Engineers out there. Experienced with Plastic?

Hi All,

I know there are a few engineers on this site, so I figured it would be as good a place as any to ask.

I've been kicking around in my brain, for quite some time, a little invention that would basically be a better way for consumers to carry bottles of soda and/or water.

This idea would basically make it so, if someone wanted to stock up on say, 4 bottles of soda, instead of using a whole bunch of bags (which would go into landfills) they'd use this strap I'm conceiving.

It would have four tethers and a central handle. Each tether would have a plastic clip on the end, that would clip around the little ring on the top of the bottle. The beauty being, that it would be very easy to carry four bottles, and it would be totally recyclable/re-usable.

I was thinking maybe a six tether version for smaller water bottles.

I came across this company, Strap Works, that would have most of the supplies I need and they'll make up anything as long as you use the hardware and supplies that they already stock.

My problem is that the little clip would be application specific. I called strap works and their customer support was none too helpful.

I think I'd need to have my clips custom made. I have a small budget and by small, I mean really pretty much none. I would probably need a company to make the clips, and then I'd buy them from them by the 100 count of whatever.

Anyone have experience with injection molding etc.?

-Brian

Hahahah, thanks Peter. I've gotten that one before. I think Pepsi even made a giant one of those at one point that held 2 liter bottles. It was still disposable though.

Thanks for the suggestion on the mold maker; that's a good idea. That's a big number though

Some friends have suggested I just do the "clip" with a little noose made of nylon thread. It wouldn't be quite as cool though and may not hold.

I drew up a crude rendering here (I'm not artist). The little blue squares represent the clips I need:

Hahahahaha

That's exactly what I need. I just need it to fasten to Coke bottles instead of nipples... and not milk them

first, you'll need to make a CAD model of your clip...then probably make a prototype (aluminum) injection mold. material type and grade will depend on the design of your clip.
i have never used this company, but just got a flyer in the mail from proto labs...www.protomold.com...they mention proto molds (aluminum or maybe urethane) from $1495.
a multi cavity steel "production" tool could be more like $100K and then you need someone to actually mold the parts...but, a lot of tool shops also mold parts. the parts cost would be based on the mat'l used (lowest is probably unfilled polypropelyne, glass filled nylon would be on the higher end) $/pound, process cost...machine time/shot or hours, and any assembly.

just off the top of my head...

Nick, that's amazing. Would that be metal or plastic? Would something like that be big money to produce?

Above it was mentioned that stamped metal could be far cheaper to produce. I was thinking possibly something with a key-way. The big hole would fit over the neck/ring of the bottle, then the you could slide it and the smaller hole would hold it firm. The strap would go around the little slit that is cut out:

i would think "tuning" the length of the legs and the engagement of the snaps would allow you to remove the clip by pushing perpendicular to installation direction...a tab on top would make that easy...maybe more like this...better get back to work now

    

Pete, Nick, David and Craig,

Thank you very much for your input. It's given me some food for thought.

Unfortunately, I have to get back to my actual job as well.

I'll keep you posted on any developments. David, I'll definitely give that guy a call.

Hi Pete, If it were to be done the way you describe above ^, with a stamped metal key-way, would there still be the big costs for the initial tooling/mold?

Sounds like a definite option. Thanks again Pete.

Pete, another one bites the dust?

Bri, as long as you dont invent another form of the "man purse" you know the ones that go around the waist.....the typical guy wearing one has bermuda shorts, black socks with sandels, well sorta like the J-bear type

Actually Nick,

I like yours a lot better. The above one just has the advantage of already being made. But yeah, I envision them fastening onto the bottle with a nice solid "click," which the above one would not.

Brian

what do you keep in that purse?