JP2023502839A - bottleneck - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a neck (21) of a bottle (20) having a flange (22), the bottle comprising a body having a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, the bottle ( 20) is characterized by having at least one projection (27) located between the collar (22) and the body, adjacent to the shoulder. [Selection drawing] Fig. 7

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid food containers, and specifically to preferably thin-walled bottle collars (usually made of plastic) containing liquid food such as non-carbonated mineral water. The invention also relates to an object or device that can be combined with a bottle.

State of the art for liquid foods, especially for example thin-walled colored bottles made of plastic, for transporting and delivering mineral water to consumers who want to consume high quality water with preserved flavor and quality. Containers are known. Such plastic containers or bottles are disclosed in references WO2010/12956A1, WO2010/93602A2, EP1873067A1 or WO2014/101957A1.

In return, the production of these plastic bottles can have an impact on the environment, and a recycling department should also be provided to minimize this impact.

Furthermore, it is known to produce such colored bottles by injection blow molding, the preform being produced by injection and then the bottle being obtained by blow molding of the preform. During these manufacturing processes, during transportation or during final use, it may be necessary to orientate or bond the bottles and/or preforms with equipment, machines or other objects, solutions are found e.g. in reference EP2522479B1 Or by providing a relief shape at the same height as the collar as disclosed in US9533788B2. However, such relief shapes may not be suitable when the bottle must be connected to another object or device for use. This is especially the case when the bottle has to be connected to an object or device by the user rather than by machine. In particular, it may be necessary to provide reliable orientation and/or the possibility of recognizing the bottle as a genuine bottle during coupling with another object or device, these functions being , may require mechanical actuation or contact on the bottle, which in particular must be safe and repeatable by different users.

In addition, minimizing the thickness of the bottle can be of concern (economically and/or ecologically), while still ensuring that the bottle is easy to handle and does not deform when held by the consumer, Or provided that it does not deform excessively (typically 20 Newton force). This configuration is particularly important for small volume bottles (less than 2 L, preferably less than 1.5 L, more preferably 1 L), as they are intended to be able to accompany the consumer on the move. The risk of deformation (consumer squeezing the bottle too hard, leading to overflow) should be minimized. References US2004/0124192A1, FR1114750A or DE29915618U1 describe bottles coupled to an external structure. However, none of the references provide a practical, low-cost solution for providing the user with a reliable object that is easy to use and handle, especially during the coupling or decoupling phases.

One object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the above prior art references, and in particular to provide an easy, reliable and repeatable coupling capability, especially by the user, to an object or device in the first place. To propose a bottle collar which is easy to manufacture and inexpensive while providing

To that end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a bottle collar with a flange,
the bottle comprising a body having a side wall and a shoulder disposed between the collar and the side wall;
The collar of the bottle has at least one protrusion, the protrusion
- between the flange and the body,
- characterized by being positioned adjacent to the shoulder;

The invention also relates to bottles with such collars. The invention also relates to some bottle preforms with such collars. The invention also relates to articles, including bottles and devices, associated with collars arranged to cooperate with protrusions.

A bottle according to the implementation described above is flush with the collar, but is provided with a protrusion located below the flange and adjacent to the shoulder. Therefore, a protrusion placed under the flange can interact with a device, e.g., an object or apparatus, without the risk of being affected by the presence or absence of the cap, because the protrusion is placed on the opposite side of the flange. can. In addition, the projection is adjacent to the shoulder, which means that the projection is near or next to the shoulder, whereby the device provided to be coupled with the projection, e.g. A part eliminates any risk of passing between the projection and the shoulder. Therefore, the association with a device, eg an object or apparatus, is robust. In other words, the projection includes a portion that abuts the shoulder or penetrates the shoulder so that the reverse shape of the projection or the sensing or bearing member cannot pass between the projection and the shoulder.

According to one embodiment, the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the collar is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the body of the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material. According to one embodiment, the collar and body are made of the same material, plastic, glass, metal or cellulose material.

According to one embodiment, the bottle is a thin-walled bottle.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion extends along an angular sector in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle, the angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40°, preferably at least 50°. Such an angular range provides an easy visual detection for the end-user that can be used naturally to find directions that apply to a particular application.

According to one embodiment, the angular dimension does not exceed 180°. In other words, in front view of the bottle and at least one of its projections, the passageway dimension at the height of the collar is the dimension of the diameter of the collar over its entire height.

According to one embodiment, the collar comprises a cylindrical portion between the flange and a projection whose height X1 along the axial direction of the bottle is at least 2.5 mm, preferably at least 3.5 mm. In other words, between the flange and the projection, the collar consists entirely of cylindrical parts (i.e. the generatrices are the segments carried by the basic curves, usually parallel straight lines passing through a circle, but the rounded (You can imagine squares, ovals, etc.).

Specifically, starting at the top of the bottle, the color
- an end defining the opening of the bottle;
- a bottle opening and closing interface, such as a threaded or elastic interlocking (snap-fit) interface;
- a flange;
- a cylindrical section spanning 360° without protrusions,
- a lower portion connected to the shoulder and provided with a projection;

In at least one cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle, the lower portion of the collar comprises:
- at least a first dimension with respect to the axial direction in a region distinct from the projection;
- at least a second dimension, axially greater than the first dimension, at the level of the projection;

According to one embodiment, the second dimension is at least 1.5 mm, preferably 2.0 mm larger than the first dimension.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion includes a lower portion located on the shoulder.

According to one embodiment, the projection is solid. In this embodiment, the bottle can be obtained from a preform that includes a collar, a flange, and a projection below the flange. In other words, the protrusion is obtained or formed at least partially, preferably completely, by virtue of the change (increase) in the thickness of the collar at the height of the protrusion. Normally the protrusions are already provided at the level of the preform prior to the blow molding step.

According to one embodiment, the projection is hollow. In other words, the protrusions are at least partially, preferably completely, obtained or formed during the blow molding operation. Next we see the recess on the inside of the collar (inside of the bottle).

According to one embodiment, the projections have a thickness of 150 μm or more, preferably 200 μm, very preferably more than 250 μm. Typically, the projection has a thickness similar to the upper portion of the shoulder, and may, for example, provide greater stiffness than the side walls of the body.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions have a thickness of 600 μm or less, preferably 500 μm, very preferably more than 400 μm.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion has a thickness taken in an area less than 1 mm from the shoulder equal to the thickness of the shoulder taken in an area less than 1 mm from the protrusion by ±20%.

According to one embodiment, the bottle is obtained from a preform containing a flange, the preform having no protrusions below the flange.

According to one embodiment,
- the projection has a first radius R1 with respect to the axial direction of the bottle;
- the flange has a second radius R2 with respect to the axial direction of the bottle;
among them,
0.8×R2≦R1≦1.2×R2.

According to one embodiment, in a cross-section including the axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protrusion, the sides of the protrusion have a radius of 4 mm to 11 mm, preferably 5.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

According to one embodiment, the collar comprises a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, the cap being of the type removable from the bottle or of the type attached to the bottle. and the protrusion is arranged to receive at least a portion of the cap within the protrusion and/or between it and the flange when the bottle is opened. According to this implementation, the protrusion can act as a cap abutment, support, or storage when the bottle is opened. In other words, the projection may comprise at least a partial inverted shape or cavity of the cap to receive the cap and/or hold the cap in place. It is also possible to provide a spacing, distance or specific shape between the projection and the flange to provide the possibility of receiving at least a portion of the cap and thus holding the cap in place.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions are arranged to provide a support portion or form a bearing inverse for the cap. The projection projecting relative to the rest of the collar can have a recessed inverted shape to receive the cap in a stable manner.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is arranged to engage the cap, for example by means of a resilient interlock. In other words, the protrusion comprises means for holding the cap, for example by elastic deformation, clamping, snap fit.

According to one embodiment, the bottle includes a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, the protrusion forming a lanyard or stop on the cap when the bottle is closed. are arranged as follows. A screw-on cap or an abutment in a 1/4 turn turn or a stopper for a swing cap can be envisaged.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions preferably mark the relief. The location of the protrusion under the flange is repeatable, easily identifiable, and visible so that the markings are easily accessible and visible or within reach of the user. For example, Braille markings can be envisaged.

According to one embodiment, the protrusions have a constant thickness to within ±15%.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a bottom adapted to accommodate a similar bottle collar (21), the bottom having a first inverted shape for accommodating a similar bottle collar. However, the first inverted shape has a second inverted shape to accommodate the protrusion of a similar bottle collar. Such mounting provides stacking capability while ensuring angular orientation of the bottle, and the protrusion provides a stop at the correct orientation. Chamfers are made on the side edges of the protrusions to facilitate loading and unloading, and a small rotation causes the upper bottle to "disengage".

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a plurality of projections between the flange and the shoulder, at least one of the projections, preferably each one thereof adjoining the shoulder. According to one particular embodiment, each projection has an angular dimension of 20° to 60° and is separated from adjacent projections by a cylindrical collar portion having an angular dimension of 20° to 60°. Multiple protrusions provide the possibility of coding or improved recognition.

According to one embodiment, the protrusion is arranged to be deformed by the user into a recessed position. Personalization or identification of the bottles is possible in order to distinguish the two bottles from each other.

According to one embodiment, the projection has V-shaped side edges in front view. A V or an inverted V can be provided to create an upward or downward vertical force when the projection engages the opposite shape of the object or device to which it is coupled.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a single non-laminated wall. In other words, the wall of the bottle is continuous, does not form an interleave, and does not contain several layers or sheets. A bottle is usually obtained from a single preform.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a bottle comprising a collar according to the first aspect.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a bottle preform comprising a collar according to the first aspect.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an article comprising a device associated with a bottle and a collar of the bottle arranged to cooperate with a projection. A device may be another object or apparatus. This device is for example a shell, a system for distributing the fluid contained in the bottle or a device for connecting the bottle to a circuit for distributing the fluid contained in the bottle. The device is for example a liquid dispenser contained in a bottle, bubbler, faucet or valve.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to an object held by a user,
- an external structure arranged to be held by a user;
- a bottle according to the first aspect;
with
- the outer structure is a shell in contact with at least part of the body of the bottle;
- characterized in that the shell forms an open U-shape or C-shape and comprises an upper collar arranged to elastically interlock with at least a portion of the collar of the bottle;

An object according to the fifth aspect mentioned above is easy to handle thanks to the elastic interlocking of the collar of the bottle on the shell. Such elastic interlocks are also called snap fits. However, the shell has a U-shaped or C-shaped open upper collar, i.e. forms an open clamp that can be easily opened for inserting or removing the collar of the bottle, thereby Guaranteed to require little effort from the user. However, a rigid shell keeps the bottle secure and robust, providing an object that is easy to handle and set up (joining and separating).

Advantageously, the shell comprises a side wall and a shell shoulder arranged between the collar and the side wall, the shell shoulder comprising a passage opening arranged to provide a passage for the collar of the bottle, A passage opening opens into a U-shaped or C-shaped opening in the upper collar of the shell. The passage opening allows the collar of the bottle to be inserted and presented at the level of the opening of the upper collar of the shell, thereby simplifying installation.

Advantageously, the passageway opening arranged to provide a passageway into the collar of the bottle is arranged to resiliently interlock with at least a portion of the collar of the bottle. It has a passageway dimension that is greater than that of the C-shaped passageway.

Advantageously,
- the passageway dimensions of the shell passageway opening arranged to provide the passageway for the collar of the bottle are strictly larger than those of the bottle collar, for example with a flange,
- the U-shaped or C-shaped passage dimensions of the upper collar of the shell, arranged to elastically interlock at least a part of the collar of the bottle, are tighter than the dimensions of a bottle collar, for example with a flange; small. Attaching the collar of the bottle to the passageway opening does not require special or extreme care, then simply tilting or pushing the collar of the bottle into the open top collar of the shell to achieve elastic interlocking and coupling. enough to

Advantageously, the shell comprises an introduction opening located in the side wall and arranged to allow a user to introduce the bottle into the shell. The introduction opening is usually arranged on the opposite side of the passage opening so that the bottle can easily pass through the passage opening and the collar can be arranged in the passage opening so that the rest of the bottle is easily passes through the introduction opening.

The collar of the bottle includes a flange and a projection located below the flange. The protrusion can engage a U-shaped or C-shaped opening in the upper collar of the shell. The protrusion provides a detent that helps open and close the bottle, especially if the bottle is equipped with a screw-on cap. However, other types of closures are possible, such as lids with elastic interlocks or hinged caps. Such protrusions may also provide an angular index by which, for example, the imprint on the bottle faces the opening in the shell.

In other words, the bottle includes a lid or valve closure means, such as a screw-on or interlocking cap or top. The closure means may further include tamper-evident inspection means, such as a tamper-evident finish connected to the top or cap by a bridge that breaks on first use. It can also be a lid that is sealed to the collar so that it is permanently removed on first use. Closing means may, where appropriate, include reversible means allowing the bottle to be reclosed after first use. This is the case, for example, for screw-on and unscrew caps or tops. Filled bottles are said to preferably be closed by a screw-on or interlocking cap or top and have a tamper-evident finish with an unbroken bridge.

According to one embodiment, the top or cap is arranged such that it can remain attached to the collar of the bottle after opening. This is called a mounting type top or cap. For example, the top or cap may include at least one strip of material and/or a connection in the form of a hinge between the tamper evident strip and the body of the cap or a portion of the body of the cap.

Advantageously, the bottle contains a drinking liquid, preferably water, preferably non-carbonated water, filling at least 80% of the internal volume of the bottle.

Advantageously,
- the U-shaped or C-shaped opening in the upper collar of the shell has a first angular dimension with respect to the axial direction of the object;
- the projection has a second angular dimension smaller than the first angular dimension with respect to the axial direction of the object; The presence of the projection does not interfere with the opening of the upper collar of the shell and does not compromise the elastic interlock.

Advantageously, the bottle has a concave, e.g. hemispherical, bottom when viewed from the outside and the shell has a bottom defining at least one planar support portion for placing objects along a vertical position. A flat or flat bottom provides a stable vertical bearing, but thin-walled bottles alone cannot be placed and held vertically on a work surface due to the soft, hemispherical bottom by definition.

Advantageously, the shell has an outer diameter, the bottom of the shell comprises at least one planar crown or supporting portions distributed along (i.e. contained in a plane) the planar crown, the planar crown It has a diameter of 50% or more of the diameter. Such crowns are also called planar rings, i.e. they are contained in planes which provide stable bearings.

Advantageously, the shell comprises at least one gripping handle, for example forming a grip. Two grips can be provided to facilitate handling.

Advantageously, the bottle has a thick, preferably cylindrical body, the thickness of which is
in the range of -30 μm to 150 μm,
- for example in the range 30 μm to 50 μm, 50 μm to 70 μm, 70 μm to 100 μm, 100 μm to 125 μm, or 125 μm to 150 μm,
- preferably in the range from 100 μm to 125 μm. A bottle of such thickness is not stiff enough to withstand clamping or gripping forces of, for example, 20 Newtons, and locking the (rigid) shell makes it possible to limit or avoid these deformations. do. In other words, the bottle is inherently soft and deformable, especially when it is handled by the user.

Advantageously, the bottle has a bottom thickness equal to ±20% of the thickness of the body of the bottle, excluding a central portion of the bottom included in the diameter,
- not more than 50% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body,
- preferably not more than 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body,
- More preferably not more than 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the body.

Advantageously, the upper collar of the shell resiliently interlocks under the collar flange of the bottle. A flange is a protrusion around the collar of the bottle.

Advantageously, the bottle collar and/or the bottle flange have a thickness of more than 150 μm, preferably more than 200 μm, more preferably more than 250 μm, preferably between 1 mm and 2 mm.

Advantageously, the bottle and/or shell can have at least one cylindrical section. It defines a shell or bottle part that has sides whose generatrices are parallel straight lines and follows a closed basic curve (defined by the intersection of the sides with a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle), which is called a wall or cylinder. means "part". This closed base curve can be circular (circle), elliptical (ellipse or any ellipse), or square or rectangular with rounded corners as desired.

Such sections of the cylindrical portion can improve grip, limit flexibility and/or limit the risk of leakage when the bottle is opened.

Advantageously, the bottle, the collar and/or the body of the bottle are at least partially recycled plastic. Advantageously, the bottle, the collar and/or the body of the bottle are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advantageously, the bottle, the collar and/or the body of the bottle are made from at least partially recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The bottle may have an internal volume of at least 0.25L, such as at least 0.5L, such as at least 1L, such as at least 1.5L, such as at least 2L, such as at least 5L, such as at least 10L. The bottle may have an internal volume of 20 L or less, such as 2 L or less, such as 1.5 L or less, such as 1 L or less, such as 0.8 L or less. The bottle is 0.25-0.5L, or 0.5-1L, or 1L-1.5L, or 1.5L-2L, or 2L-3L, or 3L-4L, or 4L-5L, or 5L~ It can have an internal volume of 6 L, or 6 L to 7 L, or 7 L to 8 L, or 8 L to 9 L, or 9 L to 10 L, or 10 L to 15 L, or 15 L to 20 L.

Advantageously, the upper collar of the shell has an upper rim, the upper rim forming more than 180° to the axial direction of the object. In other words, more than half of the circumference of the collar of the bottle is received and retained in the open top collar of the shell to provide effective retention.

Advantageously, the upper rim is contained in a plane.

Advantageously, the shell is
- formed from polymeric materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA) or polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), optionally comprising filler materials such as fibers or mineral particles;
- or formed from a metal such as aluminium.

Advantageously, the thickness of the shell is
- at least more than twice the thickness of the body of the bottle, or - at least more than 200 μm. The shell is therefore stiffer than the bottle.

Advantageously, the shell is arranged to deform less than the bottle during the operation of joining the bottle with the shell. In other words, the shell is rigid and does not deform when handled by the user. As a result, such rigid shells have made it possible to handle thin, soft, deformable bottles that could not be handled by themselves without the proven risk of overflowing or falling out of the user's hands. to enable.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings. deaf.

FIG. 1 represents a first perspective view of a shell combined with a bottle to form an object handled by a user. 2 is a second perspective view of the shell of FIG. 1; FIG. Figure 3 represents a third perspective view of the shell of Figure 1; Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a bottle combined with the shell of Figure 1 to form an object handled by a user; 5 is a side view of the bottle of FIG. 4; FIG. Figure 6 represents the phases of combining the bottle of Figure 4 with the shell of Figure 1; Figure 7 represents a section of the bottle of Figure 4 combined with the shell of Figure 1; 8 is a front view of the bottle of FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle of FIG. 4 in a plane through the collar and perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle; FIG. Figure 10 shows a first preform that may be manufactured by injection molding and used to form the bottle of Figure 4 by blow molding.

Generally, bottles according to the present disclosure include projections housed under flanges. A protrusion can serve several functions. Coupling with the shell is described below, but it is also possible to envisage interaction with a device, for example a device for dispensing liquids contained in bottles. Interactions or functions are described below.

First, Figures 1-3 show the shell 10 combined with the bottle and viewed from different directions. Generally, shell 10 comprises a top collar 11 , sidewalls 15 , bottom 14 , and a shell shoulder 16 located between top collar 11 and sidewalls 15 .

In the example shown, the sidewall 15 is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical (ie, its outer surface comprises parallel straight generatrices following basic curves, here circles). The bottom 14 has a lower plate for its part that allows the shell 10 to lie along a vertical position, as seen in FIG.

Further, the shell 10 comprises a passage opening 12, primarily visible in FIGS. 1 and 3, and an introduction opening 13, primarily visible in FIG.

Finally, the upper collar 11 is a C-shaped (or U-shaped) open collar, as shown in FIGS. The upper collar 11 has a passage dimension D2 corresponding to its maximum inner diameter and a passage dimension D'2 at its opening. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the opening of the upper collar 11 (of dimension D′2) leads to or opens into the passage opening 12, the passage dimension D1 of the passage opening 12 being: Note that the passage dimensions D2 and D'2 of the upper collar 11 are larger. Details are described in FIG. 6 below.

4, 5, 8 and 9 represent a bottle 20 comprising a collar 21 (or neck), a shoulder 28, sidewalls 24 and a bottom 25. FIG. In the example shown, collar 21 is threaded to receive cap 26 (seen in FIG. 6), flange 22 is provided below the threads, and projection 27 is positioned below flange 22. there is Bottle 20 also contains a liquid food product (eg, non-carbonated mineral water).

As mentioned above, collar 21 is threaded to receive cap 26, but other closure means (lid, hinged cap with resilient interlocks, etc.) can be envisioned. FIG. 5 represents the outer dimension D3 of the flange 22, which is smaller than the passage dimension D1 of the passage opening 12 of the shell 10, but is less than the passage dimension D2 or D' of the upper collar 11 of the shell 10. Greater than 2.

In fact, as represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, shell 10 and bottle 20 are joined and held together. In particular, upper collar 11 of shell 10 is provided to resiliently interlock with collar 21 of bottle 20 . In the example shown, the upper collar 11 of the shell 10 has dimensions adapted to elastically interlock on the bottle 20 under the flange 22 .

To this end, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper collar 11 of the shell 10 can be moved away from the collar 21 of the bottle 20, received and retained, especially by retaining the flange 22. is formed over 180° (eg, at 270°, ±45°) so that the

To couple bottle 20 with shell 10, the user introduces bottle 20 through introduction opening 13 of shell 10 and cap 26 of bottle 20 at passage opening 12 of shell 10, as shown in FIG. (because the outer dimension D3 of the flange 22 (and cap 26) is smaller than the passage dimension D1 of the passage opening 12), the bottle 20 is then tilted so that the bottom . (because it is smaller than the external dimension D3).

Specifically, the upper collar 11 of the shell has a cylindrical rim of a few millimeters and the bottle 20 comprises a flange 20 and a cylindrical collar portion located between the flange 22 and the shoulder of the bottle 20. , the cylindrical rim of the upper collar 11 bears against the cylindrical collar portion of the bottle 20 and axially abuts the flange 22 to provide the shell 10 and bottle 20 assembly.

To release the bottle 20 from the shell 10, it is sufficient to apply a transverse, lateral, or angled force to the cap 26 to "unclip" the collar 21 of the bottle 20 from the upper collar 11 of the shell 10. . It is also possible to place an orifice in the lower part of the shell 10 opposite the introduction opening 13 to allow the user to push the bottle laterally out of the shell 10 with his fingers.

When combined, shell 10 and bottle 20 form a manageable object 30 for the user, as shown in FIG. Since bottom 14 of shell 10 is flat, object 30 has a stable vertical position when it is placed on a work surface. Additionally, a return 16 is provided at the lower portion of the shell 10 to secure the coupling and retention of the bottle 20 and shell 10 assembly.

As already mentioned above, cap 26 is screwed onto bottle 20 . A protrusion 27 is provided on the bottle 20 received in the opening of the upper collar 11 of the shell 10 to provide a rotation stop for the bottle 20 relative to the shell 10 . Thus, torque applied to bottle 20 is transmitted to shell 10 via protrusion 27 . Other implementations for such indexing can be envisioned, such as a collar 21 of the bottle 20 with a non-circular section, a crenelation at the height of the upper collar 11 engaging the inverse shape of the flange 22 . be.

Independently of screwing/unscrewing the cap 26, the marking is printed on the bottle 20 using the angular index between the bottle 20 and the shell 10 provided by the projection 27 engaging the opening of the upper collar 11. or may be affixed so that they are visible after bonding and face the passage opening 12 or the introduction opening 13 or any other opening in the shell 10 .

Furthermore, since projection 27 is adjacent shoulder 28 of bottle 20 , the wall of shell 10 at the level of flange 11 or shell shoulder 16 can slip between shoulder 28 and projection 27 of bottle 20 . Can not. Rotation stops and stop positions are well controlled.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of bottle 20 and protrusion 27 . The flange 22 has a diameter D3 and the collar below the flange has a diameter D4 smaller than D3, extends over a height X1 of at least 2.5 mm and has a section over 360°. Clamping is therefore possible under the flange 22 even when the projection 27 is present. Note that in this front view the protrusion 27 is less wide than the value of the diameter D4 under the flange, so that it is possible to guide the bottle 20 through the rail under the flange 22 during manufacture. .

Also note that in FIG. 5, which shows the bottle 20 from the side, the protrusion has the same radial dimensions as the flange 20 and does not protrude. 9, which shows bottle 20 in cross section along a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the bottle and passing between protrusion 27 and flange 22, radial dimension A3 of protrusion 27 is approximately equal to D3/2. substantially equal. The remainder of the collar, on the other hand, has a radial dimension A2 smaller than A3.

FIG. 9 also shows that the protrusion 27 extends along the angular sector A1, here showing a value of about 90°, but values of eg 30-150° can be envisaged.

These implementations propose a reusable shell 10 that is fairly rigid, or at least not very flexible, to be held (typically with a force of 20 Newtons) without significant deformation, and thus: It becomes possible to propose very thin disposable bottles 20 that are either too soft or too flexible to be held without deformation (usually with the same 20 Newton force). Since the shell 10 is sufficiently rigid and reusable, this connection makes it possible to propose an ergonomically manufactured disposable and recyclable bottle 20 that uses little material. .

A strap or wrist strap or textile loop and hook fastener strip (known by the trademark "Velcro" or called Scratch) is provided to allow the consumer to carry the object 30 in various activities (sports, hiking, etc.). can also make it possible. Shell 10 is provided with one or more grips.

The bottle 20, the collar and/or the body of the bottle are preferably formed from a preferred thin-walled thermoplastic material. The material is preferably a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene furanoate (PEF) or polytrimethylene furanoate (PTF). The material may be at least partially recycled material. The bottle is preferably molded by an injection blow molding process, such as an injection stretch blow molding process. These processes produce a solid preform (represented in FIG. 10) by injecting material into a mold, then cooling, then heating the preform to soften it, optionally using rods. It is then stretched longitudinally and shaped axially and longitudinally by blow molding into the shape of a bottle.

These polyester materials and methods are known to those skilled in the art. Their combination makes it possible to obtain thin and light walls with good mechanical resistance and good sealing or other barrier properties. These properties are due, at least in part, to the orientation of the polymer chains that induces crystallization. These polyesters have the advantage of being easy to recycle as well as saving material. Collection, sorting and recycling sectors are organized. Reclamation can be, for example, mechanical recycling with melting and molding, or chemical recycling with depolymerization, recovery of monomers or precursors, new polymerization before new plastic processing operations such as injection blow molding. be.

As a result, the implementation and use of the thin-walled bottles of the present invention presents a very favorable environmental record, in addition to excellent practicality, especially with respect to the implementation of non-activatable, thicker conventional PET bottles.

The thin wall preferably has a thickness in the body of the bottle in the range 30 μm to 150 μm, such as 30 μm to 50 μm, 50 μm to 70 μm, 70 μm to 100 μm, or 100 μm to 125 μm, 125 μm to 150 μm, preferably 100 μm to 125 μm. It has The thickness referred to is the thickness at at least one point of the body, preferably the average thickness over a portion of the length or surface of the body representing at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, preferably the average thickness over the entire body. be. The bottom of the bottle may be slightly thicker than the body, eg up to 50% thicker than the body, eg up to 20% thicker. The bottom can also typically have a cup corresponding to the bottom of the preform and its injection point.

The thickness can be adjusted by adapting the properties of the preform, in particular its shape and wall thickness, and stretch properties, to the target bottle volume. Preform wall thickness, preform length, diameter, bottom shape, etc. are said to determine weight, along with a collar that can form a bottleneck. Unfilled, unclosed bottles and/or preforms generally have the same weight. Subsequently, the weights given refer to either bottle weights or preform weights. For a 75 cl bottle it is advantageously possible to mount preforms of 8 to 13 g. The overall draw speed can be configured, for example, from 12.0 to 27.0, preferably from 15.0 to 20.0. The axial stretching rate (usually the ratio of the bottle height to the length of the stretchable portion of the preform, usually the distance below the collar) can be configured, for example, from 3.0 to 4.5. . The radial stretching speed (usually the ratio between the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the stretchable portion of the preform) can be configured, for example, from 4.0 to 6.0. The overall draw speed is generally stated to be equal to the product of the axial draw speed and the radial draw speed.

For example, the features in Table 1 below give good results.

Specifically, FIG. 10 represents a preform 40 manufactured by injection that can be used in a blow molding process to produce the bottle 20 of FIG. The preform 40 is not stretched during the blow molding process, so it has a threaded top portion CF with the same dimensions as the collar of the bottle 20 . In particular, the presence of a flange 22 with the same dimensions as the bottle 20 can be noted. A cylindrical section separates the flange 22 from a slightly tapered section Ep adjacent the lower section Co of the preform.

Typically, preform section Ep generally corresponds to shoulder 28 of bottle 20 and section Co generally corresponds to sidewall 24 and bottom 25 of bottle 29 . It is important to note that the cylindrical region between portion Ep and flange 22 of preform 40 is free of bosses or protrusions. Indeed, in this exemplary embodiment, projections 27 are formed during the blow molding operation.

As seen above, preform 40 or 40A can be formed of a thermoplastic material, which
- Overall height of 50 mm to 80 mm,
a weight of -7g to 17g;
- Thickness at the same height as the collar from 1mm to 2mm,
a thickness at the level of site Co of -1.6 mm to 2.8 mm;
- a flange 22 with a diameter of 29 mm to 35 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm;
and a height of the portion CF of -10 mm to 15 mm.

As can be seen above, a protrusion 27 located below the flange 22 and adjacent the shoulder 28 of the bottle allows the bottle 20 to be securely coupled to the shell 10 .

Other functions of interaction with the device or cap can be performed based on the projection 27 located below the flange 22 and adjacent the shoulder 28 of the bottle.

In particular it is possible to
- Orienting the faucet attached to the bottle during manufacture of the bottle, which is filled and capped, or when the user installs the reusable faucet after opening the bottle.
- providing a support or final abutment for the opening of the attached, e.g. hinged cap,
- providing the user with a visual indication of the orientation or opening area of the attached, e.g. hinged cap,
- providing a receiving or containment area for the cap fitted with a hinge or a soft link connecting it to the bottle;
- To provide a cantilever or snap-on cap blocking.

During the operation of grouping the bottles 20, for example using secondary packaging, the protrusions 27
- rotationally and/or axially blocking the bottle 20 against a packaging or handling support such as a cardboard or plastic handle or against a cardboard pickup;
-orienting the bottle against a similar packaging or handle support, such as a cardboard or plastic handle, or like a cardboard pick-up;
- Identical bottles can be stacked and locked on top of each other and the bottom of the bottle contains an inverse shape and can be used to identify and engage the protrusions of the bottles below the stack.

During final use, the protrusion 27
- block the bottle from rotating against an external device such as a shell,
- providing suitable placement for presence detection areas or mechanical or optical sensors,
- visually or optically check the water level in the bottle, e.g. before first use, indicating storage and/or usage period;
- can be used, inter alia, to identify a single bottle by squeezing the protrusions;

In addition, the projections 27 can also be used for marking, logos, for example, in the case of certain materials, to provide material traceability or indication for specific recycling. The protrusions 27 themselves can be used as markings, for example, in the case of certain materials to provide traceability or indication of the material for a particular recycling.

Various modifications and/or improvements apparent to those skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that it can be done.

Claims (25)

A bottle (20) collar (21) having a flange (22), said bottle comprising a body having a side wall and a shoulder disposed between said collar and said side wall,
Said collar (21) of said bottle (20) comprises at least one projection (27), said projection:
- between said flange (22) and said body,
- a bottle (20) collar (21), characterized in that it is positioned adjacent to said shoulder. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bottle is made of plastic. A collar (21) for a bottle (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bottle is a thin-walled bottle. Claim wherein said projection (27) extends along an angular sector in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of said bottle (20), said angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40°, preferably at least 50°. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of clauses 1-3. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 4, wherein said angular dimension does not exceed 180°. including a cylindrical portion between said flange (22) and said projection (27) with a height X1 of at least 2.5 mm, preferably at least 3.5 mm along the axial direction of said bottle; Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said projection (27) comprises a lower portion arranged on said shoulder. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protrusion (27) is solid. 9. Claim 8, characterized in that the bottle is obtained from a preform comprising the collar (21), the flange (22) and the projection (27) below the flange (22). bottle (20) collar (21). Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusion (27) is hollow. The protrusion (27) is
- 150 μm or more, preferably 200 μm, preferably 250 μm, very preferably greater than 300 μm, and/or
Bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 10, having a thickness of -600 μm or less, preferably 500 μm, preferably 400 μm. 12. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said bottle is obtained from a preform with a flange (22) and without projections under said flange. - said protrusion (27) has a first radius R1 with respect to the axial direction of said bottle,
- said flange (22) has a second radius R2 with respect to the axial direction of said bottle,
moreover,
Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 0.8 x R2 ≤ R1 ≤ 1.2 x R2. 14. Any of claims 1 to 13, wherein in a cross-section including the axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protrusion (27), the side surface of the protrusion has a radius of 4 mm to 11 mm, preferably 5.5 mm to 8.5 mm. A bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 1. a cap arranged to open and close said bottle, preferably in a reversible manner, said cap being of the type removable from said bottle or of the type attached to said bottle; (27) is arranged to receive at least a portion of said cap therein and/or between said flange (22) when said bottle is opened; Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to claim 15, wherein said projection (27) is arranged to provide a support portion or to form a bearing inverse for said cap. Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protrusions preferably mark in relief. said bottle comprising a bottom adapted to accommodate said collar (21) of a similar bottle, said bottom having a first inverted shape for accommodating said collar (21) of said similar bottle; and said first inverted shape has a second inverted shape for accommodating said projection (27) of said collar of said similar bottle. A bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims. 19. According to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of projections between said flange and said shoulder, at least one of said projections, preferably each one thereof, adjoining said shoulder. bottle (20) collar (21). Bottle (20) collar (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protrusion (27) is hollow and arranged to be deformed by the user into a recessed position. a bottle (20),
- a body having a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the collar and said side wall;
- a bottle (20) comprising a collar (21) according to any one of claims 1-20. A bottle preform comprising a collar (21) according to any one of claims 1-9. 22. An article comprising a bottle (20) according to claim 21 and a device associated with the collar (21) of said bottle arranged to cooperate with a projection (27). Claim characterized in that said device is a shell, a system for distributing the fluid contained in said bottle or a device for connecting said bottle to a circuit for distributing fluid contained in said bottle. Item 24. The product according to item 23. 25. An object according to claim 24, characterized in that said device is a fluid dispenser contained in said bottle, bubbler, faucet or valve.

Images