FR2840590A1 - Foldable plastic bottle has foldable sidewalls and connectors on floor and upper section to hold them together when folded - Google Patents

Abstract

The foldable plastic bottle has a base (4) and sidewalls (6) and an upper section (8). The sidewalls are movable between a use position and a folded position in which the base and upper section are in contact. The latter have connectors (4',16) to allow fixing of them together in the folded position. The connectors can clip together elastically.

Description

(l) constitutes one of the flaps of a storage bin for the compact disc.

  The present invention relates to a collapsible container in

plastic material.

  Such a container is for example made of polyethylene,

  especially high density, or even polypropylene.

  It includes a bottom, from which extend walls

  lateral, terminated by an upper part.

  This behind is provided with a neck allowing access to the interior volume of the container. In addition, it is most often provided with a handle, ensuring handling

from the can.

  The invention aims to improve the subsequent treatment of the container, following its use. Wile proposes in particular to produce such a container, which presents a reduced bulk after this use, in particular

for recycling.

  For this purpose, it relates to a plastic container, comprising a bottom, side walls, as well as an upper part, characterized in that the side walls are movable between a position of use and a folded position of the container, in which these lateral walls allow mutual reconciliation of the bottom and the upper part, while means are provided ensuring the mutual fixing of the bottom and the part

  upper, in said folded position.

  According to other characteristics of the invention - the fixing means for fixing means by elastic snap-fastening; - The elastic snap fastening means comprise a hook formed on a handle of the container, capable of cooperating with an Iateral edge of the bottom; - the wind fixing means of the fixing means by gluing; - The fixing means by bonding comprise an adhesive strip, which wind provided the side walls, this adhesive strip being covered with a removable protective film; - The side walls are separated, on the one hand, from the bottom and, on the other hand, from the upper part, by respective lines of brittleness; - In the position of use, the side walls define an interior volume of use while, in the folded position, these side walls define an interior volume of fallback, which is very much smaller than the interior volume of use; - in the folded position, the side walls

  have a substantially flattened configuration.

  The invention will be clearly understood on reading the

  description which follows, given for information only

  non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figures 1A and 1B show respectively front and side views, illustrating a container according to the invention, in a position of use; - Figures 2A and 2B are views similar to Figures 1A and 1B, illustrating the container in a folded position; - Figures 3 and 4 are side views, illustrating a phase of withdrawal of the container, then a phase of mutual securing of its bottom with its upper part; - Figure 5 is a front view, similar to Figure 1A, illustrating a container according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in its position of use and - Figures 6 and 7 are side views, similar Figures 3 and 4, illustrating a phase of folding the container of Figure 5, then a joining phase

  mutual of its bottom with its upper part.

  The can represented on the set of figures, which is designated as a whole by the reference 2, comprises a bottom 4, side walls 6, as well as a part

upper 8.

  This is provided with a neck 10, allowing access

  to the interior volume V of the container, as well as a handle 12.

  It should be noted that this rear is provided with a lateral projection 14, the lower wall of which forms a hook 16, capable of cooperating by elastic snap-fastening with the bottom 4,

  as will be described in the following.

  The side walls 6 are separated, on the one hand, from the bottom 4 and, on the other hand, from the upper part 8, by peripheral weakening lines respectively upper 18 and lower 20. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, once the container has been used, it is possible to flatten the side walls 6, bringing them closer to one another, according to the arrows F. The middle region of the container, formed by the side walls 6, then presents an ovoid profile, front view,

and a flattened profile, seen from c8te.

  In the arrangement of FIGS. 2A and 2B, it should be noted that the interior volume of the container, now designated by the reference V ′, is very much smaller than that V of the position of use, illustrated in FIG. 1. Furthermore, in this folded-back position of the container on itself, represented in this FIG. 2, the respective configurations of the bottom 4 and of the upper part 8 are substantially unchanged from the position

aforementioned use.

  It is entirely, as shown in Figure 3, to fold the container back on itself, according to the arrows F ', around

  of its now flattened middle part.

  At the end of this movement, as shown in Figure 4, it is to snap a side edge 4 'of the bottom 4 in the hook 16, household on the handle 12, according to the arrow F' '. The bottom 4 and the upper part 8 are therefore

mutually united.

  In the position of Figure 4, the container has a minimum footprint. It can then be housed in a reduced space, for later processing, by

example its recycling.

  Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a variant of

realization of the invention.

  In these figures, the mechanical elements similar to those of FIGS. 1 to 4 are assigned the same numbers of

reference increased by 100.

  The handle 112 of the can 102, shown in these Figures 5 to 7, is devoid of a projection similar to that 14 of the previous figures. On the other hand, the side walls 106 of this wind canister covered with a label

, of which a strip 116 is adhesive.

  - This strip 116 is also coated with a film

peelable protector 117.

  If one wishes to fold the container, it is a matter of flattening its side walls 106, in a manner analogous to what has been explained with reference to FIG. 2. Then, the container is folded back on itself, so analogous to what has been

explicit in Figure 3.

  Once these operations have been carried out, the removable film 117 is detached, then the adhesive strip 116 is directed towards the handle 112, according to the arrows F '' ', as shown in the

figure 6.

  Finally, he begins to wrap this strip 116 on itself, around the handle 112. As shown in Figure 7, the mower 104 and the upper part 108 of the wind can

  mutually united, thanks to this adhesive strip 116.

  The invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives

previously mentioned.

  Indeed, providing movable side walls between a position of use and a position for folding the container is advantageous. It is thus possible to give the container a particularly reduced size, after its use. In this way, the subsequent treatment of the container is facilitated, in particular in terms of recycling. The folded position of the container is also advantageous in economic terms, since a large number of

  IO canisters can be arranged in a reduced volume.

  In addition, the presence of the fixing means, making it possible to secure the bottom and the upper part mutually, in the folded position of the container, is also advantageous. In fact, these fixing means guarantee satisfactory stability of the container in its

most folded position.

Claims (8)

REVENDI CATI ONS   1. Plastic container (2; 102), comprising a bottom (4; 104), side walls (6; 106), as well as an upper part (8; 108), characterized in that the side walls are movable between a position of use (FIG. 1; FIG. 5) and a fold-back position of the container (FIGS. 2 to 4; FIGS. 6 and 7), in which these lateral walls allow mutual reconciliation of the bottom (4; 104) and of the upper part (8; 108), while there are provided means (4 ′, 16; 116) ensuring the mutual fixing of the bottom and the part   upper, in said folded position.   2. Plastic container according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for fixing the   fixing means by elastic snap (4 ', 16).   3. plastic container according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic snap fastening means comprise a hook (16) formed on a handle (12) of the container, capable of cooperating with an edge lateral (4 ') from the bottom (4).   4. plastic soda according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for fixing the   fixing means by gluing (116).   5. plastic container according to claim 4, characterized in that the means of fixing by gluing comprise an adhesive strip (116), which wind provided the side walls (106), this adhesive strip (116) being   covered with a removable protective film (117).   6. Plastic container according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   side walls (6; 106) separate wind, on the one hand, from the bottom (4; 104) and, on the other hand, from the upper part (8; 108), by weakening lines (18, 20; 118 , ) respective.   7. Plastic container according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in   the position of use, the side walls define an interior volume of use (V) whereas, in the folded-back position, these side walls define an interior volume of fold (V '), which is very clearly   lower than the internal volume of use (V).   8. plastic container according to claim 7, characterized in that, in the folded position, the side walls (8; 108) have a configuration