Refillable plastic bottle

Abstract

The present invention describes a refillable plastic container (100) having: a neck (10) having a neck opening (11); and a container body surrounding a filling volume, the neck and the container body being separated from each other by a substantially radially protruding support ring (30). The neck of the plastic container has an axial length (L) measured from an inlet edge (12) of the neck opening to a bottom surface of the support ring, the axial length being equal to or less than 17.25 mm.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refillable plastic container, in particular a refillable plastic container made of polyethylene terephthalate or polyfuranoate. Background Art

[0002] Containers made of tin or tinplate, glass or ceramic, which were commonly used in the past, are increasingly being replaced by containers made of plastic. Especially for the packaging of fluid substances, such as for applications in the household, agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors, plastic containers are mainly used recently. In this substitution, low weight and low cost certainly play a significant role. The use of recyclable plastic materials and the overall more favorable total energy balance in their manufacturing process also contribute to promoting user acceptance of plastic containers.

[0003] Plastic containers, especially plastic bottles, made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and similar materials are usually manufactured in the so-called stretch blow molding method. Among them, first, in the injection molding method, a preform is manufactured in an injection mold. Recently, a flow stamping method or an extrusion blow molding method for manufacturing preforms has also been proposed. The preform has a substantially elongated preform body and is designed to be closed at its longitudinal ends. Usually, the injection point generated by injection molding is also located here. Connected to the other end of the preform body is a neck portion, which is provided with a pouring opening. The neck portion already has the later shape of the container neck. In many of the known preforms, the preform body and the neck portion are separated from each other by a so-called support ring. The support ring projects radially from the neck wall and is used for transporting the preform or the plastic container made from the preform and for supporting the preform at the blow mold or for supporting the plastic container when closing the plastic container with a closing cap.

[0004] After manufacturing the preform, the preform is demolded and can be further processed immediately while it is hot in a single-stage stretch blow molding method. In a two-stage stretch blow molding method, the preform is cooled and temporarily stored on a stretch blow molding device for further processing separately in terms of space and / or time. Before further processing in the stretch blow molding device, the temperature of the preform is adjusted if necessary, that is, the preform is made to exhibit a temperature curve. After that, the preform is introduced into the blow mold of the stretch blow molding device. In the blow mold, the preform is finally inflated by a gas (usually air) blown in under overpressure according to the mold cavity, and additionally, the preform is axially stretched by a stretch mandrel.

[0005] An injection molding method is also already known, in which the stretch blow molding process is carried out directly after the injection of the preform. In this case, the preform remains on the injection core, which at the same time forms a kind of stretching mandrel. The preform is then inflated by overpressure according to the cavity of the blow mold (either by moving the blow mold to the injection core or vice versa), and the preform is stretched by the stretching mandrel. After that, the produced plastic container is demolded. Plastic containers produced by stretch blow molding or injection blow molding can be identified by the injection points produced by the preform, which are usually arranged in the area at the bottom of the container. In these injection points, the plastic material is only slightly stretched or not stretched at all.

[0006] In addition to plastic containers made from stretched preforms, there are also plastic containers formed from the preforms themselves without stretching. Examples in this regard are pressure vessels for aerosols and similar filling objects. The most commonly used plastic for the described plastic containers is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET has been tested, and its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties are well known and can be processed well on known equipment. The recycling loop that has been introduced and is constantly expanding ensures that most of the PET containers can be collected again after use and sent for reprocessing. Recently, plastic containers have also been made from poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), which is particularly notable for its better barrier properties compared to PET. In terms of mechanical load capacity, plastic containers made from PET and those made from PEF have very similar properties.

[0007] Recently, efforts have also been made to use plastic containers multiple times before recycling them. For this purpose, the collected used plastic containers must first be cleaned and then can be refilled. Since many plastic containers, such as those made from PET, can already soften and deform at relatively low temperatures (e.g., a temperature of 80 °C), cleaning with boiling water is not possible. Therefore, the plastic containers are cleaned multiple times at a lower temperature with an alkaline solution, such as sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide solution (KOH). Among them, it has been proven practical to use a 1.5% to 2.5% NaOH solution at a temperature of 50 °C to 70 °C, for example.

[0008] However, the behavior of polyesters, especially PET and PEF, in relation to lye is problematic. Thus, stress cracks in plastic containers can form points of attack for lye, and over time, plastic degradation can occur at these points of attack. In particular, the reaction between esters and lye can lead to saponification. At plastic containers, this can cause discoloration and ultimately even render them unusable. The non-stretched areas of plastic containers, especially the necks of plastic containers, are particularly vulnerable to such stress-induced problems. When stretch-blow molding preforms made of PET or PEF (which are typically made in an injection molding process), the neck of the preform lies outside the blow mold, and the neck of the preform is not stretched and thus not reinforced during the stretch-blow molding process. Stress in the neck of a plastic container can lead to microscopic, fine cracks that can increase when the container is cleaned with lye. This can cause the neck of the plastic container to leak over time or no longer be able to withstand the internal pressure in the plastic container, such as that caused by carbonated beverages. The stress in the neck of a plastic container can be of various types. For example, these include thermal stresses that can occur due to different degrees of expansion of the inner and outer walls of the neck of the container. When manufacturing a plastic container from a preform, further stress can be induced by the blow nozzle and by the stretch mandrel (using which the preform is axially stretched). Stress can also be induced in the neck by transport tongs or similar transport devices that are used to hold the preform and the plastic container made from the preform and transport them to various device components. Finally, even the axial and radial pressure generated by the closure cap and the torque applied when the closure cap is placed on the neck of the container can cause stress in the neck of the plastic container. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to remedy one or several drawbacks of plastic containers in the prior art. In particular, conditions should be created for refillable plastic containers that allow for more cleaning and refilling cycles.

[0010] This object is achieved by a plastic container according to the present invention. Preferred and advantageous implementation variants of the present invention are described below.

[0011] The refillable plastic container according to the present invention, especially a refillable plastic container made of PET or PEF, has: a neck with a neck opening; and a container body surrounding the filling volume, and the neck and the container body are separated from each other by a substantially radially protruding support ring. The neck of the plastic container has an axial length measured from the bottom surface of the support ring to the inlet edge bordering the neck opening, and this axial length is equal to or less than 17.25 mm. Wherein, the neck has a minimum wall thickness at least in the part between the bottom surface of the support ring and the inlet edge bordering the neck opening, and this minimum wall thickness is not less than 1.9 mm.

[0012] Compared with known refillable plastic containers, especially PET bottles which are designed as a whole to have a relatively large wall thickness and a correspondingly high weight, the present invention proposes an optimization of the neck of the plastic container in order to reduce the stress generated in the non-stretched area of the container during production. By designing a neck with an overall shorter axial length compared to the known necks of disposable containers made of PET or PEF, the thermal stress generated due to the different shrinkages of the inner and outer walls of the neck can be reduced during manufacturing, for example, in an injection molding method. Through the design of the neck with an overall thicker wall, the neck also cools more slowly and evenly during manufacturing, thereby significantly reducing the formation of stress. Lower stress in the manufacture of the preform results in a significantly reduced number of microcracks in the neck of the plastic container. Thereby, more filling, cleaning, and refill cycles of the plastic container become possible.

[0013] For the assembly of the closing cap, the neck can be designed to have form-locking engagement elements, especially threaded parts, which protrude from the outer wall of the neck as radial protrusions in the neck part located between the inlet edge and the support ring.

[0014] Preferably, these protrusions extend over at least 85% of the circumference of the neck.

[0015] The associated closing cap can be designed as, for example, a twist closure or a bayonet closure, which has substantially complementary engagement elements. The assembly of such a closing cap is carried out by pressure and application of torque. In order to reduce the stress that may be generated in the neck thereby, it has proven advantageous that the form-locking engagement elements extend over at least 85% of the circumference of the neck.

[0016] In order to provide the user with a visible first-opening guarantee, the closing cap, especially the twist closure, is provided with a tearable guarantee strip. For this purpose, at least a locally surrounding base is designed at a part of the neck (the part of the neck is located between the end closer to the support ring of the form-locking engagement element and the support ring), which protrudes substantially radially from the outer wall of the neck. In the manufacture of the container, the area of the neck located between this base and the support ring is usually used to attach a transport element, such as a transport clamp. In order to reduce the stress occurring in the neck thereby, it has proven appropriate that this area, especially only this area, has a minimum wall thickness that is not less than 1.9.

[0017] In a known neck of a plastic container, the region directly adjacent to the inlet edge is designed as a sealing surface. When a closure cap is assembled, a sealing cone protruding from the closure cap presses against this sealing surface. In order to reduce the stress occurring in the neck thereby, it has proven advantageous in other embodiments of the present invention that the neck has an inner wall with a sealing surface designed as a cone in the region located between the form-fitting engagement elements and the support ring. This sealing surface thus axially moves away from the inlet edge in the direction of the interior of the plastic container and is designed in the region of the neck which is designed to have a greater wall thickness. In interaction with a closure cap having a correspondingly extended sealing cone, this results in a reduction of the stress in the container neck.

[0018] Accordingly, other aspects of the present invention relate to a closure cap, in particular a closure cap for use with a plastic container as described herein, the closure cap having a cover plate and a cladding formed at the cover plate and designed as a substantially cylindrical cladding, the cladding having form-fitting engagement elements, in particular thread elements, which interact with correspondingly designed form-fitting engagement elements, in particular thread portions, at the neck of the plastic container. Arranged within the space surrounded by the cladding is an annularly surrounding spacer arranged concentrically with the cladding, the spacer protruding from the cover plate and having a sealing lip arranged at the free end of the spacer. The spacer and the sealing lip have a maximum axial extension which is equal to or greater than the height of the cylindrical cladding. Other details and other aspects of the closure cap will be described below, in particular in connection with this plastic container.

[0019] In other implementation variants of a refillable plastic container, the inner diameter measured at the neck opening of the neck is less than 21.6 mm. Herein, this inner diameter in the region of the neck opening is greater than the inner diameter of the neck in the region of the support ring. This also results in a reduction of stress during the manufacture of the preform, in particular in an injection molding method.

[0020] In order to further reduce the stress that may occur, it has proven suitable that the support ring at the neck of the plastic container has an outer diameter measured at the maximum radial extension of the support ring which is equal to or less than 35 mm.

[0021] In other implementation variants of the present invention, it is also helpful for reducing stress that the support ring is designed to have an axial thickness of 1.9 mm to 2.5 mm measured at the transition to the outer wall of the neck.

[0022] The neck may have a wall thickness measured at the inlet edge which is 1.4 mm to 1.8 mm.

[0023] During the blow molding process, the blow nozzle is pressed against the inlet edge of the neck of the container with a constant pressure. By having a wall thickness of 1.4 mm to 1.8 mm measured at the inlet edge in the neck, in particular in combination with a smaller inner diameter compared to known necks of disposable plastic containers, the forces acting on the neck can be reduced or better absorbed. Thereby, stress in the material and the resulting microcracks can be avoided.

[0024] In other implementation variants of the present invention, the geometric optimization of the container neck can also be supported by adding appropriate additives to the plastic material to reduce the stress occurring during manufacturing and assembly. Among them, it has been proven appropriate to add additives from the group consisting of terephthalic acid (PTA), isophthalic acid (IPA), monoglycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), isosorbide, spiroglycol, and dimethyl naphthalate (NDC) at least in the region of the neck.

[0025] In one implementation of the present invention, the refillable plastic container can be designed as a preform, which is made in an injection molding method or a flow stamping method.

[0026] In other implementations of the present invention, the refillable plastic container is designed as a container, which is made from a preform made in an injection molding method or a flow stamping method in a blow molding method. Preferably, the container is designed as a stretch blow molded container.

[0027] Other variants of the present invention provide a refillable plastic container, the neck of which is designed for assembling a closure cap designed as a one-piece or multi-piece. Among them, the closure cap can be designed as a twist closure or a bayonet closure. In terms of the refillable plastic container, closures have proven to be advantageous, and these closures are made of plastics from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), their copolymers, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Pairing the PET container material with the mentioned closure materials can also help reduce the occurrence of stress in the neck of the plastic container.

[0028] A correspondingly designed closure cap for use with a refillable plastic container designed according to the present invention has a cover plate and a cladding formed at the cover plate and designed as a substantially cylindrical shape. The cladding has form-fitting engagement elements, in particular threaded elements, which interact with correspondingly designed form-fitting engagement elements, in particular threaded parts, at the neck of the plastic container. An annularly surrounding spacer concentric with the cladding is arranged within the space surrounded by the cladding, and the spacer projects from the cover plate. A sealing lip is arranged at the free end of the spacer.

[0029] In the first embodiment, the spacer and the sealing lip have a maximum axial extension which is equal to or greater than the maximum distance between the form-fitting engagement element and the cover plate. The closure cap is designed to interact with a conical sealing surface which is laid into the interior of the neck of a refillable plastic container in the direction of the support ring and thus has a sealing lip arranged at the spacer. In some implementation variants of the invention, the maximum axial extension of the spacer and the sealing lip can even be greater than the axial length of the cladding of the closure cap.

[0030] In other embodiments, the sealing lip is designed to be circumferential and has an axially cross-sectional shape which extends approximately in a flared shape. In the assembled state of the closure cap, the outer free end of the sealing lip, in the direction of the cover plate of the closure cap, abuts against the inner wall of the neck of the plastic container. The elastically preloaded spring force of the sealing lip ensures ventilation when screwing on the closure cap and reliable sealing isolation in the fully screwed-on state.

[0031] In other embodiments, the sealing lip has, at the free end of the sealing lip, a sealing bulge which is designed to be circumferential and approximately olive-shaped and which extends in the direction of the inner wall of the cladding. In the assembled state of the closure cap, the sealing bulge interacts in a sealing manner with the sealing cone in the thickened region (displaced in the direction of the support ring) of the neck of the plastic container.

[0032] In other embodiments, the sealing lip is designed to extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the spacer projects from the cover plate. Thus, when screwing the closure cap onto the plastic container, the sealing lip is pulled onto a corresponding sealing surface arranged in the interior of the neck of the plastic container.

[0033] In other embodiments, the closure cap can have one or several concentric sealing lips in the annular space delimited by the spacer and the inlet edge, which concentric sealing lips project from the cover plate and, in the assembled state, abut in a sealing manner against the inlet edge which frames the neck opening. These additional sealing lips can lie flat on the inlet edge or surround the inlet edge at the inner and outer walls of the neck of the plastic container.

[0034] In order to provide the consumer with a visual first-opening guarantee, in other implementation variants of the invention, the closure cap can have a security ring at the free end of the cladding, which security ring is connected to the cladding via a number of breakable webs. Description of the Drawings

[0035] Other advantages and features result from the following description with reference to the schematic drawings. Schematic drawings are shown in non-correct scale:

[0036] Figure 1a : Partial axial sectional view of the neck of a plastic container according to the first embodiment;

[0037] Figure 1b : Partial axial sectional view of the neck of a plastic container according to the second embodiment.

[0038] Figure 2 : Closing cap;

[0039] Figure 3 : According to Figure 1a Partial axial sectional view of the neck having a screwed-on closing cap; and;

[0040] Figure 4 : According to Figure 1b Partial axial sectional view of the neck having a screwed-on closing cap. Detailed implementation

[0041] Figure 1a Shows a partial axial sectional view of the neck 10 of a plastic container 100. For clarity, only the upper region of the plastic container 100 is depicted. Connected to this region are the shoulder region of the container 100 and the container body 20 having the bottom of the container. The neck 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The plastic container 100 has a pouring opening. The pouring opening is connected to a shoulder region not shown here and includes a support ring 30, followed by a neck 10 having a neck opening 11, which is bordered by an inlet edge 12. The neck 10 has an outer wall 14 at which engaging elements 13 are arranged, which are designed as threads in this context. The thread is interrupted but extends over 85% of the circumference of the neck 10 as a whole. The support ring 30 has a thickness D in the axial direction, i.e., in the direction towards the neck opening 11, and this thickness is 2.5 mm. For measuring this thickness, the theoretical intersection of the surfaces is taken as a reference without considering the radius. In the axial direction, the axial length L between the bottom surface of the support ring 30 and the inlet edge 12 is 17 mm. The neck 10 has a wall thickness S, which is greater in the region of the support ring 30 than in the region of the inlet edge 12. In this context, the wall thickness S is 2.5 mm in the region of the support ring 30 and 1.5 mm in the region of the inlet edge 12. Due to this difference, a conical sealing surface 16 is formed inside the neck 10. The inner diameter I in the region of the inlet edge 12 is 20.6 mm. At the outer wall 14, a base 15 is arranged under the engaging elements 13.

[0042] Figure 1b Shows a partial axial sectional view of the neck 10 of the plastic container 100 in the second embodiment. The neck basically corresponds to that according to Figure 1aEmbodiments, except that the wall thickness S of the neck 10 is formed differently. In this case, the wall thickness has a constant thickness of 1.9 mm over the entire length L. The remaining components are designed to be the same as the corresponding components in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and are thus not described further.

[0043] Figure 2 Shows the closure cap 40. The closure cap 40 has a cover plate 41. At the cover plate 41, a cladding 42 is arranged, and within the cladding 42, engaging elements 43 are arranged at the inner wall. The engaging elements 43 are designed as interrupted threads. The threads extend over 85% of the inner wall of the cladding 42. Concentric with the cladding 42 is a spacer 44 that projects from the cover plate 41 and extends in the direction of the securing ring 47. The securing ring 47 is arranged at the lower opening of the closure cap 40 opposite the cover plate 41. Thus, in use of this type, the spacer 44 extends in the direction of the container. At the spacer 44, a sealing lip is arranged that extends in the direction of the cladding 42. A concentric sealing lip 46 is arranged in the annular space between the cladding 42 and the spacer 44. The concentric sealing lip 46 is designed for effective connection with the inlet edge 12 of the neck 10 (see FIG. 1). The sealing lip 45 is designed for effective connection with the sealing surface of the neck 10.

[0044] Figure 3 Shows according to Figure 1a A partial axial sectional view of the neck 10 having a screwed-on closure cap 40. Compared with the closure cap 40 according to Figure 2 the closure cap 40 according to Figure 3 has a sealing bulge that extends radially outward as the sealing lip 45. When the closure cap 40 is screwed onto the neck 10, the sealing bulge is pressed against the conical sealing surface 16, and the sealing bulge is pushed onto a sealing surface arranged below the conical sealing surface 16, which is designed at the inner wall of the neck 10. For screwing on, the engaging elements 43 of the closure cap 40 engage with the engaging elements 13 of the neck 10. By rotating the closure cap, the closure cap moves axially in the direction of the container until the concentric sealing lip 46 of the closure cap 40 lies flat on the inlet edge 12 of the neck 10 and thus seals the interior of the container from its surroundings.

[0045] Figure 4 Shows according to Figure 1b A partial axial sectional view of the neck 10 having a screwed-on closure cap 40. The closure cap 40 is designed to be substantially in accordance with the closure cap 40 in Figure 2 When the closure cap 40 is further screwed onto the neck 10, the outward sealing lip 45 contacts the inlet edge 12 and bends at this inlet edge such that the sealing lip extends with the spacer 44 (see Figure 2extends in the opposite direction of (). When the closure cap 40 is further screwed onto the neck 10, the thus bent sealing lip 45 is pulled onto the inner wall of the neck 10, which inner wall provides the sealing surface. The further process corresponds to Figure 3 the process described. When the closure cap 40 is screwed on, the concentric sealing lips 46 (which are arranged in the annular space between the spacer 44 and the cladding 42 (see Figure 2 )) come into contact with the inlet edge 12 and seal the inlet edge from its surroundings.

Claims

1. A refillable plastic bottle (100), the refillable plastic bottle having: a neck (10) designed to be cylindrical, the neck having a neck opening (11); and a container body (20) surrounding a filling volume, the neck and the container body being separated from each other by a radially protruding support ring (30), characterized in that, The neck (10) has an axial length L measured from the bottom surface of the support ring (30) to the inlet edge (12) bordering the neck opening (11), the axial length being equal to or less than 17.25 mm, and the neck (10) having a minimum wall thickness S between the bottom surface of the support ring (30) and the inlet edge (12) bordering the neck opening (11), the minimum wall thickness being not less than 1.9 mm in order to reduce the stresses occurring during manufacture, wherein the inner diameter I of the neck (10) measured at the neck opening (11) is less than 21.6 mm, and wherein the inner diameter I in the region of the neck opening (11) is greater than the inner diameter of the neck (10) in the region of the support ring (30).

2. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refillable plastic bottle (100) is made of PET or PEF.

3. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The neck (10) is designed to have a form-fitting engagement element, wherein the form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) projects from the outer wall (14) of the neck (10) as a radial projection in a neck portion located between the inlet edge (12) and the support ring (30), and extends over at least 85% of the circumference of the neck (10).

4. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) is a threaded portion.

5. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, At a portion of the neck (10), the portion of the neck being located between the end of the form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) closer to the support ring (30) and the support ring (30), a base (15) is designed which at least partially surrounds and projects radially from the outer wall of the neck.

6. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that, The inner wall of the neck (10) in the region between the form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) and the support ring (30) is designed as a conical sealing surface (16).

7. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The support ring (30) has an outer diameter R measured at the maximum radial extension of the support ring, the outer diameter being equal to or less than 35 mm.

8. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The support ring (30) has an axial thickness measured at the transition to the outer wall (14) of the neck, the axial thickness being 1.9 mm to 2.5 mm.

9. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The neck (10) has a wall thickness of equal thickness between the support ring (30) and the inlet edge (12).

10. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The plastic material is a polymer which contains at least in the region of the neck components from the group consisting of terephthalic acid (PTA), isophthalic acid (IPA), monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), isosorbide, spiroglycol and dimethyl naphthalate (NDC).

11. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The refillable plastic bottle is designed as a plastic bottle (100) which is made from a preform produced in an injection molding method or a flow stamping method in a blow molding method.

12. The refillable plastic bottle according to claim 11, characterized in that, The refillable plastic bottle is designed as a stretch blow molded plastic bottle (100).

13. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The neck (10) is designed for fitting a closure cap (40) designed as a one-piece or multi-piece.

14. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The closure cap (40) is designed as a twist closure or a bayonet closure.

15. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The closing cap (40) is made of a plastic from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), their copolymers and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).

16. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that, The closing cap (40) has a cover plate (41) and a cladding (42) formed at the cover plate and designed as a cylinder, the cladding having a form-fitting engagement element, wherein the form-fitting engagement element of the cladding (42) interacts with a correspondingly designed form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) of the plastic bottle (100), and wherein an annularly surrounding spacer (44) arranged concentrically with the cladding (42) is arranged within the space surrounded by the cladding (42), the spacer protruding from the cover plate (41), and a sealing lip (45) is arranged at the free end of the spacer.

17. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The form-fitting engagement element of the cladding (42) is a threaded element.

18. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) is a threaded portion.

19. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that, The closing cap (40) has a cover plate (41) and a cladding (42) formed at the cover plate and designed as a cylinder, the cladding having a form-fitting engagement element, wherein the form-fitting engagement element of the cladding (42) interacts with a correspondingly designed form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) of the plastic bottle (100), and wherein an annularly surrounding spacer (44) arranged concentrically with the cladding (42) is arranged within the space surrounded by the cladding (42), the spacer protruding from the cover plate (41), and a sealing lip (45) is arranged at the free end of the spacer, wherein the spacer (44) and the sealing lip (45) have a maximum axial extension, the maximum axial extension being equal to or greater than the height of the cylindrical cladding (42).

20. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 19, characterized in that, The form-fitting engagement element of the cladding (42) is a threaded element.

21. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 19, characterized in that, The form-fitting engagement element at the neck (10) is a threaded portion.

22. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that, The sealing lip (45) is designed to be annular and has an axially cross-sectional shape that extends in a flared manner.

23. The refillable plastic bottle according to claim 22, characterized in that, The sealing lip (45) has a sealing bulge designed to be annular at the free end of the sealing lip, the sealing bulge extending in the direction of the cladding (42).

24. The refillable plastic bottle (100) according to claim 23, characterized in that, The sealing lip (45) has a sealing bulge designed to be olive-shaped at the free end of the sealing lip.

25. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that, In the assembled state, the sealing lip (45) is in sealing contact with a conical sealing surface (16) designed in the neck (10).

26. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 16 to 25, characterized in that, One or several concentric sealing lips (45) are arranged in the annular space limited by the spacer (44) and the cladding (42), the concentric sealing lips protruding from the cover plate (41) and being in sealing contact with the inlet edge (12) bordering the neck opening (11) in the assembled state.

27. A refillable plastic bottle (100) according to one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that, The free end of the cladding (42) is connected to a retaining ring (47) via a number of breakable webs.

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