Reusable bottle, holder for such a reusable bottle and set consisting of the reusable bottle and the holder.

Description

2 plastic beverage bottles are actually recycled. And only 30% of plastic bottles are ultimately used to manufacture new bottles, often with the addition of non-recycled plastic. The remaining percentage is used to manufacture inferior plastic products. According to experts, recycling can never catch up with the enormous amount of plastic produced on our planet. Since the entry into force of the European SUP legislation10, manufacturers of plastic beverage packaging or bottles have been required to attach the cap to bottles designed for single use. However, consumer surveys have shown that many users find this bothersome. Common complaints are that drinking from the bottle is hampered by the stuck cap and that the cap is difficult to screw back onto the bottle due to the safety ring that is supposed to hold the cap to the bottle. Because of this safety ring, the cap is often unintentionally screwed onto the bottle at an angle, causing the bottle to leak20 after resealing.The screw cap is therefore equipped with a safety ring. In addition, there are current studies showing that many microplastics end up in the human body, with one of the main causes proving to be the drinking of liquids packaged in plastic bottles. Research shows that microplastics pose enormous health risks when they are absorbed by the human body. Moreover, these microplastics do not only enter the body directly via drinking beverages from plastic bottles, but also indirectly because bottles end up in the environment and the microplastics are consequently ingested by animals, for example fish, and enter the human body through the consumption of these animals. As an alternative to plastic bottles, liquids or beverages are also packaged and transported in bottles made of glass.10 A disadvantage of glass bottles is that smaller bottles, bottles with an internal volume smaller than seventy-five centiliters, usually do not have a screw cap but a crown cap.Small glass bottles are therefore, and for other reasons, impractical to take to work, sports, school, or the like. Moreover, a bottle opener must always be available to remove the crown caps and the bottle is not resealable after removing the crown cap. Large glass bottles, with a capacity of more than 1 / 4 liter, are also very awkward and fragile to take to work, sports, school, or the like. 25 A common disadvantage of both glass and plastic bottles is that the drinks in similar bottles heat up quickly and are poorly protected against UV radiation, which causes the quality of the bottle's contents to degrade rapidly.30 BE2024 / 5905 4 Another disadvantage of both well-known glass and plastic bottles is that the end user or consumer cannot personalize the bottle. After all, many traditional bottles do not have an attractive appearance. Certainly not when it comes to, for example, so-called B-brands or house brands,5 which consumers often avoid, not so much because of the taste or lower quality, but more because of the status.Another disadvantage is that many manufacturers deliberately avoid reusing packaging because the costs of packaging are currently so low that reusing the packaging often turns out to be more expensive for the manufacturer than using single-use packaging. In other words, the classic deposit system, sometimes also called a consignment, is increasingly under pressure. Moreover, the deposit on many packaging items, such as glass bottles, is not proportionate to the actual production cost of similar bottles. The deposit is often below the actual production cost of a new bottle. This is because the deposit is not intended to cover production costs, but to keep the bottle in the recycling cycle. The amount of the deposit is usually lower than the production costs, but high enough to encourage consumers to return the bottle. It is only when the bottle has circulated a number of times between manufacturer and consumer that reuse becomes “profitable”.On a glass bottle with a production cost of, for example, 0.50 Euro, usually only 0.10 Euro deposit is charged. However, the packaging, for example the bottle, is often broken or the consumer returns the packaging, which saddles the manufacturer with extra costs and makes them increasingly inclined to use single-use packaging. As an alternative to packaging for liquids made of plastic or glass, liquids, mainly beverages for human consumption, are also packaged and transported in aluminium packaging, for example aluminium cans. The primary production of aluminium, mainly through the use of bauxite, requires a lot of energy and has a significant impact on the environment. The mining of bauxite can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and soil and water pollution. If aluminium cans are not recycled, they can, just like plastic bottles, persist in the environment for a long time and constitute litter.20 Another important disadvantage of aluminium cans is that they cannot be resealed after opening.The contents must therefore be consumed within a very limited time span. After opening the can, there is also a permanent danger of insect ingress, for example wasps. With carbonated drinks, an additional disadvantage is that, because the cans are not resealable, the carbon dioxide gas escapes very quickly into the atmosphere. Another disadvantage of cans is that the area around the opening, where the user's mouth is placed, is unprotected during storage and transport. This area around the drinking opening in the can can therefore be contaminated by, for example, bacteria, dust or other impurities. The present invention aims to offer a solution to the aforementioned disadvantages.10 This concerns the invention of a reusable bottle for liquids, where the bottle is intended for use in a suitable container, characterized by the bottle being fitted with a cap for closing the bottle, which cap comprises a stopper, where the cap is attached to a neck of the bottle, for example by clamping the cap in the neck, and where the stopper is intended to be pushed through or pierced by a perforating device, all such that after pushing through or piercing the stopper a passage is created in the cap whereby the internal volume of the bottle is accessible via the passages and where the bottle is fitted with fastening devices for securing the bottle in a suitable container. A bottle according to the invention has the advantage that the bottle solid does not make use of plastic, comprises a solid closure which is easy to open and whose closure is tamper-evident.The bottle is intended for reuse and is either recovered by the manufacturer for cleaning and refilling, or the consumer can clean and refill the bottle themselves in a supermarket, shop, distribution point for such bottles, or the like. The manufacturer is not necessarily the producer of the bottle but can also be the one who sells the bottle or the one who fills the bottle with liquid. If the consumer cleans and refills the bottle themselves, a large part of the transport of the empty bottle is eliminated. This results in a significant reduction of the ecological footprint. In such a case, the traditional deposit principle for glass bottles could also potentially be avoided. The consumer purchases one or more of the bottles according to the inventions and in this way becomes the owner of the bottles, instead of the bottles being the property of the manufacturer, as is currently traditionally the case with reusable glass bottles. This can be an incentive for the manufacturer to start using bottles according to the invention.With this system, losses in the event of damage or loss of the bottle are entirely at the consumer's expense. The aforementioned cap is preferably designed as a ring, while the stopper is designed as a disc concentric with the cap. The diameter of the stopper corresponds to the inner diameter of the cap, such that when the stopper is attached to the cap, the stopper and cap form a sealed unit. Such a cap can, for example, be made of silicone or another synthetic material. The cap can preferably be removed from the bottle for cleaning and refilling, although refilling could alternatively also take place via the passage in the cap. A removable cap is also convenient for pushing the stopper back into the cap for subsequent use. The cap can be attached to the bottle by means of screw thread, by means of clamping due to a specific application, by means of a click connection or similar. A transition zone, where the cap and the stopper are connected to each other in the enclosed state of the cap, may optionally be provided with a tamper-evident seal.Preferably, a flexible connecting element is provided between the stopper and the cap. This connecting element20 prevents the stopper from coming loose in the bottle after being pushed through. Such a connecting element can be, for example, a cord, a string, a hinge or film hinge, or the like. 25 Alternatively to the stopper as described above, the stopper can also be made of foil, for example, perforatible aluminium foil, polystyrene foil or the like. This simultaneously offers a tamper-evident closure. The foil simultaneously serves as a seal. It goes without saying that in this design form BE2024 / 5905 9 there is no need for the connecting element between the cap and the stopper. Another alternative is a stopper made of cork that is perforated or pushed through by the perforating agent.5 The bottle is preferably made of a durable and recyclable material, such as glass. The cap can alternatively also be provided with a casing, for example made of aluminum, which at least partially covers the capping neck of the bottle.In that case, the cap is provided with a pre-perforated or weakened section with approximately the same diameter or dimensions as the diameter of the stopper. This casing is manually removed before the bottle is inserted into the holder. A first advantage of this is that a seal is obtained that is tamper-evident. A second advantage relates to the hygienic aspect. The seal provided by the casing ensures that no dirt or bacteria are deposited on the cap, which could be introduced into the liquid when inserting the bottle into the holder, whereby the stopper is pushed through or perforated.25 The invention also relates to a holder for cooperation with a bottle in accordance with the invention, characterized in that the holder comprises a tube-shaped housing, where an internal volume of the housing is intended for receiving the said bottle, where the holder is provided with fastening means corresponding to the fastening means of the said bottle, where the holder is provided with a tube that provides access to the internal volume of the holder, where the tube is provided at a first free end with a perforating device, which extends into the internal volume of the holder and is intended for pushing or piercing the stopper of the said bottle and where a second free end of the tube, opposite to the first free end, is provided with a mouthpiece or pouring spout.10 A holder in accordance with the invention is suitable for Transporting the bottles described above makes it very easy to insert, open, drink from, dispense the liquid, and so on into such a bottle.15 Preferably, the passage in the bottle cap is opened during the insertion of the bottle. This is done by the perforation device in the holder. 20 When the bottle is placed in the holder, the bottle is well protected against the penetration of ultraviolet radiation, causing the contents of the bottle to degrade less quickly and heat up less quickly under the influence of sunlight. 25 Another advantage is that the consumer can choose and purchase a nice holder and possibly personalize it themselves. Moreover, the consumer can purchase or fill a bottle with an inexpensive drink, for example a house brand, “private label”, or B-brand soft drink, without other people being able to see this. BE2024 / 5905 11 The container housing may optionally be provided with a name or recognizable logo, for example by engraving, so that a user can easily identify their own container and prevent accidentally drinking from another person's bottle. Alternatively, the manufacturer or seller may pre-personalize the container or provide it with logos, engravings, inscriptions, images or the like.This can make the whole thing more attractive to the consumer, so that the holder can achieve or possess a certain status. This can also be interesting for bundled sales, for example, with a first purchase of a number of bottles according to the invention, an original holder, personalized by, for example, the producer or brand owner, is included. The producer of the liquid or drink in the bottle can in this way develop one or more exclusive holders that, for example, underline the brand, the quality or the exclusivity. Alternatively, for example, a hotel or a travel company can sell, rent, or lend a personalized holder (with or without payment of a deposit) to customers. In this way, a customer of a hotel can, for example, take a hot or cold drink with them on a trip to the beach.The benefits have already been described above but mainly relate to a longer retention of temperature and carbonation level, no intrusion of insects, a significant reduction in waste and30 moreover, the exclusive character of a hotel or BE2024 / 5905 12 travel company can be accentuated by extending this line to, for example, the soap dispensers in the bathroom of the hotel room. This can also underline the sustainable and environmentally conscious image of the hotel or travel company, which can be decisive for some customers in5 their choice. The container is preferably equipped with a removable lid, such that at least the aforementioned mouthpiece or spout can be closed. In this way, the 10 free end of the tube, which is directed away from the internal volume of the container, can be closed during transport of the container and bottle.Because the bottle can be resealed after opening by the removable lid, there is no risk of insect ingress and any carbon dioxide present in the liquid escapes less quickly; consequently, the liquid or drink remains shelf-stable and flavorful for much longer. Furthermore, the liquid does not need to be consumed all at once, as is the case with cans and bottles with a crown cap. The container is preferably equipped with a removable nozzle, in which the tube is fitted inside the removable nozzle. This offers the advantage that the tube and the nozzle can be easily removed for cleaning. The tube and nozzle assembly can then, for example, be easily rinsed or placed in a dishwasher. The tube and mouthpiece are therefore much safer and more hygienic to drink from than, for example, 5 aluminium cans, as described above. The aspect of the removable mouthpiece is very useful in the event that the holders are distributed by hotels, travel companies or the like.The nozzle can then be individually packaged or sealed so that the user is always assured that a disinfected, cleaned or new nozzle is provided. The user can then attach the nozzle to the holder themselves, which is very simple thanks to the corresponding coupling means described above, preferably in the form of corresponding screw thread. In addition to the reusable aspect of the invention, the holder with removable mouthpiece and bottle according to the invention also offers important hygienic benefits, which, besides daily use, can also be useful in, for example, hospitals and the like. Thanks to the insertion of the bottle into the holder and the removable and cleanable mouthpiece, contact between the user and the bottle is avoided during drinking. With current screw-cap bottles, the bottle is often handled by the top of the cap by various persons, such as salespeople, cashiers, waiters, and the like, as a result of which the bottle and the cap are often no longer free from contamination such as bacteria and / or viruses.When drinking from the BE2024 / 5905 14 traditional screw-cap bottles, diseases can therefore easily be transmitted, especially during pandemics, such as the recent COVID-19 outbreak. The risk of contamination is greatly reduced thanks to the personal holder into which the bottle is placed and the removable mouthpiece. In a preferred shape, the tube-shaped housing is provided with insulation and / or a vacuum section along its circumference. The insulation can be applied along an outer jacket of the housing or along an inner jacket of the housing. Alternatively, the housing can also be made of multiple concentric tubes, with the insulation provided between the concentric tubes. The vacuum section, possibly in combination with the aforementioned insulation, can be located in a chamber between the inner and outer jacket of the housing. The tubular housing is preferably made of aluminium. The outer casing is preferably clad or made of one or more organic materials, for example bamboo or wood.The invention also relates to a set of a bottle according to the invention and a holder according to the invention.25 With the aim of better demonstrating the characteristics of the invention, some preferred forms of execution of a bottle, a holder and a set according to the invention are described below as examples without any restrictive character, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic and cross-section of a bottle according to the invention;5 Figure 2 shows a schematic and cross-section of a holder according to the invention, in which the bottle of Figure 1 is fitted. The reusable bottle shown in Figure 1 according to the invention is specifically intended for the packaging and transport of liquids. In this case, the bottle 1 is made of glass and fitted with a cap 2 for closing the bottle 1. This comprises a stopper 3, whereby the cap 2 is attached to a neck 4 of the bottle 1.15 The stopper3 is intended to be pushed or pierced by a perforating device5, in such a way that after pushing or piercing the stopper3 a passage6 is created in the stopper3 whereby the internal volume of the bottle1 is accessible via the passage6. The bottle1 is provided with fastening devices7 for securing the bottle1 in a suitable holder8. The suitable holder8 is shown in figure 2, from which it can be clearly deduced how the bottle1 is placed in the holder8 according to the invention. In this case, the cap 2 is designed as a ring and the stopper 3 is designed as a disc that is concentric with the BE2024 / 5905 16 cap 2. The diameter of the stopper 3 corresponds approximately to the diameter of the cap 2, such that a tight liquid-tight fit is created between the cap 2 and the stopper 3. When the stopper 3 is attached to the cap 2, the stopper 3 and cap 2 form a closed unit that seals the internal volume of the bottle from the environment.When the bottle1 is sold with contents, in other words when the bottle1 is pre-filled with liquid, then a seal9 may be provided in a transition zone10 between the cap2 and the stopper3. This seal9, as shown in Figure 1, offers the consumer a guarantee that the bottle1 has remained unopened since the filling of the bottle and the placement of the seal9. This seal9 may be a paper seal, a wax seal, or the like.15 In the example shown, the cap2 and stopper3 are also provided with a flexible connecting element10. In this example, the cap2, stopper3, and connecting element10 are all made of silicone and form20 a single unit. However, the cap2, stopper3 and the connecting element10 can also be made of different materials. The connecting element10 can also be a piece of string or a small chain. Its function is simply to prevent the stopper3 from ending up in the internal volume of the bottle1, in other words on the bottom11 of the bottle1.30 BE2024 / 5905 17 In this way, cap 2 and plug 3 can also be reused repeatedly, preventing plug 3 from getting lost. Alternatively, to cap 2 in the form of a ring and plug 3 in the form of a disc that fit together, at least plug 3 can also be designed as a puncturable foil. For example, an aluminium foil or a foil made of polystyrene or another suitable material. 10 Alternatively, the entire combination of cap 2 and plug 3 can also be replaced by the aforementioned foil. When using a foil to cover the passage6, there is no need to apply a connecting element10 between cap 2 and plug 3.15 The aforementioned fasteners7 are designed in this example as an external thread7. Alternatively, this can also be an internal thread. 20 Although the screw thread of the bottle1 is provided here on the belly12 of the bottle, the screw thread can also be provided on the neck4 or on the mouth of the bottle1.In this example, the bottom of the bottle is equipped with 25 aids 13 for manipulating or rotating the bottle during the attachment of the bottle in the holder. In the example shown, these aids 13 are designed as ribs 13 that provide grip to the user's hand during the attachment of the bottle 1 in the BE2024 / 5905 18 suitable holder 8. Viewed from the bottom of the bottle 1, the ribs 13 in this example shown form a cross- or star-shaped pattern. It is clear to the professional that these aids 135 for attaching the bottle 1 can take on many shapes and variants. For example, protrusions and / or recesses, whether or not in combination with the aforementioned ribs 13. In Figure 2, the holder 8 is shown, in combination with the bottle 1 according to Figure 1. The holder 8 is designed in such a way that it can enclose or encapsulate the bottle 1. This holder8 comprises a tube-shaped housing14, in this15 case a cylindrical housing8, where an internal volume of the housing8 is intended for receiving or surrounding the bottle1 according to the invention.The holder8 is equipped with fasteners15 that correspond to the fasteners7 of the bottle1. In this case, the fasteners15 of the holder 8 are therefore designed as internal threads15 that can work together with the external threads7 of the bottle1. Alternatively, the bottle1 could also be equipped with internal threads and the holder8 with external threads, but this is less interesting because the wall of the bottle1 is then locally thinner and thus becomes more vulnerable. BE2024 / 5905 19 Other corresponding fasteners7,15 are of course also possible, for example a snap connection or a simple clamping of the bottle1 in the holder8. The holder8 is also equipped with a tube16,5 drinking pipe, pouring spout or similar. This tube16 is naturally hollow and provides access to the internal volume of the holder8 and, by extension, also to the internal volume of the bottle1, when a bottle1 is placed in the holder8.10 It is noteworthy that the tube16 is provided with a perforating device5 at the end that extends into the internal volume of the holder8.This perforating agent5 is intended for pushing the stopper3 out of the cap2 of the bottle1 when the bottle1 is placed in the holder8. When the stopper3 is fitted or replaced by the foil as described above, the foil is pierced by the perforating agent5. 20 The perforating agent5 can in its simplest form simply be a first free end17 of the tube16 that extends into the internal volume of the holder8. This free end17 may optionally be provided with or shaped into a sharp or pointed edge so that the stopper25 3 is pushed through more easily or, when using a foil, the foil is pierced more easily. The outer diameter of the tube16 logically corresponds approximately to the diameter of the stopper3 or to the diameter of the passage6, such that a BE2024 / 5905 20 liquid-tight or leak-free fit is created between the cap 2 of the bottle1 and the tube16. A second free end18 of the tube16, opposite to the first free end17, is 5 provided with a nozzle19.The mouthpiece19 is intended to receive the mouth or lips of a user. Alternatively, the second free end18 of the mouthpiece19 can also be provided with a pouring spout. Such a pouring spout is, for example, useful for pouring the liquid from the bottle1 into another container not shown. In the design shown, the holder8 is provided with a removable lid20, such that the mouthpiece19 or the pouring spout can be closed. In this example, the lid and the mouthpiece are provided with corresponding couplings(21A), such that the lid can be attached to the mouthpiece(21). These corresponding couplings(21A) are in this case designed as a corresponding screw thread(21A), but this can alternatively be a click connection or similar. 25 Alternatively, the tube itself can be fitted with a sealing device at the level of the second free end18. This sealing device can, for example, be a so-called “sports cap”, such as is often fitted to PET bottles of sports drinks.30 BE2024 / 5905 21 In this example, the holder8 is equipped with a removable nozzle21. The aforementioned tube16 is fitted into this removable nozzle21 in such a way that the tube16 and the nozzle21 can be easily cleaned. For example, in a dishwasher. In this way, the tube16 can also be easily replaced when the tube16 is worn or defective, without having to replace the entire holder8. For the attachment of the nozzle21 in the holder8, both the nozzle21 and the holder8 are provided with corresponding coupling means22, for example, a corresponding screw thread22. In this design, the holder8 is provided with a removable base, such that the bottle can be secured in the holder8 when the base is removed. After securing the bottle, the base can be reattached to the holder8, making the holder8 a largely enclosed unit.20 To this end, the removable base23 and the housing14 in this example are provided with corresponding fasteners24, for example corresponding screw thread24 or a click connection.25 In addition, in this illustrated example, the tubular housing14 is provided with a vacuum section25 all around the housing14. This vacuum section25 ensures that the contents of the bottle1 heat up or cool down less quickly.30 BE2024 / 5905 22 This vacuum section25 can of course also be filled with a gas, for example nitrogen gas. Alternatively, this vacuum section25 can also be supplemented with or replaced by insulation or a reflective5 coating applied in or around the housing14. In this case, the housing14 is mainly made of stainless steel and the outer wall of the housing14 is covered with bamboo26. Alternatively to stainless steel,10 other materials are also possible, such as aluminium, a durable plastic, combinations of the aforementioned materials or the like.Alternatively to bamboo, the housing can also be covered with other sustainable or organic materials, for example wood. When the holder is used for transporting beverages, the outer diameter of the holder should preferably be six to ten centimeters, so that the holder fits into the most common cup holders of, for example, a car. When the holder is used for transporting, for example, oils, soap products, cleaning agents or the like, the outer diameter may naturally differ from this. The housing of the holder can be personalized with texts, images, logos, engravings and the like. 30 BE2024 / 5905 23 Alternatively or additionally, the shape of the housing14 may also vary. For example, the shape of the housing may also be made exclusive or distinctive for certain brands or products. The housing14 may then be provided internally with a tube in which the bottle according to the invention can be secured, for example by means of a corresponding screw connection or by clamping or similar.Although not shown in the figures, the housing of the holder can also be equipped with a handle that allows the user to more easily pour and / or dispense the contents of the bottle into another container. This can be particularly useful when the contents of the bottle do not contain a beverage but, for example, detergent, motor oil, or the like. The holder can also be mounted upside down, with the tube facing the ground, against a wall or on a stand, for example, for use as a soap dispenser, beverage dispenser, dispenser for sauces, or other liquids. In such a case, the tube must be equipped with a shut-off device that blocks the passage in the tube, for example, a valve that only opens under the influence of pressing or squeezing, or a 25 electrovalve with a motion sensor, or the like.It is clear to the professional that, as an alternative to the bottle 1 made of glass, the bottle 1 can also be made of metal, for example stainless steel (inox) or 30 BE2024 / 5905 24 aluminium, a plastic, preferably a durable plastic or other suitable materials. It is clear to the professional that the bottle 1 does not necessarily have to be cylindrical in shape. The same applies to the holder 8, which can also assume a multitude of shapes, such as a beam- or tubular structure. Furthermore, it is clear to the professional that the cap 2 and 10 the stopper 3 do not necessarily have to be circular. The cap 2 and stopper 3 can assume all kinds of possible shapes. Non-exhaustive examples are ovals, polygons and the like. 15 The present invention is by no means limited to the example described and ende.