GB2255546A

GB2255546A - Blow moulded container with attached handle

Info

Publication number: GB2255546A
Application number: GB9109821A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roderick Michael Parker
Original assignee: Lawson Mardon Group UK Ltd
Current assignee: Amcor Packaging UK Ltd
Priority date: 1991-05-07
Filing date: 1991-05-07
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Also published as: GB9109821D0

Abstract

A container comprises a body (3) and a handle (16) which are formed separately and subsequently attached together. The body (3) is formed from plastics, eg PET, by a stretch blow-moulding process, two oppositely disposed handle attachment portions (12, 14) being formed integrally with the body (3). The handle (16) is formed separately, eg by injection moulding, and opposite ends of the handle (16) are fixed to respective handle attachment portions (12, 14). The handle attachment portions (12, 14) may comprise projections or depressions and the appropriate ends of the handle are provided with complementary recesses (18, 20) or projections, the handle (16) being a snap fit to the body (3) of the container (2). The handle may be bonded in position by adhesive or welding and may be hollow (Fig 7) or solid, (Fig 8). Preferably the projections 12, 14 are at the outer edges of a recess and the outer surface of the handle is shaped to be a continuation of the outer surface of the body. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER WITH HANDLE This invention relates to the provision of handles on stretch blow-moulded containers of plastics material.

The manufacture of stretch blow-moulded containers of plastics material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinylchloride (PVC), is well known. In the manufacturing process, a preform is made by extrusion or injection moulding. This preform is then heated and stretched longitudinally by a stretch rod pushed into the preform. The stretched preform is then inflated under pressure against a mould surface to form the container. The nature of the stretch blow/moulding process makes it unsuitable for the manufacture of a handled container.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a container comprising a body and a handle which are formed separately and subsequently attached together, in which method: the body is formed from plastics by a stretch blow-moulding process, two oppositely disposed handle attachment portions being formed integrally with the body in the stretch blow-moulding process; the handle is formed separately; and opposite ends of the handle are fixed to the respective handle attachment portions.

Preferably, at least one of the handle attachment portions comprise a projection, the appropriate end of the handle being provided with a complementary recess to receive the projection. Where such projections are provided at both of the handle attachment portions, they may be directed generally towards each other, so that the handle is a snap fit between them.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the handle attachment portions comprises a recess or depression, the appropriate end of the handle being shaped to cooperate with the depression.

A recess may be formed in the wall of the body, between the handle attachment portions, in order to improve hand or finger access between the handle and the body.

In a preferred embodiment the handle is hollow and is formed by injection moulding. The handle may, alternatively, be solid. If there is a snap fit between the handle and the cooperating handle attachment portions, this snap fit may be sufficient to retain the handle securely in place. However, to ensure a firm inter-connection, the handle may be bonded, for example by means of an adhesive, or by welding to the body of the container.

The external contour of the handle is preferably shaped so as to provide a substantially continuous transition between the handle and the adjacent region of the body.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a screw top plastics container with a handle; Figure 2 shows an alternative shape of screw top plastics container with a handle.

Figure 3 is a side view of the container of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view of the container taken in the direction of #rrow A in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of the container fitted with a handle.

Figure 6 is a view of the container taken in the direction of arrow B in Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a first embodiment of the handle of Figure 1 in which the handle is hollow; and Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the handle in which the handle is solid.

Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows a container 2 having a body 3 and a handle 16. The body 3 is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and comprises a threaded neck portion 4, integral with a conical shoulder 6 which tapers outwardly towards a substantially cylindrical main body portion 8. A recess 10 is provided in the side of the main body portion 8 and extends from the bottom of the shoulder 6 for approximately e of the length of the main body portion 8, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal centreline of the container 2. The recess 10 is adapted to receive the fingers of a human hand.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the main body portion 3 of the container 2 comprises front and rear panels 5,7 which are slightly convex and are of generally oval shape. The panels 5,7 are interconnected at their edges by side walls 9,11. One of these side walls 11 defines a recess 10 which extends into the front and rear panels 5,7.

Projections 12, 14, best shown in Figures 3 and 4, are provided at upper and lower regions of the recess 10 respectively. The projections 12, 14 project towards one another and define the upper and lower outer edges of the recess 10.

The handle 16 is provided with cup-shaped depressions 18, 20 in either end, and is seated in the mouth of the recess 10, such that the depressions 18, 20 fit over the cooperating projections 12, 14, respectively, on the body (see Figures 5 and 6).

Although the close cooperation of the depressions 18, 20 and the projections 12, 14 is sufficient to retain the handle 16 in position in the mouth of the recess 10, the handle may also be secured by means of adhesive, welding or some other form of mechanical interconnection.

In both embodiments of the container 2, the outer surface of the handle 16 is shaped to be a continuation of the outer surface of the body 3, such that the container 2 has a smooth, continuous profile. Thus, for example, the handle 16 in the embodiment of Figure 2 has a curved outer contour corresponding to the curvature of the side wall.

In order to produce a container 2, the body 3 of the container 2 is stretch blow-moulded from PET, the projections 12, 14 and the recess 10 being formed by the use of an appropriately shaped mould. The shape of mould used to stretch blow-mould the body 3 may be adapted to produce any shape, size or configuration of projections 12, 14 and recess 10. The handle 16 is injection moulded separately, from a suitable plastics material, which may be different from the material of the body 3, although this is not essential. The depressions 18, 20 moulded into either end of the handle 16 are shaped to cooperate with the projections 12, 14 moulded into the body 3.

To assemble the container 2, the depressions 18, 20 in the ends of the handle 16 are located over respective projections 12, 14 on the body 3. The handle 16 is then pushed inwards firmly, so that a lip 22 of each depression 18, 20 slips over the respective projection 12, 14, with a snap action. The joints 19, -21 (see Figures 5 and 6) between each depression 18, 20 and corresponding projection 12, 14 may be glued or welded, so that the handle 16 is more firmly connected to the body 3.

Although the handle 16 of the container 2 is intended to be grasped by a human hand, the above described method may also be used to provide an opening through the container 2 for other purposes, for example for connecting the container 2 to some other object or device. Hence, any shape, size, configuration or disposition of the handle 16 and recess 10 in the body 3 of the container 2 is contemplated. In the embodiment of Figure 7, the handle 16 is hollow.

However, any shape or construction of handle is contemplated. For example Figure 8 shows a handle which is solid.

In addition, the depressions 18, 20 at the ends of the handle 16 may be replaced by projections and the projections 12, 14 on the body 3 may be replaced by recesses, so that the handle may be fitted to the container 2 by inserting the projections of the handle 16 into the cooperating depressions provided in the body 3.

Claims

1. A method of producing a container comprising a body and a handle which are formed separately and subsequently attached together, in which method: the body is formed from plastics by a stretch blow moulding process, two oppositely disposed handle attachment portions being formed integrally with the body in the stretch blow-moulding process; the handle is formed separately; and opposite ends of the handle are fixed to the respective handle attachment portions.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the handle attachment portions comprise a projection, the appropriate ends of the handle being provided with a complementary recess to receive the projection.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which projections are provided at both of the handle attachment portions, the projections being directed generally towards each other, so that the handle is a snap fit between them.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which at least one of the handle attachment portions comprises a depression, the appropriate end of the handle being shaped to cooperate with the depression.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a hand or finger receiving recess is formed in the wall of the body, between the handle attachment portions.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle is hollow.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is formed by injection moulding.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle is bonded to the body of the container.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the handle is bonded to the body of the container by means of an adhesive.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the handle is bonded to the body of the container by means of welding.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the external contour of the handle is shaped so as to provide a substantially continuous transition between the handle and the adjacent region of the body.

12. A method of producing a container comprising a body and a handle which are formed separately and subsequently attached together, substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.