MXPA06009677A - Plastic container with handle and method of making - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic container (10) and a method of making the plastic container provide a molded container body (12) having an open upper (20) end and a handle (14) and externally threaded finished (16) attached to the container body after the container body has been molded. In one preferred form, the handle and finish are formed as a single component of molded plastic construction. In another preferred form, the handle and finish are separate components of molded plastic construction.

Description

PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH ASA AND METHOD OF PREPARATION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the manufacture of containers, and more particularly to the manufacture of plastic containers having handles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers for products that can flow, such as liquids and granulated products, have been formed from plastic by a variety of methods. For example, plastic containers have been blow molded to provide a container body with an integral end portion and handle. The plastic containers have been formed with a container body that includes a terminal part integral with the body of the container and a handle attached separately to the container. Other containers have been formed by placing an injection molded handle and the terminal part in a blow mold so that the handle and end portion are incorporated over the container while blow molding. In at least some examples, it may be desirable to form the container body separately from the end portion and the handle so that the molds used form the container body may be simpler in design Ref.:175182 which does not require cavities to form or hold the handle. It may be desirable to use a plastic material with different strength, color, aesthetic or expensive articles, for example, where the handle and the terminal part need to be made of the same material as the body of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A plastic container and a method for making the plastic container provide a molded container body having an open upper end and a handle and the externally threaded end part attaching to the container body after the body has been molded of the container. The container can be prepared by means of, for example, molding a preform or a partially formed dough. The handle and the terminal part can be formed as a single component of the molded plastic construction or the handle and the terminal part can be separate components of molded plastic construction. The handle and / or the terminal part can be attached to a body of the container by means of different methods including, for example, attachment or adhesion on the body of the container; welding on the container body; adjustment by pressure on the body of the container; and the use of a thread and coupling by locking the flange. The body of the container can include a cavity and a portion of the handle can be arranged in the cavity. The portion of the handle in the cavity can be permanently joined, for example by welding, or it can be held in place by means of a snap-fit coupling of the flanges in the handle and / or in the cavity. Where the handle and the terminal part are separate pieces, the handle can be attached to the body of the container and then the terminal part is attached to the body of the container so that a portion of the terminal part rests on a portion of the handle. The body of the container may include an annular neck, and the handle may have a mounting portion for receiving around the neck, the terminal portion capable of being received around the neck. In one embodiment, the handle and the terminal part are joined by arranging the handle mounting portion on the neck, and attaching the terminal part to the neck. The terminal part can be, for example, forged or welded on the neck. Desirably, the processing of the container body can be simplified and the choice of materials for the container body, the handle and the end portion increases. For example, if the body of the container is used to store a food product or beverage, the handle and / or end part need not be formed of a food-grade plastic since these plastics can be more expensive than the other materials, including the process of recycling or recycling of materials after consumer use. The handle and the terminal part can also be formed from a different material based on certain physical characteristics that include resistance, durability, color and ease of training by means of different production methods that include injection molding, to name a few. A plastic container according to the invention may thus include a body of the plastic construction vessel defining an interior volume and having an annular neck adjacent to an open end; a terminal part received on and attached to the neck; and a handle formed as a component separate from the body of the container and carried by the body of the container and the terminal part. The terminal part and the handle can be formed separately and the handle is disposed, at least in part, around the neck and between the terminal part and the body of the container. The handle may include a mounting portion and a handle portion formed integrally with the mounting portion, where the mounting portion is received in the neck, and the handle having at least a portion extending externally from the container body . The mounting portion can be fixed to at least one of the neck and the body of the container. When the terminal part is attached to the neck, the mounting portion can be trapped between the terminal part and the body of the container.

The mounting portion can be annular and received around the neck in the assembly and the end portion can be fixed to the mounting portion. The neck of the container may have a cylindrical outer surface and the end portion may have a cylindrical internal surface with a diameter adapted for a pressure adjustment reception of the end portion on the neck. The terminal part, the handle and the container body can be joined and configured as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the best mode, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of one embodiment of a container including a container body and an externally threaded end portion and the handle attached to the body of the container; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 illustrating the integral handle and end portion of the container body; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a second embodiment of a container including a container body and a handle, and the terminal portion attached to the container body; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 3 illustrating the handle and the terminal part adapted to the body of the container; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a third embodiment of a container having an integral handle and the assembly of the end portion attached to a container body with a portion of the handle received within a cavity of the container body; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of a fourth embodiment of a container including a handle and a terminal part separately joined to a container body with an end of the handle received within a body cavity; FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the container generally taken in the direction of arrow 8 in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view, with a portion in section, of a fifth embodiment of a container; and FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view, with a portion in section, of a sixth embodiment of a container.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring in greater detail to Figures 1 and 2, these illustrate one embodiment of a container 10 that includes a body of the container 12 of plastic construction that is molded separately from a handle 14 and an externally threaded end portion 16 which are attached to the container 12 after the container body 12 is molded. The container body can be prepared by methods known in the art including blow molding techniques such as extrusion blow molding and stretch blow molding. For example, the body of the container can be blow molded and stretched from a preform as is generally known in the art. The body of the container 12 can be substantially of any shape and be formed substantially with any material to define an interior volume where the product is received. Desirably, the handle 14 and the terminal part 16 can be formed by means of a differential process and of different materials or colors than the body of the container 12, which increases the choice of available materials and potentially reduces the cost of the material of the handle 14 and terminal part 16, and container 10 generally. Also, by providing the handle 14 and the terminal part 16 separately from and after the body of the container 12 is formed, the design of the body of the container 12 and the molds used to make it are simplified. As best shown in FIG. 2, the container body 12 may include an annular, straight neck 18 defining an open upper end 20 and the mouth of the container body 12 through which a product may be added or discharged from the container 10. The annular neck 18 may be in any way, for example generally cylindrical, which is complementary to the internal portion of the terminal part 16. At the base of the neck 18, an outer-extending collar 22 may be provided which may have an annular surface 24, generally flat which provides a seating surface for the handle 14 and the terminal part 16 when attached to the body of the container 12. The body of the container 12 can be formed in any shape, size and material desired for a wide variety of applications. As best shown in FIG. 2, the handle 14 and the terminal part 16 can be formed as a single component of plastic construction. The terminal part 16 is generally cylindrical, annular and has an internal surface 26 with a shape and diameter designed to closely receive approximately an outer surface 28 of the neck 18. For example, the internal surface 26 may be generally cylindrical. The end portion 16 may have one or more external threads or ribs 30 capable of receiving a seal or other seal (not shown) to close the open upper end 20 of the container body 12. The end portion 16 may generally include a flange 32. which extends externally radially having generally a flat and annular end surface 34 adapted to be received closely adjacent to the surface 24 of the collar 22. In such an embodiment, the terminal part 16 is firmly sealed on the collar 22 to secure the Proper location and fixation of the terminal part 16 to the collar 22 and neck 18. The inner surface 26 of the end portion 16 and the outer surface 28 of the neck 18 each can be formed smooth and generally as straight circular cylinders. To connect the terminal part 16 to the container body 12, the flange 32 and the collar 22 can be welded together and the internal surface 26 of the end portion 16 can be welded to the neck 18, if desired. The terminal part 16 can also be adhered or otherwise chemically or molecularly attached to the neck 18 and / or collar 22. As shown in FIG 9, the terminal part 16 can also be mechanically locked with the body of the container 12 such as, example and without limitation, overlap and opposite flanges 36, 38 formed on the terminal part 16 and the neck 18 respectively by a snapping or tapping reception of the terminal part 16 on the neck 18. As shown in FIG. 10, the terminal part 16 and the neck 18 may have coupling threads 37, 39 for retaining the end portion 16 on the neck 18. The end portion may not be removably received on the neck. Of course, other methods or forms of attachment of the end portion 16 to the neck 18 may be employed, including mechanical fasteners, an interference or pressure fit, forging and different welding processes. The handle 14 is formed integrally and preferably of the same material as the terminal part 16 in this embodiment. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the handle 14 extends generally radially from an axis of the inner surface 26 of the terminal part 16, includes a fold 40 generally at a right angle in a portion of the handle 41 extending generally axially downwardly along the body side of the container 12. In order that the handle 14 can be firmly gripped and secured in a person's hand, the portion of the axially extending handle 41 of the handle 14 can be externally separated from the body of the container 12 providing a space 42 therebetween sufficient to receive a person's fingers in an ergonomic manner. The handle 14 is preferably of sufficient strength to prevent bending of the handle 14 when the product is dispensed from a filled container 10. The terminal part 16 with external thread 30 and the handle 14 can be integrally molded by means of a wide variety of processes, including injection molding, and can be formed with a wide variety of materials including materials that may not be suitable for the container body 12. To improve the stability of the handle and its connection to the container body, a alternating mode of the container 10 'in FIGS. 5 and 6 include a body of the container 12 ', and an integral terminal part 16' and the handle 14 'are attached separately to the container body 12'. At its end 50 opposite the terminal part 16 ', the handle 14' extends within a cavity 52 formed within the body of the container 12 '. The handle 14 'and the cavity 52 can be provided with opposing overlap flanges 56, 58, respectively, providing an adjustment retention by snapping the handle 14' within the cavity 52 or, the cavity 52 can be of sufficient depth in order to that the flanges 56, 58 and a retention by snapping is not required and it is not possible to remove the handle 14 'from the cavity 52 without bending strongly or breaking the handle 14'. In the last construction, the end 50 of the handle 14 'must be received in the cavity 52 at the same time the assembly of the handle 14' and the terminal part 16 'is disposed on the body of the container 12'. The cavity 52 can be designed to closely receive the handle 14 'providing support against rotation or rotation of the container body 12' relative to the handle 14 'for more stable control and handling of the container 10' and to supply the product therefrom. With the exception of the elongated handle 14 'extending within the cavity 52 of the container body 12', the container 10 'shown in FIGS'. 5 and 6 may be substantially identical to the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, the container 10 'of FIGS. 5 and 6 will not be described anymore. Another embodiment of a container 60 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the container 60 includes a container body 62, a handle 64 and the end portion 66, each provided as separate components of molded plastic construction. The body of the container 62 may include a neck 68 which may or may not include a collar as disclosed with reference to the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 without any collar. Otherwise, the body of the container 62 can be substantially identical to the body of the container 12 disclosed with reference to the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and therefore, will not be discussed further. As best shown in FIG. 4, the handle 64 includes a mounting portion 70 shown as a generally cylindrical ring having an inner surface 72 with a diameter size to receive closely around the outer surface 74 of the neck 68 on the body of the container 62. A lower surface 76 of the mounting ring 70 is received preferably around a lower end of the neck 68 and an assembly is sealed against and abuts the container body 62 immediately adjacent the neck 68. An upper surface 78 of the mounting ring 70 provides a seat plane against which the terminal part 68 is received firmly, as shown in FIG. 3. Otherwise, the handle 64 may be substantially identical in shape, construction and method of manufacture as the handle 14 disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the handle 64 may include a first portion extending generally radially from the mounting ring 70, and an axially extending portion extending along the body side of the container 62 preferably with a space between these to provide an ergonomic handle. Although the mounting ring 70 is shown to be completely annular, it does not have to be. For example, the mounting ring 70 can be a partial annulus, preferably surrounding more than half the circumference of the neck, or the mounting ring 70 can have a non-circular shape. The 'terminal part 66, as it separates from the handle 64 and the body of the container 62, it can generally be as it is exposed with respect to the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The end portion 66 has an internal surface 80 which generally can be cylindrical and is of a diameter designed to be received closely around the outer surface 74 of the neck 68 on the body of the container 62. Desirably, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3, an outwardly extending flange generally radially 82 at one end of the end portion 66 provides a generally flat surface 83 received against the adjacent surface 78 of the mounting ring 70 of the handle 64 in the assembly. The end portion 66 may include one or more threads 84 for receiving an internally threaded cap (not shown) that closes the open upper end 86 of the container body 62 in a conventional manner. The inner surface 80 of the end portion 66 and the outer surface 74 of the neck 68 can be as disclosed with reference to the embodiment of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the assembly, the mounting ring 70 of the handle 64 is disposed on the neck 68, and the terminal part 66 is disposed in the same way on the neck 68 and on the mounting ring 70, which catches the handle 64 between the terminal part 66 and the body of the container 12. The handle 64 and the terminal part 66 can be attached to the neck 68 and / or the body of the container 12 by any suitable method including those already disclosed with reference to other embodiments. If the end portion 66 is firmly attached to the neck 68, it may not be necessary to permanently adhere separately to the handle 64 the container body 12 or the end portion 66 while the handle 64 is trapped between the end portion 66 and the body of the container. 12. In an alternate form, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a container 60 'can include a container body 62' a handle 64 'and an end portion 66' each formed as a separate component of molded plastic construction , as in the embodiment described in FIGS. 3 and 4. In order to hold or join the handle 64 'with the container body 62', the handle 64 'can extend towards a receptacle 90 formed in the body of the container 62', as it is described with reference to the container 10 'shown in Figures 5 and 6. Further, the container body 62', the handle 64 'and the terminal part 66' may be the same as the body of the container 62, handle 64 and terminal part 66 as described with reference to the s figures 3 and. Forming the terminal part and the handle separately from the container body provides different possible advantages. For example, without limitation, the container body may be of a simple design and the molds used to make the container body may also be of a simple design without the need to form a handle or integral end portion and its threads.

The container can be prepared from a monolayer plastic material, such as polyamide, for example, nylon; a polyolefin such as polyethylene, for example, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polypropylene; a polyester; for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN); or others, which may also include additives to change the physical or chemical properties of the material. For example, some plastic resins can be modified to improve oxygen permeability. Alternatively, the container can be prepared with a multilayer plastic material. The layers may be of any plastic material, including virgin material, and recycled, and may include plastics or other materials with additives to improve the physical properties of the container. In addition to the materials mentioned above, other materials generally used in multi-layer plastic containers include, for example, ethylvinyl alcohol (EVOH) and tie layers or binders to hold other materials that are subjected to delamination when used in adjacent layers. A coating can be applied over the monolayer or multiple layer material, for example to introduce the oxygen barrier property. In one embodiment of the invention, the present container is prepared with PET. The handle and the end portion can be prepared with any material including, as an example medium, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polypropylene; a polyester, for example "polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or others." The material used by the container body may be different from that used for the handle and the terminal part, and in the embodiments where the handle and the terminal part are separate components, each can be made of different materials Desirably, the last expensive materials can be chosen for each part to provide a more economical processing of a container, for example, without limitation, if the As the container is used to store a food product or a beverage, the body of the container can be made of a food grade plastic, while the handle, which is not in contact with the product in the container, can be formed substantially of any material, including the Retrieval process and recycling materials after consumer use The handle and / or the terminal part of the container can also be formed in a different color nte and by different methods than the container body that is desired for a wide variety of applications. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description of the presently preferred embodiments of the containers is provided in terms of the description, and not limitation. Since certain objects, characteristics and advantages have been attributed to the generally and specifically disclosed modalities, a recipient that incorporates the perspective and scope of the claimed subject can achieve all, some or none of the stated advantages, or different advantages than those disclosed. In addition, although certain alternative forms or modalities have been revealed, persons with experience will recognize that modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope and perspective of the invention. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (32)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property. Plastic container, characterized in that it includes: a plastic construction container body defining an interior volume and having an annular neck adjacent to an open end of the container; a terminal part received around and attached to the neck; a handle formed as a component separate from the body of the container and the terminal part, the handle is disposed at least partly around the neck and between the terminal part and the body of the container, the handle including a mounting portion and a portion of the handle integrally formed with a mounting portion, the mounting portion is received on the neck and the handle having at least a portion extending outwardly from the body of the container, the terminal part is fixed to the neck and the portion of assembly is trapped between the terminal part and the body of the container, and the terminal part is fixed to the mounting portion.
2. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal part is fixed to the mounting portion that is received firmly against the mound portion.
3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring having a flat seat against which the terminal part is firmly received.
4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the terminal part has an externally extending flange radially providing a generally flat surface received against the adjacent surface of the mounting ring.
5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal part has an internal surface which is generally cylindrical and is of a diameter designed to be received closely around an external surface of the neck.
6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting portion generally includes a generally cylindrical ring having an inner surface with a diameter designed to be received closely around an outer surface of the neck.
7. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring having a lower surface received around a lower end of the neck and seating against and abutting the body of the container immediately adjacent to the neck. .
8. 8. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring that surrounds more than half a circumference of the neck.
9. 9. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal part includes one or more external threads.
10. 10. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal part is firmly attached to the neck and does not permanently adhere to the handle.
11. 11. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle extends within a cavity formed in the body of the container.
12. 12. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container is made of a monolayer or multiple layers plastic material and includes one or more of: polyamide, nylon, polyolefin, polyethylene, low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene. (HDPE), polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), virgin material, recycled or swirled, additives to change the physical or chemical properties of the material, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), adhesion layers or binders to hold adjacent layers together, and a coating with oxygen barrier properties.
13. 13. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle and the terminal part are prepared from one or more low density polyethylene (LDPE)., high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
14. 14. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of the container is made of a food-grade plastic and the handle includes the process of recycling or recycled material subsequent to the use of the user.
15. 15. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal part is fixed to the neck by one or more of adhesion, chemical or molecular bonding, mechanical locking, overlapping and opposite flanges formed on the neck of the terminal part, coupling threads on the terminal part and the neck, mechanical fasteners, adjustment by interference or pressure, forging and welding.
16. 16. Container according to claim 15, characterized in that the end part is forged or welded on the neck.
17. 17. A method for making a container with a handle, characterized in that it includes the steps of: (a) providing a plastic preform, (b) molding the preform to form a container body having an open top end, and then (c) subsequent to step (b), attaching a handle and the terminal part to the open upper end of the container body, wherein: the container body includes an annular neck adjacent to the open end of the container, the terminal portion and the handle are formed by separate, and the handle includes a mounting portion and a handle portion formed integrally with the mounting portion, and wherein the passage (c) is made by arranging the handle mounting portion on the neck and then arranging the terminal portion on the neck and fixing the terminal part to the neck, wherein the mounting portion is trapped between the terminal part and the body of the container, and the terminal part is fixed to the mounting portion.
18. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the terminal part is fixed to the mounting portion when received firmly against the mountable portion e.
19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring having a flat seat against which the terminal part is firmly received.
20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the terminal part has a flange that extends externally radially providing a generally flat surface received against an adjacent surface of the mounting ring.
21. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the terminal part has an internal surface which is generally cylindrical and is of a diameter designed to be received closely around an external surface of the neck.
22. 22. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a generally cylindrical ring having an internal surface with a diameter designed to be received closely around an external surface of the neck.
23. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring having a lower surface received around a lower end of the neck and sealing against and limiting the body of the container immediately adjacent to the neck.
24. 24. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the mounting portion includes a mounting ring that surrounds more than half a circumference of the neck.
25. 25. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the terminal part includes one or more external threads.
26. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the terminal part is firmly attached to the neck and does not permanently adhere to the handle.
27. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the handle extends inside a cavity formed in the body of the container.
28. 28. Method of compliance with claim 17, characterized in that the container is made of monolayer or multilayer plastic material and includes one or more of: polyamide, nylon, polyolefin, polyethylene, low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), virgin material, recycled or swirled, additives to change the physical or chemical properties of the material, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), adhesion layers or binders to hold the adjacent layers together , and a coating with oxygen barrier properties.
29. 29. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the handle and the terminal part are prepared from one or more low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN).
30. 30. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the body of the container is made of a food-grade plastic and the handle includes the process of recycling or recycled material subsequent to the use of the user.
31. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the end part is fixed to the neck by one or more of adhesion, chemical or molecular bonding, mechanical locking, overlapping and opposite flanges formed on the neck of the end part, coupling threads on the terminal part and the neck, mechanical fasteners, adjustment by interference or pressure, forging and welding.
32. 32. Method according to claim 31, characterized in that the end part is forged or welded on the neck.