Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Insulated handle – Loop-type handle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-05-01
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Insulated handle
Loop-type handle
C016S110100, C016SDIG001, C016S430000, C215S398000, C220S755000, C220S756000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223397
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plastic handle capable of being permanently attached to a blow-molded plastic container, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a handle which is comfortable to grasp and which is capable of being stacked with like handles so that the handle can be efficiently stored and machine fed through automated handle-to-container attachment systems. The handle may also be made from recycled plastic for applications including food.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Blow-molded plastic containers, or bottles, are commonly used for packaging beverages and other liquid, gel, or granular products. Some containers benefit from the use of handles to facilitate a consumer's capability to lift the container and pour its contents. Smaller sized containers, such as 64 ounces and below, generally do not need handles because a consumer can readily grasp the sides of the container to manipulate the container. However, larger containers, such as gallon containers, may require some form of handle in order for a consumer to control the container while lifting or pouring its contents, especially with one hand.
The assignee of the present application has developed several blow-molded containers which are produced by bonding a completely separate, injection-molded plastic handle to a fully molded, plastic container. The containers and methods of manufacture are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,579 issued to Tobias et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,506 issued to Tobias et al.; pending U.S. patent application No. 08/694,348; pending U.S. patent application No. 08/837,563; and pending U.S. patent application No. 09/049,162. The disclosures of all of the above referenced patents and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.
The typical handle for being attached to a bottle has an elongate grip portion which is relatively thin in side elevation and which has substantially flat front and rear surfaces which are engaged between the palm and fingers of a person grasping the handle. Relatively uncomplicated configurations for handles have been utilized so that the handles are capable of being readily stacked for storage and stack fed to handle-to-bottle attachment equipment.
Although various known handles may function satisfactorily for their intended purposes, there is a need for a handle which is more comfortable to grasp than a handle having a flat, elongate grip. However, the ergonomic shape of the handle should not prevent the handle from being efficiently stacked and nested within a minimum of space with a plurality of identically configured handles so that the handles can be readily stored and machine fed to handle attachment machinery. In addition, the handles should be lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of using recycled plastic for purposes including packaging of food.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a plastic handle which is capable of being permanently affixed to a blow-molded plastic container and which is comfortable to grasp.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic handle which is readily machine fed to automated, high-speed handle-to-bottle attachment equipment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic handle which may be efficiently stored to minimize storage space and transportation costs.
A still further object is to provide a lightweight handle which can be injection-molded with a minimum of plastic in a single axis opening injection mold.
A still further object is to provide a lightweight handle which can be injection-molded of recycled plastic and used for purposes including food packaging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the present invention provides a stackable, ergonomic plastic handle for attachment to a separately manufactured blow-molded plastic container. The handle has an elongate grip with a contoured body section engageable between a palm and fingers of a person grasping the handle. The contoured body section has a palm-confronting side and a finger-confronting side which are designed to be matingly engageable such that when the handle is stacked with an identical handle, the palm-confronting side of one of the handles mates with the finger-confronting side of the other handle to maintain alignment of the handles when stacked.
In one preferred embodiment the contoured body section includes sets of cleats which form palm and finger confronting surfaces. In a second preferred embodiment, the contoured body section is concave between opposed elongate side edges. All embodiments are capable of being stacked with like handles so that the handles can be efficiently machine fed through an automated handle-to-container attachment machinery.
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Inman Donald
Lyons Crawford
Prevot Roger M.
Graham Packaging Company L.P.
Howson and Howson
Knight Anthony
Williams Mark
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