Vented Suitcase-Style Container

Abstract

A container ( 20; 300 ) comprises: a body ( 22; 302 ) having an interior ( 32 ); and a handle ( 24; 304 ) mounted to the body to span between a first portion ( 50 A; 320 A) of the body and a second portion ( 50 B; 320 B) of the body and provide a gap ( 52 ) between the handle and the body between the first portion and second portion and shiftable between: an open condition exposing the interior of the body to an exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion; and a closed condition blocking communication of the interior of the body to the exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion.

1 . A container ( 20 ;  300 ) comprising:
 a body ( 22 ;  302 ) having an interior ( 32 ); and   a handle ( 24 ;  304 ) mounted to the body to span between a first portion ( 50 A;  320 A) of the body and a second portion ( 50 B;  320 B) of the body and provide a gap ( 52 ) between the handle and the body between the first portion and second portion and shiftable between:
 an open condition exposing the interior of the body to an exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion; and 
 a closed condition blocking communication of the interior of the body to the exterior of the container through the first portion and the second portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 said shiftability of the handle is via rotation. 
 
     
     
         3 . The container ( 20 ) of  claim 2  wherein:
 the handle has a first end ( 44 A) and a second end ( 44 B) and has end-to-end symmetry such that the container would open and close even if the first and second ends were reversed. 
 
     
     
         4 . The container ( 20 ) of  claim 2  wherein the handle has:
 a first end section ( 42 A) and a second end section ( 42 B); 
 a first passageway ( 72 A) from a first radial port ( 70 A) on the first end section to a first axial port ( 73 A) on the first end section; and 
 a second passageway ( 72 B) from a second radial port ( 70 B) on the second end section to a second axial port ( 73 B) on the second end section. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container ( 20 ;  320 ) of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first portion and the second portion each comprise a passageway ( 56 ;  326 A,  326 B) receiving the handle; and 
 at least one end of the handle has a barb ( 104 ) axially retaining such end from retraction into the adjacent first or second end portion. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container ( 20 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 the open condition and the closed condition are separated by a 90° rotation of the handle element about a handle longitudinal axis ( 500 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . The container ( 300 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 said shiftability of the handle is via translation. 
 
     
     
         8 . The container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises:
 a base ( 26 ); and 
 a cover ( 28 ;  308 ) mounted to the base and including the first portion and second portion. 
 
     
     
         9 . The container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 8  wherein:
 the base is an injection molding of HDPE; 
 the cover is an injection molding of polypropylene; and 
 the handle is an injection molding of polypropylene. 
 
     
     
         10 . The container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a liquid ( 84 ) within the interior. 
 
     
     
         11 . The container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 10  wherein:
 the liquid is a laundry detergent. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method for assembling the container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 introducing a liquid ( 84 ) to the base; and   after the introducing, assembling to the base a preassembled subassembly of the cover and handle.   
     
     
         13 . A method for using the container ( 20 ;  300 ) of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 shifting the handle from the closed condition to the open condition; and   partially inverting the container to:
 pour the liquid through a first passageway through the first portion and handle while venting air into the interior through a second passageway through the second portion and handle. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 the shifting comprises rotation. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the rotation comprises rotation by 45°-315°. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 the partial inverting comprises rotation to cause the container to be supported on the base and cover.