Bottle made from recyclable materials

Abstract

TITLE: Bottle made of recyclable materials. A bottle made of recyclable material consisting of a rigid shell containing a flexible pouch (3) that defines the airtight volume of the bottle. The rigid shell is formed by a body (1), composed of a sleeve having a lower end (11) closed by a base (13), and a head (2) shaped into a shoulder (E), a neck (C), and a spout (G), to which the flexible pouch (3) is attached; the head is fixed to the upper end (12) of the body (1). The spout (G) is closed by a cap. Figure 2A

Description

Title of the invention: Bottle made of recyclable materials. Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a bottle made of recyclable materials, in particular materials other than glass. The bottle is in the form of a rigid shell containing a flexible pouch.

[0002] This bottle is a container intended to receive food or non-food liquids.

[0003] The term "bottle" according to the present invention encompasses all forms of container preferably imitating the traditional form, having a cylindrical body ending at the top with a neck connected to the body by a transitional zone forming the shoulder and receiving a closure element in the form of a screw-on cap on the neck. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Containers made of more economical materials than glass are known, consisting of a rigid shell corresponding to a bottle shape and whose cavity is occupied by a flexible, sealed pouch, receiving the liquid or, more generally, the fluid or pasty product, packaged in the bottle for example according to US document 4 256 231.

[0005] But, in general, these bottles, flasks or other are made in combinations of materials that are difficult to separate for recycling and are therefore ultimately not recyclable.

[0006] PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention aims to develop a bottle resembling a glass bottle, but composed of recyclable materials, easily separable and usable like traditional bottles in filling and packaging facilities, bottling lines, crates or transport cases.

[0008] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a bottle made of recyclable materials of the type defined above characterized in that the rigid shell is formed by a body and a head, the body is composed of a sleeve having a lower end closed by a bottom and an upper end, the head is shaped into a shoulder, neck and neck and the flexible pouch is fixed to the head itself fixed to the upper edge of the body, the neck receiving a cap.

[0010] Such a bottle is particularly simple to manufacture since it consists of The bottle consists of separate, easily assembled components: the bottle body with its preferably fitted base, and the head, which is a shaped piece comprising a shoulder, neck, and spout. This head can be made from a recyclable plastic material using injection molding. The flexible pouch is housed in the head, forming a unit that fits into the body and is secured at the lower edge of the head. The simplicity of recycling stems from this bottle structure.

[0011] According to an advantageous feature, the head is composed of a skirt forming the shoulder and attaching to the body and an upper sleeve forming the neck and receiving an inner sleeve having in the upper part a thread for the capsule, the upper sleeve continuing into the skirt by an inner extension to receive the mouth of the flexible pouch.

[0012] This particularly simple embodiment constitutes a rigid assembly which cooperates with the body of the bottle to ensure its shape regardless of external forces exerted on the bottle.

[0013] The head can be held by the neck and the neck without risk when the bottle is filled.

[0014] This head is easily assembled to the pocket and thus constitutes a sub-assembly that is easy to manufacture and maneuver to assemble to the body.

[0015] According to another feature, the head is composed of a skirt forming the shoulder and attaching to the body and an upper sleeve forming the neck and receiving an inner sleeve having at the top a thread for the capsule, the upper sleeve continuing into the skirt by an inner extension to receive the mouth of the flexible pouch.

[0016] This embodiment is particularly advantageous for packaging certain liquids in the partially assembled bottle without the neck with the thread receiving the cap being placed in the head.

[0017] The capsule can thus be installed directly on the inner sleeve, in a tamper-proof manner and the assembly put in place after the bottle has been filled.

[0018] According to another feature, the upper sleeve is externally edged by a flange, and the inner sleeve has a stop flange under its external thread to define and limit its insertion into the upper sleeve. This flange facilitates the correct positioning of the inner sleeve.

[0019] According to another feature, the skirt, the upper sleeve, and the inner extension are joined by a connecting ring. This connecting ring is formed by a thickness of material at the Y-shaped junction of the upper sleeve with the skirt and the inner extension.

[0020] This joint stiffens the head and in particular it allows the bottle to be held by its neck without risk of deformation.

[0021] According to another feature, the head is formed of a flat circular ring skirt connected to the upper sleeve directly forming the neck equipped with a thread receiving the capsule.

[0022] This type of head produces a cylindrical bottle having a flat bottom and top, the top having in relief only the upper sleeve forming the neck.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous feature, the body and base of the bottle are made of cardboard or a material similar to cardboard, the body being a cardboard sleeve, for example, cylindrical in shape with a circular or polygonal cross-section, and the base being a piece of embossed cardboard that is fitted into the underside of the sleeve forming the body. This base is preferably fitted and glued to the body. This cardboard assembly is preferably assembled separately before the head with its flexible pouch is placed on top of the sleeve.

[0024] According to another feature, the head, the capsule and the tamper-evident ring are made of polyethylene.

[0025] The entire bottle, thus made from recyclable materials, is easily decomposable into its separately recyclable elements. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to three embodiments of a bottle according to the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] [Fig.IA] Exploded view of a first embodiment of a bottle,

[0028] [Fig.1B] Exploded view of a second embodiment of a bottle,

[0029] [Fig.IC] Exploded view of a third embodiment of a bottle,

[0030] [Fig.2A] Axial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment,

[0031] [Fig.2B] Axial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment,

[0032] [Fig.2C] axial cross-sectional view of the third embodiment,

[0033] [Fig.3] Combined external view of the upper part of the three embodiments of the bottle,

[0034] [Fig.4] Axial cross-sectional view of the upper part of the three embodiments of the bottle according to the invention,

[0035] 1 DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] According to figures IA, IB, a first embodiment of the bottle 100a consists of a body surmounted by a head 2 to which is attached a flexible pouch 3 housed in the body 1 and receiving the liquid.

[0037] The head 2 consists of a skirt 21 forming the shoulder E joining an upper sleeve 22 forming the neck C. The upper part 221 of the sleeve 22 forms the neck G provided with a thread 222 and a collar 223 in particular a retaining collar.

[0038] The bottle 100a is closed by a cap 4 screwed onto the thread 222 and combined with a tamper ring 5 covering the neck G under the thread and hooking onto the collar 223.

[0039] The capsule 4 detaches from the ring 5 by unscrewing it, leaving in place the guarantee ring 5 held by the collar 223.

[0040] In more detail, according to the cross-sectional view of [Fig.2A], the body 1 is a cylindrical surface with a circular cross-section, the bottom 11 of which is closed by a fitted bottom 13 and the top receives the head 2.

[0041] The thread 222 of the neck G is terminated by a ring and below it a retaining collar 223 for the guarantee ring 5 combined with the capsule 4.

[0042] The capsule 4 has a thread 41 corresponding to the thread 222 of the neck and below its thread, the capsule 4 is combined with a guarantee ring 5 equipped with claws or a hook collar 51 to come under the retaining collar 223 of the neck G by screwing the capsule 4 onto the neck.

[0043] The upper sleeve 22 joins the base of the neck C which is a ring-shaped junction area 23 to which the skirt 21 is connected, which terminates below with an edge 211 with a notch to engage and fix on the upper edge 12 of the body 1.

[0044] The upper sleeve 22 descends beyond the joining crown 23 into the skirt by means of an internal extension 224 projecting into the shoulder E (skirt) and receiving the mouth 31 of the flexible pocket 3.

[0045] The joining ring 23 has a reinforced section for holding the upper sleeve 22 at its meeting with the inner extension 24.

[0046] The joining ring 23 rises by its increased thickness up to the neck to form a step 231 by the reduction in thickness of its wall up to the thickness of the upper part 221 to ensure continuity at the lower edge of the outer surface of the ring 6.

[0047] The flexible pocket 3 is attached to the inner extension 24 before the assembly of the head 2 to the body 1.

[0048] The base 13 can be fitted into the body 1 before or after the head 2 has been put in place.

[0049] The body 1 is a cardboard sleeve, generally cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section. However, this body shape, which corresponds to the most common shape of bottles, particularly wine bottles, is not limiting. It can also be cylindrical with a rounded cross-section (i.e., oval, elliptical) or polygonal, regular or irregular.

[0050] In this case, the base of the head 2 at the level of the shoulder E joining the edge 211 will have a shape adapted to the rounded or polygonal shape of the upper edge 12 of the body 1 to allow assembly, particularly by interlocking.

[0051] Finally, the traditional cylindrical bottle body can also be non-cylindrical, while respecting a shape of its upper edge 12 so that this shape is compatible with the possible shape of the lower edge 211 of the skirt 21.

[0052] The top 2 is a molded / injected part, preferably made of polyethylene or other compatible plastic material, in particular biocompatible and recyclable.

[0053] Figures IB, 2B show a second embodiment of the bottle 100b, in which elements similar or identical to those of the first embodiment shall bear the same numerical references without an alphabetical suffix. Similar but not identical components shall bear the same numerical reference, but followed by the suffix b.

[0054] The bottle 100b comprises a cylindrical body 1 with a circular cross-section, the bottom of which is closed by a fitted base 13 as in the first embodiment. The upper edge 12 of the cylindrical body receives a head 2b which forms the shoulder E, the neck C and the spout G of the bottle.

[0055] The head 2b has an upper sleeve 22b which forms a stop collar 223. The upper sleeve 22b receives an inner sleeve 25 forming the neck G. The inner sleeve 25 has a threaded end 251 to receive the capsule 4 and a collar 252 to come against the upper stop collar 225b when the inner sleeve 25 is engaged in the upper sleeve 22b forming part of the neck.

[0056] The upper sleeve 22b joins a rounded, flared skirt 21b forming the shoulder E and the neck C of the bottle. This skirt 21b terminates at its lower part with an edge 211b with a notch to position itself on the upper edge 12 of the body 1 as in the first embodiment.

[0057] The upper sleeve 22b forming part of the neck and the skirt 21b meet in a joining ring 23b. The upper sleeve 22b extends below the joining ring 23b by an inner extension 24b projecting into the skirt 21b and receiving the opening 31 of the flexible pocket 3.

[0058] The inner sleeve 25 has a thicker wall than that of the upper sleeve 22 and thus reinforces the upper sleeve 22b, the joining ring 23b and the inner extension 24b to which the mouth 31 of the flexible pouch 3 is attached.

[0059] The material of the inner sleeve 25 may differ from that of the head 2b, for example, depending on the liquid filling the bottle, which may be, for example, a liquid other than wine or a food-grade liquid. The same applies to the quality of the material of the flexible pouch 3.

[0060] The inner sleeve 25 may also have a special thread such as a safety thread for bottles receiving certain non-food liquids, detergent or other. The capsule 5 can, under these conditions, be assembled to the thread 251 by a tamper-evident connection and constitute a combination (inner sleeve 25 + capsule 4) made and assembled separately from the bottle to be connected to the bottle after it has been filled.

[0061] The collar 225b facilitates the gripping of the still open bottle (without its inner sleeve 25 and the cap 4) for transport, handling and filling operations.

[0062] In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the body 1 is a cardboard cylinder, for example, with a circular cross-section. The fitted base 13 is preferably also a piece of cardboard, shaped like a lid with a rim 131 to form the neck of the bottle. The fitted base 13 is preferably glued to the inside of the cylindrical body 1. The same applies to the head 2, the lower edge 211 of which covers the upper edge 12 of the body 1 by being glued to it.

[0063] The assembly of the upper sleeve 22b and the inner sleeve 25 is preferably glued.

[0064] The components of the head 2b, namely the skirt 21b, the upper sleeve 22b, the inner extension 24b, and the inner sleeve 25, are preferably made of polyethylene. The same applies to the cap screwed onto the neck. The flexible pouch 3 is also preferably made of polyethylene.

[0065] According to figures IC, 2C, the third embodiment of the 100c bottle according to the invention consists of elements partly identical to those of the first embodiment which shall bear the same numerical references without an alphabetical suffix; the analogous elements, but different from those of the first embodiment shall bear the same numerical references supplemented by the suffix c.

[0066] The bottle 100c consists of a cylindrical body 1 with a circular cross-section, the lower end or edge 11 of which is closed by a fitted base 13 fixed by gluing. The top 12 of the body 1 receives a head 2c comprising a skirt 21c flattened in the shape of a circular ring, the edge 21c of which has a notch at mid-thickness to cover the upper edge 12 of the body 1 and fit into it by being fixed thereto, for example, by gluing.

[0067] The head 2c continues with an upper sleeve 22c forming the neck C and the neck G. The upper part 221c of the neck is provided with a thread 222c and a retaining collar 223c.

[0068] The 100c bottle is closed with a cap 4 combined with a tamper ring 5 which hooks under the collar 223c when the cap 4 is fully screwed onto the thread 222c of the neck.

[0069] This warranty ring 5 detaches from the capsule 4 when it is first unscrewed. It can also be detached by a circular cut.

[0070] The mouth 31 of the flexible pouch 3 is glued flat against the underside of the circular ring 21c which, here, replaces the shoulder of the classic bottle.

[0071] The bottle according to the third embodiment is a flat-topped bottle without a neck, like certain metal bottles receiving various liquids ranging from food oil to technical liquids.

[0072] The body 1 and the fitted base 13 are preferably made of cardboard from a cardboard tube forming the body 1 of this bottle and a stamped piece constituting the fitted base 13.

[0073] The fitted base 13 is glued into the body 1 in the same way that the crown 21c of the head 2c is glued to the edge 12 of the body 1.

[0074] The elements which make up the head 2c as well as the capsule 4 are preferably made of polyethylene; the pouch 3 is made of polyethylene and the body 1 and the base 13 are made of cardboard.

[0075] Fig. 3 in its parts A, B, C shows the comparative shape of the first, second and third embodiment of the top of the bottle 100a, 100b, 100c.

[0076] Fig. 4, in its parts A, B, C, shows the cross-sectional view of the head of the bottles to which the flexible pouch 3 is attached according to the first, second and third embodiment.

[0077] In summary and conclusion, the invention relates to a 100 bottle

[0078] made of recyclable material, consisting of a rigid shell receiving a flexible pouch delimiting the airtight volume of the bottle, of a nozzle fixed to the shell and receiving the cap, bottle characterized in that the rigid shell is formed by a body 1 and a head 2, the body 1 is composed of a sleeve having a lower end 11 closed by a bottom 13 and an upper end 12, the head 2 is shaped into a shoulder E, a neck C and a neck G and the flexible pouch 3 is fixed to the head itself fixed to the upper edge 12 of the body 1 and the neck G receiving a cap 4.

[0079] In this bottle, the head is 2 composed of a skirt 21 forming the shoulder E attached to an upper sleeve 22 forming the neck C, ending with the neck G fitted with a thread 222 receiving the cap 4 and the underside of the upper sleeve 22 forming the neck C extends into the skirt 21 by an inner sleeve 24 to which is attached the mouth 31 of the flexible pouch 3.

[0080] According to one variant, the head 2b is composed of a skirt 21b forming the shoulder C and attaching to the body 1 and an upper sleeve 22b forming the neck C and receiving an inner sleeve 25 having in the upper part a thread 2 51 for the capsule 5, the upper sleeve 22b continuing into the skirt 21b by an inner extension 24b to receive the mouth 31 of the flexible pouch 3.

[0081] According to one feature, the upper sleeve 22b is externally bordered by a collar 225b and the inner sleeve 25 has a stop collar 252 under its external thread 251 to define and limit the penetration of the inner sleeve 25 into the upper sleeve 22b.

[0082] Advantageously, the skirt 21, the upper sleeve 22 and the inner extension 24 are joined by a connecting ring 23.

[0083] According to another feature, the head 2c is formed of a skirt 21c in the shape of a flat circular ring, connected to the upper sleeve 22c directly forming the neck equipped with a thread 222c receiving the capsule 4.

[0084] Finally, the body 1 and the base 13 of the body 1 are made of cardboard and the head 2, the capsule 4 and the guarantee ring 6 are made of polyethylene.

[0085] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0086] (Without alphabetical suffixes except where noted)

[0087] 100 Bottle

[0088] 1 Body

[0089] 11 Lower edge

[0090] 12 Upper edge

[0091] 13 Nested base

[0092] 131 Bottom collar

[0093] 2 Head

[0094] E Shoulder

[0095] C Col

[0096] G Goulot

[0097] 21 Skirt

[0098] 21c Circular crown-shaped skirt

[0099] 211 Skirt edge

[0100] 22 Upper sleeve

[0101] 221 Upper part

[0102] 222 Thread

[0103] 223 Collar / retaining collar

[0104] 224 Lower part

[0105] 225 Upper collar

[0106] 23 Junction ring

[0107] 231 Disengagement

[0108] 24 Inner extension

[0109] 25 Inner sleeve

[0110] 251 External thread [YES] 252 Stop collar

[0112] 3 Soft pocket

[0113] 31 Mouth

[0114]

[0115]

[0116]

[0117] 4 Capsule 41 Thread 5 Guarantee ring 51 Attachment collar

Claims

Claims

1. Bottle (100) made of recyclable material, composed of a rigid shell receiving a flexible pouch delimiting the sealed volume of the bottle, bottle characterized in that A. The rigid shell is formed by a body (1) and a head (2), the body (1) is composed of a sleeve having a lower end (11) closed by a bottom (13) and an upper end (12), B. the head (2) is shaped into a shoulder (E), a neck (C) and a neck (G) and the flexible pouch (3) is fixed to the head itself fixed to the upper edge (12) of the body (1), the neck (G) receiving a capsule (4).

2. Bottle (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the head (2) is composed of a skirt (21) forming the shoulder (E) integral with an upper sleeve (22) forming the neck (C), terminated by the neck (G) provided with a thread (222) receiving the capsule (4) and the underside of the upper sleeve (22) forming the neck (C) extends into the skirt (21) by an internal extension (24) to which the mouth (31) of the flexible pouch (3) is fixed.

3. Bottle (100b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the head (2b) is composed of a skirt (21b) forming the shoulder (C) and fixed to the body (1) and of an upper sleeve (22b) forming the neck (C) and receiving an inner sleeve (25) provided in the upper part with a thread (2 51) for the capsule (5), the upper sleeve (22b) continuing in the skirt (21b) by an inner extension (24b) to receive the mouth (31) of the flexible bag (3).

4. Bottle (100b) according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper sleeve (22b) is bordered externally by a collar (225b) and, - the inner sleeve (25) comprises a stop collar (252) under its external thread (251) to define and limit the insertion of the inner sleeve (25) into the upper sleeve (22b).

5. Bottle (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt (21), the upper sleeve (22) and the inner extension (24) are joined by a junction ring (23).

6. Bottle (100c) according to claim 1, characterized in that the head (2c) is formed of a skirt (21c) in the form of a flat circular ring, connected to the upper sleeve (22c) directly forming the neck provided with a thread (222c) receiving the capsule (4).

7. Bottle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the body (1) and the base (13) are made of cardboard and the head (2), the capsule (4) and the guarantee ring (6) are made of polyethylene.

Images