Squeezable bottle for aseptically filling viscous foods, packaged viscous product, preform, and method for filling a squeezable bottle

Abstract

A semi-rigid bottle (10) for packaging sticky foods, the bottle (10) being made of a material suitable for aseptic processing, retort processing, and / or hot filling, having shape stability, and being squeezable and crushable such that after crushing, the bottle (10) does not return to its initial shape by means of a radially inwardly directed crushing gripping force, and being blow-molded. The bottle (10) comprises a wall (50) having at least one oxygen barrier and a light barrier, and a neck portion (20) extending from the wall (50), the neck portion (20) comprising a dispensing opening (40) at the top of the neck portion (20), a thread (21), and a spout section (41) extending from the top of the dispensing opening (40) to the thread (21) and having no thread, the dispensing opening (40) having an inner diameter in the range of 6 mm to 28 mm, and the spout section (41) extending along a vertical distance in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bottle, and specifically, the present invention relates to a bottle that can be aseptically processed, is suitable for hot filling and / or can be retort processed, and can be squeezed and crushed to empty the contents of the bottle.

Background Art

[0002]

[0002] Aseptic packaging is usually used for packaging perishable substances. Such perishable substances include foods and pharmaceuticals.

[0003]

[0003] In aseptic packaging technology, perishable substances are sterilized by being rapidly exposed to heat, rapidly cooled to ambient temperature, and then filled into a sterilized package. The sterilized package is then sealed in a sterile environment. Aseptic packaging technology retains more nutrients and characteristics of perishable substances and uses less energy compared to retort sterilization technology.

[0004]

[0004] Aseptic packaging technology is often used in applications where perishable substances are fluid, and in these situations, aseptic packaging technology uses squeezable pouches. The squeezable pouch contains the perishable substance. The squeezable pouch can be crushed when squeezed and the contents of the squeezable pouch can be easily emptied by applying pressure. Squeezable pouches are often made of flexible, multi-layered, multiple materials (e.g., plastic, metal, paper). Flexible, multi-layered, multiple materials (e.g., plastic, metal, paper) are often manufactured to have specific barrier properties against the external environment.

[0005]

[0005] Hot filling is the process of filling a heated sterilized product into a non-sterile package. In this process, prior to the filling step of this process, the product has already passed through a sterilization process based on a predetermined time and temperature (such as 85 - 100 °C). Retort processing is the process of filling a non-sterile product into a hermetically sealed non-sterile package. The retort process requires a temperature higher than 100 °C (212 °F). The retort process starts from where the product is mixed and then filled into the package. Once the package is filled with the product, the package is loaded into a retort pressure chamber. The contents of the package are sterilized with pressurized steam while inside the chamber.

[0006]

[0006] There are many problems with squeezable pouches. Recycling squeezable pouches requires a huge amount of resources for processing due to the use of multiple layers and multiple materials (e.g., plastic, metal, paper), and thus, squeezable pouches cannot be recycled together with conventional recyclable materials. In addition, the shape of squeezable pouches is obtained by welding together different surfaces of multiple layers of multiple materials (e.g., plastic, metal, paper). Since welding (at one or more locations) generates sharp edges, welding makes squeezable pouches undesirable for holding. Squeezable pouches are not desirable for handling and storage because they are flexible, made of multiple layers of multiple materials that are not rigid. Squeezable pouches require the manufacture of multiple single layers made of multiple layers of multiple materials that are flexible, and different processing conditions are required for each single layer made of multiple layers of multiple materials that are flexible, so manufacturing is difficult. Further, the spout and cap need to be welded to the squeezable pouch. Due to the flexible nature of squeezable pouches, it is not efficient to fill squeezable pouches with a fluid substance. Due to the flexible nature of squeezable pouches, squeezable pouches are prone to rupture during filling and transportation with a fluid substance. Due to the flexible nature of squeezable pouches, squeezable pouches need to be filled with an internal pressure greater than the ambient pressure to maintain the shape of the squeezable pouch. However, this pressure variation can also result in the rupture of the squeezable pouch.

[0007]

[0007] It is necessary to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a squeezable container that can be crushed and easily emptied of its contents when squeezed by applying a relatively low pressure (i.e., by hand).

Summary of the Invention

[0008]

[0008] The present invention according to the first aspect provides a semi-rigid bottle made of a material suitable for aseptic treatment, retort treatment, and / or hot filling and having shape stability. The bottle is squeezable and crushable by a crushing gripping force directed radially inward, and the bottle does not return to its initial shape after being crushed. The bottle is blow-molded. The bottle includes a wall having at least one oxygen barrier and a light barrier, and a neck portion extending (preferably upward) from the wall. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion, a thread, and a spout section extending from the top of the dispensing opening to the thread and having no thread. The dispensing opening has an inner diameter in the range of 6 mm to 28 mm, preferably 7 mm to 15 mm, more preferably 8 mm to 10 mm, and specifically 8 mm to 9 mm. The spout section extends along a vertical distance in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 7 mm to 9 mm, more preferably 7.5 mm (or 7 mm) to 8.5 mm. The spout section may extend along a vertical distance in the range of 7 mm to 7.5 mm, preferably 7.1 mm to 7.3 mm.

[0009]

[0009] In one embodiment, the neck portion includes a locking wall portion having an upper surface, and the thread extends between the spout section and the upper surface of the locking wall portion. The locking wall portion may be configured to engage a closure body screwed onto the neck portion. The upper surface is preferably arranged to face the top of the dispensing opening.

[0010]

[0010] In one embodiment, the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the locking wall portion is in the range of 8 mm to 15 mm, preferably 10 mm to 14 mm, more preferably 11 mm to 13 mm.

[0011]

[0011] In one embodiment, the locking wall portion includes a plurality of teeth. The teeth may be designed to engage a corresponding structure and / or a complementary structure formed by a closure body screwed onto the neck portion. The teeth may be evenly distributed around the axis defined by the neck portion.

[0012]

[0012] In one embodiment, the locking wall portion is designed to fix the closure body to the neck portion, such as a ring integrally formed with the closure body, even after the closure body is disengaged from the thread for opening the bottle. In other words, the closure body can be fastened to the locking wall portion to provide an application example of a closure body with a tether. Thereby, it is ensured that the closure body is not lost even after the closure body is disengaged from the neck portion. Rather, the closure body can always be kept fixed to the neck portion so as to ensure that the bottle is disposed of together with the closure body, specifically recycled.

[0013]

[0013] In one embodiment, the locking wall portion is configured as an anti-tampering structure. For example, the locking wall portion can engage with the closure body screwed onto the neck portion to provide a mechanism suitable for indicating tampering. In one embodiment, by unscrewing the closure body, a part of the closure body, such as an anti-tampering element, is retained by the locking wall portion and separated from another part of the closure body (e.g., by breaking), thereby indicating whether tampering has occurred or the bottle is in the state after being opened for the first time.

[0014]

[0014] In one embodiment, the locking wall portion has an outer diameter in the range of 15 mm to 21 mm, preferably 17 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 18 mm to 19 mm.

[0015]

[0015] In one embodiment, the locking wall portion has a thickness in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, more preferably 2 mm to 3 mm.

[0016]

[0016] In one embodiment, the neck portion includes a section extending from the lower surface of the locking wall portion to the wall, and the width of this section is larger than the outer diameter of the spout section and / or is in the range of 10 mm to 22 mm, preferably 15 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm to 18 mm. Therefore, the above section forms a connection section connecting the locking wall portion to a wall constituted by, for example, the main body or the lower part of the bottle. The lower surface is configured to face the opposite of the upper surface of the locking wall portion.

[0017]

[0017] In one embodiment, the section preferably does not extend all around about an axis defined by the neck portion and / or preferably comprises a groove extending only on one side of the neck portion. The groove can impart a predetermined rigidity to the section, and thus to the neck portion, which is greater than, for example, the rigidity of the wall. In one embodiment, the section preferably comprises a further groove disposed on a side different from the side having the (first) groove. For example, the groove may be disposed on the long side of the section, and the further groove may be disposed on the short side of the section.

[0018]

[0018] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the dispensing opening is the same as the inner diameter of the spout section at a position remote from the dispensing opening. Thereby, the sealing contact with the spout section at both the dispensing opening and at a position remote from the dispensing opening is simplified, for example, by simply inserting a sealing element (such as in the form of a cylinder) having a constant cross-section along its length into the spout section. In other words, such a design of the spout section enables the sealing of the dispensing opening only by a closure body screwed onto the neck (i.e., direct closure body sealing). Thus, specifically, it is possible to omit the aluminum foil for sealing the dispensing opening.

[0019]

[0019] In one embodiment, the neck portion has a standardized neck finish and / or the spout section does not comprise a radially inwardly protruding lip defining the dispensing opening. Thus, a neck portion and / or a spout section is provided that can be easily sealed without specifically requiring a sealing foil. The standardized neck finish and / or the absence of the lip can be provided, for example, by refraining from trimming the neck portion after the bottle has been obtained by blow molding. For example, an extrusion blow molding (EBM) shuttle machine is used to obtain such a neck portion and / or to avoid such a lip.

[0020]

[0020] In one embodiment, the bottle comprises a closure body that is screwed onto the neck portion. Accordingly, the closure body comprises a thread that engages with the thread of the neck portion.

[0021]

[0021] In one embodiment, when the closure body is screwed onto the neck portion and before the closure body is unscrewed to first open the bottle, the dispensing opening is not sealed by a metal foil on top of the dispensing opening. In other words, after sealing the bottle at the neck portion, there is never any metal foil on top of the dispensing opening in the bottle. The absence of such a metal foil (such as an aluminum foil) improves the sustainability of the bottle. Specifically, this means that the recyclability of the bottle is improved.

[0022]

[0022] In one embodiment, the closure body comprises a sealing section configured to seal the dispensing opening. Accordingly, the sealing of the dispensing opening can be provided simply by screwing the closure body onto the neck portion without the need to provide a sealing foil on top of the dispensing opening. The sealing section may be designed to be pushed and / or inserted into the dispensing opening. The sealing section may be part of a plug seal.

[0023]

[0023] In one embodiment, the sealing section is designed to contact the inner surface of the spout section. Thereby, the passage between the sealing section and the inner surface of the spout section can be effectively sealed. Preferably, the sealing section is pressed against the inner surface of the spout section.

[0024]

[0024] In one embodiment, the closure body comprises a sleeve configured such that when the closure body is screwed onto the neck portion, the wall of the spout section is sandwiched between the sealing section and the sleeve. Thereby, particularly good sealing of the dispensing opening is achieved.

[0025]

[0025] In one embodiment, after the closure body is unscrewed from the thread to open the bottle, the closure body can include a ring fastened to the locking wall portion in order to fix the closure body to the neck portion. Thereby, it is ensured that the closure body is not lost from the bottle even after the closure body is unscrewed. The ring is not limited to a specific shape. For example, the ring can have a circular, elliptical, polygonal, or rectangular shape.

[0026]

[0026] In one embodiment, the closure body includes a spout and a lid for selectively opening or closing the spout, and the lid preferably includes a hanger portion preferably including one or more through holes.

[0027]

[0027] In one embodiment, the bottle has different zones with different wall thicknesses respectively. Thereby, various different rigidities of the bottle can be achieved for convenient use of the bottle. For example, a lower rigidity may be advantageous for squeezing the bottle, while a higher rigidity may be advantageous for guiding the product discharged by squeezing the bottle.

[0028]

[0028] In one embodiment, the bottle includes a first zone having a first wall thickness and a second zone having a second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness, the first zone includes at least a part of the wall, and the second zone includes at least a part of the neck portion.

[0029]

[0029] In one embodiment, the wall thicknesses (of the different zones respectively) are in the range of 10 μm to 150 μm, preferably 30 μm to 120 μm, more preferably 50 μm to 100 μm.

[0030]

[0030] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle is recyclable. This means that the material of the bottle can be put into a recycling stream (such as a bottle recycling stream) and used for purposes such as manufacturing another article such as the bottle of the present invention, that is, in order to obtain a recycle rate, the material undergoes a process (specifically, chemical and / or mechanical recycling process steps). The high recyclability of the material of the bottle can be achieved in various different ways: the material may be composed of only one material (that is, the bottle is provided by a single material), or may be composed of only two materials; the material may include a material such as a polyolefin (PE, PP, etc.) having a high mass fraction such as at least 70% by weight, preferably at least 75 or 80% by weight, and / or the material may include (another) material such as EVOH and / or PVOH having a relatively low mass fraction such as 10% or 5% by weight or less. Preferably, the closure, if present, is composed of the same material as the bottle so that the bottle and the closure can be put into the same recycling stream.

[0031]

[0031] In one embodiment, the bottle is designed to be completely washable by consumers or the like. This specifically means that the neck portion provides easy access to the inside of the bottle in order to remove residues from the inside of the bottle. Thereby, the recyclability of the bottle is improved.

[0032]

[0032] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle includes plastic materials such as polyethylene, preferably low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), and / or high-density polyethylene (HDPE); polypropylene (PP); and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0033]

[0033] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle includes biobased plastic materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) and / or polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

[0034]

[0034] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle includes a recycled plastic material. The recycled plastic material may be recycled PET (rPET), recycled PE (rpE, rLDPE, rMDPE, rHDPE, etc.), and / or recycled polypropylene (rPP).

[0035]

[0035] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle includes a barrier material such as EVOH for providing an oxygen barrier and / or a light barrier.

[0036]

[0036] In one embodiment, the barrier material is in an amount of 5% by weight or less of the total bottle weight. The total bottle weight does not include the product contained in the bottle.

[0037]

[0037] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle has a multilayer structure, and the multilayer of the multilayer structure is preferably a PE / EVOH / PE multilayer. The multilayer of the multilayer structure may be an HDPE / EVOH / HDPE multilayer.

[0038]

[0038] In one embodiment, the bottle does not contain a metal or a metal layer.

[0039]

[0039] In one embodiment, the material of the bottle includes only one type of material. For example, excluding an optional ink layer on the outside of the bottle, the material of the bottle is composed of only one of a plastic material, a bio-based plastic material, and a recycled plastic material. Thus, the wall of the bottle may have a single-layer structure made of one of these materials. Specifically, the material may be composed of a single plastic material such as LDPE or EVOH.

[0040]

[0040] In one embodiment, the bottle can be obtained by extrusion blow molding (EBM) and / or stretch blow molding (SBM) and / or blow-fill-seal (BFS).

[0041]

[0041] In one embodiment, the volume of the bottle is 5 ml to 1000 ml, preferably 20 ml to 1000 ml. The volume of the bottle may be 5 ml to 500 ml, preferably 20 ml to 400 ml, more preferably 20 ml to 300 ml, and most preferably 20 ml to 200 ml. The volume of the bottle may also be 500 ml to 1000 ml, preferably 600 ml to 1000 ml, more preferably 700 ml to 1000 ml, and most preferably 800 ml to 1000 ml.

[0042]

[0042] In one embodiment, when a crushing gripping force of 2.5 N to 10 N, preferably 4 N to 8 N is applied to the bottle, it can be crushed by at least 30%, preferably at least 60%, even more preferably 90% of its volume.

[0043]

[0043] In one embodiment, the bottle has a shape and volume that fit in a human hand.

[0044]

[0044] In one embodiment, the bottle has a self - standing shape.

[0045]

[0045] In one embodiment, the bottle includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the dispensing opening and / or the neck portion are disposed closer to the first side wall than to the second side wall. By offsetting the dispensing opening and / or the neck portion in this way with respect to the central axis of the bottle, two identical bottles can be efficiently arranged without the neck portions interfering with each other.

[0046]

[0046] In one embodiment, the wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section extending laterally with respect to the first wall section, whereby the outer surfaces of the wall sections enclose an angle of less than 180°.

[0047]

[0047] In one embodiment, the bottle further comprises a base having a shape that can fit with a top portion provided at the top of the bottle. Thereby, the bottles can be stacked on top of each other without requiring much space and additional attachment elements.

[0048]

[0048] In one embodiment, the neck portion is connected to the wall so that the neck portion can be moved (e.g., in the vertical direction) between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the dispensing opening is further away from the top edge than in the first position. Thus, the second position is a position for conveniently consuming the product contained in the bottle, while the first position is a position for retracting the neck portion and thus reducing the space for closing the bottle.

[0049]

[0049] The bottle can have an overflow volume in the range of 50 ml to 300 ml, preferably 90 ml to 210 ml, more preferably 110 ml to 190 ml.

[0050]

[0050] The bottle can have a tare weight in the range of 6 g to 14 g, preferably 7 g to 13 g, more preferably 7.5 g to 12.5 g.

[0051]

[0051] In one embodiment, the bottle can have an overflow volume in the range of 100 ml to 250 ml, more preferably 150 ml to 200 ml, most preferably 175 ml to 185 ml, for example 180 ml, and a tare weight in the range of 10 g to 14 g, preferably 11 g to 13 g, more preferably 12 g.

[0052]

[0052] In one embodiment, the bottle may have an overflow volume in the range of 50 ml to 250 ml, preferably 60 ml to 200 ml, more preferably 70 ml to 150 ml, most preferably 80 ml to 120 ml, specifically 110 ml to 115 ml (for example, 113 ml to 114.5 ml, or 113.8 ml ± 5.0 ml), and a tare weight in the range of 5 g to 10 g, preferably 6 g to 9 g, more preferably 7 g to 8 g, for example 7.5 g. In one embodiment, the bottle may have a tare weight of 7.5 g to 8.5 g.

[0053]

[0053] The overflow volume is measured using H2O at a temperature of 20°C. The tare weight of the bottle is understood as the weight of the bottle without contents.

[0054]

[0054] The bottle may have a design that allows it to be easily grasped by a human hand, such as that of an infant or toddler. The bottle may have a substantially flat form. For example, the bottle may have a width and a depth, and the width may be at least a multiple of the depth (for example, width ≧ x * depth, x = 1.5, 2, 2.5, etc.). Specifically, the width may be at least twice the depth.

[0055]

[0055] The present invention according to the second aspect provides a packaged viscous product (such as food, beverage, and / or pharmaceutical product) that is aseptically packaged, hot-filled, or retort-treated in the bottle. Aseptic packaging may include aseptic filling by using vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), peracetic acid (PAA), electron beam technology, or a combination thereof.

[0056]

[0056] In one embodiment, the weight of the bottle is 3% to 8%, preferably 4% to 6%, of the weight of the packaged viscous food, beverage, or pharmaceutical product excluding the bottle.

[0057]

[0057] The present invention according to the second aspect provides a preform for producing the blow-molded bottle described above.

[0058] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of filling a squeezable bottle as described herein, preferably by hot filling or by aseptic filling. The method includes the steps of providing a squeezable bottle as defined herein, providing a liquid composition, a semi-liquid composition, or a semi-solid composition, and filling the liquid composition, semi-liquid composition, or semi-solid composition.

[0059]

[0059] In one embodiment, the filling step includes hot filling. In hot filling, the liquid composition, semi-liquid composition, or semi-solid composition that can be filled into the bottle can have a temperature in the range of 80°C to 100°C, preferably 82°C to 91°C (180°F to 195°F).

[0060]

[0060] The liquid composition, semi-liquid composition, or semi-solid composition may be heated to reach the above temperature and reach this temperature for a predetermined period, for example, by flowing through a conduit and / or by a heater device. Thereby, it is ensured that the product is properly sterilized so that harmful pathogens (such as bacteria and microorganisms) are removed. Immediately after this heating and sterilization process, the liquid composition, semi-liquid composition, or semi-solid composition (product) can be filled into the bottle so that the product remains at the sterilization temperature when it is filled into the bottle.

[0061]

[0061] In one embodiment, the filling step includes aseptic filling.

[0062]

[0062] In one embodiment, the method may further include the steps of providing a closure (such as the closures described herein) and closing the bottle using the closure. The step of closing the bottle using the closure may be after the step of filling including hot filling. After the closing step, the bottle may be moved (such as rotating from vertical to horizontal or rotating up and down), and the semi-liquid composition or semi-solid composition that has become hot due to hot filling comes into contact with the closure (such as the surface of the closure exposed inside the bottle), and the closure is sterilized. Thereby, the closure can be attached (such as screwed) to the bottle in a non-sterile state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0063]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0064]

[0072] For a complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is made to the following detailed description.

[0065]

[0073] It should be understood that the various aspects and embodiments of the detailed description as disclosed herein are illustrative of specific ways of making and using the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention when considered in conjunction with the claims and the detailed description. It should also be understood that features derived from the various different aspects and embodiments of the present invention may be combined with features derived from the various different aspects and embodiments of the present invention.

[0066]

[0074] As used herein, the term "bottle" 10, as shown with reference to FIGS. 1-6, means a bottle in the conventional sense, i.e., a container having a neck portion 20 that is narrower than the body 30 of the bottle 10. The bottle 10 also has a dispensing opening (or mouth) 40 defined by the neck portion 20. The neck portion 20 further comprises a thread 21 and a spout section 41. The spout section 41 extends from the top of the dispensing opening 40 to the thread 21 and has no thread. The body 30 and / or one or more walls 50 defining at least a portion of the body 30 have no thread, i.e., there are no helical grooves and helical ridges. The body 30 and / or the wall 50 can be substantially linear. Nevertheless, the body 30 and / or the wall 50 can be formed in various shapes depending on the purpose of use of the bottle 10.

[0067]

[0075] The bottle may be suitable for direct consumption (such as "ON the GO" for consuming products such as nutritional products). Thus, the spout section 41 may be suitable for directly discharging or conveying the product inside the bottle 10 into the consumer's mouth. Additionally or alternatively, the bottle may be suitable for enteral nutrition such as direct bolus administration. Thus, the spout section 41 may be connectable to a feeding tube. The feeding tube is adapted to be guided into the stomach through a body opening such as the mouth or nose. The connection between the feeding tube and the spout section 41 may be provided by any suitable connection means such as a thread and / or a bayonet fitting.

[0068]

[0076] The term "wall" 50 with respect to the bottle 10 means the wall 50 of the bottle 10 and includes the side / surface of the bottle 10 such as the side / surface of the main body 30 and / or the side / surface of the base 60. The "neck portion" 20 extends from the wall 50, for example, upward (i.e., opposite to the base 60). Preferably, the wall 50 is a side wall. The wall 50 can be connected to the neck portion in many different ways. As shown, the wall 50 may be connected to the neck portion 20 via one or more steps 51, 52 such as a first step 51 on a first lateral side and a second step 52 on a second lateral side.

[0069]

[0077] The term "sterilizable material" means at least one material that can be processed under aseptic conditions without causing any deterioration of the material and / or any deterioration of the properties of the material. The term "material suitable for hot filling" means at least one material that can be processed in a hot filling process without causing any deterioration of the material and / or any deterioration of the properties of the material. The term "material suitable for retort processing" means at least one material that can be processed in a retort processing process without causing any deterioration of the material and / or any deterioration of the properties of the material.

[0070]

[0078] The term "crush grip" refers to the fact that the bottle (shape and material) is designed such that when any external force having a direction typically exerted by a human hand is applied to the bottle wall, squeezing and crushing of the bottle will result.

[0071]

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 1 - 6, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a semi - rigid bottle 10. The bottle 10 is made of a material suitable for aseptic processing (i.e., an aseptic - processable material), hot filling, and / or retort processing. The bottle 10 has shape stability. The bottle 10 is squeezable and crushable when a radially inward crush grip is applied, and the bottle does not return to its initial shape after being crushed.

[0072]

[0080] The wall 50 of the bottle 10 includes at least one oxygen barrier and a light barrier, which are preferably provided by one or more layers such as an oxygen barrier layer and a light barrier layer.

[0073]

[0081] The bottle 10 includes all the advantageous features of a pouch, but overcomes the disadvantages of a pouch, specifically its low recyclability. Thus, the bottle 10 is particularly very advantageous with respect to recyclability. For example, the bottle 10 can be designed not only to be recyclable - compatible but also to be fully recyclable.

[0074]

[0082] According to the present invention, the neck portion 20 has the following predetermined dimensions.

[0075]

[0083] The dispensing opening 40 has an inner diameter in the range of 6 mm to 28 mm, preferably 7 mm to 15 mm, more preferably 8 mm to 10 mm. Preferably, the dispensing opening 40 has an inner diameter of 10 mm. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the dispensing opening 40 is in the range of 9 mm to 11 mm, more preferably 9.5 mm to 10.5 mm. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the dispensing opening 40 is in the range of 8 mm to 9 mm, preferably 8.1 mm to 8.8 mm, more preferably 8.3 mm to 8.6 mm. In one embodiment, the inner diameter may be in the range of 25 mm to 28 mm, preferably 26 mm to 27.5 mm. The inner diameter is measured between the inner surfaces of the spout section 41, and these inner surfaces define a passage that includes the dispensing opening 40 for dispensing / discharging the product from the passage by squeezing the bottle 10.

[0076]

[0084] The spout section 41 extends along a vertical distance in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 7 mm to 9 mm, more preferably 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm. The spout section 41 may extend along a vertical distance in the range of 7 mm to 8 mm, more preferably 7 mm to 7.5 mm. Specifically, the neck portion 20 may have an overall height starting from the wall 50 or one or more steps 51, 52, and the spout section 41 extends along a vertical distance that is at least 25%, preferably at least 35%, and / or less than 50%, preferably less than 40% of the overall height of the neck portion 20.

[0077]

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a radially inward crushing gripping force can be applied to the bottle 10 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Y. The axis Y is preferably an axis extending from the center of the dispensing opening 40 to the center of the base 60 of the bottle 10.

[0078]

[0086] However, it is not essential that a radially inwardly crushing gripping force be applicable to the bottle 10 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis Y. The radially inwardly crushing gripping force can be applied in all directions, including the direction of the axis Y and any combination and angular variation of the direction of the axis Y. The bottle 10 is capable of being aseptically processed and is made of a material suitable for hot filling and / or retorting. Specifically, the material defines the wall 50 of the bottle 10.

[0079]

[0087] For example, the material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 can be a single material or a mixture thereof. The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 can be in the form of a layer of a material or a mixture thereof.

[0080]

[0088] Plastics that are capable of being aseptically processed and / or are suitable for hot filling and / or retorting can be, for example, the following single materials, mixtures thereof, multilayers thereof, or combinations thereof:

[0089] Thermoplastic polyolefins such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP).

[0090] Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

[0091] Polyolefin-based plastics.

[0092] Thermoplastic polyolefin (selected from the above) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH).

[0093] Bio-based plastic materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) and / or polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

[0094] Recycled plastic materials such as recycled materials obtained from one or more of the aforementioned plastics or bio-based plastic materials.

[0081]

[0095] The wall 50 of the bottle 10 preferably includes at least one oxygen barrier layer and a light barrier layer, such as, for example, the above-described EVOH layer.

[0082]

[0096] The wall 50 is a multilayer made of a plurality of materials (for example, plastics), and is preferably configured as any one of the above-described thermoplastic polyolefin and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Most preferably, the wall 50 is a multilayer made of a plurality of plastics and is configured as medium density polyethylene (MDPE) / ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) / medium density polyethylene (MDPE).

[0083]

[0097] When the bottle 10 is compressed and crushed by applying a radially inward crushing gripping force, the bottle 10 will no longer return to its original shape. In this regard, when a crushing gripping force of 2.5 N to 10 N, preferably 4 N to 8 N, is applied perpendicular to the tangent of the wall 50 of the bottle 10, the bottle 10 can be crushed by at least 30% of its initial volume, preferably at least 60% of its volume, and even more preferably 90% or 95% of its volume.

[0084]

[0098] The bottle 10 according to the present invention is intended to be squeezed by the hands of humans, including adults and children. Therefore, the bottle 10 preferably has a shape and volume that fit the human hand. The shape and volume of the bottle 10 are designed according to the user.

[0085]

[0099] The bottle 10 preferably has a volume of 5 ml to 250 ml. The bottle 10 can have volumes of 10 ml, 25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml, 100 ml, 125 ml, 150 ml, 175 ml, 200 ml, 225 ml.

[0086]

[0100] Dimensions such as the radius and height of the main body 30 determine the volume of the bottle 10. Therefore, by making the radius of the bottle 10 relatively small and the height of the main body 30 relatively low, the relatively small bottle 10 is useful for handling with small hands. Conversely, by making the radius of the bottle 10 relatively large and the height of the main body 30 relatively high, the relatively large bottle 10 is useful for handling with large hands.

[0087]

[0101] When the bottle 10 has a relatively small volume, that is, a volume of 5 ml to 50 ml, the bottle 10 is useful for providing a "shot" of its contents. This is useful, for example, when the bottle 10 contains a nutritional food or a pharmaceutical that needs to be administered as a "shot". When the bottle 10 has a relatively large volume, that is, a volume of 50 ml to 250 ml, the bottle 10 is useful for providing on-the-go consumption of its contents. This is useful, for example, when the bottle 10 contains a drink. Of course, it should be understood that the volume of the bottle is not limited to these situations.

[0088]

[0102] There may be cases where it is desirable to manipulate the properties of the material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10. The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 can be made transparent. This ensures that the contents of the bottle 10 can be visualized so that the user can see how much of the contents of the bottle 10 remains. This also has the further advantage that, for example, it is easy to visually inspect the filling of the bottle 10 during aseptic filling, hot filling, or retort processing for quality control.

[0089]

[0103] The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 preferably contains ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) provides an oxygen barrier to the bottle 10. Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) also maintains the flavor of any contents within the bottle 10.

[0090]

[0104] The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 preferably includes at least one of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), and high density polyethylene (HDPE). These polyethylenes provide a particularly excellent water / moisture barrier to the bottle 10, and thus prevent water / moisture from entering and leaving the bottle 10. Accordingly, these polyethylenes maintain the integrity (e.g., freshness) of the contents of the bottle 10 and prevent deterioration of the bottle 10 that may be caused by water / moisture.

[0091]

[0105] The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 may be selected to absorb UV light and / or may be colored. This ensures that the contents of the bottle 10 can be protected from light that may deteriorate the contents of the bottle 10.

[0092]

[0106] The material defining the wall 50 of the bottle 10 may be selected to withstand high temperatures such as 85°C or higher and / or 120°C or lower, preferably in the range of 85°C to 90°C and / or in the range of 110°C to 120°C. Preferably, the wall 50 is selected such that the bottle 10 is suitable for hot filling (85 - 90°C) or retort processing (110 - 120°C).

[0093]

[0107] The bottle 10 according to the present invention is manufactured by blow molding such as extrusion blow molding, stretch blow molding, or blow - fill - seal (BFS). Blow molding has the advantage that the material and the bottle 10 can be manufactured with a predetermined thickness, such as having a uniform thickness in the region of the wall 50. By configuring the blow molding device (specifically, by adjusting the mold or the parison and / or the die gap), different thicknesses can be provided in dedicated zones of the bottle 10, for example, a first zone having a first uniform wall thickness (the first zone includes, for example, at least a part of the wall 50) and a second zone having a second uniform wall thickness (the second zone includes, for example, at least a part of the neck portion 20). During extrusion blow molding, the pins and the bushing tools of the extrusion blow molding device can be adjusted to adjust the thickness of the bottle 10. In particular, extrusion blow molding (EBM) makes it possible to manufacture the bottle 10 from wall to wall, thus bringing the advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[0094]

[0108] Blow molding has the advantage that the bottle 10 can be easily manufactured into the desired shape. Blow molding has the advantage that the dispensing opening 40, the neck portion 20, and the body 30 are integrally formed in the bottle 10 individually. Thus, blow molding avoids the need to weld the components of the bottle 10 separately, which could introduce weaknesses into the structure of the bottle 10. Since the dispensing opening 40, the neck portion 20, and the body 30 are integrally formed in the bottle 10 individually, the entire bottle 10 can be squeezed, and it is possible to easily empty the contents of the bottle 10 from the entire bottle 10 (including the neck portion 20, the mouth portion 40, and the body 30) by crushing the bottle 10. Blow molding the bottle 10 also has the advantage that all parts of the bottle 10, specifically, the wall 50 and the neck portion 20, can be easily formed from the same material.

[0095]

[0109] The bottle 10 according to the present invention is particularly suitable for filling in a sterile state and for packaging and dispensing fluid substances.

[0096]

[0110] When the bottle 10 according to the present invention is filled, for example, in a sterile state, the bottle 10 is sealed. Preferably, the bottle 10 is sealed on top of the dispensing opening 40 without using a metal foil such as an aluminum foil. Specifically, no metal foil or metal layer is welded to the dispensing opening 40 to seal the bottle 10. Instead, the bottle 10 is sealed at the dispensing opening 40 (e.g., by welding) using a foil that does not contain any metal (such as a foil that can be recycled in the same recycling stream as the bottle 10 and / or a biodegradable or compostable foil) and / or without using any foil.

[0097]

[0111] The bottle 10 can be sealed by a closure such as the closure 70 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The closure 70 is screwed onto the neck portion 20 and thus engages the thread 21. The closure 70 may comprise a sealing section 71 configured to seal the dispensing opening 40. For example, the sealing section 71 is designed to contact and seal against the inner surface 41a of the spout section 41. Preferably, the closure 70 comprises a sleeve 72 which may be at least partially cylindrical in shape. When the closure 70 is screwed onto the neck portion 20, the wall of the spout section 41 is sandwiched between the sealing section 71 and the sleeve 72. Optionally, the sleeve 72 may be configured to contact the outer surface 41b of the wall of the spout section 41. Thereby, the sealing effect provided by the closure 70 can be further improved. The sleeve 72 may have a thread on its inner surface (i.e., the side facing the spout section 41) for screwing the closure 70 onto the neck portion 20. The sealing section 71 may extend into the dispensing opening 40 and may have a bulged shape, such as a shape bulged in the direction through the dispensing opening 40 and / or in the direction out of the bottle 10. The closure 70 may comprise an outer sleeve 73 surrounding at least a part of the (inner) sleeve 72.

[0098]

[0112] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the inner diameter of the dispensing opening 40 defined by the upper or distal end of the inner surface 41a is the same as the inner diameter of the spout section 41 at a position remote from the dispensing opening 40. Thereby, the sealing section 71 can easily contact the inner surface 41a at the dispensing opening 40 and at positions remote from the dispensing opening 40. For example, the outer surface of the sealing section 71 may simply be formed as a cylinder having a diameter equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the inner surface 41a in order to establish sealing contact with various different positions of the inner surface 41a. Preferably, the spout section 41 has a constant inner diameter at its dispensing opening and along its entire length in contact with the sealing section 71. The neck portion 20 shown has a standardized neck finish, which specifically means that the spout section 41 does not have a radially inwardly projecting lip (see FIG. 12) that defines the dispensing opening 40.

[0099]

[0113] The closure body 70 may comprise a spout and a lid for selectively opening or closing the spout. Thus, the spout has a dispensing opening that can be in fluid communication with the dispensing opening 40. In the closed state of the closure body 70, the lid can seal and close the spout. The lid preferably has an anti-tampering element such as a frangible connection (specifically, one or more frangible bridges connecting the lid to the ring) that breaks when the lid is moved to the open state (for the first time), and is connected to the spout via a hinge. The closure body, such as the lid, may comprise a hanger portion, whereby the lid, and thus the bottle 10, can be hung, for example, on a hook. The hanger portion may comprise one or more through holes.

[0100]

[0114] In one embodiment, the bottle 10 can be sealed, for example in combination with the closure body 70, by a material (such as aluminum) welded to the opening of the dispensing opening 40. The sealing of the bottle 10 often depends on the nature of the contents filled in the bottle 10. Optionally, the bottle is sealed with a metal foil such as aluminum.

[0101]

[0115] The neck portion 20 preferably comprises a locking wall portion 23. The locking wall portion 22 can be configured to engage with the closure body 70. For example, the locking wall portion 22 may be configured as an anti-tampering structure. This means that when the locking wall portion 22 and the closure body 70 are engaged with each other, it may be suitable for indicating tampering. The closure body 70 may include an anti-tampering element such as a ring. This anti-tampering element is, on the one hand, connected via a breakable connection to another part of the closure body 70 such as the sleeve 72 and / or the sleeve 73. On the other hand, the anti-tampering element is engaged with the locking wall portion 22. Thus, when the closure body 70 is unscrewed to open the bottle 10, the breakable connection is broken, and the anti-tampering element broken off from the said another part of the closure body 70 remains engaged with the locking wall portion 22, thereby indicating whether tampering has occurred or whether the bottle 10 has been opened or unsealed for the first time.

[0102]

[0116] The locking wall portion 22 may be designed to fix the closure body 70 to the neck portion 20 via a ring (not shown) integrally formed with the closure body 70. Thereby, even after the closure body 70 is unscrewed from the thread 21 to open the bottle 10, the closure body 70 remains connected to the bottle 10, i.e., connected by its attachment to the locking wall portion 22 (e.g., via the said ring). Thus, the closure body 70 is an example of an application of a tethered closure body. The ring can be integrally formed with the closure body 70 (with one or more of the sleeves 72, 73, etc.). The ring can be integrally formed with the closure body 70 via a hinge. Preferably, the ring is an anti-tampering element of the closure body 70.

[0103]

[0117] The locking wall portion 22 has an upper surface 23 and a lower surface 24. The thread 21 preferably extends on the side of the upper surface 23, that is, between the pouring spout section 41 and the upper surface 23 of the locking wall portion 22. The lower surface 24 preferably faces away from the top of the dispensing opening 40, such as towards the base 60. The locking wall portion 22 may be provided with a plurality of teeth (see FIG. 11) that can engage with a corresponding structure or complementary structure (such as a recess) provided on the closure body 70, such as an anti-tampering prevention element. The teeth are preferably evenly distributed around the central axis passing through the locking wall portion 22 and / or the dispensing opening 40.

[0104]

[0118] The configuration and dimensions of the locking wall portion 22 are preferably as follows.

[0105]

[0119] The configuration of the locking wall portion 22 is such that the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening 40 to the upper surface 23 of the locking wall portion 22 is in the range of 8 mm to 15 mm, preferably 10 mm to 14 mm, more preferably 11 mm to 13 mm.

[0106]

[0120] The outer diameter (i.e., the diameter of the smallest circle surrounding the locking wall portion 22) is in the range of 15 mm to 21 mm, preferably 17 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 18 mm to 19 mm.

[0107]

[0121] The thickness (measured between the surfaces 23, 24) is in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, more preferably 2 mm to 3 mm.

[0108]

[0122] The neck portion 20 may include a section (a "connection section") 25 that extends from the lower surface 24 of the locking wall portion 22 to the wall 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the connection section 25 may be connected to or integrated with one or more steps 51, 52. In other words, the transition from the wall 50 to the connection section 25 may be at least partially via one or more steps 51, 52. Preferably, the width of the section 25 is greater than the outer diameter of the spout section 41 and / or is in the range of 10 mm to 22 mm, preferably 15 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm to 18 mm. The section 25 may have a polygonal (such as rectangular) cross-section. Such a cross-section may be advantageous for the easy handling of the bottle 10, for example, in the packaging process for the bottle 10 and / or in the process of filling the bottle 10 with a product.

[0109]

[0123] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the section 25 may preferably include a groove 26 that extends only on one side of the neck portion 20. For example, the groove 26 may extend parallel to only one of the sides of the polygonal cross-section of the section 25, for example, parallel to the long side or the short side of the above cross-section. Preferably, the groove 26 does not extend circumferentially around the axis defined by the neck portion 20. The section 25 may include a further groove (not shown), which extends parallel to the side of the cross-section where the groove 26 extends transversely rather than parallel to its side. Preferably, the further groove extends parallel to the short side of the cross-section of the section 25. One or more grooves may provide several advantages. One or more grooves may impart rigidity to the neck portion 20 such that the rigidity of the neck portion 20 with respect to the wall 50 is improved. One or more grooves may facilitate the handling of the bottle 10. For example, engagement between one or more grooves and a handling tool (used in the packaging process for the bottle 10 and / or in the process of filling the bottle 10 with a product, etc.) may result in the effect that the neck portion 20 moves in a predetermined orientation with respect to the handling tool.

[0110]

[0124] Preferably, the bottle 10 has different zones with different wall thicknesses. For example, the first zone has a first wall thickness and includes at least a part of the wall 50 (thus, the wall 50 includes the first wall thickness), while the second zone has a second wall thickness and includes at least a part of the neck portion 20 (thus, the neck portion 20 includes the second wall thickness), and the second wall thickness is greater than the first wall thickness. Thus, on the one hand, it provides sufficient rigidity to conveniently consume the product through the dispensing opening 40 provided by the less flexible neck portion, and on the other hand, it can be conveniently squeezed to drive the product contained in the bottle 10 towards and out of the dispensing opening 40, that is, it is possible to provide a bottle 10 that can be squeezed through the first zone having a more flexible part with at least a part of the wall 50.

[0111]

[0125] Such zones with different wall thicknesses can be easily provided by blow molding by appropriately configuring the blow molding device and / or appropriately designing the die gap and / or the mold. Additionally or alternatively, a preform including one or more wall thicknesses may be provided such that the wall thickness is achieved by processing the preform in the blow molding process. Thus, different wall thicknesses can be provided by appropriately designing only the preform, that is, without configuring the blow molding device.

[0112]

[0126] The wall thickness of the first zone or the wall 50 can be 10 μm to 150 μm, preferably 30 μm to 120 μm, more preferably 50 μm to 100 μm. The wall thickness of the second zone or one or more parts of the neck portion 20 can be 10 μm to 150 μm, preferably 30 μm to 120 μm, more preferably 50 μm to 100 μm.

[0113]

[0127] Bottle 10 is suitable for various products. Preferably, bottle 10 can contain a flowable substance. The flowable substance can include food and / or pharmaceuticals and can be in the form of a powder, liquid, gel, or paste-like material that does not flow under its own weight. If the flowable substance is in the form of a powder, the powder is typically intended to be reconstituted with a liquid prior to consumption. In such cases, a liquid such as water is added directly to bottle 10 by the consumer to form, for example, a consumable liquid, gel, or paste-like material. The flowable substance is usually a perishable substance and thus requires aseptic packaging, hot filling, and / or retort processing to maintain its usefulness. The product has an acidic pH (pH > 7) or a weakly acidic pH (7 <ph>It may have an arbitrary pH value such as 6).

[0114]

[0128] Examples of the flowable substance include foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Preferred types of flowable substances include milk-based products, yogurt, fruit and / or vegetable preparations, and cereal-based products. Such products are most preferably intended for children or the elderly. When the flowable substance is a food, it can be intended to be consumed as a snack or as a complete nutritional food.

[0115]

[0129] The bottle 10 of the present invention is surprisingly lightweight. When used for viscous foods, beverages, or pharmaceuticals, the weight of the bottle is 3% to 8%, preferably 4% to 6%, of the weight of the bottled viscous food, beverage, or pharmaceutical excluding the bottle 10.

[0116]

[0130] The bottle 10 according to the present invention is manufactured from materials such as plastics (as described above), and these materials can be sterilized and / or are suitable for hot filling and / or retort processing. For example, the bottle 10 can be used in any aseptic environment and can be aseptically filled. Therefore, the flowable substance can be filled into the bottle at ambient temperature and then refrigerated. This process is much lower in energy intensity than the retort sterilization process.

[0117]

[0131] The material such as plastic of the bottle 10 according to the present invention ensures that the bottle 10 can be easily recycled by the prior art.

[0118]

[0132] The shape of the bottle 10 of the present invention is conventional, and thus the bottle 10 of the present invention is easy to hold, fill, package, and store.

[0119]

[0133] Since the entire bottle 10 is made of a material with relatively thin walls and specific deformation constraints, the user can easily squeeze the bottle 10 by applying a relatively low pressure (i.e., by hand). As a result, the bottle 10 is crushed, and the contents of the bottle 10 can be easily emptied from the entire bottle 10 (including the neck 20, the dispensing opening 40, and the body 30). This is important, for example, when the bottle 10 is used by children and the elderly. Furthermore, since the entire bottle 10 can be squeezed in all directions, this ensures that the contents of the bottle 10 are emptied efficiently. Since the entire bottle 10 can be squeezed in all directions, the bottle 10 takes up little space when empty, which is beneficial for environmentally friendly waste disposal.

[0120]

[0134] Since the entire bottle 10 is made of a material with relatively thin walls and specific deformation constraints, the bottle 10 provides a relatively rigid structure that can maintain the shape of a conventional bottle. As a result, the bottle 10 according to the present invention is less likely to tip over, making it possible to easily fill it through its dispensing opening 40. The rigid structure of the bottle 10 makes it possible to transport the bottle while avoiding the possibility of the bottle breaking when it is full. Since the bottle 10 is in the form of a rigid structure, there is no need to add gas inside the bottle 10 to maintain its shape.

[0121]

[0135] The bottle 10 according to the present invention has the shape of a conventional bottle and is produced by blow molding such as extrusion blow molding, so there are no sharp edges as seen in a pouch.

[0122]

[0136] The bottle 10 according to the present invention can be squeezed without making noise during squeezing of the bottle 10.

[0123]

[0137] Since the entire bottle 10 is made of a material with relatively thin walls and specific deformation constraints, the bottle 10 has slightly elastic properties. The slightly elastic properties of the bottle 10 facilitate effective squeezing and crushing of the bottle 10.

[0124]

[0138] The bottle 10 may have an inclined or bent shape. The wall 50 of the bottle 10 may comprise a first wall section and a second wall section extending laterally (or inclined) with respect to the first wall section so as to project from the first wall section. Thereby, the outer surfaces of the wall sections enclose an angle of less than 180°. The second wall section may extend obliquely or perpendicularly with respect to the support when the bottle 10 stands with its base 60 placed on a support (such as a horizontal or flat surface constituted by a table or the like). Preferably, the inclined extension of the second wall section has the effect of inclining the dispensing opening 40 and / or the neck portion 20 and, thus, also the closure 70 if present.

[0125]

[0139] The bottle 10 may comprise a further wall arranged opposite to the (first) wall 50. The further wall may have a first wall section and, preferably, a second wall section extending laterally (or inclined) with respect to the first wall section. Thereby, the outer surfaces of the wall sections preferably enclose an angle greater than 180° and / or form a shape that is complementary to the shape formed by the wall sections of the (first) wall. Specifically, the first wall section may extend at least partially parallel to the first wall section of the (first) wall, and the second wall section may extend at least partially parallel to the second wall section of the (first) wall. The (further) wall is not limited to a shape having wall sections extending laterally with respect to each other. For example, the wall may also extend only along the upright (straight or perpendicular) direction.

[0126]

[0140] The dispensing opening 40 may be arranged at an eccentric position with respect to the central axis defined by the body 30. For example, the body 30 may include a first side wall and a second side wall, and the dispensing opening 40 is arranged closer to the first side wall than to the second side wall. The central axis defined by the body 30 is preferably equidistant from the side walls and / or is preferably the axis of symmetry of the body 30.

[0127]

[0141] The bottle can be designed to be arranged relative to the bottle 10 of the same shape without requiring much space. Specifically, two identical bottles 10 can be fitted to each other such that the first side wall of one bottle 10 is flush with the second side wall of the other bottle 10 (and / or the second side wall of one bottle 10 is flush with the first side wall of the other bottle 10), the (first) walls of the bottles 10 are in contact with each other, and the closures 70 are not in contact with each other and / or do not interfere with each other. In such a fitted state, for example, a packaging material may be wound around the body 30 of the bottle 10 to provide a plurality of bottles 10 as one unit.

[0128]

[0142] The bottle 10 may include a base having a shape that can be fitted to the top portion provided at the top of the bottle 10. Thereby, bottles of the same shape can be easily stacked on each other. Preferably, the base and the top portion can be connected to each other to form a shape fit and / or a friction fit. The top portion may be a recess in which the base 60 can be disposed. The base may include a recess, for example, by bulging or indenting toward the inside of the bottle 10, and the recess can accommodate or store the closure 70 when the base is connected to the top portion.

[0129]

[0143] The neck portion 20 may be connected to the body 30 or the wall 50 (e.g., via the top portion) so that the neck portion 20 can be displaced (or moved) between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the dispensing opening 40 is further away from the top edge than in the first position. The first position may be a retracted position, in which the closure body 70 is preferably at least partially disposed within a recess provided by the top portion. The second position is preferably an extended position particularly suitable for consuming the product contained within the bottle. In the second position, the closure body 70 is preferably disposed completely outside the recess provided by the top portion. When the base 60 (of the first bottle) is connected to the top portion (of the second bottle), the neck portion 20 (of the second bottle) is preferably in the first position. The mobility of the neck portion 20 between the first position and the second position may be provided by integrally connecting the neck portion 20 to the wall 50 via a connecting portion (e.g., constituted by the top portion), the connecting portion being more flexible than the wall 50 and / or the neck portion 20. Thus, by bending the connecting portion, the neck portion 20 can be moved relative to the wall 50 and thus between the two positions. The neck portion 20 may be movable so as to move along a straight and / or vertical axis while moving between the first position and the second position.

[0130]

[0144] Thus, while the invention and its advantages have been described, it should be understood that the various aspects and embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein are merely illustrative of the specific methods of making and using the invention.

[0131]

[0145] The various aspects and embodiments of the invention do not limit the scope of the invention when the appended claims and the foregoing detailed description are taken into account.

[0132]

[0146] The content for which protection by patent is desired is set forth in the following claims.< / ph>

Claims

1. A semi-rigid bottle (10) for packaging viscous foods, wherein the semi-rigid bottle (10) is Made from materials suitable for aseptic processing, retort processing, and / or hot filling, It has shape stability, It is compressible and crushable by a crushing gripping force directed radially inward, and after crushing, the bottle (10) does not return to its initial shape. Blow molded, The aforementioned bottle (10) A wall (50) having at least one oxygen barrier and a light barrier, The system comprises a neck portion (20) extending from the wall (50), and the neck portion (20) is The distribution opening (40) at the top of the neck portion (20), Screw thread (21), The distribution opening (40) extends from the top to the thread (21) and comprises a spout section (41) without threads, The distribution opening (40) has an inner diameter in the range of 6 mm to 28 mm, preferably 7 mm to 15 mm, more preferably 8 mm to 10 mm. The bottle (10) has a spout section (41) that extends along a vertical distance in the range of 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 7 mm to 9 mm, and more preferably 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

2. The neck portion (20) includes a locking wall portion (22) having an upper surface (23), The bottle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the screw thread (21) extends between the spout section (41) and the upper surface (23) of the locking wall portion (22).

3. The bottle (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking wall portion (22) is provided with a plurality of teeth.

4. The bottle (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking wall portion (22) is designed to fix the closing body (70) to the neck portion (20) via a ring or the like integrally formed with the closing body (70) even after the closing body (70) has been unscrewed from the screw thread (21) in order to open the bottle (10).

5. The bottle (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking wall portion (22) is configured as an anti-tampering component.

6. The bottle (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a closure (70) that is screwed onto the neck portion (20), wherein optionally, when the closure (70) is screwed onto the neck portion (20) and before the closure (70) is unscrewed to open the bottle (10) for the first time, the distribution opening (40) is not sealed by the metal foil on the top of the distribution opening (40).

7. The closing body (70) comprises a sealing section (71) configured to seal the distribution opening (40), and optionally the sealing section (71) is designed to contact the inner surface (41a) of the spout section (41). The bottle (10) according to claim 6, wherein the sealing section (71) preferably contacts the inner surface (41a) at at least two different positions having the same inner diameter.

8. The bottle (10) according to claim 7, wherein the closing body (70) comprises a sleeve (72), and the sleeve (72) is configured such that when the closing body (70) is screwed onto the neck portion (20), the wall of the spout section (41) is sandwiched between the sealing section (71) and the sleeve (72).

9. The neck portion (20) includes a locking wall portion (22) having an upper surface (23), The bottle (10) according to claim 6, wherein the closing body (70) is provided with a ring fastened to the locking wall portion (22) in order to fix the closing body (70) to the neck portion (20) even after the closing body (70) has been unscrewed from the threads (21) in order to open the bottle (10).

10. The closing body (70) comprises a spout (74) and a lid (75) for selectively opening or closing the spout (74), The bottle (10) according to claim 6, wherein the lid (75) preferably comprises a hanger portion having one or more through holes (77).

11. The bottle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bottle (10) does not contain metal or a metal layer.

12. The bottle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the material of the bottle (10) comprises only one type of material.

13. A packaged viscous product, which is aseptically packaged, hot-filled, or retorted in a bottle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A preform for producing a blow-molded bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A method for filling a collapsible bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, preferably by hot filling or aseptic filling, A step of preparing a collapsible bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A step of preparing a liquid composition, a semi-liquid composition, or a semi-solid composition, A method comprising the step of filling with the liquid composition, semi-liquid composition, or semi-solid composition.

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