NL2010915C2

NL2010915C2 - Beverage container and method for manufacturing a beverage container.

Info

Publication number: NL2010915C2
Application number: NL2010915A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Peter Henri Samuel Wigman
Original assignee: Heineken Supply Chain Bv
Priority date: 2013-06-04
Filing date: 2013-06-04
Publication date: 2014-12-08

Description

Title: Beverage container and method for manufacturing a beverage container

The invention relates to a beverage container, especially a beverage container for a carbonated beverage, and a method for manufacturing such container.

Beverage is traditionally packaged in containers for individual or limited numbers of servings, such as metal cans of for example 0.33 or 0.5 litres or for example plastic, glass or metal bottles of for example 0.33, 0.5 or 1 litres.

Metal cans are normally formed by thin pressing a lower part, filled with the beverage and closed by a substantially flat metal top with a pull tab opening. The top is sealed onto the lower part after filling. A consumer can open the can by pulling the pull tab. The consumer can then either pour the drink from the can through the opening left by the pull tab, or can drink directly from said opening.

Bottles are traditionally filled with beverage and closed by a crown cork type closure. A consumer can open the bottle by removing the closure. The consumer can then either pour the drink from the bottle through the opening left by the pull tab, or can drink directly from said opening.

Both types of containers have the disadvantage that drinking from the opening is not entirely satisfactory for a consumer.

The present description discloses an alternative packaging for beverage. The present description discloses an alternative container with an improved drinking experience. The present description discloses a beverage container having a construction such that a consumer does not have to drink directly from the opening. The description discloses an alternative method for forming a beverage container, especially carbonated beverage.

In an aspect a beverage container according to this description can comprise a body and a dispense opening, wherein the body preferably has a substantially cylindrical wall section and a longitudinal axis, a bottom and a top. The dispense opening is provided at the top, wherein the dispense opening is defined at least in part by a neck portion. A top wall part of the container extends around said neck portion and dispense opening. A lid is provided closing at said dispense opening and, preferably, also at said top wall part.

In an aspect a beverage container description can comprise a surface extending around the dispense opening and/or neck portion, sloping up from the dispense opening and/or the neck. The surface can be flat or curved. The sloping surface and top wall near the dispense opening can provide for a guide surface and a consumer can drink from the container by engaging the top wall, beverage flowing from the dispense opening along an inner surface of the top wall to the consumers mouth.

In an aspect a beverage container can comprise a connecting ring mounted to the body of the container, for example by welding or gluing. Preferably the sloping surface extends at or above an upper side of the connecting ring.

In an aspect a beverage container can comprise a lid closing the dispense opening and closing against an upper edge of the top wall. Preferably the lid can be removed by rotating it over a limited angle, such that both the dispense opening is opened and the upper edge of the top wall is released too. In embodiments a sleeve can be provided around at least part of the body and the top wall, preferably such that an outer part of the top wall is covered by the sleeve and can be removed prior to drinking. Thus the part of the top wall contacted by the consumer is kept clean until the beverage is to be consumed.

In an aspect a method for manufacturing a beverage container can comprise the steps of: forming a plastic preform with a neck; mounting a connecting ring onto the preform; blow moulding a bottle shaped body from the preform; injection moulding a top element, comprising a peripheral top wall and a cross wall within said top wall, the cross wall comprising an opening, forming a lid with a stump; filling the body with beverage, especially carbonated beverage; fitting the top element onto the body and fitting the lid to the top element, such that the stump closes a dispense opening in the connecting ring.

In order to further elucidate the present invention, embodiments thereof shall be disclosed and discussed hereafter, with reference to the drawings. Therein shows:

Fig. 1 a perspective view from a top side of an opened and closed beverage container, side by side;

Fig. 2 a perspective view of a body for a beverage container, seen from the bottom;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a preform for forming a body of a beverage container, with a connecting ring mounted thereto, in a blow mould;

Fig. 4 a cross sectional side view of a container according to the invention;

Fig. 5 in two different perspective views a connecting ring;

Fig. 6 in perspective view a lid for a container according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 7 in enlarged cross sectional side view an upper part of a beverage container;

Fig. 8 discloses an alternative embodiment of a container, in perspective view;

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a container, in longitudinal cross section, in an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 9A shows a top unit according, for forming the embodiment of fig. 9;

Fig. 10 shows a beverage container with a sleeve around part of the container; and

Fig. 11A and B a top unit according to the disclosure, in cross sectional view and perspective view respectively.

In this description embodiments are shown and disclosed of the invention, by way of example only. These should by no means be interpreted or understood as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. In this description the same or similar elements are indicated by the same or similar reference signs. In this description embodiments of the present invention shall be discussed with reference to carbonated beverages, especially beer. However, other beverages could also be used in the present invention.

In this description references to above and below, top and bottom and the like shall be considered, unless specifically stipulated differently, to an orientation of a container standing up, as for example shown in fig. 1. This does not necessarily reflect the orientation in which container of the present disclosure or parts thereof have to be used. Words and indications like substantially or about, used with reference to for example relative positions, orientation, sizes, shapes and dimensions, should be understood at least as meaning that deviations are possible within the scope of the description as will be readily considered by the skilled person, which deviations could for numerical values for example be about 20% or less, such as 15% or less, for example 10% or less of the original value.

In this description a beverage container can be understood as at least including a packaging for single servings or a limited number of servings, such as for example between 0.25 and 2 htres, for example between 0.33 and 0.5 litres. A container according to the present description can especially be suitable for drinking directly from the container. A container

Fig. 1 shows a beverage container 1 comprising a body 2 and with a dispense opening 3. In this embodiment the body 2 has a substantially cylindrical wall section 4 and a longitudinal axis X - X, a bottom 5 and a top 6. The body 2 can be substantially cylindrical, and can for example be substantially bottle shaped. The dispense opening 3 is provided at the top 6. The dispense opening 3 is defined at least in part by a neck portion 7. In this embodiment a top element 8 is mounted onto the body 2. The top element 8 comprises a top wall part 9 and a sloping surface 10 within the top wall part 9. The sloping surface can be substantially flat or can be curved, for example in one or two directions. The surface 10 can for example be substantially semi-spherical, for example such that the dispense opening 3 is positioned at substantially the lowest point of said surface. The sloping surface 10 can slope at an angle 6 relative to the axis X - X, which angle can for example be between 30 and 90 degrees, more specifically between 45 and 88 degrees.

The angle 6 can for example be between 60 and 88 degrees, such as for example about 75 degrees. When the surface 10 is curved the sloping angle 6 can be defined by an imaginary surface P defined by the connecting line 10C between the surface 10 and the top wall part 9, as for example shown in fig. 4. The top wall part 9 extends around said neck portion 7 and dispense opening 3. In this embodiment a lid 11 is provided closing said dispense opening 3, which can also engage at said top wall part 9. Preferably the fid 11 engages an upper edge 12 of the top wall part, for example on top of such edge 12 and/or along a outer peripheral portion thereof. Alternatively a lid could be provided for closing off the dispense opening 3 only. A further lid or cover can then be provided closing against the top wall part 9, preferably at an upper edge 12 thereof.

The top element 8 can in embodiments be made separate from the body 2 and can then be mounted to said body. An embodiment of such unit 8 is for example shown in fig. 11A and B, wherein in fig. 11A a cross sectional view of such unit is shown along an imaginary plane Z through and including a central axis X’- X’ of the top unit 8, which may coincide with the axis X - X of the container when placed on the body 2, whereas the axis N’-N’ of the first portion 18 may then coincide with the axis N - N of the neck portion 7 and/or dispense opening 3 and/or connecting ring 19, as will be discussed. In alternative embodiments the top element 8 can, at least partly, be an integral part of the body 2, as for example shown in fig. 8 and 9. For example the top wall part 9 can be made partly or entirely integral with the body 2 and the sloping surface 10 can be made comprising the dispense opening, for example defined by a neck portion or provided in said surface 10 or a wall 15 defining said surface 10, which can then be mounted to the top wall part 9 and/or the body 2, as shown in fig. 9, as will be discussed.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1-7 the body is formed having substantially a bottle shape, as for example shown in fig. 2. The body 2 can for example be formed from a preform 13, as for example shown in fig. 3.

The preform 13 can be made of plastic, for example PET or a PET blend, or a similar suitable plastic or plastic bend for packaging beverage, such as especially a carbonated beverage. Preferably a plastic or plastic blend is used for packaging beer.

In embodiments the dispense opening 3 can be positioned off-centre relative to the longitudinal axis X - X. The dispense opening 3 can be positioned close to the top wall part 9. The dispense opening 3 can be positioned at a lower side 10A or end of the sloping surface 10, in which lower should be understood as an end closer to the bottom of the container than another portion, especially but not exclusively a highest end 10B of said surface. Such lower side can be but not necessarily is at an edge of said surface 10. The surface area A of the dispense opening 3, measured perpendicular to an axis N - N of the opening and/or neck region can be relatively large compared to the largest cross sectional area B of the body 2, perpendicular to the axis X - X, for example between 0.2 and 0.5 times the said cross sectional area B of the body 2, for example at least about 0.25 times said area. In embodiments the dispense opening 3 can have a substantially circular cross section with a diameter D0 at least about half the largest cross section Db of the body 2. The body can also be substantially circular in cross section and can be substantially cylindrical. Such relatively large dispense opening 3 can be beneficial in providing a desirable flow pattern and allowing air to enter into the body easily when dispensing beverage, for example when drinking or pouring from the container.

In embodiments the neck portion 7 can have a central neck axis N - N, angled relative to the longitudinal axis X - X of the body 2. The angle a between the axis X - X and N - N can for example be between 0 and 30 degrees, more specifically between 0 and 15 degrees such as for example between 0 and 10 degrees. The angle a can for example be between 1 and 5 degrees. In the embodiment shown the angle a is about 4 degrees.

Preferably the angle a corresponds to an angle φ of the surface area 10 relative to the axis X - X at the area of the neck 7, such that the dispense opening 3 hes substantially parallel to the relevant part of the sloping surface 10 and/or said imaginary plane P. When the surface 10 is flat the angles a and φ can be substantially the same. By providing such angle a a comfortable drinking position can even further be enhanced and it can be prevented that beverage gets stuck at said surface 10 around the neck portion 7. Moreover this can in embodiments allow for easy access and closure of the opening 3. Furthermore this can aid in preventing any transition between the neck region 7 and the surface 10 from interfering with a desirable flow pattern of the beverage over said surface. Obviously in other embodiments the angles α, 6 and/or φ could be different, wherein for example the axis X - X and N - N could be substantially parallel or even coinciding, wherein preferably the surface 10 at least partly is inclined relative to the axis X - X and is in all embodiments preferably positioned below the edge 12 of the top wall 9.

In embodiments as shown the top wall 9 can be connected to the body 2 by a connection 14 formed with the neck portion 7. To this end a snap connection 14 between the neck portion 7 and a wall 15 connected to the top wall portion 9 can be used. The snap connecting can be formed around an opening 32 in the wall 15, by or comprising a snap ring 16 formed with or connected to the wall 15 and a flange 17 of the neck 7. Obviously also other means for attachment can be used, for example screw threads, bayonet provisions, press fit, glue, welding or the like, whereas such attachment provision can also or additionally be provided between the body 2 and the top element or unit 8 in a different position, for example at a lower end of the wall 9. Preferably an attachment provision like a snap connection is used such that the unit 8 can integrally be pressed onto the body 2. The wall 15 can provide for the sloping surface 10 as well. In advantages embodiments the top wall 9 and the surface 15 can be integrally formed or connected to each other for forming at least part of the top element or unit 8.

As can be seen from for example fig. 1 and 8, in beverage containers according to the disclosure a space S defined by the top wall 9 and surface 10 of the wall 15 at and around the dispense opening 3 can form a receptacle for beverage flowing from the body, from which space S it can be poured or drank. When drinking from the container 1 the lips of a drinker can be placed against and/or partly over the edge 12 of the wall 9, for example directly above the dispensing opening 3, for a very convenient and agreeable drinking experience, as if drinking from a cup or glass. By providing the dispense opening 3 at a low part of the surface 10 beverage remaining in the space S may flow back into the body when the container is repositioned on the bottom 5.

As is for example shown in fig. 1, 4 and 7 a lid 11 can be placed on the container 1, especially closing off the dispense opening 3.

In embodiments the lid 11 can comprise to that end a first portion 18 which can close off the dispense opening 3 liquid and gas tight. To that end closing provisions, for example screw threads could be provided inside the neck 7, especially inside the dispense opening 3, whereas the portion 18 of the lid could be provided with complementary provisions, such as counter screw threads. This will mean that the preform 13 will have to be provided with internal screw threads.

In embodiments shown for example in fig. 1, 4 and 7 a connecting ring 19 can provide in the dispense opening 3 of the body 2, which can for example be made by injection moulding. The connecting ring 19 can for example be provided with screw threads 20, wherein the fid 11, especially the first portion 18 thereof, comprises complementary screw threads 21, for mounting the lid 11 to the neck portion 7. The screw threads 20 of the connecting ring 19 are preferably internal to the ring 19, as is shown in fig. 5. The ring 19 can for example comprise a flange 22 extending outward, and a portion 23 which fits relatively snugly inside the opening 3, such that the flange 22 can rest on the upper end 24 of the neck 7, for example on the flange 17. In embodiments the connecting ring 19 has been mounted to the body 2 by non-releasable means, such as by welding, gluing or press fitting, or by snapping it over the flange 17 and/or into the neck 7. In embodiments the connecting ring 19 can be mounted by spin welding or ultrasonic welding. Preferably the connecting ring 19 is mounted to the preform 13 prior to blow moulding the preform 13 into the body 2 in a blow mould 25 as schematically shown in fig. 3. In such mould conventional blow moulding can be used for blow moulding the body 2 into shape, wherein the preform may be suspended from the neck 7 off-set from a central axis Y - Y of the blow mould 25, with the axis X - X parallel to the axis Y - Y or at an angle relative to it.

In preferred embodiments the first portion 18 and ring 19 will be provided with screw threads allowing the lid to open and close the dispense opening by a limited rotation of the first portion 18, especially around the axis N - N, for example over less than 360°, for example less than 180°. The screw threads may allow opening and closing by a rotation over less than 45 °. Such screw threads are known in the art, for example from GB2308353 or as marketed by International Packaging Ltd, GB, or Beeson & Sons Ltd, GB. Such screw threads are especially advantageous because they allow easy opening and closing. Moreover they may be especially advantages when the lid also closes against the top wall 9.

In fig. 4, 6, 7 and 11 a lid 11 is shown having said first portion 18, which may be referred to as a stump, and a second portion 26, which may be referred to as a closing portion or closing wall, which can be attached to or at least fitted or coupled to the first portion 18 for forming the lid 11. The first portion 18 in this embodiment can be substantially cylindrical, having cylindrical wall portion 27 carrying or forming the screw threads 21, and a closing wall 28 which may have a cross section slightly larger than the internal cross section of the wall portion 27, such that it can abut the flange 22 of the connecting ring 19, limiting movement of the lid 11 downward. Preferably a lower edge 29 of the wall portion 27 seals in this position against a lower portion 50 of the connecting ring 19, such that when the first portion 18 is raised from the position as e.g. shown in fig. 7, first said seal will be broken, allowing excess pressure to escape from the body 2, along the first portion 18, before the fid 11 is entirely unscrewed.

The first portion 18 may comprise a further part 30 at a side of the wall 28 opposite the portion 27, onto which the second portion 26 can be placed, which second portion to that end has a complementary body portion 31 which may fit into and/or over the further part 30 and can for example be press fit, snapped, glued, welded or otherwise fixed in position relative to the first portion 18, such that a rotation of the further part 30 will lead to a rotation of the first portion 18 for unscrewing or otherwise releasing the first portion 18 from the opening 3 and/or the connecting ring 19. The second part further 26 comprises a closing element 33, connected to the further part 30, which can close off the opening formed by the edge 12 of the top wall part 9 or unit 8, and/or the space S. In the embodiments shown the element 33 is substantially circular, such that a peripheral rim 33A can engage the edge portion 12. As is shown in fig. 7 the rim 33A may be bent downward, in order to properly fit substantially flush with said upper edge 12. The rim portion could alternatively be formed, for example flat. Preferably the lid 11 closes off against an upper edge 12, limiting the risk of contamination of said edge 12.

In stead of screw threads 20, 21 obviously other means can be used for attaching the lid 11 to the container, for example bayonet provisions. Alternatively the first portion 18 can be a stopper or plug which can be pressed into the dispense opening 3 and/or connecting ring 19, wherein the hd can but not has to be attached further to the unit 8, for example by screw threads or bayonet provisions at the top wall portion 9. Alternatively or additionally the first and second portions 18, 26 can be made integrally.

In the embodiments shown the upper side of the connecting ring 19, especially the flange 22 is positioned substantially flush with the surface 10 surrounding it, or slightly below it, such that beverage in said space S can flow back into said opening easily. The connection between the snap ring 16 and the neck 7 and/or ring 19 is preferably sufficiently tight that it is liquid tight.

Fig. 8 and 9 shows an alternative embodiment of a beverage container 1 according to this disclosure, wherein the body 2 is substantially open at the top 7 and can for example be substantially cylindrical. Such body can for example be made from plastic or metal, such as for example aluminium or magnesium. A top unit 8 can be mounted on top of an upper edge of the wall 4 of the body 2, for example in a manner known from beverage cans, such as for example by chnching, welding or gluing. An upper portion of the wall 4 can then be considered forming a top wall part 9. The unit 8 can for example be forged or pressed, and can comprise a dispense opening 3 closed by a hd 11 which may be integral with the unit 8, as is for example known from beverage cans, with a conventional tear hp 40 for opening the lid 11, again common to known beverage cans. In this embodiment the unit 8 comprises a wall 15, sloping at an angle 6 relative to the axis X - X of the body 2, as discussed before, and a top wall portion 9 extending around at least most of the periphery of the wall 15. The opening 3 with lid 11 and tear lip 40 are provided in and at the wall 15, preferably relatively close to the lower side 10A thereof. An upper edge portion 12 of the wall portion 9 is clinched over the upper end of the wall 4 of the body 2. Thus again a space S is defined above the sloping surface 10 of the wall 15, whereas a user can engage the container 1 at the upper end of the wall 4 and over the clinched edge in order to drink from the container 1, after opening the opening 3 by pushing the lid 11 out of the way from the opening 3 at least partly by using the tear lip 40 in a known manner.

Preferably in this embodiment too a further closure 33 is provided over the space S, as shown in fig. 10, resting on and/or over the clinch connection, preventing the unit 8 and especially the surface 10 of the wall 15 and top wall portion 9 from being contaminated prior to drinking from the container, similar to one of the functions of the lid 11 as shown in e.g. fig. 6.

In embodiments a sleeve 41 can be provided around and/or over at least part of an outer side of the container 1, especially over at least an upper part of the outside of the wall 4 of the body and the outside of the top wall 9 of the unit 8, and partly on top of the unit 8, especially covering at least a peripheral part of a lid 11 and/or element 33 closing of the space S, such that said portions of the container are shielded from contamination, at least prior to use. Moreover such sleeve 41, which can for example be made of plastic, can easily be used for branding, for shielding the contents of the container from for example light, especially UV light, or increase the impermeability of the wall of the body 2 for e.g. gas, such as oxygen and/or CO2. Moreover such sleeve can aid in the connection of the unit 8 to the body 2 and can cover a transition between the unit 8 and body 2, and can for example aid in closing off the space between the body 2 and wall 15 from for example ingress of moisture. The sleeve 41 can be provided with a tear line 42, for example just above the transition 43 between the body 2 and the unit 8, if provided for, such that an upper portion 41A of the sleeve can be removed before opening the container and drinking or pouring from it. The sleeve will have protected the outside surfaces of the container where beverage and/or the lips of a user are likely to contact said surfaces, increasing hygiene. In other embodiments for example the entire sleeve can be removed. Many variations are obviously possible for the same effect.

In hg. 9 the sleeve 41 is provided over the space S, covering the top of the container and preventing it from contamination.

When forming and using a container according to this disclosure, in embodiments the following steps can advantageously be performed: forming a plastic preform with a neck; mounting a connecting ring onto the preform; blow moulding a bottle shaped body from the preform; injection moulding a top element, comprising a peripheral top wall and a cross wall within said top wall, the cross wall comprising an opening, forming a hd with a stump; filling the body with beverage, especially carbonated beverage; fitting the top element onto the body and fitting the lid to the top element, such that the stump closes a dispense opening and/or the connecting ring.

In embodiments mounting the connecting ring can be left out, if the lid is for example press fit into the dispense opening as a stump, such as or similar to a cork, or when the lid and dispense opening are provided with mutually cooperating connecting elements, or when the lid is mounted in a different, manner to the container, closing the dispense opening 3.

With advantageous embodiments the top unit 8 can be completed, including the lid 11 and connecting ring 19, and snap fit or otherwise attached completely onto the body 2, with the lid 11 already closing off the connecting ring 19. In other embodiments, as for example shown in fig. 11A and B, for example in which the connecting ring 19 is fixed to the preform 13 prior to blow moulding, or to the body 2 prior to filhng, the top unit 8 can be placed by snap fitting in to the container or otherwise attaching it to the container, whereby either the first portion of the lid is forced into the connecting ring 19 and/or dispense opening 3, for example by rotation of the lid relative to the body and/or by deforming the parts slightly, or by press fitting the snap connection and at the same time fitting the second portion 26 to the first portion 18 of the lid, after having mounted the first portion 18 into the connecting ring 19 or opening 3. Alternatively the lid 11 can be rotated into the closing position.

In this description reference is made to a dispense opening and to a connecting ring which may be provided into such opening. Furthermore reference is made to closing off the dispense opening, for example by providing a lid which is designed to be at least partly inserted into and/or over the dispense opening, which should be understood as including embodiments in which such lid is inserted at least partly into and/or over an opening of such connecting ring mounted in said dispense opening, which should also be understood as meaning closing off the dispense opening.

The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments specifically disclosed and discussed here above. Many variations thereof are possible, including but not limited to combinations of parts of embodiments shown and described. For example the container can be made of different materials, and can have different shapes and/or volumes.

These any many other variations are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A beverage container comprising a body and a dispensing opening, the body preferably having a substantially cylindrical wall part and a longitudinal axis, a bottom and a top, the dispensing opening being provided at the top, the dispensing opening being at least partially through a neck part is defined, and an upper wall part of the container extends around said neck part and dispensing opening, wherein a lid is provided which closes at said dispensing opening and preferably additionally at said upper wall part.

Beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening is eccentrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis X - X.

Beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck part has a central neck axis that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface is provided around at least one of the dispensing opening and the neck part, which surface is at least partially inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis and is connected to or integrally formed by the upper wall part, the surface is preferably inclined at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body, which angle is preferably between 30 and 90 degrees, more particularly between 45 and 88 degrees, more preferably between 60 and 88 degrees, such as, for example, about 75 degrees.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper wall is connected to the body by a connection formed with the neck part, preferably by a snap connection between the neck part and a wall connected to the upper wall part.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck portion comprises a connecting ring mounted on the body.

A beverage container according to claim 6, wherein the connecting ring is threaded or a bayonet provision, the lid comprising complementary thread or bayonet provision for attaching the lid to the neck part, the thread or bayonet provision of the connecting ring being preferably internal to the ring to provide.

A beverage container according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the connecting ring is attached to the body in a non-releasable manner, such as by welding, gluing or press fitting.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid comprises a stub that fits into and / or over the dispensing opening and comprises a closing wall which is connected to the stump and which closing wall connects to an upper edge of the upper wall.

10. Beverage container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the body is formed by a plastic bottle, wherein the upper wall is preferably mounted on the bottle.

11. Beverage container according to one of claims 1 - 10, wherein the container is made essentially of metal.

12. Beverage container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the dispensing opening has a substantially circular cross-section with a diameter of at least about half the largest cross-section of the body.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper wall is a peripheral wall, wherein a wall is provided in the upper wall which has an opening that fits onto and / or in the dispensing opening or neck part.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a curved surface is provided around the dispensing opening, within the upper wall, and which is formed such that the dispensing opening is provided on a bottom side of the curved surface.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid seals against a lower end of the neck part and / or the connecting ring.

A beverage container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sleeve is arranged around the container, at least around a part of the body and a part of the upper wall, in particular such that it covers the outside of the upper wall.

A beverage container according to claim 16, wherein the sleeve comprises a tear line, in particular a tear line extending around the container near a lower edge of the upper wall.

A beverage container according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the sleeve extends over a part of the lid.

A method for manufacturing a beverage container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic preform with a neck; attaching a connecting ring to the preform; blow molding a bottle-shaped body from the preform; injection molding an upper element, comprising a peripheral upper wall and a transverse wall in the upper wall, the transverse wall comprising an opening, forming a cover with a stub; filling the body with beverage, in particular carbonated beverage; applying the upper element to the body and applying the cover to the upper element such that the stub closes a dispensing opening in the connecting ring.

The method of claim 19, wherein the lid is mounted on the upper element before attaching the upper element to the body.

A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein a sleeve is arranged around the body and the upper element.