Split-ring handle and container assembly

Abstract

A plastic container and handle assembly includes a container having a neck, and an attachment formed separately from the container and assembled thereto, the attachment including a handle and an integrally formed attachment ring embracing the neck and mounting the handle to the container. The ring is split and has ends adapted to separate to fit the handle over the neck and adapted to be secured together to embrace the neck of the container. In various embodiments, the handle and/or ring have an integral folded hinge enabling the ring to be pivoted open and closed. In other embodiments, a projection and recess are provided on the attachment and container to provide alignment and prevent relative rotation thereof.

1 . A plastic container and handle assembly comprising: 
 a container having a neck and a shoulder adjacent the neck with an engaging recess, and    an attachment assembled to said container and being formed separately thereform, said attachment comprising a handle and a split ring integral with said handle sized to substantially circumscribe said container neck, and an anti-rotation projection on said attachment engaged in said recess.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said projection is engaged in said recess by interference fit.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions having mating ring ends.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said handle and said ring ends are diametrically opposed on opposite sides of the container neck.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein two sets of engaging recesses and projections are provided, one adjacent said handle and the other adjacent said ring ends.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said ring is split at a location spaced from said handle.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said split ring has two ring portions and said handle has two handle portions, each handle portion being integral with a different one of said ring portions.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said split ring has mating ring ends having a latching mechanism with a plurality of interengagement positions such that said split ring is adjustable to a plurality of different neck sizes.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said ring includes an integral folding hinge enabling the ring to be pivoted open and closed.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said handle includes an integral folding hinge enabling the ring to be opened and closed.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions with mating ring ends and said hinge is spaced from said ring ends.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said ring and said handle each have two portions, each handle portion being integral with a different ring portion, and wherein said handle and/or ring portions include interengagement features for connecting said respective handle and/or ring portions.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said interengagement features are snap fit.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said split ring includes a finish portion for attachment of a closure or fitment.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said finish portion includes at least a portion of an external thread, bead or flange.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said finish portion includes at least one external thread portion.  
   
   
       17 . A plastic attachment for a plastic container having a neck and a shoulder adjacent the neck with an engaging recess, the attachment comprising: 
 a handle, and    a split ring integral with said handle, said split ring being sized to substantially circumscribe the container neck, and an anti-rotation projection on said attachment adapted for engaging a container recess.    
   
   
       18 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said split ring is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       19 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said split ring includes a finish portion for attachment of a closure or fitment.  
   
   
       20 . The attachment of  claim 19 , wherein said finish portion includes at least a portion of an external thread, bead or flange.  
   
   
       21 . The attachment of  claim 20 , wherein said finish portion includes at least one external thread portion.  
   
   
       22 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said attachment includes an integral folding hinge enabling the ring to be pivoted open and closed.  
   
   
       23 . The attachment of  claim 22 , wherein said integral hinge is part of said handle.  
   
   
       24 . The attachment of  claim 22  wherein said integral hinge is part of said split ring.  
   
   
       25 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions with mating ring ends.  
   
   
       26 . The attachment of  claim 25 , wherein said handle is split into two handle portions, each connected to a different ring portion.  
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said handle portions include interengagement features for connecting said handle portions.  
   
   
       28 . The attachment of  claim 27 , wherein said interengagement features are snap fit.  
   
   
       29 . The attachment of  claim 25 , wherein said ring portions include interengagement features for connecting said ring portions.  
   
   
       30 . The attachment of  claim 29 , wherein said interengagement features are snap fit.  
   
   
       31 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said attachment is of two-piece construction, each piece including a ring portion and a handle portion and interengagement features for connecting the pieces.  
   
   
       32 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said attachment is of one-piece construction.  
   
   
       33 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said attachment includes a plurality of projections for engaging one or more container recesses.  
   
   
       34 . The attachment of  claim 33 , including two projections diametrically opposed on opposite sides of the ring.  
   
   
       35 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein said split ring has mating ring ends having a latching mechanism with a plurality of interengagement positions such that said split ring is adjustable to a plurality of different neck sizes.  
   
   
       36 . A plastic container and handle assembly, including: 
 a container having a neck, and    an attachment assembled to said container and being formed separately therefrom, said attachment comprising a handle and a split ring integral with said handle sized to substantially circumscribe said container neck, said attachment including an integral folding hinge enabling the ring to be pivoted open and closed.    
   
   
       37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said hinge is part of said split ring.  
   
   
       38 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said hinge is part of said handle.  
   
   
       39 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said handle includes two handle portions having interengagement features for connecting said handle portions.  
   
   
       40 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions having interengagement features for connecting said ring portions.  
   
   
       41 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said split ring has two ring portions and said handle has two handle portions, each handle portion being integral with a different one of said ring portions.  
   
   
       42 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said ring is split at a position spaced from said handle.  
   
   
       43 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions having mating ring ends.  
   
   
       44 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said neck of said container body and said split ring are substantially cyclindrical.  
   
   
       45 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said split ring includes a finish portion for attachment of a closure or fitment.  
   
   
       46 . The assembly of  claim 45 , wherein said finish portion includes at least a portion of an external thread, bead or flange.  
   
   
       47 . The assembly of  claim 46 , wherein said finish portion includes at least one external thread portion.  
   
   
       48 . A plastic attachment for a plastic container having a neck, the attachment comprising: 
 a handle, and    a split ring integral with said handle, said split ring being sized to substantially circumscribe the container neck, said attachment including an integral folding hinge enabling the ring to be pivoted open and closed.    
   
   
       49 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said hinge is part of said split ring.  
   
   
       50 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said hinge is part of said handle.  
   
   
       51 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said handle includes two handle portions having interengagement features for connecting said handle portions.  
   
   
       52 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions having interengagement features for connecting said ring portions.  
   
   
       53 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said split ring has two ring portions and said handle has two handle portions, each handle portion being integral with a different one of said ring portions.  
   
   
       54 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said ring is split at a position spaced from said handle.  
   
   
       55 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said split ring includes two ring portions having mating ring ends.  
   
   
       56 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said split ring is substantially cyclindrical.  
   
   
       57 . The attachment of  claim 48 , wherein said split ring includes a finish portion for attachment of a closure or fitment.  
   
   
       58 . The attachment of  claim 57 , wherein said finish portion includes at least a portion of an external thread, bead or flange.  
   
   
       59 . The attachment of  claim 58 , wherein said finish portion includes at least one external thread portion.