Abstract:
A hollow plastic container with a separately formed handle engaging the sidewall of the container and supported thereby. The handle includes an elongated portion extending upwardly over the major portion of the longitudinal extent of the sidewall and arm portions extending from the elongated portion towards the sidewall for engagement with the sidewall, wherein the sidewall receives the arm portions and holds the handle in place.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/245,347, filed Dec. 22, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Plastic containers are widely used commercially for a variety of products. These containers often include handles for easy dispensing of product. The handles are generally integrally formed with the container, as by a stretch blow molding procedure, which is well known. Also, often the handles generally extend outwardly from the container.  
         [0003]     However, the integral handle configuration complicates the stretch blow molding process. It would be highly desirable to provide a container configuration which can be formed without an integral handle, and separately form a handle for subsequent attachment to the container. Particularly, it would be desirable to provide such a separately formed handle which does not extend outwardly from the container since an outwardly extending handle would be subject to damage in processing and handling. Moreover, the foregoing should be accomplished in a simple and convenient way with a firm engagement between the separately formed handle component and the separately formed container component. The resulting product should be esthetically pleasing and easy to use by the consumer.  
         [0004]     It would be particularly desirable to provide such a container-handle configuration wherein the handle is easily engagable with the container, and wherein the handle can be easily removed and re-engaged if desired.  
         [0005]     In addition, it is desirable to provide a lightweight, plastic container suitable for preparation by stretch blow molding and which permits rigidity while handling and pouring, together with a firm, rigid separately formed handle component.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved plastic container with a separately formed handle, wherein the container portion can be conveniently prepared by stretch blow molding.  
         [0007]     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a container as aforesaid wherein the separately formed handle can be firmly engaged with the container, and is removable from the container, if desired, and is easy to use by the consumer.  
         [0008]     It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a container as aforesaid which is lightweight; and wherein the container with engaged handle has good product characteristics.  
         [0009]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and advantages are readily obtained.  
         [0011]     The plastic container of the present invention, including a separately formed handle, comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall; a separately formed handle engaging said sidewall and supported thereby, said handle having an elongated portion extending upwardly over the major portion of the longitudinal extent of the sidewall, and arm portions extending from the elongated portion towards the sidewall for engagement with the sidewall; and means on the sidewall to receive said arm portions and hold said handle in place.  
         [0012]     The container preferably includes a shoulder portion extending upwardly and preferably inwardly from the sidewall between the neck portion and the sidewall. The elongated portion of the handle preferably extends in a substantially straight line along the sidewall, and the arm portions preferably extend from the ends of the elongated portion. The elongated portion desirably extends upwardly over at least 75 percent of the longitudinal extent of the sidewall. This provides an elongated handle for a firm and secure grip.  
         [0013]     The sidewall preferably includes a recessed portion to receive the handle, with an open space beneath the elongated portion for a positive grip. The arm portions include enlarged portions on the end thereof which engage the sidewall recessed portion. The enlarged portions desirable include hook-like protrusions which seat in depressions in the sidewall.  
         [0014]     The handle desirably extends solely along the sidewall and the elongated portion of the handle is substantially flush with the outer extent of the sidewall. Moreover, advantageously, the separately formed handle is removable if desired.  
         [0015]     Further features of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The present invention will be more readily understandable from a consideration of the following illustrative drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the plastic container of the present invention including separately formed handle attached thereto showing the front, left side and top thereof;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view thereof showing the left side;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a partially broken away side elevation view thereof;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the separately formed handle showing one side, the inside of the elongated portion and the arm portions;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the separately formed handle showing one side, the outside of the elongated portion and the arm portions; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plastic container of the present invention without the separately formed handle showing front, left side and bottom thereof.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show one embodiment of the plastic container  10  of the present invention with container portion  12  and the separately formed handle  14  attached thereto.  
         [0024]     The container  10  is a hollow, blow molded plastic container having a lower supporting base  16 , a sidewall  18  extending upwardly from the base  16 , a gradually inclined shoulder portion  20  extending upwardly from the sidewall, and an upper neck portion  22  with an opening  24  therein to the inside of the container extending upwardly from the shoulder portion  20 .  
         [0025]     The containers of the present invention are preferably made of a pliable, deformable synthetic plastic material, such as for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or other plastic material, although PET is generally used. The specific embodiment shown in the drawings is for a 48 oz. plastic container, as for powdered coffee or any other desired product. However, the present invention can be effectively employed for any plastic container where a handle is desirably employed.  
         [0026]     The particular neck portion  22  shown in  FIGS. 1-2  includes an upper flange portion  25  for a snap-on closure and/or a foil closure (not shown). However, other type neck finishes can be readily employed, as a threaded section to accommodate a screw-on closure. In addition, the embodiment shown provides an essentially round opening  24  to the inside of the container, but other opening shapes may be used if desired. Also, the outer extent of the upper neck portion in the embodiment shown extends inwardly of the sidewall, which is preferred.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show perspective views of the separately formed handle  14 , and  FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of the container with attached handle and with the handle portion and portions of the container partially broken away.  
         [0028]     The separately formed handle  14  has an elongated portion  26  extending upwardly thereon and upper and lower arm portions  28  and  30 , respectively, extending inwardly from the upper and lower ends  32  and  34 , respectively, from the elongated portion. The handle is desirably a one-piece handle. Container sidewall  18  includes a recessed portion  36  to receive handle  14 . The handle arm portions  28 ,  30  extend towards the container and seat in the recessed portion  36 . The handle arm portions may extend at a slight angle or generally perpendicular with respect to the elongated portion  26 . The handle arm portions  28 ,  30  each include enlarged portions  38 ,  40  on the ends thereof which engage the sidewall recessed portion  36 , preferably including hook-like protrusions  42 ,  44  which seat in depressions  46 ,  48  in the sidewall recessed portion. The handle  14  can, therefore, be readily inserted and firmly held in place. In addition, if desired, the handle can be easily removed. Naturally, other handle-container engagement means can be readily provided.  
         [0029]     When handle  14  is fixed in place on the container sidewall  18  the handle elongated portion  26  extends upwardly over the major portion of the longitudinal extent of the sidewall, extending upwardly over at least 75 percent of the longitudinal extent of the sidewall. Elongated handle portion  26  preferably extends in a substantially straight line along the sidewall  18 . The container sidewall  18  includes a lower portion  50  thereof below handle  14  and an upper portion thereof  52  above handle  14 , so that the handle conveniently extends solely along sidewall  18 . Moreover, as can be seen, the elongated handle portion  26  is substantially flush with the outer extent of the sidewall. In addition, the container sidewall recessed portion  36  forms an open space  54  beneath handle  14  for convenience and ease of grasping the handle.  
         [0030]     The handle  14  elongated portion  26  may be solid or may have an outer portion  56  and an inner portion  58  joined by central portion  60 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, if desired, the elongated handle portion  26  may simply be a strip-like portion.  
         [0031]     An exemplificative base  16  is shown in  FIG. 6 , which shows a perspective view of the container portion  12  without the handle attached. Base  16  has a central, inwardly extending recessed area  62  and a peripheral rim  64 , which makes the container suitable for stacking. The outer extent of container base  16  is essentially square with rounded corners. Naturally, other base configurations may be conveniently employed.  
         [0032]     Naturally, variations within the scope of the present invention are contemplated herein. For example, one may alter the handle or container configuration, and rib reinforcement modifications may be added to the sidewall to facilitate handling performance for particular applications.  
         [0033]     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.