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
  • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
  • B65D23/08—Coverings or external coatings
  • B65D23/0885—Rigid shells for receiving the bottle or part of it
• • 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
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
  • B65D81/022—Containers made of shock-absorbing material

Definitions

• the present application relates to an impact protection device that can be used for bottles of the bottle type, more particularly glass bottles.
• a preferred application relates to pharmaceutical products, and preferably those for veterinary use, these products being advantageously in liquid form.
• Products for veterinary use for example those used in farms, are often contained in containers (flasks, vials, bottles, etc.) made of glass. Given the conditions under which they are used, it is not uncommon for vials to escape the operator's hold (the veterinarian or breeder) and inadvertently dropped onto the floor during handling of the product or trips. It happens then that the bottles break. In view of the cost of certain products, this loss has practical consequences (delay in the administration of the drug to the animal) and economic (necessary replacement of the product to treat the animal).
• the existing protections for commercially available pharmaceuticals are plastic boxes that surround the vial containing the drug product. They are expensive and have the disadvantage that it is not possible to visually control the level of product in the bottle, the latter being largely masked by the plastic box. The user must then remove the bottle from its protection which loses its interest.
• a shock protection device comprising an upper shell and a lower shell each having a stiffener in the form of a circular volume which projects from the inner face of the cup to protect the bottle in case of shock.
• thermosetting material which is retracted around the container, an intimate cooperation between the cover elements and the container is produced.
• visual access to the content is possible in the container area located at an intermediate level between the two cover elements.
• the shock absorption capacity conferred by this technical solution is very unconvincing so that, under practical conditions in which a drop of the container occurs at the level of human manipulation, the probabilities of breakage of the glass container are very low. high.
• the use of thermosetting material is not suitable for bottles containing heat-sensitive medicaments.
• An objective of the present technique is to improve the existing protection techniques.
• Another objective of the technique is to propose an ergonomic alternative that is easy to grasp and which is well in the hands of the operator.
• a first nonlimiting aspect relates to a shock protection device adapted to equip a bottle, preferably made of glass, having a cylindrical body of revolution terminated at a first end by a bottom and at a second end opposite the first end. , by a distal portion comprising successively from the body, in a longitudinal direction of the bottle, a shoulder, a neck and a neck, said device comprising a first cup configured to cooperate with the bottom of the bottle and a second cup configured to cooperate with the shoulder of the bottle, each of the first and second cups having a shock-absorbing portion projecting along a transverse plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, beyond a larger diameter zone of the bottle.
• the projecting portion of the damping portion of at least one of the first and the second cup comprises a plurality of damping pads spaced from each other.
• the pads give the cup which includes a discontinuous circumference around the bottle.
• the pads form elements having a certain degree of freedom of movement relative to each other when they are stressed during an impact. This freedom provides better energy absorption during shocks. Indeed, the deformation of the pads, preferably elastic, is larger than in the case of a damper traveling continuously around the circumference of the bottle so that more energy can be absorbed.
• the projecting portion of the damping portion of at least one of the first and second cups is made of an elastomer, preferably an elastomeric silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU).
• elastomer preferably an elastomeric silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU).
• an anti-shock container comprising: a bottle, preferably made of glass, having a cylindrical body of revolution terminated at a first end by a bottom and, at a second end opposite the first end, by a distal portion comprising successively from the body, in a longitudinal direction of the bottle, a shoulder, a neck and a neck, and a device as described above.
• Another nonlimiting aspect relates to a method of assembling a protective device and a bottle, preferably comprising placing the first cup and the second cup around the bottle, by expanding by elastic deformation of the bottle. material of the cups or by insertion in force.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment applied to a bottle
• FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the device according to the first embodiment
• FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of the device according to a second embodiment
• At least one of the first 2 and second cups 3 comprises a base 20, 30 having a recessed inner portion of circular section along the transverse plane 19, the inner portion being able to cooperate by contact with the circumferential surface of the bottle 1, the plurality of pads 4 dampers being carried by an outer portion of the base 20, 30; at least a portion of the plurality of studs 4 is regularly distributed on the base 20 along the transverse plane 19;
• At least a part of the plurality of studs 4 is arranged in a ring along the transverse plane 19;
• the pads 4 of the plurality of pads 4 each comprise a top 41, the cumulative area of the vertices 41 being less than 75% of that of the outer portion of the base 20, 30, and preferably less than 65%. ;
• At least one of the plurality of pads 4 is solid and is made of a material which has a Shore A hardness of between 20 and 95, advantageously between 20 and 85, and preferably between 50 and 85;
• At least one of the plurality of studs 4 has an internal cavity.
• the internal cavity is open at the inner portion of the base 20, 30;
• the at least one of the plurality of studs 4 having an internal cavity is of a material having a Shore A hardness greater than 80, preferably greater than 90, and preferably greater than 95; these ranges can possibly be understood as including a margin of tolerance of plus or minus 10%;
• the plurality of studs 4 comprises at least one stud 4 of shape chosen from: a polyhedron such as a truncated pyramid, a pin of circular or square section, a mushroom, a half-sphere, a half-ellipsoid, a cone or a truncated cone;
• At least one of the first 2 and the second cup 3 is of a non-thermosetting material
• the plurality of studs 4 is made of elastomer
• the protection device consists solely of the first 2 and second cups 3;
• the first cup 2 comprises a covering portion of the bottom 20 of the bottle 1, said portion comprising a suction cup;
• the first 2 and the second cup 3 comprises a preferential rupture zone, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the bottle;
• the first cup 3 comprises a zone of weakness or preferential rupture zone in the longitudinal direction of the bottle, facilitating the separation of the first cup 3 and the bottle;
• the second cup 2 comprises a zone of weakness or preferential rupture zone in the longitudinal direction of the bottle and / or in the covering portion of the bottom 20 of the bottle 1, facilitating the separation of the first cup 2 and the bottle;
• the first cup 2 and the second cup 3 consist of a material compatible with the recycling operations of the material constituting the bottle 1;
• the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3 has a means of visually controlling the level of product in the bottle, advantageously in the form of a recess or a plurality of recesses in the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bottle;
• the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3 consists entirely or partially of a transparent or translucent material, in particular to enable the level of product in the bottle to be visually checked, the first cup 2 and the second cup 3 consist of a biodegradable or recyclable material;
• the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3 may have a means of hanging the bottle to a support.
• the device is intended to be used for bottles, and particularly bottles that are known to be easily breakable given the intrinsic fragility of the material that composes them, glass or hard plastics. It can also be used with containers whose contents are friable or erodible, such as pharmaceutical tablets. It has been found by the applicant that it is advantageously possible to reduce the physical degradation of the tablets contained in a pillbox by minimizing the intensity of the shocks due to the fall of the container.
• the term “bottle” means any container capable of receiving a product to be stored.
• the terms “flask”, “flask”, or others are considered as contained in the expression “bottle”.
• the product to be stored may be in solid form, such as tablets, especially pharmaceutical tablets, or in liquid form. Preferably it is a product in liquid form.
• the bottle has a bottom which constitutes the lower part and generally configured so as to allow the holding in vertical position of the bottle when it is placed on a flat support.
• the bottom is at a first end, lower end, of a body or barrel.
• the latter is a hollow cylindrical portion of circular section whose director extends in a longitudinal direction of the bottle.
• the body is continued by a distal portion provided with a shoulder which constitutes a transition zone between the diameter of the body and the diameter of the upper part of the bottle, its collar.
• the shoulder is thus itself of circular section, but degressive towards the distal end of the bottle.
• the neck carries, meanwhile the mouth of the bottle, at the level of its neck.
• the neck may have a fixed circular section.
• FIG. 1 gives a purely illustrative example of such a bottle 1.
• a longitudinal direction 18 is defined therein. Following this direction 18, the bottle 1 extends from the bottom 10 and comprises a body 11 which here constitutes the major part of the height of the bottle 1.
• the bottom 10 and the body 1 1 are connected by a bottom fillet 10, convex shape.
• the body 11 joins a transition portion, also called shoulder 12, at a first connecting portion 13 of convex shape.
• the diameter of the bottle begins to decrease.
• the shoulder 12 ends with a second concave-type connection portion 14 continuing through the neck 15 of the bottle 1.
• the neck 16 having the mouthpiece 17 allowing the insertion and evacuation of the product contained in the bottle 1.
• a closure device typically a cap
• the neck 16 may be threaded to cooperate with such plug.
• the mouth can be equipped with a septum or a transfer cap, for example an Adapta cap-type transfer cap (marketed by Baxter), a transfer plug such as that described in the international application WO 2016/166197, in particular a transfer plug such as that described in the international application WO2018109215.
• the plug is distinct from the protection device; it is preferably not covered by the cups 2, 3.
• the second cup 3 covers an area of the container which is strictly below the neck so as not to interfere with the plug.
• a trivial solution consists in covering the entire external surface of the bottle with a reinforcing element, for example a coating in the form of a film or envelope made of polymer material shrink.
• the protective device does not include such coatings and, on the contrary, proposes a protection device consisting solely of separate and spaced elements, spaced along the longitudinal direction of the bottle.
• the device comprises only two elements, subsequently called first cup and second cup.
• Each of the cups has a contact surface with the outer wall of a bottle 1, so as to be positionable, preferably fixedly, on such a bottle 1.
• "Fixed" means that when the cup is in the correct position on the bottle 1, it is attached to this bottle under normal conditions of use, outside a specific effort of the user to seek to remove it.
• this contact surface is defined by a cup base. This base has an inner portion whose surface is designed so complementary to the surface of the bottle wall portion on which it is intended to be applied.
• a first cup 2 is intended to cooperate with the bottom 10 of the bottle 1. Although this is not absolutely necessary, it is advantageous for this cup 2 to include a portion 22 for covering the bottom 10 of the bottle. the bottle 1 and a portion 21 of partial coverage of the body 1 1. In this configuration, the first cup 2 defines a blind cavity and can be fitted by the bottom 10 of the bottle.
• the attachment of the cup 2 is essentially by its portion 21 covering the body.
• This portion 21 is therefore advantageously cylindrical with a circular section, of a diameter configured to allow the fitting of the first cup 2 around the body 1 1 of the bottle 1.
• the length of the fitting, along the longitudinal direction 18 of the bottle 1 may vary depending on the height of the body 1 1, the resistance to the desired separation or the height of the uncoated area desired for the bottle 1.
• the material of the first cup 2 is rigid, for example in the form of a thermoplastic polymer, and its diameter has a tight fit relative to the diameter of the body 1 1 of the bottle 1.
• the material of the first cup 2 is an elastomer, such as natural rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or an elastomeric silicone.
• elastomer means any polymer which, when it is deformed at ambient temperature, quickly returns to its original size and shape when the stress causing the deformation has been removed.
• Elastomers having the characteristics suitable for the device according to the present application are commercially available. Generic examples are natural rubber; thermoplastic elastomers such as thermoplastic elastomer olefins (TPE-O), thermoplastic styrene elastomers (TPE-S), vulcanized thermoplastic elastomeric polypropylenes (TPE-V), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-E), thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethanes ( TPE-U or TPU), and thermoplastic elastomeric polyamides (TPE-A or TPA); and elastomeric silicones.
• TPE-O thermoplastic elastomer olefins
• TPE-S thermoplastic styrene elastomers
• TPE-V thermoplastic copolyester elastomers
• TPE-U or TPU thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethanes
• TPE-A or TPA thermoplastic
• thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethanes TPE-U or TPU
• elastomeric silicones TPU-U or TPU
• Another option is to use an assembly element between the cup 2 and the bottle 1; it may be glue or any other form of joint.
• the materials constituting the cups are preferably recyclable or biodegradable.
• the cups can be separated from the bottle to be sent to a specific reprocessing circuit or reused in the manufacture of new products.
• biodegradable applies to materials that may decompose in a favorable environment (temperature, humidity, light, oxygen, etc.) and / or under the action of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae) without harmful effect on the environment, for example by emitting water, carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) and / or methane (CH 4 ). Biodegradable materials can for example be compostable.
• recyclable refers to materials that, after their use in the cups, can be collected and reused to make an identical or different product. For example, 50% of the elastomeric silicones are currently reused in elastic road surfacing or athletic flooring.
• the base 21 of the cup 2 is made of a first material, in particular those described above, and at least one other part of the cup 2 is made of a second material, different from the first.
• the second material has a hardness lower than that of the first. Its modulus of elasticity, Young's modulus, may be smaller. Thus, one can have more flexible or softer cup parts. This may be useful for adjusting shock absorption, particularly when the second material is used for a cushioning portion described later.
• This portion may be for example elastomer, while the base of the cup may be a non-elastomeric polymer, for example thermosetting.
• the material used may be compatible with the recycling treatment of the bottle; it may be a calcination during the melting of the glass for example. Any treatment capable of making disappear (for example by transforming it into material equivalent to that of recycling the container) the material of the device during the recycling of the material of the bottle is considered compatible.
• At least one of the cups may contain a preferential rupture zone for removing it from the bottle 1.
• This zone may be an area of weakness; it may be a zone of concentration of mechanical stresses due to a reduction of section of the cup at this point, to a recourse to a less resistant material at this point, to a beginning of rupture (by a notch or pre-cuts) at this point, for example a portion of the cup may be finer or be a pre-cut area, such as those that can be found on cans, facilitating the rupture of the cups.
• the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3 may comprise an element for fixing the bottle to a support, in order to avoid having to hold it in hand.
• This fixing means also reduces the risk of falling of the bottle, the latter being retained by said fixing element to a support.
• the fixing element of the bottle may be provided on the cup 2, on the cup 3 or on both cups, depending on the use that is made of the bottle.
• This element may be for example a pre-cut zone formed in the portion 22 of the bottom cover 10 of the bottle 1 can be separated from the bottom cover 10 and provided with an orifice in which can pass a fixing hook. It may also be a hook or carabiner, for example molded in the material constituting the cup or metal, advantageously reported in the molded body of the cup.
• the fastener may be centered on the portion 22 so as to balance the container when suspended. In the case where a suction effect is produced by the portion 22 on the bottom, it can be used to increase the retention of the cup 2 on the bottle, even when traction is made on the means to fix.
• Such a fixing means is for example advantageous when the product contained in the bottle must be administered by infusion.
• the fixing means is located on the cup 2, preferably in the bottom cover 10 which allows the bottle to be suspended from an infusion stand.
• the attachment means may also be used to attach the bottle to a cord around the user's neck or waistband.
• the attachment means then allows the user to transport the product while keeping his hands free for his operations.
• the attachment means is particularly advantageous for veterinarians or for breeders who must administer a product by injection to a large number of animals in a repetitive manner, for example in a barn because it allows them to use both hands once the quantity taken from the bottle.
• the device further comprises a second cup 3 spaced from the first cup 2 in the longitudinal direction 18.
• a second cup 3 spaced from the first cup 2 in the longitudinal direction 18.
• the second cup 3 can be positioned at the shoulder 12 of the bottle 1.
• the second cup 3 comprises a base 30 cooperating with the wall of the bottle 1 in particular at the shoulder 12.
• the second cup 3 advantageously has an equivalent profile, that is to say say with a gradual decrease of its internal diameter.
• a shoulder 12 of convex connection profile from the body 1 1 and concave to the neck 15, the second cup 3 may for example follow the same shape as the convex portion of the shoulder 12
• at least one of the cups covers the portion or portions of the container that have the largest transverse dimension (i.e., generally the largest diameter for a circular section container); this can be particularly the case at shoulder level 12.
• a portion of the second cup 3 advantageously also applies to an upper end portion of the body 1 1.
• the second cup 3 has a cylindrical internal portion 31 applicable to the 1 1 body and possibly an additional portion, here applicable at the shoulder 12 and possibly at the neck 15.
• the second cup 3 therefore frames the shoulder, which is advantageous because it is a zone of widening of section that is useful to cover because it is a privileged zone of shocks; moreover, it may be a zone of concentration of mechanical stresses because of the variation of section.
• the bases 20, 30 of the cups 2 and 3 continuously cover the portions of the surface of the bottle to which they apply.
• the cumulative height of the cylindrical portions 21, 31 of the first and second cups 2 and 3 in contact with the body 11 of the bottle 1 represents less than half, and preferably less than one third, of the height of the body 1 1. This provides good visual access to the contents of the bottle 1 if the body 11 is transparent or at least translucent.
• the visual access to the contents of the bottle is facilitated by the presence, in the first cup 2 and / or the second cup 3 of a visual control member, the level of product in the bottle.
• Such a control of the level of the product is particularly advantageous because it makes it possible to evaluate the number of doses remaining when the product is for example administered with a syringe or, in the case of an infusion, to know when the bottle must be changed.
• the control member of the product level in the bottle can be formed in the first cup 2 when the bottle is intended to be used upside down or in the second cup 3 when the bottle is intended to be used upside down or in both cups.
• This way of visually controlling the level of product in the bottle can take different forms. It may be a recess or a plurality of recesses arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bottle. By “recess” means an area of the cup having no material for visual access to the contents of the bottle.
• the visual control member of the product level in the bottle may result from the use of a transparent or sufficiently translucent material to have visual access to the contents of the bottle to make the cup.
• the transparent material may constitute the entirety of the cup or only a portion, preferably in the form of a line formed in the longitudinal direction of the bottle.
• the means of visually inspecting the product may also be accompanied by a graduation such as an indication of the remaining volume or number of remaining doses.
• the first and second cups 2 and 3 each comprise a zone of weakness or preferential rupture zone in the longitudinal direction 18 of the bottle.
• This preferential breaking zone allows the operator, if the constituent materials of the bottle and the cups must not be eliminated in the same waste treatment circuit, for example if the constituent materials of the cups are biodegradable or recyclable, to allow and / or to facilitate the separation of the cups 2 and 3 and the bottle 1 and eliminate, as a waste bottle 1 and the cups 2 and 3 each in their respective circuits of waste reprocessing.
• the first cup 2 and the second cup 3 consist of a material compatible with the recycling operations of the material constituting the bottle 1.
• a transverse plane 19 (which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body of the bottle) is defined by a radial orientation in which the section of the body 11 is circular. The orientation of this plane 19 is shown in particular in FIG.
• the device in order to effectively protect the bottle 1, the device must generally come into contact with a surface on which the bottle 1 is likely to break before the outer wall of the bottle.
• the cups 2 and 3 comprise a damping portion of which at least a portion extends radially beyond the body so as to form an outgrowth on the bottle along the transverse plane.
• the size of this extension is not limiting but, preferably, the thickness of a damping portion may be a projection of at least 5% of the diameter of the body.
• the damping portion comprises a plurality of pads 4.
• the damping portion is not a continuous bead surrounding the bottle 1.
• These pads 4 form damping elements made next to each other on at least one of the cups 2, 3 projecting radially from the portion of the cup in contact with the bottle 1.
• Said pads-shaped damping elements can have any geometry: conical, triangular, pyramidal, cylindrical, polyhedral, ellipsoid.
• they are of polyhedral shape, preferably parallelepipedal or cubic. They may have axial symmetry in their direction of extension to the outside of the cup.
• all the damping elements of a cup have the same shape, which is preferably parallelepipedal or cubic or truncated pyramid.
• the studs 4 are evenly spaced so as to periodically surround the entire circumference of the bottle 1.
• the spacing between two studs any adjacent is constant.
• the pads 4 may be regularly spaced in the longitudinal direction 18 in several stages. There are preferably several rows of studs (in the transverse plane 19) and these studs 4 can form columns in the longitudinal direction 18. A staggered distribution is also possible, the pads 4 of two superimposed rows then being offset laterally.
• the number of pads 4 appropriate depends in particular on the shape and height of the pads and their relative position and their distribution on the surface of the cup. It also depends on the weight and dimensions of the bottle, especially its height.
• the pads 4 are distributed over one or more rows, more particularly from 1 to 10 rows, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.
• the appropriate number of rows of pads , the size of the pads and the arrangement of the pads can be determined for each bottle by tests such as those described in the examples.
• the first cup 2 comprises studs 4 organized in two rows.
• the studs 4 of the rows are strictly superimposed, so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction 18.
• the second cup 3 has three rows of pads 4.
• these rows do not have the same spacing between the pads 4 if although the latter are not aligned in the longitudinal direction 18.
• the density of pads 4 is greater in the intermediate row which is intended to be applied at the level of the convex portion of the shoulder 12.
• FIG. 3 shows an alternative constitution of the cups 2 and 3.
• the base 20 and 30 of the cups 2 and 3 are of the same shape as in the case of FIG. 2. This part constitutes in both cases the envelope whose internal portion is applied to the outer wall of the bottle.
• the pads 4 are of different shapes.
• the studs 4 comprise a proximal end 40 at their connection with the base of the cup considered, a trunk 42 projecting from the proximal end 40 towards a top 41.
• the The top of the studs is pointed, or is flat (or rectilinear in at least one direction of space) or convex. It does not form a summit crater.
• the studs 4 are ellipsoidal shapes, in particular half-ellipsoids, for example solid. Their proximal end 40 thus forms an ellipse at the junction with the base of the cup and the top 41 is the distal end of a convex profile.
• the major axis of the elliptical shape is directed in the transverse plane 19, but it could also be directed in the longitudinal direction 18 or in other orientations. Other curved shapes are also possible.
• the pads 4 are truncated pyramids: their proximal end 40 forms a rectangular closed contour or square at the junction with the base of the cup, the trunk 42 is formed of four sides organized as the phases of a pyramid, and the top 41 corresponds to a cutting plane of this geometric pyramid.
• This example can be generalized to other forms of trunk 42 formed on the basis of a polyhedron.
• FIG. 4 also shows that the studs 4 can be joined at the base, as is the case for the second cup 3 in this figure.
• the pads 4 of the first cup 2 have proximal ends 40 spaced apart so as to completely space the pads 4, not only at their trunks 42 and their vertices 41, but also at their foundations.
• the pads are arranged equidistantly to distribute the ground contact surface and thus distribute the mechanical effects of shocks on a plurality of pads.
• each row of pads has an annular carrier which preferably extends in the transverse plane.
• a row may include at least five studs and possibly at least ten studs.
• the projection that represents a pad is preferably at least 5 mm, preferably at least 7 mm; it can be less than 10 mm.
• the studs 4 or some of them may be empty, hollow or solid:
• the damper pad 4 has an internal cavity which forms a pocket surrounded by the material constituting the pad 4, for example elastomer, and containing air.
• This pocket is however not systematically airtight, insofar as the material may be porous or to the extent that at least one of the walls of the pocket may have vents. Nevertheless, in general, the pocket defines a closed volume, surrounded by a generally continuous wall. This defines a cell or a cell filled with air and the compression of the air participates in damping.
• FIG. 5 gives an example of configuration of pads 4 comprising a closed internal cavity 43 forming an air pocket, preferably sealed, the inner cavity 43 and the outer wall of the bottle being separated by the base 20 of the cup (it is is here not limited to the first cup 2).
• FIG. 6 shows this recessed solution, the internal cavity 43 of the studs 4 opening at the level of the external wall of the bottle 1.
• the damper pad 4 forms a solid element, filled with material.
• Figure 4 shows such a configuration in which the pads 4 are completely filled with material. The pads 4 are then in the physical continuity of the material of the base 20,30 of the cup considered, here the first cup 2. The proximal end 40 of the pads 4 is also shown as the junction point with the base 20 .
• an elastomer for example thermoplastic, having a lower Shore hardness than for an empty or hollow damper is preferably used.
• An elastomer having a Shore A hardness of from 20 to 95 may be suitable.
• the Shore A hardness ranges from 20 to 85, preferably from 50 to 85, even more preferably from 75 to 85, for example 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84. or 85.
• the impact energy is absorbed by the deformation of the material.
• an elastomeric silicone having a Shore A hardness advantageously from 50 to 85, preferably from 75 to 85, for example 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85, in particular having a hardness Shore A of about 80.
• a thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU) having a Shore A hardness advantageously from 50 to 85, preferably from 75 to 85, for example 75, 75 is preferably used.
• 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85 particularly having a Shore A hardness of about 85.
• an elastomer for example thermoplastic, having a Shore A hardness of at least 80, advantageously at least 85, more preferably at least 90, and preferably of at least 95.
• the Shore A hardness of the elastomer is determined according to standard ATSM-2240 (Standard Test Method for Rubber Property Durometer Hardness).
• pads 4 may be equipped with the portion 22 covering the bottom 10 of the bottle 1, even if this is not shown.
• studs 4 may be implanted at any useful location of one and / or the other of the cups 2 and 3.
• the portion 22 is equipped with a suction cup disposed on the wall external portion 22 to promote adhesion by vacuum effect on a surface.
• the bottle protection device can be usefully implemented and used to prevent the bottle from falling down by offering an improved grip of the bottle by the consumers / operators, to protect the bottle from breakage in case of a fall, as well as to protect the contents of the bottle from degradation following the shock resulting from a fall of the bottle.
• the device is particularly suitable for the protection of bottles and their contents in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field, but also to protect bottles in the fields of food or consumer goods (oils, vinegars, wines, dangerous products. ..).
• the cups may be formed by injection, preferably by injection with a single material, overmolding, bi-injection, 3D printing, thermoforming, thermocompression, or by injection molding.
• 3D printing can be advantageously used for the manufacture of cups comprising empty damping pads and / or having a reading window in the form of a recess or a plurality of recesses arranged by example in the longitudinal direction of the bottle. Furthermore 3D printing can also be used to make cups made of a transparent or translucent material (using materials of 3D printing technology having properties adapted to form a transparent surface).
• Thermocompression and injection molding are advantageously used for the manufacture of cups with solid or hollow pads.
• the material used is an elastomeric silicone
• the cups are preferably manufactured by thermocompression, for example in a vulcanizing press.
• the present technique relates to a shock protection device adapted to equip a bottle 1, having a cylindrical body 11 of revolution terminated, at a first end, by a bottom 10 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, by a distal portion comprising successively from the body 11, in a longitudinal direction of the bottle 1, a shoulder 12, a neck 15 and a neck 16, said device comprising a first cup 2 configured to cooperate firmly with the bottom 10 of the bottle 1 and a second cup 3 configured to cooperate firmly with the shoulder 12 of the bottle 1, each of the first and second cups 2, 3 having a shock-absorbing portion able to protrude, in a transverse plane 19 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 18, beyond a zone of larger diameter of the bottle 1, characterized in that the protruding portion of the damping portion of at least one of the first 2 and the second cup 3 is made of an elastomer, preferably an elastomeric silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U or T
• the aforementioned international application WO2014128179 A1 describes an impact protection device comprising an upper shell and a lower shell each comprising a stiffener in the form of a circular volume which projects from the inner face of the cup to protect the bottle in case of shock. Said stiffener can also be oriented longitudinally with respect to the bottle.
• the cups have shapes that define with the wall of the bottle annular volumes filled with air that participate in the absorption of shocks.
• the cups consist of an injectable resin.
• the polymer used for the manufacture of cups described in this application is low density polyethylene. The hardness of such materials is generally measured on the Shore D scale and is of the order of 60.
• a device according to this variant allows, geometrically equal configuration but consisting of an elastomer, to significantly improve the resistance of a bottle during a fall.
• the device also makes it possible to dispense with a heat-shrinkable sleeve, thus resulting in a saving in material and to avoid subjecting the product contained in the bottle to heat.
• the damping portion may advantageously be a plurality of pads as described above or a full annular volume, empty or hollow.
• the annular volume is empty.
• the annular volume preferably extends over the entire circumference of the bottle and advantageously forms a protuberance of constant thickness, in the form of a torus for example or another form of bead.
• an elastomer having a Shore A hardness of at least 80, advantageously at least 85, more advantageously at least 90 it is possible to use an elastomer having a Shore A hardness of at least 80, advantageously at least 85, more advantageously at least 90, and
• an elastomer having a Shore A hardness ranging from 20 to 95 is advantageously used.
• the Shore A hardness is from 20 to 85, advantageously from 50 to 80. at 85, preferably 75 to 85, for example 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85.
• an elastomer silicone having a Shore hardness is used.
• thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane TPE-U or TPU
• TPU thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane
• the impact energy is absorbed by the deformation of the material.
• a protocol used to test the effectiveness of different protection devices is described below:
• a 250 ml bottle filled with water is equipped with a device consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU) (Shore hardness 85A).
• TPE-U or TPU thermoplastic elastomer polyurethane
• the lower cup covers about 30% of the lower part of the bottle (bottom included) and the upper cup also covers about 30% of the outer surface of the bottle.
• the overall thickness of the projecting portion and the base is 7 mm and the bottle has a diameter of 66 mm.
• the impact resistance is very much improved with a device consisting of an elastomeric material (Shore A hardness 85) instead of a low density polyethylene.
• a device consisting of an elastomeric material (Shore A hardness 85) instead of a low density polyethylene.
• the equivalent material the presence of pads forming a discontinuous damping surface significantly improves the impact resistance with respect to a continuous damping surface. It has been found that the gripping of a bottle equipped with the device is particularly good (better than that of a bottle without a device and better than that of an equipped bottle and two cups each having an empty annular bead).
• the studs distributed on the cups participate actively in the improved ergonomics and the visibility of the water level in the bottle is excellent.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-04-20 FR FR1853479A patent/FR3080368B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-04-12 BR BR112020021261-0A patent/BR112020021261A2/pt active Search and Examination
  • 2019-04-12 US US17/048,949 patent/US11325748B2/en active Active
  • 2019-04-12 EP EP19716438.7A patent/EP3781490A1/fr active Pending
  • 2019-04-12 CA CA3098407A patent/CA3098407A1/fr active Pending
  • 2019-04-12 WO PCT/EP2019/059555 patent/WO2019201812A1/fr active Application Filing
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• 2022
  • 2022-03-17 US US17/697,412 patent/US11628973B2/en active Active

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