NL2001397C2 - Stackable container for storing e.g. mineral water, has shoulder part extending from neck part towards body, bottom part equipped with recordable cavity, and set of shoulder bars stacked vertically on recordable cavity - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a body (2) and a top part (1) arranged on a bottom part (3), where the top part is connected to a packaging area by the body. A shoulder part (1b) and a neck part (1a) are included in the top part, where the neck part has an opening in non-confinement access to the packaging area. The shoulder part extends from the neck part towards the body. The bottom part is equipped with a recordable cavity, and a set of shoulder bars (4) is stacked vertically on the recordable cavity. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a stackable container.

Description

P83524NL00

Title: Stackable PET packaging and method for its production

The invention relates to a stackable polyethylene terephthalate package for liquid products, and a method for the manufacture of such a package.

Polyethylene terephthalate (also referred to as polyethylene terephthalate, hereinafter: PET) is a common plastic that is used, inter alia, for the manufacture of food packaging, such as the well-known bottles for soft drinks and mineral waters. In addition, PET is also frequently used for packaging non-food products, such as benzene and lamp oil. The use of PET offers great benefits. In the first place, the material is relatively inexpensive and widely available. Furthermore, it shows chemical compatibility with many substances to be packaged - including organic fuels -, it is easily recyclable, and packaging may be transparent, allowing an optical inspection of the contents from the outside. Finally, at an industrial filling location, preforms that are supplied in an economically efficient manner (Eng .: pre-form) with a small volume by means of stretch blow molding (Eng: stretch blow molding) can be 'just-in-time', ie correct before the need arises, be transformed into the desired packaging.

The usual volumes for PET packaging are in the range of a few tens of milliliters to a few liters. This volume upper limit is determined inter alia by the fact that, as the volume increases, a package is heavier in the filled state. A greater weight implies that higher demands are made on the mechanical strength of a package, in particular also when the package is stackable for efficient storage and transport. For example, with a stackable package, the mechanical resistance to vertical compressive forces should be such that the package only deforms to a limited extent under the load of one or more other (filled) packages. Any unavoidable deformation of the package must not jeopardize the stability of a stack, and moreover not lead to damage to the package, possibly resulting in a leak. However, the stretch blow molding process by which PET packages are produced has inherent properties that limit the mechanical strength of a package, given its size. For example, the maximum wall thickness to be realized, a factor of importance when it comes to mechanical strength, is directly related to the dimensions of a PET package.

The problem to be solved is the provision and production of stable and space-efficient, stackable large volume PET packaging. The present invention has for its object to provide a solution for this problem.

To this end, the invention provides a stackable package suitable for packaging liquids, which package is substantially made of polyethylene terephthalate, and which package comprises a bottom part, a body and an upper part, wherein the bottom part 20 is connected by the body to the upper part such that a packaging space is defined with a volume of more than 5 dm 3, wherein the upper part comprises a shoulder part and a neck part, in which neck part an opening is provided which gives access to the packaging space in an unclosed state, the shoulder part having a number outwards projecting shoulder projections which extend from the neck portion toward the body, and wherein the bottom portion is provided with both a receiving cavity geometrically corresponding to said neck portion and receiving the neck portion of a similar package is recordable, as of a number of geometric m said shoulder lugs corresponding recesses 3 (Eng .: notches) in which the shoulder lugs of the similar package can be received, if the two packages are stacked vertically.

The relatively large volume of the stackable PET package 5 according to the present invention is also made possible by the geometry of the package. In particular, the neck part receiving cavity in the bottom part and the shoulder cams, which cams, as it were, arise on the underside of the neck part and extend over the shoulder part towards the body, contribute to its structural strength. In addition, both the neck part receiving cavity and the shoulder lugs facilitate the mutual engagement of two or more vertically stacked packages. A neck portion received in a corresponding receiving cavity effectively prevents tilting and / or sliding off of the higher placed package, while the shoulder lugs received in corresponding recesses provide the combination with stability against rotation. Tests have already shown that it is possible to produce stable stackable PET packaging in accordance with the above description with a packaging space of up to approximately 30 dm3.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, a horizontal cross-sectional profile of the body of the package is in the form of a round-shaped rectangle.

By a rounded rectangle (Eng .: rounded rectangle) is meant a rectangle which in fact does not have four corners of 90 degrees, but in which the adjacent sides are connected by curved, at least approximately circular, part-shaped segments. Packages with a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a round-shaped rectangle can, in contrast to, for example, packages with a circular horizontal cross-section, be arranged spatially-efficiently.

Thus, between contiguous, co-suitable packages, for example 4, no more than a narrow, vertical gap at the location of the point of impact of four rounded corners need remain unused.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the body of the package comprises both a number of protruding side cams and a number of side recesses geometrically corresponding to said side cams, in which recesses one or more side cams of similar packages can be accommodated in case the packages be arranged in a sequential manner.

Packaging which is provided with one or more side socks and recesses corresponding thereto makes a stable arrangement of suitable packaging possible. After all, co-suitable packages can engage with each other by means of the side socks and corresponding recesses, and thus derive support from each other in mutual dependence, wherein in particular mutually longitudinal movements of the packages are prevented.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the neck part of the package is provided with a supporting edge all around, the package further comprising a separately manufactured handle, which handle is provided with an annular opening in which the neck part of the package can be slidably received, and wherein the annular opening along an inner circumference is provided with flexible lips arranged for co-action with the bearing edge, which lips give way to the bearing edge once when the handle is applied to the package, and which subsequently engage the bearing edge from below in order to lift the package with the help of the handle.

In order to increase the manageability of the package, the neck part of the package can be provided with a supporting edge all around, with which a handle adapted for cooperation with said edge can be connected. The combination makes it possible for persons to grasp and move the large volume package in a simple manner. It should be noted that the bearing edge can also be functional in the blowing process where it then performs the function of a blow ring. The bladder ring can therefore be adjusted in such a way that the handle remains behind and can therefore also function as a supporting edge.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a stackable package suitable for packaging liquids, comprising: - providing a preform made substantially from polyethylene terephthalate; - providing a mold which at least defines the contours of the packaging to be manufactured; - heating the preform; - transforming the preform into the desired PET package mainly within the mold by means of stretch blow molding; - removing the packaging thus obtained from the mold; wherein the mold comprises a mold upper part, a mold body and a mold bottom part for defining, respectively, an upper part, a body and a bottom part of the package to be manufactured, of which packaging the bottom part is connected by the body to the upper part such that a packaging space is defined with a volume of more than 5 dm 3, wherein the upper part of the package defined by the mold upper part comprises a shoulder part and a neck part, in which neck part an opening is provided which gives access to the packaging space in the non-closed state, mold bottom part defined bottom part of the package is provided with a receiving cavity in which the neck part of a similar package can be accommodated if the two packages are stacked vertically, wherein the shoulder part of the package defined by the mold upper part comprises a number of protruding shoulder mugs which extending from the neck part towards the body, and wherein the bottom part of the package defined by the mold bottom part comprises a number of recesses geometrically corresponding to said shoulder mugs in which the shoulder mugs of a similar package can be accommodated in case the two packages are stacked vertically.

With regard to the terminology used in this text, the following is noted for the sake of clarity. The package 10 according to the present invention has always been described in its most obvious orientation, that is, the orientation in which the package extends from the bottom part in a substantially vertical upward direction (cf. FIG. 1A-1B). Starting from this orientation, a horizontal cross-sectional profile and arrangement of packages are mentioned, among other things. The latter therefore means an arrangement extending in the horizontal plane. However, the packaging can of course also be used in other orientations, depending on the situation or application required. The terminology used is therefore not intended to constitute any limitation, and the effects mentioned apply in other than the described orientations of the package, unless expressly indicated, directly or mutatis mutandis.

The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a few figures.

Figures FIG. 1A-1D schematically show a perpendicular front, side and bottom view, respectively, and a bottom perspective view of a first 7 exemplary embodiment of a package according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of substantially an upper part of a second exemplary embodiment of a package according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of substantially a bottom part of a second exemplary embodiment of a package according to the present invention.

FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of a bottom part stacked on an upper part 10.

FIG. 3 shows a frontal view and two perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a handle adapted to cooperate with a bearing edge of a package.

FIG. 4 shows schematically how a package with a horizontal cross-section in the form of a circular rectangle makes spatially efficient arrangement possible.

Figure description

In the figures to be described below, identical and / or functionally corresponding parts are indicated with the same reference sign. In addition, in the figures - for the sake of clarity - not all parts with the same reference mark are always designated separately.

FIGS. 1A-1C schematically show a front, a side and a bottom view, respectively, of a first exemplary embodiment of a large volume of stackable PET packaging according to the present invention. FIG. 1D

additionally shows a three-dimensional perspective view, in which in particular the bottom part of the package shown in FIGS. 1A-1C is clearly visible.

In FIG. 1A-1B, it is visible how the package can be constructed from an upper part 1, a body 2 and a bottom part 3. The upper part 1 further comprises a neck part 1a and a shoulder part 1b. From the neck part 1a centrally positioned relative to the body 2, four shoulder cams 4 extend over the shoulder part 1b towards the body 2, in which direction the shoulder cams 4 gradually become wider.

The shoulder lugs 4 are important for the structural strength of the package, and - in conjunction with corresponding recesses in the bottom part - also have a fitting function in the vertical stacking of two or more packages. Between the upper part 1 and the bottom part 3 is the body 2 of the package, which represents the bulk of the package space. The body 2 has a horizontal cross-section in the form of a round-shaped rectangle, which makes it possible, inter alia, for the spatial-efficient arrangement of several packages (cf. FIG. 4 and the explanatory notes thereto). In FIGS. 1A-1B it is furthermore clearly visible that the body 2 has a number of horizontally oriented ribs 7 for strengthening the construction and (thus) limiting the amount of production material required. In addition to the ribs area, in order to promote a stable arrangement of packages, on the body 2 - in two imaginary, horizontal bands - there are both a number of protruding side socks 5 and a number in geometry and (side face) position with said side cams 5 have corresponding side recesses 6. In the bottom view of FIG. 1C it is clearly visible that a first pair of contiguous sides comprises the side lugs 5, while a second pair of contiguous sides is provided with the corresponding side recesses 6, which in FIG. 1C just cannot be seen. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1A-D, only one side cam or a corresponding recess is included per imaginary horizontal band, per side of the package. However, it is possible to provide more than two imaginary bands per side, and / or per band, per side, in several projections or recesses. See, for example, FIG.2A-C to be discussed below. It is also possible to vary the 9 geometry of the side cams 5 and the corresponding side recesses 6.

The package shown in FIGS. 1A-1C is shown in perspective view in FIG. ID. The bottom part 3 of the package in particular is clearly visible in this figure. The ridges 10, 10 ", etc. in the bottom part 3 serve to increase the stability of a stack of PET packages. The wobbling back and forth of stacked packages during transport is prevented by the ridges 10, 10 ", etc. It is to be noted that the design of the ridges is important for achieving this effect. The figure 10 also shows fishing rod recesses 22 to be discussed below. See the explanation in FIG. 2A-C.

During the production process, the packaging parts 1, 2 and 3 preferably correspond to three different mold segments, each segment consisting of two halves. The preferably four mold halves thus jointly defining the upper part 1 and the body 2, after completion of the stretch blow process, move apart in pairs diagonally - ie at 45 degrees to the sides of the body 2 - around both the shoulder cams 4 and the shoulder cams 4. side socks 5 and side recesses 6 to be released without damage. In other words: a plane in which two corresponding mold halves touch each other in the closed state is vertically oriented and contains a central longitudinal axis of the package to be formed; the plane also cuts two opposite rounded corners of the package in two. The mold parts defining the bottom part 3 will first have to move downwards, at least with respect to the packaging just manufactured, in order to release receiving cavity 9 in the bottom part 3, which corresponds to the neck part 1a of the packaging.

To illustrate the unusually large dimensions of an approximately 20 dm 3 PET package according to the present invention, some 30 values may be helpful. Using the process described, 10

During the development phase, among other things, packages were produced with a total length / height of approximately 443 mm, and a ground surface area of approximately 265 mm by 239 mm. The outer diameter of the round neck part in this package was approximately 65 mm (without supporting edge; with 5 supporting edge: approximately 75 mm), while the length of the neck part measured approximately 35 mm. The side socks protruded approximately 7 mm from the body.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of essentially an upper part 1 of a second exemplary embodiment of a package according to the present invention. In particular, the shoulder lugs 10 of the package are clearly visible in the figure. It can further be seen that around the neck portion, in the discussion of FIG. 3 is further explained, handle 30 is provided, which handle 30 is located just below a bearing edge 8 provided on the neck part. The opening in the neck part is covered with a (scorched) cap 21. The said bearing edge 8 is also functional in the blowing process where it is then again called the blowing ring. The bladder ring is therefore adapted in the sense that the handle 30 remains behind and therefore also serves as a bearing edge.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of substantially a bottom part 3 of a second exemplary embodiment of the package. The figure aims at giving an image of the geometry of the bottom part 3, which geometry in this alternative embodiment is somewhat simpler than that of the bottom part 3 shown in FIGS. 1C-D. Clearly visible are receiving cavity 9, for the neck part 1a of a similar package, recesses 23, for the shoulder lugs 4 of a similar package, 25 and handle-receiving recesses 22 for receiving a handle 30.

The handle 30 shown is not part of the bottom part 3 shown, but is shown to show how the handle 30 of a package can be received in the bottom part of a package stacked on top of it.

11 FIG. 2C forms a synthesis of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, and shows a perspective view (with cut-out) of a bottom part 3 stacked on an upper part 1. It is visible in particular how the shoulder lugs 4 of the upper part 1, the neck part la of the upper part 1, as well as the handle connected to the neck part la 30, are accommodated in the recesses provided for this purpose in the bottom part 3, or recesses 23, receiving cavity 9 and handle receiving recess 22, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a frontal view (left) and two perspective views (right) of an exemplary embodiment of a handle 10 which is adapted to cooperate with a carrying edge 8 possibly provided with a package on a neck part 1a (see FIG. 1A). The handle 30, which can for instance be manufactured in one piece by means of injection molding, comprises essentially two functionally distinguishable parts, namely a handle 33 and a ring 34. The ring 34 surrounds a round opening 15 which is provided along an inner circumference of flexible lips 31, 3Γ, etc. arranged for cooperation with the bearing edge 8. The lips 31, 31 ', etc. are angled with respect to the plane in which the handle as a whole extends substantially with the inside of the opening. connected to the ring 34. This is clearly visible in the perspective views. The inner diameter of the aperture is related to an outer diameter of the neck portion 1a, and should slightly exceed it to allow for fitting of the handle 30 around the neck portion 1a. Incidentally, the ring 34, as well as the opening defined by it, need not necessarily be circular, as shown. It is only required that the aperture defined by the ring 34 be matched in geometry to the shape of the neck portion 1a. A neck part 1a with an approximately square horizontal cross-sectional profile, and a handle 30 with a correspondingly shaped opening, therefore also suffice in principle.

12

The handle 30 is arranged around the neck part 1a of a package simply by sliding the ring 34 around the neck part 1a towards the body 2 of the package. Of course, the handle 30 must here be oriented in such a way that the lips 31, 3, etc., when contacting the bearing edge 8 provided around the neck part 1a, can slightly diverge outward to allow the bearing edge 8 to pass. Once the carrying edge 8 has passed the lips 31, 31 ", etc., the lips 31, 3, etc. will spring back, and will no longer allow an opposite movement of the handle 30. If the handle 30 is now lifted by the handle 33, the carrying capacity will be transferred via the lips 31, 31 ', etc. on the inside of the opening in the ring 34 from below to the carrying edge 8 of the package, whereby the lifting the package is possible. It will be clear that the lips 31, 31 ", etc., in order to be able to fulfill a carrying function, may not be designed to be too flexible. Their flexibility 15 serves primarily to enable the rod 30 to be fitted around the neck portion 1a of the package.

In order to prevent unintended rotation of a handle 30 arranged around a neck part 1a during the production phase, a number of - for example two - adjacent lips 35, 35 'can be made a fraction shorter than the other lips 31, 31', etc. the neck part 1a of the package should in that case be provided, slightly below bearing edge 8, a corresponding anti-rotation cam, with a length slightly smaller than the combined width of the adjacent lips 35, 35 ', which are provided in the two lips 35, 35 '.

From a production technical point of view, the anti-rotation cam can be arranged both in the mold of the preform and in the mold of the package, with the former option being preferred. In the first case, the preform is then already provided with the anti-rotation cam during manufacture by means of injection molding, for example, while in the second case the anti-rotation cam is only formed during the stretch blow molding of the package. The depth of the recess and the height of the corresponding anti-rotation cam are preferably approximately 1 mm. This depth / height is sufficiently large to prevent rotation of the handle 30 around the neck part 1a during production of the PET package, and at the same time sufficiently small to allow the consumer / user to subsequently rotate the handle 30 to adjust the package to the desired to intervene. The importance of the rotation blockage is in particular that it prevents the handle 30, after it has been placed on the package in a desired position, from unintentionally rotating relative to the package 10, as a result of which the stable stacking of several packages could be frustrated. A handle 30 arranged on a package and extending from the neck part la above a shoulder cam 4, for example, can prevent a tight fit of said shoulder cam in a recess 23 provided for this purpose in the bottom part of a package placed on top of it, and thus cause instability . In order to guarantee the best possible stability of a stacking even when a handle 30 is used, it is therefore advantageous, in addition to the foregoing, to provide handle receiving recesses 22 in the bottom part 3 for receiving a handle 30. It can also be prevented in this way that the handle 30 or the package is accidentally damaged as a result of stacking.

The in FIG. The cam 32 shown in Fig. 3 is not intended for cooperation with the package, but is provided on ring 34 as a landmark for equipment which applies the handle 30 to the package during production. On the basis of cam 32, said equipment can assess whether the handle is correctly oriented, thus preventing, for example, the handle being applied "upside down" to the package.

In addition to the above-described concept of a handle 30 and a carrying edge 8 arranged for cooperation therewith, a package - 14 for gripping and moving it - can alternatively be provided with a flexible carrying strap which, for example, by gluing to the body or the body. upper part of the package can be attached. A flexible carrier belt is preferably made relatively flat, so that it does not form an obstacle when stacking several packages. That is, such that close-fitting accommodation of a neck part 1a, shoulder cams 4, or side cams 5 in recesses of another package provided for this purpose is not prevented by a carrying strap accidentally located in said recesses.

FIG. 4 shows schematically how a package 40, 40 ", etc. with a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a rounded rectangle allows spatial-efficient arrangement. Visible, in schematic plan view, are four identical, substantially contiguous, parallel packages 40-40 "" with a horizontal cross-section 15 in the form of a round-shaped rectangle, in this case a round-shaped square. The packages are placed on a pallet 42, the surface of which is approximately exactly covered. Drawn in the schematic plan views of the packages 40-40 "" are schematic plan views of four alternative packages 41-41 "" 20 with a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a circle. The shaded parts in the plan views of the first-mentioned packages 40-40 "indicate space that would not be used when using the latter packages 41-41". It will be clear from this representation that a package with a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a rounded rectangle, in the light of efficient transportability, is preferred over a package with a different cross-sectional profile, such as a circular profile. Furthermore, it will be clear that a package with such a ground surface occupation that a whole number of such packages can accurately cover a bearing platform surface of a pallet, also promotes efficient transportability. The most common bearing surface dimensions of pallets on the European mainland are 800x1200 mm. Pallets with these bearing surface dimensions are generally indicated by the term 5 Euro pallets. Stackable packages according to the present invention, wherein the body has a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a rounded rectangle, can therefore be transported very efficiently with the aid of Euro pallets if the length and the width of the cross-section are approximately 265 mm and 239 mm respectively amounts. Of a package with these dimensions, 15 can be placed on a pallet, in a 5 by 3 arrangement, in a suitable manner. In addition, a second and a third layer can be stacked on top of a first layer of packages, so that a loaded pallet can certainly comprise 45 packages.

With regard to the method according to the present invention, the following is further noted. The properties of a preform largely determine the quality of the PET packaging to be produced. Although these properties may depend on the volume of the package to be produced, here are illustrative here some parameters of a preform for a 20 liter package that led to good results in the test phase: outer preform diameter: 63 mm; wall thickness: 8 mm; length: 270 mm. You can vary on these parameters. For example, the wall thickness does not have to be the same over the entire length of the pre-form. In order to reduce the amount of material required without appreciably (negatively) affecting the quality of the package, it is possible, for example, to make the underside of the preform - corresponding to the bottom of the package - slightly thinner than its walls. The preform is heated at a temperature of approximately 100 ° C, and then blown out at a pressure of approximately 35-40 bar.

16

Although in the foregoing the present invention has been elucidated with reference to a few exemplary embodiments, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes can be made by a person skilled in the art to the discussed exemplary embodiments without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as laid down in the following claims.

Claims (23)

A stackable package suitable for packaging liquids, which package is substantially made of polyethylene terephthalate, and which package comprises a bottom part (3), a body (2) and an upper part 5 (1), the bottom part (3) being the body (2) is connected to the upper part (1) such that a packaging space is defined with a volume of more than 5 dm1, the upper part (1) comprising a shoulder part (1b) and a neck part (1a), in which neck part (la) an opening is provided which gives access to the packaging space in the non-closed state, the shoulder part (1b) comprising a number of projecting shoulder cams (4) extending from the neck part (la) towards the body (2) ), and wherein the bottom part (3) is provided with both a receiving cavity (9) geometrically corresponding to said neck part, in which the neck part (1a) of a similar package can be accommodated, and with a number of geometrically with said sc holder lugs (4) corresponding recesses (23) in which the shoulder lugs (4) of the similar package can be received, in case the two packages are stacked vertically. Stackable package according to claim 1, wherein the package space has a volume greater than 10 dm1. Stackable package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the * packaging space has a volume between 20 and 30 dm1. 4. Stackable package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a horizontal cross-sectional profile of the body is in the form of a round-shaped rectangle. A stackable package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises both a number of protruding side cams (5) and a number of side recesses (6) geometrically corresponding to said side cams, in which recesses one or more side cams of similar packages can be accommodated in the case that the packages are arranged in a consecutive manner. 6. Stackable package according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the body comprises four sides, two contiguous sides of which are provided with one or more projecting protrusions (5), and the other two contiguous sides are provided with side recesses ( 6) which in position and geometry correspond to the side socks provided on the respective opposite sides. 7. Stackable package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck part is provided with a bearing edge (8) all around, and wherein the package further comprises a separately manufactured handle (30), which handle is provided with an annular opening in which the neck part ( la) can be slidably received from the package, and wherein the annular opening is provided along an inner circumference with flexible lips (31) designed for cooperation with the bearing edge, which lips give way to the bearing edge once when the handle is applied to the package, and which subsequently engage the carrying edge from below to enable lifting of the package with the aid of the handle. 30 Stackable package according to claim 7, wherein the handle (30) is provided with an anti-rotation cam, and wherein the neck part (1a) is provided with a recess designed for cooperation with said anti-rotation cam, or vice versa. 5 Stackable package according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the handle (30) is provided with a recess arranged for cooperation with an anti-rotation cam provided on the neck part (1a), which recess is formed by one or more adjacent lips (35) which are shorter than the other lips (31). 10. Stackable package as claimed in any of the claims 7-9, wherein the bottom part (3) is provided with a handle-receiving recess (22) in which the handle (30) arranged on a similar package can at least partially be accommodated in case the two packages become vertical stacked. 11. Stackable package as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the package, with the exception of any side socks (5) and of side recesses (6), which are arranged for cooperation with side socks provided on a similar package, is substantially line-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary axis extending through the bottom part (3), the body (2) and the top part (1). 12. Stackable package as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which has such a ground surface area that an integer number of such packages, when suitably arranged co-ordinarily, can approximately accurately cover a carrying platform surface of a Euro pallet. 30 13. Stackable package according to any one of the preceding claims, which is at least partially manufactured with the aid of a method according to one of claims 14-24. A method for manufacturing a stackable package suitable for packaging liquids, comprising: - providing a preform made essentially of polyethylene terephthalate; - providing a mold which at least defines the contours of the packaging to be manufactured; - heating the preform; - transforming the preform into the desired PET package mainly within the mold by means of stretch blow molding; 15. removing the packaging thus obtained from the mold; wherein the mold comprises a mold upper part, a mold body and a mold bottom part for defining, respectively, an upper part (1), a body (2) and a bottom part (3) of the package to be manufactured, of which package the bottom part (3) is body (2) is connected to the upper part (1) such that a packaging space is defined with a volume of more than 5 dm 3, the upper part (1) of the package defined by the mold upper part comprising a shoulder part (1b) and a neck part (1) 1a), in which neck part (1a) an opening is provided which, in the non-closed state, provides access to the packaging space, wherein bottom part (3) of the package defined by the mold bottom part is provided with a receiving cavity (9) in which the neck part (1a) of a similar package can be received if the two packages are stacked vertically, the shoulder part (1b) of the package defined by the mold upper part ng comprises a number of projecting shoulder cams (4) extending from the neck part (1a) towards the body (2), and wherein the bottom part (3) of the package defined by the mold bottom part has a number of recesses corresponding geometrically to said shoulder cams 5 (23) in which the shoulder lugs (4) of a similar package can be received if the two packages are stacked vertically. The method of claim 14, wherein the package defined by the mold 10 has a package space with a volume greater than 10 dm 3. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the package defined by the mold has a packaging space with a volume between 20 and 30 dm 3. A method according to any one of claims 14-16, wherein the body of the package defined by the mold has a horizontal cross-sectional profile in the form of a rounded rectangle. 20 18. Method as claimed in any of the claims 14-17, wherein the upper part of the package defined by the mold comprises a number of shoulder cams projecting outwardly of the packaging space and extending from the neck part towards the body, and wherein the the bottom part defined by the mold comprises a number of recesses geometrically corresponding to said shoulder projections, wherein said shoulder projections defined by the mold can be accommodated for the vertical stacking of manufactured packages. 19. Method as claimed in any of the claims 14-18, wherein the body of the package defined by the mold comprises both a number of protrusions protruding from the packaging space and a number of recesses geometrically corresponding to said protrusions, in which recesses one or more said side socks defined by the mold can be received for a continuous, suitable arrangement of two or more manufactured packages. 20. Method as claimed in any of the claims 14-19, wherein the mold upper part and the mold body both consist of two separate halves, which halves move diagonally apart after completion of the stretch blow molding. 21. Method as claimed in any of the claims 14-20, wherein a plane in which two corresponding mold halves touch each other in the closed state is vertically oriented and contains a central longitudinal axis of the package to be formed, and two opposite rounded corners of the package in two cuts. A method according to any one of claims 14-21, wherein the preform has a wall thickness of approximately 8 mm over substantially its entire length. The method of any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the preform has a length of approximately 270 mm. 25 The method of any one of claims 14-23, wherein the preform is heated to about 100 ° C, and then blown out at pressures in the range of 35-40 bar.