EP2086852A1

EP2086852A1 - Improvements in and relating to drinks packaging

Info

Publication number: EP2086852A1
Application number: EP07860988A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Graeme Ashley Blake
Original assignee: Vin Singlz Ltd
Current assignee: Vin Singlz Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-22
Filing date: 2007-11-22
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: EP2086852A4; WO2008063087A1; AU2007322459A1; US20100044335A1; CN101573272A; NZ551470A; CA2670435A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product wherein the drinking vessel comprises at least two parts. The two parts include a main vessel part and a part adapted to seal a bottle or similar container. The part adapted to seal the bottle includes a threaded portion and a seal. The threaded portion can comprise part of a base, or it can be a threaded sleeve or cap configured to engage with the base. The drinking vessel is sized and shaped to fit at least partially over the bottle and to provide a vessel from which the contents of the bottle can be consumed.

Description

Improvements in and relating to Drinks Packaging

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a drinking vessel that is also adapted to function as a closure for a drinks container, and to a drinks packaging product incorporating the drinking vessel.

BACKGROUND

The applicant of the present invention is also the applicant of the New Zealand patent application numbers 527195 and 538172, and has been involved in the development of packaging systems for single serve drinks for a number of years. The present invention relates to developments over the systems described in the above patent applications which address on going problems that have been experienced during the research and development process.

The problem has been to devise a tamper evident seal for use with a drink packaging product which includes both a bottle and a drinking vessel. Early attempts to solve this problem have involved the use of a paper or plastic wrap fitted over the join between the mouth of the drinking vessel and the body of the bottle.

However this type of seal has a number of problems. It involves the use of an additional item of material, and this additional item must be fitted by adding another step to the production line used to fill and seal the drink packages. This additional material and production step adds to the cost of producing each packaged drink.

Also, a tamper evident seal which is removed from the packaged drink when the package is opened is a problem. The person opening the drink has one hand to hold the bottle and one to hold the drinking vessel, and another item can be a nuisance and is likely to become a litter hazard. This problem can be significant in an airline situation where seated passengers are provided with drinks, and where a tear off seal is yet another object to handle and one that will often end up on the floor or under seat cushions etc.

In New Zealand patent application number 538172 a tamper evident seal was developed which was situated within the drinking vessel and which engaged with the neck of the bottle. However, it was found to be difficult to obtain a water tight seal at the join of the two part drinking vessel of that earlier design. At present it is also considered that the design could be improved upon to simplify manufacture or reduce manufacturing costs.

OBJECT

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a drinking vessel or a drinks packaging product which will at least go some way towards overcoming the above mentioned problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product, the drinking vessel having at least two parts, a base part and a main vessel part, one or other of the base part or the main vessel part, or both, incorporating a sealing ring adapted to seal the joint between the base part and the main vessel part.

Preferably the sealing ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part, but from a material having different physical characteristics, for example greater elasticity.

Preferably the sealing ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part by an overmolding process.

Preferably the sealing ring is formed by overmolding a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material onto the base part or the main vessel part.

While the base part and the main vessel part can be joined using glue or welding, preferably the base part and the main vessel part are joined by a mechanical, or interlocking, joint.

Preferably the mechanical, or interlocking, joint includes one or more lugs on either the base part or the main vessel part and a cooperating recess or recesses on the other of the two parts.

Preferably the base part further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal. Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product, wherein the drinking vessel is formed from at least three parts, a base part, a main vessel part and a threaded cap part.

Preferably each of the three parts, the base part, the main vessel part and the threaded cap part are made from a material selected to suit the function of that part, for example a rigid clear plastics material, e.g. a styrene plastics material, for the main vessel part to give a glass like appearance and feel, and a softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, for the cap part to facilitate the incorporation of a tamper evident seal in the cap portion.

Preferably a mechanical joint is provided between the cap part and the base part and/or the main vessel part.

Preferably the mechanical joint is configured to substantially prevent the cap part from exiting the interior of the drinking vessel once assembled.

Preferably the mechanical joint is configured to substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap part and the base part and/or the main vessel part.

Preferably the mechanical joint includes protrusions in the base part and/or the main vessel part which are adapted to mate with corresponding recesses in the cap part.

Preferably the base part is connected to the main vessel part by welding or by the use of a glue.

Preferably the mating surfaces of the base part and/or the main vessel part, where they can be connected, are shaped to facilitate a weld.

Optionally the base part is connected to the main vessel part by a mechanical joint.

Accordingly, in a third aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product having a main body and a sealing cap, wherein the sealing cap is adapted to mate with the inside of the main body in such a manner that when mated the sealing cap is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body. Preferably the main body is adapted to receive the sealing cap within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.

Preferably the sealing cap further includes a tamper evident seal.

Preferably the main body of the drinking vessel is made of a clear material.

Preferably the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.

Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel.

Preferably the base portion of the drinking vessel is provided with a suitably configured and sized footprint upon which the drinking vessel can stand upright in a stable manner.

Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint upon which the drinking vessel can stand is similar to the diameter or width of the main body of the drinking vessel.

Preferably the drinking vessel is a stemmed drinking vessel.

Optionally the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the sealing cap.

Accordingly, in a fourth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a one piece drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product comprising a main drinking vessel body part and a threaded cap part which is situated in the interior of the main body part, wherein the threaded cap part includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.

Preferably the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler style of drinking vessel.

Optionally the drinking vessel is stemmed drinking vessel.

Preferably the cap part further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.

Preferably at least the main body of the drinking vessel is made of a clear material. Preferably the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a drinks packaging product or a bottle.

Accordingly, in a fifth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product comprising a main body and a threaded sleeve, wherein the threaded sleeve is adapted to mate with the main body in such a manner that when mated the threaded sleeve is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body.

Preferably the drinking vessel further includes a sealing member which is adapted to aid in sealing the opening of a drinks container to which the drinking vessel can be fitted.

Preferably the threaded sleeve further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.

Preferably the main body is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.

Preferably the main body of the drinking vessel is made of a clear material.

Preferably the threaded sleeve is made of an at least partially flexible material.

Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint upon which the drinking vessel can stand is similar to the diameter or width of .the main body of the drinking vessel.

Preferably the drinking vessel is a stemmed drinking vessel. Optionally the drinking vessel is a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve.

In a sixth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a drinks packaging product incorporating at least one drinking vessel substantially as specified herein and a drinks container.

Preferably the drinks container is a made of a plastics material.

Preferably the drinks container is substantially bottle shaped and includes shoulder where the diameter of the bottle reduces part way up the main body of the bottle shape.

Preferably the drinking vessel is sized such that at least half of the contents of the bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel.

In a seventh aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of packaging a drink into a drinks packaging product which includes a drink container and a drinking vessel, the method including the steps of;

• filling the drink container,

• capping the drink container with a cap that is adapted to externally engage with a drinking vessel, and

• fitting a drinking vessel that is adapted to engage with the cap, onto the cap.

The invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents, such equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were individually set forth. DESCRIPTION

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded cross sectional view of a first example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is an exploded cross sectional view of a second example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is an exploded cross sectional view of a third example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of a fourth example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is an exploded cross sectional view of a fifth example of a drinking vessel of the present invention,

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a drinking vessel of the present invention and a drink container, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the drinking vessel and the drink container in an assembled state.

EXAMPLE ONE

With reference to Figure 1, a first example of a drinking vessel (10) for a drinks packaging product is shown having at least two parts, a base part (11) and a main vessel part (13). The drinking vessel (10) is characterised in that one or other of the base part (11) or the main vessel part (13), or both, incorporate a sealing ring (15). In this example, there is a single sealing ring (15) which is on the base part (11). The sealing ring (15) is adapted to seal the join between the base part (1 1) and the main vessel part (13) when the two parts are assembled.

Formed as an integral part of the base part (1 1) is a threaded bottle cap (17) which also includes a frangibly linked tamper evident ring (19). When assembled, the drinking vessel (10) forms a drinking vessel that can also be used as a closure of a drinks container, for example a drink bottle. The drinking vessel (10) can be screwed onto a bottle to close the bottle, and when removed from the bottle can be used as a drinking vessel.

In this example, the lower part (25) of the main vessel part (13) of the drinking vessel (10) is tapered to form a stem feature immediately above the base. The diameter of the stem feature is determined primarily by the outside diameter of the cap (17).

The sealing ring (15) can be formed as part of the base part (1 1) or the main vessel part (13), but from a material having different physical characteristics, for example from a material having a greater elasticity. The sealing ring (15) can be formed by an overmolding process, for example by overmolding the sealing ring (15) onto the surface of the base part (1 1) or into a groove about the circumference of the base part (1 1).

A suitable material for the^' sealing ring (15) is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.

The base part (1 1) and the main vessel part (13) can be joined using glue or welding, for example, ultrasonic welding. However in this example the base part (1 1) and the main vessel part (13) are joined by a mechanical, or interlocking, joint. Lugs (21 ) on the interior of the main vessel part (13) are configured to mate and lock into corresponding recesses (23) provided on the exterior of the base part (1 1). The use of a mechanical joint eliminates the need for an additional welding step during manufacture.

EXAMPLE TWO

With reference to Figure 2, a second example of a drinking vessel (30) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this example the drinking vessel (30) is formed from at least three parts, a base part (31), a main vessel part (33) and a threaded cap part (35). Each of the three parts, the base part (31), the main vessel part (33) and the threaded cap part (35) can be made from a material selected to suit the function of that part. For example a suitable material for the main vessel part (33) is a rigid clear plastics material, for example a styrene plastics material, which provides a somewhat glass like appearance and feel. A softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, can be used for the cap part (35) to facilitate the incorporation of a tamper evident seal (36) in the cap part (35). The tamper evident seal (36) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck of a bottle and shrink back toward their original size so that the seal will stay with the bottle when the cap part (35) is removed.

Preferably a mechanical joint is provided between the cap part (35) and the base part (3 1) and/or the main vessel part (33). In this example, a ridge (37) extends about the circumference of the cap part (35) and this ridge can be captured between an internal shoulder (39) on the main vessel part (33) and a rim (41) on the base part (31) when the two parts (31) and (33) are assembled together. In this way, the ridge (37) substantially prevents the cap part (35) from exiting the interior of the drinking vessel (30).

Preferably the mechanical joint between the cap part (35) and the base part (31) and/or the main vessel part (33) is configured to substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap part (35) and the base part (31 ) and/or the main vessel part (33). In this example, the cap , part (35) is provided with a series or recesses (43) about the periphery of its lower surface (45) which are configured to mate with a series of protrusions (47) situated on the base part (31 ). When the drinking vessel (30) is assembled the protrusions (47) engage with the ' recesses (43) to substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap part (35) and the base part (31 ).

The base part (31) can be connected to the main vessel. part (33) using glue or by welding, ^' for example using ultrasonic welding. The mating surfaces of the base part (31) and/or the main vessel part (33), where they can be connected, can be shaped to facilitate a weld, for example by making the lower surface (49) of the lower lip of the main vessel part (33) "V" shaped as shown.

This design allows the main vessel part (33) and the base part (31) to be manufactured from the same material, for example from a styrene plastics material, since neither part includes the tamper evident seal (36). And since both the main vessel part (33) and the base part (31) can be manufactured from the same material, they can be welded together.

Optionally the base part (31) can be connected to the main vessel part (33) by a suitable mechanical joint.

As with the previous example, in this example also, the lower part (51) of the main vessel part (33) of the drinking vessel (30) is tapered to form a stem feature immediately above the base. The diameter of the stem feature is determined primarily by the outside diameter of the cap (35).

EXAMPLE THREE

With reference to Figure 3, a third example of a drinking vessel (60) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this example the drinking vessel (60) includes a main body (61) and a sealing cap (63). The sealing cap (63) is adapted to mate with the inside of the main body (61) in such a manner that when mated the sealing cap (63) is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body (61 ) and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body (61).

The sealing cap (63) includes an internal thread (65) and is configured to be a suitable closure device for a bottle having a mating thread about its opening. The sealing cap (63) can be provided with a tamper evident seal (66) to indicate whether the bottle has been opened after the cap (63) was initially installed. Preferably the main body (61) of the drinking vessel (60) is made of a clear material so that the state of the tamper evident seal can be viewed prior to removal of the drinking vessel (60) from the bottle.

A softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, can be used for the sealing cap (63) since it includes the tamper evident seal (66). The tamper evident seal (66) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck of a bottle and shrink back toward its original size so that the seal will stay with the bottle when the cap (63) is removed. The main body (61) of the drinking vessel (60) is configured to fit at least partially over the bottle to which it is fitted. Preferably the drinking vessel (60) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (60).

The main body (61) is adapted to receive and to retain the sealing cap (63) within, or adjacent to, a base portion (67) of the main body (61). A protruding lip (71) which can extend part way or all the way about the circumference of the cap (63), or similar protrusions, can be configured to mate with a corresponding groove (73) or recesses in the interior of the main body (61) to prevent the cap (63) exiting the main body (61) once installed. When the cap (63) is pushed into the inside of the main body (61) the lip (71) can engage with the groove (73) to substantially prevent the cap (63) exiting the main body (61). The cap (63) can be made from a plastics material and the elasticity of the material will allow it to compress slightly during installation. Preferably the protruding lip (71) is provided with a lead-in taper, as shown, to facilitate installation of the sealing cap (63) into the main body (61 ).

The cap (63) can also be provided with protrusions or recesses that are configured to mate with corresponding recesses or protrusions in the inside diameter of the main body (61) to prevent the cap (63) from rotating within the main body (61). This is important to enable the drinking vessel (60) to be removed from a bottle or other drinks packaging product. In this example the main body (61) is provided with a relatively fine internal spline form (75) which is configured to mate with a corresponding external spline form (77) about the outside diameter of the cap (63). When the cap (63) and the main body (61) are assembled the engaged spline forms substantially prevent relative rotation between the cap (63) and the main body (61). The use of fine spline forms is advantageous in that they are easily engaged when the cap (63) is inserted into the main body (61) without the need for careful alignment.

The base portion (67) of the drinking vessel (60) can be provided with a suitably configured and sized foot (69) upon which the drinking vessel (60) can stand upright in a stable manner. Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint of the foot (69) is similar to the diameter or width of the main body (61) of the drinking vessel (60). The drinking vessel (60) can be a stemmed drinking vessel as shown, however in an alternative embodiment, the drinking vessel (60) can be a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the sealing cap (63).

EXAMPLE FOUR

With reference to Figure 4, a fourth example of a drinking vessel (80) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this example the drinking vessel (80) is a one piece drinking vessel comprising a main drinking vessel body (81), and a threaded cap (83) which is situated in the interior of the main body (81). The cap (83) includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal (85).

The cap (83) comprises an internally threaded cylinder (87) which connects to a base (89) of the main body (81). The cap (83) formed by combining the cylinder (87) and a section of the base (89) can be used as a closure for a drinks packaging product or bottle. The tamper evident seal (85) is connected by a frangible link (86) to the other end of the threaded cylinder (87).

In this example, the drinking vessel (80) is a flat bottomed tumbler style of drinking vessel. However, it is envisaged that the drinking vessel (80) could also be a stemmed style of drinking vessel as shown and described herein in examples one to three and example five. An advantage of the flat bottomed tumbler style of drinking vessel is the space about the cap (83) which can be useful to facilitate the operation of a plastics injection molding tool if required to form the shapes of the frangible link (86).

Preferably at least the main body (81) of the drinking vessel (80) is made of a clear material to allow the state of the tamper evident seal to be inspected prior to removal of the drinking vessel (80) from a drinks packaging product or bottle. Since the drinking vessel (80) is a one piece vessel, and it includes a tamper evident seal (85), it would be preferable to make the vessel (80) from a plastics material having sufficient memory so that the seal (85) will shrink back to, or near, its original size after it is fitted over a protruding ring on the neck of a bottle. A suitable plastics material would be a polypropylene or a polyethylene plastics material.

Preferably the drinking vessel (80) is adapted to fit at least partially over a bottle, and preferably the drinking vessel (80) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (80).

EXAMPLE FIVE

With reference to Figure 5, a fifth example of a drinking vessel (100) for a drinks packaging product is shown. In this example the drinking vessel (100) includes a main body (101) and a separate threaded sleeve (103). The threaded sleeve (103) is adapted to mate with the main body (101) in such a manner that when mated the threaded sleeve (103) is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body (101) and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body (101).

Preferably the drinking vessel further includes a sealing member (105) which is adapted to aid in sealing the opening of a drinks container to which the drinking vessel (100) can be fitted. The sealing member (105) can be a typical laminated seal, for example a laminated plastics and aluminium seal as is used in the drinks packaging industry.

An advantage of this design is that the sealing member (105) can be fitted prior to the threaded sleeve (103), making it simpler to install the sealing member (105) which will typically have an outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the threads (107) of the threaded sleeve (103).

Preferably the threaded sleeve (103) further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal (108).

The main body (101) is adapted to receive and to retain the threaded sleeve (103) within, or adjacent to, a base portion (109) of the main body (101). A protruding lip (111) which can extend part way or all the way about the circumference of the threaded sleeve (103), or similar protrusions, can be configured to mate with a corresponding groove (113) or recesses in the interior of the main body (101) to prevent the threaded sleeve (103) exiting the main body (101) once installed. When the threaded sleeve (103) is pushed into the inside of the main body (101) the lip (1 1 1) can engage with the groove (1 13) to substantially prevent the threaded sleeve (103) exiting the main body (101). The threaded sleeve (103) can be made from a plastics material and the elasticity of the material will allow it to compress slightly during installation. Preferably the protruding lip (1 1 1) is provided with a lead-in taper to facilitate installation of the threaded sleeve (103) into the main body (101).

The threaded sleeve (103) can also be provided with protrusions or recesses that are configured to mate with corresponding recesses or protrusions in the inside diameter of the main body (101) to prevent the threaded sleeve (103) from rotating within the main body

(101). This is important to enable the drinking vessel (100) to be removed from a bottle or other drinks packaging product. In this example the main body (101) is provided with a

^■ relatively fine internal spline form (1 15) which is configured to mate with a corresponding external spline form (1 17) about the outside diameter of the threaded sleeve (103). When the threaded sleeve (103) and the main body (101) are assembled the engaged spline forms substantially prevent relative rotation between the threaded sleeve (103) and the main body

(101). The use of fine spline forms is advantageous in that they are easily engaged when the threaded sleeve (103) is inserted into the main body (101) without the need for careful alignment. •

Preferably the drinking vessel (100) is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.

The main body (101) of the drinking vessel (100) can be made of a clear material and the threaded sleeve (103) can be made of an at least partially flexible material. Suitable materials are a clear styrene plastics material for the main body (101) and polypropylene or polyethylene plastics material for the threaded sleeve (103). A clear material is also advantageous for the main body (101) of the drinking vessel (100) since it allows the condition of the tamper evident seal (108) to be inspected.

A softer and more elastic plastics material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, can be used for the threaded sleeve (103) since it includes the tamper evident seal (108). The tamper evident seal (108) must stretch over a mating ring about the neck of a bottle and shrink back toward their original size so that the seal (108) will stay with the bottle when the drinking vessel (100) complete with sleeve (103) is removed.

Preferably the drinking vessel ( 100) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the drinks packaging product or bottle can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (100).

The base portion (107) of the drinking vessel (100) can be provided with a suitably configured and sized foot (1 19) upon which the drinking vessel (100) can stand upright in a stable manner. Preferably the diameter or width of the footprint of the foot (1 19) is similar to the diameter or width of the main body ( 101 ) of the drinking vessel (100).

The drinking vessel (100) can be a stemmed drinking vessel as shown, however in an alternative embodiment, the drinking vessel (100) can be a flat bottomed tumbler style drinking vessel having a short tubular shaped protruding portion connected to the interior of the base of the drinking vessel which is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve (103).

GENERAL

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, a drinks packaging product (130) is shown comprising at least a drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100), as described above, and a drinks container, which in this case is a bottle (131). Preferably the bottle (131) is made of a plastics material, as it is generally possible to manufacture plastic bottles to higher dimensional tolerances than glass bottles. In figure 7 the drinks packaging product (130) is shown with the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) assembled onto the bottle (131), while in figure 6 these two items are shown prior to- assembly.

A raised ring (132) is provided about the neck (133) of the bottle (131). This ring (132) is adapted to engage with the tamper evident seal (19), (36), (66), (85) or (108) (not shown) of the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) when it is fitted onto the bottle (13 1), and to prevent the tamper evident seal (19), (36), (66), (85) or (108) departing from the bottle (131) when the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) is later removed. In figures 6 and 7 a stemmed drinking vessel shown, however clearly a flat bottomed tumbler style of drinking vessel similar to that described in example four above can be fitted to the bottle (131) in a similar manner.

A bottle seal (105) is shown and described with reference to figure 5 above, however a similar suitable bottle seal (not shown) can also be used with each of the other drinking vessels (10), (30), (60) or (80), the seal being positioned within the cap part of each drinking vessel (10), (30), (60) or (80).

It can be seen from these figures that the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) fits over the bottle (131). The upper part (135) of the bottle (131 ) has a smaller diameter than the lower part (137) of the bottle (131). A shoulder (139) separates the two parts of the bottle (131 ). The rim of the drinking vessel (141) can butt against the shoulder (139) to at least partially seal the interior of the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) during transportation and storage of the assembled drinks package (130). '

■ Preferably the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100) is sized such that at least half of the contents of the bottle (131 ) can be accommodated in the drinking vessel (10), (30), (60), (80) or (100).

The drinking vessel (60) described in example three above allows an alternative method of packaging a drink into a drinks package which includes a drink container and a drinking vessel, the method including the steps of;

• filling the drink container,

VARIATIONS

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. DEFINITIONS

Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

ADVANTAGES

Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the invention provides a drinking vessel which provides manufacturing and assembly options which can allow lower manufacturing and/or assembly costs. The various options described provide a drinking vessel with a relatively simple construction that can effectively seal a bottle. In addition, the designs allow suitable materials to be used in the manufacture of each part of the drinking vessel, that is materials that match the different requirements of each part of the drinking vessel.

Claims

1. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product, the drinking vessel having at least two parts, a base part and a main vessel part, one or other of the base part or the main vessel part, or both, incorporating a sealing ring adapted to seal the joint between the base part and the main vessel, part.

2. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part, but from a material having different physical characteristics, for example greater elasticity.

3. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the sealing ring is formed as part of the base part or the main vessel part by an overmolding process.

4. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base part and the main vessel part are joined by a mechanical, or interlocking, joint.

5. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mechanical, or interlocking, joint includes one or more lugs on either the base part or the main vessel part and a cooperating recess or recesses on the other of the two parts.

6. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the base part further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.

7. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product having a main body and a sealing cap, wherein the sealing cap is adapted to mate with the inside of the main body in such a manner that when mated the sealing cap is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body.

8. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body is adapted to receive the sealing cap within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.

9. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the sealing cap further includes a tamper evident seal.

10. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.

11. A drinking vessel for a drinks packaging product comprising a main body and a threaded sleeve, wherein the threaded sleeve is adapted to mate with the main body in such a manner that when mated the threaded sleeve is substantially prevented from rotating relative to the main body and is substantially prevented from exiting the main body.

12. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drinking vessel further includes a sealing member which is adapted to aid in sealing the opening of a drinks container to which the drinking vessel can be fitted.

13. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the threaded sleeve further includes a frangibly linked tamper evident seal.

14. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the main body is adapted to receive the threaded sleeve within, or adjacent to, a base portion of the main body.

15. A drinking vessel as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the drinking vessel is adapted to fit at least partially over, and to provide a closure for, a bottle.

16. A drinks packaging product incorporating at least one drinking vessel substantially as claimed herein and a drinks container.