Abstract:
A container and handle assembly includes a container having a neck, and an attachment formed separately from the container and assembled thereto. The attachment includes a handle and an integrally formed ring, the ring being split and having ring portions adapted to be separated to fit the ring over the neck and to be secured together to embrace the neck for mounting the handle assembly to the container. The handle includes a pair of overlapping handle portions, each secured to a respective ring portion. The overlapping handle portions may be snap fit together for securing the attachment to the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to plastic containers having 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 more simple 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 which includes a container having a neck, and an attachment, formed separately from the container, and assembled thereto. The attachment includes a handle having an integrally formed attachment ring for embracing the neck and mounting the handle to the container. The attachment ring is split and has ring portions adapted to be separated to fit the ring over the neck and to be secured together to embrace the neck.  
         [0005]     In various embodiments, the ring is split at a position overlying the handle. The handle has two overlapping portions, each handle portion being attached to a different one of the ring portions. The ring portions preferably have ends with mating alignment members, such as a sloped projection slidable in a complementary sloped recess. The ring portions are resiliently movable to allow opening and closing of the ring. The overlapping handle portions have interengagement members, such as locking snaps, for holding the ring in a closed position.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the split ring has an attachment element for securing a closure or fitment to the container, such as a portion of a thread bead or flange. Also preferably, the split ring is positioned between upper and lower radial neck flanges, which prevent axial movement of the neck ring (with respect to the vertical axis of the container) when the handle is grasped by a user.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, a channel is provided on one ring portion, for receiving a portion of the handle portion attached to the other ring portion when the ring is closed. This also facilitates alignment of the two ring portions.  
         [0008]     The container neck and attachment may be made of any plastic material, and it 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 finish ring is made of polypropylene. In one embodiment, an integral blow molded and substantially transparent PET beverage container is provided with the attached handle and finish attachment.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, a method is provided of assembling a handle attachment to a neck of a container. The method includes providing a container having a neck, providing an attachment formed separately from the container, the attachment including a handle having an integrally formed attachment ring, the attachment ring being split and having ring portions adapted to be separated. The method further includes opening the ring by separating the ring portions and positioning the open ring over an external surface of the container neck. The method further includes closing the ring by bringing together the ring portions to form a closed ring that embraces the external surface of the neck. Preferably, the handle has overlapping portions with interengagement members on the overlapping portions, and the method further includes connecting the interengagement members on the overlapping portions for securing the attachment to the container neck. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Various embodiments of the invention will be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective and fragmentary view of a container and handle assembly, showing a handle and finish attachment assembled to the neck of a separate container, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the handle and finish attachment in an open condition and removed from the container neck;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the handle and finish attachment, in an open condition;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the interior of the handle and finish attachment in an open condition;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the interior of the handle and finish attachment in a closed condition;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the encircled area designated in  FIG. 5 , showing the finish ring and upper handle portion in an open condition;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the encircled area designated in  FIG. 4 , showing the finish ring and upper handle portion in a closed condition;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the handle and finish attachment in an open condition;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the handle and finish attachment in a closed condition; and  
         [0020]     FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along lines  10 - 10  in  FIG. 1 , showing the finish ring assembled to the container neck. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring in more detail to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of a container and handle assembly  20 , including a plastic container  22  that is formed separately from a plastic handle and finish attachment  24 , the latter being attachable to the container  22  after the container is formed (e.g., post blow mold). The container  22  may be substantially of any shape and material, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottle or the like, to define an interior volume in which a product is to be received. The container  22  is preferably blow molded, but may also be injection molded or the like. The handle and finish attachment  24  is formed separately from the container  22 , such as by an injection molding operation or the like. The handle and finish attachment  24  may be formed of a different plastic material and/or color than the container  22 , thereby increasing the choice of materials available and potentially reducing the material cost of the overall container and handle assembly. For example, the handle and finish attachment  24  may be formed of any suitable packaging material such as polypropylene or the like. Also, providing the handle and finish attachment  24  separately from and after the container  22  is formed, simplifies the design of the container  22  and of the mold used to make it.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the handle and finish attachment  24  is shown in an open condition and separate from the container. The attachment  24  includes a split ring  26  integral with a handle  28 . The split ring and handle are movable between an open position as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , and a closed position as shown in  FIG. 5 . The ability to open and close the handle and finish attachment is due to the resiliency of the split ring  26 , which allows relative movement between opposed first and second ring portions  40 ,  42  respectively. The opposed ring portions  40 ,  42  terminate in first and second ring ends  44  and  46  respectively, which preferably include a mating alignment feature  56 ,  58  to facilitate closure of the ring.  
         [0023]     The handle  28  includes inner and outer overlapping handle portions  30 ,  32  each connected to a different one of ring ends  44  and  46  (respectively). These overlapping handle portions  30 ,  32  are provided at the upper end of the handle, adjacent to the respective ring ends  44 ,  46 . The outer handle portion  32  includes a lower end  34  extending beyond the length of the inner handle portion  30 , and forms a gripping portion by which a user grasps the handle  28 . The inner surface of gripping portion  34  may include ergonomic features such as ribbed finger recesses  38 .  
         [0024]     The split ring  26  is substantially cylindrical and has an inner cylindrical surface  25  which, when the ring is in the closed condition ( FIG. 5 ), has a diameter slightly greater than an outer cylindrical surface  73  of the container neck  70 .  FIG. 10  shows a cross section of the finish ring  26  assembled over the container neck  70 , with the engaging inner and outer cylindrical surfaces  25  and  73 , respectively. The ring  26  preferably sits between and engages a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower outwardly extending radial flanges  76 ,  71  on the container neck. The upper neck flange  76  defines an open mouth of the container, while the lower neck flange  71  defines a tamper indicating bead or the like. The finish ring has an upper surface  21  which engages a lower surface  75  of the upper neck flange  76 , and a lower surface  23  that engages an upper surface  77  of the lower neck flange  71 . Thus positioned, the ring will resist axial movement (with respect to the major vertical axis of the container) when a user grasps the handle.  
         [0025]     The split ring  26  has an outer cylindrical surface  27  with an attachment element, such as a thread, bead, flange or some portion thereof for securing a closure or fitment (not shown) to the finish. The present embodiment has an external thread  50  for securing a closure (e.g., cap) to the container neck.  
         [0026]     As shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 6-9 , the ends  44 ,  46  of ring portions  40 ,  42  are engaged when the handle and finish attachment  24  is closed ( FIGS. 7 and 9 ). A pair of mating alignment members, here a sloped projection  56  which fits within a complimentary-shaped sloped recess  58 , are provided on the first and second ring ends  44 ,  46 . These alignment members assist in proper alignment and closure of the separate ring ends; proper alignment may be of particular importance when the split in ring  26  also splits the thread  50  into two thread portions  52  and  54  on ring portions  40  and  42  respectively.  
         [0027]     The ring portions  40 ,  42  of split ring  26  are held together in a closed condition by interengagement features on the first and second handle portions  30 ,  32 . The interengagement features may be for example locking snaps, such as the two pairs of studs  37   a, b , shown here on the outer handle portion  32  which fit within correspondingly shaped holes  35   a, b , in the inner handle portion  30 . The overlapping handle portions  30 ,  32  are positionable one above the other in the closed position (see  FIG. 5 ). A recess  33  is provided on the interior side of the outer handle portion  32  to accommodate the inner handle portion  30 . In addition, a channel  41  is provided on an exterior surface of the ring near ring end  44 , the channel  41  extending between the lower neck flange  39  and the top surface  31  of the lower handle portion  30  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6 ). This channel receives at least a portion  43  of the upper handle  32 , namely the portion  43  which extends circumferentially beyond the second ring end  46  to which the upper handle portion is connected, thus enabling portion  43  to be slidably positionable and engaged in the channel  41  when the handle portions  32 ,  30  overlap. The studs  37  on upper handle portion  32  can then be pushed into the holes  35  on lower handle portion  30  to secure the first and second handle portions together, and thereby hold together the first and second ring ends  44 ,  46 .  
         [0028]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-2 , the container  22  includes a blow-molded body  68  of any suitable shape, and a substantially cylindrical neck  70  defining an open upper end and mouth portion of the container  22  through which a product may be added to or discharged from the container  22 . A shoulder  72  is provided between the neck  70  and the body  68 , and a cut-out or recess  74  is provided in at least a portion of the body  68  and shoulder  72  to provide a space for the user to grip the handle  28  when assembled to the container. With the handle and finish attachment  24  in an open condition and oriented with respect to the container  22  so that the handle is centered in the recess  74 , the ring portions  40 ,  42  of the handle and finish attachment  24  are brought together around the container neck  70 , between the upper and lower neck flanges  76 ,  71 . The finish ring  26  is resiliently closed and held shut by the studs/holes on the handle portions. Additional features may be provided on the container and/or attachment to prevent rotation of the handle and finish attachment  24  with respect to the container  22 , to provide alignment of the attachment  24  and container  22 , and/or to further secure the attachment  24  to the container  22 . For example, mating projections and recesses may be provided on the attachment and container, or portions of the attachment and container may be attached by adhesive or ultrasonic welding.  
         [0029]     There has thus been described an embodiment of a container and handle assembly, and a handle and finish attachment for such assembly, that provides various benefits. Forming a combined handle and finish ring attachment separately from the container enables the container to be of a simpler design and permits the use of the 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 and finish 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/or container finish may also be formed of different colors and by different methods than the container body, as desired for a wide range of applications.  
         [0030]     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.