FR3065444A1 - COMBINATION OF A DRINK BOTTLE AND DISPOSABLE TUB - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle 1 for a beverage containing less than or equal to 50cl is combined with a disposable plastic cup 2 intended for the subsequent consumption of the contents of this bottle, this cup being engaged by friction on the lower part of the bottle including its base. , comprising a bottom skirting said base and an upwardly cylindrical or flared wall which runs along the wall of this lower part, on a height representing between 25% and 60% of the height of this bottle, to a free edge 3 along this wall with a simple clearance. This free edge is advantageously covered by a frangible guarantee strip 4.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,065,444 (to be used only for reproduction orders) (© National registration number: 17 53453

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 65 D 1/02 (2017.01), B 65 D 23/12, A 47 G 19/22

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

(§) Date of filing: 20.04.17. (30) Priority: © Applicant (s): MAGNIEZ FRANCIS, CHRISTIAN, REGIS— FR. (© Date of public availability of the request: 26.10.18 Bulletin 18/43. @ Inventor (s): MAGNIEZ FRANCIS, CHRISTIAN, REGIS. (© List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this brochure (© References to other related national documents: @ Holder (s): MAGNIEZ FRANCIS, CHRISTIAN, REGIS. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): SANTARELLI.

Pty COMBINATION OF A BOTTLE OF BEVERAGE AND A DISPOSABLE CUP.

FR 3 065 444 - A1

A bottle 1 for a drink with a capacity of 50cl or less is combined with a disposable plastic cup 2 intended for the subsequent consumption of the contents of this bottle, this cup being engaged by friction on the lower part of the bottle including its base , comprising a bottom running along said base and a cylindrical or flared upward wall which runs along the outside of the wall of this lower part, over a height representing between 25% and 60% of the height of this bottle, up to a free edge 3 along this wall with a simple clearance. This free edge is advantageously covered by a frangible guarantee strip 4.

The invention relates to the combination of a bottle and a disposable cup allowing a user to consume in a context of ergonomics, comfort or pleasure, the content of this bottle as soon as this bottle is opened. It mainly targets the case of bottles whose capacity is less than or equal to 50cl.

It is well known that, even if you know how to drink from the neck, it is more pleasant to have a cup to enjoy the contents of a bottle.

Thus, in the case of carbonated drinks, the first reaction that the first sip swallowed at the neck gives is a rapid rise in gas (belching) combined with a feeling of strong tingling in the throat. Some consumers are specifically looking for such sensations, but for others it may be nice to be able to let the soft drink release some of the bubbles, depending on their own preferences.

In addition, in the case of beers, many amateurs appreciate to consume them in the presence of a foam surmounting the liquid, which does not appear in the case of a consumption at the neck.

It should be noted that, in the case of children or the elderly, drinking from a bottleneck may involve gestures that are not yet, or more, under control and the provision of a cup may be necessary to allow these consumers to benefit from the diversity of drinks available. It should be remembered here that the elderly no longer feel thirsty and that, in order to promote a reflex to hydrate themselves, it is desirable to make the act of drinking as pleasant, even attractive, as possible.

In other contexts, it can be reassuring, in youth clubs for example, to have the guarantee that nothing has yet been poured into a glass in which a consumer is about to pour a drink. Similarly, during events such as cocktails, or seminars, it can be reassuring to have the guarantee that the glass we are using has not already been used by a previous consumer, would not be - for drinking water, transparent drink and leaving no visible deposit.

However, when a consumer chooses a drink from an automatic bottled beverage distribution system, or from a fast food area, he generally does not have a cup available or, if he does, it is not available to him. easy to take the bottle he has just chosen with the goblet, especially if he also handles food to be consumed with his drink.

We already know the principle of thermos bottles, but it is the combination of a bottle belonging in principle to the consumer, for renewed use, in which has been poured the drink he wishes to taste, and a fixed cup , turned over, on the upper part of the bottle. Such a configuration is not suitable for drinks consumed in public spaces, in cocktails or seminars, or in fast food areas where you do not want to bring equipment with you and you want to leave without taking a container.

In addition, various formats of bottles are marketed with a two-position stopper, one of which corresponds to a tight closure of the bottle and the other to the release of a liquid flow channel; the act of drinking with such a bottle is similar to drinking with a straw and has in practice the same aforementioned drawbacks of drinking from the neck.

Furthermore, the provision of goblets in addition to bottles has the consequence that the bottles, on the one hand, and the goblets, on the other hand, consume additional dimensions and in practice require special care to guarantee that it there are a sufficient number of cups to allow the consumption of the stock of bottles in question.

In practice, it is usual, when a consumer has obtained a bottle and found a cup to consume the contents, to have this cup turned over on the neck of this bottle; but the presence of such a cup can hinder the handling of the bottle (it is no longer possible to hold the bottle by its neck); in any event, the presence of such a cup upside down on the bottle in practice destroys the aesthetics of the bottle in question.

The subject of the invention is the distribution of drinks packaged in bottles with a capacity of less than or equal to 50 cl allowing the consumption of these drinks in a comfortable and pleasant manner, in good hygienic conditions, without requiring significant space beyond that of the bottles, while preserving the ergonomics, on the one hand, and the appearance and aesthetics, on the other hand, defined by the producers of these drinks. More specifically, the invention aims to minimize the drawbacks associated with the use of a cup to consume the contents of a bottle, while retaining the possibility of drinking from the neck and the associated advantages.

To this end, it offers the combination of a bottle with a capacity less than or equal to 50cl and a disposable plastic cup intended for the subsequent consumption of the contents of this bottle, this cup being fitted on the lower part of the bottle y including its base, comprising a bottom running along said base and a cylindrical or flared upward wall which extends externally along the wall of this lower part, over a height representing between 25% and 60% of the height of this bottle, up to a free edge along this wall with a simple clearance.

In other words, the invention proposes to combine a goblet with a bottle by marrying as much as possible a lower part of this bottle.

It relates in particular, but not only, to the case of plastic bottles, in which case the disposable cup is preferably made of a material identical or very similar to that of the bottle (for example belonging to the same family of materials, for example two terephthalate with different levels of transparency).

Preferably, this cup is transparent, which makes the lower part of the bottle visible, which therefore minimizes the impact of the presence of the cup on the appearance of the bottle taken in isolation.

Advantageously, a frangible guarantee band surrounds the body of the bottle at the upper edge of the cup, below and above this edge, this band being able to be broken to allow the cup to be disengaged from the bottle at the time of consume the contents of the bottle; thus, a consumer can be reassured about the cleanliness of the cup when he notices the presence of this guarantee strip (this means that the cup has not been detached from the bottle since it was fitted on the lower part of the latter. We understand that such a band can also protect the free edge of the cup before use (and thus prevent it from deteriorating, at the risk of injuring the lips of a future consumer). ensure good maintenance of the cup in its initial configuration of nesting on the bottle as long as this strip is intact.

Such a guarantee strip is advantageously transparent, or at least translucent, so as not to disturb the general appearance of the bottle too much.

To minimize the impact of such a band on the environment, it remains advantageously linked, for example by adhesion, to the wall of the bottle after disengagement of the cup.

Advantageously, the free edge of the cup is thickened, for example by means of an inward or outward rim.

The wall of the bottle can be smooth at the free edge of the cup; alternatively, it includes an area where the free edge of the cup is removably clipped.

This clipping zone can be located at a level equal to or greater than half the height of the bottle, including its cap, so as to allow the free edge of the cup to be clipped into said zone in a configuration where the cup cap the top of the bottle.

The cup and the lower part of the bottle may both have cylindrical walls from their respective bottoms; alternatively, they are both walls which flare upwards and outwards from their respective bottoms. However, the wall of the lower part of the bottle can, according to yet another variant, include recesses with respect to the wall of the cup.

It is important to note that the invention can be applied to bottles whose size has already been determined, without requiring any modification. However, subject to being able to only locally modify the wall of the bottle, at the free edge of the cup, on its circumference or even only on a part of it, the cup can be held by clipping onto the bottle.

The invention relates to a wide variety of possible drinks, ranging from still waters to carbonated drinks, including fruit juices, flavored waters and drinks based on tea or coffee, in particular.

It can be implemented in a wide variety of places, such as:

• vending machines for drinks placed in public places (airports, station halls, hospitals, school groups, university campuses, government offices or business premises, motorway areas, fitness rooms, sports groups, etc.);

• fast food with multiple brands where we offer sandwiches or pastries accompanied by a drink (usually delivered without a cup), typically as part of a sandwich-drink menu);

• seminars, conferences and symposia, in hotels, salons or other seminar spaces;

• service meetings within companies or administrations;

• sporting and cultural events and events (festivals, concerts, sporting events);

• drinks intended for small children;

Objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following description, given by way of nonlimiting illustrative example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a principle view, from the side, of a bottle provided with a disposable cup, according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a similar view showing the disposable cup independently of the bottle;

- Figure 3 is an elevational view of a bottle according to the invention, the wall of which is generally cylindrical and which is provided with a disposable cup whose free edge is covered by a guarantee strip;

- Figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail A of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is an elevational view of a variant of the bottle of Figures 3 and 4, the wall of which has a groove on at least part of its circumference, in which the free edge of the disposable cup is clipped, under a warranty tape;

- Figure 6 is an enlarged view of detail B of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is an elevational view of another bottle whose wall is swollen; and

- Figure 8 is an elevational view of the bottle of Figure 7, the disposable cup is, after temporary use, engaged upside down on the upper part of the bottle.

As is apparent from the block diagram of Figures 1 and 2, the invention generally consists of assembling a bottle, in practice a plastic bottle, to a disposable cup so that the latter is positioned on the lower middle part of said bottle by marrying its shape. Indeed, as is apparent from Figure 1, the disposable cup 2 is fitted as closely as possible on the bottom of the bottle, up to a height that can be freely chosen according to the detail of the geometry of the wall of the bottle 1 (this will be discussed below). This interlocking is observed in particular at the free edge 3 of the cup.

It is understood that the disposable cup can not match the shape of the wall of the bottle, in its lower part, while being able to be dislodged from this lower part only if the wall of this cup is cylindrical or flared from its bottom; However, this does not prevent the wall of the lower part of the bottle on which the cup is fitted between its bottom and the level of the free edge of the cup, hollow patterns, for example to facilitate, in a manner known in itself, the crushing of the bottle on itself when it has been emptied.

Usually, the term goblet applies to a container having an axis of symmetry, with a diameter which increases slightly, from its bottom, by a value which is often of the order of 4 to 5 cm towards of the order of 6 to 8 cm, at the level of a free edge situated at a height of the order of 6 to 12 cm: such a cup is thus taller than wide, without feet and without handle. It appeared that, to remain in such orders of magnitude, it was necessary to limit oneself to bottles whose capacity is less than or equal to about 50 cl (this means that this would still be valid, for example, for bottles with a capacity of 50 to 60 cl).

One advantage of sticking to such a capacity is that a cup conforming to the lower part of such a bottle format makes it possible to consume the contents of the bottle after a limited number of fillings, for example from 1 to 4 fillings; this amounts to saying that the height of the cup forming part of a bottle according to the invention typically has a height representing between 25 and 60% of the height of the bottle (taking into account that the bottle, being closed by a standard cap, has an upper part generally narrower than the lower part).

In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the height of the cup 2 is between 1/3 and 40% of the height of the bottle 1.

Below 25% of the height of the bottle, the cup has in practice a capacity too low to allow true comfort of consumption; beyond 60%, the cup becomes too large in relation to the bottle to allow it to be associated with it without significantly disturbing its appearance and aesthetics.

The free edge of the cup has a contour which follows, with a simple play near, the free wall of the bottle when this cup is fitted on the lower part of the bottle, which allows to ensure a continuity between the outside wall of the cup and that of the bottle above the level of the free edge of this cup.

It can thus be seen, in FIG. 1, that the appearance of the bottle provided with its cup is hardly different from the appearance of the bottle alone represented in FIG. 2.

Since the cup has a geometry which closely follows that of the lower part of the bottle, it is understood that the cup can remain maintained on the lower part of the bottle by friction on this lower part. However, to guarantee good retention of the cup around the lower part of the bottle, there is preferably a guarantee band surrounding both part of the cup under its free edge and part of the wall of the bottle just at above this free edge as long as the cup is fitted on the lower part of the bottle. Preferably, this guarantee strip is advantageously fixed by adhesion to the wall of the bottle.

Such a guarantee strip is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, under the reference 4.

In this embodiment, the bottle 1 has a wall 11 which is cylindrical, that is to say that its outline is circular and constant, over a large part of its height between its bottom 12 and its neck 13.

In this example, the cup 2 has a wall 21 also cylindrical, with an inside diameter barely greater than the outside diameter of the wall 11, of a value defining a sufficient clearance to allow the cup to be released without much effort. opposite the base of the bottle. The bottom 22 of the cup is shown as having the same concavity as the base 12 of the bottle; alternatively, this bottom could simply be flat.

The free edge 3 of the cup is here located at around 45% of the height of the bottle; in other words, if this bottle has a height H (cap 5 included) of 22 centimeters, the cup can have a height h1 of the order of 10 centimeters (H = h1 + h2).

It may be noted that the fact that the cup follows the shape of the lower part of the bottle has the effect of minimizing the possibility that impurities can be introduced between these walls, as long as the bottle is stored with its cup. This risk is further reduced due to the presence of the guarantee strip 4, since a good cleaning of the external surface has been carried out, prior to the time of the initial fitting of the cup on the lower part of the bottle. of the bottle and the inner surface of the cup. This is an interesting advantage from a hygiene point of view.

To prevent the free edge 3 of the cup from injuring a consumer, it is advantageously thickened relative to the rest of the wall of the cup. It can be a simple circular bead; it can also be a rim 31 curved outwards then downwards (see FIG. 4).

The guarantee strip 4 covers this free edge and has a mechanically weakened zone 41 allowing, by its rupture, the release of the disposable cup 2.

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment in which the wall of the bottle has, at the free edge 3 ’of the cup 2’, a circular groove 14 ’.

In these Figures 5 and 6, elements similar to those in Figures 3 and 4 are designated by the same reference signs as those used in these Figures 3 and 4, but assigned the index "prime".

The assembly formed by the bottle 1 ′ and its cup 2 ′ differs from that of FIGS. 3 and 4 by the fact that the free edge 31 ′ of the cup has, at its rim, a rib 32 inwards of the cup, which can be clipped into the groove 14 '.

It is understood that the rib may not be circumferentially continuous; if the groove is also not circumferentially continuous, the engagement of the ribs in the grooves can make it possible to ensure good positioning of the cup relative to the bottle, around the axis of symmetry 7-7.

This cooperation between the groove and the rib ensures a sufficiently low clipping for a force of the fingers on the cup to allow, by simple friction, to cause the release of the cup relative to the bottle.

In the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, the elements similar to those of the example of FIGS. 3 and 4 are designated by deduced reference signs which are used in these FIGS. 3 and 4 by adding the number 100.

The assembly consisting of the bottle 101 and the cup 102 is distinguished from that of FIGS. 3 and 4 by the fact that the lower part of the bottle is not cylindrical, but flares upwards and outwards from the base. , up to an area of maximum diameter 110, here about halfway up the bottle. This wall is thus curved outwards, having its concavity inwards.

The bottle comprises, along this lower part, a cup 102 whose bottom runs along the bottom of the bottle and whose wall matches that of the bottle; the wall of this cup is therefore also flared by being curved outwards.

It should be noted that, if the plastic material from which the cup is formed has a sufficient level of elasticity, at least locally, the free edge of the cup may be slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the cup, of a value which may be by several percent, for example 1 to 4%; this elasticity can contribute to good maintenance by friction of the cup on the bulged part of the bottle.

As in the example in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cup 102 is clipped onto the wall of the bottle in a zone denoted 111, more precisely by means of a continuous groove (or not), by means of a rib, continuous (or not), formed along the free edge 103 of the cup. It should be noted that, if this rib is, because of the material of which it is made or because of its thickness, endowed with a significant elasticity, this rib may be able to cross the zone 110 of larger diameter before being able to cooperate with the groove so as to ensure a clipping.

In this example of Figures 7 and 8, a feature of the clip area is that it is located at a level equal to or greater than the height of the bottle, including its cap. One consequence is that, after a first use of the cup from the configuration of Figure 7 where the cup matches the outside shape of the lower half of the bottle, the cup can be clipped again on the wall of the bottle , but by capping the upper part of the bottle (see Figure 8); this makes it possible to guarantee that, before the first use, the interior of the cup has the level of cleanliness chosen at the time of the initial engagement of this cup on the base of the bottle, but that, if the entire contents of the bottle is not consumed at the end of this first use, the cup can still be removably attached to the bottle without risking being soiled by particles coming from the place where the base could have been placed after removal of the cup.

To prevent the guarantee strip from being released after it has broken, it is advantageously glued to the wall of the bottle, which contributes to the cleanliness effect mentioned above.

It may be noted, on examining FIGS. 1 to 8, that the overall size of the bottle provided with its cup is barely greater than that of the bottle alone.

In addition, if the cup is made of a transparent plastic material, the general appearance of the bottle can hardly be modified by the presence of the cup; this is how the drawings, acronyms and logos present on the lower part of the bottle can remain visible despite the presence of the cup.

In fact, this goblet can be simply transparent, without any inscription and without any decoration; alternatively, since the cup is fixed axially but also in rotation relative to the lower part of the bottle, this cup can be provided with a decoration complementing that formed on the bottle itself, with for example a partial pattern which forms , with another partial pattern provided on the bottle, a pattern that only appears when the cup is in place.

When decorations are provided on the goblet, this goblet can become a collector's item, if these decorations vary over time (regardless of the consistency of the patterns formed on the bottle, or on the contrary of their variations); thus, a beverage producer may consider, during an event such as a change of year, to modify only the decoration of the cup without changing anything in the decoration of the bottle.

Thus, the cup can participate in the communication strategy of the company producing the drink in question.

The disposable cup is advantageously made of a material commonly used for the manufacture of deformable bottles (or even: which can be crushed after consumption of their contents); this is how it is preferably made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The cup can be combined with bottles made of a wide variety of possible materials, but this cup and the bottle are advantageously made of materials of the same family (or even identical materials).

It will be appreciated that the invention can be adapted to any form of bottle from the moment when the wall of this bottle comprises, between 25 and 60% of its height, an area which the free edge of the cup can come around with a simple clearance (in practice equal to or less than about a millimeter), this zone therefore having a diameter at least equal to the diameter of any zone situated lower.

With this reservation, it is desirable that the shape of the cup is as close as possible to that of the lower part of the bottle chosen to respect its design while allowing easy disengagement with respect to this lower part, without applying any 'significant effort.

Instead of involving a groove, the clipping mentioned above can be obtained by the presence, on the wall of the bottle, of a locally domed zone (that is to say of a ripple) which can be crossed by an internal rim of the free edge of the cup; it is understood that, after such a crossing, the cup tends to remain linked to the bottle as long as a consumer does not force the crossing, downward, of this undulation by the rim of the cup.

It is understood that a consumer having obtained the whole of a bottle and a cup according to the invention, will be able to have instantaneously the possibility, with the choice, of drinking from the neck, or, after rupture of the band guarantee, pour at least part of the contents of the bottle into this cup.

The manufacture of an assembly according to the invention can be done according to several options.

Thus, provision can be made to join the production line for the bottles (multiple options possible from the molds produced for the shape of the bottle chosen) to the production line for the cups (the mold of which will have been produced according to the said bottle). chosen) so as to assemble, almost immediately after, the bottle and its cup, all this in an aseptic space avoiding the introduction of contamination between the lower part of the bottle and the inside of the cup at the time of l '' bottle-cup assembly by interlocking. Any warranty strip is advantageously installed at this stage. If decorations are provided to be affixed to the lower part of the bottle, these are obviously formed before the cup fits; at this stage, the manufacturer can decide whether to form all of the decorations on the bottle, or not, and any decorations on the cup, or not.

The finished product, consisting of the entire bottle and its beaker, is then packaged for shipment to the filling facility, after possible storage. Since the size of the bottle with its cup is very close to that of the bottle alone, it may hardly be necessary to change the settings to be able to use the bottles with their cups. The filling can thus be carried out, as for bottles alone, within the installation of the producer of the drink; this can complement any decorations on the bottle (especially if there is no decoration, neither on the lower part of the bottle, nor on the cup).

Such a producer can, as a variant, choose to produce and assemble the bottle + cup assemblies immediately before filling and capping (and final labeling).

It is understood that the choice of producing the bottles and the cups substantially in the same place makes it particularly advantageous to be able to use the same material to manufacture the bottle and for its cup.

In any case, the invention makes it possible to conserve a maximum of the 10 current bottle manufacturing procedures, while requiring little (or no) adaptation of the existing installations. This results in a very moderate additional cost.

Claims (11)

1. Combination for beverage of a bottle (1, T, 101) of capacity less than or equal to 50cl and of a disposable cup (2, 2 ', 102) of plastic material intended for the subsequent consumption of the contents of this bottle , this cup being fitted onto the lower part of the bottle including its base, comprising a bottom running along said base and a cylindrical or flared wall upward which runs along the wall of this lower part, over a height representing between 25% and 60% of the height of this bottle, up to a free edge (3, 3 ', 103) along this wall with a simple clearance. 2. Combination according to claim 1, the cup of which is transparent. 3. Combination according to claim 1 or claim 2, the cup and the bottle are made of the same plastic material. 4. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a frangible guarantee strip (4, 4 ', 104) surrounding the body of the bottle at the free edge of this cup, above and in below this, this guarantee strip can be broken to allow the cup to disengage from the bottle. 5. Combination according to claim 4, in which the guarantee strip is translucent, even transparent. 6. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the free edge of the cup is locally thickened (31.31 ’). 7. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the wall of the bottle of which includes an area (14 ′, 111) where the free edge of the cup is removably clipped. 8. Combination according to claim 7 wherein the clip-on area is located at a level equal to or greater than half the height of the bottle, including its cap, so as to allow the free edge of the 5 cup can be clipped into said area, in a configuration where it covers the upper part of the bottle. 9. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the cup and the part of the bottle capped by this cup have 10 both cylindrical walls from their bottoms. 10. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the cup and the part of the bottle capped by this cup both have walls which widen upwards and outwards from 15 their funds. 1/3 2/3