Injected preform adapted for transfer into a blow mold, method for manufacturing a bottle by blowing a preform, and assembly comprising a blow-molded bottle and a closure device

Abstract

TITLE Injected preform adapted for transfer into a blow mold, method for manufacturing a bottle by preform blow molding, and assembly comprising a blow-molded bottle and a closure device. The invention relates to an injected preform (1) adapted for transfer into a blow mold (40) in order to form, after blow molding, a bottle (100) for a cosmetic product (P), said preform (1) comprising a neck (11) whose outer surface (15) has: - a threaded portion (16); - a gripping portion (19) comprising a gripping relief (20, 21) adapted to cooperate with the jaws of a gripping tool; wherein the gripping relief comprises two discontinuous gripping relief segments (20, 21) in the circumferential direction, and wherein the threaded portion (16) and the gripping portion (19) have a non-zero overlap (c) in projection onto the longitudinal axis. (X).. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 6.

Description

Title of the invention: Injected preform suitable for being transferred into a blow mold, method for manufacturing a bottle by blowing a preform and assembly comprising a blown bottle and a closure member

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of plastic containers, made in particular from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0002] These containers can in particular be used to store and package a product intended for human consumption, in particular a food product, a cosmetic product or even a pharmaceutical product.

[0003] A cosmetic product is in particular a product as defined in Regulation 20 EC No 1223 / 2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council dated 30 November 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

[0004] More specifically, the present invention relates to an injected preform, adapted to be transferred into a blow mold in order to form, after blowing, a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product.

[0005] Containers are known in this field that are shaped by blow molding from an injected plastic preform. The term "injected preform" refers to a preform obtained via a plastic injection molding process inside the cavity of a mold defining the shape of the preform to be obtained.

[0006] In the injection-blow molding technique, the process begins with the injection of a molten plastic material into a preformed mold to obtain an injected preform. Once the injected preform has cooled, totally or partially, it is transferred to a new machine for the step of blowing the container. In a final step, the blow mold closes, the preform is, if necessary, reheated and a blow rod or cannula is inserted into the preform. The blow rod begins by stretching the injected preform and then pressurized air is blown into the preform, which pushes the plastic material constituting the preform towards the inner surface of the mold, so as to give the blown bottle the shape defined by the mold cavity. This technique is commonly used to produce plastic bottles.

[0007] A preform can be injected and blown within a single industrial site. A preform can also be injected within a first industrial site, then blown in another industrial site, different from the first.

[0008] In the latter case in particular, the preform must be grasped to be transferred and placed inside the blowing mold for its blowing and placing in shape of the corresponding bottle or container.

[0009] Conventionally, the step of transferring the injected preform into the container blow mold is carried out using the jaws of a gripping tool. These jaws of the gripping tool, positioned opposite each other, move towards each other and grip the preform at its neck to grasp it and transfer it to the blow mold.

[0010] An injected preform conventionally has a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a closed end, or bottom, and an open end which is not intended to be deformed during blowing, associated with a neck. The neck comprises, in a known manner, a cylindrical tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and comprising an internal face and an external face on which are provided: - a threaded axial portion, in which a thread extends in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis, said thread being intended to cooperate with a closure element provided with a complementary thread and serving to close the bottle obtained after blowing the preform - an annular projection, located axially below the threaded axial portion, on the side of the bottom of the preform, and used in particular for conveying the preform on conveyor lines and / or for associating the bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform with a closure element provided with a first opening indicator ring.

[0011] For the purpose of transferring the preform to the blow mold, the external surface of the neck of the preform also has an annular gripping groove, located axially above the threaded axial portion, on the side of the opening defined by the neck, or below the annular conveying projection on the side of the bottom of the preform, and adapted to receive the jaws of the gripping tool for the purpose of transferring the preform to the blow mold. The jaws each conventionally have a projection adapted to be inserted into the annular groove of the preform and extending along an arc of a circle centered on the longitudinal axis of the preform and over an angular range of less than 180°; in other words, the projections of the jaws of the gripping tool extend together over an angular range of less than 360° around the longitudinal axis of the preform.

[0012] Document EP2207722B1 describes an example of such a preform, in which the annular groove is provided below the annular conveying projection, on the side of the bottom of the preform.

[0013] Figures 1 and 2 of the present application illustrate another example of such a preform, in which the annular gripping groove is located axially above the threaded axial portion, on the side of the opening defined by the neck.

[0014] Such containers made of plastic have a number of drawbacks, particularly in terms of environmental issues.

[0015] The proposal of eco-responsible, environmentally friendly solutions whose design and development take into account environmental issues is becoming a major concern to contribute to meeting global challenges. It is therefore essential to design products that reduce the quantity of materials used and / or replace them with more environmentally friendly materials and / or use recyclable materials in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the product.

[0016] In this context, it is important to develop packaging that generates less waste, in particular optimized for the quantity of product transported, in particular by redesigning and / or resizing them in order to reduce the volume and weight of the quantity of packaging and thus reduce the carbon footprint.

[0017] There is therefore in this context a need to further optimize the quantity of material used to produce preforms of the aforementioned type, intended to be blown to form product containers, in particular cosmetic product containers.

[0018] The present invention aims to meet this objective and proposes for this purpose an injected preform adapted to be transferred into a blow mold in order to form after blowing a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product, said preform extending along a longitudinal axis between a bottom and a neck defining an open end, a side wall connecting said bottom to said neck, said neck comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, said radially outer surface comprising: - a threaded axial portion, in which a thread extends helically along and around the longitudinal axis; - an axial gripping portion comprising a gripping relief adapted to cooperate with jaws of a gripping tool to ensure gripping and transfer of the injected preform to the blow mold; wherein the gripping relief comprises two circumferentially discontinuous gripping relief segments extending together around the longitudinal axis over an angular range of less than 360°, and in which the threaded axial portion and the gripping axial portion have a non-zero overlap in projection onto the longitudinal axis.

[0019] Preferably, the threaded axial portion has a height greater than the height of the axial gripping portion in projection on the longitudinal axis. For this purpose, a person skilled in the art will know how to dimension the pitch of the thread(s) of the threaded axial portion and the axial height of the axial gripping portion.

[0020] By "two discontinuous segments extending together around the longitudinal axis X along an angular range of less than 360°", it is meant that the sum of the angular ranges along which each of the discontinuous segments of the relief extends gripping around the longitudinal axis is less than 360°. In other words, the union of the angular ranges along which the discontinuous segments of the gripping relief extend is less than a complete turn around the longitudinal axis.

[0021] Thanks to these provisions, the invention proposes a spatial overlap of the threaded axial portion and the axial gripping portion, allowing a plurality of functions on the same axial portion, which makes it possible to have a preform neck of reduced dimension along the longitudinal axis and therefore to use less plastic material to produce the injected preform. Furthermore, the implementation of two discontinuous segments in the gripping portion of the preform makes it possible to angularly orient the latter in the blowing mold to which it is intended to be transferred, in particular when the bottle obtained after blowing the preform has a body of non-circular cross-section and it is desired to give the threaded portion a predetermined angular orientation relative to this non-circular section.

[0022] According to an advantageous arrangement, the axial gripping portion is predominantly, and preferably entirely, included in the threaded axial portion projecting onto the longitudinal axis, the length of the overlap corresponding to at least 20%, better still at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion projecting onto the longitudinal axis. Thus, the height of the neck of the injected preform is optimized along the longitudinal axis, which contributes to reducing the quantity of plastic material used to produce the preform.

[0023] The gripping relief may be a projecting relief, extending projecting in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform, or a recessed relief, extending recessed in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform.

[0024] Preferably, the gripping relief is formed by a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending in a hollow in the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform and comprises a first groove segment and a second groove segment, preferably diametrically opposed, adapted to respectively accommodate a corresponding projecting portion provided on the jaws of the gripping tool. By choosing a hollow relief in the form of groove segments to form the axial gripping portion, the quantity of plastic material used to produce the preform is further reduced. This also allows the jaws of the gripping tool to be accommodated in each of the groove segments while being blocked in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction respectively by the axial and circumferential flanks defined by these groove segments.

[0025] Alternatively, the gripping relief is formed of a discontinuous rib in the circumferential direction extending projecting from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform and comprises a first rib segment and a second rib segment, preferably diametrically opposed, adapted to be housed respectively in a corresponding hollow portion provided on jaws of the gripping tool.

[0026] In this embodiment variant, the rib segments advantageously have a height measured in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform, less than the height of the thread(s) of the threaded axial portion, measured in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform.

[0027] Thus, the presence of the rib segments allows and does not hinder the cooperation of the thread(s) of the neck of the preform, which corresponds to the neck of the bottle obtained after blowing the preform, with the complementary thread(s) provided on a closure element adapted to close the bottle, such as a screw cap.

[0028] The jaws of the gripping tool are selectively movable towards and away from each other, between a gripping position, in which the jaws are brought together and a release position, in which the jaws are moved apart.

[0029] According to an advantageous arrangement, the first groove segment and / or the second groove segment extends over an angular range of between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°. Thanks to these arrangements, an advantageous compromise is achieved between the reduction in the quantity of plastic material used to produce the preform, reliable holding of the preform when it is gripped by the jaws of the gripping tool and the functionality of the threaded axial portion in the context of its association with a threaded cap intended to close the bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform.

[0030] According to an advantageous arrangement, the neck has a thickness in the radial direction measured between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, and the first groove segment and / or the second groove segment has a depth of between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30% and in particular 25% of the thickness of the neck, being in particular between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm.Thanks to these provisions, a neck of reduced thickness at the groove segments is provided, thus making it possible to further minimize the quantity of plastic material used for its manufacture, while retaining sufficient rigidity to maintain its structural and functional integrity, in particular when the neck of the bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform and intended to be associated with a closure member provided with a sealing skirt bearing against the interior surface of the neck of the bottle to ensure its sealing in the configuration of closing the bottle by the closure member.

[0031] Advantageously, the threaded axial portion comprises two threads extending in a helix. along and around the longitudinal axis, said two threads preferably being angularly offset by 180° and each preferably extending over less than one turn, in particular over an angular range close to 120°.

[0032] In another embodiment, the threaded axial portion comprises one or two double threads, each of the double threads extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis while being axially offset from each other, in particular by 180°.

[0033] According to an advantageous arrangement, the preform is produced in the form of a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of at least one plastic material, in particular a polyolefin, or preferably Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The use of PET as a plastic material to produce the preform and, after blowing, the bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform, is particularly advantageous in particular with a view to the recycling at the end of the life of the bottle, as well as the possibility of using recycled PET (or rPET) to produce the preform. Indeed, PET currently constitutes the plastic material benefiting from the most efficient recycling process, which promotes the recycling at the end of the life of the bottle obtained from the preform. Furthermore, this recycling process makes it possible to have recycled PET of satisfactory quality to be able to produce the preform from this recycled material and thus promote a circular economy model.Finally, PET or rPET has the potentially sought-after advantage of presenting a high level of transparency.

[0034] The invention also provides a method of manufacturing by blow molding a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product, comprising the steps consisting of: - provide a preform as defined previously; - angularly orient the preform around its longitudinal axis so as to place the gripping relief segments opposite corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws of a gripping tool; - gripping the preform by mutually bringing the jaws together and cooperation of the gripping relief segments and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws of the gripping tool; - transfer the preform towards the blow mold; - release the preform by mutual separation of the jaws; - insert a blowing cannula through the open end of the preform neck; - blow the preform through the blowing nozzle, so as to obtain the bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck of the bottle being unchanged compared to the neck of the preform; - remove the resulting bottle from the blowing mold.

[0035] In this manufacturing method, the cannula is inserted through the open end of the neck and has a wall in sealing contact with the radially lower surface of the preform neck.

[0036] The invention also relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly, comprising: - a bottle obtained by the aforementioned process and containing in particular a cosmetic product; - a bottle closure member comprising a thread adapted to cooperate with the threaded axial portion of the bottle to close its open end, said closure member preferably being a closure and dispensing member, such as a service cap, comprising a base having a plate extending transversely to the open end of the bottle and provided with a dispensing orifice and a skirt raised from the plate and carrying the thread, and a cap articulated on the base and movable in rotation between a position for closing the dispensing orifice and a position for releasing the dispensing orifice, said cap preferably being provided with a stud adapted to be inserted and close the dispensing orifice in the cap closure position.

[0037] Thanks to the provisions of the invention, proposing a preform and a bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform having a neck of reduced height, the closure member associated with the bottle in the cosmetic product packaging assembly can also have a reduced axial height, which makes it possible to further minimize the quantity of material, in particular plastic, necessary for the production of the elements of said assembly.

[0038] The invention may be better understood by reading the following description, accompanied by non-limiting examples of its implementation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0039] [Fig. 1] represents an example of a preform neck existing in the state of the art, in which the annular gripping groove is located axially above the threaded axial portion, on the side of the opening defined by the neck;

[0040] [Fig.2] is a longitudinal sectional view of the neck of the preform illustrated in [Fig. 1]

[0041] [Fig.3] illustrates in perspective an injected preform conforming to an example of rea lization of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.4] illustrates in front view the injected preform of [Fig.l];

[0043] [Fig.5] illustrates in side view the injected preform of [Fig.l];

[0044] [Fig.6] illustrates in detailed view the neck of the preform of [Fig.5];

[0045] [Fig.7] illustrates in longitudinal section a detail of the neck of the preform of [Fig.5];

[0046] [Fig.8] illustrates in top view the preform of [Fig.5];

[0047] [Fig.9] is a view similar to that of [Fig.6], seen from the side, illustrating a variant of producing the injected preform according to the invention;

[0048] [Fig. 10] and [Fig. 11] illustrate in side view a step of gripping the injected preform by gripping jaws;

[0049] [Fig. 12] and [Fig. 13] are top views of Figures 10 and 11;

[0050] [Fig. 14] illustrates a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a bottle resulting from the blowing of the injected preform according to the invention and a closure member associated with the bottle;

[0051] [Fig. 15] is a longitudinal sectional view of the bottle of [Fig. 14] filled with cosmetic product;

[0052] [Fig.16] illustrates in perspective the closure member of the whole of [Fig.14], in the closed position in back view slightly offset to the left and raised;

[0053] [Fig.17] illustrates in perspective the closure member of the assembly of [Fig.14], in the closed position in side view slightly offset to the left and below;

[0054] [Fig.18] illustrates in perspective the closure member of the assembly of [Fig.14], in the open position in a top view slightly offset to the left.

[0055] As visible in [Fig. 1], there is known in the state of the art an injected preform 1' extending along a longitudinal axis X', the neck 11' of which is provided on its radially outer surface with a threaded axial portion 16' in which two threads 17', 18' extend in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis X' and a gripping portion 19' in the form of a continuous annular groove 20.

[0056] As can be seen in particular in [Fig. 2], in such an injected preform known from the state of the art, the threaded axial portion 16' and the axial gripping portion 19' extend over completely separate axial portions, the axial gripping portion 19' extending above the threaded axial portion 16', in the vicinity of the opening defined by the neck 11', without axial overlap with said threaded axial portion 16'.

[0057] [Fig. 3] illustrates in perspective an exemplary embodiment of preform 1 according to the invention.

[0058] As visible in this [Fig.3], the preform 1 extends along a longitudinal axis X between a bottom 10 and a neck 11 defining an open end 12. The bottom 10 and the neck 11 of the preform are connected by a side wall 13. The neck 11 comprises a radially inner surface 14 and a radially outer surface 15.

[0059] Advantageously, the injected preform 1 is produced in the form of a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of plastic material, and in particular of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0060] As appears in particular in Figures 3 to 6, the radially outer surface 15 of the neck 11 comprises: - a threaded axial portion 16, in which two threads 17, 18 extend in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis X, and; - an axial gripping portion 19 comprising a gripping relief 20, 21.

[0061] The gripping relief comprises two gripping relief segments 20, 21 discontinuous in the circumferential direction, extending together around the longitudinal axis X according to an angular range of less than 360°.

[0062] As can be seen in particular in [Fig. 6], the threaded axial portion 16, i.e. the axial portion in which the thread(s) 17, 18 extend, has a height greater than the height of the axial gripping portion 19, i.e. the axial portion in which the gripping relief(s) extend, in projection onto the longitudinal axis X. For this purpose, a person skilled in the art will be able to appropriately dimension the pitch of the thread(s) 17, 18 of the threaded axial portion 16 and the axial height of the axial gripping portion 19. Furthermore, and still in relation to [Fig. 6], the threaded axial portion 16 and the axial gripping portion 19 have a non-zero overlap c in projection onto the longitudinal axis X.Thus, the axial gripping portion 19 is at least partially axially nested in the threaded axial portion 16 of the neck 11, which makes it possible to reduce the axial height of the latter and minimize the quantity of plastic material necessary for its production.

[0063] The axial gripping portion 19 is predominantly, and preferably entirely, included in the threaded axial portion 16 in projection on the longitudinal axis X. In other words, the axial length of the overlap c corresponds to at least 20%, better still at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion 19 in projection on the longitudinal axis X. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], the axial gripping portion 19 is entirely integrated in the threaded axial portion 16.

[0064] As is clearly shown in particular in Figures 4 to 6, the threaded axial portion 16 comprises two threads 17, 18 extending in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis X, said two threads 17, 18 being angularly offset by 180°.

[0065] As visible in [Fig.7], the neck 11 has a thickness t in the radial direction measured between the radially inner surface 14 and the radially outer surface 15. In this thickness t, the groove segment 21 has a depth d of between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30% and in particular 25% of the thickness t of the neck 11. The depth of the groove segment 21 is in particular between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm.

[0066] With reference to [Fig.8], the first groove segment 20 and the second groove segment 21 are diametrically opposite and each extend over an angular range a1, a2. This angular range a1, a2 is in particular between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°.

[0067] Still with reference to [Fig.8], the two threads 17, 18 are diametrically opposed and each extend over an angular range [31, [32. This range [31, [32 is in par- particular close to 120°.

[0068] [Fig. 9] illustrates an alternative embodiment of the preform according to the invention, in which the two threads 17, 18 each extend over less than one turn. The particularity of this variant is that the two threads are not interrupted by the groove segments 20, 21.

[0069] As can be seen in particular in [Fig.9], the threaded axial portion 16 and the axial gripping portion 19 have a non-zero overlap c in projection onto the longitudinal axis X.

[0070] Thus, in this embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 9], the groove segments 20, 21 are located upstream of the start of each thread 17, 18. In an alternative embodiment, the groove segments 20, 21 may be located downstream of the end of each thread 17, 18. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 9], the axial gripping portion 19 is partially, but mainly integrated into the threaded axial portion 16.

[0071] Advantageously, the neck 11 of the preform 1 has axial symmetry relative to the longitudinal axis X, each groove segment 20, 21 being associated with one of the threads 17, 18, extending either at the start of the thread, or by interrupting the thread, or at the end of the thread.

[0072] In another alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the threaded axial portion 16 comprises two double threads 17, 18, each of the double threads 17, 18 extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis X, being axially offset from each other.

[0073] As visible in Figures 10 to 13, the gripping relief 20, 21 of the injected preform is adapted to cooperate with jaws 30, 31 of a gripping tool to ensure the gripping and transfer of the preform 1 to a blow mold.

[0074] The gripping relief 20, 21 being adapted to the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool, the gripping relief 20, 21 can be provided as a projection or as a recess in the radially outer surface 15 of the neck depending on the structure of the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool.

[0075] In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the gripping relief 20, 21 is formed by a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending hollowly in the radially outer surface 15 of the neck 11 of the preform 1. This discontinuous groove comprises a first groove segment 20 and a second groove segment 21. These groove segments 20, 21 are preferably diametrically opposed and provided to house corresponding projecting portions provided on the gripping jaws 30, 31. These projecting portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 extend in an arc of a circle, with a radius corresponding substantially to that of the groove segments 20, 21 and over a neighboring angular range, being slightly in lower, to the angular range a1, a2 on which each of the groove segments 20, 21 extends.

[0076] Thus, and as visible in these figures 10 to 13, to carry out the gripping of the injected preform with a view to its transfer to a blow mold, the gripping jaws 30, 31, initially spaced apart from each other, as appears in [Fig. 10] and 12, are brought closer to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the injected preform 1, to adopt the position illustrated in figures 11 and 13. In this position, the projecting portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 are inserted inside a respective groove segment 20, 21 provided on the radially outer surface 15 of the neck 11 of the injected preform 1.

[0077] The upper and lower flanks in the axial direction of the groove segments 20, 21 form abutment surfaces against which the projecting portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 bear when they are inserted into a respective groove segment 20, 21 to ensure retention in the axial direction of the preform 1 between the jaws 30, 31.

[0078] Furthermore, the lateral flanks in the circumferential direction of the groove segments 20, 21 form abutment surfaces retaining in the circumferential direction the gripping jaws 30, 31 when they are inserted into a respective groove segment 20, 21 to ensure retention in the circumferential direction of the preform 1 between the jaws 30, 31.

[0079] This gripping and transfer of the preform 1 is part of the method of manufacturing a bottle by blowing the preform 1, comprising a first step consisting of providing an injected preform 1 as described previously.

[0080] The manufacturing method then comprises a step consisting of angularly orienting the preform 1 around its longitudinal axis X so as to place the groove segments 20, 21 opposite corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool, as visible in particular in Figures 10 and 12 and symbolized by the curved arrow visible in these figures.

[0081] The manufacturing method then comprises a step of gripping the preform 1 by mutually bringing the jaws 30, 31 together and cooperation of the groove segments 20, 21 and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool, as visible in particular in Figures 11 and 13 and symbolized by the opposing arrows visible in these figures.

[0082] The preform 1 is then transferred towards the blow mold and released into this mold by mutual separation of the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool.

[0083] The manufacturing method then conventionally comprises a step of inserting a blowing cannula through the open end 12 of the neck 11 of the preform 1, a step of blowing the preform 1 through the blowing cannula, so as to obtaining a bottle 100 intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck 11 of the bottle 100 being unchanged compared to the neck 11 of the preform 1, and a step of extracting the bottle 100 obtained from outside the blowing mold.

[0084] [Fig. 14] represents a bottle 100 made from the injected preform 1 after blowing it into a blow mold, associated with a closure element 200 which will be described in more detail later. During the blowing of the injected preform 1, the neck 11 is not deformed. The geometric characteristics of the neck 11 of the injected preform 1 therefore remain substantially the same as those of the neck 11 of the bottle 100.

[0085] The bottle 100 thus obtained is intended to contain a cosmetic product P, as illustrated in [Fig. 15].

[0086] Figures 16 to 18 illustrate an example of a closure member 200 which can be associated with the bottle 100 resulting from the blowing of the injected preform 1 according to the invention.

[0087] In Figures 16 and 17, the closure member 200 is shown in the closed position. In [Fig. 18], the closure member 200 is shown in the open position.

[0088] In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 16 to 18, the closure member 200 is a closure and dispensing member, such as a service capsule. The closure member 200 comprises a base 210 and a cover 220.

[0089] The base 210 has a plate 211 extending transversely to the open end 12 of the bottle 100 when the closure member is fixed to the neck 11 thereof. The base 210 is provided with a dispensing orifice 212 formed in the plate 211 and a skirt 213 extending from the plate 211 and intended to ensure the fixing of the closure member 200 to the neck 11 of the bottle 100.

[0090] For this purpose, the skirt 213 carries on its radially inner surface a thread 217, here discontinuous, adapted to cooperate with the threads 17, 18 of the threaded axial portion 16 of the neck 11 of the bottle 100 to close its open end 12.

[0091] Thanks to the provisions of the invention, proposing a preform 1 and a bottle 100 resulting from the blowing of the preform having a neck 11 of reduced axial height, the closure member 200 associated with the bottle 100 in the cosmetic product packaging assembly, and in particular the skirt 213 carrying the thread 217, can also have a reduced axial height, which makes it possible to further minimize the quantity of material, in particular plastic, necessary for the production of the elements of said assembly.

[0092] Furthermore, and as still visible in these figures 16 to 18, the cover 220 of the closure member 200 is articulated on the base 210, in particular by means of a film hinge, and movable in rotation between a position for closing the dispensing orifice 212 and a position for releasing the dispensing orifice 212. The position for closing the dispensing orifice 212 corresponds to the closed position of the closure member 200. The position for releasing the dispensing orifice 212 corresponds to the closed position of the closure member 200.

[0093] The cover 220 is also provided with a stud 221 adapted to be inserted and to close the distribution orifice 212 in the closed position of the cover 220.

[0094] The Applicant thus proposes an injected preform 1 intended to be transferred to a blow mold to obtain, after blowing, a bottle intended to receive a cosmetic product, having a neck of reduced axial height and capable of being associated with a closure member also of reduced axial height, so as to minimize the quantity of plastic material necessary for the production of these elements and thus be part of an eco-design approach aimed at significantly reducing the ecological impact of the products designed.

Claims

Claims

1. Injected preform (1) adapted to be transferred into a blow mold in order to form after blowing a bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product (P), said preform (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) between a base (10) and a neck (11) defining an open end (12), a side wall (13) connecting said base (12) to said neck (11), said neck (11) comprising a radially inner surface (14) and a radially outer surface (15), said radially outer surface (15) comprising: - a threaded axial portion (16), in which a thread (17, 18) extends in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X); - an axial gripping portion (19) comprising a gripping relief (20, 21) adapted to cooperate with jaws (30, 31) of a gripping tool to ensure the gripping and transfer of the injected preform (1) to the blowing mold (40);characterized in that the gripping relief comprises two gripping relief segments (20, 21) discontinuous in the circumferential direction, extending together around the longitudinal axis (X) according to an angular range of less than 360°, and in that the threaded axial portion (16) and the axial gripping portion (19) have a non-zero overlap (c) in projection onto the longitudinal axis (X).;

2. Preform (1) according to claim 1, in which the axial gripping portion (19) is predominantly, and preferably entirely, included in the threaded axial portion (16) in projection on the longitudinal axis (X), the length of the overlap (c) corresponding to at least 20%, better still at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion (19) in projection on the longitudinal axis (X).

3. Preform (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the gripping relief (20, 21) is formed of a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending hollowly in the radially outer surface (15) of the neck (11) of the preform (1) and comprises a first groove segment (20) and a second groove segment (21), preferably diametrically opposite, adapted to respectively accommodate a corresponding projecting portion provided on the jaws (30, 31) of the gripping tool.

4. Preform (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first groove segment (20) and / or the second groove segment (21) extends over an angular range (a1, a2) between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°.

5. Preform (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the neck (11) has a thickness (t) in the radial direction measured between the radially inner surface (14) and the radially outer surface (15), and wherein the first groove segment (20) and / or the second groove segment (21) has a depth (d) of between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30% and in particular 25% of the thickness (t) of the neck (11), being in particular between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm.

6. Preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the threaded axial portion (16) comprises two threads (17, 18) extending in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X), said two threads (17, 18) preferably being angularly offset by 180° and each preferably extending over less than one turn, in particular over an angular range ([31, [32) close to 120°.

7. A preform (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the threaded axial portion (16) comprises one or two double threads (17, 18), each of the double threads (17, 18) extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X) while being axially offset from each other.

8. Preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, produced in the form of a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of at least one plastic material, in particular a polyolefin, or preferably Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

9. A method of manufacturing by blow molding a bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product, comprising the steps of: - providing a preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; - angularly orienting the preform (1) around its longitudinal axis (X) so as to place the gripping relief segments (20, 21) opposite corresponding reliefs provided on jaws (30, 31) of a gripping tool; - gripping the preform (1) by mutually bringing the jaws (30, 31) together and cooperation of the gripping relief segments (20, 21) and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws (30, 31) of the gripping tool; - transfer the preform (1) towards the blow mold (40); - release the preform (1) by mutual separation of the jaws (30, 31); - insert a blowing cannula through the open end (12) of the neck (11) of the preform (1); - blowing the preform (1) through the blowing cannula, so as to obtain the bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck (11) of the bottle (100) being unchanged relative to the neck (11) of the preform (1); - extract the bottle (100) obtained from the blowing mold.

10. Cosmetic product packaging assembly (300), comprising: - a bottle (100) obtained by the method according to claim 9 and containing in particular a cosmetic product (P); - a closure member (200) of the bottle (100) comprising a thread (217) adapted to cooperate with the threaded axial portion (16) of the bottle (100) to close its open end (12), said closure member preferably being a closure and dispensing member, such as a service cap, comprising a base (210) having a plate (211) extending transversely to the open end (12) of the bottle (100) and provided with a dispensing orifice (212) and a skirt (213) raised from the plate (211) and carrying the thread (217), and a cap (220) articulated on the base (210) and rotatable between a position for closing the dispensing orifice (212) and a position for releasing the dispensing orifice (212), said cap (220) preferably being provided with a stud (221) adapted to be inserted and to close the distribution orifice (212) in the position of closing the cover (220).

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