Bottle with open loop handle

Abstract

A beverage bottle may include a handle that engages a neck of the bottle. The handle may include a band region that encircles a portion of the neck of the bottle. The handle may be easily assembled onto the bottle, and be aesthetically pleasing. In an embodiment, a grip portion may be aligned angularly higher than the band region when the bottle is resting in a vertical position. The handle may have a grip portion sized to enable an adult to comfortably hold the grip portion with at least one finger.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a first end defining a base;   a second end defining an opening;   a sidewall extending between said first end and second end;   a neck disposed along the sidewall between said first end and second end; and   a handle including:
 a. a band region that at least partially encircles said neck and comprises a first pair of transition points; 
 b. a first lateral region and a second lateral region that respectively extend outwardly from the first pair of transition points away from the neck and towards a second pair of transition points; and 
 c. a grip region extending from and between the second pair of transition points so as to connect the first and second lateral regions, wherein the second pair of transition points curves upwards at an angle from the first and second lateral regions and towards the grip region; 
 wherein (i) the band region is fixedly positioned relative to the first lateral region, the second lateral region, and the grip region, (ii) the first lateral region and the second lateral region are each fixedly positioned relative to the band region and the grip region, and (iii) the grip region is fixedly positioned relative to the band region, the first lateral region, and the second lateral region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle is between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said neck and said band region define complementary registration features. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , said beverage container further comprising an adhesive that secures said band region to said neck. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said band region encircles said neck greater than about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage container according to  claim 5 , wherein said band region entirely encircles said neck. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said grip region includes an outside surface and an inside surface, the outside surface having an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said first and second lateral regions. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lateral regions extend substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall defines an outer dimension of the beverage container, and wherein said grip region does not extend beyond the outer dimension of the beverage container defined by said sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said handle is formed integrally of a uniform material. 
     
     
         12 . A handle for a beverage container, comprising:
 a. a band region configured to at least partially encircle a neck of the beverage container;   b. first and second lateral regions that each respectively extend outwardly from a first pair of transition points on the band region, wherein the first and second lateral regions extend away from said band region and towards a second pair of transition points; and   c. a grip region extending from and between the second pair of transition points so as to connect said first and second lateral regions, wherein the second pair of transition points curves upwards at an angle from the first and second lateral regions and towards the grip region;   wherein (i) the band region is fixedly positioned relative to the first lateral region, the second lateral region, and the grip region, (ii) the first lateral region and the second lateral region are each fixedly positioned relative to the band region and the grip region, and (iii) the grip region is fixedly positioned relative to the band region, the first lateral region, and the second lateral region.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the angle is between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The handle according to  claim 12 , where the band region, the first and second lateral regions, and the grip region are formed integrally. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein said band region is configured to encircle said neck greater than about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container according to  claim 15 , wherein said band region is configured to entirely encircle said neck. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein said grip region includes an outside surface and an inside surface, the outside surface having an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said first and second lateral regions. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second lateral regions extend substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container according to  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         20 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a first end defining a base;   a second end defining an opening;   a sidewall extending between said first end and second end;   a neck disposed along the sidewall between said first end and second end; and   an integral polymeric handle comprising:
 a. a band region that entirely encircles said neck; 
 b. a first lateral region and a second lateral region that each respectively extend outwardly from a first pair of transition points on the band region, wherein the first lateral region and the second lateral region are substantially parallel and extend away from the neck and towards a second pair of transition points; and 
 c. a grip region extending from and between the second pair of transition points so as to connect the first and second lateral regions, wherein the second pair of transition points curves upwards at an angle between about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees from the first and second lateral regions and towards the grip region; 
 wherein (i) the band region is fixedly positioned relative to the first lateral region, the second lateral region, and the grip region, (ii) the first lateral region and the second lateral region are each fixedly positioned relative to the band region and the grip region, and (iii) the grip region is fixedly positioned relative to the band region, the first lateral region, and the second lateral region.