the partial annulus formed by the neck locking portion of the bottle holder 30. This opposite closing and holding feature of the bottle holder provided by the neck locking portion 30 and the side securing portion 60, prevents the bottle 12 from slipping and falling out of the bottle holder 10. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the neck locking portion has an inner bore 80 with sides 81 and 82 connecting the top aperture 31 and the bottom aperture 32. The sides 81 and 82 slope downwardly and outwardly to fit the contour of the bottle neck 16. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the lower portion of the handle 40. The male fitting 50 has a slightly thicker base 91 than the upper portion 92 at the point below the latch portion 55 of the male fitting 50. The latch portion has a horizontal projection 93 which upon engagement of the male fitting 50 with the female fitting 61, fits on top of the inner portion of the female fitting which is formed by part of the partial annular member 68. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the partial annular member 68 of the side securing member 60 extends approximately 270 degrees. The top portion of the vertical recess 62 and the axial recess 63 in female fitting 61 are of a shape to correspond and complement with the structure of the male fitting 50 and the inner reinforcing plate 48. 
     For the second exemplary embodiment, FIG. 6 shows a reuseable bottle holder 210 holding a soft drink bottle 212 which has an annular side wall 213 of substantially greater diameter than a neck portion 216. The annular side wall 213 slopes inwardly forming a bottle shoulder 214 of gradually reduced diameter. The neck portion 216 has a flange-like projection 215 from the neck 216 and the neck portion 216 ends in an terminus 217. The bottle holder 210 is shown having a top neck locking portion 230 and a bottom side securing annular member 260, both portions being connected by an inner connecting member 270 which is peripherally attached to a handle 240. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the neck locking portion 230 forms a partial annulus of about 270 degrees but may extend up to almost 360°. The neck locking portion 230 has a top aperture 231 of a diameter slightly larger than the neck portion 216 of the bottle. The side securing portion 260 is shown to be a complete annulus for slipping onto and about the bottle 210 and side wall 213. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the neck locking portion 230 has an inner bore 280 with inner sides 281 and 282 and bottom aperture 232. The inner bore 280 of the neck locking portion 230 is shown to taper downwardly and outwardly so as to closely conform to the configuration of the shoulder portion 214 and neck portion 216 of the bottle 212. The inner connecting portion 270 closely conforms to the shoulder portion 214 and side wall 213 of the bottle. The connecting portion 270 is integrally formed with the neck locking portion 230 and the side securing portion 260. The handle 240 is shown to be integrally fastened to the connecting portion 270 and extends for substantially all the length of the bottle holder 210. The side securing portion 260 has a broad portion 264, broader towards the connecting portion 270 of the bottle holder and tapering away from the connecting portion to an outer rim 265. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the inner bore 280 of the neck locking portion 230 tapers from the top aperture 231 to the bottom aperture 232. The connecting portion 270 and the handle 240 is shown to be integrally formed with the side securing portion 260. 
     FIG. 10 shows that the outer surface 235 of the neck locking portion follows the contour of the neck portion 216 and shoulder portion 214 of the bottle 210. The side securing member 260 is shown to gradually taper from the inner fastened portion 264 towards the opposing sides 266. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the front of the neck locking portion 230 curves about the front portion of the bottle neck 214. 
     FIG. 12 shows a back view of the bottle holder 210. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the cross section of the handle 240 is &#34;H&#34; shaped for reinforcement purposes and also for gripping purposes. The connecting portion 270 has a reinforcing member 271 running parallel to its length which parallels the handle 240. 
     While only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many possible variations and modifications which may be made in the exemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel and advantageous features of this invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and variations.