Patent Publication Number: US-5425472-A

Title: Jug with detachable buckle and strap assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     This invention relates to containers such as jugs which are supported by a carrying strap. More particularly, the invention relates to a detachable buckle and strap assembly for a container. 
     The invention finds particular utility in a jug for holding liquid, and the specific embodiment described herein is a jug. However, it will be understood that the invention can also be used with other containers which are supported by a carrying strap. 
     Containers such as jugs are often equipped with a carrying strap so that the user can conveniently transport the container by slipping the strap over one shoulder or by holding the strap with one hand. The strap should be adjustable so that the length of the strap can be varied as desired. There may be times when the user does not need the strap, and it is advantageous if the strap can be removed easily. 
     The invention provides a detachable buckle and strap assembly which easily snaps on and off attaching lugs on the jug. The attaching lugs are located in recesses in the side wall of the jug so that when the buckles are attached, the buckles are substantially flush with the side wall. When the buckles are detached, the lugs do not protrude from the recess beyond the side wall. When the jug is used without the strap, there is little likelihood that the recessed lugs will snag on objects, and the jug has a pleasing appearance. The strap passes through slots in each buckle, and the length of the strap is readily adjustable. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which-- 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of a jug which is equipped with a detachable buckle and strap assembly in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the jug and the buckle and strap assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the jug; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the jug with the buckle and strap assembly removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the buckle and strap assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the buckle and strap assembly; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of one of the buckles; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the buckle; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the buckle; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the buckle; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line 13--13 of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of the buckle taken along the line 14--14 of FIG. 13. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, the numeral 20 designates generally a jug for carrying liquids. The particular jug illustrated includes a generally cylindrical base 21 and a liner 22 which fits into the base. The liner includes a generally cylindrical inside wall 23 and a bottom wall 24 which provides an interior chamber 25 for holding liquid. 
     The open top of the liner is closed by a cap 26. The cap includes internal threads 27 which screw onto external threads 28 on the liner. A conventional pour spout 29 is pivotally mounted in the cap. The spout is shown in its downward or sealing position in FIG. 1. When liquid is to be poured from the jug, the spout is pivoted upwardly to communicate with the liquid chamber 25. The details of such spouts are well known in the jug art and need not be described herein. 
     A drinking cup 30 is carried on top of the liner 22 and is removably secured to the liner by an internal lug on the cup and an external lug on the liner. 
     The base 21 includes a bottom wall 32 and a side wall 33. The upper end of the side wall extends radially inwardly to form a horizontal shoulder 34, extends generally upwardly at 35, and then extends inwardly and upwardly at 36 toward the cylindrical wall 23 of the liner. 
     The liner includes a skirt 37 which extends downwardly over the upper wall portions 36 and 35 of the base and which is supported on the shoulder 34. The skirt includes a generally cylindrical bottom portion 38 and an inwardly and upwardly extending portion 39. As will be explained more fully herein after, the skirt is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed recesses 40. The external surfaces of the skirt and the base merge smoothly at the shoulder 34 except at the recesses. 
     The space between the base and the liner is filled with conventional insulating polyurethane foam which bonds the base and the liner together. For clarity of illustration, the foam is not shown in FIG. 1. The base is advantageously blow molded from polyethylene, and the liner is injection molded from polypropylene. 
     Comparing FIGS. 1-4, a strap and buckle assembly 42 is removably attached to the jug within the recesses 40 in the skirt of the liner. Each recess includes upper and lower lugs 43 and 44 which are molded with the liner. The upper lug is formed by a groove 45 in the liner and includes an upwardly extending keeper or hook portion 46. A curved camming surface 47 is provided on the upper end of the keeper portion. The lower lug is generally L-shaped and includes a base portion 48 which extends outwardly from the recessed wall 38 and a downwardly extending keeper or hook portion 49. The keeper portion includes a curved camming surface 50. A pair of triangular reinforcing ribs 51 (FIG. 4) extend between the base portion 48 and the recessed wall 38. 
     The strap and buckle assembly 42 includes a strap 52 having a pair of ends 53 and a pair of buckles 54. Referring to FIGS. 7-14, each buckle includes an elongated body 55 which includes upper and lower ends 56 and 57 and a pair of sides 58 and 59. An L-shaped lower latch 60 extends outwardly from the lower end. The latch includes a curved camming surface 61. 
     An L-shaped upper latch 62 extends outwardly from an attaching portion 63 which is joined to the body adjacent the upper end 56. The sides of the attaching portion are separated from the body by longitudinal slots 64, and a transverse slot 54 separates the bottom of the attaching portion and the latch 62 from the body. A camming surface 66 is provided on the end of the latch 62. Three additional transverse slots 67 through 69 are provided in the body between the upper and lower latches. The upper end portion of the body above the slot 65 angles in the direction in which the latches extend. The upper end portion of the body which extends above the upper latch 62 provides a lever arm which facilitates detaching the buckle from the jug. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, each end of the strap 52 is adjustably secured to one of the buckles by passing the strap through the upper transverse slot 65, through the slot 68, through the lower slot 69, and back through the upper slot 65. The length of the strap is adjusted by varying the length of the end portion which passes back through the upper slot 65. 
     The buckles are attached to the lugs in the recesses of the jug by first hooking either the lower latch or the upper latch of the buckle over the corresponding lug on the jug. The buckle is then pushed against the jug so that the other latch is cammed over the other lug and snaps into place behind the other lug. The camming surfaces on the latches and the lugs facilitate the camming action. The buckle is formed from flexible and resilient material so that the buckle, and in particular the attaching portion 63, can flex during the attaching step and snap into locking position. In the preferred embodiment the buckle is injection molded from polyester resin which is available under the name Valox 325. The longitudinal slots 64 and the transverse slot 65 facilitate flexing of the attaching portion 63. The other transverse slots 67-69 also increase the flexibility of the buckle. Although the strap is not passed through the slot 67, the strap is visible through the slot 67 and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the strap and buckle assembly. 
     When the buckles are snapped into locking position within the recesses of the jugs, the exterior surfaces of the buckles are substantially flush with the exterior surface of the skirt 37 (FIG. 1). The jug can be supported by the strap while the jug is carried, and the strap can either be slung over the shoulder of the user or carried by the hand. 
     When it is desired to remove the strap and buckle assembly from the jug, the upper end 56 of each buckle is pulled outwardly away from the jug. The flexible attaching portion 63 of the buckle flexes to allow the upper latch 62 to move over the upper lug 43 on the jug to release the buckle. The upper end portion of the buckle which extends upwardly beyond the upper latch 62 provides a convenient lever arm to facilitate detaching the buckle from the jug. 
     If desired, the jug can be used without the strap and buckle assembly. The attaching lugs 43 and 44 are recessed within the recesses 40 and do not protrude beyond the outer surface of the skirt 37 and the side wall 33 of the base. Accordingly, there is little likelihood that the lugs will snag on clothing and other objects. Recessing the lugs also increases the aesthetics of the jug when the jug is used without the strap and buckle assembly. 
     While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.