WO2009151562A1 - Récipient à paroi mince avec éléments saillants de paroi et cavités renforcées - Google Patents

Récipient à paroi mince avec éléments saillants de paroi et cavités renforcées Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009151562A1
WO2009151562A1 PCT/US2009/003429 US2009003429W WO2009151562A1 WO 2009151562 A1 WO2009151562 A1 WO 2009151562A1 US 2009003429 W US2009003429 W US 2009003429W WO 2009151562 A1 WO2009151562 A1 WO 2009151562A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bottle
section
fins
bottle body
neck
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/003429
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Justin Yarro
Original Assignee
Justin Yarro
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Justin Yarro filed Critical Justin Yarro
Publication of WO2009151562A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009151562A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/0292—Foldable bottles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/0261—Bottom construction
    • B65D1/0276—Bottom construction having a continuous contact surface, e.g. Champagne-type bottom
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/0261—Bottom construction
    • B65D1/0284—Bottom construction having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/36—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/365—Containers, or parts thereof, simulating or being incorporated into other items, e.g. puppet, animal, vehicle, building, dumb bells
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B65D2501/0027—Hollow longitudinal ribs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B65D2501/0036—Hollow circonferential ribs

Definitions

  • the claimed products relate generally to throwable, tossable or launchable beverage bottles and containers, and more particularly to a beverage bottle that incorporate reinforcement to concavities within the bottle sidewall, which concavities may be located between finned structures rendering the bottle stable through flight.
  • Concavities reduce the volume of the container, which requires a taller or wider container to store the same volume as compared to a cubical or cylindrical container.
  • Concavities also introduce areas that can be deformed, particularly where concavities are susceptible of being reversed, thus protruding from the container sidewall and potentially interfering with surrounding objects and requiring more shelf space.
  • fins or protrusions are needed along a substantial length of a bottle, and by the inclusion of such concavities are generally introduced. Furthermore, the introduction of such intrusions may render the sidewall thinner and more susceptible to deformation in the region of fins, protrusions and adjacent concavities. Because the prior bottles are generally cylindrical in shape and generally not having concavities, prior bottles simply incorporated a sidewall with sufficient thickness to provide stiffness, not requiring sidewall reinforcement.
  • aerodynamic beverage bottles that incorporate fins or protrusions that are molded in to a bottle sidewall, having concavities or valleys between those fins or protrusions that are reinforced to be stiff and otherwise resisting deformation from, for example, pressures generated within the bottle.
  • the sidewall in the region of the fins, protrusions, valleys or concavities may be thinner than other parts of the bottle; fins may be located on one end of a bottle which is thinner than the other end.
  • Such a bottle may have a cylindrical section to which a label may be attached.
  • Such a bottle may be blow-molded.
  • Figure IA depicts the top of the container of a first "missile" type of launchable beverage container product.
  • Figure IB depicts the side and bottom of the container of the "missile" container product.
  • Figure 1C depicts the nosecone of the "missile" container product.
  • Figure ID depicts an assembled "missile” type of launchable beverage container product.
  • Figure 2 A depicts the assembly of a second "tear" type of launchable beverage container product.
  • Figure 2B depicts an assembly of the "tear” product with a transparent nosecone.
  • Figure 2C shows the nosecone of the "tear” product in cross-section.
  • Figure 2D illustrates the assembly of the body and nosecone of the "tear" product.
  • Figure 3 A shows the unassembled parts of a third "spinner" type of launchable beverage container product.
  • Figure 3B illustrates the assembly of the nosecone, cap and body of the "spinner" product.
  • Figure 3 C depicts the "spinner” product after assembly.
  • Figure 4A shows the unassembled parts of a fourth "bomb" type of launchable beverage container product.
  • Figure 4B illustrates the assembly of the nosecone, cap and body of the "bomb” product.
  • Figure 4C depicts the "bomb” product after assembly.
  • Figure 5A depicts a first type of pressurizable, launchable beverage container product in a shippable state.
  • Figure 5B illustrates the disassembly of first pressurizable product by the consumer.
  • Figure 5C depicts the first pressurizable product in a launchable state.
  • Figure 5D illustrates the components assembly of the nozzle and pump of the first pressurizable product.
  • Figure 6 depicts another type of launchable beverage container product having fins molded into the body and a crush zone.
  • Figure 7 shows an exemplary blow-molding preform blank.
  • Figure 8 A shows the bottle of Figure 1 B in cross-section in the region of its fins.
  • Figure 8B shows the bottle of Figure IB in cross-section in the region of its label area.
  • Figure 8C shows the bottle of Figure 1 B from the side.
  • Figure 9A shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having valleys reinforced with ribs.
  • Figure 9B shows the container of Figure 9A in perspective having valleys reinforced with positive ribs.
  • Figure 9C shows the container of Figure 9A in perspective having valleys reinforced with negative ribs.
  • Figure 1 OA shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having valleys with positive circumferential reinforcement.
  • Figure 1 OB shows the container of Figure 1 OA in perspective.
  • Figure 1 OC shows the container of Figure 1 OA in a rotated position.
  • Figure 11 A shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having valleys with negative circumferential reinforcement.
  • Figure 11 B shows the container of Figure 11 A in perspective.
  • Figure 11 C shows the container of Figure 11 A in a rotated position.
  • Figure 12A shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having valley reinforcement through ribbing in a circumferential and a longitudinal direction.
  • Figure 12B shows the container of Figure 12A in perspective.
  • Figure 12C shows the container of Figure 12A in a rotated position.
  • Figure 13 A shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having valley reinforcement through a mesh of circumferential and longitudinal ribs.
  • Figure 13B shows the container of Figure 13 A in perspective.
  • Figure 13C shows the container of Figure 13A in a rotated position.
  • Figure 14A shows an exemplary tossable beverage container having a mesh of crossed valley reinforcement.
  • Figure 14B shows the container of Figure 14A in perspective having positively-made reinforcement.
  • Figure 14C shows the container of Figure 14A in a rotated position.
  • Figure 14D shows the container of Figure 14A in perspective having negatively-made reinforcement.
  • Figure 15 shows a finned portion of an exemplary tossable beverage container having a decorative mesh of crossed valley reinforcement.
  • Figure 16 shows a finned portion of an exemplary tossable beverage container having a creased concavity between fins, and further having reinforcement at the creases but not in-between.
  • the sidewall reinforcement disclosed herein applies to a wide variety of container types, examples of which will now be presented. It will be appreciated from the disclosure below that the container examples shown are capable of acting as a container for beverage and for performing a secondary entertainment function, which may be that the container may be tossed or thrown with certain enhanced performance over beverage containers of the past.
  • Figures IA, IB, 1C and ID show a first exemplary tossable beverage container from several vantage points.
  • That "missile" product includes two main components, which are a main body container 10 and a nosecone 11.
  • Body container 10 is capable of containing a product, which may be a beverage such as a soft drink or a juice, and may be sealed in the ordinary way through the use of a cap, lid or top.
  • nosecone 11 is configured on the inside to fit over the neck of the bottle 10 by way of a snug or tight fit over the cap and bottle neck, although a fitting might also be by mating threads.
  • the nosecone 11 may be fashioned of a solid material or alternatively may be formed hollow for example through the use of a compressed gas molding process. Thus it is that body 10 and nosecone 11 serve as a container for which a beverage may be shipped and dispensed.
  • the secondary function makes the bottle body 10 and an attached nosecone 11 into a throwable toy.
  • an ordinary beverage bottle has certain unintentional aerodynamic properties, one who has ever thrown such a bottle knows that it is predisposed to rotate and tumble through the air and is not well suited to maintain a low-drag orientation.
  • the exemplary bottle body 10 includes fins 12 molded into the sides of body 10 that serve to stabilize the bottle body in flight with a corresponding aerodynamic improvement, if it is thrown in a proper manner. This product may be thrown like a spear for long distance flights, as a dart for short distances, or held from the tail like a horse shoe is commonly thrown. Fins may provide stability in flight, increase aerodynamic performance, and provide visual appeal.
  • exemplary bottle fins 12 extend from the bottle body profile 16 such that a portion of the fins 12 passes through the air stream passing across the sides of the bottle body 10. Fins may be located on the bottle body in a location where the body is wide, to take advantage of the increased air speed and compression there.
  • This exemplary toy one grasps the bottle body near the location 14 (or perhaps a little forward toward the nosecone 11) as one would grasp a spear or a football and launches toy 13 nosecone-first.
  • the launching action may be combined with an action providing spin to compensate for any axial imbalances and provide rotational momentum to maintain the toy 13 in the launching orientation.
  • bottle body may be weighted heavy in the nose as compared to the end (in this case the bottle bottom). This may be done by forming the walls and the neck of the bottle in the area marked 15 more thickly.
  • bottle body 10 may be formed through a blow-molding process, which may be controlled to provide added thickness in the area nearest the neck 15.
  • the bottle body shown in Figure 1 B may be created using an automated mass production manufacturing process capable of producing hollow parts. These processes include blow molding, rotational molding and others, the choice of which will depend on the rate of protection desired, product cost and quality demands.
  • a mold to produce the bottle body shown in Figure IB could include two parts, or could include more pieces to fashion more complicated shapes or features.
  • a bottle body such as that of Figure 1 B may be designed to be transported on a conveyor or track and automatically filled with a beverage without tipping, stoppage, jamming or clearance issues by appropriate design and sizing of the fins.
  • the exemplary bottle body 10 includes a cylindrical, non- finned base portion 17 at the bottom to permit the bottle body to be moved through a production and/or bottling process that uses a track; portion 17 is sized to minimize or prevent the interference of a track wall with the fins 12.
  • This base increases the ability of the bottle body 10 to be transported on a conveyor and be automatically filled and capped without tipping, stoppage, jamming, interference or clearance issues.
  • a beverage product including a bottle body may accommodate existing distribution, sales, vending and dispensing equipment, containers and processes.
  • a second exemplary throwable beverage bottle may be implemented in many ways.
  • the tear-shaped design shown in Figure 2A includes a bottle body 20 having fins 22, a base 27 and a neck (as better seen in Figure 2D).
  • the tear-shaped design likewise includes a nose cone 21 shaped to fit over neck portion 15 and provide a smooth contour and transition between the sides of body 20 in the outer portion of nose cone 21.
  • the cross- section of nose cone 21 appears in Figure 2C, including a hollow portion 18 for receiving the bottle neck 15.
  • bottle body 20 includes a protruding shoulder or ridge 19a for receiving a channel 19b formed in the nose cone 21, providing a securement for the nose cone 21 onto neck 15.
  • Nose cone 21 is made of a pliable material permitting the nose cone to be stretched over ridge 19a- Examples of this include many materials used to make foams such as polyurethane, polyvinlychloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy, phenolic, ABS, ureaformaldehydes, silicones, ionomers and cellulose acetates.
  • Foams can also be made from resins blended with rubbers to achieve a natural resilience.
  • Closed-cell PVC foams with nitrile rubber are a good choice.
  • PVC can also be plasticized to obtain soft and resilient foams.
  • Both rigid (stiff walls) and flexible (walls collapse with pressure) foams can be used to fashion a nose cone.
  • Other materials that might be used include expanded polysterene foam, polybutadiene rubber, open cell ester, neoprene and EthafoamTM. Nosecones of other configurations described and/or claimed herein may be formed of these materials, recognizing that some nosecones may be better harder or softer and more or less flexible.
  • a nose cone might be made of a stiff or hard material, for example ordinary thermoplastic, and the bottle body could be made pliable.
  • a nose cone may include threads fitting to the threads of a bottle neck, this nose cone 21 does not. Rather, the interior 18 is shaped to simply slide on neck 15 without interference from any threads or other features formed in the neck. Alternatively, the interior 18 could be made slightly smaller than the threads or other neck features to provide a friction-fit of the nose cone on the bottle. In yet another alternative, the interior of a nose cone may be fashioned to fit over a capped bottle, using either a slip or a friction-fit. Examples of these variations will become clear in the discussion below. [0056] Again, in the tear-drop design the nose-cone fits over the bottle neck 15. In its shipped configuration a cap, not shown, is intended to be located to neck 15 to contain the bottle contents.
  • Nose cone 21 is designed to snap fit over the shoulder of bottle body 19a and may be removed and reattached repeatedly by the end-user.
  • a cavity formed in the nosecone 21 is sufficient to contain the mouth of a capped bottle body 20 when the nosecone is fitted thereby.
  • This product, including bottle body 20, the cap and nosecone 21 may be packaged, shipped, distributed and sold in the fully assembled state shown in Figure 2 A.
  • nosecone 21 could be shipped in an unmounted configuration, for example, by inclusion within a box containing bottles as shipped.
  • the nosecones could be provided as an unattached or separate item, for example in a bin separate from a shelf on which their corresponding beverages are located.
  • a nosecone such as 21 could be shipped with bottle body 21 positioned in a near-final position (assuming that the capped bottle prevented a final fit) and attached either loosely or with a fastener such as shrink wrap, elastics or even adhesive tape.
  • Figures 3A, 3B and 3C depict a third exemplary "spinner" design having several noteworthy features.
  • nosecone 41 is configured to receive by friction fit a cap 49 by which bottle 40 may be a closed container.
  • This design does not include a base as identified as 17 or 27 in the missile or teardrop bottles.
  • fins 42 are configured as a stand for bottle body 40, and are provided for on opposing sides to provide balance.
  • several fins 42 are provided in a circumference similar to bases 17 or 27 so as to provide a portion that will fit within a track of a bottling machine.
  • fins 42 are angled or twisted with respect to the axis of symmetry. This serves to generate rotation around the axis of the bottle when thrown, providing rotational momentum and stability in flight. The severity of the angle may be gentle to conserve energy for long flight, or more severe to provide amusing motions. Angled or twisted fins may be provided in virtually any throwable bottle design as desired.
  • the container space of the bottle resides with substantially equal weight from the bottom of the bottle to the narrowing portion of the bottle neck. This configuration is desirable in those instances where it is more important to maximi2e container volume.
  • Alternative configurations may also be used.
  • the bottle shape of the tear-drop bottle positions more container volume toward the neck portion.
  • Other configurations are described below which position more container space toward the bottle foot. This can enhance the aerodynamic properties of the bottle/nosecone product, particularly where the product is designed to be tossed or thrown with fluid or other material inside.
  • the exemplary "bomb" bottle-product 60 shown in Figure 4C is a good example of this.
  • FIG. 4B that example includes the now-familiar bottle body 61, rounded nosecone 62 and cap 63.
  • the majority of the container volume is located near the top of the bottle 64, and the volume in the center 66 and somewhat as to the fins 65 is reduced.
  • the nose cone section is comparatively larger and therefore heavier, augmenting its ability to fly farther
  • the fins on the container are extended farther from the nose cone section adding stability in flight and a better balance and weight distribution
  • the back end of the body is extended as is “boat tailed”, improving aerodynamic stability and ergonomics.
  • To use this bottle one consumes the beverage inside and then fills the container with ordinary water, recognizing that performance will be enhanced by the removal of any entrapped air.
  • nosecone 62 is inserted onto the cap 63.
  • nosecone 62 substantially grips only the cap 63, and is therefore made with an appropriate friction-fit to avoid the cap becoming dislodged during launch.
  • the user may then throw the product by gripping the widened portion 64 with his thumb and forefinger located near narrowed portion 66 using a similar motion as to throw a football.
  • This design permits an alternate launching motion; the user may grip the end of the bottle between the fins 65 and, moving his arm in an arc, may provide a centripetal launching force to the product 60 and release the product in the appropriate point of the arc to launch the product in either an upward direction or in a direction substantially above the horizon.
  • the product 60 is intended to be launchable in a filled condition. Because of this, product 60 has significantly more weight than other products disclosed herein intended to be launched in an unfilled condition. Although added weight permits a product to overcome air drag and fly farther, the product will also strike the ground with greater momentum at the end of its flight.
  • a nose cone should be selected of an impact- resistant material. The nosecone may also be selected from the set of softer materials to prevent injury or damage to a person or objects impacted by the product.
  • nosecone 61 is formed of a two-part self-skinning foam rubber, similar to that used in the NerfTM-type sports balls.
  • nosecone As to other materials that may be used to fashion a nosecone, many may be selected depending on the hardness, resiliency and weight desired. These materials include, but are not limited to, foams, thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomeric materials. Processes to make nosecones, detachable fins and tail sections, and other extra-bottle parts include injection molding, compression molding, casting, foaming and many other processes. The reader will note from the description above that heavier materials in a nosecone and lighter materials in a tail section will generally increase the aerodynamic stability of the assembled, throwable products.
  • the design and dimensions of the fins may permit modular stacking and grouping of the bottles, which may prove to be advantageous for shipping and packaging.
  • containers may be configured so that the fin of one container fits into the recess between the fin of another container.
  • the fins 12 of Figure 1 A recess into the area 18 near the center of the base and between two fins.
  • Other containers described herein have a like configuration, capable of stacking in substantially the same space as would a set of non-finned bottle bodies.
  • All of the missile, tear-drop, spinner and bomb examples are provided with fins that are molded in.
  • Providing fins in a bottle body has the advantage that no additional step of manufacture is required; rather the bottle body comes out of a mold substantially finished.
  • the body of the bottle may be elongated for added stability, shortened to fit a container or shaped or sized in many ways while maintaining its containing, throwing and flying functions.
  • the throwing balance of the bottle body may be improved by reducing the size of the lower trunk, which may also improve the hand-ergonomics and the aerodynamic properties of the bottle.
  • other ergonomic features may be provided such as finger divots or palm contours.
  • the weight and balance of a bottle body may be modified as desired to enhance throwing and flight characteristics.
  • a throwable beverage container may also be pressurized to achieve certain advantages.
  • Those products may incorporate a pump, operable by an end-user by which air pressure may be provided to a beverage bottle.
  • the product depicted in Figures 5 A, 5B, 5C 5D is exemplary of those products.
  • an exemplary pressurizable product is presented in its shippable state.
  • the internal components may not be visible, but rather the nosecone 162 may cover the opening of bottle body 161 and any associated parts. Note that in the shipped configuration the fins molded in bottle body 161 are located near the nosecone and the opening in the bottle body.
  • the nosecone 162 is removed from the bottle opening, exposing a nozzle 163, as shown in Figure 5B.
  • a pump 164 may be conveniently stored under nosecone 162, or may be stored elsewhere as desired.
  • the beverage contained in bottle 161 may be consumed through nozzle 162, and the walls of bottle 161 may be flexible so that a consumer may squeeze the bottle and accelerate the dispensing of the beverage contained therein.
  • nozzle 162 may be removed and the beverage consumed directly through the opening in the bottle 161.
  • Bottle 161 is configured to receive nosecone 162 at either end, for example by friction-fit or by a snap feature built into the nosecone and bottle.
  • Nosecone may be fashioned of a hard material such as plastic, or could be made of a softer or elastic material providing for softer impacts and improved grippability onto bottle body 161.
  • the intended procedure includes the filling of bottle 161 partially with water, although that is not strictly required. A mark could be provided on the bottle 161 as a fill line suggesting the optimal level of water, or alternatively it could be left to the consumer/user to experiment. The consumer would then secure the nozzle if necessary.
  • the pump 164 is positioned over nozzle 163 by inserting the spigot with o-ring onto the nozzle opening until the cuff and launching lugs of the pressurizing cap snaps over the nozzle rim and seats around the base of the nozzle.
  • the user then pressurizes the container by repeatedly depressing the diaphram 171 on the top of the pressurizing cap 169. Once a sufficient pressure is reached, the user would turn the bottle with nosecone 162 pointing up, and with one hand and holding only the pressurizing cap 169 pinches the base cuff. By pinching the cuff at the points 90 degrees from the location of the retention lugs, the cuff will bend from circular to oval.
  • the lugs are on the inside of the cuff at the part of the oval farthest away from each other. As the user pinches the cuff, the lugs on the cuff separate with enough space to slip past the rim of the nozzle, allowing the pressure in the bottle 161 to push off the spigot and launching the product.
  • FIG. 6 another exemplary tossable beverage container product 330 incorporating molded-in fins illustrates the feature of a crush zone 332 (two bottles are shown, one in a compressed state.)
  • crush zone 332 is implemented in corrugated or accordion style, permitting the sides of bottle body 331 to collapse and/or shorten, thus absorbing impact energy applied to the base of body 331.
  • a crush zone may be designed to operate, with or without cap 333; if the cap is present a portion of the impact energy will be absorbed by the compression of air within body 331 while providing more bounce.
  • the number, angle and depth of folds in crush zone 332 is selected to match the material and thickness of the sidewall of body 331 to permit flexibility and resiliency.
  • this product does not include an impact nose, as none is needed to prevent injury to body 331 and objects that it might potentially strike, although a nose could be provided if desired, for example to bias the weight of the body toward the nose for improved performance in flight.
  • a crush zone may simplify the design of a throwable beverage product and permit a more inexpensive manufacture, as it may reduce the number of parts to manufacture.
  • containers of the type described above may be fashioned through a process of "blow-molding.” That process uses a plastic (often PET) "preform" blank, such as 70, which has two portions which are a body portion 71 and a thread/neck portion 72, both of which are generally hollow with a designed wall thickness.
  • preform 70 is heated until it is softened.
  • the preform 70 is clamped at thread/neck portion 72 and pressurized air or gas is forced through the neck therein, causing body 71 to expand to the extent of the interior of a mold in the shape of the container to be formed.
  • This expansion causes the preform body 71 to become thinner, such that the final wall thickness is much less. In an ordinary cylindrical bottle, this thickness is typically quite uniform down its wall.
  • Figure 8 A represents the cross-section of the bottle along the section labeled A at the fins.
  • Figure 8B represents the cross-section of the bottle along the section labeled B at the upper cylindrical portion.
  • a visual comparison between the two cross-sections shows that the perimeter is larger in the finned portion, as going around the bottle sidewall.
  • a moderately finned bottle may vary between a finned section and a cylindrical label section by twenty percent or more. For a strongly finned bottle, this difference may be forty or fifty percent or more. If a preform having a constant wall thickness is used, the final sidewall of the bottle will be thinner in the finned region.
  • a bottle having a thinner finned region may provide for better stability in flight, as the product may be weighted in the nose. However, because that region is thinner, and because it is not cylindrical, it is also susceptible to collapse under certain circumstances. In one example, the bottle may be transported from varying elevations, or a bottle may pressurize or depressurize through carbonation effects. Another of those cases when a bottle is partially filled and capped, having a substantial air pocket. The fluid in the bottle carries a mass that tends to put pressure on the sidewall in ways that are difficult to predict, as it sloshes and moves around within. A filled bottle, on the other hand, is filled with a substantially non-compressible substance, and uneven pressure is not so much an issue.
  • a throwable bottle maintain its shape whether full of product or liquid or empty. Furthermore, it may be important for a bottle to maintain shape thus also maintaining any aerodynamic properties of the shape, such as a finned section, which may make a bottle more stable in flight.
  • a part of a bottle may be non-cylindrical, having protrusions 81 and concavities or valleys 82 therebetween.
  • Protrusions 81 may be in the shape of fins as disclosed above. Protrusions 81 are likely not as susceptible to deformation due to internal pressure, mainly because the material of the bottle is most likely not stretchable. However, concavities 82 can be forced outward with internal pressure, even if the bottle sidewall material is non-stretchable.
  • One solution to this problem is to use a preform having a tapered or stepped wall thickness.
  • the wall in the finned region may be made thicker, through the use of preform that is thicker in the region 73 that becomes the sidewall containing the fins.
  • a region 74 may be made differentially with a thickness appropriate to a cylindrical portion. However, doing so places more weight in the bottom of the bottle, where it may interfere with the flight and balance of the bottle through the air. Indeed, it is preferable in a tossable beverage container that the portion away from the nose or front be as light as possible.
  • launchable beverage container products can benefit from a thin wall thickness, especially where those products are to be launched empty and where the wall thinness is especially in the finned portion of the container.
  • the average wall thickness in the lower two-thirds of the bottle, including the foot is less than the average wall thickness of the top one-third.
  • Such bottles may be made in various sizes, lengths, widths and volumes; one example includes a convenient bottle volume of 20 to 30 fl. oz., but such bottles could be much larger or smaller.
  • a first type of structural reinforcement may be seen generally in Figure 9 A, corresponding to a bottle in the "missile" style. It is to be understood that although the examples herein use that style for visual reference, the reinforcements described here apply to any of the examples above, and to any bottle or container having protrusions with corresponding valleys or concavities in between.
  • the first type of reinforcement consists of ribs 85 within valley 86 between fin protrusions 87, those ribs oriented perpendicular to the valleys and the fins, or rather oriented in the direction of the bottle circumference.
  • Ribbing may be positive, that is extending outward as shown in Figure 9B, or negative ribbing (fluting as perceived from the outside) as shown in Figure 9C.
  • three ribs are used in accordance with the appearance characteristics and resistance to deformation desired.
  • the bottle maintains a smooth outward appearance and feel. Note that although in this example valleys are oriented bottle-lengthwise, other concavities could be included that are circumferentially-oriented or oriented in other directions.
  • FIGS 9B and 9C can be seen notches placed on the edge of fins to protect the edge of the fin structure, also adding rigidity and strength to that area.
  • the notches could be replaced with bumps or small ribs. Note that such features incorporated to a fin or protrusion are optional.
  • these reinforcement structures may be carried around the circumference of the bottle, as shown in Figures 1OA, 1OB and 1OC in a positive ringing configuration.
  • a corresponding negative configuration is shown in Figures 1 IA, 1 IB and 11 C.
  • the number of reinforcement rings used may be varied to suit the amount of stiffness desired.
  • the selection of positive or negative reinforcement structures may be selected for manufacturability, aesthetics, aerodynamic performance, volume, or to cooperate with desired packaging as desired.
  • the above-described reinforcement structures are arranged with ribbing or ringing structures directed circumferentially with the bottle body, or directed between the fins or protrusions.
  • This kind of reinforcement provides rigidity against the movement of one fin or protrusion against another. That kind may not, however, resist a force applied that would bend the section to bring the top closer to the bottom of the bottle, or rather in a "longitudinal" direction, considering one of the exemplary bottles in an upright orientation and using the language of a sphere.
  • a longitudinal ridge may be included within the concavity or valley.
  • the bottle shown in Figures 12 A, 12B and 12C includes one such longitudinal ridge. If more longitudinal rigidity is desired, more than one longitudinal ridge may be used as in Figures 13 A, 13B and 13C.
  • Reinforcement structures need not be in a circumferential or a longitudinal direction.
  • reinforcement structures may be arranged in a matrix, web or hash in other directions, as shown in Figures 14A, 14B and 14C.
  • This example likewise includes reinforcement within the valleys and concavities between protrusions, and this may also be varied in accordance with the stiffness desired and other factors such as appearance.
  • Such a matrix may be crossed ribbing, or may consist of ribs running in different directions but not crossing, in accordance with the desired performance characteristics.
  • Such a matrix may also be positively or negatively made, as shown in Figure 14D.
  • a matrix may provide for greater stability than would otherwise be had by simple ribbing.
  • Matrices or ribbing need not be solely functional, but may also provide for a certain decorative function such as that of the bottle of Figure 15.
  • An exemplary launchable bottle takes the form having stabilizing fins molded into the bottle body at the bottom or base of the bottle, and with a nose cone on the mouth side. That bottle has a volume of approximately 20 fl. oz., a body height of approximately 9 in. and a rough diameter of 2.5 in.
  • the overall weight of the bottle is between 18.5 grams and 21 grams depending on the finish (in the mouth section) used on the preform.
  • the wall thickness at the bottom two-thirds of the total bottle length is perhaps most important for performance; the wall thickness being preferably about 5/1000ths of and inch in these areas give or take 1/lOOOth of an inch.
  • the bottom or base thickness has generally the same wall thickness in the base as on the sides, with perhaps a 7/1000ths of an inch target.
  • Weight or thickness at the mouth and shoulder sections at the top of the bottle is generally desirable for aerodynamic performance, and so a heavier finish (mouth) is preferred.
  • the heating temperature of the preform and stretch and blow timing are important, and should be adjusted to produce a bottle thickest at the top and with the wall thinning down the bottle, preferably with as close to as possible uniform wall thickness in the base and fin sections.
  • the front to back weight ratio is 6: 1 , however this may be varied depending on overall weight, volume, length, diameter and even design features.
  • the shape of the finned section affects the aerodynamic stabilizing performance of a bottle. Generally speaking, more surface area on the fin sides will improve stability, although widening or increasing the radius of the edge of a fin and/or widening the radius of the valley is generally undesirable for the purposes of producing good production molds and efficient fin design.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des bouteilles de boisson aérodynamiques qui comprennent des ailettes ou des éléments saillants moulés dans une paroi de bouteille, avec des concavités ou des vallées entre ces ailettes ou éléments saillants, renforcées pour être rigides et autrement résistantes à la déformation provenant, par exemple, de pressions générées dans la bouteille. La paroi dans la région des ailettes, des éléments saillants, des vallées ou des concavités peut être plus fine que dans d'autres parties de la bouteille ; les ailettes peuvent être situées à une extrémité d'une bouteille qui est plus fine que l'autre extrémité. Cette bouteille peut avoir une section cylindrique à laquelle peut être fixée une étiquette. Cette bouteille peut être moulée-soufflée. Des informations détaillées concernant divers modes de réalisation sont données dans la Description détaillée ci-dessous et les inventions sont définies par les revendications annexées.
PCT/US2009/003429 2008-06-05 2009-06-05 Récipient à paroi mince avec éléments saillants de paroi et cavités renforcées WO2009151562A1 (fr)

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US61/059,145 2008-06-05

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