U.S. patent application number 11/630206 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for container body with an integrated handle.
Invention is credited to Simon Hem Jensen.
Application Number | 20080142531 11/630206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34956236 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080142531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jensen; Simon Hem |
June 19, 2008 |
Container Body with an Integrated Handle
Abstract
A container body (1) having an upper part defining a container
opening (4) and a carrier member (2), which is formed integrally
with the upper part of the container body (1) at its outer surface.
The carrier member (2) can be stretched from a starting position
into a position of use, and the carrier member (2) is defined by
the circumference of a flange and by weakening or cut lines
defining two radially spaced concentric arcs of circles (6). In the
position of use, the carrier member (2) allows the container to be
carried e.g. in a belt.
Inventors: |
Jensen; Simon Hem;
(Charlottenlund, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
34956236 |
Appl. No.: |
11/630206 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 24, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK05/00426 |
371 Date: |
March 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60582550 |
Jun 25, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/710.5 ;
220/754 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/2894 20130101;
B65D 23/10 20130101; B65D 25/22 20130101; B65D 1/023 20130101; B65D
23/003 20130101; B65D 2501/0054 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/710.5 ;
220/754 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/28 20060101
B65D025/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2004 |
DK |
PA 2004 00996 |
Claims
1. A container body having: an upper part defining a container
opening and a carrier member, which is formed integrally with the
upper part of the container body at its outer surface, the carrier
member being at least partly defined by a weakening line or cut
line such that the carrier member may be stretched from a starting
position into a position of use.
2. A container body according to claim 1, wherein in its starting
position the carrier member forms a flange or flap extending
outwardly from the outer surface of the container body.
3. A container body according to claim 1, which is made from
plastic material.
4. A container body according to claim 1, wherein the carrier
member comprises a loop-shaped part.
5. A container body according claim 1, wherein the carrier member
is a chain-like member comprising two or more interconnected
loop-shaped links.
6. A container body according to claim 4, wherein in its starting
position the carrier member forms an annular flange, the
loop-shaped part being defined by the circumference of the flange
and a weakening line or a cut line defining an arc of a circle
substantially concentric with said circumference.
7. A container body according to claim 4, wherein the carrier
member is defined by the circumference of the flange and by
weakening lines or cut lines defining two or more radially spaced,
substantially mutually concentric arcs of circles.
8. A container body according to claim 1, wherein the carrier
member forms a flap, which by means of weakening lines or cut lines
is divided into a U-shaped loop part comprising a pair of branches
and a transverse bottom part, and a connecting part, which is
located between the branches of the U-shaped loop part so as to
connect the transverse bottom part with the container body.
9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is
a bottle or a can for containing e.g. beer or soda.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the carrier member is
attached to at least a part of a circumferentially extending edge
of the upper part of the can and being positioned internally in the
upper part in relation to said edge.
11. A container according to claim 1, wherein the carrier member is
formed integrally with the upper part by means of a fixed
attachment thereto.
12. A container according to claim 1, wherein the carrier member is
formed integrally with the upper part by means of moulding.
13. A method of moulding a container according to claim 1, wherein
the weakening lines or cut lines are formed by the moulding
process.
14. A method of moulding a container according to claim 1, wherein
the weakening lines or cut lines are formed by a separate
operation.
15. A method of providing a container according to claim 1, wherein
the carrier member is fixed attached to the container body after
moulding the container body.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the carrier member is
fixed attached to the body by means of adhesive.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the carrier member is
fixed attached to the body by means of threads.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container body, such as a
can or a bottle, which is provided with a carrier member or handle
to facilitate carrying of the container, which may, for example,
contain food or drinks.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0002] Various types of carrier members for carrying bottles and
other containers are known. As an example WO 2004/035413 discloses
a separate carrier member adapted to releasably engage with the cap
or crown cork of one or more bottles. Thus, the bottles have to be
connected to the carrier member by the manufacturer or the consumer
in a separate operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a
container having a carrier integrally formed therewith. Thus, the
present invention provides a container body having an upper part
defining a container opening and a carrier member, which is formed
integrally with the upper part of the container body at its outer
surface, the carrier member being at least partly defined by a
weakening line or cut line such that the carrier member may be
stretched from a starting position into a position of use.
[0004] This means that the container body may be manufactured with
the integral carrier member arranged in a compact or retracted
starting position, in which it does not take up much space, and
when the carrier member is to be used it may be stretched from the
compact starting position into an extended position of use. The
stretched carrier member may, for example, be used by the consumer
as a handgrip or for attaching the container body to the clothing,
such as a belt, of the consumer.
[0005] The carrier member may, for example, be in the form of a
string, which in the starting position of the carrier member is
attached around the upper part of the container body or to an edge
of the upper part, such as the neck of a bottle or edge of a can,
and which may have a loop or handle at its free end. Along its
length the string may be connected to the container body via a
weakening line or score line so as to form a kind of flange, and/or
be separated there from by a cut. When the consumer wants to carry
the container body filled with for example a drink or food and
closed by a suitable closure he/she may grip the loop or handle,
break the weakening line and stretch the string.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment the carrier member may in its
starting position form a flange or flap extending outwardly from
the outer surface of the container body, and this flange or flap
may then be provided with such weakening lines and/or cut lines
that a useful carrier member is formed when it is extended or
stretched so that the flange or flap breaks along the weakening
lines or score lines.
[0007] In principle, the container body may be made from any
suitable material, such as metal. In one embodiment, the container
body is made from plastic material, for example by injection
moulding or blow moulding. As an example, the container may be of
the disposable type to be used only once for food or drinks. Thus,
the container body may be a bottle, which is closed by a closure,
such as a cap or screw cap. In another embodiment, the container
body is made of metal and comprises a can having an upper part with
a traditional opening arrangement with a pulling string.
[0008] The carrier member preferably has a gripping member or
fastening member at its free end. As an example, the carrier member
may comprise a loop-shaped part. Thus, the carrier member may be
defined by a single loop. More preferred, however, the carrier
member is a chain-like member comprising two or more interconnected
loop-shaped links, so that the carrier member is more elongated in
its position of use. When in its starting position the carrier
member forms an annular flange the loop-shaped part may be defined
by the circumference of the flange and by a weakening line or a cut
line defining an arc of a circle substantially concentric with said
circumference.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment the carrier member is defined by
the circumference of the annular flange and by weakening lines or
cut lines defining two or more radially spaced, substantially
mutually concentric arcs of circles. When the carrier member is
stretched into its position of use by breaking the flange along the
weakening lines or score lines, an elongated chain-like member is
formed.
[0010] Alternatively, the carrier member may form a flap or an ear,
and also in this case the weakening lines or cuts may be such that
a chain-like carrier member is formed when stretched into its
position of use. As an example, by means of weakening lines or cut
lines the flap or ear may be divided into a U-shaped loop part
comprising a pair of branches and a transverse bottom part, and a
connecting part, which is located between the branches of the
U-shaped loop part so as to connect the transverse bottom part with
the container body.
[0011] As mentioned above, the container body according to the
invention may by any conventional method, such as deep drawing,
injection moulding or blow moulding. In case of moulding, the
weakening or score lines or the cut lines are advantageously formed
by the moulding process, for example by complementary shaped ridges
on the inner mould surface. Alternatively, the weakening lines or
cut lines may be formed by a separate operation, such as a cutting
or stamping operation.
[0012] Instead of moulding the carrier member with the container
body, the carrier member may be formed integrally with the
container body by fixedly attaching it to the body after the body
has been provided. The carrier member may be fixed attached to the
body by means of adhesive and/or by means of threads. The carrier
member may be made of plastic, metal, cardboard or a composite
material.
[0013] The various shapes of the carrier member shown and described
could of course also be attached to the container body in a way
such that they can be demounted from the container body again.
[0014] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates
to a container body having an upper part defining a container
opening and a carrier member, which is formed integrally with the
upper part of the container body at its outer surface and can be
stretched from a starting position into a position of use.
[0015] The carrier member is preferably at least partly defined by
a weakening line or cut line such that it can be stretched from the
starting position into the position of use.
[0016] The carrier member according to the second aspect may
comprise any of the elements of the carrier member according to any
of claims 2-17.
[0017] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates
to a carrier member to be integrally formed with an upper part of a
container body, the carrier member comprising any of the elements
of the carrier member according to any of claims 1-17.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention will now be further described with reference
to the drawings, wherein
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a basic form for a container according to the
invention having a carrier member in its starting position,
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a basic form for a container according to the
invention having a carrier member in its position of use,
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the container of FIG. 1 from above,
[0022] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the carrier member according
to the invention,
[0023] FIGS. 5-6 show a bottle according to the invention wherein
the carrier member is in its position of use and starting position,
respectively,
[0024] FIGS. 7-8 show a bottle according to the invention with the
carrier member in its starting position and position of use,
respectively, and
[0025] FIGS. 9-10 show a can according to the invention with the
carrier member in its starting position and position of use,
respectively, and
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a basic form 1 of the container is
shown having a carrier member 2 integrally formed in its upper part
3 defining a container opening 4. The basic form 1 is to be blow
moulded e.g. into a container as shown in FIGS. 7-8.
[0027] In the starting position, the carrier member 2 is defined by
the circumference of a flange and by weakening or cut lines 5
defining two radially spaced concentric arcs of circles 6. The
lines 5 are to be broken when the carrier member is going from its
starting position in FIG. 1 to the position of use in FIG. 2. In
the position of use, the carrier member 2 allows the container to
be carried in a belt.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a carrier member 2 formed with a flap or an
ear, the weakening lines or cuts 5 are such that a chain-like
carrier member is formed when stretched into its position of use.
The flap or ear is, by means of the lines 5, divided into a
U-shaped loop part 6 comprising a pair of branches 7 and a
transverse bottom part 8, and a connecting part 9, which is located
between the branches of the U-shaped loop part so as to connect the
transverse bottom part 8 with the container body 1.
[0029] FIGS. 5-6 shows the container according to the invention
from above, wherein the basic form 1 shown FIGS. 1-2 now has been
blow-moulded into a container/bottle 1. The carrier member 2 is
integrally formed with the upper part 3 of the bottle defining the
opening 4.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows the carrier member 2 in its position of use and
FIG. 6 shows the carrier member 2 in its starting position where
the weakening lines 5 are not broken.
[0031] FIGS. 7-8 shows the bottle of FIGS. 5-6 from the side, where
the carrier member 2 is in its starting position and position of
use, respectively.
[0032] FIGS. 9-10 show a can 1 having a carrier member 2 mounted
thereto according to the invention, and wherein the carrier member
2 is shown in a starting position and a position of use. The
carrier member 2 is mounted to the upper edge of the upper part of
the can defining an opening (not shown), preferably a traditional
opening arrangement for a can. The carrier member 2 may be mounted
to the can by moulding or it may be attached to the upper edge by
means of an adhesive or clicked on thereto. As shown, the carrier
member 2 is positioned in the upper part and encircled by the upper
edge.
[0033] In the starting position, the carrier member 2 is defined by
the circumference of a flange and by weakening or cut lines 5
defining two radially spaced concentric arcs of circles 6. The
lines 5 are to be broken when the carrier member is going from its
starting position in FIG. 9 to the position of use in FIG. 10. In
the position of use, the carrier member 2 allows the can to be
carried in e.g. a belt.
* * * * *