Method and Apparatus for a Removable Handle for a Bottle

Abstract

The device contains a ring structure having at least one interior groove and an exterior threaded portion. The interior grooves of the ring structure are designed to removably engage to an opening on a bottle. A cap is also provided having at least one helical rib to securely attach to the threaded portion of the ring structure when the cap is in a closed position. A handle is further provided that is integral with the rigid skirt.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/820,643 filed Jul. 28, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is generally related to a bottle handle attachment, more specifically an attachment for easy holding of a bottle, such as a two-liter bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many bottles are presently manufactured without any means for gripping the bottles. For instance, one and two liter bottles of soda are typically not provided with handles and these bottles often require two hands to grip the bottle safely. One or two liter bottles can also be difficult to handle as many use a very thin plastic that will bend and deform when gripped too forcefully. These bottles would be safer if they were easier to grip, particularly while pouring. Known prior art accessories for beverage bottles include U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,043; U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,876; U.S. Pat. No. 1,825,897; U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,578; U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,913; U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,562, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,205

[0004] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new beverage bottle handle attachment with easy attachment to a bottle.

[0005] Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, system and method for providing a handle on a bottle. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the device, among others, can be implemented as follows. The device contains a ring structure having at least one interior groove and an exterior threaded portion. The interior grooves of the ring structure are designed to removably engage to an opening on a bottle. A cap is also provided having at least one helical rib to securely attach to the threaded portion of the ring structure when the cap is in a closed position. A handle is further provided that is integral with the rigid skirt.

[0007] The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for providing a handle on a bottle. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: removing a cover from an opening of a bottle; and securing the device to the opening of the bottle with a ring structure wherein the ring structure has a threaded portion.

[0008] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device for providing a handle on a bottle, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of a device for providing a handle on a bottle, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device for providing the handle on the bottle as shown in FIG. 2 with the cap attached, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device for providing the handle on the bottle as shown in FIG. 2 with a cap removed, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the device for providing the handle on the bottle as shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 6 is bottom view of the cap for providing a seal on the opening of the bottle, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the device for providing the handle on the bottle as shown in FIG. 2 with the cap attached to the opening of the bottle, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] FIG. 1 is cross-sectional view of a device 10 for providing a handle 14 on a bottle (shown in FIG. 7), in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. The device 10 includes a ring structure 12 and the handle 14. The ring structure 12 is formed to removably engage an open portion of the bottle at the bottle neck (not shown). The ring structure 12 may have internal threads (not shown), or a similar mechanical structure, engageable with a threaded bottle opening.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of a device 110 for providing a handle 114 on a bottle 128 (shown in FIG. 7), in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The device 110 contains the ring structure 112 for engaging the device 110 to the opening of the bottle 128. The ring structure 112 contains exterior threaded portions 122 and interior grooves 123 (shown in FIG. 4). The threaded portions 122 provide a mechanism for attachment of the ring structure 112 to a cap 116. The cap 116 may have a helical rib (not shown) for secure attachment to the exterior threaded portions 122. While not explicitly illustrated, one having ordinary skill in the art will recognize how to form an interior portion of the cap to engage a threaded cylindrical opening. Further, other mechanisms for providing a liquid tight seal over an opening are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The handle 114 is integral with the ring structure 112 to provide an easy mechanism to carry and pour a liquid contained within the bottle 128.

[0019] The ring structure 112, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, may be made by any of a variety of shapes that will be well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, the ring structure 112 may be round, oval, square, or rectangular in shape in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, although the only ring structure 112 discussed herein is toroidal. Variations to the shape of the ring structure 112 may impact the shape and attachment mechanism for the cap 116.

[0020] In the second exemplary embodiment a rigid skirt 118 is provided for attaching the handle 114 to the ring structure 112. The rigid skirt 118 may also be useful when a user is pouring a liquid from the bottle 128 to keep spilling off the bottle 128. Further, if the bottle 128 is made of a particularly flimsy plastic, the rigid skirt 118 may inhibit the bottle 128 bending near a bottle neck.

[0021] In addition, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment an indent 127 is provided at the base of ring structure 112 and the top of rigid skirt 118. The indent 127 is provided so that cap 116 will close in a continuous manner with the rigid skirt 118 to provide a substantially stress-free condition that maximizes strength imparted to the device 110 when in a closed position and provides for ease of opening and closing the device 110.

[0022] The device 110 may be used as a marketing tool at parties or otherwise used as a promotional good. For instance, the cap 116 or the rigid skirt 118 may be imprinted with company logos or other designs as a marketing tool or a promotional tool. When desired, at least one label may be included in order to satisfy marketing or promotional requirements. At least one of any such label can be itself substantially transparent, except of course, for the message indicia that needs to be opaque or translucent or contrasting in order to be visible to the consumer. The cap 116, ring structure 112, and rigid skirt 118 may, for instance, be made of a hard plastic and may be substantially translucent.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the device 110 for providing the handle 114 on the bottle 128 (shown in FIG. 7) with the cap 116 attached, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The cap 116 and the device 110 are shown engaged. More specifically, the cap 116 and the device 110 are engaged at the ring structure 112 (not shown). In this embodiment, the rigid skirt 118 connects the handle 114 to the ring structure 112 (not shown). The device 110 may be attached to the bottle 128 while the cap 116 is engaged to the device 110 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. The cap 116 may provide a liquid tight seal when engaged with the device 110.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device 110 for providing the handle 114 on the bottle 128 (shown in FIG. 7) with the cap 116 removed, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The device 110 contains the ring structure 112 with exterior threaded portions 122 and interior grooves 123. The interior grooves 123 of the ring structure 112 are adapted to removably engage to an opening on the bottle 128. The cap 116 (shown in FIG. 2) is adapted to removably engage the exterior threaded portions 122 of the ring structure 112. Exterior threaded portions 122 are provided to removably engage the ring structure 112 of device 110 and the cap 116. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the handle 114 is integral with the ring structure 112 for ease of carrying and pouring a liquid in the bottle 128 through a pouring channel 124. The rigid skirt 118 is provided to connect the handle 114 to the ring structure 112. The rigid skirt 118 may also act as a spill shield for a user when a liquid is poured from the bottle 128.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the device 110 for providing the handle 114 on the bottle 128 (shown in FIG. 7), in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this view, the interior grooves 123 are shown for coupling the device 110 to the opening of the bottle 128. Pouring channel 124 is also shown in FIG. 5, as the space for liquid to be poured through the device 110 when the device 110 is engaged to the bottle 128. Exterior threaded portions 122 are provided to removably engage the ring structure 112 of device 110 and the cap 116 (not shown).

[0026] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cap 116 for providing a seal on the opening of the bottle 128 (shown in FIG. 7), in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the cap 116 is further provided with at least one helical rib 117 to securely engage to the exterior threaded portions 122 (as shown in FIG. 4) of the ring structure 112 (as shown in FIG. 4) when the cap 116 is engaged with the device 110. The cap 116 acts as a seal on the bottle 128 when the device 110 is attached to an opening on the bottle neck. A rubber stopper 119 may be placed at the underside of the cap 116 for providing an enhanced fluid seal for the bottle 128 when engaged. The cap 116 may also have a gripping portion 126 on the exterior of the cap 116. The gripping portion 126 may be any types of grips or materials that are commonly used for engaging or disengaging the device 110, or both. As one example, the gripping portion 126 may be used for turning the cap 116 in engaged and disengaged positions

[0027] FIG. 7 is a side view of the device 110 for providing the handle 114 on the bottle 128 as shown in FIG. 2 with the cap 116 attached to the opening of the bottle 128, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the device 110 has been attached to the bottle 128 at the ring structure 112 (shown in FIG. 2), such that the handle 114 is engaged with the rigid skirt 118 and becomes integral with the ring structure 112. In accordance with this embodiment, a user can pick up the bottle 128 by grasping the handle 114. The cap 116 is adapted to removably engage to the exterior threaded portions 122 on ring structure 112 (shown in FIG. 2). The cap 116 can be used to open the bottle 128, and close the bottle 128 when the bottle 128 is not being used. The device 110 may also be removed from the bottle 128 during a non-use period and stored or used on a different bottle. A bottle cover that is provided with the purchase of the bottle 128 can be used to close the opening on the bottle 128 when the device 110 is removed. The device 110 may be made of any of a variety of materials in accordance with the embodiments described herein. For example, plastic, paperboard, metal, and the like may be used. For example, plastic sheets may be used to form the rigid skirt 118 of the present invention, including but not limited to, low, medium and high density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene acrylic acid, ethylene methyl acrylic acid, ethylene vinyl alcohol, surlyn, nylon, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, styrene acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and combinations thereof. The thickness of the plastic used to produce the rigid skirt 118 varies. The plastic for the rigid skirt 118 may be about 30 mil. Plastics of any thickness that can be used to form the rigid skirt 118 is disclosed, including medium and high density polyethylene. The device 110 may, for instance, be substantially transparent, translucent or opaque in accordance with the embodiments described herein.

[0028] The device 110, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments herein, may be made by any of a variety of processes that will be well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, there are several processes to manufacture the device 110 of the present invention. The process of thermoforming and plastic injection molding are two such processes. The process of thermoforming stretches plastic sheets into three dimensions to mold the device 110 from a stretched plastic sheet.

[0029] The device 110 of the present invention has a further feature of being stackable. The stackable feature of the device 110 provides for ease of storage of the device 110 when they are not being used. In addition, the stackable feature demonstrates that two or more devices 110 can be sold as a kit.

[0030] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any "preferred" embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for holding a bottle with an opening formed at the bottle neck, the device comprising: a ring structure; at least one interior groove on the ring structure adapted to removably attach to the opening formed at the bottle neck.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring structure further comprises a pouring channel.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cap engagable with the ring structure.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the cap further comprises at least one helical rib.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein an exterior threaded portion of the ring structure is engagable with at least one interior partition on the cap.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the cap further comprises at least one gripping portion.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a rigid skirt integral with the ring structure, wherein the handle is integral with the ring structure via the rigid skirt.

8. A method of providing a means for holding a bottle with an opening formed at the bottle neck, the method comprising the steps of: removing a cover from the opening of the bottle; and fixing a ring structure having a pouring channel to the opening of the bottle, wherein the ring structure is integral with a handle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of turning the ring structure onto the opening of the bottle to an engaged position.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of covering the pouring channel with a cap.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing a helical rib on the cap.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing exterior threaded portions on the ring structure.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of engaging a helical rib on a cap with an exterior threaded portion on the ring structure.

14. A system for providing a gripping accessory on a bottle with an opening formed at the bottle neck, the system comprising: means for removeably coupling a handle to the opening of the bottle; means for pouring a liquid from the bottle utilizing the handle.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a means for engaging a pouring channel when the handle is coupled to the opening.

16. The system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a means for preventing spilling the liquid onto the bottle when the liquid is being poured.