OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a handle, of the type of the designed to be coupled
to the neck of a bottle to enable the manual transporting thereof and, in particular,
of the type that consist of a ring which is coupled to the bottle's neck and whereto
is fixed a series of flanges and from whose ring the handle emerges laterally and
horizontally, which, at the time of use, tilts by the weight of the bottle towards
a position of verticality.
[0002] An object of the invention is the distribution, resistance and design of the fixing
flanges so that they have the resistance and flexibility required in accordance with
their area of action, both in loading and in the phase of coupling to the bottle,
to efficiently withstand the load distribution, which is not uniform, as well as so
that at the time of coupling the handle to the bottle the flanges give the right amount,
so that the cap which had previously been mounted to the bottle is not damaged.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Handles are known to facilitate the handling and transport of large capacity bottles
(generally from 3 to 5 litres), which consist of a U-shaped handgrip, which has a
central part for the user's hand to grip, and two side branches whereby it is joined
to a coupling ring to the bottle's neck, whose ring has a series of uniform internal
flanges for the fixing of the handle to the bottle's neck.
[0004] In the evolution of this type of handle it has been anticipated that the articulation
points of the handle to the ring, which were initially centred, are displaced to a
rear area, which produces, on the one hand, greater facility for the articulation
of the handle by the bottle's own weight and, on the other hand, a markedly larger
space for the introduction of the hand, making the handling and transport of the bottle
more comfortable.
[0005] A handle of this type is disclosed, for example, in application
PCT WO 03/062071 by the same holder. In this patent is it is further observed that side branches are
fixed to the ring, in a large sector, by an easy to tear membrane, to ensure that
the handle-ring assembly is maintained perfectly flat during the handling manoeuvres
necessary for its mounting on the bottleneck.
[0006] The displacement of the articulation point of the handle with respect to the ring
towards the rear area thereof, means that the distribution of the weight of the bottle
on the different flanges is not uniform, i.e. the flanges are not subjected to the
same stresses, so that the flanges close to the area of articulation withstand a lot
of weight, whilst the opposite flanges withstand less weight.
[0007] An obvious solution would be to uniformly reinforce all the flanges of the ring,
but this solution would give the result of excessively rigid flanges, with little
flexibility, which may cause damages in the cap at the time of its coupling to the
bottle, since the cap would have been previously mounted, damages that may consist,
for example, in the tearing of the tamper seal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The handle object of the invention resolves the aforementioned problems, and, furthermore,
is more ergonomic, lighter and with greater resistance than the handles known to date.
[0009] A handle is, therefore, offered which has sufficiently slight resistance at the time
of its insertion in the bottle's neck, to not damage the already mounted cap and that,
at the same time, each flange or group of flanges is capable of withstanding the stress
its position in the ring requires in the maximum load position.
[0010] For this purpose, the invention provides a handle for bottles wherein the retaining
flanges are not identical, but their form, position and number are determined in accordance
with the distribution of stress that they must withstand, it being necessary that
some of said flanges are more reinforced than others, some have a more pronounced
and robust attack edge to the bottleneck than others and some flanges have a greater
length and include reinforcing ribs.
[0011] Each flange or group of flanges is designed to act on a specific area of the ring,
in order to optimize its efficiency at each point.
[0012] In particular, it has been provided that the front flanges, i.e. those where the
articulation points of the handle are closest to the ring, are more reinforced than
those of the other flanges, further incorporating a more pronounced attack edge on
the bottleneck since the handle in this area tends to separate from the bottleneck.
[0013] The rear flanges, i.e. those which are in the area opposite the articulation of the
handle, have less pronounced attack edges of the flange to avoid that, when the handle
is introduced, the flanges may wear and damage the cap.
[0014] Furthermore, the attack edges of the rear flanges are more inclined with respect
to the horizontal than in the front flanges, to further favour the introduction of
the handle.
[0015] Two double flanges have also been provided, i.e. with a length double that of the
others. These double flanges also have vertical reinforcing ribs which avoid that
they can crack or twist, as a consequence of the stresses that the weight of the bottle
causes in the area where these flanges are positioned.
[0016] It has also been anticipated that at least two of the flanges of the ring have flat
pins, which are projected horizontally, which have the object of the handle being
more clasped to the bottleneck and can withstand without moving or displacing, minimizing
the movement of the handle on the bottle. This avoids problems in the palletization
of the bottles and allows them to be arranged easily.
[0017] Finally, it has been provided that the radius of curvature of the flanges in their
joining area to the ring is not the same in all of them, having a more pronounced
radius in some than in others.
[0018] A greater connecting radius means that the flexibility of the flange decreases and
its resistance is greater, for which reason, in the areas closest to the tilt points
of the handle, the radius of curvature is greater.
[0019] In particular, the front flanges will have a greater radius of curvature since they
are areas where the handle withstands greater stresses, whilst the rear flanges have
less radius of curvature since they withstand less stress and it is of interest that
the flanges of this area are more flexible to favour the introduction of the ring
in the bottle's neck.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] To complement the description being made and with the object of helping towards a
better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a
preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, a set of figures is attached as
an integral part of the description, wherein the following has been represented with
an illustrative non-limitative character:
- Figure 1.-
- shows a perspective view of the handle object of the invention, before its mounting
on the bottle's neck.
- Figure 2.-
- shows a lower perspective view of the handle object of the invention, before its mounting
on the bottle's neck.
- Figure 3.-
- shows an elevational and partially sectional view of the handle, before its mounting
on the bottle's neck.
- Figure 4.-
- shows a sectional detail of one of the front flanges.
- Figure 5.-
- shows a sectioned detail of one of the rear flanges.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0021] As is observed in figure 1, the handle object of the invention is composed of a handgrip
(1), which comprises a central branch (2) whereby the user grips the handle with his/her
hand, as well as a pair of side arms (3,3') whereby it is joined to a ring (5) which
can be coupled to the bottle's neck. As can be observed, the joining areas (4,4')
between the handgrip (1) and the ring (5) are not centred with respect to a diameter
thereof, but they are displaced towards the rear part of the ring (5) so that the
handle can use bottles equipped with caps of a certain height, such as those called
tap caps, there also remaining a free space so that the user grips the handle comfortably
with his/her hand.
[0022] The ring (5) is provided on its inner surface with a series of flanges (6) which
act against a perimeter rib provided on the bottle's neck in order to prevent the
exit of the handle with respect to the bottle and resist the weight thereof whilst
being transported by the user.
[0023] When the joining areas (4, 4') of the handgrip (1) are displaced with respect to
the diameter of the bottle's neck, the distribution of stresses on the flanges (6)
of the ring (5) is not uniform, but is greater in the areas close to the joining areas
(4,4') between the handgrip (1) and the ring (5). In particular, the joining areas
(4,4') are disposed on the part opposite the handgrip (11), an area which we will
call front, whilst the area closest to the handgrip (11) is the area which we will
cause rear.
[0024] In accordance with the object of the invention the flanges (6) of the ring (5) have
been redesigned, in accordance with the distribution of stress that they must withstand
but, at the same time, making the ring have a minimum resistance in its introduction
in the bottle's neck, to avoid damages in the cap, for example the coming off of the
tamper seal.
[0025] In particular, five flanges have been provided in the joining area (4,4'), which
we will call front flanges (7), which are more reinforced than the other flanges.
[0026] Furthermore, these front flanges (7) have protuberances or attack edges (8) which
are more pronounced than the other flanges in order to correctly clasp the handle
to the bottle's neck.
[0027] The ring incorporates in the area closes to the handgrip (1) two rear flanges (9)
with more reduced attack edges (8) in order to avoid that when the handle is introduced
in the bottleneck, it may wear and damage the cap.
[0028] As is observed in figure 5, the attack edge (8) of these rear flanges (9) is inclined
with respect to the horizontal to further favour the introduction of the ring.
[0029] The incorporation of two double side flanges (10) each one of them disposed between
the front flanges (7) and the rear flanges (9) have also been provided, having a size
approximately double the other flanges. In this area, the distribution of the stresses
normally causes one of the flanges to be disabled so that with the double side flange
(12), the possible cracks that may appear do not cause its disablement.
[0030] These double side flanges (10) are equipped with reinforcing ribs (13), positioned
longitudinally with respect to the flange, and which are designed to avoid their twisting
and cracking.
[0031] Likewise, as has been clearly observed in figure 3, it has been provided that the
radius of curvature of the flanges is not the same for all of them. Thus, for example,
the front flanges (7), corresponding to the areas where the handle works more and
which are, therefore, subjected to greater stresses, have a greater radius of curvature
(R1) that reduces the flexibility of the flange and increases its resistance. The
rear flanges (9), disposed in the area where the handle works less, have less radius
of curvature (R2) to favour their flexibility and, therefore, the introduction of
the ring.
The invention also provides that some of the flanges (6) have a tab (11) on their
free edge and disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the ring (5), which
has the function of clasping the ring (5) to the bottle's neck and reducing the freedom
of movement of the handle with respect to said neck and thus facilitating the palletization
and arrangement of the containers during their transport. In this embodiment, it is
each of the rear flanges (8) that has a tab (11).
1. Handle for bottles which comprises a handgrip (1) joined to a ring (5) to couple it
to the bottle's neck, which has on its inner surface a plurality of flanges (6), in
inclined position, characterized in that the ring (5) contains flanges of different configuration, resistance and flexibility,
such as front flanges (7), provided in proximity to the joining area (4,4') of the
handgrip (1) to the ring (5), rear flanges (9), in the area opposite the joining area
(4,4') and double side flanges (10), between the front (7) and rear (9) flanges.
2. Handle for bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the front flanges (7) are more reinforced than the other flanges and incorporate
one attack edge (8) more pronounced than the others.
3. Handle for bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the front flanges (7) have a connecting radius (R1) to the ring (5), greater than
the connecting radius (R2) whereby the rear flanges (9) are joined to said ring (5).
4. Handle for bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the double side flanges (10), preferably in a number of two, have a length approximately
double the other flanges.
5. Handle for bottles, according to claim 4, characterized in that the double side flanges (10) are equipped with reinforcing ribs (13).
6. Handle for bottles, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two flanges have a tab (11), on their free edge and disposed substantially
parallel to the plane of the ring (5), which has the function of clasping the ring
(5) to the bottle's neck and reducing the freedom of movement of the handle with respect
to said neck and thus facilitating the palletization and arrangement of the bottles
during their transport.