EP0850842A1 - Contractible bellows container - Google Patents
Contractible bellows container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0850842A1 EP0850842A1 EP96203699A EP96203699A EP0850842A1 EP 0850842 A1 EP0850842 A1 EP 0850842A1 EP 96203699 A EP96203699 A EP 96203699A EP 96203699 A EP96203699 A EP 96203699A EP 0850842 A1 EP0850842 A1 EP 0850842A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bellows
- indentation
- ridge
- ridges
- indentations
- 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.)
- Ceased
Links
Images
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
Definitions
- This invention generally relates to a contractible bellows container. More particularly, this invention relates to a contraction-controlled bellows container.
- a conventional contractible bellows container chiefly comprises a generally tubular bottlelike container portion and bellows which protrude at a right angle from the container portion.
- a conventional contractible bellows container is generally used to contain and press out a viscous material.
- Each conventional bellows ridge is formed as a ring body, provided around the container body portion, consisting of two plane rings of the same size. The two plane rings meet at their outer rims with an angle and provide a circular outer hinge (hereinafter referred to as "outer hinge”).
- the inner circular hinges (hereinafter referred to as “inner hinges”) of the plane rings are apart.
- a hard plastic bottle like a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle may be provided with conventional bellows, but it would not be contracted easily because of the considerable repulsive forces from all its bellows.
- Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 55-158032 discloses a contractible plastic bellows container having bellows each ridge formed of a plane upper wall and a plane lower wall.
- the upper wall and lower wall of each bellows ridge are differently angled or mixed in an attempt to reduce the repulsive force from the ridge.
- the problem of the repulsion is not corrected completely due to the "plane" wall configuration of the bellows.
- the problem of shape restoration of the bellows is not addressed, either.
- those bellows cannot be fully closed as the upper walls and lower walls are differently sized, causing unintended distortion in the bellows walls, as a person skilled in the art will realize.
- Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-19253 discloses a contractible plastic bellows container having "open rings" provided at the inner hinges of the bellows in an attempt to ease the contraction of the bellows and prevent degradation of the material at these hinges in repeated uses.
- Those open rings are provided astride the upper walls and lower walls equally.
- those open rings are naturally made "thick" by blow molding which is the conventional and most widely utilized plastic container manufacturing method. These thick rings do not ease contraction of the bellows very well.
- the problem of restoration of shape is not dealt with in this bellows container, either. Those bellows will not fully close as their upper walls and lower walls are differently sized, causing unintended distortion in the bellows walls.
- Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-58660 discloses a inflatable plastic bellows container which utilizes a number of hemispheric (in vertical section) bellows unlike the foregoing two bellows containers which utilize plane bellows walls.
- the bellows ridges of this container are originally contracted and layered to be pulled upward in use to open.
- bellows are provided with a small protruding or depressed circumferential wedge at each outer hinge to smooth the opening of the bellows.
- Such wedges would eliminate the aforementioned unfavorable deformation of the bellows walls to an extent.
- these protrusions or concavities are equally provided astride the upper walls and lower walls of the bellows, and no distinction of function between these walls is intended.
- Bellows having such a hemispheric configuration would intrinsically warp to one side when contracted. (This is one of the features intended in the present invention.) The direction of warping is not controlled, and therefore the randomly (upwardly or downwardly) warping bellows would likely hinder the layering of the bellows ridges.
- each bellows ridge is vertically wide apart when the ridge is open, it would take a considerable "time" for each bellows ridge to show the termination of the restoration of shape when used conventionally.
- the bellows would retain a restorative function during most of use.
- That container additionally utilises open rings provided at the inner hinges (not on the upper walls or inner walls of the bellows) to ease the opening of the bellows.
- the open rings are intrinsically made thick and would not function as desired. Rather, these open rings would prevent full contraction of the bellows ridges.
- plastic containers including contractible plastic bellows containers are manufactured by blow molding, which is suitable for mass production of plastic containers.
- blow molding is suitable for mass production of plastic containers.
- the outer hinge portions are made the thinnest and the inner hinge portions are made the thickest (excluding the top and bottom portions of the container). It is impractical not to take such so intrinsic feature of blow molding into consideration in designing a plastic bellows container.
- there also exist a number of restrictions intrinsic to blow molding It is also impractical not to take these intrinsic restrictions into consideration.
- Bellows containers according to the present invention are designed so that they can be advantageously manufactured by blow molding, however, contractible bellows containers according to the present invention may be manufactured by other molding methods presently known in the art. Plastic materials for manufacturing the containers of the present invention may be freely selected from those known in the art as well.
- the bellows of the present invention are generally and basically convex, their upper walls and lower walls being roundly protruded in their overall configurations.
- the bellows ridge gradually loses restoration of shape when a wall is gradually turned from its convex configuration to concave configuration, eventually to a substantially symmetrical configuration. Once that wall assumes the shape of concavity, the wall is next provided with a motion or energy working toward the other wall and it finally contacts the other wall.
- the contracted bellows ridge warps toward that concave wall.
- the bellows ridges or the present invention can assume other configurations and still enjoy the features intended by the present invention, which will be explained later in detail.
- the wall of a bellows ridge may be substantially "plane.”
- Bellows containers of the present invention can have various configurations in horizontal section, not only a circular configuration but also oval or square configurations to name a few. Accordingly, the term "circular configuration” as used hereinafter should be construed as including an oval configuration and other configurations which are continuous circumferential "ring" configurations.
- the bellows or a bellows container according to the present invention at least selectively have a circular or circumferential indentation or indentations in their upper walls and/or lower walls.
- a circular indentation is provided generally adjacent the outer hinge or one of the inner hinges of a bellows ridge.
- the term “circular indentation” or “circumferential indentation” is generally referred to as “indentation” for the convenience of description.
- One bellows ridge may have two or more of such indentations in its lower wall or upper well, or each wall may have one indentation or more.
- an indentation is subject to the overall design of the indentation, including its "size” which may be conveniently represented by the vertical sectional depression area. However, that function is also subject to the shape of the indentation including the depth and length as well as local angles of the indentation Generally, a large size indentation will provide a better utilization of pressure energy than a small size indentation. Here, “better utilization” means that a bellows ridge having a large indentation can be further depressed preferentially to and more easily thin another bellows ridge having a small indentation.
- the order of contraction of bellows ridge can thus be controlled by providing the bellows ridges with different size indentations, respectively, which substantially reduces the pressing energy required since the pressing energy can be substantially concentrated on one bellows ridge, or utilized ridge by ridge.
- FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows container having bellows according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along its longitudinal axis, and a partially enlarged view showing a bellows ridge portion in vertical section.
- Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(c) show the contraction process of the ridge portion.
- FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 2(a) to Fig. 2(c) show the contraction process of the ridge portion.
- FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, showing an arrangement of bellows portions according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, showing a fully contracted state of the bellows portions of Figure 4.
- FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, showing another arrangement of bellows portions according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, showing still another arrangement of bellows portions according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion according to an applied embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(c) show the contraction process of the ridge portion.
- FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion according to a special embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 1 shows a bellows container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, each bellows ridge portion 2 (hereinafter generally referred to on “bellows ridge” or just “ridge” for the convenience of description) having a convex upper wall 21 and a substantially convex lower wall 22.
- the degrees of the convexities will be determined depending upon factors much as use, material, size, etc., of the container 1.
- pressure suction
- Each bellows ridge 2 in this embodiment is provided with a circular indentation 3 on its lower wall 22 adjacent the outer hinge 23.
- the highest portion of the indentation 3 will not generally go above the imaginative horizontal plane including the outer hinge 23.
- the overall configuration of the indentation 3 including vertical depth (d) and horizontal width (w) will be designed subject to the shape, size, material, etc., of the bellows ridge 2 as well as the contractional feature desired of the bellows ridge 2.
- Such an indentation way be configured with a combination of (a) curves, (b) curves and lines, or (c) a combination of lines.
- a) curves curves and lines
- a combination of lines a combination of lines.
- the pressure When the bellows container 1 is pressed vertically, the pressure first acts upon the inner hinges 24 of the bellows ridges 2 in opposite directions, respectively. Then the pressures working on the inner hinges 24 are partially converted into the "rotary moments" to work on the upper walls 21 and lower walls 22 of the bellows ridges 2, the outer hinges 23 working as circular rotary fulcrums, respectively.
- the indentations 3 provided in the lower walls 22 absorb and utilize the rotary moments prior to the corresponding portions of the upper walls 21 and are depressed further into the bellows ridges 2, bringing together the other portions of the lower walls 22.
- the upper walls 21 will substantially retain their original convex configuration (which provides considerable resistance against deformation, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art) and will assist further depression of the indentations 3 without utilizing the rotary moments acting upon the upper walls 21 for themselves.
- the pressure applied on the container 1 is effectively absorbed and utilized at the indentations 3 and the bellows ridges 2 are easily deformed from the lower walls 22, as shown in Fig. 1(a).
- bellows ridges 2 having such indentations 3 will start closing with less pressure on the container 1 than bellows ridges having no such indentations.
- Fig. 2 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- a plurality of such bellows ridges 2 are to be incorporated in a bellows container. This applies to the other embodiments showing only a single bellows ridge.
- This bellows ridge 2 has an indentation 3 in the lower wall 22 adjacent its inner hinge 24. When a pressure is applied on the container (not shown) vertically, the inner hinges 24 of the bellows ridge 2 receive the pressure (the upper wall 21 receiving a downward pressure and the lower wall 22 receiving an upward pressure).
- the downward pressure on the upper inner hinge 24 is converted into a rotary moment working on the upper wall 21, and the upward pressure on the lower inner hinge 24 is converted into a rotary moment working on the lower wall 22, both hinging on the outer hinge 23.
- These rotary moments are first partially consumed to deform the outermost portions of the bellow ridge 2 substantially equally, as shown in Fig. 2(a). Then the rotary moment of the lower wall 22 is partially utilized at the indentation 3 prior to the corresponding portion of the upper wall 21, and the lower wall 22 starts entering the bellows ridge 2 as shown in Fig. 2(b).
- Fig. 2(c) shows the state of the bellows ridge 2 which is fully contracted.
- Fig. 3 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention, having two indentations 3 and 3' in the lower wall 22, one 3 adjacent the outer hinge 23, and the other 3' adjacent its inner hinge 24. Both the indentations 3 and 3' will respectively function as explained earlier.
- the lower wall 22 will be depressed prior to the upper wall 21 more easily than a case of only a single indentation due to the dual function of two indentations.
- indentations 3 (and 3') described in the foregoing three embodiments may be provided on their respective upper walls 21 instead (not shown here), in which cases the functions of the indentations 3 take place on the upper walls 21, and the bellows ridges 2 will warp upwards when closed.
- Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Indentations 3 here are provided on the upper walls 21 adjacent their outer hinges 23.
- the upper walls 21 will be depressed toward the lower walls 22 respectively.
- the contracted bellows 2 will warp upwards and will be layered neatly as shown in Fig. 5.
- Fig. 6 shows another arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention, which will be utilized to greater advantage in a hard plastic container such as a PET bottle (not shown).
- the "sizes" of indentations 3 respectively provided in the lower walls 22 of the bellows 2 adjacent their outer hinges 23 are different.
- the uppermost indentation 3 is the largest in size and the lowermost indentation 3 is the smallest in size.
- size here is defined as described earlier as meaning that a larger size will provide the aforementioned function of an indentation better than a smaller size.
- the indentation 3 and lower wall 22 of the uppermost bellow, ridge 2 will be first depressed by utilizing the applied pressure prior to the others, and the indentation 3 and lower wall 22 of the lowermost bellows ridge 2 will be depressed last. All bellows ridges 2 will warp downwards and will be layered neatly (not shown). Thus, it is possible to selectively control the order of depression timing of bellows ridges by adjusting the "size" of each indentation. When provided with this type of indentation arrangement, a hard plastic bottle having such bellows will only require substantially less pressure to contract as the pressure energy is utilized substantially ridge by ridge.
- Fig. 7 shows another arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention, having indentations 3 on their lower walls 22 adjacent the respective inner hinges 24.
- the lowermost indentation 3 has the largest size and the uppermost indentation has the smallest size.
- the lower wall 22 of the lowermost bellows ridge 2 will be depressed first and the lower wall 22 of the uppermost bellows ridge 2 will be depressed last. All bellows ridges 2 will warp downwards and will be layered neatly (not shown).
- the indentations 3 of different sizes of the two embodiments above may be respectively provided on the upper walls 21 instead (not shown), in which cases, the functions of the indentations 3 will take place on the upper walls 21, and the bellows ridges 2 will warp upward to be layered neatly.
- a hard plastic bellows bottle having such size controlled indentations on its bellows will be very easily depressed.
- the freshness of the drink can be kept a long time since the bottle can be depressed ridge by ridge as the content decreases, and each contracted bellows ridge will be held contracted.
- the loss of shape restoration of a single hollows ridge will take place quickly. Therefore, only little air will be sucked into the bottle.
- Fig. 8 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to an applied embodiment of the present invention.
- the upper wall 21 has an indentation 3' adjacent its inner hinge 24, and the lower wall 22 has an indentation 3 adjacent the outer hinge 23.
- the bellows ridge 2 will generally be depressed from the lower wall 22 since the indentation 3 provided nearer the outer hinge 23 will utilize the aforedescribed rotary moment prior to the corresponding portion of the upper wall 21 as well as prior to the indentation 3' provided adjacent the inner hinge 24.
- the indentation 3' in this case will work to assist and promote the whole depression of the bellows ridge 2. However, if the "size" of the indentation 3' is substantially larger than the indentation 3, then the upper wall 21 may be depressed instead of the lower wall 22 (not shown).
- Fig. 9 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to a special embodiment of the present invention.
- a sufficient indentation 3 is provided in the lower wall 22 adjacent the outer hinge 23.
- the upper wall 21 is substantially plane. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the upper wall 21 is made thicker conventionally than when it is convex or concave, thus the upper wall 21 is considerably more rigid than the lower wall 22.
- the lower wall 22 will be depressed into the bellows ridge 2 additionally assisted by the indentation 3.
- the upper wall 21 will eventually and slightly warp downwards.
- the ridge configuration may be provided upside down, in which case the upper wall 21 will enter the bellows ridge 2 (not shown).
- the lower wall 22 can be substantially plane so well except the portion of the indentation 3 (not shown), in which case, the lower wall 22 will still be depressed into the ridge 2 due to the function of the indentation 3.
- the lower wall 22 will assume a shape of concavity, and lose it, shape restoration just like the embodiment shown in Fig. 9. Eventually, the upper wall 21 will warp downwards slightly.
- bellows ridges of a contractible plastic bellows container according to the present invention may be selectively and optionally provided with indentations described above. All bellows ridges need not have such indentations.
- the bellows warping of a bellows container need not be only in a single direction.
- the bellows ridges of the upper half of a bellows container can be warped upwards, and the bellows ridges of the lower half can be warped downwards. It is also possible to randomly provide indentations adjacent the outer hinges and lower hinges of the bellows ridges.
- Utility of indentations according to the present invention can be largely the decision of the manufactures of bellows containers in accordance with the teaching of the present invention.
- a bellows container according to the present invention may take various configurations is seen vertically, e.g., a cylinder, truncated cone, etc.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
Abstract
A contraction-controlled bellows container (1) is disclosed,
which can retain half or fully contracted configurations
of the bellows ridges (2) whose upper walls (21) and/or lower
walls (22) have at least one circumferential indentation (3) adjacent
the corresponding outer hinges (23) and/or inner hinges
(24). The indentations utilize the pressure applied onto the
container effectively and get depressed further into the corresponding
bellows ridges prior to the corresponding portions of
the other walls, reducing the total pressure requirement. The
indentations bring together the walls in which the indentations
are provided into the bellows ridges (2). Those walls are
gradually turned in shape to lose their shape restoration thanks
to their generally protruding configuration. Adjustment of the
sizes of the indentations makes it possible to selectively contract
the bellows ridges.
Description
This invention generally relates to a contractible bellows
container. More particularly, this invention relates to a
contraction-controlled bellows container.
A conventional contractible bellows container chiefly comprises
a generally tubular bottlelike container portion and bellows
which protrude at a right angle from the container portion.
A conventional contractible bellows container is generally used
to contain and press out a viscous material. Each conventional
bellows ridge is formed as a ring body, provided around the container
body portion, consisting of two plane rings of the same
size. The two plane rings meet at their outer rims with an
angle and provide a circular outer hinge (hereinafter referred to
as "outer hinge"). The inner circular hinges (hereinafter
referred to as "inner hinges") of the plane rings are apart.
When the container is pressed generally in the direction of its
longitudinal axis to press out its content, both the plane rings
of the bellows are pressed toward each other hinging on the
respective outer hinges, and the bellows are eventually closed.
The pressure applied to such a conventional bellows container
containing a fluid receives repulsive forces from the
fluid and bellows [from the upper plane rings (hereinafter
referred to as "upper walls") and the lower plane rings
[hereinafter referred to an "lower walls")]. The repulsive
forces from the bellows should be eliminated as much as possible.
Technically, bellows walls (upper and lower walls) can be made
very thin to reduce such repulsive forces, however, it is often
disadvantageous to make the bellows walls too flexible. A bellows
container needs to be rigid enough to hold its content
stably and must be tough enough to bear the pressure applied to
it. Otherwise, the container cannot be bellowed.
It has not been practical to provide a hard plastic bottle
with a truly workable bellows feature. A hard plastic bottle
like a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle may be provided
with conventional bellows, but it would not be contracted easily
because of the considerable repulsive forces from all its bellows.
Another drawback with a conventional bellows container is
that its bellows once contracted fully or halfway return to their
original configuration when the pressure to the container is
removed, and the bellows open again. Air is sucked into the container,
which often damages its contents.
Emptied containers whose original configurations are restored
are also a serious volume problem to recycling and disposal
as well as to the environment.
There have been proposed a number of plastic bellows containers
in an attempt to eliminate or ease such drawbacks. The
following three proposed bellows containers are considered by the
present inventor "best" among them.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 55-158032
discloses a contractible plastic bellows container having bellows
each ridge formed of a plane upper wall and a plane lower wall.
The upper wall and lower wall of each bellows ridge are differently
angled or mixed in an attempt to reduce the repulsive
force from the ridge. However, the problem of the repulsion is
not corrected completely due to the "plane" wall configuration of
the bellows. The problem of shape restoration of the bellows is
not addressed, either. Further, those bellows cannot be fully
closed as the upper walls and lower walls are differently sized,
causing unintended distortion in the bellows walls, as a person
skilled in the art will realize.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-19253 discloses a contractible
plastic bellows container having "open rings" provided
at the inner hinges of the bellows in an attempt to ease the contraction
of the bellows and prevent degradation of the material
at these hinges in repeated uses. Those open rings are provided
astride the upper walls and lower walls equally. As a person
skilled in the art knows, those open rings are naturally made
"thick" by blow molding which is the conventional and most widely
utilized plastic container manufacturing method. These thick
rings do not ease contraction of the bellows very well. The
problem of restoration of shape is not dealt with in this bellows
container, either. Those bellows will not fully close as their
upper walls and lower walls are differently sized, causing unintended
distortion in the bellows walls.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 64-58660 discloses a inflatable
plastic bellows container which utilizes a number of
hemispheric (in vertical section) bellows unlike the foregoing
two bellows containers which utilize plane bellows walls. The
bellows ridges of this container are originally contracted and
layered to be pulled upward in use to open.
Even if such a container is to be used conventionally (to
be contracted from its "open" configuration), vertical pressure
applied to the container would meet with considerable repulsion
from the bellows whose upper walls and lower walls are formed
substantially identically. The pressure applied would be consumed
equally on the upper walls and lower walls. The dispersed
pressure energy would be consumed not only to close the bellows
but to expand the bellows sideways creating no value, and
unfavorably deform the bellows walls. The applied pressure power
would not be effectively utilized in contraction or the bellows.
Those bellows are provided with a small protruding or
depressed circumferential wedge at each outer hinge to smooth the
opening of the bellows. Such wedges would eliminate the
aforementioned unfavorable deformation of the bellows walls to an
extent. However, these protrusions or concavities are equally
provided astride the upper walls and lower walls of the bellows,
and no distinction of function between these walls is intended.
Bellows having such a hemispheric configuration would intrinsically
warp to one side when contracted. (This is one of the features
intended in the present invention.) The direction of warping
is not controlled, and therefore the randomly (upwardly or
downwardly) warping bellows would likely hinder the layering of
the bellows ridges.
As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the
aforementioned problem of restoration of shape is intrinsically
coped with to a degree by that hemispheric bellows shape.
However, because the inner hinges (upper and lower) of each bellows
ridge are vertically wide apart when the ridge is open, it
would take a considerable "time" for each bellows ridge to show
the termination of the restoration of shape when used conventionally.
The bellows would retain a restorative function during
most of use.
That container additionally utilises open rings provided at
the inner hinges (not on the upper walls or inner walls of the
bellows) to ease the opening of the bellows. However, the open
rings are intrinsically made thick and would not function as
desired. Rather, these open rings would prevent full contraction
of the bellows ridges.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a contractible bellows container whose bellows repulsion
is substantially reduced. It is another object of the present
invention to control the order of contraction of bellows ridges
to further reduce the repulsion. It is still another object of
the present invention to provide early termination of restoration
of shape of bellows and substantially retain the fully or half
contracted configuration of the bellows in use. It is an additional
object of the present invention to provide truly workable
bellows to a hard plastic container such as a PET bottle. Other
objects of the present invention intrinsically belong to the bellows
containers made according to the present invention.
Generally, plastic containers including contractible plastic
bellows containers are manufactured by blow molding, which is
suitable for mass production of plastic containers. The farther
the container wall portion of a plastic bellows container is from
the longitudinal axis of the container, the thinner the container
wall portion becomes. The outer hinge portions are made the
thinnest and the inner hinge portions are made the thickest
(excluding the top and bottom portions of the container). It is
impractical not to take such so intrinsic feature of blow molding
into consideration in designing a plastic bellows container. As
a person skilled in the art knows, there also exist a number of
restrictions intrinsic to blow molding. It is also impractical
not to take these intrinsic restrictions into consideration.
Bellows containers according to the present invention are
designed so that they can be advantageously manufactured by blow
molding, however, contractible bellows containers according to
the present invention may be manufactured by other molding
methods presently known in the art. Plastic materials for
manufacturing the containers of the present invention may be
freely selected from those known in the art as well.
Hereinafter, the present invention is described supposing
containers are placed at a standing position i.e., their longitudinal
axes are vertical. The bellows of the present invention
are generally and basically convex, their upper walls and
lower walls being roundly protruded in their overall configurations.
When such a convex bellows ridge is pressed vertically at
its inner hinges, eventually only one of its walls is pressed
into the ridge. The bellows ridge gradually loses restoration
of shape when a wall is gradually turned from its convex configuration
to concave configuration, eventually to a substantially
symmetrical configuration. Once that wall assumes the
shape of concavity, the wall is next provided with a motion or
energy working toward the other wall and it finally contacts the
other wall. The contracted bellows ridge warps toward that concave
wall.
It is an intention of the present invention to control at
will the depression properties of the bellows of containers and
the direction of the warping of the bellows ridges.
Besides that "basic" convex configuration, the bellows
ridges or the present invention can assume other configurations
and still enjoy the features intended by the present invention,
which will be explained later in detail. For example, the wall
of a bellows ridge may be substantially "plane."
Bellows containers of the present invention can have
various configurations in horizontal section, not only a circular
configuration but also oval or square configurations to name a
few. Accordingly, the term "circular configuration" as used
hereinafter should be construed as including an oval configuration
and other configurations which are continuous circumferential
"ring" configurations.
The bellows or a bellows container according to the present
invention at least selectively have a circular or circumferential
indentation or indentations in their upper walls and/or lower
walls. A circular indentation is provided generally adjacent the
outer hinge or one of the inner hinges of a bellows ridge.
Hereinafter the term "circular indentation" or "circumferential
indentation" is generally referred to as "indentation" for the
convenience of description. One bellows ridge may have two or
more of such indentations in its lower wall or upper well, or
each wall may have one indentation or more.
The intended features of indentations and their functions
will be described hereinafter in detail. When the term
"pressure" is used hereinafter to describe the features and functions
of the indentations of a bellows container, it should be
construed as also meaning "suction" from an opening of the container
since the bellows containers of the present invention will
function substantially similarly in both cases.
Vertical pressure applied to a bellows ridge having an indentation
or indentations is effectively and preferentially absorbed
and utilized by the indentation or indentations, and contraction
of the ridge takes place effectively and less
strenuously as the wall or walls including the indentation or indentations
are depressed inwardly together with the inwardly
"moving" indentation or indentations. It is possible to select
which wall to be depressed by selectively providing an indentation
or indentations to bellows walls. Because the wall having
such on indentation or indentations is generally convex in its
overall configuration, the wall entering the bellows ridge eventually
and substantially gets turned or reversed in shape, losing
its shape restoration momentum, and gains a momentum to approach
the other wall. The contracting bellows ridge will warp toward
the depressed wall.
If such indentations are provided in an arrangement, e.g.
only on the upper walls of bellows, then the warping of the bellows
ridges can be arranged in one direction, and these bellows
ridges will be neatly layered. There will be no conflict between
warping bellows ridges.
The function of an indentation is subject to the overall
design of the indentation, including its "size" which may be conveniently
represented by the vertical sectional depression area.
However, that function is also subject to the shape of the indentation
including the depth and length as well as local angles of
the indentation Generally, a large size indentation will
provide a better utilization of pressure energy than a small size
indentation. Here, "better utilization" means that a bellows
ridge having a large indentation can be further depressed
preferentially to and more easily thin another bellows ridge
having a small indentation. The order of contraction of bellows
ridge, can thus be controlled by providing the bellows ridges
with different size indentations, respectively, which substantially
reduces the pressing energy required since the pressing
energy can be substantially concentrated on one bellows ridge, or
utilized ridge by ridge.
It is now possible to provide even a hard plastic container
such as a PET bottle with a truly workable bellows function
utilizing aforedescribed indentations, more advantageously
utilizing size controlled indentations.
The present invention will be described in more detail
hereunder using the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows container
having bellows according to an embodiment of the present invention,
taken along its longitudinal axis, and a partially enlarged
view showing a bellows ridge portion in vertical section. Fig.
1(a) to Fig. 1(c) show the contraction process of the ridge portion.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge
portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2(a) to Fig. 2(c) show the contraction process of the ridge
portion.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, showing an arrangement
of bellows portions according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, showing a fully contracted
state of the bellows portions of Figure 4.
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view, showing another arrangement
of bellows portions according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, showing still another
arrangement of bellows portions according to still another embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion
according to an applied embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(c) show the contraction process of the ridge
portion.
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a bellows ridge portion
according to a special embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 1 shows a bellows container 1 according to an embodiment
of the present invention, each bellows ridge portion 2
(hereinafter generally referred to on "bellows ridge" or just
"ridge" for the convenience of description) having a convex upper
wall 21 and a substantially convex lower wall 22. The degrees of
the convexities will be determined depending upon factors much as
use, material, size, etc., of the container 1. Here and with all
the other embodiments to be described hereunder, pressure
(suction) is vertically applied substantially on the longitudinal
axis 11.
Each bellows ridge 2 in this embodiment is provided with a
circular indentation 3 on its lower wall 22 adjacent the outer
hinge 23. The highest portion of the indentation 3 will not
generally go above the imaginative horizontal plane including the
outer hinge 23. The overall configuration of the indentation 3
including vertical depth (d) and horizontal width (w) will be
designed subject to the shape, size, material, etc., of the bellows
ridge 2 as well as the contractional feature desired of the
bellows ridge 2.
Generally, the wider (w) and the deeper (d) in indentation,
the more easily a bellows will having the indentation will be
depressed into the bellows ridge.
The local angles of an indentation will affect the work
of the indentation as well. In abort, the feature of in indentstion
will greatly depend upon the overall design of the indentation.
Such an indentation way be configured with a combination of
(a) curves, (b) curves and lines, or (c) a combination of lines.
Throughout the embodiments, only representative configurations
are provided for the purpose of describing the present invention.
As a person skilled in the art will know, such an indentation
in a bellows will of a bellows ridge will be made thinner by
blow molding than the corresponding portion of the other wall of
the bellows ridge, since the length of a stretched indentation is
larger than the corresponding portion of the other wall. Therefore,
such on indentation is always considerably more flexible
than that corresponding portion, which will advantageously assist
the work of an indentation.
When the bellows container 1 is pressed vertically, the
pressure first acts upon the inner hinges 24 of the bellows
ridges 2 in opposite directions, respectively. Then the pressures
working on the inner hinges 24 are partially converted into
the "rotary moments" to work on the upper walls 21 and lower
walls 22 of the bellows ridges 2, the outer hinges 23 working as
circular rotary fulcrums, respectively.
The indentations 3 provided in the lower walls 22 absorb
and utilize the rotary moments prior to the corresponding portions
of the upper walls 21 and are depressed further into the
bellows ridges 2, bringing together the other portions of the
lower walls 22. The upper walls 21 will substantially retain
their original convex configuration (which provides considerable
resistance against deformation, as will be understood
by a person skilled in the art) and will assist further depression
of the indentations 3 without utilizing the rotary moments
acting upon the upper walls 21 for themselves. Thus, the pressure
applied on the container 1 is effectively absorbed and utilized
at the indentations 3 and the bellows ridges 2 are easily
deformed from the lower walls 22, as shown in Fig. 1(a). Simply
said, bellows ridges 2 having such indentations 3 will start
closing with less pressure on the container 1 than bellows ridges
having no such indentations.
When the pressure is continuously applied on the container
1, the lower walls 22 start to eventually and substantially be
reversed in shape as shown in Fig. 1(b). The lower walls 22 are
given upward momentums and will no longer go back to their
original convex shape. When the contents (not shown) in the bellows
ridges 2 are all pressed out, the lower walls 22 contact the
corresponding upper walls 21. The bellows ridges 2 are warped
toward the lower walls 22 as shown in Fig. 1(c), and layered
neatly.
It is advantageous that the length of the upper walls 21
and that of the lower walls 22 having the indentations 3 (when
stretched) are substantially the same to avoid generation of
strain in the walls 21 and 22. Such is attainable by appropriately
designing the bellows ridges 2. This would advantageously
apply to all the other embodiments of the present invention.
Fig. 2 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to another embodiment
of the present invention. Generally, a plurality of such
bellows ridges 2 are to be incorporated in a bellows container.
This applies to the other embodiments showing only a single bellows
ridge. This bellows ridge 2 has an indentation 3 in the
lower wall 22 adjacent its inner hinge 24. When a pressure is
applied on the container (not shown) vertically, the inner hinges
24 of the bellows ridge 2 receive the pressure (the upper wall 21
receiving a downward pressure and the lower wall 22 receiving an
upward pressure). The downward pressure on the upper inner hinge
24 is converted into a rotary moment working on the upper wall
21, and the upward pressure on the lower inner hinge 24 is converted
into a rotary moment working on the lower wall 22, both
hinging on the outer hinge 23. These rotary moments are first
partially consumed to deform the outermost portions of the bellow
ridge 2 substantially equally, as shown in Fig. 2(a). Then the
rotary moment of the lower wall 22 is partially utilized at the
indentation 3 prior to the corresponding portion of the upper
wall 21, and the lower wall 22 starts entering the bellows ridge
2 as shown in Fig. 2(b). Fig. 2(c) shows the state of the bellows
ridge 2 which is fully contracted.
Fig. 3 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to another embodiment
of the present invention, having two indentations 3 and 3'
in the lower wall 22, one 3 adjacent the outer hinge 23, and the
other 3' adjacent its inner hinge 24. Both the indentations 3
and 3' will respectively function as explained earlier. The
lower wall 22 will be depressed prior to the upper wall 21 more
easily than a case of only a single indentation due to the dual
function of two indentations.
The indentations 3 (and 3') described in the foregoing
three embodiments may be provided on their respective upper walls
21 instead (not shown here), in which cases the functions of the
indentations 3 take place on the upper walls 21, and the bellows
ridges 2 will warp upwards when closed.
Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Indentations 3 here
are provided on the upper walls 21 adjacent their outer hinges
23. The upper walls 21 will be depressed toward the lower walls
22 respectively. The contracted bellows 2 will warp upwards and
will be layered neatly as shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 shows another arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according
to another embodiment of the present invention, which
will be utilized to greater advantage in a hard plastic container
such as a PET bottle (not shown). The "sizes" of indentations 3
respectively provided in the lower walls 22 of the bellows 2 adjacent
their outer hinges 23 are different. The uppermost indentation
3 is the largest in size and the lowermost indentation 3
is the smallest in size.
The term "size" here is defined as described earlier as
meaning that a larger size will provide the aforementioned function
of an indentation better than a smaller size.
The indentation 3 and lower wall 22 of the uppermost bellow,
ridge 2 will be first depressed by utilizing the applied
pressure prior to the others, and the indentation 3 and lower
wall 22 of the lowermost bellows ridge 2 will be depressed last.
All bellows ridges 2 will warp downwards and will be layered
neatly (not shown). Thus, it is possible to selectively control
the order of depression timing of bellows ridges by adjusting the
"size" of each indentation. When provided with this type of indentation
arrangement, a hard plastic bottle having such bellows
will only require substantially less pressure to contract as the
pressure energy is utilized substantially ridge by ridge.
Fig. 7 shows another arrangement of bellows ridges 2 according
to another embodiment of the present invention, having
indentations 3 on their lower walls 22 adjacent the respective
inner hinges 24. Here the lowermost indentation 3 has the
largest size and the uppermost indentation has the smallest size.
The lower wall 22 of the lowermost bellows ridge 2 will be
depressed first and the lower wall 22 of the uppermost bellows
ridge 2 will be depressed last. All bellows ridges 2 will warp
downwards and will be layered neatly (not shown).
The indentations 3 of different sizes of the two embodiments
above may be respectively provided on the upper walls 21
instead (not shown), in which cases, the functions of the indentations
3 will take place on the upper walls 21, and the bellows
ridges 2 will warp upward to be layered neatly.
A hard plastic bellows bottle having such size controlled
indentations on its bellows will be very easily depressed. When
a carbonated drink is contained in such a bottle, the freshness
of the drink can be kept a long time since the bottle can be
depressed ridge by ridge as the content decreases, and each contracted
bellows ridge will be held contracted. As will be understood
by a person skilled in the art, the loss of shape restoration
of a single hollows ridge will take place quickly. Therefore,
only little air will be sucked into the bottle.
Fig. 8 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to an applied embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, the upper
wall 21 has an indentation 3' adjacent its inner hinge 24, and
the lower wall 22 has an indentation 3 adjacent the outer hinge
23. As shown from Fig. 8(a) to Fig. 8(c), the bellows ridge 2
will generally be depressed from the lower wall 22 since the indentation
3 provided nearer the outer hinge 23 will utilize the
aforedescribed rotary moment prior to the corresponding portion
of the upper wall 21 as well as prior to the indentation 3'
provided adjacent the inner hinge 24.
The indentation 3' in this case will work to assist and
promote the whole depression of the bellows ridge 2. However, if
the "size" of the indentation 3' is substantially larger than the
indentation 3, then the upper wall 21 may be depressed instead of
the lower wall 22 (not shown).
Fig. 9 shows a bellows ridge 2 according to a special embodiment
of the present invention. In this embodiment, a sufficient
indentation 3 is provided in the lower wall 22 adjacent the
outer hinge 23. The upper wall 21 is substantially plane. As
will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the upper wall
21 is made thicker conventionally than when it is convex or concave,
thus the upper wall 21 is considerably more rigid than the
lower wall 22.
The lower wall 22 will be depressed into the bellows ridge
2 additionally assisted by the indentation 3. The upper wall 21
will eventually and slightly warp downwards. The ridge configuration
may be provided upside down, in which case the upper
wall 21 will enter the bellows ridge 2 (not shown).
The lower wall 22 can be substantially plane so well except
the portion of the indentation 3 (not shown), in which case, the
lower wall 22 will still be depressed into the ridge 2 due to the
function of the indentation 3. The lower wall 22 will assume a
shape of concavity, and lose it, shape restoration just like the
embodiment shown in Fig. 9. Eventually, the upper wall 21 will
warp downwards slightly.
The bellows ridges of a contractible plastic bellows container
according to the present invention may be selectively and
optionally provided with indentations described above. All bellows
ridges need not have such indentations.
The bellows warping of a bellows container need not be
only in a single direction. For example, the bellows ridges of
the upper half of a bellows container can be warped upwards, and
the bellows ridges of the lower half can be warped downwards. It
is also possible to randomly provide indentations adjacent the
outer hinges and lower hinges of the bellows ridges.
Utility of indentations according to the present invention
can be largely the decision of the manufactures of bellows containers
in accordance with the teaching of the present invention.
A bellows container according to the present invention may
take various configurations is seen vertically, e.g., a cylinder,
truncated cone, etc.
Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are meant to cover
all modifications and changes within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
Claims (11)
- A contractible bellows container including a plurality of bellows ridges each comprising in upper wall and lower wall, wherein one of each upper wall and lower wall of at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges is provided with at least one circumferential indentation.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indentation is an indentation provided adjacent the outer hinge of each bellows ridge or said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indentation is an indentation provided adjacent the inner hinge of each bellows ridge of said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indentation is two indentations respectively provided adjacent the outer hinge and inner hinge of each bellows ridge of said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein a bellows wall or each bellows ridge of said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges without said at least one indentation is substantially plane.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein a bellows wall of each bellows ridge at said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges without said at least one indentation is substantially convex, and the other bellows wall with said at least one indentation is substantially convex except the portion or said at least one indentation.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one indentation is provided on the same side wall of each bellows ridge of said it least some of said plurality of bellows ridges.
- A contractible bellows container including a plurality of bellows ridges each comprising an upper wall and lower wall, wherein a circumferential indentation is provided in one of the upper wall and lower wall of each bellows ridge of at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges adjacent the outer hinge, and another indentation is provided in the other wall adjacent its inner hinge.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 8, wherein the upper wall and lower wall of each bellows ridge of said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges with said indentations are substantially convex except the portions of said indentations.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 8, wherein the provision of said indentations in said at least some of said plurality of bellows ridges is in the same arrangement.
- The contractible bellows container according to claim 1 or 8, wherein the sizes of said indentations are respectively and selectively adjusted.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96203699A EP0850842A1 (en) | 1996-12-27 | 1996-12-27 | Contractible bellows container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96203699A EP0850842A1 (en) | 1996-12-27 | 1996-12-27 | Contractible bellows container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0850842A1 true EP0850842A1 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
Family
ID=8224761
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96203699A Ceased EP0850842A1 (en) | 1996-12-27 | 1996-12-27 | Contractible bellows container |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0850842A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2000044630A1 (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2000-08-03 | Pedulla Christian Pio | Disposable bottle having a gradually collapsible, recovery-free, structure of its sidewalls |
EP1354802A2 (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-10-22 | Gohsho Company, Ltd. | Foldable plastic bottle |
EP1508522A1 (en) * | 2003-08-21 | 2005-02-23 | Gohsho Company, Ltd. | Collapsible bottle and collapsing method |
WO2005061336A1 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2005-07-07 | Musalek Oto | Plastic collapsible bottle with accordion-like arranged bellows ridges |
WO2008022605A1 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2008-02-28 | Oto Musalek | Plastic collapsible bottle |
WO2009027942A2 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-03-05 | Prontopharma-Europe S.R.L. | A retractable and flexible plastic container for liquids |
CN103287647A (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2013-09-11 | Co2包装有限公司 | System and method enabling rising of vacuum pressure in plastic container |
WO2021059070A1 (en) | 2019-09-27 | 2021-04-01 | Puhar Miha | Expandable packaging and packaging container, procedure of its use and procedure for its manufacturing |
WO2024033779A1 (en) * | 2022-08-09 | 2024-02-15 | Vernissage S.R.L. | Reversibly collapsible bottle, in particular for detergents |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3270905A (en) * | 1962-12-12 | 1966-09-06 | Sealol | Pressure container |
US3301293A (en) * | 1964-12-16 | 1967-01-31 | Owens Illinois Inc | Collapsible container |
DE2042593A1 (en) * | 1970-08-27 | 1972-03-16 | Hefendehl, Hansfriedrich, 5893 Kierspe | Sheath body made of hard elastic plastic |
EP0287170A2 (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1988-10-19 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Bistable expandable bottle |
JPH0219253A (en) * | 1988-07-04 | 1990-01-23 | Tuzaani William | Foldable hollow article having improved throttling and dispensing shape |
EP0611700A1 (en) * | 1993-02-19 | 1994-08-24 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Container for a liquid |
-
1996
- 1996-12-27 EP EP96203699A patent/EP0850842A1/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3270905A (en) * | 1962-12-12 | 1966-09-06 | Sealol | Pressure container |
US3301293A (en) * | 1964-12-16 | 1967-01-31 | Owens Illinois Inc | Collapsible container |
DE2042593A1 (en) * | 1970-08-27 | 1972-03-16 | Hefendehl, Hansfriedrich, 5893 Kierspe | Sheath body made of hard elastic plastic |
EP0287170A2 (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1988-10-19 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Bistable expandable bottle |
JPS6458660A (en) * | 1987-04-15 | 1989-03-06 | Procter & Gamble | Bidirectional stable type vessel |
JPH0219253A (en) * | 1988-07-04 | 1990-01-23 | Tuzaani William | Foldable hollow article having improved throttling and dispensing shape |
EP0611700A1 (en) * | 1993-02-19 | 1994-08-24 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Container for a liquid |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
DATABASE WPI Section Ch Week 9608, Derwent World Patents Index; Class A88, AN 96-075972, XP002030777 * |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2000044630A1 (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2000-08-03 | Pedulla Christian Pio | Disposable bottle having a gradually collapsible, recovery-free, structure of its sidewalls |
US6598755B1 (en) | 1999-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | Pedulla Christian Pio | Disposable bottle having a gradually collapsible, recovery-free, structure of its side-walls |
AU777340B2 (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2004-10-14 | Gianfilippo Pagliacci | Disposable bottle having a gradually collapsible, recovery-free, structure of its sidewalls |
EP1354802A2 (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-10-22 | Gohsho Company, Ltd. | Foldable plastic bottle |
EP1354802A3 (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2004-08-11 | Gohsho Company, Ltd. | Foldable plastic bottle |
CN103287647A (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2013-09-11 | Co2包装有限公司 | System and method enabling rising of vacuum pressure in plastic container |
CN103287647B (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2015-12-23 | Co2包装有限公司 | Make the system and method that plastic container internal pressure rises |
EP1508522A1 (en) * | 2003-08-21 | 2005-02-23 | Gohsho Company, Ltd. | Collapsible bottle and collapsing method |
WO2005061336A1 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2005-07-07 | Musalek Oto | Plastic collapsible bottle with accordion-like arranged bellows ridges |
CZ298274B6 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2007-08-15 | Kinyo Holding Inc. | Plastic-made collapsible bottle with ribs arranged in accordion-like manner |
US7802691B2 (en) | 2003-12-22 | 2010-09-28 | Mu Hacek Over S Alek Oto | Plastic collapsible bottle with accordion-like arranged bellows ridges |
WO2008022605A1 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2008-02-28 | Oto Musalek | Plastic collapsible bottle |
WO2009027942A2 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-03-05 | Prontopharma-Europe S.R.L. | A retractable and flexible plastic container for liquids |
WO2009027942A3 (en) * | 2007-08-28 | 2009-05-14 | Prontopharma Europ S R L | A retractable and flexible plastic container for liquids |
WO2021059070A1 (en) | 2019-09-27 | 2021-04-01 | Puhar Miha | Expandable packaging and packaging container, procedure of its use and procedure for its manufacturing |
WO2024033779A1 (en) * | 2022-08-09 | 2024-02-15 | Vernissage S.R.L. | Reversibly collapsible bottle, in particular for detergents |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6105815A (en) | Contraction-controlled bellows container | |
US8381940B2 (en) | Pressure reinforced plastic container having a moveable pressure panel and related method of processing a plastic container | |
EP0850842A1 (en) | Contractible bellows container | |
AU2004205217C1 (en) | A container having pressure responsive panels | |
CN1402684A (en) | Flexible bags having enhanced capacity and enhanced stability in use | |
AU664121B2 (en) | Linerless closure | |
US5529196A (en) | Carbonated beverage container with footed base structure | |
JP5738771B2 (en) | container | |
CN1356948A (en) | Flexible stretch-to-fit bags | |
CN1356954A (en) | Flexible food bag | |
GB1599396A (en) | Drinking cups capable of nesting | |
AU2007227579A1 (en) | Container and method for blowmolding a base in a partial vacuum pressure reduction setup | |
MXPA05009019A (en) | Squeezable beverage bottle. | |
JP2004502602A (en) | Container with structural ribs | |
JP6762669B2 (en) | Double container cap | |
CA2057907C (en) | Plastic closure with improved seal | |
JPH0476870B2 (en) | ||
CA2148721A1 (en) | Vertical member support stand | |
CN108025846A (en) | Container and closure member | |
JPH06127542A (en) | Large sized biaxial oriented blow molded container | |
JPH0565158A (en) | Biaxially oriented blow-molded container | |
JP3044339B2 (en) | Bellows container with controlled bellows shrinkage | |
CN1356949A (en) | Conformable container liners | |
US20050247718A1 (en) | Thermoplastic can | |
JPS62251335A (en) | Bottle made of oriented synthetic resin |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;RO;SI |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19981202 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Free format text: DE FR GB |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19990604 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN REFUSED |
|
18R | Application refused |
Effective date: 20011208 |