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(11) | EP 1 334 915 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A moulded plastics container |
| (57) A moulded plastics container (1) having a hollow handle (3) communicating with a
liquid containing body (2). The handle (3) has a handle inlet (7) communicating with
a bore (10) of an outlet neck portion (4) and a container outlet (8) remote from the
handle inlet (7). This allows the handle (3) to be easily cleaned and, in use, establishes
free pouring without splashing. |
Introduction
[0001] The present invention relates to an integrally moulded plastics container comprising a liquid containing body, a hollow handle communicating with the interior of the body and a discharge outlet having a bore.
[0002] A problem with all liquid containers is in ensuring that the liquid flows freely out the container. This is relatively unimportant for small bottles and such like containers since anybody using them with a little care can avoid splashing and ensure free flow. If the liquid is poured out of the bottle or container so that the liquid totally fills the discharge outlet, there tends to be an intermittent flow of liquid, often referred to colloquially as glugging as the liquid is delivered out the container. What happens is that a vacuum is formed which impairs the free flowing of the liquid. When the vacuum exceeds a certain amount, air is sucked into the container. This causes an immediate out-rush of liquid. This is not a particularly serious problem with small containers. However, with very large containers such as of the order of 5 to 25 litres or more, the pouring of the contents can be extremely difficult. This becomes, not alone difficult, but also a serious safety hazard when the contents of the container is of itself hazardous in nature, such as a corrosive liquid or an oil or other liquid which, if splashed, could cause injury to users or damage to surrounding areas.
[0003] It has been known to provide "anti-glugging" devices which comprise a small tube or the like which is mounted in the interior of the neck of the vessel and is led towards the bottom of the vessel so that as the contents are being poured out of the container, there is an air vent effectively into the space above the liquid which allows for the smooth flow of the liquid out of the container. There are various problems with this. Firstly, it is relatively difficult assembly problem and one cannot have a very large tube because it reduces the volume that can be discharged from the container. Also, such a container is almost impossible to clean.
[0004] Another solution to the problem is to provide an air release valve at the back of the container which can be opened as the contents are being poured. This is particularly important, for example, for contaminant liquids, however, in general, people using these containers do not open these valves and thus splashing of the contents occurs on a regular basis.
[0005] For example, it is known to provide various forms of venting channel such as, for example, disclosed in US Patent Specification No. 5538165 (Frohn) and European Patent Specification No. 0796795 (Frohn).
[0006] All of these solutions to the problem of splashing work to greater or lesser degrees. However, they are all complex constructions and expensive to produce. Further, the equally important, if not more important problem of cleaning for re-use, is not addressed and indeed is exacerbated by their construction.
[0007] As the containers are moulded from a plastics material with a hollow handle and the hollow handle cannot be adequately cleaned and thus, after use, the containers have to be disposed of where ideally it should be possible to clean them. This, it will be appreciated, is becoming an even more important problem because of the serious environmental concerns in relation to recycling, particularly of packing materials. While the problem is a major problem with all such containers, it is an even greater problem with containers fitted with some form of anti-glugging device. Indeed, such containers are almost impossible to clean.
[0008] The present invention is directed towards providing a construction of container and in particular to a construction of moulded plastics container which can be easily cleaned and thus can be recycled and used many times before eventual disposal, as well as overcoming the problems of glugging.
Statements of Invention
[0009] According to the invention, there is provided a moulded plastics container comprising a liquid containing body, a hollow handle communicating with the interior of the body and a discharge outlet having a bore characterised in that the handle has a handle inlet adjacent to and communicating with the bore of the discharge outlet and a container outlet remote from the handle inlet. The advantage of this is that the construction is such as to allow the easy cleaning of the container and further, splashing of the contents when pouring, namely, the so-called "glugging" will be largely prevented because there is now a direct communication between the interior of the container and the neck portion, such that air will be vented easily into the container. Additionally, the cost of construction is substantially less than with other moulded containers having channels to prevent glugging.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the discharge outlet is formed by an upstanding neck portion proud of the container and the handle inlet is also in the neck portion. In this embodiment, the handle is directly connected to the exterior of the discharge outlet adding further rigidity.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the handle extends across a top wall away from the discharge outlet to adjacent a side wall of the container.
[0012] Further, the handle inlet preferably has an area of the order of 10%, or indeed as high as 20%, of the area of the bore of the discharge outlet. This large area of outlet further facilitates both cleaning and also the prevention of splashing. It facilitates very much the cleaning of the container and the free flowing of the contents of the container on discharge.
[0013] Ideally, the handle and the upstanding neck portion are connected together to form the one composite piece projecting from the container.
[0014] The particular constructions allow for the provision of a moulded container of relatively low cost, of added rigidity and indeed, good cooling properties on moulding.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0015] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of portion of the top of a container according to the invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the top portion of the container according to the invention,
Fig. 3 is another side view,
Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of portion of the top of the container,
Fig. 5 is an end view of portion of the container, and
Fig. 6 is an end sectional view of the container.
[0016] Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a moulded plastics container 1 having a liquid containing body 2, only portion of which is shown, mounting a handle 3 and an upstanding outlet neck portion 4 having threads 5 for reception of a closure cap 6. The hollow handle 3 has a handle inlet 7 also in the neck portion 4 and thus communicating with the interior of the neck portion 4. The handle 3 has a container outlet 8 communicating with the body 2 of the container 1. The outlet neck portion 4 thus forms a discharge outlet, indicated generally by the reference numeral 9, having a bore 10. In this embodiment, it will be noted that the handle 3 has an extension piece 11 between what is strictly the handle and the neck portion 4.
[0017] In use, as the contents are being poured out the container 1, any air that needs to enter the container 1 to compensate for the flow of liquid out the container 1 will be relatively easily vented through the handle inlet 7 through the handle 3 and out the handle 3 via the container outlet 8. Thus, this will prevent any serious "glugging".
[0018] Ideally, the handle 3 projects across a top wall of the container to adjacent an opposite side wall. In this way, the container outlet 8 is, as far as possible, away from the handle inlet 7 and thus will ensure that the container, is adequately vented.
[0019] It is also envisaged that other free pouring containers, without a neck portion or indeed with what is effectively a recessed outlet with a substantially flush or recessed closure, may also be made in accordance with the present invention. It will be appreciated that irrespective of whether there is an upstanding neck portion or not, there has to be a portion on the container for reception of a closure which, of necessity, means that there must be a portion of the container having a bore to form the receiver for the closure. Thus, as long as the inlet to the handle is adjacent the bore of the discharge outlet or ideally is in the wall of the discharge outlet defining the bore of the discharge outlet, then the invention will work satisfactorily with such constructions of container.
[0020] However, the major advantage of the present construction of container arises from what is effectively the dual purpose handle. By having a connection to the neck of the container from the handle, it is an easier container to mould. It further assists in the cooling of the neck. Even more so, it reduces cooling time generally which is advantageous. Further, since they form the one composite piece, it is a more rigid assembly, particularly as the handle supports the neck portion.
[0021] Because the neck of the container connects directly with the handle, it is relatively easy to clean out the container and the handle. With more conventional containers, even though the handle may be connected to the container, it is difficult, if not impossible, to clean out the interior of the handle and thus, the containers are not reusable. However, with the present construction of container, it is relatively easy to clean out the handle.
[0022] In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms "include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.
1. A moulded plastics container (1) comprising a liquid containing body (2), a hollow
handle (3) communicating with the interior of the body (2) and a discharge outlet
having a bore (10) characterised in that the handle (3) has a handle inlet (7) adjacent to and communicating with the bore
(10) of the discharge outlet and a container outlet (8) remote from the handle inlet
(7).
2. A container (1) as claimed in claim 1, in which the discharge outlet (8) is formed
by an upstanding neck portion (4) proud of the container (1) and the handle inlet
(7) is also in the neck portion (4).
3. A container (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, In which the handle (3) extends across
a top wall away from the discharge outlet (8) to adjacent a side wall of the container
(1).
4. A container (1) as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle inlet (7) has
an area of the order of 10% of the area of the bore (10) of the discharge outlet (8).
5. A container (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the handle inlet (7)
has an area of the order of 20% of the area of the bore (10) of the discharge outlet
(8).
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle (3) and the upstanding
neck portion (4) are connected together to form the one composite piece projecting
from the container (1).