Three-piece mold apparatus, system and method for manufacturing a connectable beverage bottle

Abstract

The forming system includes left and right upper mold parts and a lower mold part. As a result, the left and right upper mold parts can be arranged side by side, and the lower mold part can be arranged between the lower ends of the upper right mold part and the upper left mold part so as to form the entire forming cavity for blow-molding a connectable beverage bottle. Thus, after blow-molding the connectable beverage bottle, the lower mold part can be removed vertically downward, and the upper right mold part and the upper left mold part can be removed laterally. Also disclosed is a forming method including preparing blow pins, assembling mold parts, performing blow molding, removing the blow pins, disassembling the mold parts, and taking out the connectable beverage bottle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This international application claims the benefit of U.S. Non - Provisional Application No. 18 / 206,896, filed Jun. 7, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 389,117, filed Jul. 14, 2022, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of molds and molding systems for bottle manufacturing, and more specifically, to methods and systems for a three - piece mold apparatus and system for manufacturing connectable beverage bottles.

Background Art

[0003] The design of connectable beverage bottles is well - known and can reduce the logistics costs of transportation and storage in order to provide opportunities to improve storage density.

[0004] However, the design of such connectable beverage bottles has not been widely used because it has been found to be difficult or impossible to manufacture using well - known bottle molding methods.

[0005] Therefore, considering the above, it can be understood that there continues to be a need for new and improved devices, systems, and methods for manufacturing connectable beverage bottles.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The foregoing needs are substantially met by the present invention, and in aspects of the present invention, enhancements are provided to existing models of manufacturing connectable beverage bottles.

[0007] In one aspect, the molding system includes a) an upper - left mold part having an upper - left molding cavity, and b) an upper - right mold part having an upper - right molding cavity, and c) It can be provided with a lower mold part, The upper left mold part and the upper right mold part can be arranged side by side, whereby the upper left molding cavity and the upper right molding cavity form an integrated upper molding cavity for the upper part of the connectable beverage bottle. After blow molding the connectable beverage bottle in the integrated upper molding cavity formed by the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part, the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part can be removed laterally. The lower mold part can be arranged between the lower ends of the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part, whereby the integrated lower mold forming cavity is combined with the integrated upper mold forming cavity to form the entire molding cavity. After blow molding the connectable beverage bottle in the integrated upper molding cavity formed by the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part, the lower mold part can be removed vertically downward.

[0008] In one aspect, the molding method is a) Preparing a blow pin, wherein the heated preform mold is prepared around the blow pin arranged for mold assembly; b) Assembling the mold parts, where the mold parts i. The lower mold part moves vertically upward to a predetermined molding position of the lower mold part (relative to the blow pin with the prepared preform mold); ii. The upper left mold part and the upper right mold part move inward laterally so that the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, and the lower parts of the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are connected around the upper part of the blow pin; The blow pin is arranged relative to the blow pin so as to protrude into the entire molding cavity formed by the lower mold part, the upper left mold part, and the right / second upper mold part with the preform mold attached; c) Performing blow molding, wherein compressed air is injected into the blow pin, whereby the heated preform mold is blown into the shape of the entire molding cavity to form a connectable beverage bottle; d) Removing the blow pin, wherein the blow pin is withdrawn by moving vertically upward, and e) i. Moving the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part laterally outward, and ii. Separating the mold parts such that the lower mold part moves vertically downward, and f) Removing the connectable beverage bottle, and may include.

[0009] Accordingly, to better understand the detailed description herein and to better understand the contribution of the present invention to the art, rather broadly, specific embodiments of the present invention are outlined. Of course, there are additional embodiments of the present invention that are described below and form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] In this regard, prior to detailing at least one embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of the configurations and the arrangements of the components described in the following description or shown in the drawings. The present invention can be implemented and executed in various ways in addition to the described embodiments. Further, it should be understood that the expressions and terminology used herein, as well as in the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0011] Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that the underlying concepts of the present disclosure can be readily utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out several objectives of the present invention. Accordingly, it is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent configurations insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention mainly lies in novel and non-obvious combinations of elements and process steps. To avoid obscuring the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps are not shown in great detail, but in the drawings and the specification, other elements and steps relevant to the understanding of the present invention are described in more detail.

[0014] The following embodiments are not intended to define limitations regarding the structure or method of the present invention, but are only intended to provide exemplary configurations. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory, and illustrative rather than exhaustive.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1A below, the structure of one embodiment of the molding system 100 will be described such that like reference numerals throughout refer to like components, and this rule will be adopted for the remainder of this description. The molding system 100 enables the production of connectable bottles, which can save space in logistics such as during transportation and storage, and thus improve space efficiency and cost efficiency.

[0016] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A - 1G, FIGS. 2A - 2F, FIGS. 3A - 3F, FIGS. 4A - 4F, FIGS. 5A - 5D, FIGS. 6A - 6D, FIGS. 7A - 7B, FIGS. 8A - 8I, and FIG. 9B, a molding system 100 for molding a connectable beverage bottle 150 may include a) a molding device 110, which may include i. a left / first upper mold part 112 that may include an upper molding cavity 113, ii. a right / second upper mold part 114 that may include a right upper molding cavity 115, iii. a lower mold part 120 configured to mold the lower portion of the connectable beverage bottle 150, and the lower mold part 120 may include 1) A lower central mold part 122 can be provided with a through lower central aperture 123 configured to form (i.e., form its mold) the lower central portion of the connectable beverage bottle 150. 2) A lower bottom mold part 124 connected to the bottom of the lower central mold part 122, the lower bottom mold part 124 can be provided with a lower bottom recess 625 (as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C) configured to form (i.e., form its mold) the lower bottom of the connectable beverage bottle 150. Thus, the through lower central aperture 123 and the lower bottom recess 625 together form an integral lower forming cavity 125. A lower bottom mold part 124. 3) A lower mold support assembly 126 connected to the bottom of the lower bottom mold part 124, whereby the lower mold support assembly 126 provides support for the lower central mold part 122 and the lower bottom mold part 124 (which together comprise / form an integral lower forming cavity 125). The lower mold support assembly 126 can be configured to connect to a molding machine 1000 to enable vertical movement 922, 924 (i.e., vertical upward movement 922 and vertical downward movement 924) of the lower mold part 120, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 10A - 10C. A lower mold support assembly 126. The left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 are configured to be arranged side by side (i.e., adjacent to each other), whereby the upper left forming cavity 113 and the upper right forming cavity 115 form an integral upper forming cavity 1015 (shown in FIG. 10C) configured to form the upper portion of the connectable beverage bottle 150. Thus, after blow molding the connectable beverage bottle 150 within the integral upper forming cavity 1015 formed by the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114, the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 are removable in the lateral / horizontal directions 932, 934, and At least the upper part of the lower mold part 120 can be disposed between the lower ends of the left / first upper mold part 112 and the right / second upper mold part 114, whereby the integral lower molding cavity 125 forms the entire molding cavity 1025 configured to mold a connectable beverage bottle 150 that can be combined and connected with the integral upper molding cavity 1015. Thereby, after blow molding the connectable beverage bottle 150 within the upper molding cavity formed by the left / first upper mold part 112 and the right / second upper mold part 114, the lower mold part 120 is removable vertically downward 924.

[0017] Note that when the lower mold part 120 is vertically divided into two parts like a conventional mold, due to the connectable shape of the lower part of the connectable beverage bottle 150, the two parts of the lower mold part 120 cannot be removed in the lateral / horizontal direction, and it is readily apparent that, similar to the lock configuration shown in FIG. 8I, the two parts are held in place.

[0018] In related embodiments, the through lower central aperture 123 can be configured with a uniform horizontal cross-sectional shape.

[0019] In a further related embodiment, the lower central mold part 122 can be further configured to have a vertical mold lock protrusion 524 that protrudes from the vertical front surface of the through lower central aperture 123, and the vertical mold lock protrusion 524 is configured to mold a vertical bottle lock recess 824 in the lower central portion of the connectable beverage bottle.

[0020] In a further related embodiment, the lower central mold part 122 can be further configured to have a vertical mold lock recess 526 disposed along the vertical rear of the through lower central aperture 123, and the vertical mold lock recess 526 is configured to mold a vertical bottle lock protrusion 826 in the lower central portion of the connectable beverage bottle 150.

[0021] In related embodiments, to adjust the tolerance of the mold and ensure that the lower central mold part 122 can easily slide downward and be removed from the newly molded connectable beverage bottle 150, a thin layer 564, 566 of adhesive (or other types of curing compounds) can be applied to the surfaces of the vertical mold lock protrusion 524 and the vertical mold lock recess 526, respectively.

[0022] In related embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 9B, the upper left mold part 112 a) can further include a left receiving recess 133 disposed below the upper left molding cavity 113 and configured to receive the left side of the lower central mold part 122, and the upper right mold part 114 b) can further include a right receiving recess 135 disposed below the upper right molding cavity and configured to receive the right side of the lower central mold part 122. Thereby, when the upper left mold part 112 and the upper right mold part 114 are arranged side by side, the left receiving recess 133 and the right receiving recess 135 form an integrated receiving cavity 936 configured to receive the lower central mold part 122.

[0023] In further related embodiments, each of the left receiving recess 133 and the right receiving recess 135 can be configured as a semi-cylindrical shape such that the integrated receiving cavity 936 is cylindrical, and the outer vertical surface of the lower central mold part 122 is cylindrical.

[0024] In related embodiments, the upper left mold part 112 a) can further include an upper left through recess 143 disposed on the left inner side of the left top surface of the upper left mold part 112, as shown in FIGS. 1G and 2B, thereby penetrating from the left top surface of the upper left mold part 112 to the upper left molding cavity 113, and the upper right mold part 114 b) A right upper through depression 145, which is arranged on the right inner side of the upper right surface of the upper right mold part 114 as shown in FIG. 3B, and thereby, a right upper through depression 145 that penetrates from the upper right surface of the upper right mold part 114 to the upper right forming cavity 115 can be further provided. Thereby, when the upper left mold part 112 and the upper right mold part 114 are arranged side by side, the upper left through depression 143 and the upper right through depression 145 form an integral upper through aperture 147 that penetrates from the integral upper surface of the molding device to the integral upper forming cavity 1015.

[0025] In a further related embodiment, the molding device 110 a) A removable left half segment 163 that can include a left half opening 164, and b) A removable right half segment 165 that can include a right half opening 166, can be provided. As shown in FIG. 1H, the upper left mold part 112 i. A left upper surface depression 117, which is arranged on the left top surface of the upper left mold part 112 as shown in FIG. 1H, and thereby, the left upper surface depression 117 is configured to form a left protrusion along the upper left through aperture (along the upper opening to the upper left forming cavity 113), and thereby, the removable left half segment 163 is configured to be removably arranged in the left upper surface depression 117, and can further include a left upper surface depression 117. And The upper right mold part ii. A right upper surface depression 119, which is arranged on the upper right surface of the upper right mold part 114, and thereby, the right upper surface depression 119 is configured to form a right protrusion along the upper right through aperture, and thereby, the removable right half segment 165 is configured to be removably arranged in the right upper surface depression 119, and can further include a right upper surface depression 119. Thereby, when the upper left mold part 112 and the upper right mold part 114 are arranged side by side, the removable left half segment 163 is arranged in the left upper surface depression, and the removable right half segment 165 is arranged in the right upper surface depression, The left half opening 164 and the right half opening 166 form an integral segment opening 168 that is aligned with the integral upper through aperture, whereby the removable half carriers 163, 165 disposed in the upper left mold part 112 and the upper right mold part 114, respectively, can be disposed under the protruding flange 810 of the preformed threaded portion 962 (as shown in FIGS. 1B and 8A) to facilitate removal of the connectable beverage bottle 150 after blow molding of the connectable beverage bottle 150.

[0026] In yet another related embodiment, each of the removable left half segment 163 and the removable right half segment 164 can further include a left inner upper protrusion 167 and a right inner upper protrusion 169 configured to receive the left and right sides of the flange 810 of the preformed threaded portion 962, respectively.

[0027] In various related embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A, the mold parts of the molding apparatus 110 comprising the left / first upper mold part 112, the right / second upper mold part 114, and the lower mold part 120 can comprise various elongated attachment apertures 191, 192, 193 configured to be attachable to the molding machine 1000, whereby the control rod of the molding machine 1000 can engage the mold parts of the molding apparatus 110 by sliding into the elongated attachment apertures.

[0028] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a molding method 900 for molding a connectable beverage bottle 150 by using the molding apparatus 110 can include the following: a) Prepare a blow pin 940 (901), and a heated preform mold 960 is prepared around the blow pin 940 where the mold assembly is to be disposed, b) Assemble the mold parts of the molding apparatus 110 (902), and the mold parts are disposed around the blow pin 940 as follows, as shown in FIG. 9B, i. Move the lower mold part 120 vertically upward to a predetermined molding position of the lower mold part 120 (with respect to the blow pin 940 to which the prepared preform mold 960 is attached), ii. Move each of the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 inward in the lateral direction so that the upper parts of the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 are connected around the upper part of the blow pin 940 and the lower parts of the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 are connected around the upper part of the lower mold part 120, such that the left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 are arranged side by side, The blow pin 940 protrudes into the entire molding cavity formed by the lower mold part 120, the left / 1st upper mold part 112, and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 with the preform mold 960 attached thereto, The upper part of the preform mold 960 is configured as a preformed threaded part 962 of the connectable beverage bottle 150. The two removable half segments 163, 165 of each of the left upper mold part 112 and the right upper mold part 114 can be arranged under the preformed threaded part 962 to assist in the removal of the connectable beverage bottle 150, c) Perform blow molding (904), inject compressed air into the blow pin 940, thereby blowing the heated preform mold 960 into the shape of the entire molding cavity within the molding device 110, whereby the heated preform mold 960 forms the connectable beverage bottle 150, d) Remove the blow pin (906), and the blow pin is pulled out by vertical upward movement, e) i. The left / 1st upper mold part 112 and the right / 2nd upper mold part 114 each move laterally outward toward the left and right sides of the blow pin 940, and ii. Disassemble the mold parts (908) so as to move the lower mold part 120 vertically downward, and f) Extract the connectable beverage bottle 150 (910).

[0029] In related embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, the forming method 900 can be implemented using a forming machine 1000, whereby a plurality of forming processes 900 can typically be executed synchronously and in parallel. The forming machine 1000 shown in FIGS. 10A - 10C supports six parallel forming processes 900, whereby each process station continuously repeats the corresponding forming process 900, thereby generating a constant flow of newly blow - formed connectable beverage bottles 150.

[0030] In related embodiments, each of the left / first upper mold part 112, right / second upper mold part 114, and lower mold part 120 a) can be manufactured from a metal or metal alloy such as a stainless - steel alloy or a high - strength aluminum alloy, b) a ceramic material, c) other materials suitable for mold making, and d) combinations thereof.

[0031] In related embodiments, the preform mold 960 used in the forming system 100 a) can be manufactured from a plastic material including polyethylene terephthalate and acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene, b) a glass material, c) a rubber material which can be a synthetic or natural rubber material, d) other materials suitable for blow - molding, and e) combinations thereof.

[0032] In related embodiments, FIGS. 8A-8I illustrate an example of a connectable beverage bottle 150 manufactured by a forming system 100 in accordance with a forming method 900. The connectable beverage bottle 150 includes a plurality of substantial design changes for the purpose of enabling manufacturability and improving connectivity as compared to previous designs of previous connectable beverage bottles as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,472,117, issued November 12, 2019, U.S. Patent No. D941,152, issued January 18, 2022, and International PCT Application Publication No. WO2019241246A1, published December 19, 2019. All three of these are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Previous connectable beverage bottles could not be manufactured for certain functions of the corresponding previous designs and did not have reliable connectivity.

[0033] In further related embodiments, improvements to the connectable beverage bottle 150 as compared to previous connectable beverage bottles include the following: a) Since all the corners or hard edges at the bottom of the connectable beverage bottle 150 are completely rounded, the connectable beverage bottle 150 is much easier to blow mold during manufacturing, b) The connecting rear portion of the bottle, i.e., the vertical bottle lock protrusion 826, is substantially thin, and the opening of the opposite bottle, i.e., the vertical bottle lock recess 824 into which the vertical bottle lock protrusion 826 fits, is also substantially thin accordingly in accordance with the following detailed description, and c) The lock portion of the connectable beverage bottle 150 formed by the lower central mold part 122 is approximately only about 1 / 3 of the bottle height of the connectable beverage bottle 150. In the original design of previous connectable beverage bottles, the entire back was designed to lock onto the bottle, but it was found that the original design could not be manufactured with available manufacturing methods and systems.

[0034] In related embodiments, the connectable beverage bottle 150 can a) comprise a hollow body, and the hollow body can i. have a top, and ii. have a bottom, and iii. A substantially cylindrical side wall forming a central cavity, the side wall tapering inwardly adjacent to the top of the hollow body and ending in a tapered neck with an opening for the entry and exit of liquid or solid into the central cavity, a substantially cylindrical side wall, The side wall includes a pair of parallel grooves embedded within the circumference of the substantially cylindrical side wall, these grooves extending longitudinally from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck, the pair of grooves forming a longitudinally extending protrusion therebetween that extends from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the protrusion tapering radially to form a tapered rounded edge, The side wall further includes a longitudinally extending channel located directly opposite the longitudinally extending protrusion, the channel extending from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the depth of the channel tapering adjacent to the tapered neck to form a tapered rounded protrusion that is substantially parallel to and directly opposite the tapered rounded edge of the protrusion, and The protrusion and the channel are sized and configured such that the protrusion can be received within the channel of another similar connectable beverage bottle for connection and fixation to another similar connectable beverage bottle.

[0035] In a related embodiment, the connectable beverage bottle 150 can be further configured as follows: a) Due to the tapered edge of the protrusion and the tapered protrusion of the channel, the protrusion can be inserted into the channel of a similar connectable bottle at the bottom of the hollow body rather than at the top of the hollow body, and b) The protrusion and the channel are sized and configured such that when the protrusion is inserted into the channel of a similar connectable bottle, the tapered edge of the protrusion engages the tapered protrusion of the channel to prevent further movement or disengagement until the protrusion is slidable within the channel.

[0036] In another related embodiment, the connectable beverage bottle 150 a) A bracket including a longitudinally extending post having a tapered top, the post being sized and configured to have the same shape as the channel so as to be received within the channel, the bracket including fastening means for securing the bracket to another object.

[0037] In a further related embodiment of the connectable beverage bottle 150, the fastening means can comprise a pair of slots sized to receive a belt.

[0038] In a further related embodiment of the connectable beverage bottle 150, the fastening means can comprise a hook.

[0039] In a further related embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8G and 8H, the connectable beverage bottle 150 can be configured as follows: a) The horizontal overhang 813 of the vertical bottle lock recess 824 from the bottom outer edge 812 to the upper outer edge of the vertical bottle lock recess 824 is in the range of 5% to 30% or 10% to 25% of the maximum depth 819 of the vertical bottle lock recess 824. b) The maximum protrusion width 827 of the vertical bottle lock protrusion 826 is in the range of 25% to 35% of the maximum bottle width 856. c) The right front vertical recess 830 is on the right side of the vertical bottle lock protrusion 826. The right front vertical recess 830 is configured with a concave right inner surface such that the opening angle 838 is between the right inner tangent 834 of the inner end of the concave right inner surface (where the concave inner surface connects to the inner convex right surface at the inner right transition point) and the right outer tangent 832 of the outer end of the concave right inner surface (where the concave inner surface connects to the outer convex right surface at the outer right transition point). d) The maximum right opening width 836 of the right front vertical recess 830 between the outer right transition point and the inner right transition point can be in the range of 70% to 90% or 75% to 85% of the maximum protrusion width 827 of the vertical bottle lock protrusion 826. e) The left front vertical recess 840 is on the left side of the vertical bottle lock projection 826. The left front vertical recess 840 is formed by the concave left inner surface such that the left opening angle 838 is between the left inner tangent line 844 of the inner end of the concave left inner surface (where the concave left inner surface connects to the inner convex left surface at the inner left transition point) and the left outer tangent line 842 of the outer end of the concave right inner surface (where the concave right inner surface connects to the outer convex left surface at the outer right transition point), and f) The maximum left opening width 846 of the left front vertical recess 840 between the outer left transition point and the inner left transition point can be in the range of 70% to 90% or 75% to 85% of the maximum projection width 827 of the vertical bottle lock projection 826.

[0040] In related embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8I, a combination of connectable beverage bottles 150 is a) A first connectable beverage bottle 150, 801, comprising i. A hollow body having a top, a bottom, and a substantially cylindrical sidewall that forms a central cavity, the sidewall tapering inwardly adjacent to the top of the hollow body and ending in a tapered neck with an opening for the entry and exit of liquid or solid into the central cavity, 1. The sidewall includes a pair of parallel grooves embedded within the circumference of the substantially cylindrical sidewall, the grooves extending longitudinally from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck, and between the pair of grooves, a longitudinally extending projection that extends from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the projection tapering radially to form a tapered rounded edge, 2. The sidewall includes a longitudinally extending channel located opposite the longitudinally extending projection, the channel extending from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the depth of the channel tapering adjacent to the tapered neck and forming a tapered rounded protrusion that is substantially parallel to and oppositely facing the tapered rounded edge of the projection. A first connectable beverage bottle 150, 801 can be provided with a hollow body, b) A second connectable beverage bottle 150, 802, comprising i. A hollow body having a top, a bottom, and a substantially cylindrical side wall that forms a central cavity, the side wall tapering inwardly adjacent to the top of the hollow body and forming a tapered neck that ends in an opening for the entry and exit of liquid or solid into the central cavity. 1. The side wall includes a pair of parallel grooves embedded within the circumference of the substantially cylindrical side wall, the grooves extending longitudinally from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck, the pair of grooves forming a longitudinally extending protrusion therebetween that extends from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the protrusion tapering radially to form a tapered rounded edge. 2. The side wall further includes a longitudinally extending channel located directly opposite the longitudinally extending protrusion, the channel extending from the bottom of the hollow body to the tapered neck of the hollow body, the depth of the channel tapering adjacent to the tapered neck to form a tapered rounded protrusion that is substantially parallel to and directly opposite the tapered rounded edge of the protrusion. 3. The protrusion of the first bottle can be sized and configured to be received within the channel of the second bottle to connect and secure the first bottle to the second bottle, and can include a hollow body, and can include second connectable beverage bottles 150, 802.

[0041] Here, numerous embodiments of a molding system 100 and related methods that can be used in a number of usage modes have been described.

[0042] Many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed description, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the present invention that are within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0043] Many such alternative configurations will be readily apparent and should be considered to be fully included within the scope of this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since many modifications and changes will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, reliance may be placed upon all suitable modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A molding system for molding a connectable beverage bottle, the molding system comprising: A molding device, An upper left mold part having an upper left molding cavity, An upper right mold part having an upper right molding cavity, A lower mold part having an integral lower molding cavity configured to mold a lower portion of the connectable beverage bottle, the molding device comprising; The upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are configured to be arranged side by side, whereby the upper left molding cavity and the upper right molding cavity form an integral upper molding cavity configured to mold an upper portion of the connectable beverage bottle, whereby the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are laterally removable after blow molding the connectable beverage bottle within the integral upper molding cavity formed by the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part, and At least an upper portion of the lower mold part is configured to be disposed between lower ends of the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part, whereby the integral lower molding cavity is configured to combine with the integral upper molding cavity to form an entire molding cavity configured to mold the connectable beverage bottle, whereby the lower mold part is configured to be vertically removable downward after blow molding the connectable beverage bottle, the molding system. Claim 2 The lower mold part, Further comprising a lower central mold part having a through lower central aperture configured to mold a lower central portion of the connectable beverage bottle, the molding system according to claim 1. Claim 3 The molding system according to claim 2, wherein the through lower central aperture is configured with a uniform horizontal cross-sectional shape. Claim 4 The lower central mold part is further configured to have a vertical mold lock projection protruding vertically forward of the through lower central aperture, the vertical mold lock projection being configured to mold a vertical bottle lock recess in the lower central portion of the connectable beverage bottle, the molding system according to claim 2. Claim 5 The lower central mold part is further configured to have a vertical mold lock recess disposed along the vertical rear of the through lower central aperture, and the vertical mold lock recess is configured to mold the vertical bottle lock protrusion of the lower central part of the connectable beverage bottle. The molding system according to claim 4.

6. The lower mold part is a lower bottom mold part connected to the bottom of the lower central mold part, the lower bottom mold part being provided with a lower bottom recess configured to mold the lower bottom of the connectable beverage bottle, whereby the through lower central aperture and the lower bottom recess are combined to form the integral lower molding cavity. The molding system according to claim 2, further comprising a lower bottom mold part.

7. The lower mold part is a lower molding support assembly connected to the bottom of the lower bottom mold part and configured to provide support for the lower central mold part and the lower bottom mold part. The molding system according to claim 6, further comprising a lower molding support assembly, wherein the lower mold support assembly is configured to be connected to a molding machine to enable vertical movement of the lower mold part. The molding system according to claim 6.

8. The upper left mold part is a left receiving recess disposed under the upper left molding cavity and configured to receive the left side of the lower central mold part. The molding system according to claim 2, further comprising a left receiving recess, The upper right mold part is a right receiving recess disposed under the upper right molding cavity and configured to receive the right side of the lower central mold part. The molding system according to claim 2, further comprising a right receiving recess, whereby when the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, the left receiving recess and the right receiving recess form an integral receiving cavity configured to receive the lower mold part. The molding system according to claim 2.

9. Each of the left receiving recess and the right receiving recess is configured as a semi-cylindrical shape such that the integral receiving cavity is cylindrical, and the outer vertical surface of the lower mold part is cylindrical. The molding system according to claim 8.

10. The upper left mold part is an upper left through recess disposed on the left inner side of the left top surface of the upper left mold part and penetrating from the left top surface of the upper left mold part to the upper left molding cavity. The molding system according to claim 2, further comprising an upper left through recess, The upper right mold part is A right upper through depression, which is arranged on the right inner side of the right upper surface of the right upper mold part, and thereby further includes a right upper through depression that penetrates from the right upper surface of the right upper mold part to the right upper forming cavity. Thereby, when the left upper mold part and the right upper mold part are arranged side by side, the left upper through depression and the right upper through depression form an integral upper side through aperture that penetrates from the integral upper surface of the molding device to the integral upper forming cavity. The molding system according to claim 1.

11. The molding device a) A removable left half segment including a left half opening; b) Further includes a removable right half segment including a right half opening. The left upper mold part A left upper surface depression, which is arranged on the left top surface of the left upper mold part, and thereby further includes a left upper surface depression configured to form a left protruding portion along the left upper through aperture. Thereby, the removable left half segment is configured to be removably arranged in the left upper surface depression. The right upper mold part A right upper surface depression, which is arranged on the right upper surface of the right upper mold part, and thereby further includes a right upper surface depression configured to form a right protruding portion along the right upper through aperture. Thereby, the removable right half segment is configured to be removably arranged in the right upper surface depression. Thereby, when the left upper mold part and the right upper mold part are arranged side by side, the removable left half segment is arranged in the left upper surface depression, and the removable right half segment is arranged in the right upper surface depression. The left half opening and the right half opening form an integral segment opening that is aligned with the integral upper side through aperture. The molding system according to claim 10.

12. A molding method for molding a connectable beverage bottle by using a molding device, the method comprising: a) Preparing a blow pin, wherein a heated preform mold is prepared around the blow pin arranged for the assembly of the mold; b) Assembling the mold parts of the molding device, wherein the mold parts are arranged around the blow pin. c) performing blow molding, wherein compressed air is injected into the blow pin, whereby the heated preform mold is blown into the shape of the entire molding cavity within the molding device, whereby the heated preform mold forms the connectable beverage bottle, and including performing; the molding device includes the mold part, and the mold part an upper left mold part including an upper left molding cavity; an upper right mold part including an upper right molding cavity; a lower mold part including an integral lower molding cavity configured to mold a lower portion of the connectable beverage bottle, the molding method comprising:

13. assembling the mold part further includes vertically moving the lower mold part upward to a predetermined molding position of the lower mold part relative to the blow pin, the molding method according to claim 12;

14. assembling the mold part further includes horizontally moving the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part inwardly, respectively, such that the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, whereby an upper portion of the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part is connected around an upper portion of the blow pin, and a lower portion of the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part is connected around an upper portion of the lower mold part; whereby the blow pin and the heated preform mold project into the entire molding cavity formed by the lower mold part, the upper left mold part, and the upper right mold part; an upper portion of the heated preform mold is configured as a preformed screw portion of the connectable beverage bottle such that the preformed screw portion projects above the mold device, the molding method according to claim 13;

15. a) removing the blow pin, wherein the blow pin is withdrawn by vertical upward movement; b) disassembling the mold part such that the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part move horizontally outwardly toward the left and right sides of the blow pin, respectively, and the lower mold part moves vertically downward; c) further including removing the connectable beverage bottle, the molding method according to claim 13;

16. the lower mold part The molding method according to claim 12, further comprising a lower central mold part having a through lower central aperture, wherein the through lower central aperture is configured to mold a lower central part of the connectable beverage bottle.

17. The molding method according to claim 16, wherein the through lower central aperture has a uniform horizontal cross-sectional shape.

18. The lower central mold part is further configured to have a vertical mold locking projection protruding vertically forward of the through lower central aperture, and the vertical mold locking projection is configured to mold a vertical bottle locking recess in the lower central part of the connectable beverage bottle. The molding method according to claim 16.

19. The lower central mold part is further configured to have a vertical mold locking recess disposed along the vertical rear of the through lower central aperture, and the vertical mold locking recess is configured to mold a vertical bottle locking projection in the lower central part of the connectable beverage bottle. The molding method according to claim 18.

20. The lower mold part is a lower bottom mold part connected to the bottom of the lower central mold part, and the lower bottom mold part is provided with a lower bottom recess configured to mold a lower bottom of the connectable beverage bottle. Thus, the through lower central aperture and the lower bottom recess are combined to form the integral lower molding cavity. The molding method according to claim 16, further comprising a lower bottom mold part.

21. The lower mold part is a lower mold support assembly connected to the bottom of the lower bottom mold part, thereby providing support for the lower central mold part and the lower bottom mold part. The molding method according to claim 20, further comprising a lower mold support assembly configured to be connected to a molding machine to enable vertical movement of the lower mold part.

22. The upper left mold part further comprises a left receiving recess disposed under the upper left molding cavity and configured to receive the left side of the lower central mold part. The upper right mold part further comprises a right receiving recess disposed under the upper right molding cavity and configured to receive the right side of the lower central mold part. According to this, when the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, the left receiving recess and the right receiving recess form an integrated receiving cavity configured to receive the lower mold part, the molding method according to claim 16.

23. Each of the left receiving recess and the right receiving recess is configured as a semi-cylindrical shape such that the integrated receiving cavity becomes cylindrical, and the outer vertical surface of the lower mold part is cylindrical, the molding method according to claim 22.

24. The upper left mold part is a left upper through recess, which is arranged on the left inner side of the left top surface of the upper left mold part, and thereby further includes a left upper through recess that penetrates from the left top surface of the upper left mold part to the upper left molding cavity. The upper right mold part is a right upper through recess, which is arranged on the right inner side of the right top surface of the upper right mold part, and thereby further includes a right upper through recess that penetrates from the right top surface of the upper right mold part to the upper right molding cavity. According to this, when the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, the left upper through recess and the right upper through recess form an integrated upper through aperture that penetrates from the integrated upper surface of the molding device to the integrated upper molding cavity, the molding method according to claim 12.

25. The molding device a) further includes a removable left half segment including a left half opening, b) and a removable right half segment including a right half opening, The upper left mold part is a left upper surface recess, which is arranged on the left top surface of the upper left mold part, and thereby further includes a left upper surface recess configured to form a left protruding portion along the left upper through aperture, and thereby the removable left half segment is configured to be removably arranged in the left upper surface recess, and The upper right mold part is a right upper surface recess, which is arranged on the right top surface of the upper right mold part, and thereby further includes a right upper surface recess configured to form a right protruding portion along the right upper through aperture, and thereby the removable right half segment is configured to be removably arranged in the right upper surface recess. According to this, when the upper left mold part and the upper right mold part are arranged side by side, the removable left half segment is arranged in the left upper surface recess, and the removable right half segment is arranged in the right upper surface recess. The method of molding according to claim 24, wherein the left half opening and the right half opening form an integral segment opening that is aligned with the integral upper through-aperture.

26. A connectable beverage bottle manufactured by the method of molding according to claim 12, wherein a maximum protrusion width of a vertical bottle lock protrusion of the connectable beverage bottle is in a range of 25 to 35 percent of a maximum bottle width of the connectable beverage bottle.

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