GB2294868A

GB2294868A - Receptacle with detachable handle

Info

Publication number: GB2294868A
Application number: GB9422689A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kelvin Siu Chuen Cheung
Original assignee: BEST SECTOR INVESTMENTS LIMITE
Current assignee: BEST SECTOR INVESTMENTS LIMITE
Priority date: 1994-11-10
Filing date: 1994-11-10
Publication date: 1996-05-15
Also published as: GB9422689D0

Abstract

A receptacle, for example a mug 10, comprises a hollow rigid body 11 and a glass 14, the receptacle having an opening 12 for the glass and a separate handle 16 attachable onto the body. Interengageable first 19 and 20 and second 17 and 18 connections are provided on on the body and handle respectively for connecting the handle to the body. The receptacle may, alternatively, be a jar, jug, kettle, boiler, cooker or wok etc. Without their handles the receptacles may be more closely packed during transportation and they may be combined with a variety of different handles on assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

RECEPTACLE WITH HANDLE The present invention relates to a receptacle having a separate handle which is conveniently connectable to the body of the receptacle.

According to the invention, there is provided a receptacle which comprises a hollow rigid body, said body having an opening, a separate handle attachable onto the body, and inter-engageable first and second connecting means provided on the body and the handle, respectively, for connecting the handle to the body without the use of any separate connecting part.

Preferably, the first and second connecting means are adapted to engage together through a press-to-engage action.

It is preferred that the inter-engagement between the first and second connecting means is a positive engagement in a downward direction of the body relative to the handle.

More preferably, the first connecting means is adapted to engage with the second connecting means in a downward direction.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the first and second connecting means has a hole, and the other connecting means is adapted to be inserted into the hole in order to engage with said one connecting means.

In a specific arrangement, the handle is connected to one lateral side of the body through said inter-engagement between the first and second connecting means.

Specifically, the handle has two ends for connection to two positions on the body, said inter-engageable connecting means being provided between each end of the handle and the corresponding position on the body.

In one example, the opening is provided on the top side of the body.

The receptacle may be a mug or a cup.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded top and side perspective view of an embodiment of a receptacle in accordance with the invention, said receptacle having a body and a handle; Figure 2 is an exploded top and side fragmentary perspective view of an upper end of the handle and an adjacent part of the body of receptacle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view corresponding to Figure 2, taken in a different direction; and Figure 4 is an exploded top and side fragmentary perspective view of a lower end of the handle and an adjacent part of the body of the receptacle of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a receptacle, in the form of a mug 10, in accordance with the invention, which mug 10 comprises a generally cylindrical rigid plastics body 11.

The mug body 11 has an open top end 12 and includes a generally cylindrical open-top plastics glass 14. The glass 14 has a radially expanded top end to formed an annular shoulder 15 thereunder. The glass 14 is designed to be inserted downward (in the direction of arrow A) into the mug body 11, through the open top end 12 thereof, with the glass shoulder 15 resting on the rim of the open top end 12, thereby forming a double-walled structure.

The mug 10 further includes a separate, curved and rigid plastics handle 16 which has, at its top and bottom ends, a pair of integral connecting parts 17 and 18. On one lateral side of the mug body 11, there are integrally provided a pair of top and bottom connecting projections 19 and 20. The handle 16 is removably connected to the mug body 11 through inter-engagement between its pair of connecting parts 17 and 18 and the pair of connecting projections 19 and 20 on the mug body 11.

Reference is also made to Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings.

Each handle connecting part 17 or 18 extends generally in a horizontal direction and is formed with a vertical flat through hole 21. An open-ended slot 22 is formed on the outer side of the connecting part 17 or 18. Each mug body connecting part 19 or 20 has a flat horizontal portion 23 and a flat vertical portion 24 depending from the remote side of the horizontal portion 23. A rectangular central reinforcing web 25 is integrally formed between the horizontal and vertical portions 23 and 24, extending from the vertical portion 24 to the wall of the mug body 11.

The vertical portion 24 and the web 25 has a combined horizontal T-shaped cross-section.

In order to connect the handle 16 to the mug body 11, the handle 16 is firstly brought close to the side of the mug body 11, with its top and bottom connecting parts 1 and 18 positioned directly below the corresponding connecting projections 19 and 20 on the mug body 11. As indicated by arrows B, the handle 16 is then moved upwards in order to engage its connecting parts 1I and 18 simultaneously with the corresponding connecting projections 19 and 20.

Through this inter-engagement, the vertical portion 24 of each connecting projection 19 or 20 is inserted relatively downwards into the hole 21 of the corresponding connecting part 17 or 18, forming therebetween a tight sliding fit.

The slots 22 serve to accommodate the corresponding webs 25.

As the connecting projections 19 and 20 engage bodily or positively with the corresponding connecting parts 17 and 18 in a downward direction, the mug body 11 can be held by means of the handle 16 without any fear of dropping off the handle 16. The connection between the handle 16 and the mug body 11 is rendered through a press-to-engage action and does not require the use of any separate connecting part(s), which is therefore convenient to be performed.

The use of a detachable handle 16 on the mug bod 11 has the advantage that a number of the mugs 10, in the disassembled condition with the handles 16 detached, can be packed closely together during transportation, therebv saving space. Also, mug bodies 11 and handles 16 of different materials and/or colours can be produced and can be sold and/or used together in any desired combination.

It is envisaged that the subject invention may also be applied to any receptacles or containers other than mugs and cups, such as jars, jugs, kettles, boilers, cookers and woks, etc.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A receptacle comprising a hollow rigid body, said body having an opening, a separate handle attachable onto the body, and inter-engageable first and second connecting means provided on the body and the handle, respectively, for connecting the handle to the body without the use of any separate connecting part.

2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting means are adapted to engage together through a press-to-engage action,

3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inter-engagement between the first and second connecting means is a positive engagement in a downward direction of the body relative to the handle.

4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first connecting means is adapted to engage with the second connecting means in a downward direction.

A A receptacle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the first and second connecting means has a hole, and the other connecting means is adapted to be inserted into the hole in order to engage with said one connecting means.

6. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is connected to one lateral side of the body through said inter-engagement between the first and second connecting means.

T. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle has two ends for connection to two positions on the body, said inter-engageable connecting means being provided between each end of the handle and the corresponding position on the body.

8. A receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening is provided on the top side of the body.

9. A receptacle as claimed in claim 8, being a mug or a cup.

10. A receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows 1. A receptacle comprising a hollow rigid body, said body having an opening, a separate handle having two ends for connection to two positions onto the body, and interengageable first and second connecting means provided on each said position of the body and the corresponding end of the handle, respectively, for connecting the handle to the body without the use of any separate connecting part, one of said connecting means being a hole and the other connecting means being adapted to be inserted into the hole for inter-engagement.

2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting means are adapted to engage together through a press-to-engage action.

5. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. wherein the handle is connected to one lateral side of the body through said inter-engagement between the first and second connecting means.

6. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening is provided on the top side of the body.

7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 6, being a mug or a cup.