FR3079502A1 - BOTTLE WITH THIN WALLS TO CONTAIN A FOOD LIQUID - Google Patents

Abstract

Object to be held by a consumer, comprising: - an outer sleeve (20; 20A) arranged to be held by the consumer; - a closed-walled thin-walled plastic bottle (11; 11A), characterized in that the sleeve (20; 20A) comprises a lower opening arranged to receive the bottle (11; 11A), and in that at least a first portion of the outer sleeve (20; 20A) cooperates with at least a first portion of the bottle (11; 11A) received by the opening, to form locking means of the bottle (11; 11A) in the sleeve (20; 20A) external.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of containers for food liquid, and relates in particular to a product which comprises a bottle (typically made of plastic) and a food liquid such as l non-carbonated mineral water. The invention also relates to an object which comprises the above-mentioned 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 wishes to consume quality water, with a flavor and quality preserved. Such plastic containers or bottles are disclosed in documents W0201012956A1, W0201093602A2, EP1873067A1, or W02014101957A1.

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.

[0004] In addition, it may be advantageous (economically or ecologically) to minimize the thicknesses of these bottles, but it is necessary to provide that the bottle remains easy to handle, and does not deform or not deform too much when a consumer holds it ( with typically an effort 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 assist the consumer in their journeys, and a risk of distortion (which

-2 leads to an overflow if the consumer tightens the bottle) must be minimal.

An object of the present invention is to respond to the drawbacks of the documents of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a bottle which forms a product containing a liquid food which minimizes 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 any particular precaution, and without risking overflowing the liquid contained.

For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to an object to be held by a consumer, comprising:

- an external sleeve arranged to be held by the consumer,

- a closed thin-walled plastic bottle, characterized:

in that the external sleeve comprises a lower opening arranged to receive the bottle, and in that at least a first portion of the external sleeve cooperates with at least a first portion of the bottle received by the opening, to form locking means from the bottle into the outer sleeve.

The sleeve includes a lower opening, which makes it easy to insert the bottle, and the invention provides locking means for blocking the bottle thus inserted, which means that the consumer can handle the assembly via the sleeve which does not deform or little, and without the bottle falling. This rigidity function being transferred to the sleeve, this makes it possible to offer a bottle with thin walls which does not need to guarantee high rigidity, so that the quantity of material can be drastically reduced, up to 50% compared to a bottle of the prior art. This limits the environmental impact, because the bottle is disposable and recyclable, and the sleeve can be used many times.

Advantageously, the locking is carried out 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.

Advantageously, the bottle has a body arranged between a neck and a bottom, the locking means are a screw coupling, the first portion of the bottle comprises at least one thread formed on at least a part of the body of the bottle. , and the sleeve comprises at least one tapping arranged to cooperate with the thread of the bottle. Screw coupling is easy and convenient for the consumer. Threading on the (cylindrical) body of the bottle is also easy to achieve, since it is one or more helical ribs which run along the body of the bottle, or along at least part from the body.

Advantageously, the thread has a thread depth of at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, and even more preferably 2 mm. we can even consider a thread depth of more than 2.5 mm. It is also possible to envisage a symmetrical, or even asymmetrical, profile of the net to more effectively take up the efforts directed downwards.

Advantageously, the first portion of the bottle comprises at least two fillets. A screw with several threads is then produced, which makes it possible to increase the pitch and to reduce the number of turns required by the consumer: the locking is even faster.

Advantageously, the locking means are a coupling by elastic interlocking, the first portion of the external sleeve comprises at least one protuberance arranged on an internal wall opening onto the opening, and the first portion of the bottle comprises at least one groove

-4 device arranged to fit on the protrusion of the outer sleeve. Locking is done simultaneously with the introduction of the bottle into the sleeve, preferably at the end of the stroke.

Advantageously, the external sleeve comprises at least one means for indexing the rotation of the bottle. This makes it possible to screw and unscrew a cap from the bottle without the risk of untimely rotation between the bottle and the sleeve.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a neck, and the sleeve indexing means comprises at least one index or a protuberance arranged to engage with a portion of the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously, the sleeve comprises a constriction opposite the opening, and arranged to form an axial stop for the bottle received in the opening. Such a stop allows intuitive use: just push the bottle into the sleeve until it is tight, then then or simultaneously lock the bottle.

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

Advantageously, the sleeve has a determined length to cover

- less than 50% of the bottle,

- preferably less than 35% of the bottle. In other words, the sleeve covers only part of the bottle to leave an apparent part to be grasped by the consumer.

Advantageously, the sleeve is a part open at its two ends and has a wall at least partially cylindrical to be grasped by the consumer.

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 body of the bottle has a thickness comprised:

- in a range from 30 pm to 150 pm,

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

- And preferably in a range from 100 pm to 125 pm. A bottle with such thicknesses does not have sufficient rigidity to withstand a pinching or gripping force of 20 newtons for example, and the locking in the (rigid) sleeve makes it possible to limit or avoid these deformations.

Advantageously, the bottom has a thickness equal to ± 20% of the thickness of the body of the bottle, with the exception of a central portion of the bottom comprised 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 part of the body.

Advantageously, the bottle is formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a body at least partially cylindrical.

Advantageously, the product comprises means for closing the bottle, such as a cap to be screwed or fitted, a

-6 cap or valve. The closure means may further comprise means of proof of inviolability such as a tamper-evident ring linked to the cap by bridges to be broken 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, if necessary, comprise reversible means allowing the bottle to be closed after a first use. This is the case, for example, with screw and unscrew caps. It is mentioned that the filled bottle is preferably closed using a screw-on or nesting cap and provided with a tamper-evident ring, the bridges of which are not broken. Advantageously, the object comprises a liquid. to drink filling at least 80% of an internal volume of the bottle, preferably water, preferably non-carbonated.

Advantageously, the sleeve is formed:

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

- a metal such as aluminum.

Advantageously, the sleeve has a thickness: 20 - at least more than twice the thickness of the body of the bottle, or

- at least greater than 200 pm.

Advantageously, the sleeve has, with the bottle, a clearance:

- less than or equal to 1.5 mm, preferably 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 comprises a strap linked to the sleeve, and:

the strap has:

- a first end attached to a first end of the sleeve of the

-7 side of the opening,

- a portion mounted to slide through a passer-by arranged on the first end of the sleeve and opposite 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 loop, clears the opening and allows the bottle to be inserted into the opening • stretched between its first end and the loop, blocks the opening and prevents withdrawal of the bottle from the sleeve.

The strap according to the above implementation makes it possible to form a barrier to the bottle (stretched strap), and can let the bottle pass, just by sliding the strap in the way.

Advantageously, the sleeve comprises means for recognizing the bottle, and / or communication means for sending information to the consumer, and / or a man machine interface arranged to receive an order from the consumer.

Advantageously:

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

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

Advantageously:

the communication means comprise a screen, preferably a touch screen and / or wireless communication means arranged to establish a

-8connection with a portable electronic device, te! than a digital phone or tablet, and / or

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

- the means of communication are arranged to establish a connection, preferably wireless, 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 man-machine interface linked to the means of communication, • to send an order for bottles.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of delivering an object to a consumer according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps consisting in:

- manufacture a bottle or a plurality of bottles of the object according to the first aspect of the invention, for example by injection blowing,

- fill at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle or of each of the plurality of bottles with a liquid food, preferably at a temperature below 50 ° C,

- close the bottle or the plurality of bottles,

manufacturing at least one sleeve of the object according to the first aspect of the invention, for example by injection molding or by injection blowing,

- transport the bottle or the plurality of bottles forming a batch and preferably at least one sleeve or a number of sleeves less than the plurality of bottles, to a point of provision for a consumer, for example the home, a workplace, restaurant, store, or mechanized distributor.

Advantageously, a single sleeve is delivered for a batch of bottles.

The delivery of a batch of bottles with a single (or a small number of sleeves) saves material on each 5 bottle, while providing the possibility of coupling with a reusable sleeve and sufficiently rigid to ensure good ergonomics.

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

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of use by a consumer of an object according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps consisting in:

- receive at least one bottle of the object according to the first aspect of the invention, filled with a liquid and closed,

- receive a sleeve of the object according to the first aspect of the invention,

- insert the closed bottle into the sleeve, through the lower opening

- lock the closed bottle in the sleeve.

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

Figure 1 shows three views of a first embodiment of an object according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents three views of a second embodiment of an object according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows three views of a first embodiment of an object according to the present invention, which comprises a bottle

-1011 closed by a cap 12 (therefore forming a closed container which contains a food liquid), visible seen from the left, and a sleeve 20 visible seen from the middle.

The bottle 11 has a neck (closed by the cap 12), a neck, a substantially cylindrical body, a bottom, and contains a food liquid (non-carbonated mineral water for example). The substantially cylindrical body comprises a thread 111. The sleeve 20 comprises an upper neck with an upper opening, a substantially cylindrical body, and a lower opening. The middle view 10 of FIG. 1 also shows a tapping 201 arranged on an internal wall of the sleeve 20 and therefore visible in dotted lines.

The right view of Figure 1 shows the bottle 11 which was introduced into the sleeve 20 by a consumer, then screwed so as to come into abutment on the neck of the sleeve 20. As a result, the bottle 11 is locked on the sleeve 20, so that the consumer can hold the object (the sleeve 20 + the closed bottle 11 + the liquid contained) only by the sleeve 20.

Figure 2 shows three views of a second embodiment of an object according to the present invention.

According to this implementation, the object to be held by a consumer (visible right view of Figure 2) comprises a bottle 11A (left view of Figure 1), intended to be inserted in a sleeve 20A ( visible view from the middle of figure 2).

The bottle 11a is always closed by a cap 12, 25 and also contains a food liquid (non-carbonated mineral water for example). On the other hand, the bottle 11A comprises a peripheral groove 111A in the upper part of its cylindrical body, and the sleeve 2A also comprises a peripheral groove 201A which defines a protuberance on its internal wall, as shown by the dotted lines in the view of the middle.

-11 Consequently, in the right view, when the consumer inserts by pushing the bottle 11A from below into the sleeve 20A, then the peripheral grooves 111A and 201A arrive opposite one another, this which allows them to be engaged one in the other to lock the bottle 11a in the sleeve 20A. Thus, the consumer can handle the bottle 11A while holding only the sleeve 20A.

As an advantageous implementation, it is possible to implement a rotational stop between the bottle 11A and the sleeve 20A, for example in the form of an index or grooves, or grooves (complementary or 10 steps) between the bottle 11A and the sleeve 20A, in particular at the level of the upper opening of the sleeve 20A which is opposite the neck of the bottle 11A, which is typically more rigid than the rest of the bottle 11 A.

These implementations allow to offer a reusable sleeve 20 or 20A rigid enough or at least not too flexible 15 to be held (typically with an effort of 20 newtons) without significantly deforming, and to offer a bottle 11 or 11A disposable very fine, and therefore too soft or too flexible to be held (typically with the same effort of 20 newtons) without deforming. This coupling makes it possible to offer a disposable and recyclable bottle 11 or 11A made with little material and yet correct ergonomics, since the sleeve 20 or 20A is sufficiently rigid and reusable.

In all cases, the sleeve 20 or 20A is advantageously short enough, but long enough to be able to be held by the consumer (at least ten centimeters long for example), 25 while the bottle 11 or 11A protrudes from the sleeve 20 or 20A to be able to be inserted or removed easily.

One can also provide a strap, or a wrist strap, or fastening bands by hooks and textile loops (known under the brand "Veîcro", or called "scratch") to allow the consumer to transport the object in various activities (sport, hiking ...).

It is also possible to provide a bottom of any shape for the bottle, in particular a flat bottom which allows the object to be placed on a stable work surface if necessary, even if the bottle is very fine therefore very flexible.

We can in particular provide that the bottom is concave in a relaxed state, and that the consumer, by pressing on it, can pass it into an activated state so that the bottom has a convexity, which then allows the object on a work surface.

The bottle 11 or 11A is formed from 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 a stretch injection blow molding process ("Injection Stretch Blow Molding" in English). In these methods a solid preform is produced by injecting the material into a mold and then cooling, the preform is then heated to soften it, possibly stretched longitudinally using a rod, then stretched axially and longitudinally by blowing in a mold in the shape of the bottle.

These polyester materials and methods are known to those skilled in the art. Their combination makes it possible to obtain thin, light walls, of good mechanical resistance and good sealing or other barrier properties. These properties are due to the orientation of the macromolecular chains at least partially inducing crystallization. In addition to saving material, these polyesters have the advantage of being easily recyclable. The recovery, sorting and regeneration channels are organized. Regeneration can be mechanical recycling involving melting and shaping, for example into granules before new plastics processing operations such as blow molding or chemical recycling involving

-13 depolymerization, recovery of monomers or precursors, then further polymerization.

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

The thin wall is preferably such that the body of the bottle has a thickness in the range from 30 µm to 10,150 µm, for example in the range from 30 µm to 50 µm or from 50 µm to 70 pm or from 70 pm to 100 pm, or from 100 pm to 125 pm or from 125 pm to 150 pm, preferably in a range from 100 pm to 125 pm. 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 on the surface of the body, preferably at least 80%, preferably the average thickness over the whole 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 to 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 drawing characteristics. It is mentioned that the thickness of the preform walls, the geometry of the preform as its length, its diameter and its bottom shape, determine with the neck which can form a bottle neck, the weight. The bottle, unfilled, not closed, and / or the preform generally have the same weight. Subsequently the weights given refer either to the bottle weights or to the preform weight. For a 75 cl bottle, you can

-14 Advantageously implement, preforms of 8 to 13g. The overall stretch ratio can for example be between 12.0 and 27.0, preferably between 15.0 and 20.0. The axial drawdown 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 between 3.0 and 4.5. The radial drawdown rate (typically ratio between the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the stretchable part of the preform) can for example be between 4.0 and 6.0. It is mentioned that the overall stretch rate is generally equal to the product of the axial stretch rate and the radial stretch rate.

Good results are obtained, for example, with the characteristics below:

Preform type Preform with an unstretched neck with thread and collar Preform weight 12.8 g Neck weight 3,68g Type of bottle Cylindrical bottle with circular section and concave or flat bottom Bottle diameter 71.5mm Bottle height 238.5 mm Bottle volume 75 cl Overall stretch rate 17.96 Radial stretch rate 4.35 Axial stretch rate 4.13 Thickness at the body 110 pm Temperature 100 ° C

blow preform ^{, Λ, Λ, Λ} “ Blowing pressure 30 Bars

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 the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims .

Claims (13)

1. Object to be held by a consumer, comprising: - an external sleeve (20; 20A) arranged to be held by the consumer, - a closed bottle (11; 11 A) of thin-walled plastic, characterized: in that the external sleeve (20; 20A) comprises a lower opening arranged to receive the bottle (11; 11 A), and in that at least a first portion of the external sleeve (20; 20A) cooperates with at least one first portion of the bottle (11; 11 A) received by the opening, to form means for locking the bottle (11; 11 A) in the outer sleeve (20; 20A). 2. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the bottle (11; 11 A) has a body arranged between a neck and a bottom (112), in which the locking means are a screw coupling, in which the first portion of the bottle (11; 11 A) comprises at least one thread (111) formed on at least part of the body of the bottle (11; 11 A), and in which the sleeve (20; 20A) comprises at least one tapping arranged to cooperate with the thread (111) of the bottle (11; 11 A). 3. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the first portion of the bottle (11; 11 A) comprises at least two threads. 4. Object according to claim 1, in which the locking means are a coupling by elastic interlocking, in which the first portion of the external sleeve (20; 20A) comprises at However, a protuberance arranged on an internal wall giving onto the opening, and in which the first portion of the bottle (11; 11A) comprises at least one peripheral groove (111 A) arranged to fit on the protuberance of the sleeve 20; 20A) external. 5. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the outer sleeve (20; 20A) comprises at least one means for indexing the rotation of the bottle (11; 11 A). 6. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the bottle (11; 11 A) comprises a neck, and wherein the sleeve indexing means (20; 20A) comprises at least one index or a protuberance arranged to engage with a portion of the neck of the bottle (11; 11 A). 7. Object according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) comprises a constriction opposite the opening, and arranged to form an axial stop for the bottle (11; 11A) received in the opening. 8. Object according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (20; 20A) has a determined length to cover - less than 50% of the bottle (11; 11 A), - preferably less than 35% of the bottle (11; 11 A). 9. Object according to one of the preceding claims, in which the body of the bottle (11; 11 A) has a thickness comprised: - in a range from 30 pm to 150 pm, - and for example in a range from 30 pm to 50 pm or from 50 pm to 70 pm or from 70 pm to 100 pm, or from 100 pm to 125 pm or from 125 pm to 150 pm, - And preferably in a range from 100 pm to 125 pm. 10. Object according to the preceding claim, wherein the bottom (112) has a thickness equal to ± 20% of the thickness of the body of the bottle (11; 11 A), with the exception of a central portion of the bottom (112) 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 part of the body. 11. Object according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle (11; 11 A) is formed of polyethylene terephtaitate (PET). 12. Object according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve (20; 20A) has a thickness: - at least twice the thickness of the body of the bottle (11; 11 A), or - at least greater than 200 pm. 13. Method for delivering an object to a consumer according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps consisting in: manufacturing a bottle (11; 11 A) or a plurality of bottles (11; 11 A) of the object according to one of the preceding claims, for example by injection blowing, - fill at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle (11; 11A) or of each of the plurality of bottles (11; 11A) with a liquid food, preferably at a temperature below 50 ° C, - close the bottle (11; 11A) or the plurality of bottles (11; 11A), manufacture at least one sleeve (20; 20A) of the object according to one of the preceding claims, for example by injection molding or by injection blowing, - transport the bottle (11; 11 A) or the plurality of bottles (11; 11 A) forming a batch and preferably at least one sleeve (20; 20A) or a number of sleeves (20; 20A) less than the plurality bottles (11; 11A), to a point of supply for a consumer, for example at home, a workplace, a restaurant, a store or a mechanized distributor.