WO2021064246A1

WO2021064246A1 - Bottle neck

Info

Publication number: WO2021064246A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/077864
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Baptiste Tanchette; Emmanuel LESTERLOU
Original assignee: Société Anonyme Des Eaux Minérales D'evian Et En Abrégé "S.A.E.M.E"
Priority date: 2019-10-03
Filing date: 2020-10-05
Publication date: 2021-04-08
Also published as: MX2022003913A; MX2022001763A; FR3101617B1; US20220324614A1; EP4037983A1; FR3101617A1; JP2023502839A; BR112022004744A2; BR112022002124A2; CN114206736A; WO2021064245A1; CN114401897A; EP4037985A1; JP2022551384A; US20220402642A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a neck (21) of a bottle (20), having a flange (22), the bottle comprising a body having a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, characterized in that the neck (21) of the bottle (20) comprises at least one protuberance (27) which is arranged: - between the collar (22) and the body, - adjacent to the shoulder.

Description

Title of the invention: BOTTLE NECK [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid food containers, and relates in particular to a bottle neck (typically plastic) preferably with thin walls which contains a food liquid. such as non-carbonated mineral water. The invention also relates to an object or apparatus which can mate with the bottle.

It is known in the prior art containers for liquid food, and in particular necked bottles, for example plastic, for example thin-walled, for transporting and delivering mineral water to a consumer who wishes consume quality water, with preserved flavor and quality. Such plastic containers or bottles are disclosed in documents WO201 012956A1, WO201093602A2, EP1873067A1, or WO2014101957A1.

In return, the production of these plastic bottles can have an environmental impact, and it is also necessary to provide recycling channels to minimize this impact.

Furthermore, it is known to manufacture such neck bottles by injection blow molding, where a preform is made by injection, and the bottle then obtained by blow molding the preform. During these manufacturing processes, during transport or during final use it may be necessary to orient or couple the bottle and / or the preform with an apparatus, machine or other object, and solutions are proposed by providing relief shapes at the neck, such as those disclosed for example in documents EP2522479B1, or US9533788B2. However, such relief shapes may not be suitable in the event that the bottle has to be coupled to another object or apparatus in order to be used. This is particularly the case when the bottle must be coupled to an object or device by a user rather than by a machine. In particular, when mating with another object or apparatus, it may be necessary to provide reliable orientation, and / or a possibility of recognition that the bottle is an authentic bottle ... and these functions may require mechanical actions or contacts on the cylinder which must be reliable and repeatable, in particular by a variety of users.

[0005] In addition, it may be advantageous (economically and / or ecologically) to minimize the thicknesses of the bottles, but it is necessary to provide that the bottle remains easy to handle, and does not deform or not too much when a consumer holds it. (typically with a force of 20 newtons). This aspect is particularly important for small capacity bottles (less than 2 L, preferably less than 1, 5 L or even 1 L), because the latter are intended to be able to accompany the consumer in his movements, and a risk of deformation ( which leads to overflow if the consumer strongly squeezes the bottle) must be minimal. Documents US20040124192A1,

FR1114750A or DE29915618U1 describe bottles coupled to external structures. However, no document gives a practical and inexpensive solution for providing a user with an object that is simple to use and to handle, reliable, in particular during a coupling or uncoupling phase.

An object of the present invention is to respond to the drawbacks of the documents of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a bottle neck which is easy and economical to manufacture, while at the same time offering a capacity of coupling with an object or an apparatus facilitated, reliable and repeatable, in particular by a user.

[0007] For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a bottle neck with a collar, the bottle comprising a body with a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, characterized in that the neck of the bottle comprises at least one protuberance, arranged:

- between the collar and the body,

- adjacent to the shoulder. The invention also relates to the bottle having such a neck. The invention also relates to certain bottle preforms having such a neck. The invention also relates to an object comprising the bottle and a device, associated with the neck, arranged to cooperate with the protuberance.

The bottle according to the above implementation comprises a protuberance at the neck, but located under the collar, and adjacent to the shoulder. Thus located under the collar, the protuberance can interact with a device, for example an object or an apparatus, without risk of influence by the presence or absence of a plug because the latter is arranged on the other side of the collar. . In addition, the growth is adjacent to the shoulder, which means that it is contiguous or contiguous to the shoulder, which eliminates any risk of seeing a portion of a device, for example an object or a device. , intended to mate with the protuberance passing between the protuberance and the shoulder. Thus the cooperation with the device, for example the object or the apparatus, is robust. In other words, the protuberance comprises a part adjacent to the shoulder, or even which encroaches on the shoulder, so that a counter-form or a sensor or support member of the protuberance cannot not pass between the protuberance and the shoulder.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulosic material. According to one embodiment, the neck is made of plastic, glass, metal, or cellulosic material. According to one embodiment, the body of the bottle is made of plastic, glass, metal or cellulosic material. According to one embodiment, the neck and the body are made of the same material, plastic, glass, metal or cellulosic material.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the bottle has a thin wall.

According to one embodiment, the protuberance extends along an angular sector in a plane normal to an axial direction of the bottle, the angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40 °, preferably at least 50 °. Such an angular range provides easy visual detection for an end user who can naturally use it to locate an orientation to be applied for a particular use. [0013] According to one embodiment, the angular dimension does not exceed 180 °. In other words, in at least one front view of the bottle and of its protuberance, the passage dimension at the level of the neck is that of the diameter of the neck over its entire height.

According to one embodiment, the neck comprises a cylindrical portion between the collar and the protrusion of height X1 of at least 2.5 mm and preferably at least 3.5 mm in an axial direction of the bottle. In other words, between the collar and the protuberance, the neck comprises a perfectly cylindrical portion (that is to say that the generatrices are segments carried by parallel straight lines passing through a base curve, typically a circle, but we can consider a rounded square, an oval ...).

In particular, and starting from the upper end of the bottle, the neck comprises:

- a terminal end defining an opening of the bottle,

- a bottle closing / opening interface, for example a thread or an elastic interlocking interface (clipping),

- the collar,

- a cylindrical part over 360 °, free of protuberances,

- a lower part which joins the shoulder, and including the outgrowth.

In at least one section plane normal to an axial direction of the bottle, the lower part of the neck has:

- in a zone distinct from the protuberance: at least a first dimension with respect to the axial direction, and

- at the level of the protuberance: at least one second dimension relative to the axial direction greater than the first dimension.

According to one embodiment, the second dimension is greater than the first dimension by at least 1.5 mm, and preferably 2.0 mm.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the protuberance comprises a lower portion arranged on the shoulder. [0019] According to one embodiment the protuberance is solid. In this embodiment, the bottle can be obtained from a preform comprising the neck, the collar and the protuberance under the collar. In other words, the protuberance is at least partially and preferably completely obtained or formed thanks to a variation (an increase) in thickness of the neck at the level of the protuberance. Typically, the protuberance is already provided at the level of the preform, before the blowing step.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the outgrowth is hollow. In other words, the protuberance is at least partially and preferably completely obtained or formed during the blowing operation. A recess inside the neck (inside the bottle) is then visible.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the protuberance has a thickness greater than or equal to 150 μm, preferably 200 μm and very preferably greater than 250 μm. typically, the protuberance has a thickness similar to that of the upper part of the shoulder, which can give it better rigidity than the side wall of the body, for example.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the protuberance has a thickness less than or equal to 600 μm, preferably 500 μm and very preferably greater than 400 μm.

According to one embodiment, the protuberance has a thickness, taken in an area less than 1 mm from the shoulder, equal to ± 20% to a thickness of the shoulder, taken in an area less than 1 mm from the outgrowth.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the bottle can be obtained from a preform comprising a collar and in which the preform is free from growth under the collar.

[0025] According to one embodiment:

- the protuberance has a first radius R1 with respect to an axial direction of the bottle,

- the collar has a second radius R2 relative to an axial direction of the bottle, and in which:

0.8 x R2 <R1 <1, 2 x R2

According to one embodiment, in a section plane comprising an axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protuberance, a lateral surface of the protuberance has a radius of between 4 mm and 11 mm, and preferably between 5.5mm and 8.5mm.

According to one embodiment, the neck comprises a cap arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably reversibly, said cap being of the detachable type of bottle or of the type attached to the bottle, in which the protuberance is arranged to receive within it and / or between it and the collar at least part of the stopper when the bottle is open. According to this implementation, the protuberance can serve as a stopper, support or storage for the stopper when the bottle is open. In other words, the protuberance can comprise a counter-shape or an imprint, at least partial, of the stopper to receive it and / or keep it in place. It is also possible to provide, between the protuberance and the flange, a spacing, a distance, or a particular shape) to provide the possibility of receiving or less part of the stopper and thus keeping the stopper in place.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the protuberance is arranged to provide a support or to form a support against the stopper. The protrusion, projecting from the rest of the neck, may have a hollow counter-shape to receive the stopper in a stable manner.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the protuberance is arranged to engage with the stopper, for example by elastic interlocking. In other words, the protuberance comprises means for maintaining the stopper, for example by elastic deformation, pinching, clipping.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a stopper arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably reversibly, and the protuberance is arranged to form a stop or stopper at the stopper when the bottle is closed. It is possible to envisage a rotation stop for a screw-on or ¼ turn stopper, or a stopper for a toggle stopper.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the protuberance bears a marking, preferably in relief. The position of the protuberance under the collar is repeatable, easy to identify, visible, so that a marking will be easily accessible and visible or within reach of the user. It is possible to envisage marking in Braille, for example.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the growth has a constant thickness, to within ± 15%.

According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a bottom, adapted to accommodate the neck (21) of a similar bottle, the bottom having a first counter-form to accommodate the neck of the similar bottle, the first counter-form being provided with a second counter-form to accommodate the protuberance of the neck of the similar bottle. Such an implementation provides a stacking capacity while guaranteeing an angular orientation of the bottles. The outgrowth offering the stop to the right orientation. Chamfers can be implanted on the lateral edges of the protuberance to facilitate unstacking, a small rotation causing the "detachment" of the upper bottle.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a plurality of protuberances between the collar and the shoulder, at least one of the protuberances, preferably each, being adjacent to the shoulder. According to a particular embodiment, each protuberance has an angular dimension of between 20 ° and 60 °, and is separated from a neighboring protuberance by a cylindrical neck portion having an angular dimension of between 20 ° and 60 °. A plurality of protuberances provides a possibility of coding, or of improved recognition.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the protuberance is arranged to be deformed by a user, to become a recessed part. Personalization or labeling of the bottle is possible, to distinguish two bottles from each other. According to one embodiment, the protuberance has V-shaped side ends; in a front view. It is possible to provide a V or an inverted V to generate a vertical force upwards or downwards, when the protuberance is engaged with a counter-shape of an object or of a device to be coupled.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the bottle comprises a single wall, not laminated. In other words, the wall of the bottle is continuous, does not form a sandwich and does not include several layers or sheets. The bottle is typically obtained from a single preform.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a bottle comprising the neck according to the first aspect.

[0039] A third aspect of the invention relates to a bottle preform comprising the neck according to the first aspect.

[0040] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an object comprising the bottle and a device associated with the neck of the bottle, arranged to cooperate with the protuberance. The device can be another object or a device. The device is for example a shell, a system for dispensing a fluid contained in the bottle, or a device for connecting the bottle to a circuit for dispensing a fluid contained in the bottle. The device is for example a fluid dispenser contained in the bottle, a fountain, a tap or a valve.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to an object to be held by a user, comprising:

- an external structure designed to be held by the user,

- a bottle according to the first aspect, characterized:

- in that the external structure is a shell in contact with at least part of the body of the bottle,

- And in that the shell comprises an upper neck forming an open U or C and arranged to fit elastically on at least part of the neck of the bottle. The object according to the fifth aspect above is easy to handle, thanks to the elastic interlocking of the neck of the bottle on the shell. Such an elastic interlocking is also called clipping (or snap fit in English). However, the shell has an open upper neck in U or C, that is to say that it forms an open clamp easy to open to insert or remove the neck of the bottle, which guarantees a moderate effort to apply for the user. However, the rigid shell reliably and robustly maintains the bottle, which provides an easy object to handle and to set up (coupling and uncoupling).

Advantageously, the shell comprises a side wall and a shell shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, and the shell shoulder comprises a passage opening arranged to provide a passage for the neck of the bottle, and the passage opening opens into the opening of the U or C of the upper neck of the shell. The passage opening makes it possible to insert and present the neck of the bottle at the level of the opening of the upper neck of the shell, which provides easy installation.

Advantageously, the passage opening, arranged to provide a passage to the neck of the bottle, has a passage dimension greater than a passage dimension of the U or C of the upper neck of the shell arranged to fit elastically on at least part of the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously:

the passage dimension of the passage opening, arranged to provide passage to the neck of the bottle, of the shell is strictly greater than a dimension of the neck, comprising for example a collar, of the bottle, and / or

- the dimension of passage of the U or C of the upper neck of the shell, arranged to fit elastically on at least part of the neck of the bottle, is strictly less than the dimension of the neck, comprising for example a collar, of the bottle. The positioning of the neck of the bottle in the passage opening does not require any particular or meticulous precaution, and it is then sufficient to tilt or push the neck of the bottle into the open upper neck of the shell to achieve the interlocking elastic and coupling. Advantageously, the shell comprises an introduction opening arranged in the side wall and arranged to allow a user to introduce the bottle into the shell. The introduction opening is typically located opposite the passage opening, to simply pass the bottle through and position the neck in the passage opening, the rest of the bottle passing easily through the opening. 'introduction.

The neck of the bottle comprises a collar and a protuberance arranged under a collar. The growth can engage in the opening of the U or C of the upper neck of the shell. The growth provides a rotational stop useful for opening and closing the bottle, especially if the bottle has a screw cap. However, other types of closure are possible, such as lids, or articulated plugs with elastic interlocking. Such a protuberance also provides angular indexing, which makes it possible, for example, to guarantee that an inscription on the bottle will fall in front of an opening in the shell.

In other words, the bottle comprises closure means, such as a cap or cap to be screwed on or to be fitted, a cap or a valve. The closure means may further comprise tamper-evident proof means such as a tamper-evident ring linked to the cap or stopper by bridges to be broken during a first use. It can also be a cover sealed on the neck, to be removed permanently during the first use. The closure means may, where appropriate, include reversible means making it possible to close the bottle after a first use. This is the case, for example, with caps or screw-on and unscrewing caps. It is mentioned that the filled bottle is preferably closed with the aid of a cap or cap to screw on or to fit and provided with a tamper-evident ring, the bridges of which are not broken.

According to one embodiment, the cap or stopper is arranged so as to be able to remain attached to the neck of the bottle after opening. This is referred to as an attached type cap or cap. The cap or stopper can for example comprising a connection, in the form of at least one strip of material and / or a hinge, between a tamper-evident strip and the body of the stopper or part of the body of the stopper.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises a liquid to drink filling at least 80% of an internal volume of the bottle, preferably water, preferably non-carbonated.

Advantageously:

- the opening of the U or C of the upper neck of the shell has a first angular dimension with respect to an axial direction of the object,

- The protuberance has a second angular dimension relative to the axial direction of the object, less than the first angular dimension. The presence of the protuberance does not disturb the opening of the upper neck of the shell and does not compromise the elastic interlocking.

Advantageously, the bottle, seen from the outside, has a concave bottom, for example hemispherical, and the shell has a bottom defining at least one flat support for placing the object in a vertical position. The flat or flat bottom makes it possible to provide a stable vertical support, although the bottle alone, with a thin wall, therefore flexible by definition, and whose bottom is hemispherical in shape, cannot be placed and held vertically on a work surface.

Advantageously, the shell has an external diameter, and the bottom of the shell comprises at least one flat crown (that is to say contained in a plane), or supports distributed along a flat crown ( that is to say contained in a plane), the plane crown having a diameter greater than or equal to 50% of the external diameter. Such a crown can also be called a plane ring, that is to say contained in a plane, which provides stable support.

Advantageously, the shell comprises at least one gripping handle, forming for example a handle. Two handles can be provided to facilitate handling. Advantageously, the bottle has a body, preferably cylindrical, with a thickness of:

- in a range going from 30 pm to 150 pm,

- And for example in a range going from 30 pm to 50 pm or from 50 pm to 70 pm or from 70 pm to 100 pm, or from 100 pm to 125 pm or from 125 pm to 150 pm,

- And preferably in a range going from 100 pm to 125 pm. A bottle with such thicknesses does not have sufficient rigidity to withstand a pinching or gripping force of 20 newtons for example, and the locking in the (rigid) shell makes it possible to limit or avoid these deformations. In other words, the bottle is naturally flexible and deformable, in particular when it is handled by the user.

Advantageously, the bottle has a bottom with a thickness equal to ± 20% of the thickness of the body of the bottle, with the exception of a central portion of the bottom included in a diameter:

- less than or equal to 50% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body,

- preferably less than or equal to 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body,

- more preferably less than or equal to 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical part of the body.

Advantageously, the upper neck of the shell fits elastically under the collar of the neck of the bottle. The collar is a peripheral protuberance of the neck of the bottle.

Advantageously, the neck of the bottle and / or the collar of the bottle has a thickness greater than 150 μm, preferably greater than 200 μm, and more preferably greater than 250 μm, preferably from 1 mm to 2 mm .

Advantageously, the bottle and / or the shell can have at least one cylindrical part. By wall or cylindrical part is meant a portion of the shell or bottle which has a lateral surface whose generatrices are parallel straight lines, and which follow a base curve (defined by the intersection of the lateral surface with a plane perpendicular to a axial direction of the bottle) which is a closed curve. This closed base curve can be circular (a circle), oval (an ellipse or any oval), square or rectangular, where appropriate with rounded corners.

Such a section of the cylindrical part can improve grip, limit flexibility and / or limit the risk of leakage when opening the bottle.

Advantageously, the bottle, the neck, and / or the body of the bottle is a plastic or less partially recycled. Advantageously, the bottle, the neck, and / or the body of the bottle is formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advantageously, the bottle, the neck, and / or the body of the bottle is formed from at least partially recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The bottle may have an internal volume of at least 0.25 L, for example at least 0.5 L, for example at least 1 L for example at least 1.5 L for example at least 2 L, for example example at least 5 L, for example at least 10 L. The bottle may have an internal volume less than or equal to 20 L, for example less than or equal to 2 L, for example less than or equal to 1.5, for example less or equal to 1 L, for example less than or equal to 0.8 L. The bottle can have an internal volume of 0.25 to 0.5 L or from 0.5 to 1 L or from 1 L to 1.5 L, or from 1.5 L to 2 L, or from 2 L to 3 L, or from 3 L to 4 L, or from 4 L to 5 L, or from 5 L to 6 L, or from 6 L to 7 L, or 7 L to 8 L, or 8 L to 9 L, or 9 L to 10 L, or 10 L to 15 L, or 15 L to 20 L.

Advantageously, the upper neck of the shell has an upper rim, and the upper rim is formed over more than 180 ° relative to an axial direction of the object. In other words, more than half of the perimeter of the neck of the bottle is received and held by the open top neck of the shell, which provides an effective hold.

Advantageously, the upper rim is included in a plane.

Advantageously, the shell is formed:

- made of polymeric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyamide (PA), or polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and optionally comprises a filler material such as fibers or some mineral particles, or

- in a metal such as aluminum.

Advantageously, the shell has a thickness:

- at least more than twice the thickness of the body of the bottle, or

- at least greater than 200 pm. the shell is therefore more rigid than the bottle.

Advantageously, during an operation of coupling the bottle with the shell, the shell is arranged to deform less than the bottle. In other words, the shell is rigid, and not deformable when it is handled by the user. Consequently, such a rigid shell makes it possible to handle a thin, flexible and deformable bottle, which could not be handled on its own without a proven risk of overflowing or falling from the hands of the user.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein :

[Fig 1] shows a first perspective view of a shell to be coupled with a bottle to form an object to be handled by a user;

[Fig 2] shows a second perspective view of the hull of Figure 1;

[Fig 3] shows a third perspective view of the hull of Figure 1;

[Fig 4] shows a perspective view of a bottle to be coupled with the shell of Figure 1 to form an object to be handled by a user;

[Fig 5] shows the bottle of Figure 4 side view;

[Fig 6] shows a phase of coupling the bottle of Figure 4 with the shell of Figure 1;

[Fig 7] shows a section of the bottle of Figure 4 coupled with the shell of Figure 1;

[Fig 8] shows a front view of the bottle of Figure 4; [Fig 9] shows a sectional view of the bottle of Figure 4, in a plane normal to an axial direction of the bottle, and passing through the neck;

[FIG. 10] represents a first preform produced by injection and which can be used to form the bottle of FIG. 4 for blow molding.

In general, the bottle according to the present disclosure comprises a protuberance housed under the collar. The outgrowth can provide several functions. A coupling with a shell will be described below, but it is also possible to envisage interactions with a device, for example an apparatus for dispensing liquid contained in the bottle. Interactions or functions are described below.

First of all, Figures 1 to 3 show a shell 10 to be coupled with a bottle and seen from different directions. In general, the shell 10 comprises an upper neck 11, a side wall 15, a bottom 14 and a shell shoulder 16 arranged between the upper neck 11 and the side wall 15.

In the example shown, the side wall 15 is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical (that is to say that its outer surface comprises parallel straight generatrices which follow a base curve, here a circle). The bottom 14 has a lower flat, which allows the shell 10 to be placed in a vertical position, as will be discussed in Figure 7.

Furthermore, the shell 10 comprises a passage opening 12 mainly visible in Figures 1 and 3, arranged in the shell shoulder 16, and an introduction opening 13, mainly visible in Figure 2.

Finally, the upper neck 11 is an open neck in the form of a C (or U), as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The upper neck 11 has a passage dimension D2 according to its largest internal diameter, and a passage dimension D'2 at its opening. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the opening of the upper neck 11 (of dimension D'2) gives or opens into the passage opening 12, and it can be noted that the passage dimension D1 of the opening of passage 12 is greater than the dimensions of passage D2 and D'2 of the upper neck 11. The details will be explained in FIG. 6 below.

Figures 4, 5, 8 and 9 show a bottle 20 which comprises a neck 21 (or neck), a shoulder 28, a side wall 24 and a bottom 25. In the example shown, the neck 21 is threaded to receive a cap 26 (visible in Figure 6), and a collar 22 is provided under the thread, and a protuberance 27 is arranged under the collar 22. The bottle 20 also contains a liquid food (non-carbonated mineral water for example ).

As explained above, the neck 21 is threaded to receive a stopper 26, but other closure means can be considered (a cover, an articulated stopper with elastic interlocking, etc.). FIG. 5 represents an external dimension D3 of the flange 22, and this external dimension D3 is less than the passage dimension D1 of the passage opening 12 of the shell 10, but greater than the passage dimension D2 or D'2 of the upper neck 11 of the shell 10.

Indeed, and as shown in Figures 6 and 7, it is expected that the shell 10 and the bottle 20 can mate and be held together. In particular, the upper neck 11 of the shell 10 is designed to fit elastically with the neck 21 of the bottle 20. In the example shown, the upper neck 11 of the shell 10 has dimensions adapted to fit elastically. on the bottle 20, under the collar 22.

To this end, and as visible in Figures 1 and 3, the upper neck 11 of the shell 10 is formed over more than 180 ° (for example 270 °, at ± 45 °) so as to be able to move away , receive and retain the neck 21 of the bottle 20, in particular by retaining the collar 22.

To couple the bottle 20 with the shell 10, and as shown in Figure 6, it suffices for the user to introduce the bottle 20 through the introduction opening 13 of the shell 10, to thread the neck 21 capped with the stopper 26 of the bottle 20 in the passage opening 12 of the shell 10 (because the external dimension D3 of the collar 22 (and of the stopper 26) is less than the passage dimension D1 of the opening of passage 12) and then tilt the bottle 20 to finish threading the bottom 25 in the shell 10, and above all to elastically fit the neck 21 of the bottle 20 in the upper neck 11 of the shell 10 (because the dimension of passage D'2 and D2 of the upper neck 11 is less than the dimension of the neck 21 and to the external dimension D3 of the collar 22).

In detail, the upper neck 11 of the shell has a cylindrical rim of a few millimeters, the bottle 20 comprises the collar 20, and a cylindrical neck portion arranged between the collar 22 and the shoulder of the bottle 20, and the cylindrical rim of the upper neck 11 clamps the cylindrical neck portion of the bottle 20, while coming into axial abutment with the flange 22, which provides an assembly of the shell 10 and the bottle 20.

To release the bottle 20 from the shell 10, it suffices to apply a transverse, lateral or transverse force on the stopper 26 to "unclip" the neck 21 of the bottle 20 from the upper neck 11 of the shell 10 It is also possible to provide an orifice in the lower part of the shell 10, opposite the introduction opening 13, to allow the user to push the bottle laterally out of the shell 10, with a finger.

As shown in Figure 7, once coupled, the shell 10 and the bottle 20 form an object 30 easy to handle for a user. The bottom 14 of the shell 10 is flat, so that the object 30 holds a stable vertical position when it is placed on a work surface. In addition, a return 16 is provided on the lower part of the shell 10 to secure the coupling and the holding of the bottle 20 - shell 10 assembly.

As already mentioned above, the cap 26 is screwed on the bottle 20. To provide a stop in rotation of the bottle 20 relative to the shell 10, a protuberance 27 is provided on the bottle 20 to be housed in the opening of the upper neck 11 of the shell 10. Thus, a torque applied to the bottle 20 is transmitted to the shell 10 via the protuberance 27. It is possible to envisage other implementations for such indexing, as by example a neck 21 of the bottle 20 with a non-circular section, crenellations at the level of the upper neck 11 which engage in counter-shapes of the collar 22 ... Without connection with the screwing / unscrewing of the cap 26, it is also possible to take advantage of the angular indexing between bottle 20 and shell 10 provided by the protuberance 27 engaged in the opening of the upper neck 11, to print or affix markings on the bottle 20, so that they are visible after coupling, and fall opposite the passage opening 12 or the introduction opening 13, or any other opening of the shell 10 .

Furthermore, it can be noted that the protuberance 27 is adjacent to the shoulder 28 of the bottle 20, so that the wall of the shell 10 at the level of the collar 11 or of the shell shoulder 16 does not cannot slip between the shoulder 28 and the protuberance 27 of the bottle 20. The stop and the stop position in rotation are well controlled.

FIG. 8 shows the bottle 20 and the protuberance 27 seen from the front. The flange 22 has a diameter D3, and the neck under the flange has a diameter D4 less than D3, over a height X1 of at least 2.5 mm, and over 360 °. Thus, gripping by pliers is possible under the collar 22, even in the presence of the protuberance 27. In this front view, it can be noted that the protrusion 27 has a width less than the value of the diameter D4 under the collar, if although it is possible to guide the bottle 20 during manufacture via rails which rest under the collar 22.

It can also be noted in Figure 5 which shows the bottle 20 from the side that the protuberance has a radial dimension similar to that of the collar 20 and that it does not protrude. In particular, if one refers to Figure 9 which shows the bottle 20 in section along a plane normal to the axial direction of the bottle and passing between the protuberance 27 and the flange 22, the radial dimension A3 of the protuberance 27 is substantially equal to D3 / 2. On the other hand, the rest of the neck has a radial dimension A2 less than A3.

FIG. 9 also shows that the protuberance 27 extends along an angular sector A1, with a value of approximately 90 ° here, but one can consider values between 30 and 150 ° for example. These implementations make it possible to provide a reusable shell 10 that is fairly rigid or at least not too flexible to be held (typically with a force of 20 newtons) without significantly deforming, and to provide a very thin disposable bottle 20, and therefore too soft or too flexible to be held (typically with the same force of 20 newtons) without deforming. This coupling makes it possible to provide a disposable and recyclable bottle 20 made with little material and yet with correct ergonomics, since the shell 10 is sufficiently rigid and reusable.

One can also provide a strap, or a wrist strap, or attachment bands by hooks and textile loops (known under the brand "Velcro", or called "scratch") to allow the consumer to transport the object 30 in various activities (sport, hiking ...). It is also possible to provide one or more handles on the shell 10.

The bottle 20, the neck, and / or the body of the bottle is preferably formed of a thermoplastic material, preferably thin-walled. The material is preferably a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polyethylene furanoate (PEF) or polytrimethylene furanoate (PTF). The material can be at least partially recycled material. The bottle is preferably shaped by an injection blow molding process, for example an injection stretch blow molding process. In these processes, a solid preform (shown in FIG. 10) is manufactured by injecting the material into a mold and then cooling, the preform is then heated in order to soften it, optionally stretched longitudinally using a rod, then stretched axially and longitudinally by blowing in a mold in the shape of the bottle.

These polyester materials and methods are known to those skilled in the art.

Their combination makes it possible to obtain thin, light walls with good mechanical resistance and good sealing or other barrier properties. These properties are due to the orientation of the macromolecular chains inducing at least partially crystallization. In addition to saving material, these polyesters have the advantage of being easily recyclable. The recovery, sorting and regeneration channels are organized. Regeneration can be mechanical recycling involving melting and shaping, for example into granules before new plastics processing operations such as injection blow molding or chemical recycling involving depolymerization, recovery of monomers or precursors, then a new polymerization.

The implementation and use of the thin-walled bottles of the invention therefore has a very advantageous environmental balance, in addition to good practicality, in particular by contributing to the implementation of conventional PET bottles non-activatable, thicker.

The thin wall is preferably such that the body of the bottle has a thickness within a range from 30 µm to 150 µm, for example in a range from 30 µm to 50 µm or from 50 µm to 70 µm or from 70 µm to 100 µm, or from 100 µm to 125 µm or from 125 µm to 150 µm, preferably in a range of 100 µm to 125 µm. The thickness mentioned is the thickness at at least one point of the body, preferably the average thickness over a portion representing at least 50% in length or area of the body, preferably at least 80%, preferably the thickness average over the whole body. The bottom of the bottle may be slightly thicker than the body, eg up to 50% thicker than the body, eg up to 20% thicker. The bottom may also have a cup, typically corresponding to the bottom of the preform and to its injection point.

The thickness can be adjusted by adapting, for a target bottle volume, the characteristics of the preform, in particular its shape and the thickness of its walls, as well as the drawing characteristics. It is mentioned that the thickness of the walls of the preform, the geometry of the preform such as its length, its diameter and its bottom shape, together with the neck which may form a bottle neck, determine the weight. The bottle, unfilled, not closed, and / or the preform generally have the same weight. Subsequently the weights given are refer indifferently to bottle weight or preform weight. For a 75 cl bottle, it is advantageously possible to use preforms of 8 to 13 g. The overall stretch ratio may for example be between 12.0 and 27.0, preferably between 15.0 and 20.0. The axial stretch rate (typically the ratio between the height of the bottle and the length of the stretchable part of the preform, typically the distance under the neck) can for example be between 3.0 and 4.5. The radial stretch rate (typically ratio between the diameter of the bottle and the diameter of the stretchable part of the preform) can for example be between 4.0 and 6.0. It is mentioned that the overall stretch ratio is generally equal to the product of the axial stretch ratio and the radial stretch ratio.

Good results are for example obtained with the characteristics of Table 1 below:

[Table 1]

In detail, FIG. 10 represents a preform 40 produced by injection, and which can be used in a blowing process to produce the bottle 20 of FIG. 4. The preform 40 has a threaded upper part CF which will not be stretched during the blowing process, and which therefore has the same dimensions as the neck of the bottle 20. In particular, one can note the presence of the collar 22 which is of the same dimensions as that of the bottle 20. A cylindrical part separates the flange 22 of a slightly conical part Ep, adjacent to a lower part Co of the preform. Typically, the part Ep of the preform approximately corresponds to the shoulder 28 of the bottle 20, and the Co part approximately corresponds to the side wall 24 and the bottom 25 of the bottle 29. It is important to note that the cylindrical zone between the part Ep and the flange 22 of the preform 40 is free from bosses or protuberances. Indeed, the protuberance 27 will be formed during the blowing operation in this exemplary embodiment.

As seen above, the preform 40 or 40A can be formed in a thermoplastic material, and it can have:

- a total height of between 50 mm and 80 mm;

- a weight of between 7 g and 17 g; - a thickness at the neck of between 1 mm and 2 mm;

a thickness at the level of the Co part of between 1.6 mm and 2.8 mm;

- A collar 22 with a diameter between 29 mm and 35 mm and a thickness between 0.7 mm and 1.5 mm;

- a height of the CF part between 10 mm and 15 mm. As seen above, a protuberance 27 arranged under the collar 22 and adjacent to the shoulder 28 of the bottle makes it possible to couple the bottle 20 reliably to a shell 10.

[0100] On the basis of the protuberance 27 arranged under the collar 22 and adjacent to the shoulder 28 of the bottle, other functions of interactions with devices or caps can be implemented.

[0101] In particular, it is possible

- orienting a valve mounted on the bottle during the manufacture of bottles filled and stoppered by the valve, or during the assembly of a valve, for example reusable, by a user after opening the bottle. providing a support or a final stop to the opening of an attached, for example hinged, stopper;

- provide the user with a visual indication of the direction or the opening zone of an attached cap, for example hinged;

- provide a reception or reception area for a cork attached with a hinge or a flexible link connecting it to the bottle,

- provide a stopper or a clipped cap blocking.

[0102] During operations of grouping bottles 20, for example using secondary packaging, the protuberance 27 can be used in order to:

- to block in rotation and / or axially the bottle 20 relative to a packaging or handling support such as a cardboard or plastic handle or like a cardboard pickup;

- to orient the bottles in relation to the same packaging or handling support such as a cardboard or plastic handle or like a cardboard pickup;

- Lock identical bottles stacked on top of each other, the bottom of a bottle comprising a counter-form to review and engage with the protuberance of a bottle located below in the stack.

[0103] During final use, the protuberance 27 can be used in order to:

- to block the bottle in rotation with respect to an external device such as a shell ;

- to provide a presence detection zone or a good arrangement for a mechanical or even optical feeler;

- visually or optically check the water level in the bottle, representative of a storage and / or use period, for example before initial use;

- identify one bottle among others by crushing the growth.

[0104] Furthermore, the protuberance 27 can also be used to carry a marking, a logo in order for example to provide traceability or an indication of material for a particular recycling in the case of specific material. The outgrowth

27 can itself be used as a marking in order for example to provide traceability or an indication of material for a particular recycling in the case of specific material.

[0105] It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[Claim 1.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) with a collar (22), the bottle comprising a body with a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, characterized in that the neck (21 ) of the bottle (20) comprises at least one protuberance (27), arranged:

- between the collar (22) and the body,

- adjacent to the shoulder.

[Claim 2.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle is made of plastic.

[Claim 3.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottle is thin-walled.

[Claim 4.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the protuberance (27) extends along an angular sector in a plane normal to an axial direction. of the bottle (20), the angular sector having an angular dimension of at least 40 °, preferably at least 50 °.

[Claim 5.] A bottle neck (21) (20) according to claim 4, wherein the angular dimension does not exceed 180 °.

[Claim 6.] Neck (21) of bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a cylindrical portion between the collar (22) and the protuberance (27), of height X1 of at least 2.5 mm and preferably at least 3.5 mm in an axial direction of the bottle.

[Claim 7.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the protuberance (27) comprises a lower portion arranged on the shoulder. [Claim 8.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the protuberance (27) is solid.

[Claim 9.] Neck (21) of bottle (20) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottle is obtained from a preform comprising the neck (21), the collar (22) and the protuberance ( 27) under the collar (22).

[Claim 10.] Bottle neck (21) (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the protuberance (27) is hollow.

[Claim 11.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to claim 10, wherein the protuberance (27) has a thickness:

- greater than or equal to 150 μm, preferably 200 μm, preferably 250 μm and very preferably greater than 300 μm, and / or

- Less than or equal to 600 μm, preferably 500 μm, preferably 400 μm.

[Claim 12.] Neck (21) of bottle (20) according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the bottle is obtained from a preform comprising the collar (22) and free of protuberance under the collar.

[Claim 13.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein:

- the protuberance (27) has a first radius R1 relative to an axial direction of the bottle,

- the collar (22) has a second radius R2 relative to an axial direction of the bottle, and in which:

0.8 x R2 <R1 <1, 2 x R2.

[Claim 14.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which, in a section plane comprising an axial direction of the bottle and passing through the protuberance (27), a lateral surface of the protuberance has a radius of between 4 mm and 11 mm, and preferably between 5.5 mm and 8.5 mm.

[Claim 15.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a stopper arranged to open and close the bottle, preferably reversibly, said cap being of the detachable bottle type or of the type attached to the bottle, in which the protuberance (27) is arranged to receive within it and / or between it and the collar (22) at least part of the cap when the bottle is opened.

[Claim 16.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to claim 15, wherein the protuberance (27) is arranged to provide a support or form a counter-support form for the stopper.

[Claim 17.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 16, in which the protuberance bears a marking, preferably in relief.

[Claim 18.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the bottle comprises a bottom, adapted to accommodate the neck (21) of a similar bottle, the bottom having a first counter-form to accommodate the neck (21) of the similar bottle, the first counter-form being provided with a second counter-form to accommodate the protuberance (27) of the neck of the similar bottle.

[Claim 19.] Neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 18, comprising a plurality of protuberances between the collar and the shoulder, at least one, preferably each, protuberances being adjacent to the shoulder.

[Claim 20.] The neck (21) of a bottle (20) according to one of claims 1 to 19, in which the protuberance (27) is hollow and is arranged to be deformed by a user, to become a recessed part. .

[Claim 21.] Bottle (20), comprising:

- a body with a side wall and a shoulder arranged between the neck and the side wall, and

- a neck (21) according to one of claims 1 to 20.

[Claim 22.] Bottle preform comprising a neck (21) according to one of claims 1 to 9. [Claim 23.] An article comprising a bottle (20) according to claim 21 and a device associated with the neck (21) of the bottle, arranged to cooperate with the protuberance (27).

[Claim 24.] Object according to claim 23, characterized in that the device is a shell, a system for dispensing a fluid contained in the bottle, or a device for connecting the bottle to a circuit for dispensing a fluid contained. in the bottle.

[Claim 25.] Object according to claim 24, characterized in that the device is a dispenser of fluid contained in the bottle, a fountain, a tap or a valve.