GB2435873A

GB2435873A - Collar handle for a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2435873A
Application number: GB0604678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Gerard O'brien
Original assignee: Packaging Innovation Ltd
Current assignee: Packaging Innovation Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-09
Filing date: 2006-03-09
Publication date: 2007-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-09
Also published as: GB2435873B; GB0604678D0

Abstract

A collar 3 for a neck of a bottle 1 comprises a first set of resilient protrusions 7 for retaining the collar 3 on a flange 9 on a neck 2 of the bottle 1 and a second set of protrusions 8 which maintain the collar 3 in a desired position on the neck 2 of the bottle 1. The first set of protrusions 7 are radially biased permitting the collar 3 to be inserted over the neck 2 of the bottle 1, whereupon they snap over a flange 9 on the neck 2 of the bottle. A first portion 8a on the second set of protrusions 8b prevents the collar 3 being pushed further onto the neck 2 by virtue of forming a stop such that the flange 9 is sandwiched between the first portion 8a of the second set of protrusions 8, and the first set of protrusions 7. A second portion 8b of the second set of protrusions 8 takes the form of inwardly extending fins, which over time form indentations in the flange 9, preventing rotation of the collar 3.

Description

--2435e

A COLLAR

The present invention relates to a collar for a neck of a container and particularly, but not exclusively, to a collar forming part of a handle of a plastic bottle.

Some containers, particularly large plastic bottles, have a carrying handle moulded separately from a neck of the container, which handle engages with the neck of the container.

Such handles are very useful for they not only provide a convenient way of carrying the container, but they often result in a container from which it is easier to pour the contents. This is because the walls of such containers are often so thin that once the top of the container is removed and the pressure released from the container, it is not possible to support the bottle and its contents easily for pouring by holding the walls of the container. Therefore, if a handle is mounted to the neck of the container, the weight of the container can be supported by the handle, enabling the base of the container to be lifted, tilting the container and causing it to spill its contents.

Moulded plastic containers commonly have a neck that is provided with an upper screw threaded portion for receiving a screw threaded cap and, below the screw threaded portion, a neck support ring in the form of an annular flange. As an alternative to the screw thread cap, a "flip top" cap could be employed which S.....

would mount on circumferential beads around the top of the neck. With either S...

arrangement the flange can be used to assist in carrying a container by placing two * fingers to either side of the neck under the flange. Alternatively, where it is desirable to employ a handle, this can be conveniently mounted by engaging with * :.* . the neck support ring. S... *

JJ *SSS S... * S S. *

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved collar for engaging with a neck support ring, or flange, of a container and particularly to such a collar that can form an integral part of a handle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a collar for a neck of a container, the collar comprising an annular ring having in the axial direction, a proximal side and a distal side and first and second sets of protrusions extending inwardly from said annular ring wherein: said first set of protrusions are positioned towards the proximal side of the ring relative to the second set; said first set of protrusions are resilient permitting a flange on a neck of a container to be inserted into the collar past said first set of protrusions by deflecting said first set of protrusions in a radially outward direction; said first set of protrusions being biased radially inwardly to engage behind said flange when the flange has passed to prevent the flange being withdrawn from the collar; and said second set of protrusions are arranged to form a stop for the flange such that the flange is sandwiched between the first and second sets of protrusions.

Employing the first aspect of the present invention enables a handle to be easily mounted to a container by simply inserting the neck of the container through the collar, the first and second sets of protrusions together accurately locating the collar in position on the container, preventing the collar dropping against a shoulder of the container. This arrangement thus enables a collar to be used on any container having a particular flange size irrespective of the profile of the shoulder of the container below the flange. d..

Preferably, said second set of protrusions each comprise a first portion * * a which extends radially inward to an extent sufficient to prevent passage of the flange and second a portion extending towards said proximal side from said first portions which second portion does not extend radially inward as far as the first portion, wherein the second portions are arranged to permit the flange to pass and sit there between when the collar is engaged with the flange and to thereby retain the neck of the container in a position coaxial with the axis of the annular ring of the collar.

Because the first set of protrusions are sufficiently resilient to allow the flange of the container to pass thcrethrough, they are not efficient at centralising the collar on the container. Thus employing a second set of protrusions as described above enables the collar to be reliably centred upon the container. This is particularly advantageous if a handle is attached to the collar for then, when pouring from the container, the handle is firmly retained in place on the container providing a more secure feel to the user.

Preferably, the second portions of the second set of protrusions extend radially inwardly to a diameter equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of the flange of the container so that they engage sufficiently tightly with the flange of the container to resist rotation of the collar about the neck of the container. This enables the handle to be located with a desired orientation prior to sale of the container, thus the handle can be placed in predetermined location relative to any label or asymmetric shape on or of the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a handle for a container comprising a collar as described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a handle in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. * S S..

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of which: . . * * S...

Figure 1 illustrates a container in accordance with one aspect of the * * * S*S * present invention having a handle in accordance with a further aspect of the. . : invention, the handle having a collar in accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the collar of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section through the line X-X of Figure 2 and additionally shows the relationship with the container of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a bottom view of the collar of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, a container in the form of a bottle 1 has a neck 2 on which is mounted a handle 3 and a screw top 4. The handle 3 is moulded flat and comprises a handle portion 3a and a collar 3b. The handle portion 3a being arranged to be lifted up to the position shown by the broken lines 5.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the collar 3b comprises an annular ring 6 having a distal side shown in Figure 2 and a proximal side shown in Figure 4.

The ring 6 comprises a first set of protrusions 7 and a second set of protrusions 8.

The first set of protrusions 7 extend from the proximal side of the annular ring 6 and extend both radially inward and towards said distal side of said ring 6.

This first set of protrusions 7 are resiliently biased and permit the collar 3b to be inserted over the neck 2 of the bottle 1, whereupon they snap over a neck support ring of the bottle, in the form of a flange 9. The collar 3b is prevented from being pushed further onto the collar by a first portion 8a of the second set of protrusions 8. As most clearly seen in Figure 3, the second portion 8a of the protrusions 8 have a smaller internal diameter than the diameter of flange 9 and thus provides a S.....

stop such that the flange 9 is sandwiched between the second portions 8a of the second set of protrusions and the resilient first set of protrusions. Thus the collar is located in a fixed position on the flange 9. * S * I

The second set of protrusions also comprise second portions 8b which are S...

in the form of radially inwardly extending fms that extend inwardly to a diameter *.*.

slightly less than that of the flange 9. Because the second portions 8b are in the. . -5-.

form of relatively thin fins, they are easily deformed by the passage of the flange as the flange is inserted into the collar. However their close fit with the flange ensures the flange is retained coaxially within the collar and the force exerted on the flange resists rotation of the collar on the flange. Furthermore, when the collar has remained in a fixed position on the flange for a period of time the second portions 8b of the protrusions 8 will form indentations in the flange 9, further assisting in preventing rotation of the collar upon the flange.

The invention has been described above by way of example only and various modifications in the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. * *

S I... * S *5* * * * * S ** S. * S S... *..S * S *5 0

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A collar for a neck of a container, the collar comprising an annular ring having in an axial direction a proximal side and a distal side and first and second sets of protrusions extending inwardly from said annular ring wherein: said first set of protrusions are positions towards the proximal side of the ring relative to the second set; said first set of protrusions are resilient permitting a flange on a neck of a container to be inserted into the collar past said first set of protrusions by deflecting said first set of protrusions in a radially outward direction; said first set of protrusions being biased radially inwardly to engage behind said flange when the flange has passed to prevent the flange being withdrawn from the collar; and wherein said second set of protrusions are arranged to form a stop for the flange, such that the flange is sandwiched between the first and second sets of protrusions.

2. A collar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of protrusions are dispersed around said collar.

3. A collar as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said second set of protrusions each comprise a first portion which extends radially inwardly to an extent sufficient to prevent passage of the flange and a second portion extending towards said proximal side from said first portions which second portion does not extend radially inward as far as the first portion, wherein the second portions are arranged to permit the flange to pass and sit therebetween when the collar is engaged with the flange and to thereby retain the neck of the container in a position coaxial with the axis of the annular ring of the collar. :...:. * S ***

4. A collar as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second portions of the second set of protrusions extend radially inwardly to a diameter equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of the flange of the container so that they engage * .5. 5*** * * *5*S ***. S * * S. *

sufficiently tightly with the flange of the container to resist rotation of the collar about the neck of the container.

5. A collar as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first set of protrusions are in the form of plurality of fingers extending angled relative to the annular ring such that they extend radially inwardly and towards said distal side of the ring.

6. A handle for a container comprising a collar as claimed in any preceding claim.

7. A container comprising a handle as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. A collar for a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying figures. * I

S

ISIS * S S.. * S * I * a. *S * S I... * *

SI I