GB2095977A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1, which can be used as a jug, has a side wall 3 indented in respective mutually perpendicular portions 4 and 5 to provide grooves 6 and 7 to permit the container to be firmly held by one hand with the thumb tip received in one groove and at least one finger received in the other groove. The container is shaped to facilitate stacking and may be provided with a lid and a pouring lip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers especially jugs The present invention relates to containers especially jugs having a base, an upstanding side wall and a handle.

Containers in particular jugs have long been provided with handles to facilitate lifting, carrying and in the case of jugs tilting of the container to permit liquid to be poured from a lip disposed at the mouth of the container opposite the handle. Such handles generally comprised members projecting outwardly from the side wall of the container. Such handles prevent easy stacking or close packing of the containers for storage.

The present invention thus provides a container especially a jug characterised in that the handle comprises two grooves formed in the side wall, the grooves being of sufficient width and depth to permit the container to be firmly held with the thumb end and at least one of the finger ends received in respective grooves. As the grooves project inwardly from the surface plane of the side walls they do not represent an obstruction to close packing.

Preferably the grooves arise from the base so that there are no re-entrant portions in the interior of the container which could produce difficulties in cleaning the container.

Preferably also the depth of the grooves decreases towards the mouth of the container to allow the containers to be stacked.

In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a container.

The container 1 is a moulded plastics container preferably formed of translucent polypropylene. The container has a base 2 and upstanding side edge 3 projecting from the edges of the base. All corners and edges of the container are rounded. The containeras shown has a substantially square cross-section but a circular, rectangular or other shape is possible.

In the two adjacent, substantially perpendicular side wall portions 4 and 5, there is provided a groove 6 and 7 respectively to serve as a handle. The grooves 6 and 7 arise from respective notches in the base 2 and extend to a point below the upper edge or mouth of the container. The grooves are of sufficient width and depth to allow the thumb end to be received in groove 6 and at least one, and preferably all of, the finger ends to be received in groove 7, or vice versa in the case of a left-handed user. In this manner the container can be firmly held. Preferably the depth of the grooves decreases towards their upper ends to allow a plurality of the containers to be readily stacked.

The container may be provided with a lid, for example a flexible plastics lid with a peripheral recess for accommodating the upper edge 8 of the container. Where the container is to be particularly used as a jug a pouring lip may be provided opposite the handle. In the illustrated embodiment the rounded corner 9 opposite the corner defined by side wall portions 4 and 5 may act as a lip without modification. The container may be provided with an interior and/or exterior measuring scale to indicate quantities.

One advantageous use of the above-described container is in the preparation, storage and transport of, for example, a liquid feed for a baby.

CLAIMS (Filed on 8th March 1982) 1. A container having a base and an upstanding side wall, wherein the sidewall is indented to provide two grooves therein so positioned and of sufficient width and depth to permit the container to be firmly held by one hand with the thumb tip received in one groove and at least one fingertip received in the other groove.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves extend vertically from and are open at the base end of the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the grooves extend towards but terminate short of the upper edge of the side wall.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dimensions of the grooves decrease towards said upper edge.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grooves are provided in respective ones of two substantially mutually perpendicularly disposed portions of said side wall.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, and having a substantially square cross-section.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and having a closure lid.

8. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Containers especially jugs The present invention relates to containers especially jugs having a base, an upstanding side wall and a handle. Containers in particular jugs have long been provided with handles to facilitate lifting, carrying and in the case of jugs tilting of the container to permit liquid to be poured from a lip disposed at the mouth of the container opposite the handle. Such handles generally comprised members projecting outwardly from the side wall of the container. Such handles prevent easy stacking or close packing of the containers for storage. The present invention thus provides a container especially a jug characterised in that the handle comprises two grooves formed in the side wall, the grooves being of sufficient width and depth to permit the container to be firmly held with the thumb end and at least one of the finger ends received in respective grooves. As the grooves project inwardly from the surface plane of the side walls they do not represent an obstruction to close packing. Preferably the grooves arise from the base so that there are no re-entrant portions in the interior of the container which could produce difficulties in cleaning the container. Preferably also the depth of the grooves decreases towards the mouth of the container to allow the containers to be stacked. In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a container. The container 1 is a moulded plastics container preferably formed of translucent polypropylene. The container has a base 2 and upstanding side edge 3 projecting from the edges of the base. All corners and edges of the container are rounded. The containeras shown has a substantially square cross-section but a circular, rectangular or other shape is possible. In the two adjacent, substantially perpendicular side wall portions 4 and 5, there is provided a groove 6 and 7 respectively to serve as a handle. The grooves 6 and 7 arise from respective notches in the base 2 and extend to a point below the upper edge or mouth of the container. The grooves are of sufficient width and depth to allow the thumb end to be received in groove 6 and at least one, and preferably all of, the finger ends to be received in groove 7, or vice versa in the case of a left-handed user. In this manner the container can be firmly held. Preferably the depth of the grooves decreases towards their upper ends to allow a plurality of the containers to be readily stacked. The container may be provided with a lid, for example a flexible plastics lid with a peripheral recess for accommodating the upper edge 8 of the container. Where the container is to be particularly used as a jug a pouring lip may be provided opposite the handle. In the illustrated embodiment the rounded corner 9 opposite the corner defined by side wall portions 4 and 5 may act as a lip without modification. The container may be provided with an interior and/or exterior measuring scale to indicate quantities. One advantageous use of the above-described container is in the preparation, storage and transport of, for example, a liquid feed for a baby. CLAIMS (Filed on 8th March 1982)

1. A container having a base and an upstanding side wall, wherein the sidewall is indented to provide two grooves therein so positioned and of sufficient width and depth to permit the container to be firmly held by one hand with the thumb tip received in one groove and at least one fingertip received in the other groove.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves extend vertically from and are open at the base end of the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the grooves extend towards but terminate short of the upper edge of the side wall.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the dimensions of the grooves decrease towards said upper edge.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grooves are provided in respective ones of two substantially mutually perpendicularly disposed portions of said side wall.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, and having a substantially square cross-section.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and having a closure lid.

8. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.