EP0644121B1 - Axially crushable plastic bottle and tool for making said bottle - Google Patents

Axially crushable plastic bottle and tool for making said bottle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0644121B1
EP0644121B1 EP94401999A EP94401999A EP0644121B1 EP 0644121 B1 EP0644121 B1 EP 0644121B1 EP 94401999 A EP94401999 A EP 94401999A EP 94401999 A EP94401999 A EP 94401999A EP 0644121 B1 EP0644121 B1 EP 0644121B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bottle
corrugation
bottle according
depth
axis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94401999A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0644121A1 (en
Inventor
Isabelle Fandeux
Jean-Marie Petre
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Original Assignee
Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR9311225A external-priority patent/FR2710319B1/en
Priority claimed from FR9401811A external-priority patent/FR2716161B1/en
Application filed by Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME filed Critical Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Publication of EP0644121A1 publication Critical patent/EP0644121A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0644121B1 publication Critical patent/EP0644121B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/0292—Foldable bottles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B65D2501/0036—Hollow circonferential ribs
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S215/00—Bottles and jars
    • Y10S215/90—Collapsible wall structure
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S220/00—Receptacles
    • Y10S220/906—Beverage can, i.e. beer, soda
    • Y10S220/907—Collapsible

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a bottle made of plastic which can be crushed by applying an axial force and which is therefore distinguished from bottles whose crushing results from a force transverse to their longitudinal axis as described in EP-408 929 or EP-528,754.
  • the invention also relates to a tool for producing such a bottle made of crushable plastic.
  • an object of the invention to provide such a plastic bottle which, having the same general shape and the same dimensions as the usual plastic bottles with transverse corrugations, can be used in a bottling plant without modification of the production and filling lines, can then be handled in the usual way, in particular to form palletized loads and stacked loads but which, however and unlike known bottles, can be easily crushed to form a residue of reduced volume when an axial force of low value is exerted, both at the start of the crushing phase and during the continuation of this phase.
  • an object of the invention to provide such a bottle which can be produced from different materials, simple or composite, multi-layer or compound such as polyolefins, polyesters or PVC and, in particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • materials simple or composite, multi-layer or compound such as polyolefins, polyesters or PVC and, in particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • an object of the invention to provide such a bottle, the cost of which, which is directly proportional to the quantity of material used, is entirely comparable to that of bottles known to allow its industrial exploitation.
  • An axially crushable plastic bottle according to the invention which comprises over at least most of its height transverse grooves, is characterized in that said grooves have a depth, that is to say a dimension in direction of the axis of the bottle, which varies cyclically over the periphery of said grooves between a maximum value and a minimum value.
  • the grooves have a depth which, when moving around the periphery of a groove around the longitudinal axis of the bottle, decreases from a maximum value until it reaches a minimum value. , then increases by this value minimum to the maximum value then decreases again to the minimum value, and so on, periodically or cyclically.
  • the shape defined above of a groove is the same for all the grooves of the side wall of the bottle, but is angularly offset by a value equal to ⁇ / n relative to the longitudinal axis of the bottle from one groove to the next, n being an integer.
  • the angle at the center of each arc formed on the bottom of a groove between a point of maximum depth and a point of minimum depth is equal to ⁇ / n, n being a whole.
  • the two ends of an arc of a corner at the center equal to ⁇ / n, between a point where the groove is of maximum depth and the next point where it is of minimum depth, are connected by a line segment .
  • the bottom radius of the groove and therefore the cross-sectional profile by a radial plane passing through the axis of the bottle, varies cyclically when moving around the periphery of the groove in correspondence with the depth thereof.
  • the plastic material constituting the bottle is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  • the PET bottle with a capacity of 1.5 liters, an empty weight of between 34 and 38 grams, with a constant wall thickness of between 0.17 and 0.35 mm and an empty height between 300-340 mm can be crushed by applying an axial force of less than 10 DaN.
  • the maximum depth of the grooves is of the order of 3 mm, the minimum depth of the order of 1.5 mm and the opening angle ( ⁇ ) of the groove equal to 70 °.
  • the maximum depth of the grooves is of the order of 3.86 mm, the minimum depth is of the order of 1.7 mm and the angle ( ⁇ ) of opening of the groove equal to 59.74 °.
  • plastics than PET can be used to make a bottle according to the invention, in particular simple or composite, multi-layer or compound materials, of the PVC type or of the polyolefin or polyesters type.
  • the invention can be implemented for bottles with a cylindrical body and a substantially circular cross section, whether or not including a gripping neck, without this indication of shape having, however, any limiting character whatsoever, the body of the bottle which may be of hexagonal or octagonal cross section or even substantially parallelepipedal, for example.
  • a tool for producing a bottle as defined above comprises a mold suitable for being used in a process for obtaining hollow bodies made of plastic material and which has, over at least most of its height, transverse undulations formed by alternating ribs and grooves, and is characterized, according to the invention, in that the ribs form a projection which, when moving around the periphery of the rib, varies cyclically between a minimum value and a maximum value.
  • the angle at the center of each rib arc between its end where the projection is minimum and that where the projection is maximum, is advantageously equal to ⁇ / n, where n is an integer.
  • the invention provides that the shape defined above of a rib is the same for all the ribs with an angular offset of a value equal to ⁇ / n relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold, when moving in the direction of said axis.
  • the radius of the apex of the rib varies cyclically when one moves around the periphery of the rib, in correspondence with the projection of said rib.
  • the grooves have a substantially constant depth over most of their contour and include from place to place folding caps formed projecting radially outward on the bottom of the grooves, these bending caps being regularly distributed and offset angularly around the axis of the bottle from one groove to the other.
  • these folding primers formed by protrusions from the bottom of the splines greatly facilitate the axial crushing of the bottle: the axial force that must be applied to the bottle to cause it to be crushed is less than 10 DaN, and the complete crushing of the bottle remains possible even if it includes a middle part of grip of reduced diameter or of particular shape.
  • the folding primers have, in the median planes of the grooves perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, an arcuate shape with a concavity turned towards the inside of the bottle.
  • the angular extent of each folding initiation around the axis of the bottle is between approximately 0.2 radians and 2 ⁇ / n, n being the number of folding initiations per groove.
  • the angular offset of the folding primers from one groove to the other is ⁇ / n, n being the number of folding primers per groove.
  • the invention also relates to a mold for the manufacture of an axially squeezable plastic bottle, characterized in that its internal surface comprises circular ribs corresponding to transverse grooves of the bottle to be produced and comprising recesses or cavities complementary to the primers folding described in the above.
  • FIG. 1 shows a bottle B according to the invention, of plastic material, advantageously of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) without this indication having, however, any limiting nature whatsoever, the bottle also being able to be made of a simple or composite, multi-layer or compound material, such as PVC or a polyolefin or a polyester.
  • the bottle B comprises a bottom F, a side wall P of generally cylindrical shape with two parts p 1 and p 2 separated by a grip constriction r , the upper part p 2 extending in the direction of the neck C by a smooth frustoconical part E or which, as a variant, may have reliefs constituting a mark or the like.
  • the neck C has a threaded neck G on which a screw cap V can be mounted.
  • the bottle B which is produced according to usual techniques for manufacturing plastic hollow bodies, for example injection-blowing, is shaped on its side wall P so that it can, after its contents have been emptied, be crushed by application of an axial force f of small value and leading to a residue R, FIG. 6, of volume significantly reduced compared to that of the bottle in its initial condition, full or empty.
  • the wall of the bottle of constant thickness, between 0.17 and 0.35 mm depending on the weight of a starting preform, is formed, in its zone constituted by the parts p 1 and p 2 , with corrugations or grooves, 10, comprising straight cylindrical parts or ribs 11 and parts in depression or grooves 12 ( Figures 1 and 5).
  • the ribs 11 While the ribs 11 have an outer surface 13 at constant distance d from the axis A of the bottle and are on a cylinder with a circular cross section of axis A, the grooves 12 have a depth, that is to say a dimension measured between the bottom 14 of the groove and the external surface of the cylinder defining the ribs 13, which varies when one moves along said grooves.
  • said depth varies around the periphery of each groove between a maximum value (a) and a minimum value (b), then from this minimum value again to the maximum value (a), ... etc, ( FIGS. 2, 3, 3A and 3B), this variation in depth being obtained, insofar as the thickness e of the side wall of the bottle is constant, by giving the corresponding rib of the mold in which the bottle is shaped, a variable distance to the axis of the mold when moving along said rib, as will be explained below.
  • each groove is periodic or cyclic when moving along said groove, that is to say that each groove arc, 20 1 , 20 2 , 20 3 , ... etc, extending between the successive ends 21, 22, 23, ... etc, where the groove is of smaller and greater depth, respectively, at an angle at the center equal to ⁇ / n, n being an integer.
  • each arc 20 corresponds to an angle at the center of 45 °, as well visible in Figures 2 and 3 which show two successive grooves 12 i and 12 i + 1 as they appear on the side wall of the bottle when one moves down along the axis A.
  • the shape of the grooves is the same, but the successive grooves are offset angularly by a value of ⁇ / n, here 45 °, relative to the longitudinal axis A of the bottle, the groove 12 i thus being of shallower depth (b) in the plane TT while the groove 12 i + 1 is of greater depth (a) in this same plane, which can also be translated by the fact that the shallower and deeper ends of the bottle grooves form a somewhat "helical" pattern around the axis of the bottle, as indicated by the dashed lines h 1 , h 2 , ... etc, of figure 1.
  • the angle ⁇ of opening of each groove is constant but the radius of the groove bottom, and therefore the profile in cross section through a radial plane passing through the axis A of the bottle shown in xx and in yy respectively for FIGS. 3A and 3B-, varies cyclically when one moves around the periphery of the groove, in correspondence with the depth of the latter.
  • the profile is as shown in FIG. 3A, that is to say with a curved bottom 30 with a relatively large radius connected to the adjacent ribs 13 by profiled parts 31 and 32 giving the cross section has a widely flared U shape, while at the right of the greatest groove depth, FIG. 3B, the cross section has a V shape, the faces 33 and 34 of which form the angle ⁇ and are connected by a curved bottom 35 with a relatively small radius.
  • each groove 12 varies according to a continuous curve when one moves around the periphery of the groove between the ends 21 and 22, 22 and 23, etc ... where the groove is of smaller depth then of greater depth, ... etc.
  • the successive ends 21 ', 22', 23 ', ... etc, where the groove is of smaller depth and greater depth, respectively, are connected by straight segments 24 1 , 24 2 , ... etc, each corresponding segment at an angle at the center equal to ⁇ / n (equal to 45 ° as in the previous embodiment), the grooves 12 i and 12 i + 1 here also being offset by 45 ° relative to the longitudinal axis A of the bottle when 'we move along the axis of the latter.
  • the bottle structure according to the invention makes it possible to crush it by an axial force of low value, less than 10 DaN, both at the start of the crushing phase and during the continuation of this phase, as shown by the curve 41 (FIG. 7) relating to a bottle according to the invention, while the curve 42 reflects the crushing force which constantly increases, over time, for a usual bottle.
  • APO denotes a bottle of the same general shape as that shown in FIG. 1, but which does not have the characteristics of l 'invention, and by USI a bottle of the same general shape but without shrinking r and which also does not have the characteristics of the invention.
  • the indication "shape 4" designates a bottle according to the invention, of the type of that shown in FIG. 1, the maximum throat depth (a) is 3 mm, the minimum depth (b) is 1.5 mm and for which the angle ⁇ is 70 °.
  • shape 4" The shape of the corrugations designated by the reference “shape 4" is the same as that defined above for Table I, that referenced "shape 6" designating grooves whose minimum depth is 1.7 mm, the maximum depth 3, 86 mm and whose angle ⁇ is 59.74 °.
  • a plastic bottle, which can be crushed, as defined above, is obtained by a process for manufacturing hollow bodies, for example extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding using a tool, in particular a shell mold, FIGS. 8 to 11.
  • the side wall 50 has ribs 51 1 , 51 2 on its internal face, 51 3 , 51 4 , ... interconnected by cylindrical parts with circular cross section 52 1 , 52 2 , 52 3 , ... etc. As shown in FIG.
  • each rib 51 is shaped to provide a projection which, when moving around the periphery of a rib, varies cyclically between a minimum value (m) and a maximum value (M), the angle at the center ⁇ of each rib arc between its end 53 (where the projection is minimum) and its end 54 (where the projection is maximum) being equal to ⁇ / n, where n is an integer.
  • the radius of the apex of the rib 51 and, consequently, the profile in cross section through a radial plane passing through the axis Z of the mold varies cyclically when moving around the periphery of the rib 51, in correspondence with the projection of said rib, the profile in line with the maximum projection (M) being as shown in FIG. 10 and that in line with the minimum projection (m) as shown in FIG. 11.
  • a rib 51 is the same for all the ribs of the side wall of the mold, but is angularly offset by a value equal to ⁇ / n relative to the longitudinal axis Z of the mold when moves in the direction of said axis.
  • the grooves 10 of the bottle have, as previously, a V-shaped cross section with apex rounded 56 oriented towards the inside of the bottle, the two straight branches 58 of the V being connected by arcs of a circle 60 to the cylindrical peripheral wall of the bottle and each groove 10 comprises folding caps 62 which are angularly distributed so uniform around the longitudinal axis 64 of the bottle and which protrude from the bottom of the grooves 10, towards the outside of the bottle, the grooves 10 being of constant depth outside the folding caps.
  • the folding primers 62 are angularly offset by an angle equal to ⁇ / n, n being the number of folding primers per groove.
  • This number n is typically between 3 and 20.
  • top lines 68 of the folding caps are inclined from top to bottom and from the inside to the outside.
  • a symmetrical orientation to that shown with respect to a perpendicular to the axis of the bottle is also possible.
  • the folding primers 62 have, in top view, not a curved or arcuate shape, but a very open V shape with rectilinear sides, the vertices of the V being understood in the planes 66 of symmetry of these primers passing through the axis 64 of the bottle.
  • Table III appended gives the results of comparative tests carried out between bottles known from the prior art and a bottle such as that of FIGS. 12 and 13, comprising four primers for folding by splines, the angular extent ⁇ of each initiation of folding being approximately 26 °, the angle ⁇ of inclination of the apex lines 38 relative to the axis of the bottle being 21 °, the radial extent ⁇ of the bending caps being approximately 1.4 mm ( the depth of the groove being 3 mm).
  • bottles according to the invention can be able to be manufactured, filled, capped, handled, transported and used like the bottles of the prior art although they can be easily crushed when empty to occupy a much lower volume after use.
  • the gain in volume after crushing can be quantified by the ratio of the number of crushed bottles and the number of identical bottles that are not crushed that a container of given shape and volume can contain.
  • this ratio varies between 2.5 and 4 depending on the volume and the shape of the container.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

Axially crushable plastic bottle, formed with transverse grooves (fluting) (10) over the greater part of its height, each groove comprising folding initiators (62) which project outwards from the bottom of the groove and which are angularly offset from one groove to another. <IMAGE>

Description

L'invention concerne une bouteille en matière plastique écrasable par application d'un effort axial et qui se distingue, par conséquent, des bouteilles dont l'écrasement résulte d'un effort transversal à leur axe longitudinal telles que décrites dans EP-408 929 ou EP-528 754.The invention relates to a bottle made of plastic which can be crushed by applying an axial force and which is therefore distinguished from bottles whose crushing results from a force transverse to their longitudinal axis as described in EP-408 929 or EP-528,754.

L'invention concerne également un outillage pour la réalisation d'une telle bouteille en matière plastique écrasable.The invention also relates to a tool for producing such a bottle made of crushable plastic.

On a déjà proposé de nombreuses bouteilles écrasables en matière plastique, par exemple dans US-5 209 372 qui décrit une bouteille dont la paroi latérale présente des nervures hélicoïdales entre la base et le sommet, ou US-5 201 438 qui décrit une bouteille dont la paroi latérale est formée de facettes planes ou encore FR-2 316 132 et FR-2 259 754 qui montrent des bouteilles dont la paroi latérale est formée par une juxtaposition de losanges incurvés, limités par des nervures, et dont la diagonale constitue une rainure de pliage. La complexité des formes de certaines de ces bouteilles connues rend leur fabrication difficile. D'autres sont démunies d'ondulations transversales et ne peuvent pas être utilisées pour former après embouteillage des charges palettisées qui sont manipulées, transportées et stockées sous forme de fardeaux gerbés, car dans de tels fardeaux, en effet, les bouteilles de la couche la plus inférieure supportent des contraintes de pression élevées et l'absence d'ondulations transversales ne procure pas les moyens "d'amortisseur" nécessaires.Numerous collapsible plastic bottles have already been proposed, for example in US-5,209,372 which describes a bottle whose side wall has helical ribs between the base and the top, or US-5,201,438 which describes a bottle whose the side wall is formed of flat facets or FR-2 316 132 and FR-2 259 754 which show bottles whose side wall is formed by a juxtaposition of curved diamonds, limited by ribs, and whose diagonal constitutes a groove folding. The complexity of the shapes of some of these known bottles makes their manufacture difficult. Others are devoid of transverse corrugations and cannot be used to form after bottling palletized loads which are handled, transported and stored in the form of stacked loads, because in such loads, in fact, the bottles of the layer more lower support high pressure stresses and the absence of transverse corrugations does not provide the necessary "damper" means.

Le problème se pose, par conséquent, de fournir une bouteille en matière plastique écrasable par application d'un effort axial, dont la forme générale soit proche de celles des bouteilles connues (pour qu'elle puisse être exploitée sans modification des usines d'embouteillage existantes), qui puisse être stockée et transportée sous forme de charges palettisées et de fardeaux gerbés et qui, après écrasement, soit réduite à un résidu de faible volume dont la forme est sensiblement stable, c'est-à-dire permanente et pratiquement sans possibilité de déformation élastique.The problem arises, therefore, to provide a plastic bottle that can be crushed by applying an axial force, the general shape of which is close to that of known bottles (so that it can be used without modifying the existing bottling plants), which can be stored and transported in the form of palletized loads and stacked loads and which, after crushing, is reduced to a small volume residue whose shape is substantially stable, that is to say permanent and practically without possibility of elastic deformation.

C'est, d'une façon générale, un but de l'invention de fournir une solution satisfaisante au problème posé.It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a satisfactory solution to the problem posed.

C'est, à cet égard, un but de l'invention de fournir une telle bouteille en matière plastique qui, de même forme générale et de mêmes dimensions que les bouteilles usuelles en matière plastique à ondulations transversales, puisse être mise en oeuvre dans une usine d'embouteillage sans modification des chaînes de fabrication et de remplissage, puisse être ensuite manipulée de la façon habituelle, notamment pour former des charges palettisées et des fardeaux gerbés mais qui, cependant et contrairement aux bouteilles connues, puisse être aisément écrasée pour former un résidu de volume réduit lorsqu'est exercé un effort axial de faible valeur, tant au début de la phase d'écrasement que lors de la poursuite de cette phase.It is, in this regard, an object of the invention to provide such a plastic bottle which, having the same general shape and the same dimensions as the usual plastic bottles with transverse corrugations, can be used in a bottling plant without modification of the production and filling lines, can then be handled in the usual way, in particular to form palletized loads and stacked loads but which, however and unlike known bottles, can be easily crushed to form a residue of reduced volume when an axial force of low value is exerted, both at the start of the crushing phase and during the continuation of this phase.

C'est aussi un but de l'invention de fournir une bouteille en matière plastique qui soit axialement écrasable par application d'un effort de valeur faible, et dont l'écrasement complet ne soit pas contrarié par la présence d'une partie médiane de préhension ayant un diamètre réduit ou une forme particulière.It is also an object of the invention to provide a plastic bottle which is axially crushable by application of a force of low value, and whose complete crushing is not thwarted by the presence of a middle part of grip having a reduced diameter or a particular shape.

C'est, aussi, un but de l'invention de fournir une telle bouteille qui puisse être fabriquée comme les bouteilles usuelles en matière plastique, c'est-à-dire par les procédés d'obtention de corps creux tels que l'injection-soufflage, l'extrusion-soufflage ou analogues.It is also an object of the invention to provide such a bottle which can be manufactured like the usual plastic bottles, that is to say by the processes for obtaining hollow bodies such as injection. -blowing, extrusion-blowing or the like.

C'est, encore, un but de l'invention de fournir une telle bouteille qui puisse être réalisée en des matériaux différents, simples ou composites, multi-couches ou compounds comme des polyoléfines, des polyesters ou des PVC et, notamment, en polyéthylène téréphtalate (PET).It is, again, an object of the invention to provide such a bottle which can be produced from different materials, simple or composite, multi-layer or compound such as polyolefins, polyesters or PVC and, in particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

C'est, également, un but de l'invention de fournir une telle bouteille qui soit utilisable par un consommateur de la même façon que les bouteilles usuelles, aussi bien lors d'une ouverture et/ou d'une refermeture, que pour en vider le contenu.It is also an object of the invention to provide such a bottle which can be used by a consumer in the same way as usual bottles, both during opening and / or reclosing, as for empty the content.

C'est, enfin, un but de l'invention de fournir une telle bouteille dont le coût, qui est directement proportionnel à la quantité de matière mise en oeuvre, soit tout à fait comparable à celui des bouteilles connues pour permettre son exploitation industrielle.It is, finally, an object of the invention to provide such a bottle, the cost of which, which is directly proportional to the quantity of material used, is entirely comparable to that of bottles known to allow its industrial exploitation.

L'invention a aussi pour but de fournir un outillage pour la réalisation d'une telle bouteille, en particulier un moule du type de ceux mis en oeuvre dans les procédés d'obtention de corps creux en matière plastique.The invention also aims to provide a tool for the production of such a bottle, in particular a mold of the type used in the processes for obtaining hollow plastic bodies.

Une bouteille axialement écrasable en matière plastique selon l'invention, qui comprend sur au moins la plus grande partie de sa hauteur des cannelures transversales, est caractérisée en ce que lesdites cannelures ont une profondeur, -c'est-à-dire une dimension en direction de l'axe de la bouteille-, qui varie de façon cyclique sur le pourtour desdites cannelures entre une valeur maximale et une valeur minimale.An axially crushable plastic bottle according to the invention, which comprises over at least most of its height transverse grooves, is characterized in that said grooves have a depth, that is to say a dimension in direction of the axis of the bottle, which varies cyclically over the periphery of said grooves between a maximum value and a minimum value.

En d'autres termes, les cannelures ont une profondeur qui, lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour d'une cannelure autour de l'axe longitudinal de la bouteille, diminue à partir d'une valeur maximale jusqu'à atteindre une valeur minimale, puis croît de cette valeur minimale jusqu'à la valeur maximale puis décroît à nouveau jusqu'à la valeur minimale, et ainsi de suite, de façon périodique ou cyclique.In other words, the grooves have a depth which, when moving around the periphery of a groove around the longitudinal axis of the bottle, decreases from a maximum value until it reaches a minimum value. , then increases by this value minimum to the maximum value then decreases again to the minimum value, and so on, periodically or cyclically.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, la forme définie ci-dessus d'une cannelure est la même pour toutes les cannelures de la paroi latérale de la bouteille, mais est décalée angulairement d'une valeur égale à π/n par rapport à l'axe longitudinal de la bouteille d'une cannelure à la suivante, n étant un entier.According to another characteristic of the invention, the shape defined above of a groove is the same for all the grooves of the side wall of the bottle, but is angularly offset by a value equal to π / n relative to the longitudinal axis of the bottle from one groove to the next, n being an integer.

Dans une première forme de réalisation de l'invention, l'angle au centre de chaque arc formé sur le fond d'une cannelure entre un point de pronfondeur maximale et un point de profondeur minimale, est égal à π/n, n étant un entier.In a first embodiment of the invention, the angle at the center of each arc formed on the bottom of a groove between a point of maximum depth and a point of minimum depth, is equal to π / n, n being a whole.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, la profondeur de chaque cannelure varie suivant une courbe continue lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la cannelure entre la valeur maximale et la valeur minimale, puis entre la valeur minimale et la valeur maximale, ... etc.According to another characteristic of the invention, the depth of each groove varies along a continuous curve when one moves around the periphery of the groove between the maximum value and the minimum value, then between the minimum value and the maximum value. .. etc.

Dans une variante, les deux extrémités d'un arc d'angle au centre égal à π/n, entre un point où la cannelure est de profondeur maximale et le point suivant où elle est de profondeur minimale, sont reliées par un segment de droite.In a variant, the two ends of an arc of a corner at the center equal to π / n, between a point where the groove is of maximum depth and the next point where it is of minimum depth, are connected by a line segment .

Selon l'invention, également, le rayon de fond de la cannelure, -et par conséquent le profil en section droite par un plan radial passant par l'axe de la bouteille-, varie de façon cyclique lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la cannelure en correspondance de la profondeur de celle-ci.According to the invention, also, the bottom radius of the groove, and therefore the cross-sectional profile by a radial plane passing through the axis of the bottle, varies cyclically when moving around the periphery of the groove in correspondence with the depth thereof.

Une structure de bouteille telle que définie ci-dessus, où l'épaisseur de la paroi latérale est constante, conduit après écrasement de la bouteille par application d'un effort axial à un solide de faible volume résiduel et dont le contour-plan est sensiblement celui d'un polygone à n côtés.A bottle structure as defined above, where the thickness of the side wall is constant, leads after crushing the bottle by application of an axial force to a solid of small residual volume and whose plane contour is substantially that of a polygon with n sides.

Dans une réalisation préférée de l'invention, la matière plastique constitutive de la bouteille est du polyéthylène téréphtalate (PET).In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plastic material constituting the bottle is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Dans des réalisations de l'invention ayant conduit à de bons résultats, la bouteille en PET d'une contenance de 1,5 litre, d'un poids à vide compris entre 34 et 38 grammes, d'une épaisseur de paroi constante comprise entre 0,17 et 0,35 mm et d'une hauteur à vide comprise entre 300-340 mm peut être écrasée par application d'un effort axial inférieur à 10 DaN.In embodiments of the invention having led to good results, the PET bottle with a capacity of 1.5 liters, an empty weight of between 34 and 38 grams, with a constant wall thickness of between 0.17 and 0.35 mm and an empty height between 300-340 mm can be crushed by applying an axial force of less than 10 DaN.

Pour une première exécution avantageuse d'une telle bouteille, la profondeur maximale des cannelures est de l'ordre de 3 mm, la profondeur minimale de l'ordre de 1,5 mm et l'angle (α) d'ouverture de la cannelure égal à 70°.For a first advantageous execution of such a bottle, the maximum depth of the grooves is of the order of 3 mm, the minimum depth of the order of 1.5 mm and the opening angle (α) of the groove equal to 70 °.

Pour une seconde exécution avantageuse, la profondeur maximale des cannelures est de l'ordre de 3, 86 mm, la profondeur minimale est de l'ordre de 1,7 mm et l'angle (α) d'ouverture de la cannelure égal à 59,74°.For a second advantageous execution, the maximum depth of the grooves is of the order of 3.86 mm, the minimum depth is of the order of 1.7 mm and the angle (α) of opening of the groove equal to 59.74 °.

D'autres matières plastiques que le PET peuvent être mises en oeuvre pour réaliser une bouteille selon l'invention, en particulier les matières simples ou composites, multi-couches ou compounds, du type PVC ou du type des polyoléfines ou des polyesters.Other plastics than PET can be used to make a bottle according to the invention, in particular simple or composite, multi-layer or compound materials, of the PVC type or of the polyolefin or polyesters type.

L'invention peut être mise en oeuvre pour des bouteilles à corps cylindrique et à section droite sensiblement circulaire, comportant ou non un retreint de préhension, sans que cette indication de forme n'ait, cependant, quelque caractère limitatif que ce soit, le corps de la bouteille pouvant être à section droite hexagonale ou octogonale ou encore sensiblement parallèlépipédique, par exemple.The invention can be implemented for bottles with a cylindrical body and a substantially circular cross section, whether or not including a gripping neck, without this indication of shape having, however, any limiting character whatsoever, the body of the bottle which may be of hexagonal or octagonal cross section or even substantially parallelepipedal, for example.

Un outillage pour la réalisation d'une bouteille telle que définie ci-dessus, comprend un moule propre à être mis en oeuvre dans un procédé d'obtention de corps creux en matière plastique et qui présente, sur au moins la plus grande partie de sa hauteur, des ondulations transversales formées par une alternance de nervures et de gorges, et est caractérisé, selon l'invention, en ce que les nervures forment une saillie qui, lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la nervure, varie de façon cyclique entre une valeur minimale et une valeur maximale.A tool for producing a bottle as defined above, comprises a mold suitable for being used in a process for obtaining hollow bodies made of plastic material and which has, over at least most of its height, transverse undulations formed by alternating ribs and grooves, and is characterized, according to the invention, in that the ribs form a projection which, when moving around the periphery of the rib, varies cyclically between a minimum value and a maximum value.

L'angle au centre de chaque arc de nervure entre son extrémité où la saillie est minimale et celle où la saillie est maximale, est avantageusement égal à π/n, où n est un entier.The angle at the center of each rib arc between its end where the projection is minimum and that where the projection is maximum, is advantageously equal to π / n, where n is an integer.

Dans un tel moule, complémentairement, l'invention prévoit que la forme définie ci-dessus d'une nervure soit la même pour toutes les nervures avec un décalage angulaire d'une valeur égale à π/n par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du moule, lorsqu'on se déplace suivant la direction dudit axe.In such a mold, in addition, the invention provides that the shape defined above of a rib is the same for all the ribs with an angular offset of a value equal to π / n relative to the longitudinal axis of the mold, when moving in the direction of said axis.

Selon l'invention, également, le rayon du sommet de la nervure varie de façon cyclique lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la nervure, en correspondance de la saillie de ladite nervure.According to the invention, also, the radius of the apex of the rib varies cyclically when one moves around the periphery of the rib, in correspondence with the projection of said rib.

Dans une seconde forme préférée de réalisation de l'invention, les cannelures ont une profondeur sensiblement constante sur la majeure partie de leur contour et comportent de place en place des amorces de pliage formées en saillie radialement vers l'extérieur sur le fond des cannelures, ces amorces de pliage étant régulièrement réparties et décalées angulairement autour de l'axe de la bouteille d'une cannelure à l'autre.In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the grooves have a substantially constant depth over most of their contour and include from place to place folding caps formed projecting radially outward on the bottom of the grooves, these bending caps being regularly distributed and offset angularly around the axis of the bottle from one groove to the other.

De façon surprenante, mais très efficace, ces amorces de pliage formées par des saillies du fond des cannelures facilitent beaucoup l'écrasement axial de la bouteille : l'effort axial qu'il faut appliquer à la bouteille pour provoquer son écrasement est inférieur à 10 DaN, et l'écrasement complet de la bouteille reste possible même si celle-ci comprend une partie médiane de préhension de diamètre réduit ou de forme particulière.Surprisingly, but very effectively, these folding primers formed by protrusions from the bottom of the splines greatly facilitate the axial crushing of the bottle: the axial force that must be applied to the bottle to cause it to be crushed is less than 10 DaN, and the complete crushing of the bottle remains possible even if it includes a middle part of grip of reduced diameter or of particular shape.

De façon générale, les amorces de pliage que constituent les saillies précitées, présentent les caractéristiques suivantes :

  • elles comprennent des génératrices ou lignes de sommet qui s'étendent dans des plans passant par l'axe de la bouteille et qui sont inclinées sur cet axe d'un angle déterminé,
  • cet angle a une valeur comprise entre 0 et 45°,
  • les génératrices ou lignes de sommet s'étendent d'un flanc à l'autre de la cannelure, en étant raccordées à l'un de ces flancs par un arc de cercle dont la concavité est tournée vers l'extérieur.
In general, the folding primers that constitute the aforementioned projections have the following characteristics:
  • they include generators or crown lines which extend in planes passing through the axis of the bottle and which are inclined on this axis by a determined angle,
  • this angle has a value between 0 and 45 °,
  • the generatrices or crown lines extend from one side to the other of the groove, being connected to one of these sides by an arc of a circle whose concavity is turned towards the outside.

Dans une première forme d'exécution, les amorces de pliage ont, dans les plans médians des cannelures perpendiculaires à l'axe de la bouteille, une forme en arc de cercle à concavité tournée vers l'intérieur de la bouteille.In a first embodiment, the folding primers have, in the median planes of the grooves perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, an arcuate shape with a concavity turned towards the inside of the bottle.

Dans une variante d'exécution, les amorces de pliage ont, dans ces plans médians des cannelures, une forme en V à sommet orienté vers l'extérieur de la bouteille.In an alternative embodiment, the folding primers have, in these median planes of the grooves, a V shape with apex oriented towards the outside of the bottle.

L'étendue angulaire de chaque amorce de pliage autour de l'axe de la bouteille est comprise entre environ 0,2 radian et 2π/n, n étant le nombre d'amorces de pliage par cannelure.The angular extent of each folding initiation around the axis of the bottle is between approximately 0.2 radians and 2π / n, n being the number of folding initiations per groove.

Le décalage angulaire des amorces de pliage d'une cannelure à l'autre est de π/n, n étant le nombre d'amorces de pliage par cannelure.The angular offset of the folding primers from one groove to the other is π / n, n being the number of folding primers per groove.

L'invention concerne également un moule pour la fabrication d'une bouteille axialement écrasable en matière plastique, caractérisé en ce que sa surface interne comprend des nervures circulaires correspondant à des cannelures transversales de la bouteille à fabriquer et comportant des creux ou cavités complémentaires des amorces de pliage décrites dans ce qui précède.The invention also relates to a mold for the manufacture of an axially squeezable plastic bottle, characterized in that its internal surface comprises circular ribs corresponding to transverse grooves of the bottle to be produced and comprising recesses or cavities complementary to the primers folding described in the above.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront de la description qui suit, faite à titre d'exemple et en référence au dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'une bouteille selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne 2-2 de la figure 1, mais à plus grande échelle ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne 3-3 de la figure 1, à même échelle que celle de la figure 2 ;
  • les figures 3A et 3B sont des vues en coupe selon les lignes x-x et y-y de la figure 3 et à plus grande échelle ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe analogue à celles des figures 2 et 3 mais pour une autre réalisation ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective illustrant une partie de paroi de bouteille selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue en schématique en perspective après écrasement de la bouteille ;
  • la figure 7 est un diagramme ;
  • la figure 8 est une vue partielle en coupe d'un moule selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 9 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne 9-9 de la figure 8 ;
  • la figure 10 est une section selon la ligne 10-10 de la figure 9, mais à plus grande échelle ;
  • la figure 11 est une section selon la ligne 11-11 de la figure 9, mais à plus grande échelle.
  • la figure 12 est une vue partielle d'une bouteille selon une réalisation préférée;
  • la figure 13 est une vue agrandie du détail encerclé XIII de la figure 12;
  • la figure 14 représente schématiquement la forme d'une cannelure en vue de dessus ;
  • la figure 15 est une vue correspondant à la figure 14, pour une variante de réalisation.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawing in which:
  • Figure 1 is an elevational view of a bottle according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1, but on a larger scale;
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1, on the same scale as that of Figure 2;
  • Figures 3A and 3B are sectional views along lines xx and yy of Figure 3 and on a larger scale;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to those of Figures 2 and 3 but for another embodiment;
  • Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a part of the bottle wall according to the invention;
  • Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view after crushing the bottle;
  • Figure 7 is a diagram;
  • Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of a mold according to the invention;
  • Figure 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of Figure 8;
  • Figure 10 is a section along the line 10-10 of Figure 9, but on a larger scale;
  • Figure 11 is a section along line 11-11 of Figure 9, but on a larger scale.
  • Figure 12 is a partial view of a bottle according to a preferred embodiment;
  • Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the circled detail XIII of Figure 12;
  • Figure 14 schematically shows the shape of a groove in top view;
  • Figure 15 is a view corresponding to Figure 14, for an alternative embodiment.

On se réfère d'abord à la figure 1 qui montre une bouteille B selon l'invention, en matière plastique, avantageusement en polyéthylène téréphtalate (PET) sans que cette indication ait, cependant, quelque caractère limitatif que ce soit, la bouteille pouvant également être réalisée en une matière simple ou composite, multi-couches ou compounds, comme du PVC ou une polyoléfine ou un polyester. La bouteille B comprend un fond F, une paroi latérale P de forme générale cylindrique à deux parties p1 et p2 séparées par un rétreint de préhension r, la partie supérieure p2 se prolongeant en direction du col C par une partie tronconique E lisse ou qui, en variante, peut présenter des reliefs constitutifs d'une marque ou analogue. Le col C présente un goulot fileté G sur lequel on peut monter un bouchon à visser V. La bouteille B, qui est fabriquée selon des techniques usuelles de fabrication de corps creux en matière plastique, par exemple d'injection-soufflage, est conformée sur sa paroi latérale P pour qu'elle puisse, après que son contenu ait été vidé, être écrasée par application d'un effort axial f de faible valeur et conduisant à un résidu R, figure 6, de volume nettement réduit par rapport à celui de la bouteille dans sa condition initiale, pleine ou vide.Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which shows a bottle B according to the invention, of plastic material, advantageously of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) without this indication having, however, any limiting nature whatsoever, the bottle also being able to be made of a simple or composite, multi-layer or compound material, such as PVC or a polyolefin or a polyester. The bottle B comprises a bottom F, a side wall P of generally cylindrical shape with two parts p 1 and p 2 separated by a grip constriction r , the upper part p 2 extending in the direction of the neck C by a smooth frustoconical part E or which, as a variant, may have reliefs constituting a mark or the like. The neck C has a threaded neck G on which a screw cap V can be mounted. The bottle B, which is produced according to usual techniques for manufacturing plastic hollow bodies, for example injection-blowing, is shaped on its side wall P so that it can, after its contents have been emptied, be crushed by application of an axial force f of small value and leading to a residue R, FIG. 6, of volume significantly reduced compared to that of the bottle in its initial condition, full or empty.

Pour ce faire, la paroi de la bouteille, d'épaisseur constante, comprise entre 0,17 et 0,35 mm en fonction du poids d'une préforme de départ, est formée, dans sa zone constituée par les parties p1 et p2, avec des ondulations ou cannelures, 10, comprenant des parties cylindriques droites ou côtes 11 et des parties en dépression ou gorges 12 (figures 1 et 5).To do this, the wall of the bottle, of constant thickness, between 0.17 and 0.35 mm depending on the weight of a starting preform, is formed, in its zone constituted by the parts p 1 and p 2 , with corrugations or grooves, 10, comprising straight cylindrical parts or ribs 11 and parts in depression or grooves 12 (Figures 1 and 5).

Alors que les côtes 11 ont une surface externe 13 à distance constante d de l'axe A de la bouteille et sont sur un cylindre à section droite circulaire d'axe A, les gorges 12 ont une profondeur, c'est-à-dire une dimension mesurée entre le fond 14 de la gorge et la surface externe du cylindre définissant les côtes 13, qui varie lorsqu'on se déplace le long desdites cannelures.While the ribs 11 have an outer surface 13 at constant distance d from the axis A of the bottle and are on a cylinder with a circular cross section of axis A, the grooves 12 have a depth, that is to say a dimension measured between the bottom 14 of the groove and the external surface of the cylinder defining the ribs 13, which varies when one moves along said grooves.

De façon plus précise, ladite profondeur varie sur le pourtour de chaque cannelure entre une valeur maximale (a) et une valeur minimale (b), puis de cette valeur minimale à nouveau à la valeur maximale (a), ... etc, (figures 2, 3, 3A et 3B), cette variation de profondeur étant obtenue, dans la mesure où l'épaisseur e de la paroi latérale de la bouteille est constante, en donnant à la nervure correspondante du moule dans lequel la bouteille est conformée, une distance variable à l'axe du moule lorsqu'on se déplace le long de ladite nervure, comme il sera explicité ci-après.More precisely, said depth varies around the periphery of each groove between a maximum value (a) and a minimum value (b), then from this minimum value again to the maximum value (a), ... etc, ( FIGS. 2, 3, 3A and 3B), this variation in depth being obtained, insofar as the thickness e of the side wall of the bottle is constant, by giving the corresponding rib of the mold in which the bottle is shaped, a variable distance to the axis of the mold when moving along said rib, as will be explained below.

Selon l'invention, également, la variation de profondeur de chaque gorge est périodique ou cyclique lorsqu'on se déplace le long de ladite gorge, c'est-à-dire que chaque arc de gorge, 201, 202, 203, ... etc, s'étendant entre les extrémités successives 21, 22, 23, ... etc, où la gorge est de plus petite et de plus grande profondeur, respectivement, a un angle au centre égal à π/n, n étant un entier.According to the invention, also, the variation in depth of each groove is periodic or cyclic when moving along said groove, that is to say that each groove arc, 20 1 , 20 2 , 20 3 , ... etc, extending between the successive ends 21, 22, 23, ... etc, where the groove is of smaller and greater depth, respectively, at an angle at the center equal to π / n, n being an integer.

Quand n est par exemple égal à 4, chaque arc 20 correspond à un angle au centre de 45°, comme bien visible sur les figures 2 et 3 qui montrent deux gorges successives 12i et 12i+1 telles qu'elles apparaissent sur la paroi latérale de la bouteille lorsqu'on se déplace vers le bas le long de l'axe A. Comme montré par ces figures, où la trace d'un même plan longitudinal T-T sert d'axe de référence, la forme des cannelures est la même, mais les cannelures successives sont décalées angulairement d'une valeur de π/n, ici 45°, par rapport à l'axe longitudinal A de la bouteille, la gorge 12i étant ainsi de plus faible profondeur (b) dans le plan T-T alors que la gorge 12i+1 est de plus grande profondeur (a) dans ce même plan, ce qui peut également être traduit par le fait que les extrémités de plus faible profondeur et de plus grande profondeur des gorges de la bouteille forment un dessin quelque peu "hélicoïdal" autour de l'axe de la bouteille, comme indiqué par les lignes en traits mixtes h1, h2, ... etc, de la figure 1.When n is for example equal to 4, each arc 20 corresponds to an angle at the center of 45 °, as well visible in Figures 2 and 3 which show two successive grooves 12 i and 12 i + 1 as they appear on the side wall of the bottle when one moves down along the axis A. As shown by these figures, where the trace of the same longitudinal plane TT serves as a reference axis, the shape of the grooves is the same, but the successive grooves are offset angularly by a value of π / n, here 45 °, relative to the longitudinal axis A of the bottle, the groove 12 i thus being of shallower depth (b) in the plane TT while the groove 12 i + 1 is of greater depth (a) in this same plane, which can also be translated by the fact that the shallower and deeper ends of the bottle grooves form a somewhat "helical" pattern around the axis of the bottle, as indicated by the dashed lines h 1 , h 2 , ... etc, of figure 1.

Comme montré, également, sur les figures 3A et 3B, l'angle α d'ouverture de chaque cannelure est constant mais le rayon de fond de gorge, -et par conséquent le profil en section droite par un plan radial passant par l'axe A de la bouteille montré en x-x et en y-y respectivement pour les figures 3A et 3B-, varie de façon cyclique lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la gorge, en correspondance de la profondeur de celle-ci. Au droit de la plus petite profondeur de gorge, le profil est comme montré sur la figure 3A, c'est-à-dire avec un fond incurvé 30 à rayon relativement grand raccordé aux côtes adjacentes 13 par des parties profilées 31 et 32 donnant à la section droite une forme en U largement évasé, tandis qu'au droit de la plus grande profondeur de gorge, figure 3B, la section droite a une forme de V dont les faces 33 et 34 font entre elles l'angle α et sont reliées par un fond incurvé 35 à rayon relativement petit.As shown, also, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the angle α of opening of each groove is constant but the radius of the groove bottom, and therefore the profile in cross section through a radial plane passing through the axis A of the bottle shown in xx and in yy respectively for FIGS. 3A and 3B-, varies cyclically when one moves around the periphery of the groove, in correspondence with the depth of the latter. To the right of the smallest groove depth, the profile is as shown in FIG. 3A, that is to say with a curved bottom 30 with a relatively large radius connected to the adjacent ribs 13 by profiled parts 31 and 32 giving the cross section has a widely flared U shape, while at the right of the greatest groove depth, FIG. 3B, the cross section has a V shape, the faces 33 and 34 of which form the angle α and are connected by a curved bottom 35 with a relatively small radius.

Dans la réalisation qui vient d'être décrite, la profondeur de chaque gorge 12 varie suivant une courbe continue lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la gorge entre les extrémités 21 et 22, 22 et 23, etc ... où la gorge est de plus petite profondeur puis de plus grande profondeur, ... etc.In the embodiment which has just been described, the depth of each groove 12 varies according to a continuous curve when one moves around the periphery of the groove between the ends 21 and 22, 22 and 23, etc ... where the groove is of smaller depth then of greater depth, ... etc.

Dans la réalisation montrée schématiquement sur la figure 4, où la ligne en trait plein correspond à la section droite d'une gorge 12i et celle montrée en trait pointillé à la section droite d'une gorge 12i+1, les extrémités successives 21', 22', 23', ... etc, où la gorge est de plus petite profondeur et de plus grande profondeur, respectivement, sont reliées par des segments de droite 241, 242, ... etc, chaque segment correspondant à un angle au centre égal à π/n (égal à 45° comme dans la réalisation précédente), les gorges 12i et 12i+1 étant ici aussi décalées de 45° par rapport à l'axe longitudinal A de la bouteille lorsqu'on se déplace le long de l'axe de cette dernière.In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, where the solid line corresponds to the cross section of a groove 12 i and that shown in dotted line to the cross section of a groove 12 i + 1 , the successive ends 21 ', 22', 23 ', ... etc, where the groove is of smaller depth and greater depth, respectively, are connected by straight segments 24 1 , 24 2 , ... etc, each corresponding segment at an angle at the center equal to π / n (equal to 45 ° as in the previous embodiment), the grooves 12 i and 12 i + 1 here also being offset by 45 ° relative to the longitudinal axis A of the bottle when 'we move along the axis of the latter.

Lorsqu'une bouteille du type de celle des figures 1 à 3 ou de la figure 4 est soumise à un effort axial f dirigé suivant l'axe de la bouteille, -bien entendu lorsque celle-ci est vide et après que le bouchon V a été retiré-, elle est transformée en un résidu R (figure 6) de volume nettement inférieur à celui de la bouteille pleine ou vide dans sa condition initiale et qui, comme montré sur cette figure, présente une partie dont le contour plan est sensiblement celui d'un polygone à n côtés, 401, 402, 403, 404, ... etc, ledit volume étant maintenu, après écrasement de la bouteille, en revissant le bouchon V sur le goulot fileté G.When a bottle of the type of that of FIGS. 1 to 3 or of FIG. 4 is subjected to an axial force f directed along the axis of the bottle, of course when the latter is empty and after the stopper V has been removed, it is transformed into a residue R (FIG. 6) with a volume much lower than that of the full or empty bottle in its initial condition and which, as shown in this figure, has a part whose planar outline is substantially that of an polygon with n sides, 40 1 , 40 2 , 40 3 , 40 4 , etc., said volume being maintained, after crushing the bottle, by screwing the stopper V onto the threaded neck G.

La structure de bouteille selon l'invention permet d'écraser celle-ci par un effort axial de faible valeur, inférieur à 10 DaN, tant au début de la phase d'écrasement que lors de la poursuite de cette phase, comme montré par la courbe 41 (figure 7) relative à une bouteille selon l'invention, alors que la courbe 42 traduit l'effort d'écrasement qui augmente constamment, au cours du temps, pour une bouteille usuelle.The bottle structure according to the invention makes it possible to crush it by an axial force of low value, less than 10 DaN, both at the start of the crushing phase and during the continuation of this phase, as shown by the curve 41 (FIG. 7) relating to a bottle according to the invention, while the curve 42 reflects the crushing force which constantly increases, over time, for a usual bottle.

Des essais relatifs aux matériaux mis en oeuvre et à la forme des cannelures ont abouti aux résultats rapportés dans les deux tableaux ci-après.Tests relating to the materials used and to the shape of the grooves led to the results reported in the two tables below.

Sur le Tableau I, qui concerne uniquement des bouteilles en polyéthylène téréphtalate d'une contenance de 1,5 litre, on désigne par APO une bouteille de même forme générale que celle montrée sur la figure 1, mais qui ne présente pas les caractéristiques de l'invention, et par USI une bouteille de même forme générale mais sans rétreint r et qui ne présente pas non plus les caractéristiques de l'invention. L'indication "forme 4" désigne une bouteille selon l'invention, du type de celle montrée sur la figure 1, dont la profondeur maximale de gorge (a) est 3 mm, la profondeur minimale (b) est 1,5 mm et pour laquelle l'angle α vaut 70°.In Table I, which relates only to polyethylene terephthalate bottles with a capacity of 1.5 liters, APO denotes a bottle of the same general shape as that shown in FIG. 1, but which does not have the characteristics of l 'invention, and by USI a bottle of the same general shape but without shrinking r and which also does not have the characteristics of the invention. The indication "shape 4" designates a bottle according to the invention, of the type of that shown in FIG. 1, the maximum throat depth (a) is 3 mm, the minimum depth (b) is 1.5 mm and for which the angle α is 70 °.

On constate que pour une bouteille selon l'invention, de poids plus faible que celui des bouteilles usuelles, la force nécessaire pour initialement déformer ladite bouteille est abaissée, d'une part, et que cette force ne croît que relativement faiblement pour continuer la déformation, d'autre part. Nonobstant ce résultat, l'effort de résistance à la compression verticale d'une bouteille pleine est du même ordre que celui des bouteilles usuelles, ce qui signifie que les bouteilles selon l'invention peuvent être manipulées et stockées sous forme de charges palettisées et de fardeaux gerbés.It is noted that for a bottle according to the invention, of lighter weight than that of the usual bottles, the force necessary to initially deform said bottle is lowered, on the one hand, and that this force increases only relatively weakly to continue the deformation , on the other hand. Notwithstanding this result, the effort of resistance to vertical compression of a full bottle is of the same order as that of usual bottles, which means that the bottles according to the invention can be handled and stored in the form of palletized loads and stacked loads.

Dans le Tableau II sont rapportés les résultats d'essais comparatifs entre une bouteille en PVC, qui ne présente pas les caractéristiques de l'invention, et des bouteilles en PET dont certaines, dites à ondulations usuelles, ne présentent pas non plus les caractéristiques de l'invention tandis que les autres les présentent. Les références APO et USI sont les mêmes que celles du Tableau I, la référence RAM désignant une bouteille du type APO mais dans laquelle la partie E porte un dessin en relief.In Table II are reported the results of comparative tests between a PVC bottle, which does not have the characteristics of the invention, and PET bottles, some of which, so-called usual corrugations do not have the characteristics of the invention either, while the others do. The APO and USI references are the same as those in Table I, the RAM reference designating a bottle of the APO type but in which the part E bears a relief design.

La forme des ondulations désignée par la référence "forme 4" est la même que celle définie ci-dessus pour le Tableau I, celle référencée "forme 6" désignant des gorges dont la profondeur minimale est 1,7 mm, la profondeur maximale 3,86 mm et dont l'angle α vaut 59,74°.The shape of the corrugations designated by the reference "shape 4" is the same as that defined above for Table I, that referenced "shape 6" designating grooves whose minimum depth is 1.7 mm, the maximum depth 3, 86 mm and whose angle α is 59.74 °.

De même que dans le tableau I, l'affaissement sous une charge de 10 DaN, traduit la diminution de hauteur de la bouteille et ainsi sa facilité à être écrasée, tandis que les chiffres relatifs à la compression verticale de la bouteille pleine bouchée représentent la valeur nécessaire pour obtenir la rupture et traduisent les capacités d'une bouteille à conserver sa forme lorsqu'elle est manipulée sous forme de charges palettisées et de fardeaux gerbés. Cette tenue de la bouteille, dans de telles conditions de manipulation, est confirmée par les essais de mise sous charge (338 kg - 12 bouteilles) qui traduisent, comme dans le Tableau I, l'affaissement en mm du lit inférieur d'un fardeau gerbé supportant une autre palette au dessus de lui.

Figure imgb0001
Figure imgb0002
 As in Table I, the collapse under a load of 10 DaN, translates the reduction in height of the bottle and thus its ease of being crushed, while the figures relating to the vertical compression of the full corked bottle represent the value necessary to obtain rupture and reflect the capacity of a bottle to retain its shape when it is handled in the form of palletized loads and stacked loads. This holding of the bottle, in such handling conditions, is confirmed by the load tests (338 kg - 12 bottles) which reflect, as in Table I, the collapse in mm of the lower bed of a load stacked supporting another pallet above him.
Figure imgb0001
Figure imgb0002

Une bouteille en matière plastique, écrasable, telle que définie ci-dessus est obtenue par un procédé de fabrication de corps creux, par exemple d'extrusion-soufflage ou d'injection-soufflage à l'aide d'un outillage, en particulier un moule à coquilles, figures 8 à 11. Dans un tel moule, décrit et représenté ici pour l'obtention d'une bouteille du type "forme 6", la paroi latérale 50 présente sur sa face interne des nervures 511, 512, 513, 514, ... reliées entre elles par des parties cylindriques à section droite circulaire 521, 522, 523, ... etc. Comme montré sur la figure 9, chaque nervure 51 est conformée pour ménager une saillie qui, lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour d'une nervure, varie de façon cyclique entre une valeur minimale (m) et une valeur maximale (M), l'angle au centre β de chaque arc de nervure entre son extrémité 53 (où la saillie est minimale) et son extrémité 54 (où la saillie est maximale) étant égal à π/n, où n est un entier.A plastic bottle, which can be crushed, as defined above, is obtained by a process for manufacturing hollow bodies, for example extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding using a tool, in particular a shell mold, FIGS. 8 to 11. In such a mold, described and shown here for obtaining a bottle of the "shape 6" type, the side wall 50 has ribs 51 1 , 51 2 on its internal face, 51 3 , 51 4 , ... interconnected by cylindrical parts with circular cross section 52 1 , 52 2 , 52 3 , ... etc. As shown in FIG. 9, each rib 51 is shaped to provide a projection which, when moving around the periphery of a rib, varies cyclically between a minimum value (m) and a maximum value (M), the angle at the center β of each rib arc between its end 53 (where the projection is minimum) and its end 54 (where the projection is maximum) being equal to π / n, where n is an integer.

Selon l'invention, également, le rayon du sommet de la nervure 51 et, par suite, le profil en section droite par un plan radial passant par l'axe Z du moule, varie de façon cyclique lorsqu'on se déplace sur le pourtour de la nervure 51, en correspondance de la saillie de ladite nervure, le profil au droit de la saillie maximale (M) étant comme montré sur la figure 10 et celui au droit de la saillie minimale (m) comme montré sur la figure 11.According to the invention, also, the radius of the apex of the rib 51 and, consequently, the profile in cross section through a radial plane passing through the axis Z of the mold, varies cyclically when moving around the periphery of the rib 51, in correspondence with the projection of said rib, the profile in line with the maximum projection (M) being as shown in FIG. 10 and that in line with the minimum projection (m) as shown in FIG. 11.

La forme définie ci-dessus pour une nervure 51 est la même pour toutes les nervures de la paroi latérale du moule, mais est décalée angulairement d'une valeur égale à π/n par rapport à l'axe longitudinal Z du moule lorsqu'on se déplace suivant la direction dudit axe.The shape defined above for a rib 51 is the same for all the ribs of the side wall of the mold, but is angularly offset by a value equal to π / n relative to the longitudinal axis Z of the mold when moves in the direction of said axis.

Dans la forme de réalisation des figures 12 à 14, les cannelures 10 de la bouteille ont comme précédemment une section transversale en V à sommet arrondi 56 orienté vers l'intérieur de la bouteille, les deux branches droites 58 du V étant raccordées par des arcs de cercle 60 à la paroi périphérique cylindrique de la bouteille et chaque cannelure 10 comprend des amorces de pliage 62 qui sont réparties angulairement de façon uniforme autour de l'axe longitudinal 64 de la bouteille et qui sont en saillie sur le fond des cannelures 10, vers l'extérieur de la bouteille, les cannelures 10 étant de profondeur constante en dehors des amorces de pliage.In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14, the grooves 10 of the bottle have, as previously, a V-shaped cross section with apex rounded 56 oriented towards the inside of the bottle, the two straight branches 58 of the V being connected by arcs of a circle 60 to the cylindrical peripheral wall of the bottle and each groove 10 comprises folding caps 62 which are angularly distributed so uniform around the longitudinal axis 64 of the bottle and which protrude from the bottom of the grooves 10, towards the outside of the bottle, the grooves 10 being of constant depth outside the folding caps.

Les formes de ces amorces de pliage 62 peuvent être définies de la façon suivante :

  • dans la vue de dessus de la figure 14, elles sont incurvées, par exemple en arc de cercle, avec une concavité tournée vers l'intérieur de la bouteille,
  • elles ont chacune un plan médian de symétrie 66 passant par l'axe de la bouteille,
  • les plans médians 66 de deux amorces de pliage consécutives d'une même cannelure 10 forment entre eux un angle égal à 2π/n, n étant le nombre d'amorces de pliage par cannelure,
  • l'étendue angulaire ε de chaque amorce de pliage autour de l'axe 64 est comprise entre environ 0,2 radian et 2π/n,
  • dans son plan médian de symétrie 66 passant par l'axe de la bouteille, chaque amorce de pliage 62 est délimitée par une génératrice ou ligne de sommet 68 qui s'étend entre les deux flancs 58 de la cannelure et qui est raccordée à l'un de ces flancs par un arc de cercle 70 à concavité tournée vers l'extérieur et ayant un rayon compris entre 0,5 mm environ et le rayon de l'arc de cercle qui est tangent à la génératrice 68 et au flanc 58 de la cannelure,
  • la génératrice ou ligne de sommet 68 est une ligne droite raccordée à l'autre flanc 58 de la cannelure par un arrondi 72 ayant un rayon de courbure minimum, la ligne de raccordement ayant une forme incurvée dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de la bouteille,
  • la génératrice ou ligne de sommet 68 est inclinée sur l'axe longitudinal de la bouteille d'un angle γ compris entre 0 et 45° environ,
  • l'étendue radiale λ de l'amorce de pliage 62 dans le plan médian 74 de la cannelure 10 est sensiblement égale ou légèrement inférieure à la moitié de la profondeur de la cannelure 10 (l'étendue radiale λ étant la distance entre le fond 56 de la cannelure et l'intersection de la ligne de sommet 68 et du plan médian 74 de la cannelure).
The shapes of these folding caps 62 can be defined as follows:
  • in the top view of FIG. 14, they are curved, for example in an arc of a circle, with a concavity turned towards the inside of the bottle,
  • each has a median plane of symmetry 66 passing through the axis of the bottle,
  • the median planes 66 of two consecutive folding primers of the same groove 10 form between them an angle equal to 2π / n, n being the number of folding primers per groove,
  • the angular extent ε of each folding initiation around the axis 64 is between approximately 0.2 radians and 2π / n,
  • in its median plane of symmetry 66 passing through the axis of the bottle, each folding primer 62 is delimited by a generator or top line 68 which extends between the two sides 58 of the groove and which is connected to the one of these flanks by an arc 70 with a concavity facing outwards and having a radius of between approximately 0.5 mm and the radius of the circular arc which is tangent to the generator 68 and to the flank 58 of the groove,
  • the generator or top line 68 is a straight line connected to the other flank 58 of the groove by a rounded 72 having a minimum radius of curvature, the connection line having a curved shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bottle,
  • the generator or top line 68 is inclined on the longitudinal axis of the bottle by an angle γ between about 0 and 45 °,
  • the radial extent λ of the folding primer 62 in the median plane 74 of the groove 10 is substantially equal to or slightly less than half the depth of the groove 10 (the radial extent λ being the distance between the bottom 56 of the groove and the intersection of the vertex line 68 and the median plane 74 of the groove).

D'une cannelure à l'autre, les amorces de pliage 62 sont décalées angulairement d'un angle égal à π/n, n étant le nombre d'amorces de pliage par cannelure.From one groove to another, the folding primers 62 are angularly offset by an angle equal to π / n, n being the number of folding primers per groove.

Ce nombre n est typiquement compris entre 3 et 20.This number n is typically between 3 and 20.

Dans l'exemple des figures 12 et 13, les lignes de sommet 68 des amorces de pliage sont inclinées du haut vers le bas et de l'intérieur vers l'extérieur. Toutefois, une orientation symétrique de celle représentée par rapport à une perpendiculaire à l'axe de la bouteille, est également possible.In the example of FIGS. 12 and 13, the top lines 68 of the folding caps are inclined from top to bottom and from the inside to the outside. However, a symmetrical orientation to that shown with respect to a perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, is also possible.

Dans une variante de réalisation représentée en figure 15, les amorces de pliage 62 ont, en vue de dessus, non pas une forme incurvée ou en arc de cercle, mais une forme en V très ouvert à côtés rectilignes, les sommets des V étant compris dans les plans 66 de symétrie de ces amorces passant par l'axe 64 de la bouteille.In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the folding primers 62 have, in top view, not a curved or arcuate shape, but a very open V shape with rectilinear sides, the vertices of the V being understood in the planes 66 of symmetry of these primers passing through the axis 64 of the bottle.

Lorsqu'une telle bouteille est soumise à un effort axial de compression, la bouteille étant vide et le bouchon étant retiré, elle est transformée en un résidu de volume réduit qui est constitué par un empilage de polyèdres à n côtés, ce volume réduit étant maintenu après écrasement par revissage du bouchon sur le goulot de la bouteille.When such a bottle is subjected to an axial compression force, the bottle being empty and the cap being removed, it is transformed into a residue of reduced volume which is constituted by a stack of polyhedra with n sides, this reduced volume being maintained after crushing by screwing the cap back on the neck from the bottle.

L'une des caractéristiques essentielles d'une bouteille du type de celle représenté aux figures 12 à 15 est de nécessiter un effort axial plus faible pour son écrasement. Le tableau III annexé donne les résultats d'essais comparatifs réalisés entre des bouteilles connues de la technique antérieure et une bouteille telle que celle des figures 12 et 13, comprenant quatre amorces de pliage par cannelures, l'étendue angulaire ε de chaque amorce de pliage étant de 26° environ, l'angle γ d'inclinaison des lignes de sommet 38 par rapport à l'axe de la bouteille étant de 21°, l'étendue radiale λ des amorces de pliage étant d'environ 1,4 mm (la profondeur de la cannelure étant de 3 mm).One of the essential characteristics of a bottle of the type shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 is to require a lower axial force for its crushing. Table III appended gives the results of comparative tests carried out between bottles known from the prior art and a bottle such as that of FIGS. 12 and 13, comprising four primers for folding by splines, the angular extent ε of each initiation of folding being approximately 26 °, the angle γ of inclination of the apex lines 38 relative to the axis of the bottle being 21 °, the radial extent λ of the bending caps being approximately 1.4 mm ( the depth of the groove being 3 mm).

Dans ce tableau, les références APO désignent une bouteille ayant la forme générale représentée en figure 1 mais ne comprenant pas les caractéristiques de l'invention, et la référence USI désigne une bouteille ayant également la forme générale représentée en figure 1, mais ne comprenant pas de rétreint de préhension et ne comprenant pas non plus les caractéristiques selon l'invention. La référence RAM désigne une bouteille du type APO, mais dont la partie E comporte des dessins en relief. Toutes ces bouteilles sont réalisées en PET et ont un volume d'1,5 litre.In this table, the references APO designate a bottle having the general shape represented in FIG. 1 but not including the characteristics of the invention, and the reference USI designates a bottle also having the general shape represented in FIG. 1, but not including gripping neck and also not comprising the characteristics according to the invention. The reference RAM designates a bottle of the APO type, but of which the part E includes relief drawings. All these bottles are made of PET and have a volume of 1.5 liters.

On voit que la bouteille selon l'invention est écrasée pour un effort axial de 6 DaN, ce qui est relativement très faible, et qu'elle présente cependant des caractéristiques mécaniques assez semblables à celles des bouteilles connues lorsqu'elle est pleine et bouchée.We see that the bottle according to the invention is crushed for an axial force of 6 DaN, which is relatively very low, and that it nevertheless has mechanical characteristics quite similar to those of known bottles when it is full and capped.

Cela permet aux bouteilles selon l'invention de pouvoir être fabriquées, remplies, bouchées, manipulées, transportées et utilisées comme les bouteilles de la technique antérieure bien qu'elles puissent être écrasées facilement à vide pour occuper un volume beaucoup plus faible après utilisation.This allows the bottles according to the invention to be able to be manufactured, filled, capped, handled, transported and used like the bottles of the prior art although they can be easily crushed when empty to occupy a much lower volume after use.

La gain en volume après écrasement peut être quantifié par le rapport du nombre de bouteilles écrasées et du nombre de bouteilles identiques non écrasées que peut contenir un récipient de forme et de volume déterminés.The gain in volume after crushing can be quantified by the ratio of the number of crushed bottles and the number of identical bottles that are not crushed that a container of given shape and volume can contain.

Pour les bouteilles selon l'invention, ce rapport varie entre 2,5 et 4 en fonction du volume et de la forme du récipient.

Figure imgb0003
For bottles according to the invention, this ratio varies between 2.5 and 4 depending on the volume and the shape of the container.
Figure imgb0003

Claims (31)

  1. An axially crushable bottle made of plastics material, the bottle comprising transverse corrugations (10) over the major portion of its height, and being characterized in that said transverse corrugations (10) have a depth, i.e. a dimension measured towards the axis of the bottle, that varies cyclically around the periphery of said corrugations between a maximum value (a) and a minimum value (b).
  2. A bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle at the center of each arc (201, 202, 203, ...) formed along the bottom of a corrugation between a point (21, 22, 23, ...) where its depth is at a maximum and a following point where its depth is at a minimum is equal to π/n, where n is an integer.
  3. A bottle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that all of the corrugations (10) are of the same shape and in that two successive corrugations are angularly offset about the longitudinal axis (A) of the bottle through an angle of π/n.
  4. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the depth of each corrugation (10) varies continuously when going around the periphery of the corrugation from the maximum value (a) to the minimum value (b), then from the minimum value (b) to the maximum value (a), ..., etc.
  5. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opposite ends (21', 22', 23', ...) of arcs formed on the bottoms of the corrugations (241, 242, ...) between points of extreme depth and having an angle at the center equal to π/n are interconnected by straight line segments.
  6. A bottle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom radius (30, 35) of each corrugation (10) varies cyclically on going around the periphery of the corrugation, in correspondence with the depth of the corrugation.
  7. A bottle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that after it has been crushed by applying an axial force (f), it is reduced to a solid of small volume (R) whose outline in a plane is substantially that of an n-sided polygon.
  8. A bottle according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  9. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is made of a material that is simple or composite, multilayer or compound, such as PVC or a polyolefin or a polyester.
  10. A bottle according to claim 8, characterized in that for a volume of 1.5 liters, its weight when empty lies in the range 34 grams to 38 grams, its height when empty lies in the range 300 mm to 340 mm, its wall thickness is constant and lies in the range 0.17 mm to 0.35 mm, and the axial force (f) for initiating deformation and then continuing deformation thereof is less than 10 DaN.
  11. A bottle according to claim 10, characterized in that the maximum depth (a) of its corrugations is about 3 mm, the minimum depth (b) is about 1.5 mm, and in that the flare angle α of the corrugation is equal to 70°.
  12. A bottle according to claim 10, characterized in that the maximum depth (a) of its corrugations is about 3.86 mm, the minimum depth (b) is about 1.7 mm, and in that the flare angle α of the corrugation is equal to 59.74°.
  13. A bottle according to claim 1, characterized by fold starters (62) formed to project radially outwards from the bottoms (56) of the corrugations (10), said fold starters (62) being uniformly distributed and angularly offset around the axis of the bottle from one corrugation to another.
  14. A bottle according to claim 13, characterized in that each fold starter (62) comprises a generator line or ridge line (68) which extends in a plane (66) containing the axis of the bottle and which is inclined relative to said axis by a determined angle γ.
  15. A bottle according to claim 14, characterized in that the angle γ lies in the range 0 to about 45°.
  16. A bottle according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said generator line or ridge line (68) extends from one flank to the other of the corrugation (10).
  17. A bottle according to claim 16, characterized in that said generator line or ridge line (68) is connected to one of the flanks (58) of the corrugation by a circular arc (70) whose concave side faces towards the outside.
  18. A bottle according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that said generator line or ridge line (68) is connected to the other flank (58) of the corrugation via a rounded portion (72) of minimum radius of curvature.
  19. A bottle according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that said generator line or ridge line (68) extends downwards and outwards relative to the bottle.
  20. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that each fold starter (62) is shaped, in the midplane (74) of the corrugation perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, in the form of a circular arc having its concave side facing towards the inside of the bottle.
  21. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that each fold starter (62) is shaped, in the midplane (74) of the corrugation perpendicular to the axis of the bottle, in the form of a V-shape having its tip pointing towards the outside of the bottle.
  22. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that the corrugations (10) have a V-shaped cross-section with a rounded tip.
  23. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that each fold starter (62) has an angular extent ε about the axis of the bottle that lies in the range about 0.2 radians to 2π/n, where n is the number of fold starters per corrugation.
  24. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 23, characterized in that the fold starters (62) are angularly offset by π/n from one corrugation to another, n being the number of fold starters per corrugation.
  25. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 24, characterized in that the number of fold starters (62) per corrugation (10) lies in the range 3 to 20.
  26. A bottle according to any one of claims 13 to 25, characterized in that the radial extent λ of each fold starter (62) in the midplane (74) of the corrugation is about half the depth of the corrugation.
  27. Tooling for manufacturing a bottle made of plastics material, the tooling comprising a mold suitable for use in a method of obtaining a hollow body and presenting, over at least the major portion of its height, transverse undulations that form ribs (51) and grooves (52), the tooling being characterized in that the ribs (51) form projections which, on going round the periphery of the ribs, vary cyclically in radial extent between a minimum value (m) and a maximum value (M).
  28. Tooling according to claim 27, characterized in that the angle at the center β of each rib arc between an end point where its radial extent is at a minimum and an end point where its radial extent is at a maximum is equal to π/n, where n is an integer.
  29. Tooling according to claim 27 or 28, characterized in that all of the ribs (511, 512, 513, ...) of the side wall (50) of the mold have the same shape, and in that said shape is offset angularly about the longitudinal axis (Z) of the mold through an angle equal to π/n when going from one rib to the next along the direction of said axis.
  30. Tooling according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the radius of the tip of the rib (51) varies cyclically when going around the periphery of the rib (51) and in correspondence with the extent to which said rib projects.
  31. Tooling according to claim 27, characterized in that the ribs of the mold include hollows or cavities complementary to the fold starters (62) defined in any one of claims 13 to 26.
EP94401999A 1993-09-21 1994-09-08 Axially crushable plastic bottle and tool for making said bottle Expired - Lifetime EP0644121B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9311225A FR2710319B1 (en) 1993-09-21 1993-09-21 Crushable plastic bottle and tools for its realization.
FR9401811 1994-02-17
FR9311225 1994-02-17
FR9401811A FR2716161B1 (en) 1994-02-17 1994-02-17 Axially squeezable plastic bottle and mold for making this bottle.

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EP0644121A1 EP0644121A1 (en) 1995-03-22
EP0644121B1 true EP0644121B1 (en) 1997-08-06

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EP (1) EP0644121B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH07172424A (en)
AT (1) ATE156443T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2131957A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69404790T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2108396T3 (en)

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DE69404790D1 (en) 1997-09-11
US5632397A (en) 1997-05-27
EP0644121A1 (en) 1995-03-22
DE69404790T2 (en) 1998-03-19
CA2131957A1 (en) 1995-03-22
JPH07172424A (en) 1995-07-11
ES2108396T3 (en) 1997-12-16

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