NZ609462B - A bottle, mould and process - Google Patents

Abstract

glass bottle that can be sealed using screw crown closure 22, the glass bottle including a finished upper portion on the neck of the bottle that is formed by a moulding apparatus having a pair of neck ring moulds and a guide plate. The finished upper portion of the bottle includes an outer wall that has a surface of a constant first diameter d1 on which a screw thread formation 23 extends about the outer wall, the screw thread formation 23 having a second diameter d2 that co-operates with a thread of the screw crown closure 22, the outer wall being moulded at least in part by the pair of neck ring moulds of the moulding apparatus, an end rim 24 that defines an opening and on which the crown closure 22 engages for sealing the bottle, the end rim 24 being moulded at least in part by the guide plate of the moulding apparatus, and a joining section 25 interconnecting the outer wall and the end rim, the joining section 25 having a circumferential seam 26 that is formed during the moulding process at the interface of the neck ring moulds and the guiding plate. The circumferential seam 26 has a third diameter d3 that is less than the first diameter d1 so that the circumferential seam 26 is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction. at has a surface of a constant first diameter d1 on which a screw thread formation 23 extends about the outer wall, the screw thread formation 23 having a second diameter d2 that co-operates with a thread of the screw crown closure 22, the outer wall being moulded at least in part by the pair of neck ring moulds of the moulding apparatus, an end rim 24 that defines an opening and on which the crown closure 22 engages for sealing the bottle, the end rim 24 being moulded at least in part by the guide plate of the moulding apparatus, and a joining section 25 interconnecting the outer wall and the end rim, the joining section 25 having a circumferential seam 26 that is formed during the moulding process at the interface of the neck ring moulds and the guiding plate. The circumferential seam 26 has a third diameter d3 that is less than the first diameter d1 so that the circumferential seam 26 is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction.

Description

A BOTTLE, MOULD AND PROCESS FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a glass bottle, a mould for making a glass bottle, and process of making a glass bottle. In particular, the present invention relates to a glass bottle having a screw thread, a process for making a bottle with a screw thread, and a mould for making a bottle with a screw thread. The screw thread can be used for sealing with screw crown closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Glass bottles sealed with screw crown closures are made using a blow moulding apparatus having two mould halves that come together to define the cavity in which the glass is blow. The moulds separate to release the bottle formed from the mould. The glass bottles can be made in processes such as i) a blow and blow process, and ii) a narrow neck press and blow process.

The moulds include a pair of neck ring halves having screw threaded formations that define a thread on the bottle formed in the moulds. The neck ring halves engage each other in a vertical plane when viewing the bottle in an upright orientation which forms a vertical “seam” where the ring halves interface.

The moulds also include a guide plate having a cylindrical lug with a centralised opening through which a plunger can be inserted to deliver molten glass and/air into the mould. When the neck ring halves are closed together, the guide plate is placed against the end of the neck ring moulds. Another function of the guide plate is to help hold the two neck rings together in position.

The shape of the upper end portion of glass bottle having a screw thread is significantly different to the shape of the 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM upper end of a glass bottle having a standard ‘pop top’ crown closure. In the case of a standard pop top, the head of the neck of the bottle is in the form a convex bead having a major diameter which defines the opening of the bottle, and an undercut adjacent the bead which defines a minor diameter.

In contrast, the upper neck portion of a screw threaded bottle has a cylindrical side wall of constant diameter that defines the minor diameter between the threads and threads on the side wall defining a major diameter.

An unwanted circumferential seam can be formed in the gap at the interface between the guide plate and the neck ring at the head end of the bottle. The screw thread formed on the neck of the bottle means that a seam at the head end of the bottle protrudes from the cylindrical side wall of the neck of the bottle.

Figures 1 to 3, for example, illustrate perspective and cross- sectional views of the upper portion of a neck of a prior art bottle having a crew threaded. As can be seen, the seam at the head end of the bottle protrudes from the cylindrical side wall.

The seam may, for example, protrude by as little as 0.05 mm, or as much as 0.15mm or more, from the minimum diameter of the neck. A shortcoming of the prior art bottle is a risk of fracturing the seam which may occur, for example, during installation of the crown seal to the bottle top or when the crown seal is removed from the bottle. The risk of fracturing the seam is greater when the screw crown seal is opened using a bottle top opener, ala “the barman’s friend” instead of being twist opened. In any event, the act of removing the crown seal, with or without a bottle opener, can fracture the seam, and thereby provide a health risk to a consumer.

In addition, if the guide plate is not precisely seated against the end of the neck ring during the moulding process, it is possible for a fin of glass extending at least partially about the neck of the bottle to form during moulding; see Figures 2 and 3. The fin, for example, may protrude as little as 0.05 mm 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM or as much as 0.15mm, or even larger from the minimum diameter of the bottle and presents an increased risk of fracturing during installation or removable of the crown seal from the bottle. Fracturing of the fin of glass, or the afor mentioned seam, can lead to fragments of glass ending up in the bottle.

This has lead to screw thread crown closures being banned from some markets, denying the consumer the convenience of an easy to open screw crown closure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bottle, mould and process that reduces the risk of fracturing or breaking a seam at the head end of the bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a glass bottle that can be sealed by a screw crown closure, the glass bottle including a finished upper portion on the neck of the bottle that is formed by a moulding apparatus having a pair of neck ring moulds and a guide plate, the finished upper portion of the bottle includes: an outer wall that has a surface of a constant first diameter on which a screw thread formation extends about the outer wall, the screw thread formation having a second diameter that co-operates with a thread of the screw crown closure, the outer wall being moulded at least in part by the pair of neck ring moulds of the moulding apparatus, an end rim that defines an opening and on which the crown closure engages for sealing the bottle, the end rim being moulded at least in part by the guide plate of the moulding apparatus, and a joining section interconnecting the outer wall and the end rim, the joining section having a circumferential seam that is formed during the moulding process at the 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM interface of the neck ring moulds and the guiding plate, wherein the circumferential seam has a third diameter that is less than the first diameter so that the circumferential seam is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction.

The joining section and the end rim may be misaligned such that part of the circumferential seam is provided on or overlaps with the outer wall. In this instance, the circumferential seam may be defined by a regular circular seam or circumferential seam may be in the form of an irregular circle or ellipse. When the circumferential seam is an irregular circle or ellipse, an average of the third diameter is less than an average of the first diameter.

However, even if the end rim and the outer wall are misaligned i.e. not perfectly arranged co-axially, suitably the third diameter of the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the outer wall. In other words, it is possible when an axis of the end rim is not co-axial with an axis of the outer wall, the circumferential seam is set back from the outer wall completely around the outer wall or is located inward of the perimeter of the outer wall.

Some of the advantages provided by the present invention are that the circumferential seam will be protected against accident damage, for example, during installation of a crown seal or by a bottle opener by the fact that the seam is spatially remote from the main outer wall. In addition, in the event of a misalignment of moulds during the moulding process, an enlarged seam such as a fin, can become integrally formed with the outer wall itself and thereby reducing the risk of the fin fracturing from the bottle.

The joining section of the bottle may in one example include a bevelled, tapered, or chamfered circumferential surface extending about the upper portion. In another example, the 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM joining section may be an annular groove, channel, recess, ring, or cut out that is rebated relative to the outer wall of the upper portion.

In yet another example, the joining section may have an instep that extends inwardly from an upper edge of the outer wall, and the circumferential seam is arranged in the instep.

The circumferential seam may lie on a tangent, or outside of a tangent, between the upper edge of the outer wall and the outer diameter of the annulus of the end rim.

The instep may have two converging walls and the circumferential seam interconnects the converging walls. The circumferential seam may be located inward of a tangent between the upper edge of the outer wall and the outer diameter of the annulus of the end rim.

One of the converging walls, or both of the converging walls, may be planar, for example one of the converging walls may be an annular surface orthogonal to the outer wall of the bottle neck, and another converging wall may be a cylindrical surface, for example orthogonal to the end rim.

The converging wall may be in the form of an inner converging wall and an outer converging wall. The converging walls may converge toward each other at angle so that the angle formed therebetween is less than 180 degrees and suitably at an angle in the range of the 110 to 90 degrees. Suitably the converging walls converge toward each other at an angle approaching 90 degrees where the converging wall joins onto the circumferential seam.

The converging walls may be curved walls and suitably, the converging wall have a convex outwardly facing surface in which one of the walls extends from the end rim, and the other extends from the outer wall. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM One of the converging walls may be formed by the neck ring mould, and the other converging wall may be formed by the guide plate such that the circumferential seam is located at the intersection of the converging walls or interconnects the converging walls.

The constant diameter portion of the outer wall is suitably cylindrical.

The end rim may have any shape include a planar annular surface or a rounded annular bead. Suitably however, the end rim is in the form of a non-planar annulus, and suitably, an annulus that tapers at an angle from an inner circumference of the annulus toward an outer circumference of the annulus. For example, the taper of the annulus may be at an angle ranging from 80 to 90 degrees to an axis through the centre of the annulus, or in other words, the centre of the opening. Suitably, the annulus may be arranged at an angle of 95 degrees to an axis through the centre of the bottle.

The thread formation may have any profile extending from the outer wall including rounded profiles and V-shaped profiles.

The thread formation may also be a single thread or multiple threads including double and triple threads. The threads may extend partially or completely about the outer wall of the upper portion.

The end rim may be a planar rim about the opening of the bottle.

The plane of the rim may be orthogonal to a central axis of the opening.

The upper portion of the bottle may also include an annular bead spaced from the outer wall having the thread formation. The purpose of the annular bead is to at least partially obstruct a gap between an outer edge of the skirt of the crown seal and the wall of the bottle so as to protect against accidental lifting 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM or prizing of the crown screw closure.

The present invention also relates to a neck ring mould which defines a cavity in which the finished upper portion of the glass bottle is able to be formed, the neck ring mould including: a first portion having i) a first surface having a first diameter that forms a cylindrical outer wall of the bottle and ii) second surface having a second diameter that form a screw threaded formation on the outer wall of a bottle, a second portion extending from the first portion at a head end of a bottle formed by the mould, and the second portion is adjacent to an end rim of a bottle that can be formed from the mould, the second portion including a third diameter that is less than the first diameter, such that during a mould process, a guide plate for forming an end rim of the glass bottle can be placed against the second portion and a circumferential seam having a diameter that is less than the first diameter is able to be formed about the neck of the bottle.

Ideally, the third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the first wall that forms the outer wall of the bottle. The circumferential seam may be defined by a regular circular seam or a circular seam that is in the form of an irregular circle or ellipse. When the circumferential seam is an irregular circle or ellipse, an average of the third diameter is less than an average of the first diameter.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for forming a bottle, the apparatus including a pair of neck ring moulds which when placed together define a space in which the finished upper portion of the glass bottle is able to be formed, the neck ring moulds forming a first portion having i) a first surface that forms an outer wall having a first diameter of the upper portion and ii) a screw 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM threaded formation having a second diameter that forms a screw thread on the outer wall of a bottle formed in the mould, and a guide plate that engages an end of the neck ring moulds so as to form an end rim on which the crown closure can engage to seal the bottle, wherein the neck ring moulds include a second portion at a head end of the neck ring moulds that has a diameter that is less than the first diameter that forms the outer wall, such that when the neck ring moulds and guide plate are placed together during a forming process, a circumferential seam having a third diameter is formed at the interface between the neck ring moulds and the guide plate which is less than the first diameter so that the circumferential seam is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction.

The second surface is suitably an inwardly extending lip formation having a diameter less than the first diameter. For example, the lip may have a diameter less than the first diameter by at least 0.1mm. Suitably, the lip formation of the second surface has a diameter less than the diameter of the first surface by an amount in the range of 0.1mm to 0.8mm, and suitably by an amount in the range of 0.2 to 0.4mm, and even more suitably by an amount of approximately 0.3mm. The lip formation may also be a constriction or reduction in diameter that is capable of forming part of the joining section of the bottle The present invention also relates to a process of making a glass bottle, the process including: a) forming a glass blowing cavity having first portion defining i) an cylindrical outer wall of a finished upper portion having a first diameter and ii) a screw threaded formation of a second diameter extending the from cylindrical outer wall, a second portion connected to and extending 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM from the first portion, the second portion including a second surface having second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and a third portion having a third surface on which the end rim of bottle can be formed, the third surface being located at or inwardly of the second surface, b) expanding glass in the glass blowing cavity so as to form an outer cylindrical wall with a thread formation on the first portion, an end rim at the end of the bottle on the third surface, and a circumferential seam at the interface between the second surface and the third surface between the first surface and the third surface, wherein the circumferential seam has a diameter less than the diameter of the outer cylindrical wall.

The process may include any other suitable process steps and may, in general terms, be described as blow and blow processes, or narrow neck press and blow processes.

Forming the glass blowing cavity having first and second surface may include placing together a pair of neck ring moulds.

Forming the glass blowing cavity having the third surface may also include locating a guide plate against the open end of the neck ring moulds.

Expanding the glass may include blowing glass in the glass blowing cavity. Blow moulding typically follows the forming step.

The process may also include any one or combination of releasing a formed bottle from the mould and applying a releasing agent to the mould. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM The process may also include monitoring for defects in the circumferential seam.

The process, apparatus and moulds described herein may also include any one or a combination of the features described herein. For example, even if the end rim and the outer wall are misaligned, suitably the third diameter of the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the outer wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Details of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is photograph showing a perspective view of a finished upper portion of a prior art glass bottle comprising a screw thread for fitting a crown screw closure to the upper portion; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a finished upper portion according to prior art bottle in which a defect in the moulding process for making the bottle has caused the formation of a fin over part of the circumferential seam formed at the interface between a neck ring mould and guide plate of a moulding apparatus; Figure 3 is cross-sectional view through the fin of the circumferential seam shown in Figure 2; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic side views of the upper portion of a glass bottle having a circumferential seam that is formed at the interface between the neck ring mould and the guide plate of a moulding apparatus and in which the circumferential seam is located on a joining section between the outer wall and the end rim of the bottle, and wherein Figures 4 and 6 illustrate a possible example embodying the present invention, and Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4a, 5a and 6a are enlarged schematic views of the part of the bottles shown in the dashed circle in Figures 4, 5 and 6; 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM Figure 7 is a side view of the finished upper portion shown in Figure 5 (the preferred embodiment) having a screw crown closure fitted, the screw crown closure being shown in cross-section for clarity purposes; Figure 8 is a thread development plan that is formed on the inside surface of a neck ring mould for making the bottle; Figures 9 and 10 are cross-section views of the neck ring mould along the lines A-A and B-B in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a cross-section view taken through the diameter of a guide plate of a moulding apparatus for making the bottle; and Figure 12 is an enlarge view of the part of the guiding plate within the dashed circle shown in Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the Figures 4 to 7, the neck of a glass bottle includes a finished upper portion 21 that includes an outer wall having first diameter d1 in the form of cylindrical outer wall 22 on which a thread 23 is formed that has a second diameter d2. Although it is possible that the second diameter d2 may be less that d1 or, in other words the thread 23 disposed inwardly of the outer wall 22, suitably, the thread 23 extends outwardly of the outer wall 22 so that the thread 23 has a second diameter d2 that is larger than the first diameter d2.

The bottle also has an end rim 24 that defines the opening to the bottle.

The upper portion 21 of the bottle 20 also includes a joining section 25 interconnecting the end rim 24 and the outer wall portion 22. The joining section 25 has a circumferential seam 26 that is formed during the moulding process at the interface of moulds in which the bottle is made. As can be seen, the joining section 25 recedes inwardly from the outer wall 22 of the upper portion 21 such that the circumferential seam 26 is spaced inwardly from the outer wall 22. In other words, the 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM circumferential seam 26 has a diameter d3 less than the diameter d1 of the outer wall 22.

As can best be seen in Figure 7, the main benefit provided by this feature is that the circumferential seam 26 is set back from the crown closure 27, and indeed, from the claws of an instrument such as bottle opener that may be used to lift the crown closure 27 instead of a being twisted off the bottle 20.

In addition, in the event that a misalignment of the moulds during the moulding process occurs, the potential “fin” that can be formed at the junction of the outer wall 22 will be integrally formed with an upwardly facing surface of the outer wall 22, thereby reducing the risk of shards of glass breaking off the top of the bottle 20 when the crown seal applied to the bottle or removed from the bottle. Moreover, even in the event of misalignment, ideally, the circumferential seam 26 is located inside the outer wall 22 completely around the outer wall.

As can be seen from Figures 4 to 6, the joining section 25 of the bottle 20 may have a variety of forms. In the case of Figure 6, the joining section 25 has an angled tapered surface that lies on the tangent between an upper edge of the outer wall 22 and an outer diameter of the end rim 24 of the bottle.

Figure 4 is an example in which the joining section 25 has an instep, and in particular, an inwardly extending annular flange 29 that is orthogonal to the outer wall 22, and an outwardly facing cylindrical wall 28 that is orthogonal to the end rim 24.

The annular flanges converge toward each other and join to opposite sides of the circumferential seam 26. However, it will be appreciate that the instep formation may have any profile, including in planar surfaces that are arranged at any suitable angle to the outer wall portion 22 and end rim 24.

Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment in which the instep has two rounded or curved walls 28, 29 that converge toward and join to opposite sides of the circumferential seam 26. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM The circumferential seam 26 is ideally located inward from the outer wall 22, about the entire perimeter of the outer wall 22, by at least 0.1mm and suitably at least 0.15mm. Even more suitably the circumferential seam 26 is located in the range of 0.1mm to 0.2 mm from the outer wall 22. It has been found by extensive trial and error that this dimension can assists in ensuring that the crown seal achieves a tight seal on the bottle.

The upper portion 21 of the bottle neck also includes an annular raised bead 30 that helps protect the crown seal from being accidentally lifted. Figures 4 to 7 illustrate that the bead 30 as having a triangular profile; however, it will be appreciated that the bead may have any profile including rounded profiles.

The mould for making the glass bottle suitably comprises a pair of the neck ring moulds, each defining half of the perimeter of the neck of the bottle 20. When in use, a pair of the neck ring moulds 31 (see Figure 9) may be used together with a guide plate 32 (Figure 11) to define the cavity in which a bottle is blow moulded. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the profile of a neck ring (or in other words a cross-section of the neck ring moulds) which has surfaces for forming the surfaces of the upper portion of the bottle described above, and is shown upside down to the normal perspective of an upright bottle. Specifically, the neck ring moulds 31 include a first surface that forms i) an outer wall cylindrical wall of the upper portion of a bottle having a first diameter that is identified by the reference numeral d1 and ii) a screw threaded formation having a second diameter d2 that forms a screw thread on the outer wall of a bottle formed in the mould. It will be appreciated that in the case of the moulds 31, diameter d1 is less than d2, such that the thread extends outwardly from the cylindrical wall of the bottle.

Figure 8 is plan development view of the screw thread formation of the first surface. Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views at lines A-A and B-B in Figure 8 respectively. The only 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM major difference between the two cross-sectional views being the number of threads illustrated. Figure 9 illustrates one thread, whilst Figure 10 illustrating two threads.

The neck ring moulds 31 also have a second surface in the form a lip formation 26 (or a reduction formation) extending from the first surface 22 at one end of the ring mould. The lip formation 26 extends by at least 0.1mm and suitably, approximately 0.3mm inwardly from the diameter d1 that defines the cylindrical wall portion 22. The lip formation 26 thereby defining a third diameter d3 at the end of the neck ring moulds that is less than the diameter d1 of the cylindrical wall portion of the bottle formed by the mould. As can be seen, the lip formation 26 has a curved profile which will form a joining section 25 in the bottle as shown in Figures 5 and 5a. The lip formation 26 may have a conical or tapering profile, to form a profile in the joining section 25 of a bottle, as shown, for example, in figures 6 and 6a. The lip formation 26 may include an instep, to form a profile in the joining section 25 of a bottle, as shown, for example, in figures 4 and 4a.

The lip formation 26 defines a third diameter d3 that is adjacent to an end rim 24 of a bottle 20 that can be formed from the mould. The neck ring moulds 31 form an opening in the moulds against which a guide plate 32 is located. The guide plate 32 has a raise lug 34 which a centralised opening 33 through which a lance for feeding glass and/or blowing air into the cavity. Figure 11 illustrates a cross-section of the guide plate 32.

The raised lug 34 has a J-shaped working surface that when placed against the neck ring moulds 31 defines the end rim 24 of the bottle 20. Figure 12 illustrates an enlarged view of the working surface of the guide plate 32 including the J-shaped formation, an outer surface 35 that reclines away from the working surface and the centralised opening into the mould cavity. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM It will be appreciated that the guide plate 32 can be made separately, and supplied separately from the neck ring moulds When the neck ring moulds 31 and the guide plate 32 are placed together for moulding the bottle, ideally co-axially placed against each other, the circumferential seam 2 having a third diameter d3, less than the first diameter d1 of the outer wall is formed.

An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a process of moulding a bottle. The steps of the process including closing a pair of neck ring moulds described herein to form a first portion defining i) an cylindrical outer wall of a finished upper portion of a bottle having a first diameter d1 and ii) a screw threaded formation of a second diameter d2 extending about the cylindrical outer wall. The neck ring moulds also form a second portion connected to and extending from the cylindrical wall formed by the first portion, wherein the second portion is suitably in the form of the lip formation 26 as shown Figures 9 and 10 that forms a third diameter d3 less, than the first diameter d1, on the bottle made from the mould. The process also includes locating a guide plate 32 against an open end of the neck ring moulds 31. The guide plate 32 has a J-shaped surface, which is oriented upwardly in Figure 12, on which the end rim 24 of bottle 20 can be formed. The end Once that guide plate 32 is in position, the process includes expanding glass in the moulds 31 by blowing the glass bottle, followed by releasing the bottle 20 from the moulds 31 by removing the guide plate 32 and separating the neck ring halves 31. A releasing agent may also be applied to the neck ring halves before repeating the moulding process.

Expanding the glass to form the bottle in the moulds allows the circumferential seam formed at the interface between the lip 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM formation and the guide plate to be set inwardly from the cylindrical wall, i.e., the third diameter of the lip formation being less than the first diameter of the cylindrical outer wall formation.

It should be noted that the formation of the circumferential seam 26 is not an objective of the bottle making process, but is instead an unwanted artefact of forming a bottle using the two neck ring moulds and a guide plate. While this artefact is largely unavoidable, the present invention aims to minimise the effect of the circumferential seam on the utility of the bottle.

The process may also involve monitoring for defects in the formation of the circumferential seam, including camera surveillance of the bottle neck under real time process conditions.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM

Claims (32)

1. A glass bottle that can be sealed using a screw crown closure, the glass bottle including a finished upper portion on the neck of the bottle that is formed by a moulding apparatus having a pair of neck ring moulds and a guide plate, the finished upper portion of the bottle includes: an outer wall that has a surface of a constant first diameter on which a screw thread formation extends about the outer wall, the screw thread formation having a second diameter that co-operates with a thread of the screw crown closure, the outer wall being moulded at least in part by the pair of neck ring moulds of the moulding apparatus, an end rim that defines an opening and on which the crown closure engages for sealing the bottle, the end rim being moulded at least in part by the guide plate of the moulding apparatus, a joining section interconnecting the outer wall and the end rim, the joining section having a circumferential seam that is formed during the moulding process at the interface of the neck ring moulds and the guiding plate, wherein the circumferential seam has a third diameter that is less than the first diameter so that the circumferential seam is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction.

2. The glass bottle according to claim 1, wherein the third diameter of the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the outer wall.

3. The glass bottle according to claim 1, wherein part of the circumferential seam is located on, or outside the outer wall.

4. The glass bottle according to claim 3, wherein the circumferential seam is defined by an irregular circle or ellipse, and an average of the third diameter of the circumferential seam is less than an average of the first diameter of the outer wall of the bottle. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM

5. The glass bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the joining section of the bottle includes either a bevelled, tapered, or chamfered circumferential surface extending about the upper portion.

6. The glass bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the joining section includes an instep that extends inwardly from an upper edge of the outer wall, and the circumferential seam is arranged in the instep.

7. The glass bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the joining section includes two converging walls in which one extends inwardly from an upper edge of the outer wall, and the circumferential seam interconnects the converging walls.

8. The glass bottle according to claim 7, wherein the converging walls are curved walls in which one of the curved walls extends from the end rim, and the other extends from the outer wall.

9. The glass bottle according to claim 7 or 8, wherein one of the converging walls is formed by the neck ring mould, and the other converging wall is formed by the guide plate such that the circumferential seam interconnects the converging walls.

10. A neck ring mould which defines a cavity in which the finished upper portion of the glass bottle is able to be formed, the neck ring mould including: a first portion having i) a first surface having a first diameter that forms a cylindrical outer wall of the bottle and ii) second surface having a second diameter that form a screw threaded formation on the outer wall of a bottle, a second portion extending from the first portion at a head end of a bottle formed by the mould, and the second portion is adjacent to an end rim of a bottle that can be formed from the mould, the second portion including a third diameter 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM that is less than the first diameter, such that during a mould process, a guide plate for forming an end rim of the glass bottle can be placed against the second portion and a circumferential seam having a diameter that is less than the first diameter is able to be formed about the neck of the bottle.

11. The neck mould according to claim 10, wherein the third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the first wall that forms the outer wall of the bottle.

12. The neck mould according to claim 11, wherein a part of third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential is located on, or outside the outer wall.

13. The neck mould according to claim 12, wherein the third diameter that forms the circumferential seam is an irregular circle or ellipse, and an average of the third diameter that is less than an average of the first diameter that forms the outer wall of the bottle.

14. The neck mould according to any one claims 10 to 13, wherein the third diameter of the second portion is at least 0.1mm less than the first diameter of the first portion.

15. The neck mould according to claim 14, wherein the second portion has a constriction formation at the head end that forms the third diameter, and the third diameter is less than the first diameter by an amount in the range of 0.1mm to 0.8mm, and suitably by an amount in the range of 0.2 to 0.4mm, and even more suitably by an amount of 0.3mm.

16. The neck mould according to claim 15, wherein the constriction formation has a curved profile, and the third diameter is located at an end of the constriction formation closest to the head end of the bottle formed by the mould. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM

17. An apparatus for forming a bottle, the apparatus including: a pair of neck ring moulds which when placed together define a space in which the finished upper portion of the glass bottle is able to be formed, the neck ring moulds forming a first portion having i) a first surface that forms an outer wall having a first diameter of the upper portion and ii) a screw threaded formation having a second diameter that forms a screw thread on the outer wall of a bottle formed in the mould, and a guide plate that engages an end of the neck ring moulds so as to form an end rim on which the crown closure can engage to seal the bottle, wherein the neck ring moulds include a second portion at a head end of the neck ring moulds that has a diameter that is less than the first diameter that forms the outer wall, such that when the neck ring moulds and guide plate are placed together during a forming process, a circumferential seam having a third diameter is formed at the interface between the neck ring moulds and the guide plate which is less than the first diameter so that the circumferential seam is located inward of the outer wall in a radial direction.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the first wall that forms outer wall of the bottle.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a part of third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential is located on, or outside the outer wall

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the third diameter that forms the circumferential seam is an irregular circle or ellipse, and an average of the third diameter that is less than an average of the first diameter that forms the outer wall of the bottle. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the third diameter of the second portion is at least 0.1mm less than the first diameter of the first portion.

22. The apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the second portion has a lip formation or a constriction formation, at the head end that forms the third diameter, and the third diameter is less than the first diameter by an amount in the range of 0.1mm to 0.8mm, and suitably by an amount in the range of 0.2 to 0.4mm, and even more suitably by an amount of 0.3mm.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the lip formation or the constrictions formation has a curved profile, and the third diameter is located at an end of the lip formation closest to the head end of the bottle formed by the apparatus.

24. A process of forming a glass bottle, the process including: a) forming a glass blowing cavity in a mould having first portion defining i) an cylindrical outer wall of a finished upper portion having a first diameter and ii) a screw threaded formation of a second diameter extending the from cylindrical outer wall, a second portion connected to and extending from the first portion, the second portion including a second surface having third diameter that is less than the first diameter, and a third portion having a third surface on which the end rim of bottle can be formed, the third surface being located at or inwardly of the second surface, b) expanding glass in the glass blowing cavity so as to 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM form an outer cylindrical wall with a thread formation on the first portion, an end rim at the end of the bottle on the third surface, and a circumferential seam at the interface between the second portion and the third portion, wherein the circumferential seam has a diameter less than the diameter of the outer cylindrical wall.

25. The process according to claim 24, wherein the circumferential seam is formed at the interface of the third diameter of the second portion, and the circumferential seam is completely inside the first diameter of the first wall that forms outer wall of the bottle.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a part of third diameter of the second portion that forms the circumferential is located on, or outside the outer wall

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the third diameter that forms the circumferential seam is an irregular circle or ellipse, and an average of the third diameter that is less than an average of the first diameter that forms the outer wall of the bottle.

28. The process according to any one claims 24 to 27, wherein forming the glass blowing cavity includes placing together a pair of neck ring moulds each having the first, second and third portions.

29. The process according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein forming the glass blowing cavity having the third portion includes locating a guide plate against the open end of the neck ring moulds.

30. The process according to any one of claims 24 to 29, 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM wherein the third diameter of the second portion is at least 0.1mm less than the first diameter of the first portion.

31. The process according to any one of claims 24 to 30, wherein the second portion has a constriction formation at the head end that forms the third diameter, and the third diameter is less than the first diameter by an amount in the range of 0.1mm to 0.8mm, and suitably by an amount in the range of 0.2 to 0.4mm, and even more suitably by an amount of 0.3mm.

32. The process according to any one of claims 24 to 31, wherein the lip formation has a curved profile, and the third diameter is located at an end of the lip formation closest to the head end of the bottle formed by the apparatus. 5545149_1 (GHMatters) P89926.NZ SPHAM