Container, system, and method for providing a container with a handle

Abstract

A container comprises a connecting means, which forms an integral part of the container or is detachably attached to the container. In an unpacked state of the container, at least a portion of the connecting means is detached from the container and at least partially spans at least a part of a circumference of the container. In the unpacked state of the container, the connecting means provides a handle suitable for being supported by a carrier. A system comprising a respective container and a method for providing a container with a handle are described.

Claims

1. A container, comprising: a connecting means including a patch-shaped structure attached to the container, wherein the patch-shaped structure has a first surface facing outward from the container and a second surface opposite to the first surface facing toward the container, and wherein through-holes defined in the patch-shaped structure extend from the first surface to the second surface; the connecting means further including loop material that is guided through the through-holes such that a first portion of the loop material forming a first loop is located on the first surface of the patch-shaped structure and a second portion of the loop material forming a second loop is also located on the first surface of the patch-shaped structure, the loop material of the first and second loops being fed through the through-holes such that a remainder of the loop material is located on the second surface of the patch-shaped structure between the patch-shaped structure and the container; wherein the first loop and/or the second loop are extendable by pulling the respective first and/or second loop outward from the container, thereby pulling a portion of the remainder of the loop material through a through hole from the second surface to the first surface of the patch-shaped structure; wherein, in an unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop of the connecting means are extended from the patch-shaped structure and span at least a part of a circumference of the container, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop provide a handle suitable for being supported by a carrier to carry the container, and wherein the container has at least one edge and at least a portion of the container is detachable at the at least one edge, forming at least one detachable portion that, when detached, is adapted to engage with the first loop and/or the second loop of the connecting means to provide the handle.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the at least one detachable portion of the container provides at least a part of the handle having a surface suitable for being supported by the carrier.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch-shaped structure of the connecting means is attached to a sidewall of the container, and wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop of the connecting means provides the handle in a location spaced apart from the container.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop of the connecting means is adapted to wrap around the container.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the loop material is a single piece of material forming a closed loop, and wherein either of the first loop or the second loop is retractable toward the container by pulling the respective other first or second loop.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the patch-shaped structure is attached to at least one portion of the container by an adhesive.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the loop material of the connecting means comprises at least one of: a string, a cord, a rope, a chain, a band or a belt.

8. The container of claim 1, fulfilling at least one of the following: the container is a box; or the loop material of the connecting means comprises a string connected to the at least one detachable portion of the container and to the container.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, a larger portion of the loop material forming the first loop and/or the second loop of the connecting means is arranged on the outside of the patch-shaped structure compared to the portion of the loop material inside the patch-shaped structure between the patch-shaped structure and the container.

10. A system comprising: a container, including a patch-shaped structure that has an outward-facing first surface and an inward-facing second surface opposite to the outward-facing first surface, wherein through-holes defined in the patch-shaped structure extend from the first surface to the second surface, and wherein a portion of the container external to the patch-shaped structure has additional through-holes defined therein extending from inside the container to outside the container, and loop material that is guided through the through-holes of the patch-shaped structure and the container such that a first portion of the loop material extends from the through-holes of the patch-shaped structure and forms a first loop that is located on the first surface of the patch-shaped structure and a second portion of the loop material extends from the through-holes of the container and forms a second loop that is located outside the container, the loop material of the first and second loops being fed through the through-holes such that a remainder of the loop material is located inside the container, wherein, in an unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop are extended from the patch-shaped structure and/or the container respectively, and span at least a part of a circumference of the container, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop provide a handle suitable for being supported by a carrier to carry the container, and wherein the container has at least one edge, and at least a portion of the container is detachable at the at least one edge, forming at least one detachable portion that, when detached, is adapted to engage with the first loop and/or the second loop to provide the handle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the at least one detachable portion of the container provides at least a part of the handle having a surface suitable for being supported by the carrier of the container.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the patch-shaped structure is detachable from the container, and wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the patch-shaped structure is detached from the container and engages the first loop and/or the second loop to provide the handle in a location spaced apart from the container.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein, in the unpacked state of the container, the first loop and/or the second loop is adapted to wrap around the container.

14. A system comprising: a patch-shaped structure having an outward-facing first surface and an inward-facing second surface opposite to the outward-facing first surface, wherein through-holes are defined in the patch-shaped structure and extend from the first surface to the second surface; and loop material that is guided through the through-holes such that a first portion of the loop material forming a first loop is located on the first surface of the patch-shaped structure and a second portion of the loop material forming a second loop is also located on the first surface of the patch-shaped structure, the loop material of the first and second loops being fed through the through-holes such that a remainder of the loop material is located on the second surface of the patch-shaped structure; wherein the first loop and/or the second loop are extendable by pulling the respective first and/or second loop outward from the patch-shaped structure, thereby pulling a portion of the remainder of the loop material through a through hole from the second surface to the first surface of the patch-shaped structure, wherein the patch-shaped structure is attachable to a container, and when the patch-shaped structure is attached to the container, the remainder of the loop material located on the second surface of the patch-shaped structure is held between the patch-shaped structure and the container, and when the first loop and/or the second loop is extended from the patch-shaped structure, the first loop and/or the second loop is arranged to span at least a part of a circumference of the container and provide a handle suitable for being supported by a carrier to carry the container, and wherein a portion of the container is detachable from at least one edge of the container such that, when detached, the portion of the container is adapted to engage with the first loop and/or the second loop to provide the handle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the loop material is a single piece of material forming a closed loop, and when the patch-shaped structure is attached to the container, either of the first loop or the second loop is retractable toward the container by pulling the respective other first or second loop.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the patch-shaped structure is attachable to at least one portion of the container by an adhesive.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein when the first loop and/or the second loop is extended from the patch-shaped structure, the first loop and/or the second loop is adapted to wrap around the container.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein when the first loop and/or the second loop is extended from the patch-shaped structure, a larger portion of the loop material forming the first loop and/or the second loop is arranged on the outward-facing first surface of the patch-shaped structure compared to the portion of the loop material on the inward-facing second surface of the patch-shaped structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The specific features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a container in a packed state according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in an unpacked state according to an embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 is an example view of another example of a container in an unpacked state according to an embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 is an example view of yet another example of a container in an unpacked state according to an embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a container in an unpacked state according to one embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 is yet another perspective view of a container according to one embodiment;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a container in its packed state according to one embodiment;

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate containers according to embodiments in their unpacked states;

(10) FIG. 10 shows yet another view on a container according to one embodiment;

(11) FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic view on a container according to an embodiment in an unpacked state;

(12) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment in its packed state;

(13) FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic view of a connecting means according to one embodiment;

(14) FIG. 14 schematically shows loops of the connecting means applicable in embodiments of the present disclosure;

(15) FIG. 15 shows yet another example of connecting means applicable in embodiments of the present disclosure; and

(16) FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate connecting means attached to a container according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) In the following description, reference is made to drawings which show by way of illustration various embodiments. Also, various embodiments will be described below by referring to several examples. It is to be understood that the embodiments may include changes in design and structure without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter.

(18) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container 100 in a packed state according to an embodiment. The container 100 may have a polyhedron shape with a rectangular cross section in both length and height directions, which are schematically indicated with arrows X and Y in FIG. 1. The container may have the shape of a box.

(19) The container 100 may be capable of housing a physical item including consumer goods such as cloths, footwear, consumer electronics or the like. For this purpose, the container 100 may comprise a portion (not shown) that is openable by moving in a specific way, such as sliding or pivoting, and/or being separated from the rest of the container 100.

(20) A detachable portion 102 is indicated by dashed lines. The detachable portion may be located at an edge 104 of the container 100. The edge 104 may be formed by the different angles between two adjacent sidewalls 106, 108 of the container 100.

(21) The detachable portion 102 may be marked so as to be optically perceptible by a human user. For this purpose, the detachable portion 102 may be marked in any visual manner as above described. For example, the detachable portion 102 may be outlined with a dashed line as shown in FIG. 1.

(22) The detachable portion 102 may be marked (not shown in FIG. 1) so as to be haptically perceptible by a human user. For this purpose, the detachable portion 102 may be marked in any tactile manner as above described. For example, the boundary of the detachable portion 102 (corresponding to the dashed line) may be perforated so as to be both haptically perceptible and easily to break up.

(23) The detachable portion 102 may be an integral part of the container 100. Alternatively, the detachable portion 102 may be attached to the container 100 by gluing, inserting into a slot, or the like. The detachable portion 102 and the container 100 may be made of a biodegradable material such as cardboard or wood.

(24) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container 100 of FIG. 1 in an unpacked state. The arrow D indicates the detaching movement of the detachable portion 102 being detached from the body of the container 100. A detachable portion of a container being detached from said container may be referred to as detached portion.

(25) The detachable portion 102 may be detached from the container 100 by pulling it from the container 100, by pushing it inwards, or by otherwise tearing it from the container 100. Though not shown in FIG. 2, the detachable portion 102 may be, either in the packed or in the unpacked state of the container, connected with a first end of a connecting means that is fixed to the container 100 at its second end.

(26) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 300 in an unpacked state. The container 300 may have a shape that is similar to the container 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The container 300 may be similar or identical to the container 100 in terms of the functional and structural features above described.

(27) In FIG. 3, a portion of the container has been detached from the container 300. The detached portion may be pushed into the container 300, pulled out off of the container 300, or otherwise ripped or torn apart from the container 300. In the example of the container 300 in FIG. 3, the detached portion is taken from an edge 304 between two adjacent sidewalls 306, 308 of the container 300.

(28) With the detached portion 302 being detached from the container 300, an opening 301 or a recess (not shown) is formed in the position where the detached portion 302 has been removed from. In the example of the container 300 being a cardboard box, detaching the detached portion 302 from the container 300 may form a through-hole 301 at the edge 304 corresponding to the size of the detached portion 302.

(29) A connecting means 310 may be fixed to the container 300. The connecting means 310 may be fixed to the container 300 on the inside. Additionally or alternatively, at least part of the sidewalls 306, 308 of the container 300 may comprise multiple layers, and the connecting means 310 may be fixed to the container 300 between the layers. The connecting means 310 may be glued to the container 300. The connecting means 310 may be fixed to the container 300 in a permanent manner such that, for instance, the connecting means 310 may not be removable from the container 300 without destroying its integrity. Alternatively, the connecting means 310 may be attached to the container 300 in a detachable manner such that, in the unpacked state of the container 300, the connecting means 310 is detached from a position in or at the container 300 where the connecting means 310 was fixed in the packed state of the container 300, and wrapped around the container 300 to engage with the detached portion 302.

(30) The connecting means 310 may comprise at least one string fixed to the container. The connecting means 310 may comprise a first loop 312 and a second loop 314. The first and second loops 312, 314 may have different lengths. The connecting means 310 may be provided as a single piece fixed to the container 300 in a manner that the first loop 312 has a greater length than the second loop 314. Alternatively or additionally, the first and second loops 312, 314 may be separate from one another.

(31) In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first loop 312 may be measured such as to extend downwards (in the orientation of FIG. 3) from the opening 301 to encircle the container 300 along an outer circumference. The second loop 314 may be measured such as to extend from the opening 301 upwards (in the orientation of FIG. 3). The loops 312, 314 may be measured such as to converge in a location above the container 300 that is spaced apart from the top sidewall 308 of the container 300. The location in which the first and second loops 312, 314 converge may be central relative to the top sidewall 308 in a top view (in the orientation of FIG. 3). Alternatively, the loops 312, 314 may be measured such as to converge in a location close to and/or spaced apart from any other sidewall of the container 300. For example, the loops 312, 314 may have a respective length such that they converge in a location below the sidewall opposite to the top sidewall 308. In this example, when the handle is provided, the container 300 may be carried with the top sidewall 308 down.

(32) In the example of container 300 shown in FIG. 3, the first and second loops 312, 314 may comprise portions of strings that can be held together by a carrier, e.g., by a human hand, thereby providing a handle. Such a handle may be suitable for being supported by the carrier.

(33) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 400. The container 400 may comprise at least part of the structural and functional features of the container 300 as shown in FIG. 3 and described above. In particular, the container 400 may comprise all of the features of the container 300 described above. The container 400 may comprise at least the features that are required for the features that are described in the following.

(34) In addition, the loops 312, 314 may be measured such as to extend along a groove 316 that is formed on the inner side of the fold of the detached portion 302. The connecting means 310 may engage with the detached portion 302 by hooking the first and second loops 312, 314 into the groove 316. With the connecting means 310 engaging with the detached portion 302, the surface of the detached portion 302 that is facing the container 400 may be suitable for being held by a carrier. Accordingly, the container 400 is provided with a handle 318 to be carried by a carrier.

(35) In examples not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting means 310 may be provided as a single piece which as a whole forms a closed loop. For example, the connecting means 310 may be detachably attached to the inside of the container 300 and may be forcibly detached from the container 300. With the opening 301 providing a recess in the outer surface of the container 300, the connecting means 310 may be arrested within the opening 301 when being carried by a carrier. In addition, the container 300 may have a groove, recesses, or the like to receive the connecting means 310, thereby arresting it when being carried.

(36) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 500 in an unpacked state. The container 500 may have a shape that is similar to either of the containers 100, 300 and 400 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described above. The container 500 may be similar or identical to either of the containers 100, 300 and 400 in terms of the functional and structural features above described.

(37) The container 500 comprises a plurality of through-holes 502, 504 formed in the sidewalls 306, 308. In the example shown in FIG. 5, two through-holes 502 are formed in the front sidewall 306, and two other through-holes are formed in the top sidewall 308. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the through-holes 502, 504 are formed close to horizontal edges 506, 508. In other examples that are not shown herein, the through-holes may be formed anywhere else in the respective sidewalls 306, 308. Further, the numbers of the through-holes that are formed in either of the sidewalls 306, 308 may vary.

(38) In an example, the connecting means 510 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided as a single piece. The connecting means as a whole may form a closed loop. The connecting means 510 is guided through the through-holes 502, 504 such that portions of the connecting means 510 pass outside of the container 500 between the through-holes 502 and between the through-holes 504, respectively. These portions located outside of the container 500 provide the first and second loops 312, 314.

(39) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, portions 512, 514 of the connecting means 510 extend inside the container 500 between the openings 502, 504. The portions 512, 514 may comprise portions of the connecting means that are stored inside the container 500. In particular, the connecting means 510 may be slidable through the through-holes 502, 504 such as to enable the lengths of the loops 312, 314 to be adjusted, for example, by pulling. In case that the connecting means 510 is provided as a single piece forming a closed loop, either of the loops 312, 314 may be retractable by pulling at the respectively other loop 312, 314.

(40) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 600, which in particular may comprise most or all of the structural and functional features of the container 500 as shown in FIG. 5 as described above. In particular, the container 600 has through-holes 502, 504 through which the connecting means 510 is guided in the above described manner. The container 600 further comprises a detached portion 302 that is used as a handle, as described above with reference to FIG. 4.

(41) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 700 in its packed state. The container 700 may be similar or identical to either of the containers 100, 300, 400, 500 and 600 in terms of the functional and structural features above described.

(42) The container 700 has the shape of a box with a front sidewall 106 and a top sidewall 108 forming an edge 104 therebetween. The container 700 comprises two through-holes 702 formed in the front sidewall 106 and two through-holes 704 formed in the top sidewall 108. A connecting means 710 is guided through the through-holes 702, 704 such as to form a first loop 312 and a second loop 314 that are located outside of the container 700. The remainder of the connecting means 710 is stored in the interior of the container 700.

(43) The connecting means 700 may be slidable through the through-holes 702, 704, thereby allowing the first and second loops 312, 314 to be extended by pulling out. In some examples, the connecting means 710 may be provided as multiple pieces attached to the container in a similar manner as described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In some other examples, the connecting means 700 may be provided as a single piece forming as a whole a closed loop passing through the through-holes 702, 704. In the latter case, either of the loops 312, 314 may be retractable by pulling at the respectively other loop 312, 314.

(44) The container 700 may be transformable into at least two different unpacked states. In a first unpacked state as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a user may extend the first and second loops 312, 314 by pulling them out, as indicated by arrows P in FIG. 8. Then, the first loop 312 may be wrapped around a circumference of the container 700 such that an end portion of the first loop 312 is located above the top sidewall 108 of the container 700. Correspondingly, the second loop 314 may be extended such that an end portion thereof is located above the top sidewall 108 in a manner to converge with the end portion of the first loop 312. The end portions of the loops 312, 314 may provide a handle to be carried by a user.

(45) In further examples, the loops 312, 314 may converge at any other side of the container 700. For example, the loops 312, 314 may be measured such as to converge over a sidewall of the container 700 opposite to the top sidewall 108, as shown in FIG. 10.

(46) In a second unpacked state as shown in FIG. 11, a portion of the container may be detachable (as indicated by arrow D) from the container 700 so as to form a detached portion 712 and an opening 711 in the container 700 when being detached. As depicted in FIG. 10 and similar to the container 100 in FIG. 2, the detachable portion 712 may be formed at the edge 104 between the sidewalls 106, 108. In a manner similar to providing the handle 316 described above with reference to FIG. 4, the first loop 312 may be wrapped around a circumference of the container 700 and be engaged with the detached portion 712 to provide a handle. In a specific example, the detached portion 712 may be flapped to build a fold inside which the second loop 314 is received.

(47) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of another example of a container 800 in its packed state. The container 800 comprises a detachable portion 802 that is located within a single sidewall 806. Otherwise, the container 800 may be comprise functional and/or structural features that are similar or identical to those of either of the containers 100, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700.

(48) The detachable portion 802 may be foldable along a central line 804 as indicated in FIG. 12. The detachable portion 802 may be detached from the container 800 in any manner described above. In the unpacked state of the container 800, a first loop 312 of the connecting means 310 may be engaged with the detached portion 802 to provide a handle to be carried by a user.

(49) FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of an example of a connecting means 900 that is attachable to a container. The connecting means 900 is generally planar or patch-shaped and has a first surface 902 and a second surface 904 that are opposite to each other. Through-holes 906, 908 are formed between the two surfaces 902, 904, through which a string 910 is guided such that a first loop 912 and a second loop 914 are located on the side of the first surface 902, and the remainder 916 of the string 910 is located on the side of the second surface 904. The remainder 916 of the string 910 is stored such as to facilitate either of the loops 912, 914 to be extended by pulling.

(50) In some examples, the string 910 is provided as a single piece forming a closed loop having loop forming portions 912, 914 passing between the through-holes 906 and through-holes 908, respectively, on the side of the first surface 902. The string 910 may comprise stored portions 916 passing between one of the through-holes 906 and the corresponding one of the through-holes 908 on the side of the second surface 904. Either of the loops 912, 914 may be extendable by pulling out. If the string 910 is provided as a single piece as a whole forming a closed loop, either of the loops 912, 914 may be retractable by pulling at the respective other loop 912, 914.

(51) FIG. 14 schematically shows the loops 912, 914 of the connecting means 900 being extended. Accordingly, the remainder 916 of the string 910 that is stored on the side of the second surface 904 is reduced so as to extend between the adjacent through-holes 906, 908.

(52) FIG. 15 shows an example of the connecting means 900, having a folded portion 918 attached to the first loop 912. In this example, the second loop 914 may be engaged with the folded portion 918 to provide a handle to be carried by a user.

(53) FIGS. 16 to 18 schematically show examples of the connecting means 900 being attached to a container 920. As shown in FIG. 16, the connecting means 900 may be provided separately from the container 920. The connecting means 900 may be attachable to the container 900, for example, by gluing, by means of an adhesive or any other suitable means.

(54) The connecting means 900 may be attached (as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 16) to any portion of the container 922 including a surface, an edge, or a combination thereof. In the example of FIG. 17, the connecting means 900 is attached to a bottom surface 924 of the container 900. In the example of FIG. 18, the connecting means 900 is attached to a front surface 922 of the container 900.

(55) When being attached, the loops 912, 914 may be extended, for example by pulling out. Alternatively or additionally, the connecting means 900 may be detachable from the container 920 after the loops 912, 914 are arranged so as to provide a handle. Either of the loops 912, 914 may be extended so as to converge in a location spaced apart from the container 920 to provide a handle to be carried by a user as described above. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, either or both of the loops 912, 914 may be at least partially wrapped around a circumference of the container 920 in this process.

(56) While some embodiments have been described in detail it is to be understood that the aspect of the disclosure can take many forms. In particular, the claimed subject matter may be practiced or implemented differently from the examples described and the described features and characteristics may be practiced or implemented in any combination. The embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention as defined by the claims.