US20040079437A1

US20040079437A1 - Reusable plastic bottling system

Info

Publication number: US20040079437A1
Application number: US09/886,722
Authority: US
Inventors: Glenn Howland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-20
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2004-04-29

Abstract

The Reusable Plastic Bottling System is Designed to save both energy and consumer costs. By refilling Plastic Detergent Bottles at the supermarkets recycling costs can be reduced significantly. The system is also designed to reduce the amount of labeling on the bottles. Fifty five or thirty gallon drums will be placed on aluminum or steel alloy racks. Bulk plastic containers can also be used instead of drums for higher capacity and less space. The drums will be installed with faucet or electric top fill valves so the consumer can easily open the valve to refill their bottles. Container racks can be mounted to the floor with red head anchors. The rack system can easily be designed to fit in the current supermarket rack area with with drums (containers) arranged for efficiency. Drums will need to be refilled with detergent at least twice per week in most supermarkets. This estimate is based on weekly usage (Albertson's Supermarket, Costa Mesa, Cailf. store mgr. Mike Maurer). The main objective for replacing plastic detergent bottles with a reusable drum system is to save recycling and virgin resin energy costs. This system is not designed to replace other types of bottle recycling.

Description

This Patent project has originated from my Thesis Paper “Management Solutions To Reduce Plastics In the Waste Stream.” My Thesis was completed in December of 1989 and received an A+ for a final grade. The paper also received two excellent recommendations from my advisors who were also instructors at the University of Santa Barbara. The thesis investigated various management approaches for reducing plastic products from the waste stream. Waste Stream basically refers to public landfills which is of course where the waste ends up if not recycled, reused,or degraded. Since my Thesis I have thought about and investigated recycled plastic materials, such as bottles, and decided to write a proposal. This proposal involved reusing plastic bottles via a hot water treatment system that could filter and reclaim the water. This idea was not pursued do to the apparent lack of practicality. Most notably, collecting the empty bottles and transporting them to a cleaning facility.

Basically originating from both my thesis and proposal studies this Patent attempt as represented by the above title is more specialized to detergents and claims to save the detergent companies end-use and operating costs. This type of bottling system can do this in two primary ways: 1 cutting virgin and recycled resin costs by using refillable 30 gallon drums(HDPE) which are filled at the bottling facility and reusing the 3.78 and 2.95 liter bottles at the supermarket. The bottles will of course be refilled by the consumer using 30 gallon drums. 2 proper labels will need to be applied to bulk drums and refillable bottles only not every bottle. This could reduce costs significantly. The bottle labels could read: “Refillable Detergent Bottle.” “Do Not Discard.” “Liquid Detergent Only.”

This system will be set up in the supermarket to reduce the costs of recycling plastic resins for the detergent industry. The goal of the project is to reduce costs of recycled post consumer resin.

The system will be constructed using metal racks supported by red head anchors. these racks( two total) will hold five to six thirty gallon drums with valve faucets attached. The poly drums will be filled with laundry detergent. Each drum will weigh approximately 240 pounds. Consumers will save their HDPE soap containers for refill. To refill a container a consumer will hold an empty bottle under a faucet and open the valve. All drums need to be marked with proper labels describing the soap brand, manufacturer, and ingredients. Drums can be raised to the proper height by using pallet jacks(5000 lb capacity). Drum parameters for 30 gallons are as follows: Height 65.0 cm (26.0″)× width/diameter 32.0 cm (12.8″) A manufacturer can also reduce costs by not having to label the numerous plastic detergent containers. The amount of this potential cost savings for labeling will be determined by the manufacturer and/or distributor.

The reusable plastic containers will be clearly marked “Do not Discard! Refillable Detergent Bottle.” “Please Return Me for A Refill!” A label needs to be affixed on the drum reminding consumers to turn off the faucet.

I. Figure Identification [0006]
FIG. 1: poly drum containing liquid detergent [0007]
FIG. 2: drum rack with height and width measurements [0008]
FIG. 3: faucet stem with valve. To dispense detergent. [0009]
FIG. 4: red head anchor. To fasten drum rack to surface. [0010]

Claims

1. Through the process of reusing the 3.78 liter and 2.95 liter liquid laundry containers by refilling via faucet valve a large soap manufacturer can save on virgin resin costs. This cost savings may reduce consumer prices as well.

2. The volume of resin used for manufacturing these small containers would be reduced, assuming consumers are educated about saving their used containers for refill. the PE drums will also be reused many times because the manufacturer will refill them. The combination of refilling and reusing these container products will most likely save the manufacturer CRV costs and possibly county landfill siting costs.

3. The process would reduce the cost of labeling for multiple containers. only the 30 gallon drums would need to be labeled. The company can inform the consumer to save their empty containers by stating in bold print; “Refillable Detergent Bottle.” “Do Not Discard.” The company might want to add: “Return to Local Supermarket for a refill.”

4. The detergent corporation can reduce end-use recycling costs by making their plastic containers refillable.