Container, method for stabilizing a container and method for manufacturing a container.

Abstract

Single-use or short-use container (10) for liquid, semi-liquid, solid or powdered substances, comprising a containing body (11) provided with a rest surface (12), having one or more concave or convex surfaces (120), configured to rest on a support plane.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns the field of single-use or short-use containers, for example containers for beverages such as bottles and small bottles, cups, glasses and suchlike, designed to be used once only and / or for limited periods of time.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is known to use single-use or short-use containers to transport water or other beverages, for example when travelling, on trips, eating out and so on. Such containers are generally small in size and made of lightweight material, so as to make them easy and practical to transport. For example, plastic bottles and small bottles, plastic or paper glasses, polylaminate cartons and others are extremely common.

[0003] The lightness of these types of containers makes them unstable and subject to falling when rested on a flat surface, especially on board a means of transport, such as a train, a ship or an airplane, where vibrations are frequent, or outdoors, for example on an outdoor table, whether it be in a bar, a garden or a picnic area, exposed to the wind. Accidental impacts are also always possible, even indoors and in the absence of vibrations (for example, but not only, on school desks), which can cause single-use or short-use containers to tilt or fall. Therefore, there is a high risk that the contents will escape from the container, which can cause a whole series of more or less serious inconveniences, from the loss of the drink, to stains on clothes or personal objects, to damage to electronic equipment, to burns or scalds in the case of hot drinks.

[0004] Furthermore, outdoors there is a risk that a container, even empty, might fly away following a gust of wind, potentially contributing to packaging pollution.

[0005] Some containers, for example plastic bottles, may also have a bottom that is not completely flat, which can further compromise their stability in the event of oscillations or impacts.

[0006] There is therefore a need to perfect a stabilized single-use or short-use container that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0007] To do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of stabilizing a single-use or short-use container, which is by nature light and therefore unstable, possibly with a non-flat bottom, without affecting the practicality of its transport, its small size and its lightness.

[0008] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to manufacture a stabilized single-use or short-use use container and to develop a corresponding stabilization method.

[0009] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0011] In accordance with the above purpose and to solve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a single-use or short-use container according to the present invention, for liquid, semi-liquid, solid or powdered substances, comprises a containing body provided with a rest surface, possibly having one or more concave and / or convex surfaces, configured to rest on a support plane.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the container comprises an adhesive layer, or an adhesive elastic film, cut or shaped in such a way as to be able to adhere to the rest surface of the container even in the presence of one or more possible concave or convex surfaces present on the bottom of the container, which layer or film at least partly covers the rest surface; the adhesive layer, or adhesive elastic film, is configured to be interposed between the containing body and the support plane adhering to both in a stabilized resting condition of the container on the support plane. This advantageously allows the container to be stabilized when it is resting on a support plane, without compromising the practicality of its transport, its small size and lightness.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the container also comprises a removable / peelable protective film, located in contact with an adhesion surface of said adhesive layer opposite the rest surface of the container and the one or more concave and / or convex surfaces, in order to protect the adhesive layer by preventing unwanted adhesions thereof before use.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the adhesion surface is provided only in contact with the rest surface.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the adhesion surface is provided in contact with the rest surface and with the one or more concave and / or convex surfaces.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the adhesive elastic film comprises three-dimensionally applicable pre-cuts and / or shapings, so as to adhere due to same-shape coupling with the concave or convex surfaces present on the bottom of the container.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the adhesive layer comprises a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive.

[0018] Embodiments described herein also concern a method for stabilizing a container resting on a support plane. The method may provide to make the container available as described above and a support plane, to remove, if present, the protective film, to position the container on the support plane, so that the adhesive layer is in contact with the support plane itself, and to make the adhesive layer adhere to the support plane, thanks to the pressure exerted by the weight of the container itself and / or possibly by pressing the container toward the support plane.

[0019] Embodiments described herein also concern a method for manufacturing a stabilized container. The method provides to make available a preform made of plastic material and a blow mold, consisting of a base or bottom and a nozzle, which is divided into two halves, which fit together, each of which has a cavity or shape made inside it that represents half the design of the container; to make an upper surface of the base or bottom of the blow mold at least partly adhere with an adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film and the possible protective film; to position the preform made of plastic material inside the blow mold and to close the two halves of which it consists; and finally to inject compressed air, through the nozzle, inside a preform made of plastic material which, expanding, takes the shape of a container, in which a rest surface of the container adheres to an adhesion surface of the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film positioned on the upper surface of the base or bottom.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a stabilized container according to the present invention; fig. 2 is a view of a rest surface of the container in fig. 1; fig. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of a stabilized container according to the present invention; fig. 4 is a view of a rest surface of the container in fig. 3; fig. 4a is a top view of an embodiment of an adhesive layer or an elastic film according to the present invention; fig. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of a stabilized container according to the present invention; fig. 6 is a view of a rest surface of the container in fig. 5; fig. 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a stabilized container according to the present invention; fig. 8 is a view of a rest surface of the container in fig. 7; fig. 9 is a perspective view of a blow mold according to the present invention.

[0021] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0022] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0023] A stabilized container 10 according to the present invention is shown in figs. 1 to 4 in the form of a bottle or small bottle and in figs. 5 to 8 in the form of a cup or glass with a handle.

[0024] The container 10 in the form of a generic bottle can be made for example of plastic (such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride or suchlike) or other suitable material. The container 10 in the form of a cup can be made for example of plastic (such as polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polylactic acid or suchlike), paper or other suitable material.

[0025] The container 10 is generally a single-use or short-use container and can be configured to contain generally liquid or semi-liquid substances, such as water, soft drinks, beverages, yogurt, smoothies, centrifuged drinks and suchlike, but also solid or powdered substances.

[0026] The container 10 may comprise a containing body 11, configured to contain the liquid, semi-liquid, solid or powdered substance inside it (figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7). The containing body 11 may be provided with a rest surface 12, configured to rest on a support plane such as a table, a small table, a bench, a bedside table, a tray, a folding tray, for example of an airplane, a train, a ship, a chair or seat, equipment for disabled and / or elderly people, and so on.

[0027] Figs. 3 and 7 are used to describe an embodiment in which the containing body 11 is provided with a rest surface 12 having one or more concave and / or convex surfaces 120.

[0028] Generally, the containing body 11 has an elongated shape and is configured in such a way that, when the rest surface 12 is resting on the support plane, the containing body 11 is in a vertical position. Depending on the uses, the containing body 11 may have a shape other than the elongated shape described above.

[0029] The rest surface 12 may comprise a plurality of external surfaces 12a of as many protrusions 11a of the containing body 11, shown in the bottle variant of figs. 1 to 4, but also possible for other embodiments, such as cups, glasses, cartons or suchlike.

[0030] According to possible variants, the rest surface 12 can have a single flat surface, as shown in figs. 5, 6 for the cup or glass variant, but also possible for other embodiments, such as bottles, cartons or suchlike.

[0031] The container 10 can comprise an adhesive layer or an elastic film 13 that covers the rest surface 12 and, due to same-shape coupling, the concave and / or convex surface 120 (figs. 1-8), exposing on a side opposite to the rest surface 12 and to the concave and / or convex surface 120 an adhesion surface 13a (figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8). The adhesive layer 13 is configured to be interposed, when the containing body 11 is resting on a support surface, between the containing body 11 and the support surface, adhering to both.

[0032] In this way, a condition of stabilized support of the container 10 is provided on the support plane, thanks to the adhesion of the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13, in correspondence with the adhesion surface 13a, to the support plane, which temporarily makes the container 10 solid with the support plane itself.

[0033] Advantageously, the adhesive elastic film 13 can have different cutouts and / or shapings, so that it can be applied three-dimensionally, for example, to concave and / or convex surfaces 120 due to same-shape coupling.

[0034] Figs. 4 and 4a are used to describe an embodiment in which the adhesive elastic film 13 can be cut or shaped so that it can also adhere to concave and / or convex surfaces 120 and to the external surfaces 12a.

[0035] For example, the adhesive elastic film 13 can be cut in the center into segments 16, for example of 30°, to allow adhesion to a central circular concave surface 120 shown by a line of dashes in figs. 3 and 4.

[0036] Advantageously, the more cutouts or segments 16 there are, the more the adhesive film 13 will completely adhere due to same-shape coupling to the concave and / or convex surfaces 120.

[0037] Figs. 4 and 4a are also used to describe an embodiment of the adhesive elastic film 13, which can be cut from the edge 13b toward the center of the film 13, with a number of cutouts having a variable length based according to needs, to allow adhesion to the plurality of external surfaces 12a; in particular, in the drawings shown, the adhesive elastic film 13 has five segments / cutouts that can be made to adhere to five external surfaces 12a. The adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 can comprise a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive. By "pressure-sensitive adhesive" we mean a type of non-reactive adhesive that forms a bond when pressure is applied to bond the adhesive with a surface.

[0038] For example, the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 may be supplied by a double-sided adhesive film, that is, a support film, for example, but not necessarily, made of plastic, covered on both sides with a thin layer of adhesive. In this case, a first adhesive layer interposed between the rest surface 12 and the support film keeps the double-sided adhesive film attached to the container 10. Preferably, the first adhesive layer is formed by a very strong or permanent adhesive, such that the double-sided adhesive film cannot detach from the container 10.

[0039] A second adhesive layer, opposite to the first, is configured to provide the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 and the adhesion surface 13a. Preferably, the second adhesive layer is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive, so that the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 can adhere to the support plane simply by resting the container 10 on the support plane on the side of the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 and applying a light pressure toward the support plane. Preferably, the second adhesive layer is formed by a removable adhesive, that is, of medium strength or weak, so that the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 can selectively adhere to, and be removed from, the support plane.

[0040] For example, the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 can consist of, or comprise, a thin layer of glue or adhesive located in direct contact with the rest surface 12. Preferably, the glue or adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, so that it can adhere to the support plane simply by resting the container 10 on the support plane on the side of the adhesive layer 13 and applying a light pressure toward the support plane. Preferably, the glue or adhesive is a removable adhesive, that is, of medium strength or weak, so that the adhesive layer 13 can selectively adhere to, and be removed from, the support plane.

[0041] In some embodiments, the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 can completely cover a bottom portion of the container 10, for example the entire flat rest surface 12 of the container 10 in figs. 5, 6, or both the external surfaces 12a, and also the concave and / or convex surfaces 120, and also additional lower surfaces of the container 10 in figs. 1 to 4 interposed between the external surfaces 12a.

[0042] In some embodiments, the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 can cover only the rest surface 12, for example only the external surfaces 12a of the container 10 in figs. from 1 to 4.

[0043] In some embodiments, not shown in the attached drawings, the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 can be provided in correspondence with portions of the rest surface 12 and one or more concave and / or convex surfaces 120, for example in the form of so-called glue points, or adhesive points, or glue dots, that is, spheres, disks or globules of glue or adhesive material.

[0044] The container 10 can also comprise a removable protective film 14, located in contact with the adhesion surface 13a so as to protect the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13, preventing unwanted adhesions thereof before use (figs.1-8). This allows the container 10 to be used like any other known container, in particular without the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13, as long as the protective film 14 is not removed.

[0045] The protective film 14 can be configured to be removed from the adhesion surface 13a by gently pulling it in a direction away from the adhesion surface 13a, indicated by an arrow in figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7, so as to detach it from the adhesion surface 13a. A line of dashes in figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7 shows the protective film 14 in a position of partial detachment from the adhesion surface 13a. This position of partial detachment is also shown in figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8, so that the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13, in particular the adhesion surface 13a, is visible underneath the partly raised protective film 14.

[0046] According to possible embodiments, the adhesion surface 13a can be provided only in contact with the rest surface 12 or also in contact with the concave and / or convex surfaces 120.

[0047] The protective film 14 can be provided with a tab 15 configured to facilitate the detachment of the protective film 14 from the adhesive layer or from the adhesive elastic film 13 (figs. 1-8).

[0048] Embodiments described herein also concern a method for stabilizing the container 10 according to the present invention. The method can provide to: make available a container 10 as described above and a support plane such as a table, a small table, a bench, a bedside table, a tray, a folding tray, for example of an airplane, a train, a ship, a chair or seat, and so on; remove, if present, the protective film 14, possibly gripping, if present, the tab 15 and pulling it in a direction away from the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13; position the container 10 on the support plane, so that the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 is in contact with the support plane in correspondence with the adhesion surface 13a; make the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13 adhere to the support plane, thanks to the pressure exerted by the weight of the container 10 itself and / or possibly by pressing the container 10 toward the support plane.

[0049] Embodiments described herein also concern a method for manufacturing the container 10 according to the present invention. The method may provide to: make available a container 10 such as a bottle, a small bottle, a cup, a mug, a glass, a carton or suchlike, comprising a containing body 11 provided with a rest surface 12 and one or more concave and / or convex surfaces 120 configured to rest on a support plane; at least partly cover the rest surface 12 and the one or more concave and / or convex surfaces 120 with an adhesive layer or an adhesive elastic film 13; optionally, to put a removable protective film 14 in contact with an adhesion surface 13a of the adhesive layer or the adhesive elastic film 13.

[0050] Fig. 9 is used to describe a method for manufacturing the container 10 according to the present invention referring to embodiments described herein. The method may provide to: make available a preform made of plastic material and a blow mold 20, consisting of a base or bottom 24 for an undercut of a rest surface 12, and a nozzle 23, which is divided into two halves 21, which fit together, each of which has a cavity or shape 22 made inside it that represents half the design of the container 10; make an upper surface 24a, which can be shaped, of the base or bottom 24, at least partly adhere with an adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13, removing any protective film 14 present on the face that is not in contact with the base or bottom 24; position the preform made of plastic material inside the blow mold 20, between the two halves 20, and to close the two halves 21 that make up the mold 20; inject compressed air, through the nozzle 23, inside the preform made of plastic material which, expanding, takes the shape of a container 10, and a rest surface 12 of the container 10 adheres to an adhesion surface 13a of the adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film 13 positioned on the upper surface 24a of the base or bottom 24.

[0051] Alternatively, the method may provide to inject compressed air, through the nozzle 23, inside the preform made of plastic material which, expanding, takes the shape of a container 10 and to apply, for example by spraying or by spreading with a brush, which operations can be done manually or mechanically, an adhesive material on the rest surface 12, so as to form the adhesive layer 13, and then to apply the protective film 14.

[0052] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the container 10 and methods as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0053] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of stabilized single-use or short-use container, and corresponding stabilization and manufacturing methods, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0054] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Single-use or short-use container (10) for liquid, semi-liquid, solid or powdered substances, comprising a containing body (11) provided with a rest surface (12), having one or more concave and / or convex surfaces (120), characterized in that it comprises an adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film (13) having notches or shapings configured to adhere, due to same-shape coupling, also to said concave or convex surface and which at least partly covers said rest surface (12), configured to be interposed between said containing body (11) and a support plane, adhering to both in a condition of stabilized rest of said container (10).

2. Container (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a removable protective film (14), located in contact with an adhesion surface (13a) of said adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film (13) opposite to said rest surface (12) and of said one or more concave and / or convex surfaces (120) in order to protect said adhesive layer (13) preventing unwanted adhesions thereof before use.

3. Container (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said adhesion surface (13a) is provided only in contact with said rest surface (12).

4. Container (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said adhesion surface (13a) is provided in contact with said rest surface (12) and said one or more concave and / or convex surfaces (120).

5. Container (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) comprises a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive.

6. Container (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) is supplied by a double-sided adhesive film.

7. Container (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) consists of, or comprises, a thin layer of glue or adhesive located in direct contact with said rest surface (12) and said one or more concave and / or convex surfaces (120).

8. Container (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) completely covers a bottom portion of said container (10).

9. Container (10) as in any claim from 1 to 8, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) only covers said rest surface (12).

10. Container (10) as in any claim from 1 to 8, characterized in that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) is supplied in correspondence with portions of said rest surface (12) and said one or more concave and / or convex surfaces (120).

11. Method for stabilizing a container (10) resting on a support plane, characterized in that it provides to: - make available a container (10) as in any claim hereinbefore and said support plane; - remove said protective film (14) if present; - position said container (10) on said support plane, in such a way that said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) is in contact with said support plane; - make said adhesive layer or said adhesive elastic film (13) adhere to said support plane, thanks to the pressure exerted by the own weight of said container (10) and / or possibly by pressing said container (10) toward said support plane.

12. Method for manufacturing a stabilized container (10), characterized in that it provides to: - make available a preform made of plastic material and a blow mold (20), consisting of a base or bottom (24) and a nozzle (23), which is divided into two halves (21), which fit together, each of which has a cavity or shape (22) made inside it that represents half the design of the container (10); - make an upper surface (24a), which can be shaped, of said base or bottom (24) of said blow mold (20), at least partly adhere with an adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film (13), and a possible protective film (14); - position the preform made of plastic material inside said blow mold (20), and to close said two halves (21) that make up the mold (20); - inject compressed air, through said nozzle (23), inside the preform made of plastic material which, expanding, takes the shape of a container (10), in which a rest surface (12) of said container (10) adheres to an adhesion surface (13a) of said adhesive layer or adhesive elastic film (13) positioned on said upper surface (24a) of said base or bottom (24).

13. Method for manufacturing a stabilized container (10) as in claim 12, characterized in that it provides to: - make available the preform made of plastic material and the blow mold (20); - position the preform made of plastic material inside said blow mold (20), and to close said two halves (21) that make up the mold (20); - inject compressed air, through said nozzle (23), inside the preform made of plastic material which, expanding, takes the shape of a container (10), wherein an adhesive material is applied on the rest surface (12) of said container (10), so as to form the adhesive layer (13), and then the protective film (14) is applied.

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