Abstract
Disclosed is a plastic container (1, 1″) comprising a container body (10, 10′, 10″), which forms a filling volume, and a reach-through opening (11, 11″) penetrating the container body (10, 10′, 10″). The reach-through opening (11, 11″) forms a handle (12, 12,′12″, 12′″) with a partial region (10a, 10a′, 10a″) of the container body (10, 10′, 10″). A handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) is arranged in the reach-through opening (11, 11″).
Claims
1. A plastic container (1, 1″) comprising a container body (10), which forms a filling volume, and a reach-through opening (11) passing through the container body (10), wherein the reach-through opening (11) forms a handle (12, 12′, 12″, 12′″) with a partial region (10a, 10d, 10a″) of the container body (10, 10′, 10″), wherein a handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) is arranged in the reach-through opening (11, 11″).
2. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) has a parting plane (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″).
3. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 2, wherein the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″, 13″, 13′″) is formed in two parts and has a first shell (13a, 13a′, 13a″, 13a′″) and a second shell (13b, 13b′, 13b″, 13b′″).
4. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 3, wherein the parting plane (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) is formed substantially parallel to a mold parting plane of the plastic container (1, 1″).
5. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 4, wherein the first shell (13a, 13a′, 13a′″) has a first contact surface (131, 131′, 131′″) and the second shell (13b, 13b′, 13b′″) has a second contact surface (132, 132′, 132′″) which are directed towards each other.
6. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 5, wherein the first contact surface (131, 131′, 131′″) and the second contact surface (132, 132′, 132′″) are connected to each other, in particular glued or welded.
7. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 4, wherein the first shell (13a′, 13a″) and the second shell (13b′, 13b″) are connected to each other via a snap-in connection (15a′, 15a″, 15b′, 15b″).
8. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the plastic container (1, 1″) has a circumferential projection (16, 16′) within the reach-through opening (11, 11″) and the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) has a first pressing element (133, 133′, 133″, 133′″) and a second pressing element (134, 134′, 134″, 134′″), wherein the first pressing element (133, 133′, 133″, 133′″) and the second pressing element (134, 134′, 134″, 134′″) rest under pretension on the projection (16, 16′).
9. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential connection seam (17, 17′, 17″) is arranged within the reach-through opening (11, 11″).
10. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 8, wherein the connection seam (17, 17′) is formed as part of the projection (16, 16′).
11. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 8, wherein the first pressing element (133) and/or the second pressing element (134) is formed in several parts.
12. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) has reinforcing ribs, in particular arranged between a corresponding pressing element (133′, 133″, 134′, 134″) and an associated surface (135′, 135″, 136′, 136″).
13. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the plastic container (1, 1″) is a stretch blow-molded plastic container, in particular produced from PET, PET-G, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PVC, PEN, PHA, PHB, PEIT, PCTG, LLDPE, MDPE and copolymers of the plastics named, bioplastics, in particular PLA or PEF, filled plastics, and mixtures of the plastics named.
14. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) is an injection-molded part, in particular produced from PET, PET-G, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PVC, PEN, PHA, PHB, PEIT, PCTG, LLDPE, MDPE and copolymers of the plastics named, bioplastics, in particular PLA or PEF, filled plastics, and mixtures of the plastics named.
15. The plastic container (1, 1″) according to claim 1, wherein the handle insert (13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) and the plastic container (1, 1″) are made of the same material.
Description
[0056] The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments on the basis of figures which are shown only schematically.
[0057] These show:
[0058] FIG. 1: a plastic container;
[0059] FIG. 2: a sectional view of FIG. 1 along the line A-A;
[0060] FIG. 3: an exploded view of the handle insert of FIG. 2;
[0061] FIG. 4: a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a further embodiment of the plastic container;
[0062] FIG. 5: an exploded view of the handle insert of FIG. 4;
[0063] FIG. 6: an alternative embodiment of the handle insert of FIGS. 4 and 5;
[0064] FIG. 7: an exploded view of the handle insert of FIG. 6;
[0065] FIG. 8: a further embodiment of a handle insert;
[0066] FIG. 9: an exploded view of the handle insert of FIG. 8.
[0067] FIG. 1 shows a plastic container 1 which has a container body 10. The container body 10 provides a filling volume that is not denoted in greater detail. The container body 10 is passed through by a reach-through opening 11 and thus is formed in two parts in the region of the reach-through opening 11. The container body 10 thus has two different cross-sections in this region. A handle insert 13 is arranged within the reach-through opening 11. The handle insert 13 forms a handle 12 with a partial region 10a of the container body 10 for holding and manipulating the plastic container 1.
[0068] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of FIG. 1 along the line A-A. A handle insert 13 is arranged within the reach-through opening 11. In the present case, the handle insert 13 has a first shell 13a and a second shell 13b, which are connected to each other along a parting plane 14. The parting plane 14 lies substantially in a mold parting plane (not denoted in greater detail) of the plastic container 1 (see FIG. 1). The handle insert 13 together with a partial region 10a of the container body 10 forms a handle 12. The handle insert 13 has a first outwardly directed surface 135 and a second outwardly directed surface 136. In the present case, “outwardly directed” means that the outer surface or surface in question faces an outer contour of the plastic container 1. Nevertheless, the handle insert 13 is arranged completely within the enclosing outer contour of the plastic container 1. In other words, the surfaces 135 and 136 of the handle insert do not project beyond the enclosing outer contour of the plastic container 1. In the region of the reach-through opening 11, the enclosing outer contour is the contour that the plastic container 1 would have if no reach-through opening 11 were provided, that is to say if there were a substantially continuous connection of the surfaces of the container body 10 surrounding the reach-through opening. The first shell 13a has a first pressing element 133 and the second shell 13b has a second pressing element 134. In the region of the reach-through opening 11, the container body 10 has a circumferential projection 16 on which there is arranged a connection seam 17. In the present embodiment, the circumferential projection 16 has two outwardly directed curvatures or bulges. These are connected to the plastic container via a load-relief notch 161. The cross-section thus has a constriction in the region of the load-relief notch 161 and an extension in the region of the projection 16. The first pressing element 133 and the second pressing element 134 are operatively connected to the projection 16 and in the present case to the respective curvatures. The first shell 13a and the second shell 13b lie against each other via first and second contact surfaces 131, 132 (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, a specific distance that is less than a minimum width of the circumferential projection 16 at the corresponding point is provided between the first pressing element 133 and the second pressing element 134. The circumferential projection 16 is thus compressed by the first pressing element 133 and the second pressing element 134 and is placed under pretension. Forces which occur in this region are thus absorbed by the handle insert 13. The connection seam 17 lying within a contour of the handle insert 13 is therefore load-relieved.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the handle insert 13 of FIG. 2 in a three-dimensional view. The handle insert 13 comprises a first shell 13a and a second shell 13b. The first shell 13a has a first contact surface 131. Arranged along the periphery of the first contact surface 131 is a first pressing element 133, which in the present case is formed from individual ribs. The second shell 13b also has a second contact surface 132. A second pressing element 134 is likewise arranged along the periphery of the second contact surface 132. The second pressing element 134 is also formed from individual ribs. In proper use, the first contact surface 131 faces the second contact surface 132.
[0070] In the present case, the first contact surface 131 and the second contact surface 132 are substantially flat. In this embodiment, to connect the first shell 13a to the second shell 13b, an adhesive is applied to the first and/or second contact surfaces 131, 132 and the first shell 13a and the second shell 13b are pressed together with their contact surfaces 131, 132.
[0071] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view corresponding to the view of FIG. 2 through a plastic container 1. The plastic container 1 corresponds to that of FIG. 1. A handle insert 13′ is arranged within the reach-through opening 11. The handle insert 13′ is also arranged completely within the outer contour of the plastic container 1. In the present case, the handle insert 13′ has a first shell 13a′ and a second shell 13b′, which are connected to each other along a parting plane 14′. The parting plane 14′ lies substantially in a mold parting plane of the plastic container 1, which is not denoted in greater detail. The handle insert 13′ forms a handle 12′ jointly with a partial region 10a′ of the container body 10. The handle insert 13′ has a first outwardly directed surface 135′ and a second outwardly directed surface 136′. In the present case, “outwardly directed” means that the outer surface or surface in question faces an outer contour of the plastic container 1. The first shell 13a′ has a first pressing element 133′ and the second shell 13b′ has a second pressing element 134′. In the region of the reach-through opening 11, the container body 10 has a circumferential projection 16 on which there is arranged a connection seam 17′. In the present embodiment, the circumferential projection 16′ has two outwardly directed curvatures or bulges. These are connected to the plastic container via a relief notch 161′. The cross-section thus has a constriction in the region of the relief notch 161′ and an extension in the region of the projection 16′. The first pressing element 133′ and the second pressing element 134′ are operatively connected to the projection 16′ and in the present case to the respective curvatures. The first shell 13a′ and the second shell 13b′ lie against each other via first and second contact surfaces 131′, 132′ (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, a specific distance that is less than a minimum width of the circumferential projection 16′ is provided between the first pressing element 133′ and the second pressing element 134′. The circumferential projection 16′ is thus compressed by the first pressing element 133′ and the second pressing element 134′ and is placed under pretension. Forces which now occur in this region are thus absorbed by the handle insert 13′. The connection seam 17′ lying within a contour of the handle insert 13′ is therefore load-relieved.
[0072] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the handle insert 13′ of FIG. 4 in a three-dimensional view. The handle insert 13′ comprises a first shell 13a′ and a second shell 13b′. The first shell 13a′ has a first contact surface 131′. Arranged along the periphery of the first contact surface 131′ is a first pressing element 133′, which in the present case is formed as a circumferential shoulder. The second shell 13b′ also has a second contact surface 132′. A second pressing element 134′ is likewise arranged along the periphery of the second contact surface 132′. The second pressing element 134′ is also formed as a circumferential projection. In proper use, the first contact surface 131′ faces the second contact surface 132′.
[0073] In the present case, the first contact surface 131′ and the second contact surface 132′ are substantially flat. In this embodiment, to connect the first shell 13a′ to the second shell 13b′, four snap-in connections 15a′, 15b′ are provided, with only one of the snap-in connections 15a′, 15b′ being denoted and explained in more detail in the present case for the sake of clarity. The snap-in connection 15a′, 15b′ has a first element 15a′ and a second element 15b′, with the first element 15a′ being formed as an opening with undercut and the second element 15b′ being formed as an elastically deformable projection. During joining, the elements 15a′ and 15b′ engage with each other so that a connection between the first shell 13a′ and the second shell 13b′ is produced.
[0074] The handle insert 13′ according to FIG. 5 is provided with reinforcement ribs 137′ which are each arranged between the first pressing element 133′ and the associated surface 135′ or between the second pressing element 134′ and the associated surface 136′.
[0075] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the handle insert 13′ of FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view corresponding to the view of FIG. 2 through a plastic container 1″. A handle insert 13″ is arranged within the reach-through opening 11″. The handle insert 13″ is also arranged completely within the outer contour of the plastic container 1″. In the present case, the handle insert 13″ has a first shell 13a″ and a second shell 13b″, which are connected to each other along a parting plane 14″. The parting plane 14″ lies substantially in a mold parting plane of the plastic container 1″, which is not denoted in greater detail. The handle insert 13″ forms a handle 12″ jointly with a partial region 10a″ of the container body 10″. The handle insert 13″ has a first outwardly directed surface 135″ and a second outwardly directed surface 136″. In the present case, “outwardly directed” means that the outer surface or surface in question faces an outer contour of the plastic container 1″. The first shell 13a″ has a first pressing element 133″ and the second shell 13b″ has a second pressing element 134″. In the region of the reach-through opening 11″, the container body 10″ has a circumferential connection seam 17″ which projects from the container body 10″ and thus provides an element corresponding to the projection 17′ of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the circumferential connection seam 17″ has two substantially planar portions of the walls of the plastic container 10″. These planar portions are connected to the plastic container via load-relief notches (not denoted in greater detail). The first pressing element 133″ and the second pressing element 134″ are operatively connected to these walls and thus to the connection seam 17″. The first pressing element 133″ and the second pressing element 134″ press the walls of the connection seam 17″ against each other, so that the connection seam 17″ is under pretension.
[0076] Forces which now occur in this region are thus absorbed by the handle insert 13″. The connection seam 17″ lying within a contour of the handle insert 13″ is therefore load-relieved.
[0077] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the handle insert 13″ of FIG. 6 in a three-dimensional view. The handle insert 13″ comprises a first shell 13a″ and a second shell 13b″. The first shell 13a″ has a first pressing element 133″ which, in the present case, is formed as a circumferential surface. The second shell 13b′ also has a second pressing element 134′. The second pressing element 134′ is also formed as a circumferential surface. In proper use, the first pressing element 133″ faces the second pressing element 134″.
[0078] In this embodiment, to connect the first shell 13a″ to the second shell 13b″, five snap-in connections 15a″, 15b″ are provided, with only one of the snap-in connections 15a″, 15b″ being denoted and explained in more detail in the present case for the sake of clarity. The snap-in connection 15a″, 15b″ has a first element 15a″ and a second element 15b″, with the first element 15a″ being formed as an opening with undercut and the second element 15b″ being formed as an elastically deformable projection. During joining, the elements 15a″ and 15b″ engage with each other so that a connection between the first shell 13a″ and the second shell 13b″ is produced. The first pressing element 133″ and the second pressing element 134″ subsequently press the walls of the connection seam 17″ against each other, so that the connection seam 17″ is under pretension (see FIG. 6).
[0079] The handle insert 13″ according to FIG. 7 is provided with reinforcement ribs 137″ which are each arranged between the first pressing element 133″ and the associated surface 135″ or between the second pressing element 134″ and the associated surface 136″. To be able to set a specific distance of the pressing elements 134″ and 133″ to each other, it is possible to provide projections 138″ on one of the pressing elements 133″ and 134″. In the present case, these are formed as nubs which are arranged on an elastic projection.
[0080] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a handle insert. FIG. 8 shows a sectional view corresponding to the view of FIG. 2 through a plastic container 1″. This plastic container 1″ corresponds to that of the plastic container described in FIG. 6. A handle insert 13′″ is arranged within the reach-through opening 11″. The handle insert 13′″ is also arranged completely within the outer contour of the plastic container 1″. In the present case, the handle insert 13″40 has a first shell 13a′″ and a second shell 13b′″, which are connected to each other along a parting plane 14′″. The parting plane 14′″ lies substantially in a mold parting plane of the plastic container 1″, said mold parting plane not being denoted in greater detail. The handle insert 13″′ forms a handle 12″′ jointly with a partial region 10a″′ of the container body 10″′. The handle insert 13″′ has a first outwardly directed surface 135″′ and a second outwardly directed surface 136″′. In the present case, “outwardly directed” means that the outer surface or surface in question faces an outer contour of the plastic container 1″. The first shell 13a″′ has a first pressing element 133″′ and the second shell 13b″′ has a second pressing element 134″′. In the region of the reach-through opening 11″, the container body 10″ has a circumferential connection seam 17″ which projects from the container body 10″ and thus provides an element corresponding to the projection 17 of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the circumferential connection seam 17″ has two substantially planar portions of the walls of the plastic container 10″. These planar portions are connected to the plastic container via load-relief notches (not denoted in greater detail). The first pressing element 133″′ and the second pressing element 134″′ are operatively connected to these walls and thus to the connection seam 17″. The first pressing element 133″ and the second pressing element 134″ press the walls of the connection seam 17″ against each other, so that the connection seam 17″ is under pretension. The first shell 13a″′ and the second shell 13b″′ simultaneously lie against each other via first and second contact surfaces 131″′, 132″′ (see also FIG. 9 in this regard).
[0081] Forces which now occur in this region are thus absorbed by the handle insert 13″. The connection seam 17″ lying within a contour of the handle insert 13″′ is therefore load-relieved.
[0082] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the handle insert 13″′ of FIG. 8 in a three-dimensional view. The handle insert 13′ comprises a first shell 13a″′ and a second shell 13b″′. The first shell 13a″′ has a first contact surface 131″′. Arranged along the periphery of the first contact surface 131″′ is a first pressing element 133″′, which in the present case is formed as a circumferential shoulder. The second shell 13b″′ also has a second contact surface 132″′. A second pressing element 134″′ is likewise arranged along the periphery of the second contact surface 132″′. The second pressing element 134″′ is also formed as a circumferential shoulder. In proper use, the first contact surface 131″′ faces the second contact surface 132″′.
[0083] In the present case, the first contact surface 131″′, and the second contact surface 132″′ are substantially flat. In this embodiment, six plug-in connections are provided to connect the first shell 13a′″to the second shell 13b′″. Each plug-in connection has a projection 19 and an opening 18. For the sake of clarity, only the elements of one of the plug-in connections are denoted and explained in more detail in the present case. To connect the shell 13a′″ to the shell 13″′, they are moved toward each other and the projections 19 are introduced into the openings 18. The projections have outwardly arranged ribs so that an outer contour of the projections 19 is larger than an inner contour of the openings 18. This allows jamming of the projections 19 in the openings 18. The shells 13a′″and 13b′″ can thus be securely connected.
[0084] The number of connecting elements, for example the number of plug-in connections or also the number of snap-in connections, which are described in the present case, are to be understood as non-limiting. However, at least three connecting elements are preferably provided.
