Package handle

People have long seen a need to have package forms which are easy for people to carry and to use. Some of these, such as amphora[6], date from the Neolithic period.

• 
  Amphora with built in handles
• 
  Man carrying a wooden box or chest, 1625
• 
  Man carrying a jug, Portugal, 1950
• 
  Jerrycans of fuel. 1941
• 
  Handles on metal milk churns allow easy carrying
• 
  Stoneware jug

Wooden boxes often have metal handles nailed or otherwise attached to the ends to facilitate handling. Steel boxes also frequently have attached handles or hinged bails.

Corrugated boxes can have hand holes die-cut into the ends to assist material handling tasks.[7] Several designs are in use.[8][9] Care must also be taken for the hand holes not to weaken the strength of the box.[10][11][12]

Depending on the contents and the degree of handling required, reinforcement is sometimes needed to prevent tearing. Reinforcing tapes, whether pressure -sensitive or heat-activated, can be applied to boxes in the vicinity of hand holes.[13][14]

Separate plastic or composite fitments are also available for corrugated boxes.[15][16]

• 
  Telescope box used for bananas. Note hand holes and ventilation holes
• 
  Partial overlap box; minor flaps fold down to provide double thickness of corrugated board
• 
  Handles on a metal ammunition box
• 
  Boxes of Greek laundry detergent with handles
• 
  Corrugated tray of tomatoes at a farmers market
• 
  Box wine with a plastic handle inserted into holes in the top of the corrugated box

Many plastic containers have built in handles. Plastic shipping containers and storage tubs often have handles molded into them. Consumer blow molded containers often have integral handles or are shaped to facilitate grasping.[17][18]

• 
  Bottle of antifreeze
• 
  bulk soy sauce
• 
  Blow molded plastic bottle of milk with indentations for a handle
• 
  HDPE plastic bottle of milk
• 
  large plastic bottles of water
• 
  Drain cleaner

Ssparate handles are sometimes added to a bottle, usually around the neck at the closure. Several methods have been developed.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

• 
  apple juice
• 
  water
• 
  Clip used to join two spray bottles and to provide a handle

Many types of bags have handles to assist in carrying them.

• 
  Reusable fabric shopping bag with handles
• 
  Kraft paper bags with handles
• 
  A blue reusable shopping bag
• 
  Plastic bag of water softener salt; handle die-cut through the thick plastic to allow carrying
• 
  FIBC: bulk bag with lifting straps

Shrink wrapped Multi-packs often have open ends (bulls eyes) which can be used as handles. Methods are available to reinforce the film, if needed.[24][25] Handles are often used on beverage carriers.

• 
  Shrink wrapped pack of bottles with ends (bulls eyes) as handles
• 
  Six pack rings for beverage cans
• 
  Paperboard basket
• 
  Plastic six-pack carrier

Six water bottles with tape handle. Transparent tape and red foam applied to shrink film prior to application and shrink tunnel.

Pressure sensitive tape is often used as a handle: filament tape or strong film backed tapes (polypropylene or polyester). A loop can be applied over a package with paper or film used to cover the adhesive in the center portion. Another example with a shrink film package is for a tape to be applied to a film with slits cut in the film on either side of the tape. When the film shrinks, the tape does not and a handle is formed.[26] PSA tape handles can be built into the package structure or can also be added after package completion.[27] Specialized application machinery is sometimes available.[28]

A bail handle consists of an open loop with ends attached to the item or package, sometimes to fixed mounts or ears. Several designs are available: bails are typically made of metal (wire) or plastic. It is a type of package handle which may be used for carrying or hanging items such as cans, pails, or jars.

Several package testing options are available to packaging engineers to help determine the suitability of package handles.

People can be used directly in an evaluation. Several different people can carry (and even abuse) handle and package options for subjective ratings. These can be compiled in a report.[29]

More objective laboratory procedures are also used. Fixtured ‘’hands’’ of various designs are used to hold a handle (sometimes two handles for a box). ASTM International D6804, Standard Guide for Hand Hole Design in Corrugated Boxes, describes “jerk testing’’ by modified drop test procedures or use of the constant pull rates of a Universal testing machine. ASTM F852, Specification for Portable Gasoline, Kerosene, and Diesel Containers for Consumer Use, requires severe "jerk testing" of the handle. These test procedures are also used on other types of packages.[30][31] Other test procedures are conducted with a static force by hanging a heavily loaded package for an extended time or even using a centrifuge.

• Lug (knob)

• Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6