WO1982001695A1

WO1982001695A1 - Environmentally favourable package

Info

Publication number: WO1982001695A1
Application number: PCT/FI1981/000083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernst Stenberg
Original assignee: Ernst Stenberg
Priority date: 1980-11-10
Filing date: 1981-11-06
Publication date: 1982-05-27
Also published as: FI803497L; EP0065961A1

Abstract

Environmentally favourable package, especially for beer or other beverages, intended to be used as recycling glass. By means of the present invention, one aims at providing a durable package that can be crushed only with difficulty. This has been achieved by means of a package that comprises a bottle (1), preferably made of glass, enclosed by a cylindrical covering (2), favourably made of plastic, whose inner side wall is provided with pins (3) or similar means, which are arranged so as to lie against the bottle (1) and to maintain a space of air (4) which absorbs shocks between the bottle (1) and the covering (2). The pins (3) are placed preferably uniformly distributed over a girdle-shaped area in the middle part of the covering (2).

Description

Environmentally favourable package

The present invention relates to an environmentally favourable package, especially for beer or other beverages, which package is intended to be used as recycling glass and comprises a bottle preferably made of glass and enclosed by a cylindrical covering, favourably made of plastic, a space of air that absorbs shocks being maintained between the bottle and the covering.

Previously it has been suggested that such a package be manufactured so that the upper edge of the covering is provided with a profile ring projecting inwards and extending along the entire inner periphery of the covering and lying against the bottle. The space of air between the bottle and the covering is consequently totally closed at the top Such a package is very durable and can be crushed only with difficulty. It has, however, been noticed that the tightly sealing profile ring at the top edge of the covering prevents efficient cleaning of the space between the bottle and the covering, which involves hygienic problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a package that also meets the generally imposed requirements of hygiene of food packages.

This object has beer, achieved by means of a package which is characterized in that the inner side wall of the covering is provided with pins or similar organs, which are arranged as lying against the bottle and which allow free passage for air and water between the bottle and the covering.

As the air space between the bottle and the covering is open at the top end and at the bottom end, e.g., the washing water may flow down through this space in connection with cleaning of the package and remove any impurities possibly present therein. In order to create a minimum of obstacle for the flew of washing water, the pins are preferably distributed uniformly over a girdle-shaped portion in the middle part of the plastic covering, or possibly at its upper edge portion By using pins as contact means, the contact face between the covering and the bottle is also minimized, which contact face is difficult to cleanse.

Owing to its high durability, the package in accordance with the present invention can be reused a considerably higher number of times than, e.g., a conventional beer bottle.

As the covering encloses the whole of the cylindrical portion of the bottle, it, on one hand, prevents the bottle from being crushed and, on the other hand, prevents light from penetrating into the bottle and spoiling the contents. The latter property of this package, thus, permits a considerably longer period of storage of, e.g., beer as compared with what has been possible in practice when using conventional beer bottles.

Now the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawing, wherein

Pig. 1 shows a beer package in accordance with the invention as viewed from the side, with a piece of the covering cut off, and

Fig. 2 shews the beer package as viewed from the top.

The environmentally favourable beer package in accordance with the exemplifying embodiment comprises a glass bottle 1 enclosed in a cylindrical plastic covering 2, whose inner side wall is provided with pins 3 or similar means. These pins 3 are arranged sc as to lie against the glass bottle 1 and to maintain an air space 4 that absorbs shocks between the bottle 1 and the plastic covering 2, at the same time as the pins allow free passage for air and water between the bottle 1 and the covering 2.

The plastic covering 2 should be preferably made of relatively soft but, yet, shape-permanent plastic so that a necessary elasticity of the pins 3 is obtained. The pins 3 are preferably uniformly distributed over a girdle-shaped area in the middle portion of the plastic covering 2 or possibly at its upper edge portion. The width of the girdle-shaped area as well as the number and spacing of the pins 3 may vary. The main point is that the number of pins 3 is sufficient so as to ensure keeping of the plastic covering 2 in position on the glass bottle 1. The pins 3 also make the plastic covering more rigid, e.g., when a lable is to be attached on same.

The length of the plastic covering 2 is preferably such that the covering covers the whole of the cylindrical portion of the glass bottle, whereby an efficient protection from shocks is obtained for the glass bottle 1 and protection from light is obtained for the beer contained in the glass bottle.

In order that it should be possible to use the same transport cases as are used for conventional beer bottles, it is appropriate to design the glass bottle 1 with a somewhat smaller diameter as compared with the conventional beer bottle, whereby the cuter dimension of the plastic covering 2 can be made substantially equal to the standard dimension of a beer bottle so far used. Since the height and the inner volume of the present beer package must also be in agreement with the corresponding standard dimensions of a beer bottle, the cylindrical portion of the glass bottle 1 may be appropriately made somewhat longer, at the same time as its neck portion has been made shorter accordingly.

Thus, the shape of the package permits ther use of the conventional machines of the breweries for transportation, cleaning, filling and corking. The short neck portion of the bottles 1 stands considerably higher strains than a conventional bottle neck does, which reduces the risk of crushing of the bottle mouth in connection with corking to a considerable extent.

The plastic covering 2 eliminates the rattling of bottles quite efficiently, which rattling is highly detrimental to hearing and is produced in connection with the handling of conventional bcttles cn conveyor belts. Moreover, the plastic covering 2 forms a protection for the eyes of the persons working at the conveyor belts from damage to the eyes possibly resulting if a bottle 1 explodes out of some reason during handling. The covering 2 does not prevent controlling of the cleanness of the bottle 1 by lighting through the bottle, and the covering can be readily replaced, e.g., if it becomes too worn.

In stead of contact organs in the form of pins, the inner wall of the plastic covering may be provided, e.g., with uniformly spaced longitudinal ribs, with a sharp edge directed towards the centre axis of the plastic covering.

The drawing is only supposed to illustrate the invention and not to restrict same, because it is obvious that, e.g., the number of contact organs as well as their shape and spacing may show variation within the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An environmentally favourable package, especially for beer or other beverages, intended to be used as recycling glass and comprising a bottle (1) preferably made of glass and enclosed by a cylindrical covering (2), favourably made of plastic, a space of air that absorbs shocks being maintained between the bottle and the covering, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the inner side wall of the covering (2) is provided with pins (3) or similar, organs, which are arranged as lying against the bottle and which allow free passage for air and water between the bottle (1) and the covering (2).

2. An environmentally favourable package as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pins (3) are uniformly spaced over a girdle-shaped area in the centre portion or upper edge portion of the covering (2).

3. An environmentally favourable package as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the covering (2) encloses the whole of the cylindrical portion of the bottle (1).

4. An environmentally favourable package as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the contact means of the covering (2) consist of longitudinal ribs.