WO2023170372A1

WO2023170372A1 - A beverage container

Info

Publication number: WO2023170372A1
Application number: PCT/GB2022/053039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeremy George Lindley
Original assignee: Diageo Great Britain Limited
Priority date: 2022-03-08
Filing date: 2022-12-01
Publication date: 2023-09-14
Also published as: GB202203205D0; GB2616831A; GB2616831B; TW202335920A

Abstract

A beverage container (10, 20, 30, 40) made of glass, comprises a narrowed neck (12) extending from a body (11) and a base (12). The body and base are formed with a substantially rounded transition therebetween such that a continuous thin wall thickness 5 can be maintained. In order to provide additional impact strength and maintain the bottle in a unitary form in the event of breakage, an external coating layer of clear polymer is applied continuously over a substantive surface.

Description

A beverage container

Technical field

The present invention relates to a beverage container, particularly a glass beverage container.

Background to the invention

A common type of beverage container, particularly for high value spirits, is a glass bottle. Such bottles tend to be thick-walled in order to mitigate breakage during use and transport. Furthermore, since many specialty bottles tend to have corners (e.g. square or other angled bottle cross section), such transitions result in added weight as additional glass is needed to fill out a corner and provide a minimum strength for the entire structure. As with many constructions, a glass bottle is only as strong as its weakest point/area.

Against the background of conventional bottle design there is a push for reduction in waste, both for manufacturing efficiency/energy use and raw materials. Accordingly, a need has been identified for a beverage container solution that particularly improves upon material use.

Examples of prior art include: US2012074091, disclosing a shatter resista nt/coated glass body, with PET shoulder/neck; US7717057, disclosing a coating for a PET pre-form, not glass; US11091389 discloses improving durability of pharmaceutical glass packages;

US2011006028 discloses a baby bottle of conventional shape, but with silicone coating for impact resistance.

Summary of the invention

The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to typically thick-walled glass beverage containers, reducing materials use while maintaining a minimum strength for practical use. In a broad aspect the container of the invention is defined according to claim 1. A method for making a container according to the invention is defined at claim 8.

It is envisaged that the invention will provide lightweight glass bottle for a liquid, particularly suitable for a beverage. This is achieved by forming a shape from glass that is structurally efficient, i.e. has minimised opportunity for weak points, such that it features an overall thin wall, at least compared to common glass bottle designs used for high value beverages. The thin wall, which preferably has structural integrity to meet use and transport load requirements, is additionally strengthened by a hard coating material that mitigates shattering or at least maintains the bottle in a unitary piece to avoid shards of glass being exposed that could cause injury. The concept of maintaining a broken glass structure in a unitary piece is known, for example from the auto glass industry, but is not typically observed in beverage containers and not, in any event, where the primary aim of the glass construction is to minimise material use.

It is also a consideration to enable specific aesthetic advantages, i.e. beauty through delicacy. Luxury spirits may be marketed as conceptually "light" and, thus, the present invention seeks to pair an appropriate container solution with this concept, as opposed to traditionally heavy bottles. In this regards, the bottle of the invention itself visually diminishes and more overtly presents the liquid in its purest form.

As a practical solution, a smooth shape without corners enables significant light weighting, i.e. material savings. In some examples, a small amount of weight/thickness can be added back into the design to mimic recognisable/distinctive bottle shapes associated with particular brands.

The invention preferably encompasses design concepts of a rounded base, smooth transitions, short height; coupled with glass hardening during manufacture (e.g. through tempering - controlled heating and cooling - and applying a microscopic coating, e.g. of ultra-hard, clear plastic, e.g. an ionomer resin such as Surlyn®, Abcite® or a functionally equivalent material that provides the desirable protective properties described herein. By way of example a surface Shore D hardness of about 60 is desirable (according to ASTM D2240), i.e. a generally hard or extra hard material.

In connection with application of a suitable coating, the glass can be heated (or cooled from its forming temperature) to above the melting point of the coating substance (e.g. plastic), then submerged into a vat of a powdered form substance for coating. In alternative forms, a powder may be sprayed onto the glass as part of the manufacturing process, e.g. while the glass was cooling and already at the right temperature.

According to the above, coating increases strength while ensuring the thin glass holds together if broken.

As mentioned above, a geometric shape that maintains a sufficient load bearing strength will likely have a substantially rounded (e.g. partially spherical) shape that may not be able to be self-supporting in an upright orientation, i.e. for display. As a result, the bottle may be provided in combination with a cradle component to enable the bottle to stand upright. The cradle may be affixed to the glass wall or separable, i.e. left on a counter top while beverage is poured from the container into a drinking vessel.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation section view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment, featuring a supporting mount/cradle;

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment; and

Figure 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The following description presents exemplary embodiments and, together with the drawings, serves to explain principles of the invention. However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the embodiments, since variations will be apparent to a skilled person and are deemed also to be covered by the description. Terms for components used herein should be given a broad interpretation that also encompasses equivalent functions and features. In some cases, several alternative terms (synonyms) for structural features have been provided but such terms are not intended to be exhaustive.

Descriptive terms should also be given the broadest possible interpretation, e.g. the term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of" such that interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. Directional terms such as "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "upper" and "lower" are used for convenience of explanation usually with reference to the illustrations and are not intended to be ultimately limiting if an equivalent function can be achieved with an alternative dimension and/or direction.

The description herein refers to embodiments with particular combinations of features, however, it is envisaged that further combinations and cross-combinations of compatible features between embodiments will be possible. Indeed, isolated features may function independently as an invention from other features and not necessarily require implementation as a complete combination.

Figure 1 broadly illustrates an embodiment of the invention, exemplifying the main principle of construction, namely a glass bottle 10 of substantially rounded form. In this embodiment bottle 10 has droplet shaped walls 11 with a partially spherical (or close to spherical/rounded) base 12. An internal volume of liquid L may be filled almost to the top of a narrowed neck portion 13, stoppered by a cork 14 or equivalent.

Due to relatively high structural strength of this "natural" glass formed shape (i.e. glass will naturally form into a droplet shape when blown in a bottle making process) the wall thickness can be thinner than a conventional bottle of comparable volume, thereby reducing overall material use. The wall thickness is also relatively consistent over the substantive shape (excluding perhaps a rim proximate stopper 14). In a preferred form the wall thickness may be between 1.5 mm and 2 mm over most of the bottle, i.e. walls and base. The droplet shape of the bottle provides good consistency in wall thickness, i.e. within 25% variation over the substantive surface. By way of comparison, conventional bottles have greater variation. Furthermore, current "light weight" bottles will have a thinnest wall thickness of 3mm while a standard bottle is approximately 4mm. For luxury products the wall thickness can be 7mm or more.

To provide additional strength and a breakage mitigating safety function, a coating or layer of hard transparent material is deposited or otherwise applied to the substantive external surface of walls 11, including the base and optionally up to and including neck 13. A coating could be applied (additionally or solely) internally but is preferred to be external to ensure the liquid beverage will not be contaminated. The naked internal glass wall is otherwise inert and not affected by even a high alcohol content liquid.

Figure 2 illustrates a variant bottle 20 with side walls 21 that are more elongated (cylindrical section), compared to Figure 1, including a spherical base 22 that is cradled by a mounting stand 25. Mount 25 includes a flat surface-contacting base 26 and upwardly extending fingers T1 that contact base 12 and/or the side walls of body 11. In the illustrated form, mount 25 is provided as a separable component, such that the bottle can be supported, then removed for pouring. A mount 25 may be provided with each bottle or as a reusable product since bottle 20 may be supplied in a carboard box (single or multi-pack) able to support bottle 21 in an upright position.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative tear-drop shaped bottle 30 with thin walls 31. Such a bottle may be intended for use with a mount (not illustrated) affixed or removable from base 32 as described above. Alternatively, base 32 may be provided with a flat portion that is sufficient to support it standing upright.

Figure 4 illustrates a variation on the embodiment of Figure 3, wherein a cap 44 serves as a closure for neck 43 of a drop shaped bottle 40 in combination with a mounting platform 45. Platform 45 may be formed of wire (for re-use) or other mouldable/worked material to provide a display means.

All foregoing bottle variants are intended to be manufactured to best available standards, including the use of techniques to improve inherent strength in the glass wall structure, e.g. by controlled heating and cooling - annealing and tempering, etc.

The foregoing bottle variants are also intended to be coated with a layer of material that imparts additional strength and/or maintains any pieces of the bottle in a unitary form in the event of a breakage. A coating, e.g. of ultra-hard, clear plastic such as Surlyn® can be applied during manufacturing such as by heating the glass (or cooled from its forming temperature) to above the melting point of a coating substance (e.g. plastic), then submerging it into a reservoir of the substance in powdered form. In alternative forms, a powder or heated liquid form may be sprayed onto the glass as part of the manufacturing process, e.g. while the glass was cooling and already at the right temperature. By way of example, the coating material may have a Shore D hardness greater than 50, e.g. 60.

An aspect of the invention can be broadly described as a glass bottle that comprises a narrowed neck extending from a body having a base. The body and base are formed with a substantially rounded transition therebetween such that a continuous thin wall thickness can be maintained. In order to provide additional impact strength, and maintain the bottle in a unitary form in the event of breakage, an external coating layer of clear polymer is applied continuously over a substantive surface.

Claims

1. A beverage container made of glass, comprising: a body portion; a narrowed neck portion, extending from the body portion, for receiving a closure element; a base portion; wherein at least the body portion and base portion comprise a substantially rounded transition such that a thin wall thickness can be maintained continuously across the body portion and base portion; an external coating layer, continuously over a substantive surface of the body portion and base portion, for imparting additional impact strength and maintaining the bottle in a unitary form in the event of breakage.

2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the external coating layer, in its cured state, is optically transparent and/or has a Shore D hardness greater than 50.

3. The beverage container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the coating is a polymer.

4. The beverage container of claim 3, wherein the polymer is an ionomer resin.

5. The beverage container apparatus of any preceding claim, in combination with a mounting cradle, configured to support the base portion upon a flat surface such that the neck portion is maintained in an uppermost position.

6. The beverage container of claim 5, wherein the mounting cradle is affixed to the base portion.

7. The beverage container of claim 5, wherein the mounting cradle is separable from the base portion, such that the bottle can be removed for pouring and returned to an upright position.

8. A method of forming a beverage container, comprising: forming molten glass into a hollow bottle shape comprising a body portion, a narrowed neck portion and a base portion, such that at least the body portion and base portion comprise a substantially rounded transition with a thin wall thickness maintained continuously across the body portion and base portion; treating the hollow bottle shape for toughness to improve the impact and load bearing strength thereof; applying an external coating layer, continuously over a substantive surface of the body portion and base portion, for imparting additional impact strength and maintaining the bottle in a unitary form in the event of breakage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the treatment for toughness comprises one or more of the following processes: annealing, compression, tempering.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the coating is applied by dipping the hollow bottle shape, neck up, into a reservoir of coating material.

11. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the coating is applied by spraying material onto the substantive hollow bottle shape.

12. The method of any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the hollow bottle is heated prior to application of the coating layer to a temperature above the melting point of the coating layer.

13. The method of any of claims 8 to 11, wherein after forming the hollow bottle it is cooled to a temperature above the melting point of the coating layer, prior to application of the coating layer.

14. The method of any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the coating layer comprises an ionomer resin.