EP3774558A1

EP3774558A1 - Thin-walled bottle for containing a liquid foodstuff

Info

Publication number: EP3774558A1
Application number: EP19713503.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Germano DUARTE; Frederic SENAUX
Original assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Current assignee: Societe des Eaux Minerales dEvian SA SAEME
Priority date: 2018-04-03
Filing date: 2019-04-02
Publication date: 2021-02-17
Also published as: FR3079503B1; WO2019192975A1; FR3079503A1

Abstract

Product comprising:- a closed plastic bottle (11; 11A; 11B) with thin walls, comprising an at least partially cylindrical body which defines an internal volume, - a liquid (12) for drinking which fills at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle (11; 11A; 11B), characterised in that the bottle (11; 11A; 11B) comprises at least one activatable portion with a concavity which is orientated in a first direction in a relaxed state, the activatable portion being configured to become deformed when a force is applied by a consumer in order to change into an activated state and to have a convexity which is orientated in a direction opposite the first direction, a pressure applied by the liquid (12) to the closed bottle (11; 11A; 11B) with the activatable portion in the relaxed state being less than a pressure applied by the liquid (12) to the closed bottle (11; 11A; 11B) with the activatable portion in the activated state.

Description

BUTTON I LLE HAS A M I NCES POU R

ALI M ENTAI R E

The present invention relates generally to the field of containers for liquid food, and relates in particular to a product which comprises a bottle and a liquid food such as non-gaseous mineral water. The invention also relates to an object which comprises the aforementioned product, and which can be easily handled by a consumer.

It is known in the prior art containers for liquid food, and in particular thin-walled plastic bottles for transporting and delivering mineral water to a consumer who wants to consume water quality, with a flavor and a quality preserved. Such plastic containers or bottles are disclosed in WO201012956A1, WO201093602A2, EP1873067A1, or WO2014101957A1.

In return, the production of these plastic bottles can have an environmental impact, and it is also necessary to provide recycling channels to minimize this impact.

In addition, it may be interesting (economically or ecologically) to minimize the thickness of these bottles, but it is necessary to provide that the bottle is easy to handle, and does not deform or not too much when a user holds ( typically with a force of 20 newtons). This aspect is particularly important for small capacity bottles (less than 2 L, preferably less than 1.5 L or even 1 L), because the latter are intended to accompany the consumer in his movements, and a risk of deformation (which leads to a overflow if the consumer tightens the bottle strongly) must be minimal.

An object of the present invention is to meet the disadvantages of the documents of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a bottle that forms a product containing a liquid food that minimizes the l ecological impact, which is cheap to produce, without degrading ergonomics or use by the consumer, who must be able to handle the bottle without taking special precautions, and without risking overflow the liquid content.

For this a first aspect of the invention relates to a product comprising:

- a thin-walled plastic closed bottle comprising a body at least partly cylindrical and defining an internal volume,

a drinking liquid filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle,

characterized in that the bottle comprises at least one activatable portion with a concavity oriented in a first direction in a relaxed state, the activatable portion being arranged to deform under a force exerted by a consumer to enter an activated state and to have a convexity oriented in a direction opposite to the first direction, a pressure exerted by the liquid on the closed bottle with the activatable portion in the relaxed state being lower than a pressure exerted by the liquid on the closed bottle with the activatable portion in the state activated.

The bottle in the product according to the implementation above has a small thickness (and therefore a low rigidity), and an activatable portion to be activated by the consumer himself. The latter pushes the activatable portion to make it present a convex shape, which allows for example to define a circular base on which the bottle can be placed stably. Passing the activatable portion in the activated state also increases the pressure internal of the bottle, which tends its surfaces and improves its behavior. Finally, by moving from a concave shape to a convex shape, the consumer creates a fold in the bottle, which increases its rigidity. It can also be noted that moving from a concave shape to a convex shape causes a noise or "activation noise" which informs the consumer about the change of state.

In particular, the activatable portion of the bottle is arranged to be activated directly by the user (for example by a thrust exerted by the hand or fingers of the user directly on the activatable portion).

Of course, this change of state is reversible. However, once activated, the activatable portion is arranged to remain in this state, even if the activatable portion is not in contact with a support or a work plan. In other words, the activatable portion is arranged to remain in the activated or relaxed state (not activated) until a pressure is exerted by the user to change state.

Advantageously, the activation of the activatable portion is performed by the consumer, that is to say the person who will consume the liquid food. However, the invention can be implemented by a user who is not the consumer.

[001 1] Moreover, the cylindrical portion of the bottle has a lateral surface whose generatrices are parallel lines, and which follow a basic curve (defined by the intersection of the lateral surface with a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of the bottle) which is a closed curve. This closed base curve can be circular (a circle), oval (ellipse or any oval shape), square or rectangular, optionally with rounded corners. Such a section of the cylindrical portion can improve gripping, limit flexibility and / or limit the risk of leakage when opening the bottle.

In addition, the activatable portion is advantageously adjacent to the cylindrical portion, which on the one hand makes it possible to put in tension said cylindrical portion when the activatable portion is activated, and to guarantee on the other hand that the activatable portion will remain activated because a crease along the perimeter of the cylindrical portion will be more resistant. In particular, the weight of the liquid in the bottle is not sufficient to cause the passage of the activatable portion of the activated state to the non-activated state.

[0014] Advantageously, the activatable portion forms a bottom of the bottle, and the activatable portion is rounded outwardly in the relaxed state. In other words, in the relaxed state, the bottle does not stand alone. It is necessary that the consumer activates it, so as to form a circular or substantially circular fold which then forms a stable base of the bottle. This implementation is advantageous in the case where the bottle is so fine that it does not have its own hold: it is possible to fill it, to transport it in the relaxed state, and the consumer has only to pass it in the activated state to put it on a table.

Advantageously, the bottom has a thickness equal to ± 20% to the thickness of the body of the bottle, with the exception of a central portion of the bottom included in a diameter:

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

preferentially less than or equal to 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body,

more preferably less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body. In other words, the bottle has a uniform thickness, at least between its cylindrical wall and the major external part of the bottom. To take the thickness, one can for example make at least three measure along the cylindrical part of the body (at least 10 mm from a neck or bottom) and average.

Advantageously, the bottom has at least one radial groove which extends over a length of at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body. Very advantageously, the bottom has four radial grooves which extend over a length of at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body. Such radial grooves formed on the bottom form an advantageous implementation to help the bottom to form well marked convexity in the activated state, and to remain in this activated state.

Advantageously, the bottom has a central cup forming a zone to be pushed by the consumer and included in a diameter:

less than or equal to 50% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body, preferably less than or equal to 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body,

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

Such a central cup indicates intuitively where to support the consumer.

[0018] Advantageously, the body of the bottle has a thickness of:

in a range from 30 μm to 150 μm,

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

and preferably in a range from 100 pm to 125 pm.

Such thicknesses do not allow the bottle to offer a hold alone, especially under a gripping or pinching effort of 20 newtons. The activatable portion, made in the same thickness to within ± 20%, easily passes into the activated state or the relaxed state, under an effort moderate to the user. A typical prior art bottle typically has a thickness of 220 μm, so that the bottle according to the present application requires half the material to be manufactured. Such a bottle, at least twice as light, requires less energy to be manufactured, and / or recycled.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a body, preferably a cylindrical portion, arranged between a neck (and / or neck) and a bottom.

[0020] Advantageously, the bottle comprises a plurality of ribs oriented in an axial direction of the bottle and distributed along the body. Such axial ribs are an advantageous implementation, because during the transition from the relaxed state to the activated state, they will stretch so that the outer parts of the body between the ribs move radially: the outer diameter increases rapidly , without increasing the internal pressure too much. In other words, these grooves oriented in the axial direction of the bottle are not stiffening grooves, and they allow the bottle to expand.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a neck and at least one circular rib oriented in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the bottle and arranged on the body of the bottle near the neck. One or more of these transverse or peripheral ribs are an advantageous implementation, because during the transition from the relaxed state to the activated state, they will concentrate the deformation of the rest of the bottle, until changing direction: the initially inwardly directed peripheral ribs may be directed outwardly to form protuberances. In other words, this or these grooves oriented (s) in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the bottle is (are) not (the) groove (s) of stiffening.

[0022] Advantageously, the bottle is formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advantageously, the liquid is a liquid food, preferably water, preferably non-gaseous, and preferably filled at a temperature below 50 ° C. in other words, the liquid food is a flat mineral water, and a bottle so fine remains well adapted to transport it from the bottling site to the consumer's home.

Advantageously, the product comprises means for closing the bottle, such as a cap to be screwed or to fit, a cap or a valve. The closure means may further comprise inviolability proof means such as a tamper-proof ring attached to the cap by breaking bridges during a first use. It can also be a seal sealed on the neck, to be permanently removed during the first use. The closure means may optionally comprise reversible means for closing the bottle after a first use. This is the case for example caps to screw and unscrew. It is mentioned that the filled bottle is preferably closed by means of a cap to be screwed or fitted with a tamper-proof ring whose bridges are not broken.

[0025] Advantageously, the bottle has an internal volume:

- less than or equal to 2 L,

preferably less than or equal to 1.5 L,

- more preferably less than or equal to 1 L,

- even more preferably less than or equal to 0.8 L.

Advantageously, the activatable portion in the relaxed state defines at least 2%, preferably at least 5%, preferably at least 15%, preferably from 5% to 10% of the internal volume. Thus, with such a relative volume for the activatable portion, changing from the relaxed state to the activated state significantly changes the internal pressure in the bottle.

A second aspect of the invention relates to an object to be held by a consumer, comprising: an outer sleeve arranged to be held by the consumer,

a product according to the first aspect of the invention,

in which the sleeve comprises an opening arranged to receive the bottle with the activatable portion in the relaxed state,

and wherein, the activatable portion, passing into the activated state under a force exerted by the consumer, forms locking means of the bottle in the outer sleeve.

According to the implementation above, the outer sleeve forms a rigid handle that can accommodate the bottle, and once it is locked in the sleeve, the consumer finds easy handling, and can hold firmly the sleeve without causing deformation inopportune that would cause an overflow, which he could not do with the bottle too thin and too stiff. In addition, the passage of the activatable portion in the activated state is simple, which does not require complex operation to the consumer. Consequently, the object is simple to use, provides a satisfactory maintenance, and yet the bottle is much thinner and flexible than a bottle of the prior art, which makes it possible to propose an economical and ecological solution for the consumer. because the sleeve is reusable.

Advantageously, the sleeve has a narrowing opposite the opening, and arranged to form an axial stop to the bottle received in the opening. Such an abutment allows intuitive use: just push the bottle into the sleeve until the shrink, then activate the activatable portion.

Advantageously, the sleeve has an opening at the necking, arranged to let a neck of the bottle received in the opening.

Advantageously, the sleeve has an opening, preferably lateral, to allow the consumer to exert a deactivation force directly on the closed bottle having the activatable portion in an activated state, so as to pass the activatable portion in the deactivated state to unlock the bottle of the sleeve. Such an opening provides direct access to the bottle, which allows pressing it so that the internal pressure pushes the activatable portion which then passes from the activated state to the relaxed state: the bottle can be easily removed from the sleeve.

Preferably, the opening is arranged on an upper portion of the sleeve, or on a portion intended to be opposite a neck of the bottle. This makes it possible to press the bottle at a place remote from the bottom / of the activatable portion, so as not to create parasitic deformations.

Alternatively, if there is no opening, the sleeve is provided sufficiently flexible (with a thickness of less than 500 μm, and preferably less than 300 μm), to allow the consumer, with an effort of pronounced pinching (at least 20 newtons, and preferably at least 30 newtons) of sufficiently deforming the sleeve and the bottle to increase the internal pressure sufficiently and push the activatable portion of the activated state to the relaxed state.

As a result, the activatable portion has no tongue or protrusion to shoot.

[0034] Advantageously, the sleeve has a sufficient length to cover

- at least 50% of the bottle,

preferably at least 75% of the bottle,

- even more preferably the entire body of the bottle,

- And even more preferably the entire body of the bottle whose activatable portion forms the bottom, as well as 80% at most, and preferably 20% to 50% at most, the height of the activatable portion in the relaxed state.

In other words, and according to one advantageous embodiment, the sleeve leaves at least 20% of the activatable portion (the bottom) of the apparent bottle, which makes it possible to drive or activate the activatable portion. pushing the sleeve (which receives the bottle in abutment on its necking) vertically down on a table.

Advantageously, the sleeve has, with the bottle whose activatable portion is in the relaxed state, a set:

- less than or equal to 1.5 mm, preferably to 1.0 mm,

more preferably less than or equal to 0.8 mm,

- even more preferably less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

Advantageously, the sleeve is an open piece at both ends and has a wall at least partly cylindrical to be grasped by the consumer.

Advantageously, the object comprises a strap connected to the sleeve, and:

the strap presents:

a first end attached to a first end of the sleeve on the side of the introduction opening of the bottle,

a portion slidably mounted through a loop arranged on the first end of the sleeve and an opposite lateral side of the first end of the strap attached to the sleeve,

a second end attached to a second end of the sleeve, so that the strap:

• relaxed between its first end and the passer, releases the opening and allows insertion of the bottle in the opening,

• stretched between its first end and the passer, blocks the opening and prevents withdrawal of the bottle from the sleeve.

The strap according to the implementation above can form a barrier to the bottle (strap stretched), and can let the bottle, just by sliding the strap in the loop to relax.

Advantageously, the object comprises a base embedded on the strap between its first end and the passer, the base comprising a protuberance arranged to push the activatable portion when the bottle is received, during a pulling movement on the strap, exerted by the consumer. The base (or removable base) includes a boss or protrusion that automatically supports and conforms the activatable portion in the activated state.

Advantageously, the base forms a support for information intended for the consumer.

Advantageously, the object comprises another passer for the strap, arranged on the sleeve on the side of the second end of the strap.

[0041] Advantageously, the sleeve has a thickness:

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

- at least greater than 200 μm.

Advantageously, the sleeve has an inner wall arranged to contact the body of the bottle, at least 30% of the surface of the inner wall is airtight and / or has an arithmetic roughness (Ra) less than or equal to 1.6 μm, preferably less than or equal to 0.8 μm.

Advantageously, the inner wall is varnished or has a smooth surface coating and / or airtight.

In other words, the sleeve is arranged to maintain an air gap between its inner wall and the bottle with the activatable portion in the activated state, which provides effective locking.

Advantageously, the sleeve has an inner wall with a thermal insulation, such as at least one air bag or an insulating material (polystyrene, preferably expanded, polyurethane foam ...).

Advantageously, the sleeve comprises a molded insert of anti-slip material, such as EPDM, rubber ... this implementation makes it possible to improve the anti-rotation of the activated bottle in the sleeve.

Advantageously, the object comprises the bottle with axial ribs, in which the activatable portion, passing in the activated state under a force exerted by the consumer, causes, by decreasing a depth of the ribs, an increase the diameter of the portion of the body comprising the ribs, so as to cause a direct contact between the body of the bottle and an inner wall of the sleeve.

Advantageously, the object comprises the bottle with at least one peripheral rib, wherein the sleeve has at least one internal groove or an opening arranged to be opposite the rib of the bottle received in the opening, so to allow a radial outward movement of the rib of the bottle during activation of the activatable portion. Advantageously, the sleeve has at least one protrusion arranged to cooperate with the bottle, preferably with a portion of a neck or neck of the bottle, so as to provide a torque resistant to rotation of the bottle. in the sleeve. Such a protrusion may be an index or splines, which are preferably arranged facing the neck of the bottle, which is thicker and stronger than the rest of the bottle.

Advantageously, the activatable portion, passing in the activated state under a force exerted by the consumer, causes a direct contact between the body of the bottle and an inner wall of the sleeve, by expulsion of a blade of interstitial air.

[0051] Advantageously, the sleeve is formed:

- A polymeric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyamide (PA), or polycarbonate (PC), and optionally comprises a filler material such as fibers, or

in a metal such as aluminum. Advantageously, the sleeve comprises means for recognizing the bottle, and / or communication means for sending information to the consumer, and / or a human machine interface arranged to receive a consumer order.

[0053] Advantageously:

the recognition means comprise wireless communication means, and / or an electronic tag, and / or optical recognition means, and / or magnetic detection means,

the bottle comprises a marker arranged to be recognized by the sleeve recognition means. This implementation allows the sleeve to recognize the bottle and / or the liquid, and to display information back to the consumer (nature of the liquid, date of optimal consumption ...).

[0054] Advantageously:

the communication means comprise a screen, preferably a touch screen, and / or wireless communication means arranged to establish a connection with a portable electronic device, such as a telephone or a digital tablet, and / or

the communication means are arranged to send to the consumer at least one information relating to the liquid food contained in the bottle, and / or at least information relating to a consumption of liquid, and / or a history of the bottles used, and / or

the communication means are arranged to establish a connection, preferably wirelessly, with a remote server, for:

· Send / receive information relating to the consumer, to a consumer's consumption, to a consumer's opinion, collected by a human-machine interface linked to the means of communication,

• send a bottle order. A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for delivering to a consumer of a product according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of:

manufacture the bottle of the product according to the first aspect of the invention, for example by injection blow molding,

- filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle with a food liquid, preferably at a temperature below 50 ° C,

- close the bottle,

transporting the closed bottle with the activatable portion in the relaxed state to a point of provision for a consumer, for example the home, a workplace, a restaurant, a store or a mechanized distributor.

As a result, the bottle is manufactured, filled and transported with the activatable portion in the relaxed state. It is only the consumer who activates the activatable portion, for example to put the vertical bottle on a table, or to lock it in the sleeve.

It should also be noted that the filling is preferably carried out under cold conditions (at less than 50 ° C.), so that the activatable portion is not intended to compensate for a variation in pressure / volume caused by a variation in temperature during cooling.

Advantageously, the delivery method comprises a step of delivering a plurality of bottles of the product according to the first aspect of the invention forming a batch, and a single sleeve, or a number of sleeves smaller than the plurality of bottles forming a batch, of the object according to the second aspect of the invention. This saves material on each bottle, while providing the possibility of coupling with a reusable sleeve and rigid enough to ensure good ergonomics.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method of use by a consumer of an object according to the second aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of:

receiving the product according to the first aspect of the invention with the activatable portion of the bottle in the relaxed state,

inserting the closed bottle into the sleeve of the object according to the second aspect of the invention,

- exert a force on the activatable portion of the closed bottle to lock the bottle in the sleeve.

Advantageously, the method of use comprises a step of exerting a force on the closed bottle to unlock the bottle of the sleeve, by passing the activatable portion of the activated state in the relaxed state, after consumption of the liquid. food for example.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: which :

Figure 1 schematically shows four views of the use of an object according to the invention, comprising a product with a closed bottle and a sleeve;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show a first usage diagram of the object of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a second use diagram of the object of FIG. 1, with a detail of the walls of the closed bottle and the sleeve;

FIG. 4 represents a profile view and a bottom view of the closed bottle of the object of FIG. 1

Figure 5 shows two views of a first variant of the object of Figure 1;

Figure 6a shows two views of a second variant of the object of Figure 1; Figure 6b shows two views of a third variant of the object of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows three views of the sleeve of Figure 1; Figures 8a to 8d show a fourth variant of the object of Figure 1.

Figure 1 schematically shows four views of an object comprising a sleeve 20 which receives a product 10 consisting essentially of a bottle 1 1.

The bottle 1 1 comprises an activatable portion which forms a bottom 1 1 1 of the bottle in the implementation shown. In the first view (left) of Figure 1, the activatable portion is in a relaxed state, that is to say the bottom 1 1 1 has a concavity or a rounded shape down. As seen in this first view, a clearance is present between the cylindrical body of the bottle 1 1 and the sleeve 20, which allows to freely insert the bottle 1 1 into the lower opening of the sleeve 20.

The second sectional view (starting from the left of Figure 1), the bottle 1 1 is completely inserted into the sleeve 20, because it comes into abutment on a necking of the sleeve 20, with the neck of the bottle 11 which passes through an upper opening of the sleeve 20. This view also shows a cap 13 which keeps the bottle closed, itself containing a liquid to drink 12. In this second view, the bottom 11 is still in the relaxed state , that is, concave down. A clearance still exists between the cylindrical portions of the sleeve 20 and the bottle January 1.

The third view from the left of Figure 1 shows the bottle 1 1 with the bottom 1 1 1 which has been pushed by a consumer, that is to say that the activatable portion (the bottom 1 1 1) of the bottle 1 1 has been placed in an activated state, so that the dead volume inside the bottle 1 1 has decreased on the one hand (it is seen that the upper level of the liquid to be drunk 12 is more higher than in the second view), but above all, from a second part, the passage from the bottom to the activated state provoked an increase in the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the bottle 1 1, so that the clearance between the bottle 1 1 and the sleeve 20 has disappeared.

As shown in the fourth view from the left of Figure 1, the bottle 1 1 is locked in the sleeve 20, it can not move axially or in rotation with respect to the sleeve 20.

In other words, the passage of the bottom 11 1 of the relaxed state to the activated state caused an increase in the internal pressure in the bottle 1 1, which then "pushed" or "stretched" the outer diameter of the cylindrical body of the bottle 1 1, so as to drive the air gap between the bottle 1 1 and the sleeve 20, so that the bottle 1 1 can not move relative to the sleeve 20.

This makes it possible to propose a flexible bottle 1 1, therefore light and requiring little material to manufacture it and in practice not very easy to use alone because of its great flexibility, but with easy and satisfactory handling when it is locked. in the sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 thus forms a reusable part that can simply receive bottles 1 1 which require little material and which would not be easily used alone.

In particular, such a bottle 11 has a thickness so small that once opened, it would deform so much under a gripping force of about 20 newtons that the liquid to drink overflowing. However, coupled and locked in the sleeve 20, the user can manipulate the bottle 1 1 by firmly holding the sleeve 20 (with a gripping force greater than or equal to 20 newtons).

FIG. 2a represents a first usage diagram of the object of FIG. 1, with a consumer (that is to say a user, preferably a final user) who introduces the product 10 (the bottle 11 + the liquid 12 + the cap 13) in a substantially horizontal direction in the sleeve 20. Figure 2b shows the consumer activating the bottom 1 1 1 by pushing it, which produces an activation noise as shown in the pictogram, to lock the bottle 11 in the sleeve 20.

FIG. 3 represents two views of a second usage scenario of the object of FIG. 1. Indeed, in the left view, the sleeve 20 is threaded vertically onto the product 10 which rests on a plane The bottom 1 1 1 is in the relaxed state, and as shown in the detail of the left view, an air gap 40 is present between the body 1 12 of the bottle 1 1 and the sleeve 20 This air gap 40 facilitates the sliding and the introduction of the bottle January 1 in the sleeve 20. A clearance (in the relaxed state of the bottom 1 1 1), less than 1.5 mm, is about 0.8 mm or 0.5 mm between the two components.

The right view represents the end of the second use scenario: once the bottle 1 1 arrived in abutment in the sleeve 20, it is sufficient for the consumer to continue to push down the sleeve 20 to the stop on the support S to activate the bottom 11 which then takes a convex shape, emits a locking noise and locks the bottle January 1 in the sleeve 20.

As shown in the detail of the right view of Figure 3, the wall 112 of the body of the bottle 1 1 directly touches the sleeve 20, there is no air, which provides effective locking of the bottle 1 1 in the sleeve 20.

Figure 4 shows a side view and a bottom view of the bottle 1 1 according to an advantageous implementation. Indeed, the bottom 11 1 comprises four grooves or ribs 1 13 radial and a cup 1 14 central. The radial ribs or grooves 1 13 improve the holding of the bottom 1 11 in its activated state, and the cup 114 improves the ergonomics of use intuitively indicating to the consumer where to press to activate the activatable portion. We can foresee more or less four radial ribs 1 13, and their presence is independent of the presence of the cup 1 14.

The bottle 11 is formed of a thin-walled thermoplastic material. The material is preferably a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poly-trimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene furanoate (PEF) or poly-trimethylene furanoate (PTF). It is preferably shaped by an injection blow molding process ("Injection Blow Molding" in English) for example an injection stretch blow molding process ("Injection Stretch Blow Molding" in English). In these processes a solid preform is produced by injecting the material into a mold and then cooling, the preform is then heated in order to soften it, possibly stretched longitudinally with the aid of a rod, then stretched axially and longitudinally by blowing into a mold. mold in the shape of the bottle.

These polyester materials and processes are known to those skilled in the art. Their combination allows to obtain thin walls, light, good mechanical strength and good sealing or other barrier properties. These properties are due to the orientation of the macromolecular chains inducing at least partially a crystallization. In addition to saving material, these polyesters have the advantage of being easily recyclable. The recovery, sorting and regeneration channels are organized. The regeneration may be a mechanical recycling involving melting and shaping, for example granules before new plastics operation such as injection blow molding or chemical recycling involving depolymerization, recovery of monomers or precursors, then a new polymerization.

The implementation and use of the thin-walled bottles of the invention therefore has a very advantageous environmental balance, in addition to a good practicality, especially by contribution to the implementation. conventional, non-activatable, thicker PET bottles.

The thin wall is preferably such that the body of the bottle has a thickness in a range from 30 pm to 150 pm, for example in a range from 30 pm to 50 pm or 50 pm to

70 μm or 70 μm to 100 μm, or 100 μm to 125 μm or 125 μm to 150 μm, preferably in a range from 100 μm to 125 μm. The thickness mentioned is the thickness at at least one point of the body, preferably the average thickness over a portion representing at least 50% in length or at the surface of the body, preferably at least 80%, preferably the thickness average over the entire body. The bottom of the bottle may have a thickness slightly greater than that of the body, for example a thickness of up to 50% more than that of the body, for example up to 20% more. The bottom may also have a cup, typically corresponding to the bottom of the preform and its injection point.

The thickness can be adjusted by adapting, for a target bottle volume, the characteristics of the preform, in particular its shape and the thickness of its walls, as well as the stretching characteristics. It is mentioned that the thickness of the preform walls, the geometry of the preform as well as its length, its diameter and its bottom shape, determine with the neck that will be able to form a bottleneck, the weight. The bottle, not filled, not closed, and / or the preform generally have the same weight. Subsequently the given weights refer indifferently to the bottle weight or preform weight. For a bottle of 75 cl, it is advantageous to implement preforms of 8 to 13g. The overall draw ratio may for example be between 12.0 and 27.0, preferably between 15.0 and 20.0. The axial stretching rate (typically the ratio between the height of the bottle and the length of the stretchable part of the preform, typically the distance under the neck) can for example be understood between 3.0 and 4.5. The radial stretching rate (typically ratio between the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the stretchable portion of the preform) may for example be between 4.0 and 6.0. It is mentioned that the overall draw ratio is generally equal to the product of the axial draw ratio and the radial draw ratio.

Good results are for example obtained with the following characteristics:

FIG. 5 represents a first variant of the object of FIG. 1, in which a bottle 11 A comprises a plurality of axial ribs 1 (or vertical here) and distributed around the body of the bottle 1 1. Consequently, it is these ribs 1 which will mainly deform during activation of the bottom 1 1 1, so that the diameter of the body of the bottle 1 1 A goes from a value (a) to a diameter greater than ( a), at the ribs 1 15 which therefore concentrate the deformation of the body of the bottle 1 1 (in detail, the portions of the body between the ribs 1 15 will move radially, simultaneously with a decrease in the depth of the ribs 115 , which "extend" in a tangential direction).

FIG. 6a shows a second variant of the object of FIG. 1, in which a bottle 11 B comprises at least one (here three) ribs 1 16 perpendicular to the axis of the bottle 1 1B. relaxed state of the bottom 1 11, the ribs 1 16 are directed towards the inside of the bottle January 1, as shown in the left view of Figure 6a. In the activated state of the bottom 1 1 1 (right view of Figure 6a), the ribs 1 16 are protruding from the body of the bottle 1 1 B and contact the inner wall of the sleeve 20, so that the bottle 11 B is locked in the sleeve 20.

FIG. 6b represents a third variant of the object of FIG. 1. In particular, with respect to the second variant represented in FIG. 6a, a sleeve 20A comprises, according to this third variant, lateral openings 201 which are opposite the ribs. 1 16 of the bottle 1 1 B. In passing from the relaxed state to the activated state, the bottom 1 1 1 always causes an outward movement of the ribs 1 16, but they can then engage in the openings 201 of the sleeve 20, so that the locking is further improved. Instead of the ribs 1 16, there may be a succession of hemispherical portions distributed over the periphery of the body, and which will have the same behavior as the ribs 1 16.

Figure 7 shows three views of an example of the sleeve 20 of Figure 1, which has a hollow tube shape to accommodate the bottle 1 1, with a lower opening and an upper necking.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the sleeve 20 has an opening 214 on its cylindrical portion. This opening allows the consumer to press the side of the bottle 1 1 closed, to pass the bottom 1 1 1 of the activated state in the relaxed state. Thus the bottle 1 1 is easily unlocked from the sleeve 20 and the consumer can remove it and install another bottle 1 1. In this case, we can provide a very rigid sleeve 20, which has a thickness of up to several millimeters , or metal.

Alternatively, one can not predict the lateral opening 214, but limit the thickness of the sleeve 20 (then plastic) to a thickness less than for example 500 pm or 350pm, so that it is flexible under a particular effort (for example at least 20 newtons) and deform the bottle 1 1 closed so as to make the bottom 1 1 1 of the activated state in the relaxed state.

According to Figure 7, the sleeve 20 here comprises in a particular implementation four lugs or loops 210, 21 1, 212 and 213, arranged to attach a strap 30, visible from Figures 8a to 8d.

In particular, the strap 30:

has a first end attached to the loop 21 1 (which is on the lower side of the sleeve 20 and the same lateral side as the opening 214),

sliding in the loop 210 (which is on the lower side of the sleeve 20 but opposite to the lateral side of the opening 214), - slide in the passer 212,

- has a second end attached to the loop 213.

Thus, as shown in Figure 8a, by releasing the strap 30 relaxed between the loop 211 and the passer 210, it is possible to remove-introduce a bottle 1 1 in the lower opening of the sleeve 20.

Once the bottle 1 1 introduced into the sleeve 20, the consumer can pull the strap 30 to stretch between the loop 21 1 and 210, so as to block the lower opening, as shown in the bottom view of Figure 8d. It is then possible for the consumer to easily transport the object, as shown in FIGS. 8b and 8c, with additional securing of the bottle 11 in the sleeve 20.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in this description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

REVEN DI CATIONS

1. Product comprising:

a thin-walled plastic bottle (1 1, 1 1, 1 1 B) comprising a body at least partly cylindrical and defining an internal volume,

a drinking liquid (12) filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B),

characterized in that the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) comprises at least one activatable portion with a concavity oriented in a first direction in a relaxed state, the activatable portion being arranged to deform under a force exerted by a consumer to enter an activated state and have a convexity oriented in a direction opposite to the first direction,

a pressure exerted by the liquid (12) on the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) closed with the activatable portion in the relaxed state being lower than a pressure exerted by the liquid (12) on the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 11 B) closed with the activatable portion in the activated state.

2. Product according to the preceding claim, wherein the activatable portion forms a bottom (1 1 1) of the bottle (1 1, 1 1 A, 1 1 B), and wherein the activatable portion is rounded outwardly in the relaxed state.

3. Product according to the preceding claim, wherein the bottom (1 1 1) has a thickness equal to ± 20% to the thickness of the body of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 11 B), with the exception a central portion of the bottom (11 1) included in a diameter:

preferentially less than or equal to 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body, more preferably less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body.

4. Product according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the bottom (1 11) has at least one radial groove (1 13) which extends over a length of at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion from the body.

5. Product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) has a thickness of:

in a range from 30 μm to 150 μm,

and preferably in a range from 100 pm to 125 pm.

6. Product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) comprises a plurality of ribs (1 15) oriented in an axial direction of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A 1 1 B) and distributed along the body.

7. Product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) comprises a neck and at least one circular rib (1 16) oriented in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) and arranged on the body of the bottle (11; 1 1 A; 11 B) near the neck.

8. Product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the activatable portion in the relaxed state defines at least 2%, preferably at least 5%, preferably at least 15%, preferably 5% to 10% internal volume.

9. Object to be maintained by a consumer, comprising:

an external sleeve (20; 20A) arranged to be held by the consumer,

- a product according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) comprises an opening arranged to receiving the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 11 B) with the activatable portion in the relaxed state,

and in which, the activatable portion, passing into the activated state under a force exerted by the consumer, forms locking means of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) in the sleeve (20; 20A ) external.

10. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has a narrowing opposite the opening, and arranged to form an axial stop to the bottle (11; 1 1 A; 11 B) received in the opening.

1. Object according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has an opening, preferably lateral, to allow the consumer to exert a deactivation force directly on the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) closed having the activatable portion in an activated state, so as to pass the activatable portion in the deactivated state to unlock the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) of the sleeve (20); 20A).

12. Object according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has a length sufficient to cover:

at least 50% of the bottle (11; 11A, 11B),

preferably at least 75% of the bottle (11, 11A, 11B),

- even more preferably the entire body of the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B),

- and even more preferably the entire body of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) whose activatable portion forms the bottom (1 1 1), as well as 80% at most, and preferably 20% to 50% at most, from the height of the activatable portion in the relaxed state.

13. Object according to one of claims 9 to 12, comprising a strap (30) connected to the sleeve (20; 20A), and wherein:

the strap (30) has:

a first end attached to a first end of the sleeve (20; 20A) on the side of the opening for introducing the bottle (11; 1 1 A; 1 1 B); a portion slidably mounted through a passer-by arranged on the first end of the sleeve (20; 20A) and on an opposite lateral side of the first end of the strap (30) attached to the sleeve (20; 20A),

a second end attached to a second end of the sleeve

(20; 20 A),

so that the strap (30):

• relaxed between its first end and the passer, releases the opening and allows insertion of the bottle (1 1, 1 1 A, 1 1 B) in the opening,

• stretched between its first end and the passer, blocks the opening and prevents withdrawal of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 11 B) of the sleeve (20; 20A).

14. Object according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has a thickness:

at least greater than twice the thickness of the body of the bottle (1 1, 11 A, 1 1 B), or

- at least greater than 200 μm.

15. Object according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has an inner wall arranged to contact the body of the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 1 1 B), wherein less than 30% at the surface of the inner wall is air tight and / or has an arithmetic roughness (Ra) less than or equal to 1.6 μm.

16. Object according to one of claims 9 to 15, comprising the product according to claim 6, wherein the activatable portion, passing into the activated state under a force exerted by the consumer, causes, by decreasing a depth ribs, increasing the diameter of the portion of the body including the ribs, so as to cause direct contact between the body of the bottle (11; 1 1 A; 1 1 B) and an inner wall of the sleeve (20; 20A ).

An article according to one of claims 9 to 15, comprising the product of claim 7, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has at least one internal groove or opening arranged to face the rib of the bottle (11, 11A, 11B) received in the opening, so as to allow a radial outward movement of the rib of the bottle (1 1, 1 1 A, 1 1 B) during activation of the activatable portion.

18. A method of delivering to a consumer a product according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps of:

- manufacturing the bottle (1 1; 1 1 A; 11 B) of the product of one of claims 1 to 8, for example by injection blow molding,

filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle (1 1, 11 A, 1 1 B) with a liquid (12) food, preferably at a temperature below

50 ° C,

- close the bottle (11; 1 1 A; 1 1 B),

- transporting the bottle (1 1; 11 A; 1 1 B) closed with the activatable portion in the relaxed state to a point of provision for a consumer, for example the home, a workplace, a restaurant , a mechanized store or distributor.