AU2020286326B2

AU2020286326B2 - Multi-hold container

Info

Publication number: AU2020286326B2
Application number: AU2020286326A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chris Shellis; Andrew YU
Original assignee: A&J Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: A&J Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-11
Filing date: 2020-12-11
Publication date: 2022-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-11
Also published as: AU2020286326A1

Abstract

MULTI-HOLD CONTAINER ABSTRACT A multi hold container 21, for internally holding a liquid and externally holding which is associated with the container, comprising a container body having a main container volume 22 with a top surface 27, 28, a closable outlet 25 and a handle extending away from the top surface 27, 28 of the main container volume 22 wherein a handle opening 35 is formed between the handle 24 and the main container volume 22 wherein the article 41 such as a funnel can be received by at least two shapings 51, 52 and be removably retained within a clearance volume C x D of the container while allowing the handholding opening 35 to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the article is held in position by the at least two shapings. Figure 1 1/9 21 35 28 24 25 41 22 FIGURE 1

Description

1/9

21 35

28

24

41

22

FIGURE 1

MULTI-HOLD CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

[001]The present invention relates to a multi hold container and in particular to a container for multi hold of an article such as a funnel.

[002] The invention has been developed primarily for use in/with multi hold containers for manual handling of volumes of liquid, such as 3 to 12 litre containers of oil, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

[003]A container for holding oil in manually transportable and easily pourable quantities is generally a box-like container made in a single mould or two moulded identical parts welded together along a vertical seam. The handle and outlet are moulded as part of the body.

[004] The container is therefore a standard liquids container that has a single use.

[005] The direction therefore has always been to have a low profile of the top of the liquid container and make the bulk of the volume to be the main container volume. Therefore, containers have always been primarily volume containers.

[006]It is becoming more important for funnels or filters to be used with containers that particularly include viscous liquids such as oils. The funnel or filter can be attached to the screw top outlet after the screw top lid has been removed. It is important to have the funnel or filter at hand when the container is to be used to pour out the contents. Often these filters are lengthy and include anti-glugging systems to ensure smooth flow by ensuring airflow into the container to replace the liquid and not splurges due to full blockage of the outlet and prevention of airflow.

[007]It has also always been important to allow close stacking of containers to make bulk transport of bulk quantities of containers both economical and practically achievable. Attachments on extremities of containers that protrude and stop close stacking are not acceptable.

[008]It is known to have a recess in the base of containers that matches the protrusion of the handle and the outlet. Therefore, again the aim is to minimize the protrusion of the outlet and handle so as to have a possible shallow recess in the base so as to retain the stability of the container and to not lose too much volume in the main container volume.

[009]It can be seen, that known prior art multi hold containers have the problems of:

a) Shape of containers limit function

b) The container is not a multifunctional apparatus

c) The container has no means to hold a long article;

d) The container has no means to hold a flexible article;

e) The container has means to hold an article while allowing user to carry container;

f) The usual idea of merely providing external holding parts to hold articles is not acceptable as it increases volume and prevents required close stacking of multiple containers;

g) The usual approaches for design and manufacture of containers provides no capabilities for meeting demands.

[0010] The present invention seeks to provide a multi hold container, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0011] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi hold container, for internally holding a liquid and externally holding an article associated with the container, the multi hold container comprising a container body having: a main container volume having top surface and a closable outlet and a handle extending away from the top surface of the main container volume wherein a handle opening is formed between the handle and the main container volume; a spacing of the top surface of the main container volume to the uppermost top of the container body to provide a clearance volume; at least two shapings moulded integrally in the container body to receive and removably hold the article with the container at spaced holding points on the article; wherein the article can be received by the at least two shapings to removably retain the apparatus substantially within the clearance volume while allowing the hand holding opening to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the article is held in position by the at least two shapings.

[0013] Preferably the container body further includes a first shaping within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a first part of the article such as a funnel; a second shaping near the first shaping and within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a second part of the article such as a funnel; wherein the article associated with the container, such as a funnel, can be simultaneously held at a plurality of holding points by the first and second shapings to enable removable holding of the article to the multi hold container.

[0014] Preferably the shapings are one or more of the following formed integrally in the container body:

• A recess;

• A protrusion;

• A hole;

• A clip;

• An abutment;

• Resilient arms;

wherein the first shaping is formed between the handle opening and the outlet opening on an upper side of the container and the second shaping is formed within or adjacent the handle opening.

[0015] Preferably the first shaping, second shaping and hand holding opening are in a line and substantially adjacent each other to allow the article associated with the container to be a flexible article held at a first holding point in the first shaping and at a second holding point in the second shaping; and wherein the hand holding opening is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the article is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping; and wherein the first and second shaping is shaped to receive and removably hold an article for use with the container at spaced holding points on the article from the list including:

SA funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container;

A funnel for use with the container;

SA filter to filter the liquid in the container; and

SA flexible form of one of the above with two distinct spaced holding points.

[0016] The invention also provides a method of providing a multi hold container for internally holding a liquid and externally holding an article associated with the container including the steps of:

a) Providing a container body with a main container volume and a closable outlet and a handle extending from an upper surface of the main container volume;

b) Spacing the top surface of the main container volume to the uppermost top of the container body to provide a clearance volume;

c) Providing at least two shapings moulded integrally in the container body to receive and removably hold the article with the container at spaced holding points on the article;

d) Allowing receipt of the article by the at least two shapings to retain the apparatus substantially within the clearance volume while allowing the hand holding opening to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the article is held in position by the at least two shapings.

[0017] It can be seen that the invention of multi hold container provides the benefit of providing a mechanism for holding an article within its footprint and within a clearance volume so as to allow

[0018] It can be seen that in one form the invention achieves an aim of construction that allows for the container and the holding mechanism of the article to be formed in the same mould and by the same moulding process.

[0019] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed and other advantages of the invention and various embodiments are further elaborated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a photographic side view of a multi hold container for aiding handling of volumes of liquid and holding an article in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the top of the container of Fig. 1 without the article but showing the two holding shapings;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the container of Fig. 2;

Figs 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of an anti-glug funnel that can be an article held by the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a reverse view of the container with article of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the container with article of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a photographic side view of a further embodiment of a multi hold container for aiding handling of volumes of liquid and holding an article in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a different holding arrangement;

and

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram of the forming of the multi hold container for aiding handling of large volumes of liquid in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0021] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[0022] Referring to the drawings of Figs, 1 to 7 there is shown a multi hold container 21, for internally holding a liquid and externally holding an article 41 such as shown in Figs 5 and 6 which is associated with the container.

[0023] In Fig. 1, the multi hold container comprises a container body having a main container volume 22 with a top surface 27, 28. A closable outlet 25 and a handle extending away from the top surface 27, 28 of the main container volume 22 wherein a handle opening 35 is formed between the handle 24 and the main container volume 22.

[0024] Overall the container 21 fits in the container cubic volume within the horizontal top plane 31 and horizontal bottom plane 32 and between the vertical side planes 33 at each side of the container and between the vertical end planes at the front and rear of the container.

[0025] Clearly for strength reasons the sides of container are generally tapered to the base and have some moulding ridges to provide the strength needed for a plastic container to be made of thin plastics but able to hold volumes such as 3 to 12 litre containers of oil. However otherwise it is important to not have protuberances so that multiple containers can be stacked next to each other and in layers above each other so as to be palletized and readily transportable.

[0026] In Fig. 2 there is, substantially within the container cubic volume, a spacing C between the top surface 28 of the main container volume 22 to the uppermost top 31 of the container body provided by the top of the outlet 25 and the coplanar top of the handle 24. As further shown in Fig. 3, there is also a depth D between sides 33 of the container. Together C x D provide an area which then extends for the width of the container between front and rear ends 34 and forms a clearance volume 36. This clearance volume 36 therefore is a volume that is substantially within the container cubic volume having outer dimensions 31, 32, 33, 34 of the container and below the top 31 of the container.

[0027] As the top of the container volume 22 can be a sloping surface 27 then the clearance volume can further include that volume and is essentially the external volume substantially within the container cubic volume and between the upper surfaces 27, 28 and the top most plane 31.

[0028] At least two shapings 51, 52 are moulded integrally in the container body 22 within the clearance volume 36 to receive and removably hold the article 41 with the container at spaced holding points on the article 41.

[0029] It can be seen that in use the article 41 can be received by the at least two shapings 51, 52 to removably retain the apparatus substantially within the clearance volume 36 while allowing the hand holding opening 35 to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container 21 by the handle 24 even when the article is held in position by the at least two shapings 51, 52.

[0030] Apparatus

[0031] The article 41 which can be received by the at least two shapings 51, 52 can be, in one form, a funnel for attaching to the outlet 25 of the container such as the funnel shown in detail in Fig.4. This funnel 41 is for use with the container 21.

[0032] Another form of article could be a filter to filter the liquid in the container, as often it is important that no particulates are allowed to flow with the liquid in the container. This liquid could be an oil or paint, for example, and therefore particulates will affect the quality of the liquid.

[0033] A further form of apparatus could be a combination of a funnel and a filter.

[0034] Generally such an apparatus 41 needs to have some length in order to provide the function of a funnel from a connection 25 to the container to the location that the liquid contents are to be poured to be used. This flow can be into an engine or machine or into another device. Therefore, the outlet of the funnel is usually a focused outlet.

[0035] Further if the focused outlet is aimed into a particular inlet in restricted locations such as into the engine of a car or into other machinery, it is necessary to reach around and provide differing angle to the container 21. To achieve this a fixed linear or fixed curved apparatus is no the best Or easiest to use. Instead it is best to include a means for diverting as required at the time. This is provided by a telescopic section in the apparatus that can be extended and deflected or bent into a required shape.

[0036] Therefore, overall such apparatuses usually have a flexible section between fixed sections. As shown in one example Figs 4 and 5, the apparatus 41 includes a telescopic flexible section 44 between two fixed sections 43, 45 with a channel extending continuously therethrough. The apparatus 41 can be connected to the container, such as by screw thread 42 to the screw thread of the container 21 when the screw cap is removed from the container.

[0037] An anti-glug mechanism 49 being a separate air channel to the channel extending through the fixed and flexible sections 43, 44, 45. The user can then hold the container 21 by the handle 24 and by holding the other end 45 of the apparatus 41 deform the apparatus into the right deflection to feed into the engine, motor or other destination. A rigid or semi-rigid tubular aeration tube 49 has an inlet opening at one end and a plurality of side slit openings along its length leading to a domed closed second end.

[0038] The further elongated tubular body 43 ending in a threaded connector end 42 has a seating formed in an external side of the elongated body adjacent the first end with an opening for replaceably receiving the aeration tube 49. The aeration tube 49 extends at an angle from the seating to within an extrapolated internal channel within the diameter of the screw attachment 42 to an attached container 21 adjacent the first end and thereby allow extending from a side access port of the elongated body into the flow path of the internal channel of elongated body. In use the aeration tube 49 feeds air into a fluid flow into the internal channel within the elongated body at the first end or into an extrapolated internal channel within the attached container 21 adjacent the first end.

[0039] It is important in storage for such apparatuses to be:

a) held at two or more points due to its length and flexible portion

b) and resiliently bend to deform to fit within the required space of the clearance volume while not affecting the operation of the device when removed and resiliently reformed.

[0040] Referring to the drawings and particularly Figures 4 and 5 it can be seen that to hold this form of article 41 having an anti-glug funnel 49 for providing anti glug pouring of especially viscous fluids that it is necessary to hold parts that will not be damaged. The funnel 41 has an elongated tubular body 45 with a telescopic extension ring area 44 formed integrally and leading to a further elongated tubular body 43 ending in a threaded connector end 42 having internal threads 25 for fitting onto a container. Any holding of the telescopic section is likely to permanently deform and even puncture this delicate and intricate section.

[0041] The elongated body 43, 44, 45 having a rigid portion and a telescopic flexible portion also has an internal channel extending from a first end with screw attachment by the threaded connector end 42 having internal threads for attachable connection to the outlet 25 of a container 21 and leading to a second distal end having outlet for dispensing the fluid.

[0042] The funnel can be about 10 to 15 cm long but due to the telescopic extension ring area 44 can be deformed from a straight funnel to a U-shape or have one end angled to the other and thereby provide options for holding. By the two smooth cylindrical areas 43, 45 there is provided at least two holding points of the article in a storage position. In an operative mode only the screw thread 42 is attached to the screw thread of the outlet 25.

[0043] Clearance Volume

[0044] In normal containers there is no clearance volume. By "clearance volume" throughout this document it is meant an area outside of the main storage compartment volume but within the container cubic volume determined by the outermost dimensions of thecontainer. It is essentially the external volume substantially within the container cubic volume and between the upper surfaces 27, 28 and the top most plane 31.

[0045] This clearance volume is therefore an external volume created to provide a storage location.

[0046] This clearance volume is an important approach so as to not take away a part of the main storage compartment volume or to disrupt high density packing of multiple containers.

[0047] In one form the clearance volume can be a recess in the external upper surfaces 27, 28 of the main storage compartment. This provides a location on the external side for holding an article 41 while still being within the total cubic volume of the outermost dimensions.

[0048] A totally different and separately novel and innovative form of the clearance volume is when the main storage container volume 22 is substantially unaffected and the clearance volume is created between upper surfaces 27, 28 of the main storage compartment and the uppermost planar part of the cubic volume of the container. This is achieved by actively: a) raising the height of the container outlet 25; b) raising the height of the handle to the same level so as to form the top most plane 31 of the container outlet and the c) flattening out and broadening the external upper surfaces 27, 28 of the main storage compartment.

[0049] This form retains the strength in the walls of the main storage compartment and allows selective width of the main storage compartment. Also as shown in the drawings the outlet 25 is extended from the upper surface 28 which has been flattened.

A further part of the upper surface 27 can fall away from the upper surface to allow readily accessible handle opening 35.

[0050] Shapings

[0051] It is not only the change of design of the container required but a functional means of using the clearance volume by:

a) Using shapings in the holding of the apparatus;

b) Locating multiple shapings relative to each other to hold the apparatus at spaced locations;

c) Providing multiple holds of an elongated apparatus to be used with the container; and

d) retaining the apparatus in a storage position substantially within the clearance volume;

e) While allowing ready handle access for carrying container with apparatus in storage position; and

f) Allowing ready close stacking of multiple containers.

[0052] The aim of the shapings 51, 52, 53 is to undertake one or more of:

(i) To be mouldable with the construction of the container

(ii) To provide holding points for the article

(iii) To allow resilient attachment and detachment of the article

(iv) To retain the article substantially within the clearance volume.

(v) Retain the article at two points so as to allow holding of a longer

(vi) To have shapings spaced relative to each other to allow the telescopic section of the article to be used to form a U-shape and thereby a more compact storage

(vii) To have spacings at relative angles to each other to allow the telescopic section of the article to be used to form an angled shape and thereby a more upper surface fitting storage.

[0053] The shapings 51, 52, 53 therefore can have various forms including: a) A recess in the outer surface of the container with possibly both sides diverging towards each other as they extend to the outer surface so as to form a resilient holding position (such as 52); b) A protrusion that provides shaping such as similar to the recess but external of the outer surface of the container (such as 53); c) A hole within the container but not into or fluidly connected to the main container volume such as a hole created within the handle or a hole in a plate between the handle and the outlet (such as 51); d) A clip preferably formed in the mould and forming a U shape or the like that can retain the article in the clip (such as 53); e) An abutment which can be located to be adjacent another surface of the container such as the handle and form a holding mechanism between the two; f) Resilient arms in which protruding arms are resiliently deflected when article inserted but resiliently tend to the undeflected position to provide a resilient hold on the article.

[0054] It should be noted that these examples are not limiting but are disclosures of a range of variations understood to be within the scope of the invention.

[0055] Handle Opening

[0056] It is important to retain the hand holding opening 35 free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle 24 even when the article 41 is held in position in the first shaping 51 and the second shaping 52. Therefore, the expansion and creation of the clearance volume 36 can also be used to increase the size of the hand holding opening 35 within the handle 24 and above the upper surfaces 27, 28 of the main container volume 22.

[0057] Location of Shapings

[0058] A first shaping 51 can be within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a first part of the article such as a funnel.

[0059] A second shaping 52 can be near the first shaping and within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a second part of the article such as a funnel.

[0060] Therefore, as shown in Figs 1, 6 and 7, the article 41, such as a funnel, associated with the container 21, can be simultaneously held at a plurality of holding points - such as on fixed sections 43 and 45 of article 41 of Figs 4 and 5 - by the first and second shapings 51, 52 to enable removable holding of the article to the multi hold container substantially within the clearance volume.

[0061] The relevant location of the first and second shapings can be limited by the length of the article and the flexibility of the article and the spacing of the two hold points on the article.

[0062] It can be in a preferred form that a container could have more than two shapings such that different articles can be selectively stored and sold and used with the container depending on the container liquid, or user's intended use or as different marketing approaches. Therefore, a container could have three shapings with one article able to be held by the first and second shaping or selectively a second article is held instead by thee first and third or second and third shapings.

[0063] However, it is clear that the first and second shapings can be any combination of two or more of: a) Within the handle opening 25 b) On the handle 24 c) On the upper surface 28 d) On the angled top surface 27 e) On the opening 25

[0064] As can be seen the options allow for the article 41 to be held substantially within the clearance volume while still allowing for handling by the handle when the article is in the storage position. Some examples can therefore be the following:

[0065] Example 1

[0066] In a first example as shown in the drawings the first shaping 51, second shaping 52 and hand holding opening 35 are in a line and substantially adjacent each other to allow the article 41 associated with the container to be a flexible article held at a first holding point in the first shaping and at a second holding point in the second shaping and wherein the hand holding opening 35 is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container 21 by the handle 24 even when the article 41 is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] In a second example the first shaping 51, second shaping 52 can be in the handle or in the vertical plane of the handle or a plate between the handle and the outlet but are spaced locations as long as wherein the hand holding opening 35 is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container 21 by the handle 24 even when the article 41 is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping. Further the article 41 must be held substantially within the clearance volume.

[0069] Example 3

[0070] In a third example only the first shaping 51 might be in the handle or in the vertical plane of the handle or a plate between the handle and the outlet, while the second shaping 52 can be in the upper surface 27, 28 of the main container volume 22 as long as wherein the hand holding opening 35 is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container 21 by the handle 24 even when the article 41 is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping. Further the article 41 must be held substantially within the clearance volume.

[0071] Example 4

[0072] However as shown in Figure 8, in a fourth example the first and second shapings 51, 53 can be in the upper surface 27, 28 of the main container volume 22 as long as wherein the hand holding opening 35 is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container 21 by the handle 24 even when the article 41 is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping. Further the article 41 must be held substantially within the clearance volume.

[0073] It should be noted that these examples are not limiting but are disclosures of a range of variations understood to be within the scope of the invention.

[0074] In Use

[0075] In use, referring to Fig. 9, there is provided a method of providing a multi hold container which

a) in step 102 provides internally holding a liquid and externally holding an article associated with the container including the steps of:

b) in step 103, provides a container body with a main container volume and a closable outlet and a handle extending from an upper surface of the main container volume;

c) in step 104 provides spacing the top surface of the main container volume to the uppermost top of the container body to provide a clearance volume;

d) in step 105 provides at least two shapings moulded integrally in the container body to receive and removably hold the article with the container at spaced holding points on the article;

e) and in step 105 allows receipt of the article by the at least two shapings to retain the apparatus substantially within the clearance volume while allowing the hand holding opening to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the article is held in position by the at least two shapings.

Interpretation Embodiments:

[0076] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0077] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0078] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[0079] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[0080] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[0081] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[0082] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0083] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[0084] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[0085] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

[0086] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to container industries.

Claims

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A multi hold container comprising a container body having: a main container volume having a top surface; a closable outlet and a handle extending away from the top surface of the main container volume wherein a handle opening is formed between the handle and the main container volume; a spacing of the top surface of the main container volume to the uppermost top of the container body to provide a clearance volume; and at least two shapings moulded integrally in the container body and within the clearance volume to receive and removably hold a flexible article with the multi hold container at spaced holding points on the flexible article; wherein the flexible article can be received by the at least two shapings to removably retain the flexible article substantially within the clearance volume while allowing the handle opening to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the multi hold container by the handle even when the flexible article is held in position by the at least two shapings.

2. The multi hold container according to claim 1, the container body further including: a first shaping within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a first part of the flexible article; and a second shaping near the first shaping and within or adjacent the handle opening for receiving and removably holding at least a second part of the flexible article; wherein the flexible article associated with the container can be simultaneously held at a plurality of holding points by the first and second shapings to enable removable holding of the flexible article to the multi hold container

3. The multi hold container according to claim 1, wherein the shapings are one or more of the following formed integrally in the container body: a recess; a protrusion; a hole; a clip; an abutment; and resilient arms; wherein the first shaping is formed between the handle opening and the outlet opening on an upper side of the multi hold container and the second shaping is formed within or adjacent the handle opening.

4. The multi hold container according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the first shaping, second shaping, and handle opening are in a line and substantially adjacent each other to allow the flexible article associated with the container to be held at a first holding point in the first shaping and at a second holding point in the second shaping; the handle opening is free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the flexible article is held in position in the first shaping and the second shaping; and the first and second shaping is shaped to receive and removably hold the flexible article for use with the container at spaced holding points on the flexible article, the flexible article selected from the group consisting of: a funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container; a funnel for use with the container; a filter to filter the liquid in the container; and a funnel for attaching to the outlet of the container with two distinct spaced holding points.

5. The multi hold container according to claim 1, wherein the first shaping is moulded integrally in the container body within or adjacent the handle opening, the first shaping configured to receive and removably hold at least a first part of the flexible article.

6. The multi hold container according to claim 5, wherein the first shaping is a hole within the container body created within the handle or a hole in a plate between the handle and the closable outlet.

7. The multi hold container according to claim 1, wherein the second shaping is moulded integrally in the container body within or adjacent the handle opening, and wherein the second shaping is configured to receive and removably hold at least a second part of the flexible article.

8. The multi hold container according to claim 1, wherein the closable outlet and the handle are aligned to form a top most horizontal plane of the clearance volume;

9. The multi hold container according to claim 1, wherein a first shaping of the at least two shapings is located within the container body but not into or fluidly connected to the main container volume.

10. A multi hold container, for internally holding a liquid and externally holding a flexible article associated with the container, the multi hold container comprising:

a container body having:

a. a main container volume having a top surface; and

b. a closable outlet and a handle extending away from the top surface of the main container volume wherein a handle opening is formed between the handle and the main container volume;

c. a spacing of the top surface of the main container volume to the uppermost top of the container body to provide a clearance volume, wherein the closable outlet and the handle are aligned to form a top most horizontal plane of the clearance volume;

d. at least two shapings moulded integrally in the container body to receive and removably hold the flexible article with the container at spaced holding points on the flexible article, wherein a first shaping of the at least two shapings is located within the container body but not into or fluidly connected to the main container volume;

wherein the flexible article is adapted to be received at a first of the spaced holding points by the first shaping and wherein the at least two shapings removably retain the flexible article substantially within the clearance volume while allowing the handle opening to be free for a user to insert their hand to carry the container by the handle even when the flexible article is held in position by the at least two shapings.