U.S. patent application number 10/106702 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-02 for integrated and unobtrusive handle for deformable hand-held bottles and containers.
Invention is credited to Cauchy, Nicolas.
Application Number | 20030184103 10/106702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28452545 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030184103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cauchy, Nicolas |
October 2, 2003 |
Integrated and unobtrusive handle for deformable hand-held bottles
and containers
Abstract
This application describes a handle of simple concept, destined
for use with deformable hand-held containers, particularly large
soft-drink bottles, that does not change in any significant way the
appearance of the container, that is easily integrated in the
existing fabrication processes of the end product, and that does
not interfere with the distribution or the customary end-use of the
product. Said handle consists of a flexible strap, semi-permanently
fastened at its ends to the exterior of the container in a
lengthwise position. The handle is thin and resilient, such that
its application requires minimal change in the existing production
methods, and it is unobtrusive, so that its presence does not
modify existing packaging methods of the products and does not
require the end-user to modify his or her habitual method of using
the product.
Inventors: |
Cauchy, Nicolas; (Ft
Lauderdale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NICOLAS CAUCHY
401 SAN MARCO DR.
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33301
US
|
Family ID: |
28452545 |
Appl. No.: |
10/106702 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
294/27.1 ;
215/396; 220/752; 294/31.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 23/005 20130101;
B65D 23/0842 20130101; B65D 23/106 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/27.1 ;
294/31.2; 220/752; 215/396 |
International
Class: |
B65D 023/10 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An integrated handle for handling deformable hand-held bottles
or containers, which comprises A strap that is positioned
lengthwise along the exterior of the container, long enough to
snuggly slip an adult hand between itself and the body of the
bottle or container, that is held flush with the body of the
container until it is expanded by the user, of width sufficient to
support the weight of the filled container without causing
discomfort to the user's hand, with the main characteristics that
it is flexible, resilient, and resistant enough to satisfy all
requirements of its function, that it can be integrated without
undue cumbrance in the existing production lines of such containers
to which it is destined, that it does not interfere with the
existing storage and distribution systems of such containers, that
it has a lifetime matching or exceeding that of the container to
which it is destined, that it is easily absorbed in the existing
waste-stream of said containers, and that it is useable as
described in this document, and means of semi-permanently affixing
both extremities of said strap to the bottle, and means of
temporarily retaining said strap flush against the body of the
bottle so as not to interfere with existing means of packaging,
shipping, and distribution of the end-product, and means of
incorporating said strap into the wrapper or label of the bottle,
as an alternative. a) A handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
strap is made of flexible and resilient material, strong enough to
withstand the weight of the full bottle or container when affixed
at both ends, said strap that may or may not be adjustable or
elastic but that is of length sufficient to allow the insertion of
the fingers of an adult hand between itself and the body of the
bottle or container, of width such that the effort of supporting
the weight of the container and its contents will not cause undue
discomfort to the user's hand or fingers, and with its extremities
fastened in semi-permanent fashion to the body of the container. b)
A handle as in claim 1 above, or claim 2 hereunder, wherein said
means of fastening semi-permanently the load-bearing extremities of
the handle to the bottle may include spot-welding, the use of
adhesives, the application of transversal retainers, shrink-wrap,
elastic or semi-elastic materials working in friction or otherwise,
said retainers which may or may not themselves be an extension of
the strap and may or may not complete the circumference of the
bottle, or any other suitable means that is easily integrated
within the existing fabrication or labeling process of the
container and its product, and that will withstand the effort of
supporting the container and its contents. c) A handle as in claim
1, in which said means for temporarily retaining the strap flush
against the bottle may include spot-welding, the use of adhesives,
elastic or semi-elastic materials, or any other suitable means to
position it such that its presence is negligible until it reaches
the end-user, thus requiring no changes in the existing packaging
and transportation processes of the product, but said temporary
binding being weak enough so that it can be easily released by the
end-user. d) A handle as in claim 1 which may be incorporated as
part of the wrapper or label of the bottle and which, in such case,
may be of material identical to that of the wrapper, but not
necessarily so. e) A handle as in claim 1 that is unobtrusive to
existing packaging, shipping, and distribution processes of the
containers and contents to which it is destined. f) A handle as in
claim 1 that can be relatively easily and inexpensively integrated
in the existing fabrication and labeling processes of soft-drink
bottles. g) A handle as in claim 1 the use of which is optional to
the end-user, such that its presence does not impose any change in
the end-users' habitual fashion of using the bottle or container.
h) A handle as claimed in claim 1, which may or may not include
printed material, whether instructions for use, disclaimers,
advertising, or otherwise. i) A handle as claimed in claim 1 that
is of a material that is easily absorbed in the standard waste
stream along with the bottle or container upon which it is mounted.
j) A handle as claimed in claim 1 the use of which is not limited
to soft-drink bottles, but which may be adapted for use on other
hand-held, deformable containers.
2. A wrapper or label, as applicable to deformable hand-held
containers or soft-drink bottles, characterized by its integration
of a handle with properties as described in claim 1 above, possibly
but not necessarily requiring major changes in the existing label
or wrapper materials and the apparatus for applying them to the
containers in question.
Description
REFERENCES
[0001]
1 5816631 Oct., 1998 Kochan 294/33 4552396 Nov., 1985 Rais 294/27
4486043 Dec., 1984 Rais 294/27 1825897 Oct., 1931 Brooke 294/31
6279794 Jul., 1999 Miyazaki 224/148 4842158 Jun., 1989 Reyes
224/470 5921431 Jul., 1999 Pych 220/742 4943017 Jul., 1990 Ennis
248/102 5975285 Nov., 1999 Krantz 206/139 4782955 Nov., 1988 Weaver
206/161 4866813 Sept., 1989 Dupont 16/425
STATEMENT FOR SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0004] This invention pertains to the field of handles for fluid
containers and more specifically to an integrated handle secured to
the body of a typical soft-drink bottle.
[0005] Deformable containers, particularly large soft-drink
bottles, are difficult to use for two reasons: first, they are
difficult to hold with one single hand because of their size and
deformability and, second, the center of mass shifts during pouring
of the contents. This makes them difficult to hold, particularly
for people with smaller or fragile hands, typically women, elderly
or handicapped people, or children, and the recent appearance of
3-liter bottles on the market only exacerbates the problem. Because
of the constraints of manufacturing, shipping, and storing of such
containers, no handle attachment has yet been provided as an
integral part of the bottle.
[0006] Still, a number of external handles have been proposed to
facilitate the handling of such containers. Examples include U.S.
Pat. No. 5,816,631 to Kochan providing a "Removable Bottle Handle"
that is fitted or removed from the bottle by the user and that is
held in place by friction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,158 to Reyes
describes another elongated handle secured by a buckle and Velcro.
Yet another model is that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,043 to Rais,
showing a reusable plastic handle.
[0007] Such prior art presents two major inconveniences. First, the
handles in question are all independent from the container, thereby
requiring the manufacturing of a separate item that may or may not
be sold independently from the container and its product. Secondly,
these handles cannot be integrated in the existing storage and
distribution channels of the product manufacturers and
distributors.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has in one of its aspects a handle
that consists of a thin flexible strap, semi-permanently attached
at its extremities lengthwise to the body of a deformable
container, for example a typical 2-liter soft-drink bottle, such
that the user may slip his or her fingers underneath the strap,
thus carrying the weight on the outside of his or her hand and
gaining complete control of the bottle. Other key aspects of this
invention are that it can be easily integrated in the existing
manufacturing and labeling processes, that it does not interfere
with the packaging, transportation, or stocking of such containers,
that it does not change the appearance of the bottle, and that its
use is completely optional to the end-user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Three pages of illustrations are presented, comprising
drawings and computer-generated illustrations of a typical
soft-drink bottle and some possible methods of assembling and
handling the handle, subject of this application.
[0010] The cross-section of a typical cylindrical bottle in FIG. 1
on page 1 of 3 depicts the first two characteristics of the handle,
namely that it is integrated and unobtrusive, illustrating one
possible method for temporarily securing the handle flush onto a
PET-type bottle, so that it does not interfere with the packaging
or stocking of the merchandise.
[0011] FIG. 2 on page 1 illustrates the handle in its freed or
ready-to-use position.
[0012] FIG. 3 on page 1 shows the typical method of use of the
handle. Note that, unlike other handle designs, this handle applies
the load to the outside of the hand.
[0013] FIG. 1 on page 2 identifies the weight-bearing points of a
sample handle directly fastened to the body of the bottle.
[0014] FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 on page 2 illustrate different
configurations for integrating the handle in the bottling and
labeling process, and point out the adaptability of the design to
various types of bottles: FIG. 2 shows a handle that would include
two circumferential straps to be fastened to the container; FIG. 3
contrasts with FIG. 2 in its illustration of a handle comprising a
strap fastened to other elements of the bottle, possibly onto the
wrapper or label, or either over or under circumferential straps
mounted for that purpose; FIG. 4 illustrates the possibility of
incorporating the handle within the wrapper (referring to claim
1-sub claim c).
[0015] The bottom figure on page 2 demonstrates the adaptability of
the handle to a bottle with a radically different design, as well
as the possibility of fastening the handle's load-bearing points
directly to the wrapper/label.
[0016] The illustrations on page 3 present the application of one
model of the "Integrated and Unobtrusive Handle for Deformable
Hand-Held Bottles and Containers". Photo 1 illustrates the handle
in its "collapsed" position, prior to its being "freed" or deployed
as shown in Photo 2.
[0017] Photo 3 shows a close-up view of one possible means of
"temporary restraint" of the handle in its collapsed state.
[0018] Photo 4 shows the typical method of use of the handle; in
this photo, the handle is integrated in the bottle wrapper.
[0019] Photo 5 shows an alternative way of holding the handle
[0020] Finally, Photo 6 illustrates how a bottle can be handled in
the ordinary fashion without using the handle, which is one main
purpose of its unobtrusive characteristic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The invention provides a handle for mounting on a deformable
hand-held container, which comprises primarily a flexible strap
affixed to the body of the container, said strap forming a passage
of size sufficient to insert the extended fingers of the user
between itself and the container body, and means to secure said
strap to the container in such fashion that it is easily integrated
in the existing manufacturing process, that it is unobtrusive for
shipping and storing of the containers, and its use is optional to
the end-user.
[0022] When holding such a container, as for the purpose of pouring
a glass of soda, the drop in internal pressure causes such
deformation that the container becomes difficult to hold with the
fingers, more so when the bottle is dripping with condensation. The
handling is made even more difficult when the bottle is partially
empty because of the shifting in position of the center of
mass.
[0023] The solution that we all commonly use is, of course, to hold
the bottle with two hands. Another is the use of baskets such as
those used for serving wines but made of cheaper materials; however
this involves the fabrication of a completely separate item. Yet
another possibility is that of completely redesigning the typical
PET bottles.
[0024] The utility model that we present, namely the "Integrated
and Unobtrusive Handle for Deformable Hand-Held Containers", solves
the above problems by facilitating the use of such containers
without requiring any major change in the existing design or
fabrication process of bottlers or distributors. The proposed
handle consists of a simple strap of thin, flexible, and resilient
material, that does not need to affect the appearance of the
bottle, nor its stocking or transport, and that would preferably be
made of a material easily integrated in the standard recycling
process. Said strap can be made of any material that can be easily
integrated in all phases of the existing manufacturing and bottling
process, including the labeling, according to the specific
requirements of individual manufacturers of such containers or
other participants in the manufacturing and distribution of the end
product. Said strap is positioned about the center of mass of the
bottle and its use is optional to consumers, as containers
so-equipped can still be held in the ordinary manner.
[0025] Imagine the handle as a simple strap as mentioned above,
long enough to allow passing the fingers of an adult hand between
it and the container, and fastened to the bottle at its ends with
sufficient strength to withstand the force of handling the filled
container. Such fastening could consist of, although not
exclusively, heat-welding or adhesives holding both extremities
directly onto the body of the bottle (FIG. 1 of page 2), or the
handle extremities could be held in place by transversal circlets
or straps that would wrap around part of/or the entire body of the
container (FIGS. 2&4 pg 2), either over or under the strap
serving as the handle, and that may be an integral part of the
actual handle itself (FIG. 2 page 2). Other possible methods
include integrating said handle within the label (FIG. 4 page
2).
[0026] Whilst the size of the handle should allow slipping the
fingers underneath it, thus allowing the user to hold the container
in the customary fashion (FIG. 3 page 1), it must also be held
flush against the container until it reaches the end user, so as
not to interfere with the transportation and stocking of the
product (FIG. 1 page 1). This can be achieved by either a point of
light adhesive that would affix the strap folded over onto itself
(FIG. 3 pg 3) until it is released by the consumer (FIG. 2 pg 3),
or by any other suitable method, including, but not limited to,
using an elastic material with properties such that it would remain
taught against the container until lifted and then would allow a
finite deformation for the use described previously.
[0027] When the consumer uses the handle for the first time, he/she
slips the fingers underneath it so as to release the handle to its
expanded position (FIG. 2 page 1). Thus, the weight of the
container is supported on the exterior of the hand (FIG. 3 pg 1)
and the user has all freedom of movement to accurately manipulate
the container, regardless of the quantity of the contents. Because
the handle is of flexible material, the consumer can simply neglect
the handle and use the container in the customary fashion if he/she
chooses to do so (FIG. 6 pg 3).
[0028] This description is not exhaustive, either in the methods
suggested for making such a handle, or in the described methods of
use. For instance, consumers may find alternative ways in which to
use the handle, such as by holding the handle in their hand (Photo
5 pg 3/3) rather than slipping their hand underneath it, or other
methods.
* * * * *