CN114401897A

CN114401897A - Bottle neck

Info

Publication number: CN114401897A
Application number: CN202080064904.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 珍-巴普蒂斯特·谭彻特; 伊曼纽尔·莱斯特卢
Original assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Current assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Priority date: 2019-10-03
Filing date: 2020-10-05
Publication date: 2022-04-26
Also published as: JP2022551384A; US20220402642A1; BR112022004744A2; FR3101617B1; CN114206736A; MX2022003913A; EP4037983A1; MX2022001763A; BR112022002124A2; WO2021064246A1; EP4037985A1; JP2023502839A; FR3101617A1; US20220324614A1; WO2021064245A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a neck (21) of a bottle (20) with a flange (22), the bottle comprising a body having a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, characterized in that the neck (21) of the bottle (20) comprises at least one protrusion (27) arranged: -between the flange (22) and the body, -close to the shoulder.

Description

Bottle neck

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid food containers and in particular to a preferably thin-walled bottle neck (generally made of plastic) containing a liquid food product, such as non-carbonated mineral water. The invention also relates to an object or device that can be coupled to a bottle.

Background

Containers for liquid food products, in particular thin-walled necked bottles, for example made of plastic, are known in the prior art for the transport and delivery of mineral water to consumers who wish to drink quality water, while maintaining flavor and quality. Such plastic containers or bottles are disclosed in documents WO201012956a1, WO201093602a2, EP1873067a1 or WO2014101957a 1.

In return, the production of these plastic bottles has an environmental impact and a recycling department must be provided to minimize this impact.

Furthermore, it is known to manufacture such necked bottles by injection blow molding, wherein the preform is manufactured by injection and then the bottle is obtained by blow molding the preform. In these manufacturing processes, it may be necessary to orient or couple the bottles and/or preforms together with equipment, machines or other objects during transport or during end use, and solutions are proposed which provide the relief shape at the level of the neck, such as those disclosed in documents EP2522479B1 or US9533788B 2. However, such relief shapes may not be suitable for use where the bottle must be coupled to another object or device for use. This is particularly true when the bottle must be coupled to an object or device by a user rather than a machine. In particular, during coupling with another object or device, it may be necessary to provide a reliable orientation, and/or the possibility … … of identifying the bottle as a genuine bottle and these functions may require mechanical action or contact of the bottle, which must be safe and repeatable, especially by various users.

Furthermore, it may be interesting (economically and/or ecologically) to minimize the thickness of the bottle, but it must be provided with a thickness to remain easy to handle and not deform or deform too much when the consumer holds it (typically with a force of 20 newtons). This aspect is particularly important for small capacity bottles (less than 2L, preferably less than 1.5L or even 1L) as they are intended to be able to accompany the movements of the consumer and the risk of deformation (which could lead to spillage if the consumer squeezes the bottle strongly) must be minimal. Documents US20040124192a1, FR1114750A or DE29915618U1 describe bottles coupled to an external structure. However, no document gives a practical and low-cost solution to provide the user with a durable object that is easy to use and operate, especially in the coupling or uncoupling stage.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art documents, and in particular to first propose a bottle neck which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, while providing the ability of convenient, reliable and repeatable coupling with an object or device, in particular by the user.

To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a bottle neck with a flange,

the bottle includes a body having a sidewall and a shoulder disposed between the neck and the sidewall,

characterised in that the neck of the bottle comprises at least one protuberance arranged:

-between the flange and the main body,

-near the shoulder.

The invention also relates to a bottle having such a neck. The invention also relates to bottle preforms having such a neck. The invention also relates to an object comprising a bottle and a device associated with the neck and arranged to cooperate with the protrusion.

The bottle according to the above embodiment comprises a protrusion at the level of the neck but below the flange and adjacent to the shoulder. Thus, the protrusion below the flange may interact with a device, such as an object or an apparatus, without risk of being affected by the presence or absence of the cover, since the cover is arranged on the other side of the flange. Furthermore, the protrusion is adjacent to the shoulder, which means that it abuts or is in abutment with the shoulder, which eliminates any risk of a part of a device, such as an object or a device, arranged in connection with the protrusion passing between the protrusion and the shoulder. Thus, the fit with the device, e.g. object or equipment, is robust. In other words, the protrusion comprises a portion adjacent to the shoulder or it occupies the shoulder such that the inverse shape of the protrusion or the sensing or carrying member cannot pass between the protrusion and the shoulder.

According to one embodiment, the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the neck is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the body of the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the neck and the body are made of the same material, plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material.

According to one embodiment, the bottle is a thin-walled bottle.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion extends along an angular sector in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle, the angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40 °, preferably at least 50 °. Such an angular range provides an easy visual detection for the end user, who can naturally use it to locate the direction to be applied for a particular use.

According to one embodiment, the angular dimension does not exceed 180 °. In other words, in at least one front view of the bottle and its protuberances, the channel dimension at the level of the neck is the diameter of the neck over its entire height.

According to one embodiment, the neck comprises a cylindrical portion between the flange and the projection, the height X1 of which in the axial direction of the bottle is at least 2.5mm and preferably at least 3.5 mm. In other words, between the flange and the protrusion, the neck comprises a right cylindrical portion (that is to say it is possible to envisage that the generatrices are segments carried by parallel straight lines passing through the base curve, generally circular, but rounded square, oval).

In particular, and starting from the upper end of the bottle, the neck comprises:

-a tip defining an opening of the bottle,

a bottle closing/opening interface, such as a threaded or elastic interlocking (snap) interface,

-a flange which is provided with a flange,

-a cylindrical portion without projections exceeding 360 °,

-a connecting shoulder and a lower part comprising a protrusion.

In at least one cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle, the lower part of the neck has:

-in a region different from the protrusion: at least a first dimension relative to the axial direction, and

-at the level of the protrusion: at least a second dimension, relative to the axial direction, that is greater than the first dimension.

According to one embodiment, the second dimension is at least 1.5mm, preferably 2.0mm, larger than the first dimension.

According to one embodiment, the projection comprises a lower portion arranged on the shoulder.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is solid. In this embodiment, the bottle may be obtained from a preform comprising a neck, a flange and a protrusion below the flange. In other words, the protrusion is at least partially and preferably completely obtained or formed due to the variation (increase) of the thickness of the neck at the level of the protrusion. Usually, the protrusions are already provided at the level of the preform before the blow-moulding step.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is hollow. In other words, the protrusion is at least partially and preferably completely obtained or formed during the blow-moulding operation. The groove in the neck (inside the bottle) can then be seen.

According to one embodiment, the thickness of the protrusions is greater than or equal to 150 μm, preferably 200 μm, very preferably greater than 250 μm. Typically, the protrusion has a similar thickness as the upper portion of the shoulder, which may give it a better stiffness than, for example, the side walls of the body.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions have a thickness less than or equal to 600 μm, preferably 500 μm and very preferably greater than 400 μm.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion has a thickness in an area less than 1mm from the shoulder equal to ± 20% of the thickness of the shoulder in an area less than 1mm from the protrusion.

According to one embodiment, the bottle may be obtained from a preform comprising a flange, and wherein the preform is free of protrusions below the flange.

According to one embodiment:

the protrusion has a first radius R1 with respect to the axial direction of the bottle,

the flange has a second radius R2 with respect to the axial direction of the bottle,

and wherein:

0.8x R2≤R1≤1.2x R2

according to one embodiment, the radius of the side surface of the protrusion, in a sectional plane comprising the axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protrusion, is between 4mm and 11mm, preferably between 5.5mm and 8.5 mm.

According to one embodiment, the neck comprises a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, said cap being of the type detachable from the bottle or attachable to the bottle, wherein the protrusion is arranged to receive at least a portion of the cap therein and/or between it and the flange when the bottle is opened. According to this embodiment, the protrusion may act as a seat, support or reservoir for the cap when the bottle is opened. In other words, the protrusion may comprise an at least partially inverted shape or cavity of the lid to receive it and/or hold it in place. It is also possible to provide a spacing, distance or specific shape between the protrusion and the flange to provide the possibility of receiving at least a part of the lid and thus holding it in place.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions are arranged to provide a support portion for the lid or to form a load-bearing counter-shape for the lid. The projection projecting with respect to the rest of the neck may have a concave reverse shape in order to receive the cap in a stable manner.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is arranged to engage with the lid, for example by a resilient interlock. In other words, the protrusion comprises means for holding the lid, for example by elastic deformation, clamping, snap-fitting.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, and the protrusion is arranged to form a seat or stop at the cap when the bottle is closed. A swivel mount for a screw-in lid or a swivel 1/4 turn, or a plug for a swing lid, is envisaged.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions carry indicia, preferably in relief. The position of the protrusion below the flange is repeatable, easily identifiable, visible, so the indicia will be easily accessible and within the line of sight or reach of the user. For example, braille markers are conceivable.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions have a constant thickness, within ± 15%.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a bottom adapted to receive a neck (21) like a bottle, the bottom having a first reverse shape to receive the neck like a bottle, the first reverse shape being provided with a second reverse shape to receive a protrusion of the neck like a bottle. This embodiment provides stacking capability while ensuring angular orientation of the bottle, the protrusion providing a stop in the correct direction. Chamfers may be implanted on the side edges of the lugs to facilitate unstacking, with small rotations causing "detachment" of the upper bottle.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a plurality of protrusions between the flange and the shoulder, at least one of the protrusions, preferably each of them, being adjacent to the shoulder. According to a particular embodiment, each projection has an angular dimension of between 20 ° and 60 ° and is separated from an adjacent projection by a cylindrical neck portion having an angular dimension of between 20 ° and 60 °. The plurality of protrusions provides the possibility of coding or improving the identification.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is arranged to be deformed by a user to become the recessed portion. In order to distinguish the two bottles from each other, personalization or identification of the bottles is possible.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion has V-shaped lateral ends; in the front view. When the protrusion engages the inverse shape of the object or device to be coupled, a V-shape or inverted V-shape may be provided to generate a vertical force, either upward or downward.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a single wall, which is not laminated. In other words, the walls of the bottle are continuous, do not form a sandwich structure and do not comprise a plurality of layers or sheets. The bottles are usually obtained from a single preform.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a bottle comprising a neck according to the first aspect.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a bottle preform comprising a neck according to the first aspect.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an object comprising a bottle and means associated with the neck of the bottle, the means being arranged to cooperate with the protrusion. The apparatus may be another object or device. Such as a housing, a system for dispensing a fluid contained in a bottle, or a device for connecting a bottle to a circuit for dispensing a fluid contained in a bottle. Such as a fluid dispenser, a bubbler, a faucet or a valve contained in a bottle.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to an object held by a user, comprising:

-an external structure arranged to be held by a user,

-a bottle according to the first aspect,

the method is characterized in that:

-the outer structure is a housing in contact with at least a portion of the body of the bottle,

-and the housing comprises an upper neck forming an opening U or C and is arranged to be resiliently interlocked over at least a portion of the neck of the bottle.

The object according to the fifth aspect described above is easy to handle due to the resilient interlocking of the neck of the bottle on the housing. This resilient interlocking is also known as a snap fit. However, the shell has a U-shaped or C-shaped open upper neck, that is to say it forms a split clip that can be easily opened to insert or remove the neck of the bottle, which ensures that the user applies moderate force. However, the rigid housing provides reliable and robust maintenance of the bottle, which provides an easy to handle and set (couple and decouple) object.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a side wall and a housing shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, and the housing shoulder comprises a passage opening for providing a passage for the neck of the bottle, the passage opening leading to a U-shaped or C-shaped opening of the upper neck of the housing. The passage opening allows insertion and presentation of the neck of the bottle at the level of the opening of the upper neck of the housing, which provides for convenient mounting.

Advantageously, the channel size of the channel opening arranged to provide a channel for the neck of the bottle is larger than the channel size of the U or C of the upper neck of the housing arranged to resiliently interlock over at least part of the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously:

the passage size of the passage opening of the housing, which is arranged to provide passage for the neck of the bottle, is strictly larger than the size of the neck of the bottle, which comprises, for example, a flange, and/or

The channel dimension of the U or C of the upper neck of the housing, which is arranged to elastically interlock over at least a portion of the neck of the bottle, is strictly smaller than the dimension of the neck of the bottle, which for example comprises a flange. Mounting the neck of the bottle in the passage opening does not require any special or careful precautions, and then tilting or pushing the neck of the bottle into the open upper neck of the housing is sufficient to achieve a resilient interlocking and coupling.

Advantageously, the housing comprises an introduction opening arranged in the side wall and arranged to allow a user to introduce the bottle into the housing. The introduction opening is usually located opposite the passage opening so that the bottle can simply pass through it and its neck can be positioned in the passage opening, the rest of the bottle passing easily through the introduction opening.

The neck of the bottle includes a flange and a protrusion disposed below the flange. The protrusion may engage in the opening of the U or C of the upper neck of the housing. The protrusion provides a rotational stop for opening and closing the bottle, especially if the bottle is equipped with a screw cap. However, other types of closure are possible, such as lids with a resilient interlock or hinged lid. Such a protrusion also provides angular indexing, which allows, for example, to ensure that the inscription on the bottle will face the opening in the housing.

In other words, the bottle comprises a closure means, such as a screw-in or interlocking lid or top, cap or valve. The closure means may also include tamper-evident means, such as a tamper-evident finish connected to the top or lid by a bridge to be broken during first use. It may also be a cap that seals onto the neck so that it can be permanently removed during the first use. Where appropriate, the closure means may comprise reversible means allowing the bottle to be re-closed after a first use. This is the case, for example, with screw-in and screw-out lids or tops. It should be mentioned that the filled bottles are preferably closed by a screw-in or interlocking lid or top and provided with a tamper-evident finish, the bridges of which are not damaged.

According to one embodiment, the top or cap is arranged to remain attached to the neck of the bottle after opening. This is referred to as an attached top or lid. For example, the top or lid may comprise at least one strip of material and/or a hinge-like connection between the tamper-evident strip and the body of the lid or a part of the body of the lid.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a drinking liquid, preferably water, preferably non-carbonated water, filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle.

Advantageously:

the opening of the U or C of the upper neck of the housing has a first angular dimension with respect to the axial direction of the object,

the protrusion has a second angular dimension relative to the axial direction of the object, which is smaller than the first angular dimension. The presence of the protrusion does not interfere with the opening of the upper neck of the housing and does not compromise the resilient interlock.

Advantageously, the bottle has a concave bottom, for example hemispherical, viewed from the outside, and the housing has a bottom defining at least one planar support portion for placing said object in a vertical position. The flat or flat bottom allows to provide a stable vertical support, despite the thin-walled bottle itself, and therefore soft by definition and with its bottom hemispherical, not able to be placed and held vertically on the work plane.

Advantageously, the shell has an outer diameter and the bottom of the shell comprises at least one flat crown, or supporting portions distributed along the flat crown (i.e. contained in one plane), the diameter of the flat crown being greater than or equal to 50% of the outer diameter. Such a crown, which may also be called a planar ring, that is to say contained in a plane, provides a stable support.

Advantageously, the housing comprises at least one gripping handle, for example forming a grip. Two handles may be provided for ease of operation.

Advantageously, the bottle has a body, preferably cylindrical, the thickness of which comprises:

-in the range of 30 μm to 150 μm,

and for example in the range from 30 μm to 50 μm or from 50 μm to 70 μm or from 70 μm to 100 μm, or from 100 μm to 125 μm or from 125 μm to 150 μm,

-and preferably in the range from 100 μm to 125 μm. Bottles with such a thickness do not have sufficient rigidity to withstand a clamping or gripping force of, for example, 20 newton, and the locking in the (rigid) housing allows to limit or avoid these deformations. In other words, the bottle is naturally soft and deformable, especially when it is operated by the user.

Advantageously, the thickness of the bottom of the bottle is equal to ± 20% of the thickness of the body of the bottle, except for the central part of the bottom, whose diameter comprises:

less than or equal to 50% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body,

preferably less than or equal to 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body,

more preferably less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body.

Advantageously, the upper neck of the housing resiliently interlocks beneath the flange of the bottle neck. The flange is a peripheral projection of the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously, the thickness of the neck of the bottle and/or the flange of the bottle is greater than 150 μm, preferably greater than 200 μm, more preferably greater than 250 μm, preferably from 1mm to 2 mm.

Advantageously, the bottle and/or the housing may have at least one cylindrical portion. By "wall or cylindrical portion" is meant a housing or bottle portion having sides with parallel straight lines as generatrices and following a base curve (defined by the intersection of the sides with a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle) which is a closed curve. The closed base curve may have a circular (circular), elliptical (elliptical or any oval) or square or rectangular shape, with rounded corners where appropriate.

Such a portion of the cylindrical portion may improve grip, limit flexibility and/or limit the risk of leakage when the bottle is opened.

Advantageously, the bottle, the neck and/or the body of the bottle is at least partially recycled plastic. Advantageously, the bottle, the neck and/or the body of the bottle are formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advantageously, the bottle, the neck and/or the body of the bottle are formed from at least partially recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The internal volume of the bottle may be at least 0.25L, such as at least 0.5L, such as at least 1L, such as at least 1.5L, such as at least 2L, such as at least 5L, such as at least 10L. The internal volume of the bottle may be less than or equal to 20L, such as less than or equal to 2L, such as less than or equal to 1.5, such as less than or equal to 1L, such as less than or equal to 0.8L. The internal volume of the bottle may be 0.25 to 0.5L or 0.5 to 1L or 1L to 1.5L, or 1.5L to 2L or 2L to 3L, or 3L to 4L, or 4L to 5L, or 5L to 6L, or 6L to 7L, or 7L to 8L, or 8L to 9L, or 9L to 10L, or 10L to 15L, or 15L to 20L.

Advantageously, the upper neck of the housing has an upper edge which forms more than 180 ° with respect to the axial direction of the object. In other words, more than half of the circumference of the neck of the bottle is received and retained by the neck over the opening of the housing, which provides an effective grip.

Advantageously, the upper edge is comprised in a plane.

Advantageously, the housing is formed by:

a polymeric material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or Polyamide (PA), or Polycarbonate (PC), Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and optionally containing a filler material, such as fibers or mineral particles, or

Metals such as aluminum.

Advantageously, the shell has the following thicknesses:

at least more than twice the thickness of the bottle body, or

-at least more than 200 μm. The housing is therefore more rigid than the bottle.

Advantageously, during the operation of coupling the bottle with the housing, the latter is arranged to deform less than the bottle. In other words, the housing is rigid and non-deformable when it is manipulated by the user. Thus, such a rigid housing allows handling thin, soft and deformable bottles, which cannot be handled per se without proving the risk of spilling or falling from the user's hand.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a casing to be coupled with a bottle to form an object to be operated by a user;

FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a third perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a bottle to be coupled with the housing of FIG. 1 to form an object to be manipulated by a user;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the bottle of FIG. 4;

figure 6 shows a stage of coupling the bottle of figure 4 with the casing of figure 1;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the bottle of FIG. 4 coupled with the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the bottle of FIG. 4;

fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the bottle of fig. 4, taken along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle and through the neck;

fig. 10 shows a first preform produced by injection, which can be used to form the bottle of fig. 4 by blow-moulding.

Detailed Description

Generally, bottles according to the present disclosure include a protrusion that is received under a flange. The protrusions may provide multiple functions. The coupling to the housing will be described below, but interaction with a device, for example an apparatus for dispensing a liquid contained in a bottle, is also envisaged. The interaction or function is as follows.

First, fig. 1 to 3 show a housing 10 to be coupled with a bottle and viewed from different directions. Generally, the housing 10 includes an upper neck 11, a sidewall 15, a bottom 14, and a housing shoulder 16 disposed between the upper neck 11 and the sidewall 15.

In the example presented, the side wall 15 is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical (that is to say, its outer surface comprises parallel rectilinear generatrices, which follow a base curve, here circular). The bottom 14 has, as such, a lower plate which allows the housing 10 to be placed in a vertical position, as discussed in fig. 7.

Furthermore, the housing 10 comprises a passage opening 12, which is mainly visible in fig. 1 and 3, and an introduction opening 13, which is mainly visible in fig. 2, which are arranged in a housing shoulder 16.

Finally, the upper neck portion 11 is a C-shaped (or U-shaped) open neck portion, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The upper neck 11 has a passage dimension D2 according to its maximum inner diameter and a passage dimension D'2 at its opening. As can be seen in fig. 3, the opening of the upper neck 11 (opening of dimension D '2) leads or opens into the passage opening 12, and it can be noted that the passage dimension D1 of the passage opening 12 is greater than the passage dimensions D2 and D'2 of the upper neck 11. Details will be explained in fig. 6 below.

Fig. 4, 5, 8 and 9 show a bottle 20 comprising a neck 21 (or neck), a shoulder 28, a sidewall 24 and a bottom 25. In the example shown, the neck 21 is threaded to receive a cap 26 (visible in fig. 6), and a flange 22 is provided below the threads, and a protrusion 27 is arranged below the flange 22. The bottle 20 also contains liquid food (e.g., non-carbonated mineral water).

As mentioned above, the neck 21 is threaded to receive the cap 26, but other closure means (caps, hinged caps with resilient interlocking, etc.) are envisaged. Fig. 5 shows the outer dimension D3 of flange 22, which outer dimension D3 is less than the channel dimension D1 of channel opening 12 of enclosure 10, but greater than the channel dimension D2 or D'2 of upper neck 11 of enclosure 10.

In fact, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the housing 10 and the bottle 20 may be coupled and held together. In particular, the upper neck portion 11 of the housing 10 is arranged to resiliently interlock with the neck portion 21 of the bottle 20. In the example shown, the upper neck 11 of the housing 10 has dimensions suitable for elastically interlocking on the bottle 20 below the flange 22.

To this end, as can be seen in fig. 1 and 3, the upper neck 11 of the casing 10 is formed over 180 ° (for example 270 °, at ± 45 °) so as to be able to remove, receive and hold the neck 21 of the bottle 20, in particular by means of the retaining flange 22.

To couple bottle 20 with housing 10, as shown in fig. 6, the user simply introduces bottle 20 through introduction opening 13 of housing 10, screws neck 21 covered with cap 26 of bottle 20 into passage opening 12 of housing 10 (since outer dimension D3 of flange 22 (and cap 26) is smaller than passage dimension D1 of passage opening 12), and then tilts bottle 20 to complete screwing bottom 25 into housing 10, and in particular, elastically interlocks neck 21 of bottle 20 into upper neck 11 of housing 10 (since passage dimensions D'2 and D2 of upper neck 11 are smaller than dimensions of neck 21 and outer dimension D3 of flange 22).

In particular, the upper neck 11 of the casing has a cylindrical edge of a few millimetres, the bottle 20 comprises a flange 20, and a cylindrical neck portion arranged between the flange 22 and a shoulder of the bottle 20, the cylindrical edge of the upper neck 11 pressing against the cylindrical neck portion of the bottle 20 while axially abutting the flange 22, this providing the assembly of the casing 10 and the bottle 20.

To release the bottle 20 from the housing 10, it is only necessary to apply a transverse, lateral or tilting force on the cap 26 to "release" the neck 21 of the bottle 20 from the upper neck 11 of the housing 10. An orifice may also be arranged in the lower part of the housing 10 opposite the introduction opening 13 to allow the user to push the bottle laterally out of the housing 10 with a finger.

Once coupled, the housing 10 and bottle 20 form an object 30 that is convenient for a user to manipulate, as shown in fig. 7. The bottom 14 of the housing 10 is flat so that the object 30 has a stable vertical position when placed on a work plane. In addition, a return 16 is provided at the lower portion of the housing 10 to secure the coupling and retention of the bottle 20-housing 10 assembly.

As described above, the cap 26 is screwed onto the bottle 20. To provide a rotational stop for the bottle 20 relative to the housing 10, a projection 27 is provided on the bottle 20 to be received in an opening in the upper neck 11 of the housing 10. Thus, torque applied to the bottle 20 is transmitted to the housing 10 through the protrusion 27. Other embodiments for such indexing are envisaged, such as a neck 21 of a bottle 20 with a non-circular cross-section, serrations at the level of the upper neck 11 engaging with the inverse shape of the flange 22.

Independently of the screwing/unscrewing of the cap 26, it is also possible to print or paste markings on the bottle 20 with the angular indexing provided between the bottle 20 and the housing 10 by means of the projections 27 engaged in the opening of the upper neck 11, so that they are visible after coupling and face the passage opening 12 or the introduction opening 13, or any other opening of the housing 10.

Furthermore, it can be noted that the projection 27 is adjacent to the shoulder 28 of the bottle 20, so that the wall of the housing 10 at the level of the flange 11 or the housing shoulder 16 does not slide between the shoulder 28 and the projection 27 of the bottle 20. The rotational stop and the stop position are well controlled.

Fig. 8 shows a front view of the bottle 20 and the protrusion 27. The flange 22 has a diameter D3 and the neck below the flange has a diameter D4 in its part which is less than D3, a height X1 which is at least over 2.5mm and over 360 °. Therefore, even in the case where the projection 27 is present, it can be gripped with a jig below the flange 22. In this front view, it can be noted that the width of the projection 27 is smaller than the value of the diameter D4 below the flange, so that the bottle 20 can be guided during manufacture by a guide rail supported below the flange 22.

It can also be noted in fig. 5, which shows the bottle 20 from the side, that the protrusion has a radial dimension similar to that of the flange 20 and that it does not protrude. In particular, when referring to fig. 9 showing a cross-section of bottle 20 along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle and passing between projection 27 and flange 22, the radial dimension a3 of projection 27 is substantially equal to D3/2. On the other hand, the remainder of the neck has a radial dimension a2 less than A3.

Fig. 9 also shows that the projection 27 extends along an angular sector a1, here having a value of about 90 °, but values between 30 and 150 ° are for example conceivable.

These embodiments allow to propose a reusable shell 10 that is rather rigid or at least not too flexible to be gripped (typically with a force of 20 newton) without significant deformation, and a very thin disposable bottle 20, therefore too soft or too flexible to be gripped (typically with the same force of 20 newton) without deformation. This coupling allows to propose disposable and returnable bottles 20 made with a small amount of material but with correct ergonomics, since the casing 10 is sufficiently rigid and reusable.

A strap or wristband or fabric loop and hook and loop tape (known under the trade mark "Velcro" or "scratch") may also be provided to allow the consumer to transport the object 30 in a variety of activities (sports, hiking, etc.). One or more handles may also be provided on the housing 10.

The bottle 20, neck and/or body of the bottle are preferably formed of a thermoplastic material, preferably thin walled. The material is preferably a polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene furan acid (PEF) or polypropylene furan acid ester (PTF). The material may be at least partially recycled material. The bottle is preferably formed by an injection blow moulding process, for example an injection stretch blow moulding process. In these processes, a solid preform (shown in fig. 10) is made by injecting the material into a mold and then by cooling, then heating the preform to soften it, optionally stretching longitudinally using a rod, and then stretching into the shape of a bottle in the axial and longitudinal directions by blow molding in the mold.

These polyester materials and methods are known to those skilled in the art. Their combination allows to obtain thin and light walls with good mechanical resistance and good sealing or other barrier properties. These properties are due to the orientation of the macromolecular chains at least partially inducing crystallization. In addition to saving material, these polyesters also have the advantage of being easily recyclable. The recovery, classification and regeneration departments are organized. Recycling can be mechanical recycling involving melting and shaping, such as granulation prior to a new plastic processing operation, such as injection blow molding, or chemical recycling involving depolymerization, recovery of monomers or precursors, followed by new polymerization.

In addition to good practicality, the implementation and use of the thin-walled bottles of the invention therefore also present very advantageous environmental records, in particular in connection with the implementation of non-activatable and thicker conventional PET bottles.

The thin wall is preferably such that the thickness of the body of the bottle is in the range 30 μm to 150 μm, for example in the range 30 μm to 50 μm or 50 μm to 70 μm or 70 μm to 100 μm, or 100 μm to 125 μm or 125 μm to 150 μm, preferably in the range 100 μm to 125 μm. The mentioned thickness is the thickness at least one point of the body, preferably the average thickness over a portion representing the length of the body or at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, of the surface of the body, preferably the average thickness over the whole body. The base may be slightly thicker than the body, for example up to 50% thicker than the body, for example up to 20% thicker. The bottom may also have a cup-shaped portion substantially corresponding to the preform bottom and at its injection point.

For a target bottle volume, the thickness can be adjusted by adjusting the characteristics of the preform, in particular its shape and wall thickness, and the stretch characteristics. It should be mentioned that the thickness of the preform wall, the geometry of the preform, such as its length, its diameter and its bottom shape, together with the neck, which can form a bottle neck, determine the weight. The unfilled, unsealed bottles and/or preforms generally have the same weight. Thus, the given weight refers to the bottle weight or preform weight. For 75cl bottles, 8 to 13g of preform can be advantageously achieved. The total stretch ratio may be, for example, between 12.0 and 27.0, preferably between 15.0 and 20.0. The axial stretch ratio, typically the ratio between the height of the bottle and the length of the stretchable portion of the preform (typically the distance under the neck), may be comprised between 3.0 and 4.5, for example. The radial stretch ratio (typically the ratio between the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the stretchable portion of the preform) may be, for example, between 4.0 and 6.0. It should be noted that the total stretch ratio is approximately equal to the product of the axial stretch ratio and the radial stretch ratio.

For example, good results were obtained by the following characteristics in table 1:

[ Table 1]

In detail, fig. 10 shows a preform 40 produced by injection, which can be used in a blow-moulding process to produce the bottle 20 of fig. 4. The preform 40 has a threaded upper portion CF which is not stretched during the blow molding process and therefore has the same dimensions as the neck of the bottle 20. In particular, the presence of a flange 22 having the same dimensions as the bottle 20 can be noted. The cylindrical portion separates the flange 22 from a slightly tapered portion Ep, which is adjacent to the lower portion Co of the preform.

Typically, the portion Ep of the preform corresponds approximately to the shoulder 28 of the bottle 20 and the portion Co corresponds approximately to the side wall 24 and the bottom 25 of the bottle 29. It is important to note that the cylindrical region between portion Ep and flange 22 of preform 40 is free of bosses or protrusions. Indeed, in this exemplary embodiment, the protrusions 27 will be formed during the blow molding operation.

As seen above, the preform 40 or 40A may be formed of a thermoplastic material, and it may have:

-a total height between 50mm and 80 mm;

-a weight comprised between 7g and 17 g;

-a thickness at the height of the neck between 1mm and 2 mm;

-thickness at Co part height between 1.6mm and 2.8 mm;

a flange 22 with a diameter between 29mm and 35mm and a thickness between 0.7mm and 1.5 mm;

the height of the portion CF is between 10mm and 15 mm.

As seen above, the protrusion 27 disposed below the flange 22 and adjacent the shoulder 28 of the bottle allows the bottle 20 to be securely coupled to the housing 10.

Other functions of interacting with the device or the cap can be achieved by means of a projection 27 arranged below the flange 22 and adjacent to the shoulder 28 of the bottle.

In particular, it is possible to:

during the manufacture of bottles filled and plugged with taps, or during the installation of e.g. reusable taps, the taps installed on the bottles are oriented by the user after opening the bottles.

Providing a support or final seat for the opening of the attached (e.g. hinged) lid;

-providing a user with a visual indication of the direction or opening area of an attached (e.g. hinged) lid;

-providing a receiving or containing area for the lid to which the hinge or soft link connecting it to the bottle is attached,

-providing a seat or snap-in cover block.

During the operation of assembling the bottle 20, for example using a secondary packaging, the protrusions 27 can be used to:

preventing the bottles 20 from moving in rotation and/or axially with respect to the packaging or handling support (for example a cardboard or plastic handle or similar cardboard picker);

-positioning the bottle with respect to the same packaging or handling support (such as a cardboard or plastic handle or cardboard picker);

-locking identical bottles stacked on top of each other, the bottom of the bottles comprising a reverse shape to view and engage the projections of the bottles located below the stack.

During end use, the protrusions 27 may be used to:

-preventing the bottle from rotating relative to an external device such as a housing;

-providing mechanical and even optical sensors with presence detection areas or good arrangements;

visual or optical inspection of the water level in the bottle, which represents the storage and/or use period, for example before the initial use;

-identifying a bottle from the plurality by crushing the protrusions.

Furthermore, the protrusions 27 may also be used to carry markings, indicia, for example to provide traceability or indication of material for a particular recycling in the case of a particular material. The protrusions 27 themselves may be used as indicia, for example to provide traceability or indication of material for a particular recycling in the case of a particular material.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A neck (21) of a bottle (20) with a flange (22), the bottle comprising a body having a sidewall and a shoulder disposed between the neck and the sidewall,

characterized in that the neck (21) of the bottle (20) comprises at least one protrusion (27) arranged:

between a flange (22) and the body,

-close to said shoulder.

2. The bottle (20) neck (21) of claim 1 wherein said bottle is made of plastic.

3. Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottle is a thin-walled bottle.

4. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projection (27) extends along an angular sector in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle (20), said angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40 °, preferably at least 50 °.

5. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to claim 4, wherein said angular dimension does not exceed 180 °.

6. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical portion located between the flange (22) and the projection (27), the height X1 of which in the axial direction of the bottle is at least 2.5mm and preferably at least 3.5 mm.

7. The bottle (20) neck (21) of any of claims 1-6, wherein the protrusion (27) comprises a lower portion disposed on the shoulder.

8. The bottle (20) neck (21) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protrusion (27) is solid.

9. The bottle (20) neck (21) according to claim 8, characterized in that it is obtained from a preform comprising the neck (21), a flange (22) and a protuberance (27) below the flange (22).

10. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said protrusion (27) is hollow.

11. The bottle (20) neck (21) of claim 10, wherein the protrusion (27) has a thickness of:

greater than or equal to 150 μm, preferably 200 μm, preferably 250 μm and very preferably greater than 300 μm, and/or

-less than or equal to 600 μm, preferably 500 μm, preferably 400 μm.

12. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that it is obtained from a preform comprising said flange (22) and having no projections below said flange.

13. The bottle (20) neck (21) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein:

-the protrusion (27) has a first radius R1 relative to the axial direction of the bottle,

-the flange (22) has a second radius R2 with respect to the axial direction of the bottle,

and wherein:

0.8x R2≤R1≤1.2x R2。

14. bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein in a cross-sectional plane comprising the axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protrusion (27), the side surface of the protrusion has a radius of between 4mm and 11mm, preferably between 5.5mm and 8.5 mm.

15. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, the cap being of the type detachable from the bottle or attachable to the bottle, wherein the protrusion (27) is arranged to receive at least a portion of the cap therein and/or between it and the flange (22) when the bottle is opened.

16. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion (27) is arranged to provide a support portion or to form a bearing counter shape for the cap.

17. The bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the protrusion carries indicia, preferably relief.

18. Bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises a bottom adapted to receive a bottle-like neck (21), said bottom having a first inverted shape to receive the bottle-like neck (21), the first inverted shape being provided with a second inverted shape to receive the projection (27) of said bottle-like neck.

19. The bottle (20) neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising a plurality of projections between the flange and the shoulder, at least one of the projections, preferably each of them, being adjacent to the shoulder.

20. The bottle (20) neck (21) of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the protrusion (27) is hollow and is configured to be deformed by a user to become a recessed portion.

21. A bottle (20), comprising:

-a body having a side wall and a shoulder disposed between the neck and the side wall, and

-a neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A bottle preform comprising a neck (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

23. An object comprising a bottle (20) according to claim 21 and means associated with the neck (21) of the bottle, the means being arranged to cooperate with the protrusion (27).

24. An object according to claim 23, characterized in that said means is a housing, a system for dispensing the fluid contained in a bottle, or a means for connecting a bottle to a circuit for dispensing the fluid contained in a bottle.

25. The object according to claim 24, characterized in that said means are a fluid dispenser, a bubbler, a tap or a valve contained in a bottle.