Lightweight polymer wine bottle suitable for use with natural or synthetic cork stoppers.

Description

1 / 16 Lightweight polymer wine bottle suitable for use with natural or synthetic cork stoppers. PATENT REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS [1] This patent application claims priority before U.S. Provisional Registration Application No. 63 / 488,060, filed on March 2, 2023, and U.S. Patent Application 18 / 362,802, filed on July 31, 2023. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [2] The present invention relates to packaging for alcoholic beverages, such as wine, and in particular bottles which are made from lightweight polymers and adapted to receive natural cork stoppers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [3] Packaging for high-quality alcoholic beverages, such as wine, is traditionally made in the form of glass bottles that are chemically compatible with alcohol and possess aesthetic and other attractive features for consumers. Glass has long been used for such applications, in part because of its chemical compatibility, low oxygen transfer, and general suitability for long-term storage. Furthermore, consumers have associated natural cork stoppers with high-quality wines, and glass bottles are used, in part, because of their ability to receive and accommodate such stoppers. However, the weight and fragility of glass bottles make them imperfect containers for these uses. [4] Polymer alternatives to glass bottles have been developed. For example, wine bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are known and offer some advantages (in terms of weight and resistance to breakage) over traditional wine bottles. This US Patent application 10,894,625 describes a wine bottle; in particular, one that includes Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 49 / 71 2 / 16 coatings on their internal and external surfaces that inhibit the entry of oxygen. [5] However, commercially available PET wine bottles have, until now, been limited to the use of screw-top stoppers. At the same time, blind tasting studies have shown that most consumers are unable to distinguish between wines stored in bottles with screw caps from those using natural cork stoppers; many consumers will refuse to buy wines in bottles with screw caps because they believe those wines are inferior to those using traditional natural cork stoppers. Similar preferences for natural cork stoppers over synthetic cork stoppers have also been observed. Furthermore, many wines benefit from bottle aging through exposure to small amounts of oxygen introduced through natural cork stoppers.Through many years of experience using such corks, winemakers have developed their maturation and blending processes to justify their use. [6] This put existing PET and other polymer bottles at a disadvantage. Such bottles are generally unable to meet the demands associated with the use of natural (or synthetic) cork stoppers. For example, during the corking process, the release of the cork from the bottle is accompanied by a sudden loss of pressure inside the bottle, and this loss of pressure causes the walls of PET and other polymer bottles to recede inward, causing the wine (or other contents) of the bottle to overflow the container. And, commercial bottling lines typically use corking machines that first place the cork in the bottle and then push the cork to become flush with the neck by applying pressure. Some existing PET and other polymer bottles have collapsed under the application of such pressure, making them unsuitable for such applications. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [7] The present inventors have recognized that there is an unmet need for a lightweight, durable and rigid container that has high aesthetic appeal. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 50 / 71 3 / 16 and allow the use of natural or synthetic cork stoppers. [8] In one embodiment, a wine bottle configured according to the present invention has a body ending in a base, a shoulder, and a neck, the shoulder forming a tapered region between the neck and the body, and the neck ending in a neck. The wine bottle is characterized by having a body, base, shoulder, neck, and neck made of a polymer wall, this wall being sufficiently thick to withstand extraction forces, one hour after capping, of between 10 and 45 daN, and in some cases between 12 and 40 daN, when a natural cork stopper is used, and between 10 and 45 daN when a synthetic stopper is used. [9] As an example, the wine bottle may be made of a polymer wall consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or recycled PET (rPET). Where the wine bottle has a volume of approximately 750 ml at its fill point, the polymer wall may have a thickness along the length of the bulge of 0.5 - 2 mm, and preferably approximately 1.3 mm on average, and a thickness along the length of the neck of 3.5 - 6.8 mm. The neck comprising the stem may be 35 - 70 mm long and have an internal diameter of 17.75 - 20 mm as measured at or near the top of the stem and 17 - 18.5 mm at or near the junction with the shoulder.Alternatively, the neck comprising the bottle neck may be of sufficient length to accommodate a cork approximately 30–53 mm long, with sufficient headspace to allow for the expansion of wine within the bottle at temperatures above 20 °C without the pressure in the bottle rising above 1 bar. The polymer wall may have an inner coating, for example, of a silicon oxide, with a thickness between 1 nm and 100 μm inclusive. The wine bottle may have a material weight (i.e., weight when empty) of 70–300 grams.

[10] Another embodiment of the invention provides a wine bottle having a body ending in a base, a shoulder, and a neck, with the shoulder forming a tapered region between the neck and the body, and the neck ending in a neck. The body, base, shoulder, neck, and neck may be Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 51 / 71 4 / 16 made of a polymer wall, for example, PET and / or rPET, and the wine bottle has a volume of approximately 750 ml at its fill point. The polymer wall has a thickness along the length of the body of approximately 1-1.7 mm on average and weighs approximately 150-160 grams.

[11] Additional embodiments of the invention are described in detail below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[12] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, by the attached figures, in which:

[13] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wine bottle having a polymer wall and an inner lining according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[14] Figure 2 illustrates a further example of a wine bottle having a polymer wall according to an embodiment of the present invention, and highlights details of the neck and stem area of ​​the bottle.

[15] Figure 3 further illustrates another example of a wine bottle having a polymer wall according to an embodiment of the present invention, and highlights details of the neck and stem area of ​​the bottle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[16] This document describes embodiments of packaging for alcoholic beverages, such as wine. In one embodiment, the packaging is made in the form of a bottle manufactured from a lightweight polymer, which is coated in such a way as to prevent the entry of oxygen. Referring to Figure 1, in a special embodiment a wine bottle 10 configured according to the invention has a bulge 12 that ends in a base 24, which may or may not Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 52 / 71 5 / 16 comprise a concave bottom (not shown), a shoulder 20, and a neck 16. The shoulder 20 forms a tapered region between the neck 16 and the bulge 12. The dimensions and tapered shapes may vary for different bottle shapes, including bottle shapes traditionally associated with wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and elsewhere. The neck 16 terminates in a neck 18. Some or all of the bulge 12, base 24 (including a heel 14), shoulder 20, neck 16, and neck 18 are made of a transparent blow-molding grade polymer wall 22, such as PET or recycled PET (rPET), which has an inner coating 28. The inner coating 28 may be a coating made of a silicon oxide (usually SiOx), for example, SiO2, also called “liquid glass.” Other coatings can also be used, provided that the material used for the coating is generally impermeable to the diffusion of gas, oxygen in particular, and volatile compounds.The coating is preferably applied by means of plasma pulse chemical vapor deposition, in which a mixture of gases is introduced into a bottle and ignited by microwaves to generate a cold plasma that forms the inner coating; however, other coating processes may be used. The inner coating 28 may have a thickness between 1 nm and 100 μm inclusive, and preferably 100 nm to 30 μm inclusive. In other additional embodiments, the wine bottle 10 may be molded from one or more of polysulfone (PSU), polypropylene (PP), or glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG). Other alternative materials for a wine bottle 10 is Eastar EB062 Copolymer, a PETG-based copolymer, i.e., manufactured by Eastman Chemical Company, which has superior recyclability and chemical and mechanical properties compared to PET and PETG.Copolymers, blends, and mixtures of the preceding materials can also be used.

[17] The present invention solves several of the problems described above and provides a lightweight bottle for long-term storage of high-quality alcoholic beverages. The majority of the bottle is composed of a polymer, for example, PET or rPET, while the interior of the bottle is coated with a thin film (for example, preferably between 1 nm and 100 μm thick) of a passive barrier to (i) limit the transfer of oxygen into the bottle, (ii) limit the transfer of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) out of the bottle, and (iii) provide chemical compatibility with the conditions Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 53 / 71 6 / 16 acids associated with alcoholic beverages contained in the bottle. The exterior of the bottle may or may not be similarly coated with a thin film of material of identical thickness. In various embodiments, the bottles manufactured according to the embodiments of the invention weigh less than 300 grams, or even less than 200 grams, and preferably 150 - 160 grams or less (e.g., 70 - 130 grams) for the 750 ml bottle (as measured at its filling point), compared to the 500 grams of the conventional 750 ml glass wine bottle, are durable enough to be shipped without insulating packaging, and are suitable for long-term storage of their contents (e.g., for periods of 30 - 3650 days).In various embodiments, the bottles molded according to the present invention may have internal volumes ranging from approximately 0.187 to 3 liters at their filling points, with the weights of such bottles varying accordingly, for example, between 30 and 300 grams. For Bordeaux-style or Burgundy-style bottles of approximately 750 ml at their filling points (for example, bottles similar to those analyzed in detail below), the bottles may have a material weight, i.e., a weight when empty, of 70 to 300 grams. It should be noted that the wine bottles configured according to the embodiments of the present invention have a wall thickness sufficient to withstand the pressure associated with corking the bottle and remain rigid, or nearly so, during uncorking.

[18] In one embodiment, the thickness of the polymer wall of the wine bottle 10 varies in different parts of the bottle. For example, the neck may have a thickness variation of approximately 3.5 - 6.8 mm in areas along its length, and the shoulder and bulge may have a thickness of approximately 0.5 - 2.5 mm on average, and more preferably 1-2 mm on average, and even more preferably 1.1 - 1.7 mm on average, along the length of the shoulder and bulge. The variation in thickness of the different areas of the bottle allows the bottle to remain lighter than a conventional glass bottle while still providing structural support to allow corking and uncorking.

[19] Preferably, a bottle of wine arranged in accordance with Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 54 / 71 7 / 16 embodiments of the present invention are also intended for the storage of wines having a carbonation level below 1.2 grams per liter of liquid and for which overpressure due to carbon dioxide is less than one bar in a closed bottle when kept at 20 °C. The wine bottle is preferably made of PET or rPET, has a volume of approximately 750 ml at its filling point, a wall thickness of 0.5 - 2.5 mm on average, and preferably approximately 1-2 mm on average, and more preferably 1.1 - 1.7 mm on average along the length of its bulge, and 3.5 - 6.8 mm along the length of its neck, and a weight of approximately 80 - 160 grams, for example, 150 - 160 grams. The neck, including the throat, can be 35-70 mm long, and preferably 40-65 mm long, with a minimum interior through-diameter of 17.5 mm.More generally, the neck is long enough to accommodate a cork, either natural or synthetic, 30–53 mm long, and more preferably 44 mm long, with sufficient headspace to allow for wine expansion at temperatures above 20°C without the pressure in the bottle rising above 1 bar. In some cases, as discussed in greater detail below, the neck may have an internal diameter of 17.75–20 mm, and preferably 18.5–19.5 mm, as measured at or near the top of the neck (e.g., from the top to approximately 3–15 mm from the top of the neck), and 17–18.5 mm, and preferably 17.5–17.7 mm, at or near the junction with the shoulder (e.g., approximately 65 mm from the top of the neck).Preferably, the wine bottle is configured in this way to withstand extraction forces (one hour after corking) of between 10 and 45 daN, and preferably between 12 and 40 daN when a natural cork stopper is used and between 10 and 45 daN when a synthetic stopper is used. Preferably, the wine bottle is further configured to withstand corking when an initial force compensation spring of 100 daN, plus or minus 20 daN, is used.

[20] For the purposes of the present invention, natural cork stoppers suitable for use with the present wine bottles may have lengths of 38–54 mm, plus or minus 0.7 mm, and diameters of 24 mm, plus or minus 0.5 mm. In other examples, the natural cork stoppers suitable for use with the wine bottles presented in this document may have lengths of 30–55 mm plus or minus 0.8 mm. The synthetic stoppers suitable for use with the present bottles Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pages 55 / 71 8 / 16 wine corks may have lengths of 34–45 mm, plus or minus 0.3 mm, and diameters of 22.5–24 mm, plus or minus 0.3 mm. The cork diameters should be appropriate for the diameter of the bottle neck and sufficient to provide adequate sealing against leaks. For example, a natural cork for a bottle with a neck diameter of 18 mm should be approximately 24 mm in diameter. Such a cork will be compressed by approximately 6 mm when inserted into the bottle, thus exerting a pressure of approximately 1–1.5 kg / cm² against the neck. In other examples, synthetic corks suitable for use with the present wine bottles may have lengths of 30–45 mm plus or minus 0.5 mm.

[21] In one example, bottle 10 is manufactured using a single-stage stretch blow molding process. In this process, PET and / or rPET pellets are introduced into a hopper and melted using an extruder. The molten material is then injected into the preform mold, which is sized to determine the neck and stem dimensions of the final bottle. An elastic rod is used to stretch the preform along its longitudinal dimension, and pressurized air is blown into the cavity to form the bottle material to the mold walls. The completed bottle is then ejected from the mold and can undergo quality control testing to ensure there is no leakage.

[22] The single-stage process differs from a two-stage process in which preforms are made and stored for the complete bottle to be blown later. While the two-stage process may offer some efficiency in terms of storage, etc., the present inventors have observed that reheating the preforms as part of the separate blowing process may lead to bottles having wall parameters that fail to meet the aforementioned specifications required to withstand the corking and uncorking processes, especially when natural cork stoppers are used. However, in some instances a two-stage blow-forming and stretching process may be used. In the two-stage process, once the preforms are formed they are stored for later shaping into the final bottle form.This final bottle shape occurs after reheating the preforms and completing the two stages of the process. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pages 56 / 71 9 / 16 are performed similarly to the corresponding steps of the single-stage procedure analyzed previously.

[23] Similarly, other suitable manufacturing processes that achieve the required wall dimensions mentioned in this document may be used. For example, extrusion blow molding may be used. In extrusion blow molding, a preform is formed vertically and its wall thickness is varied by changing the size of an orifice through which the preform is extruded. The preform is then encased in a mold and the final bottle formed by means of a blowing process similar to that used in blow molding, followed by trimming of any unnecessary material.

[24] As discussed earlier, the interior of the polymer bottle of the present invention is coated with a thin film. The material used for the coating must generally be impermeable to the diffusion of gas, oxygen in particular, and volatile compounds in the case of wine. Examples of barrier materials are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,300,541 (polyamide-polyepoxide coating) and 5,637,365 (eryloate / aryloxyamine epoxy coating). There are many such coatings that have been commercially developed, including Bairocaide (available from PPG Industries of Pittsburgh, PA), EC-12 (available from Westcoat Specialty Coating Systems of San Diego, CA), Nanolok (available from InMat Inc. of Hillsborough Township, NJ), HydroPhil (available from Lotus Leaf Coatings, Inc. of Albuquerque, NM), Hydak (available from Biocoat, Inc. of Horsham, PA), and NanoSeal Nanotechnology Coating (available from NanoSeal or Conroe, TX).These commercially available coatings vary in their chemical compositions. Coatings made of SiOx are often used, and are the preferred coatings for use with wine bottles because they are chemically similar to glass. Market research indicates that beverage manufacturers rely more on SiOx coatings, also referred to as "liquid glass coatings," than on other types of coatings. Liquid glass coatings have been used in numerous other industries, including medical and automotive, as a means of protecting surfaces from stains or corrosion. Preferably, the coating should be colorless. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pages 57 / 71 10 / 16 and almost imperceptible to the human eye. The coating must be applied to at least the entire interior of the bottle, in a thin, continuous layer ranging from 100 nm to 30 pm. The coating can be applied using any of many methods, preferably the plasma process described earlier, but spraying, immersion, or painting can also be used.

[25] The molded bottles according to the present invention may be transparent (for example, with an optical transparency within 10% of the glass) or translucent, and may be of one of numerous colors commonly used in the high-quality alcohol industry, for example, leaf green, antique green, champagne green, or stone.

[26] For wine storage, the design of polymer bottles is of particular importance. Wine bottles are commonly produced in one of three shapes: Burgundy, Bordeaux, or Rhineland. The shape of the bottle is important both for attracting the consumer and for maintaining compatibility with existing bottling lines. However, in cases where the wine bottle 10 does not comprise a concave bottom, maintaining the traditional bottle dimensions could result in a reduction in the fill line. The location of the fill line is important because it defines how much oxygen is in the bottle when it is corked. Removing the concave bottom and maintaining the fill line, while maintaining compatibility with existing bottling lines, makes the design of a bottle significant for a polymer manufacturer.Furthermore, the use of thinner walls than those of a typical glass bottle also reduces the fill line due to the fixed external dimensions of the bottle.

[27] For example, in one embodiment the bottle configured according to the present invention which is intended for use in connection with Burgundy-style wines maintains an appropriately located fill line despite the absence of a concave bottom and the presence of thinner walls than those associated with glass wine bottles. The design is indicated in the illustration shown in Figure 1 and it will be appreciated that the tapering of the bottle begins lower down in the bottle and is, at least initially, shallower than in the typical Burgundy wine bottle. The outer diameter of the bottle is reduced Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 58 / 71 11 / 16 slightly of a typical Burgundy wine bottle. In one embodiment, the bottle has a total height of 290.53 mm, and a total width (at the body) of 79.4 mm. The body is 130.5 mm high and the neck is 37.23 mm high. The shoulders have an inner radius of 101 mm at the junction with the body, and an outer radius of 200 mm tapering towards the neck. The dimensions mentioned above and others analyzed in this document are approximate and generally fall within a tolerance of + / - 3% of the specified dimension.

[28] Figure 2 illustrates another example of a wine bottle 30 configured according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wine bottle 30 is similar to the wine bottle 10 described previously and has a bulge 12 ending in a base 24, but this base includes a concave bottom 26, which in one embodiment is approximately 19.3 - 20.7 mm, and preferably approximately 20 mm, deep at its maximum point. The wine bottle 30 also includes a shoulder 20 and a neck 16 that ends in a stem 18. The shoulder 20 forms a tapered region between the neck 16 and the bulge 12. Some or all of the bulge 12, base 24 (including the heel 14), shoulder 20, neck 16, and stem 18 are made of a transparent blow molding grade polymer wall 22, such as PET or recycled PET (rPET), which has an inner lining as previously analyzed.The 30 wine bottle is formed in the shape of the bottle traditionally associated with Burgundy wines, and in examples where the 30 wine bottle has a volume of 750 ml, the bottle, as measured at its filling point, approximately 63 mm from the top of the neck, has a total height of 291.5 - 294.5 mm, and preferably 293 mm, and is, in one embodiment, manufactured by means of a single-stage blow-molding and stretching process such as to weigh 150 - 160 grams or less (e.g., 70 - 130 grams). Other manufacturing processes described above may also be used.

[29] Figure 2 also highlights details of the neck and stem area of ​​a wine bottle 30. In this example, the neck has a minimum internal passage opening of 17.5 mm, and an internal diameter of 17.75 - 20 mm, and preferably 18.5 - 19.5 mm and, in one embodiment approximately 19 mm, as measured at or near the top of the stem, and 17 - 18.5 mm, and preferably 17.5 - 17.7 mm, as measured at or near the junction with the shoulder (e.g., Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 59 / 71 12 / 16 approximately 65 mm from the top of the neck). Wall 22 has a thickness of 3.5 - 4.5 mm, and preferably approximately 4 mm, at the top of the neck, a thickness of 6.2 - 5.3 mm, and preferably approximately 5.75 mm, at the neck support ring 32 (e.g., approximately 15 mm from the top of the neck), a thickness of 5.9 - 4.1 mm, and preferably approximately 5 mm, at the position approximately 45 mm from the top of the neck, and a thickness of 6.8 - 4.8 mm, and preferably approximately 5.8 mm, at or near the junction with the shoulder (e.g., approximately 65 mm from the top of the neck). In the cup region, the wall has a thickness of approximately 0.5 - 2 mm on average, preferably 1 - 1.5 mm on average, and more preferably approximately 1.3 mm on average, along the length of the cup.The neck is of sufficient length to accommodate a cork, either natural or synthetic, 38-53 mm in length, and more preferably 44-45 mm in length, with sufficient headspace to allow for wine expansion at temperatures above 20°C without the pressure in the bottle rising above 1 bar. The 30 wine bottle is thus configured to withstand extraction forces (one hour after corking) of between 10 and 45 daN, and preferably between 12 and 40 daN when a natural cork is used, and between 10 and 45 daN when a synthetic cork is used. The 30 wine bottle is further configured to withstand corking when an initial force compensation spring of 100 daN, plus or minus 20 daN, is used.

[30] Figure 3 illustrates another example of wine bottle 40 configured according to an embodiment of the present invention. Wine bottle 40 is similar to wine bottle 10 described previously, and has a bulge 12 ending in a base 24, but as with wine bottle 30 this base includes a concave bottom 26, which in one embodiment is approximately 19.3 - 20.7 mm, and preferably approximately 20 mm, deep at its maximum point. The 40 wine bottle also includes a shoulder 20 and a neck 16 that ends in a stem 18. The shoulder 20 forms a tapered region between the neck 16 and the bulge 12. Some or all of the stem 12, base 24 (including heel 14), shoulder 20, neck 16, and stem 18 are made of a transparent blow molding grade polymer wall 22, such as PET or recycled PET (rPET), which has the inner lining as analyzed above.The 40 wine bottle is shaped in the traditional bottle form associated with Bordeaux wines, and in examples where... Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 60 / 71 13 / 16 bottle of wine 40 has a volume of 750 ml as measured at its filling point, approximately 63 mm from the top of the neck, has a total height of 299 - 302 mm, and preferably 300.5 mm, and is, in one embodiment, manufactured by means of a single-stage blow molding and stretching process such as to weigh 150 - 160 grams or less (e.g., 80 - 130 grams). Other manufacturing processes described above may also be used.

[31] Figure 3 also highlights details of the neck and stem area of ​​wine bottles 40. In this example, the neck has a minimum internal passage opening of 17.5 mm, and an internal diameter of 17.75 - 20 mm, and preferably 18.5 - 19 mm, and, in one embodiment approximately 19 mm, as measured at or near the top of the stem, and 17-18.5 mm, and preferably 17.5-17.7 mm, as measured at or near the junction with the shoulder (e.g., approximately 65 mm from the top of the stem).Wall 22 has a thickness of 3.5 - 4.5 mm, and preferably approximately 4 mm, at the top of the neck; a thickness of 6.2 - 5.3 mm, and preferably approximately 5.75 mm, at the neck support ring 32 (e.g., approximately 15 mm from the top of the neck); a thickness of 5.9 - 4.1 mm, and preferably approximately 5 mm, at approximately 45 mm from the top of the neck; and a thickness of 6.8 - 4.8 mm, and preferably approximately 5.8 mm, at or near the junction with the shoulder (e.g., approximately 65 mm from the top of the neck). In the bulge region, the wall has a thickness of approximately 0.5 - 2 mm on average, preferably 1 - 1.7 mm on average, and more preferably approximately 1.3 mm on average, along the length of the bulge.The neck is of sufficient length to accommodate a cork, either natural or synthetic, 38-53 mm in length, and more preferably 44-45 mm in length, with sufficient headspace to allow for wine expansion at temperatures above 20°C without the pressure in the bottle rising above 1 bar. The 40 wine bottle is thus configured to withstand extraction forces (one hour after corking) of between 10 and 45 daN, and preferably between 12 and 40 daN when a natural cork is used and between 10 and 45 daN when a synthetic cork is used. The 40 wine bottle is further configured to withstand corking when an initial force compensation spring of 100 daN, plus or minus 20 daN, is used. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pages 61 / 71 14 / 16

[32] Experiments were carried out to ensure that bottles configured according to the embodiments of the present invention can withstand the expected forces of corking / uncorking. The experiments involved both Burgundy-type and Bordeaux-type bottles, similar to those illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and Table 1 below provides details on these samples. The Burgundy-type bottles had an average weight of approximately 155 grams, a total height of approximately 293 mm, and a midpoint filling capacity of approximately 750 ml. The Bordeaux-type bottles had an average weight of approximately 157 grams, a total height of approximately 300 mm, and a midpoint filling capacity of approximately 750 ml.All samples were tested and determined to have a maximum load capacity in excess of 1000 N, which is considered sufficient to withstand the expected corking and uncorking forces for the experiment. In Table 1, the indicated wall thickness dimensions represent the average of such measurements taken at each of a plurality of equally spaced points around the circumference of the respective bottle at a specified measurement height from the bottom of the bottle, as indicated.

[33] Table 2: Details of the bottles in Sample A under Test Burgundy-type bottles. Height measurements from the bottom of the bottle (approx.). Average wall thickness at the measuring position (mm). Sample 1: Middle line of the body 1.16; Lower third of the body 1.41; Lower fifth of the body 1.51. Sample 2: Middle line of the body 1.15; Lower third of the body 1.40; Lower fifth of the body 1.53. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pages 62 / 71 15 / 16 Sample 3 Middle line of the bulge 1.13 Lower third of the bulge 1.40 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.51 Sample 4 Middle line of the bulge 1.15 Lower third of the bulge 1.39 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.52 Bordeaux-type bottles Sample 1 Middle line of the bulge 1.31 Lower third of the bulge 1.52 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.69 Sample 2 Middle line of the bulge 1.33 Lower third of the bulge 1.55 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.71 Sample 3 Middle line of the bulge 1.32 Lower third of the bulge 1.54 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.70 Sample 4 Middle line of the bulge 1.32 Lower third of the bulge 1.54 Lower fifth of the bulge 1.69

[34] In addition to the tests and measurements mentioned before, bottles with different wall thicknesses and weights were tested. In particular, bottles with an average wall thickness of 1 mm and weighing 131 grams and bottles with an average wall thickness of 0.8 mm and weighing 113 grams were tested. These bottles were observed to withstand corking and uncorking without losing their shape, although it was noted that bottles with a wall thickness less than 1 mm on average were deformable by hand. In addition, Burgundy and Bordeaux bottles with filled volumes of approximately 750 ml, but with a bottle material weight below 70g, were tested. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 63 / 71 16 / 16 would be unlikely to withstand the forces of corking and uncorking.

[35] As mentioned earlier, bottles configured according to the embodiments of the present invention may have volumes other than 750 ml. However, in order to ensure that such bottles withstand the forces associated with corking and uncorking, and also to accommodate natural or synthetic corks of conventional sizes, such bottles, regardless of volume, are manufactured to have neck dimensions and neck wall thickness of the same dimensions mentioned above with respect to the 750 ml bottles analyzed with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Furthermore, although analyzed with respect to specific examples of wine bottles, in particular of the Burgundy and Bordeaux types, other forms of wine bottles, such as sparkling, Rhine, Hock, Port, Provence, Bocksbeutel, Chianti, Salmanazar, Jura, etc., may be molded according to the present invention.Furthermore, the present invention can be used for packaging other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits, etc.

[36] In this way, packaging for alcoholic beverages, such as wines, made from a lightweight polymer, such as PET and / or rPET, has been described. Petition 870250058876, dated 10 / 07 / 2025, pp. 64 / 71

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. A wine bottle having a body ending in a base, a shoulder, and a neck, the shoulder forming a tapered region between the neck and the body, and the neck ending in a neck, characterized in that the body, base, shoulder, neck, and neck are made of a polymer wall consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or recycled PET (rPET), wherein the wine bottle has a volume of approximately 750 ml at its filling point, and the polymer wall has a thickness along the length of the body of 0.5 - 2 mm and a thickness along the length of the neck of 3.5 - 6.8 mm, with the thickness of the neck being greater at the junction with the shoulder than at the neck and approximately 5.9 - 4.1 mm at the position approximately 45 mm from the top of the neck, the neck being adapted to accommodate a cork of 38-53 mm. length, and the neck which has an internal diameter of 17.75 - 20 mm at or near the top of the neck and 17-18,5 mm at or near the shoulder junction.

2. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck comprising the bottle neck is 35-70 mm long.

3. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck comprising the bottle neck is approximately 65 mm in length.

4. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck comprising the bottle neck is of sufficient length to accommodate a cork approximately 30-55 mm long, with sufficient empty space to allow the expansion of wine within said bottle at temperatures above 20 °C without the pressure in the bottle rising above 1 bar.

5. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer wall has an inner lining with a thickness between 1 nm and 100 μm, inclusive.

6. Wine bottle according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner coating is a silicon oxide.

7. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle has a material weight of 70 - 300 grams. Petition 870260054601, dated 05 / 06 / 2026, p. 9 / 10 2 / 2 8. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the polymer wall has a thickness along the length of the body of approximately 1-1.7 mm on average and when empty the wine bottle weighs approximately 70-130 grams.

9. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the wine bottle has a Bordeaux-type shape.

10. Wine bottle according to claim 1, characterized in that the wine bottle has a Burgundian-type shape. Petition 870260054601, dated 05 / 06 / 2026, p. 10 / 10

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