Crushable and hangable plastic bottles

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a bottle configured to undergo controlled collapse in response to pressure manually applied by the user to the front and rear walls, a vacuum force acting inside the bottle during the enteral feeding process, or both. The bottle includes a rigid suspension element molded into an access channel provided at the base of the bottle such that the top and sides of the suspension element are fixedly connected to the surface of the container. Due to the presence of the suspension element, the bottle includes a hinge line that concentrates the collapse in the central region of the bottle between the suspension element and the shoulder of the bottle. Thus, the bottle of the present invention provides both a rigid suspension element and walls that collapse in a controlled manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 141,787, filed on May 1, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0002] Enteral nutrition, i.e., tube feeding, is required when a person cannot eat normally. During tube feeding, the enteral nutrition solution is delivered from a bottle or pouch via a flexible tube that extends directly into the person's stomach or small intestine. Thus, the bottle containing the nutrition solution is capped, which is part of the tube feeding set, and is suspended upside down, i.e., with the opening facing downwards, from an infusion stand. To enable the bottle to be suspended from the infusion stand, bottles specially designed for tube feeding often include a suspension element at the base of the bottle. Some bottles designed for tube feeding are designed to collapse during drainage.

[0003] Current suspendable plastic bottles are collapsible or have a suspension element that provides the user with a desired degree of rigidity. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to bottles that achieve both. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to bottles configured to collapse in a different manner from other known collapsible bottles by virtue of a unique arrangement and configuration of hinge lines.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a crushable bottle comprising a body having a base at one end and a neck terminating at a free edge and defining an opening to the interior of the bottle at the other end. The body consists of front and rear walls and left and right side walls, the front and rear walls being wider than the left and right side walls. Each side wall includes a rounded shoulder region, a lower transition region, and a central region located between the shoulder and the transition region. The central region is divided into a first panel and a second panel by a vertically extending central hinge line. The first panel straddles the vertical central hinge line and a vertically extending front hinge, which separates the first panel from the front wall of the bottle. Similarly, the second panel straddles the vertical central hinge line and a vertically extending rear hinge, which separates the second panel from the rear wall of the bottle.

[0005] The bottle, particularly the arrangement of the hinge lines, is configured such that when pressure is applied to the front and rear walls of the bottle, for example by a user squeezing the front and rear walls of the bottle, the front and rear hinge lines each flex inward and the central hinge line flexes outward, causing the front and rear walls to collapse toward each other and the central hinge line to be pushed outward from the central axis of the bottle. As used in this application, bottle collapse or controlled collapse refers to the contraction of the space between the front and rear walls resulting from folding along the identified hinge lines.

[0006] In the embodiment of this bottle, the first panel is angled inward from the central hinge line toward the front hinge line, and the second panel is angled inward from the central hinge line toward the rear hinge. In some embodiments, for example, the angle formed between the first and second panels by the central hinge may range from about 140 degrees to about 175 degrees, or from about 145 degrees to about 170 degrees, or from about 150 degrees to about 170 degrees. In the embodiment of this bottle, the central hinge line dividing the first and second panels fades toward the top of the central region, so that the cross section of each side wall adjacent to the shoulder region has a rounded or curved central region (in contrast to the angled central region formed by the central hinge line).

[0007] In embodiments of this bottle, each of the front and rear hinges may have a specific geometric shape including outwardly projecting ribs. The ribs may consist of a vertex, a convex portion transitioning from the vertex to the front or rear wall, and a concave portion transitioning from the vertex to a first or second panel of the side wall. In some embodiments, each of the front and rear hinges may have an outward curvature in the range of about 135 to about 165 degrees, or about 140 to about 160 degrees, and / or an inward curvature in the range of about 140 to about 180 degrees, or about 145 to about 175 degrees. In embodiments of this bottle, the front and rear hinges may fade toward the apex of the central region, as well as the central hinge line, so that the cross section of each side wall adjacent to the rounded shoulder region has a continuous curvature (in contrast to the more complex cross-sectional shape formed by the central hinge line and the front and rear hinge lines).

[0008] Embodiments of the bottle include a suspension element that allows the bottle to be suspended upside down, for example, for use in the delivery of enteral nutrition. The suspension element may include a tab having an opening through which a hook or rod can pass, so that a portion of the surface of the tab defining the opening is supported by the hook or rod when the bottle is suspended upside down. The opening may be circular, but other shapes are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0009] The tab may be positioned within an access channel spanning between the front and rear walls. The access channel extends upward from the base, dividing the base of the bottle into independent left and right sections. In some embodiments, the upper edge, right edge, and left edge of the tab (which may all be part of a single curved edge) are all integrally connected to the underside of the bottle defining the access opening. This improves the rigidity of the suspension element. The lower edge of the tab may be positioned above the upright surface of the base so as not to impair the stability of the bottle when it is in the upright position.

[0010] In some embodiments, the access channel may narrow as it moves from the front wall to the tab and / or from the rear wall to the tab, so that the access channel has a first width at the front wall and / or rear wall and a second width at the tab, with the first width being greater than the second width. In some embodiments, for example, the first width may be 120% to 150% greater than the second width.

[0011] The bottle may be configured to have a desired degree of stability when placed on an upright surface. In some embodiments, for example, the bottle may have an inclination angle of at least 12 degrees, or at least 15 degrees, or at least 17 degrees. The bottle may also be configured so that the base of the bottle does not deform when the bottle wall is crushed.

[0012] The bottle may be configured to undergo controlled collapse when subjected to the vacuum force applied internally during enteral nutrition, under typical flow rates achieved using conventional feeding sets and breathable caps, such as a FreeGo® pump and administration set, including a FreeGo® Screwcap set with ENFit® drug port and connector. In some embodiments, for example, the bottle may be configured to collapse when discharged by pressurizing the bottle contents through the breathable cap at a rate of (i) 300 mL / hour or (ii) both 150 mL / hour and 300 mL / hour. In such embodiments, the bottle may also be configured to be manually collapsed after discharge, for example, by the user manually applying pressure to the front and back walls (the pressure being greater than the vacuum force generated internally during discharge).

[0013] Alternatively, the bottle may be configured not to undergo controlled crushing when subjected to the vacuum force applied to the inside during enteral nutrition at typical flow rates achieved using conventional feeding sets and breathable caps, such as a FreeGo® pump and administration set, which includes a FreeGo® Screwcap set with ENFit® drug port and connector. In some embodiments, for example, the bottle may be configured not to crush when discharged through the breathable cap at rates of (i) 150 mL / hour or (ii) both 150 mL / hour and 300 mL / hour. In such embodiments, the bottle may instead be configured to be manually crushed after discharge, for example, by the user manually applying pressure to the front and back walls.

[0014] A clear concept of the advantages and features of one or more embodiments will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1]Front perspective view of the first embodiment of the bottle according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] Front plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] Bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] Partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] Bottom rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 8] Front perspective view of the second embodiment of the bottle according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] Side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] Front plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 11] Bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 12] Partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 10. [Figure 13] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 10. [Figure 14] Bottom rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 15] Front perspective view of the second embodiment of the bottle according to the present disclosure. [Figure 16] Side plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] Front plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 18] Bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 19] Partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 17. [Figure 20] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 17. [Figure 21] Bottom rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 22]A front plan view of an alternative version of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, each of the front and rear walls having a series of ribs. [Figure 23] A front perspective view of one embodiment of a bottle according to the present disclosure in a crushed configuration. [Figure 24] A side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 23 in a crushed configuration.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a bottle 10 configured to contain liquid products, such as nutritional products, and optionally nutritional products that can be administered by enteral nutrition. The bottle 10 may be made of a thermoplastic material, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) or a similar thermoplastic material, using methods known in the art such as extrusion blow molding. The exact shape and dimensions of the bottle 10 are controlled by the volume of the liquid product configured to be contained by the bottle, but regardless of the volume, i.e., size, of the bottle, the bottles of the present disclosure have common features that enable the bottle to be crushable and / or suspendable, as well as design elements that enable bottles of different sizes to be recognized as part of the same product family.

[0017] A first embodiment of a bottle 10 according to the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. This embodiment is configured to contain a relatively small volume of liquid product, as indicated by its relatively small dimensions, particularly its low height. Specifically, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is configured to contain about 500 mL, i.e., 0.5 liters, of nutritional liquid product (with appropriate headspace), but bottles having a similar design and configured to contain alternative amounts can be prepared using the principles shown herein.

[0018] A second embodiment of the bottle 10 according to this disclosure is illustrated in Figures 8 to 14. This embodiment is configured to hold an intermediate volume of liquid product. In particular, the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 14 is configured to hold about 1000 mL, or 1 liter, of nutritional liquid product (with adequate headspace), but bottles having a similar design and configured to hold alternative volumes can be prepared using the principles described herein.

[0019] A third embodiment of the bottle 10 according to this disclosure is illustrated in Figures 15 to 21. This embodiment is configured to hold a relatively large volume of liquid product, as indicated by its side walls having increased height and increased width. In particular, the embodiment shown in Figures 15 to 21 is configured to hold approximately 1500 mL, or 1.5 liters, of nutritional liquid product (with adequate headspace), but bottles having a similar design and configured to hold alternative volumes can be prepared using the principles described herein.

[0020] Each bottle 10 generally consists of a body portion 11, a neck finishing portion 12, and a base portion 13. The body 11 comprises two opposing main walls, referred to herein as the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22, and two opposing secondary walls, referred herein as the right side wall 23 and the left side wall 24. The widths of the right side wall 23 and the left side wall 24 are smaller than the widths of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22, so the side walls are referred to as secondary walls and the front wall / rear wall as main walls.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 are identical or substantially identical, meaning they are indistinguishable visually. However, in other (not illustrated) embodiments, the front wall 21 may be slightly different from the rear wall 22 in order to visually distinguish the front and rear of the bottle 10.

[0022] Each of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 has a main outer surface 31 that is substantially flat and smooth, at least in its principal portion, so that an adhesive label can be firmly attached thereto. "Substantially flat" means that the outer surfaces of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 do not need to be perfectly flat; in this case, these outer surfaces are parallel to each other, but instead each may have a slightly convex curvature. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 21, the entire outer surface of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 is substantially flat and smooth. However, in alternative (not illustrated) embodiments, each of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 may include one or more recesses configured to receive a user's finger or thumb to provide a gripping area.

[0023] Furthermore, in some embodiments, such as those illustrated in Figure 22, the main outer surfaces 31 of each of the front wall 21 and rear wall 22 may include one or more ribs 25. The one or more ribs 25 may be configured to increase the strength and rigidity of each of the front wall 21 and rear wall 22, thereby reducing bulging of the front and rear walls and enabling secure attachment of adhesive labels. Each of the one or more ribs 25 may be an inwardly extending rib that extends horizontally across at least the central portion of the walls 21, 22. The exact geometric shape of each rib (e.g., curvature, width, depth), as well as the number of ribs present in each wall, may be selected and designed to provide the wall with a desired degree of rigidity. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, the front wall 21 of the bottle 10 is shown to have nine ribs 25, but the number and geometric shape of the ribs in the illustrated embodiments are not limiting and can be easily modified by those skilled in the art. As the size of the bottle increases, the likelihood of bulging of the front and rear walls 22 increases, so it is particularly conceivable to include ribs 25 in bottles 10 configured to hold larger volume liquid products, such as the 1500 mL bottle illustrated in Figure 22 or larger bottles.

[0024] Each of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 also includes a lower transition region 32 that transitions the main surface 31 to the base 13. As shown in the figures, the lower transition region 32 is preferably curved. In some embodiments, including all of the illustrated embodiments, the lower transition region 32 may be interrupted by an access channel 73 for a suspension element, as will be described in more detail elsewhere. Thus, in the illustrated embodiments, for example, the lower transition region 32 may include a central arched portion 35 that transitions from the main surface 31 of the front wall 21 or the rear wall 22 to a surface 74 defining the access channel 73. The curvature of the arched portion 35 of the transition region 32 may differ from the curvature of the portions of the transition region on either side thereof.

[0025] In some embodiments, including all of the illustrated embodiments, the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 may each include an arched upper edge 33. The arched upper edge 33 is a feature shared across each of the illustrated embodiments and provides each bottle with a similar appearance so that the set of bottles can be identified as related to one another. The curvature of the arched upper edge 33 may correspond to the curvature of the rounded shoulder of the bottle, which will be described in more detail elsewhere. Furthermore, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, the arched upper edge 33 may extend outward from the rounded shoulder of the bottle, thereby forming an upper ledge 34 positioned at a certain distance below the neck finish 12 of the bottle 10. This, too, is a feature shared across each of the illustrated embodiments and provides each bottle with a similar appearance so that the set of bottles can be identified as related to one another.

[0026] Each of the right side wall 23 and left side wall 24 comprises a central region 41, a lower transition region 42, and a rounded upper shoulder 43. The central region 41 of each side wall 23, 24 is located between the lower transition region 42 and the rounded upper shoulder 43. Furthermore, the central region 41 is configured to collapse in a controlled bellows shape in response to (a) when a user applies pressure to the front and rear walls 21 and 22 of an empty bottle, (b) using a permeable or non-permeable lid connected to, for example, an enteral feeding set, or (c) by both (a) and (b).

[0027] The pressure that can be applied by the user to the front wall 21 and rear wall 22 of an empty bottle 10 is significantly greater than the vacuum force acting inside the bottle during controlled discharge, i.e., during feeding, which means that even if the bottle has relatively high rigidity, it may be crushable via mechanism (a). In contrast, the rigidity of the bottle must be relatively low to provide crushing via mechanism (b). Thus, some embodiments of the bottle 10 may be crushable by mechanism (a) but not by mechanism (b), and other embodiments of the bottle 10 may be crushable by both mechanism (a) and mechanism (b). The thickness of the bottle walls 21, 22, 23, and 24 may be selected and controlled to provide a desired compromise between rigidity and crushability.

[0028] The central region 41 comprises a first panel 51 and a second panel 52, which are divided by a central hinge 53 extending along the longitudinal axis of the bottle. The first panel 51, located in front of the central hinge 53, is adjacent to the front wall 21, more specifically to the main surface 31 of the front wall, and is separated from the main surface of the front wall by a front hinge 54. The second panel 52, located behind the central hinge 53, is adjacent to the rear wall 22, more specifically to the main surface 31 of the rear wall, and is separated from the main surface of the rear wall by a rear hinge 55. In short, each central region 41 of the right wall 23 and the left wall 24 comprises three hinges: the central hinge 53, the front hinge 54, and the rear hinge 55.

[0029] When the bottle 10 is crushed, the front hinge 54 and rear hinge 55 each flex inward, and the center hinge 53 flexes outward, causing the front wall 21 and rear wall 22, more specifically the main surfaces 31 of the front and rear walls, to move inward toward each other, and the center hinge 55 to be pushed outward from the front wall 21 and rear wall 22. An example of this controlled bellows-like crushing is illustrated in Figures 23 and 24. As shown in Figures 23 and 24, when the bottle 10 is in a crushed configuration, the neck finish 12 and base 13 of the bottle remain substantially undeformed. In fact, in some embodiments, the bottle 10 can still rest stably on the base 13 even when in a crushed configuration. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the rounded shoulder 43 also remains substantially undeformed when the bottle 10 is in a crushed configuration.

[0030] Here, the central region 41 of the right wall 23 and the left wall 24, in particular, features that allow the bottle 10 to be crushed as described and illustrated herein, will be described in more detail.

[0031] In some embodiments, including all of the illustrated embodiments, the central hinge 53 extends a first lateral distance from the centerline of the bottle (extending between the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22), and each of the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 is angled inward from the central hinge 53 to either a front hinge 54 or a rear hinge 55, these front or rear hinges extending a second lateral distance from the centerline of the bottle, the second lateral distance being less than the first lateral distance. In particular, the first panel 51 may be angled inward from the central hinge 53 to the front hinge 54, and the second panel 52 may be angled inward from the central hinge 53 to the rear hinge 55.

[0032] Examples of the angular characteristics of the first and second panels 51, 52 can be seen in Figures 5, 12, and 19. The degree of inclination or tilt of each of the angled panels 51, 52 may be quite small. In some embodiments, the bottle 10 may comprise the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 forming one or more angles with respect to an axis extending laterally between the front wall and the rear wall, respectively, the angles being about 4 to about 18 degrees, or about 5 to about 16 degrees, or about 6 to about 15 degrees. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, for example, at the position where the cross section is taken, the angle formed between the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 is about 152 degrees, which means that the angle formed between each panel and the axis extending laterally between the front wall and the rear wall is about 14 degrees (determined by subtracting 152 degrees from 180 degrees and then dividing by 2). By keeping the inclination of the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 relatively small, the right side wall 23 and the left side wall 24 are prevented from having an undesirable triangular appearance, while still providing these side walls with the geometric shape that enables the controlled bellows-like collapse described herein.

[0033] In other words, the central hinge 53 may form an angle between approximately 140 and 175 degrees, or between approximately 145 and 170 degrees, or between approximately 150 and 170 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, for example, the central hinge 53 forms an angle of approximately 152 degrees. On the other hand, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 19, the central hinge 43 forms an angle of approximately 166 degrees. As can be seen from the comparison of the figures, as the angle of the central hinge 53 approaches 180 degrees, the side walls 23, 24 have a flatter appearance. The exact angle of the central hinge 53 may be selected to provide the bottle with a desired combination of crushability and a desirable appearance.

[0034] In some embodiments, including those shown, the central hinge 53 may gradually thin out towards the top of the central region 41, i.e., in the region of the central region closest to the rounded shoulder portion 43, and may disappear if necessary. This effect can be seen, for example, by comparing a cross-section of the side wall shown in Figure 12 taken along line AA in Figure 10 with a cross-section of the same side wall shown in Figure 13 taken along line BB in Figure 10. As can be seen from the figures, in the lower region (as shown in Figure 12), the central hinge 53 acting as a hinge point, forming a clear division between the first panel 51 and the second panel 52, may fade at the top of the central region 41 so that the first and second panels merge into a single continuous panel having a curved cross-sectional profile (as shown in Figure 13).

[0035] Each of the front hinge 54 and the rear hinge 55 includes a rib 56 that projects outward. The outermost point of the rib 56 is called the apex. The front hinge 54 includes a convexly curved transition portion 57 between the main surface 31 of the front wall and the apex of the rib 56. The front hinge 54 also includes a concave transition portion 58 between the first panel 51 and the apex of the rib 56. Similarly, the rear hinge 55 includes a convexly curved transition portion 57 between the main surface 31 of the rear wall and the apex of the rib 56, and a concave transition portion 58 between the second panel 52 and the apex of the rib 56. Examples of each of these portions of the front hinge 54 and the rear hinge 55 can be seen, for example, in any of Figures 5, 12, or 19.

[0036] The outer curvature and inner curvature of the rib 56 may be varied, respectively, to provide a desired action to the hinge during crushing. The outer curvature of the rib 56 is defined as the angle formed between the transition portion 57 and the transition portion 58. The inner curvature of the rib 56 is defined as the angle formed between the transition portion and the adjacent panel 51 or panel 52. Examples of the outer and inner curvatures of the rib 56 can be seen, for example, in Figure 5, Figure 12, or Figure 19.

[0037] In some embodiments, the ribs 56 may have an outer curvature ranging from about 135 degrees to about 165 degrees, or from about 140 degrees to about 160 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, for example, the outer curvature of each rib 56 is about 144 degrees. In some embodiments, the ribs 56 may include an inner curvature ranging from about 140 degrees to about 180 degrees, or from about 145 degrees to about 175 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, for example, the inner curvature of each rib 56 is about 150 degrees.

[0038] In some embodiments, including those shown, the front hinge 54 and the rear hinge 55 may also fade towards the apex of the central region 41, i.e., in the region of the central region closest to the rounded shoulder 43, and disappear as necessary. This effect can also be seen, for example, by comparing the cross section of the side wall shown in Figure 12 taken along line AA in Figure 10 with the cross section of the same side wall shown in Figure 13 taken along line BB in Figure 10. As can be seen from the figures, the ribs 56 present in the lower region (such as that shown in Figure 12) are flattened, and the transitions between the side wall and the front wall and between the side wall and the rear wall each have a single curved cross section profile (such as that shown in Figure 13) instead of the apex, convex 57, and concave 58 present in the lower region (such as that shown in Figure 12).

[0039] If the central hinge 53, the front hinge 54, and the rear hinge 55 all fade near the upper end of the central region 41 and optionally disappear, the result is a bottle having both a right-side wall 23 with a single continuous curvature and a left-side wall 24 with a single continuous curvature in the region adjacent to the shoulder portion 43. Depending on the flatness or outward curvature of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22, and the difference in width between the main wall and the secondary wall, in some embodiments the result may be a bottle with an oval shape when viewed from above.

[0040] Each of the right wall 23 and the left wall 24 also includes a lower transition region 42 that transitions the central region 41 to the base 13. As shown in the figure, the lower transition region 42 is preferably curved. Each side of the lower transition region 42 of the right wall 23 and the left wall 24 can preferably transition to the lower transition region 32 of either the front wall 21 or the rear wall 22.

[0041] Each of the right side wall 23 and the left side wall 24 also includes an upper shoulder 43. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the upper shoulder 43 may be rounded, i.e., curved inward, to provide a characteristic arched appearance at the top of the bottle. The upper shoulder 43 of the right side wall 23 and the upper shoulder of the left side wall 24 may each extend from the central region 41 of the side wall to the neck finish 12 located in the center of the upper end of the bottle. The upper shoulder 43 of the right side wall 23 and the upper shoulder of the left side wall 24 may also include portions 44 extending forward and backward from the neck finish 12, which preferably merge seamlessly with each other to provide a continuous curve at the top of the bottle that is interrupted in the center by the neck finish 12.

[0042] As described above, at least one, and optionally both, of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 may have an arched upper edge 33 having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the rounded shoulder portion 43, the arched upper edge extending forward or backward from the rounded shoulder portion 43, including portion 44, to form a small upper ledge 34.

[0043] The neck finish 12 of the bottle extends upward to a circular upper rim that forms an opening into the inside of the bottle. In some embodiments, as is well known in the art, a removable foil seal (not shown) may be provided on the upper rim 61 of the neck finish 12, for example, to provide a substantially airtight seal. The neck finish 12 of the bottle more preferably comprises one or more threads configured to engage with the female threads of a cap that covers the upper rim of the bottle and any foil seal that may be attached thereto. In some embodiments, the neck finish 12 of the bottle may further comprise an outward-extending ring (not shown) configured to hold a tamper-evident band positioned below the threads and configured to separate from the cap when the cap is first removed from the bottle, as is well known in the art.

[0044] In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the neck finish 12 of the bottle may include an upper region 62 and a lower region 63, the upper region having a larger cross-sectional diameter than the lower region, resulting in the formation of a ledge 64 between them. In some embodiments, the upper region 62 and lower region 63 of the neck finish 12 may be configured such that any tamper-evident band remaining on the neck finish of the bottle when the cap is removed falls into the lower region 63 when the cap is removed. This may be particularly useful when the bottle is configured for enteral nutrition, as the ledge 64 formed by the larger diameter upper region 62 can prevent the tamper-evident band from moving onto or over the upper region 62 when the bottle is inverted and / or when the bottle is hung upside down, thereby preventing the tamper-evident band from interfering with a feeding set or the like.

[0045] The base 13 of the bottle includes a bottom surface, also called an upright surface 70, which is configured to allow the bottle to stand upright. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom surface is divided into a first portion 71 and a second portion 72 by a central channel 73, also called an access channel. The first portion 71 and the second portion 72 may be identical in shape and dimensions (of course, each portion may have one or more different tags, such as a resin identification code, RIC). In some embodiments, the bottle may be configured so that the base 13 of the bottle does not deform when the bottle is crushed.

[0046] The central channel 73 is defined by an inner surface 74 which may be curved, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The central channel 73 extends between the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22, each of which includes a central arch 35 through which the transition region 32 transitions into the inner surface 74 of the channel, as described above.

[0047] The suspension element 80 is positioned within the central channel 73. The suspension element 80 comprises a rigid plastic tab 81 that defines a suspension opening 82. The suspension opening 82 extends through the tab between the front and rear surfaces of the bottle. The suspension opening 82 may be circular, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, but other shapes are also possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] The rigid plastic tab 81 may be integral with the inner surface 74 of the central channel 73. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the upper edge 84 of the tab 81 extends from the inner surface 74 of the central channel 73. The curvature of the upper edge 84 of the tab 81 corresponds to the curvature of the inner surface 74 of the central channel 73, and as a result, the upper edge 84 of the tab 81 curves seamlessly into the left edge 85 and the right edge 86 of the tab, and each of the upper, left, and right edges of the tab is integrally connected to and extends from the inner surface 74 of the central channel 73. This provides the tab 81 with improved rigidity compared to conventional hanging tabs that have only an upper edge integrally connected to and / or extending from the body of the bottle, whether foldable or fixed.

[0049] The lower edge 87 of the tab 81 is a free edge. Preferably, the lower edge 87 of the tab 81 extends between the first portion 71 and the second portion 72 of the base. It is desirable that the lower edge 87 of the tab 81 be positioned above the upright surface 70 so as not to reduce the stability of the bottle in the upright position. However, the distance between the lower edge 87 of the tab 81 and the upright surface 70 of the bottle may be very small such that, in the upright position, the gap between the lower edge 87 of the tab and the upright surface 70 of the bottle is visually almost invisible or not visible at all.

[0050] In some embodiments, including those illustrated, the suspension element 80 is fixed, meaning that, unlike some conventional hangable bottles, the tab 81 is not connected to the bottle via a hinge and does not rotate between an extended position (for suspension) and an unexpected position (for storage). The incorporation of a fixed tab 81 is considered an improvement over hinged tabs, which are known to unintentionally rotate to the extended position at undesirable times, such as when the bottle is on a filling or transport line, thereby reducing the stability of the bottle. Nevertheless, embodiments including a hinged suspension tab 81 as known in the art are conceivable without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0051] In some embodiments, the central channel 73 may have a constant width between the first portion 71 and the second portion 72 of the base. However, the width must be chosen to balance the conflicting interests of having a relatively wide channel 73 so that the user can easily insert a hanger into the channel (and see the hanging element 80), and a relatively narrow channel so that the user can easily push the hanger through the hanging opening 82.

[0052] In other embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the width of the central channel 73 may be modified to provide the user with an improved hanging experience by achieving both objectives. In particular, the channel 73 may narrow inward from the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22. Specifically, the central channel 73 may include a first width 75 at the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 of the bottle and a second width 76 in the middle of the channel where the tab 81 is located, with the first width being greater than the second width. By providing a channel 73 that narrows toward the centrally located tab 81, a user attempting to insert a hanger, such as a hook, through the hanging opening 82 will find it easier to insert the hanger into the relatively wide channel 73, and then be guided toward the hanging opening 82 located at the narrowest point of the channel by the narrowing inner wall 74 of the channel.

[0053] This narrowing of the access channel 73 can be seen, for example, in Figures 4, 11, and 18. The degree of narrowing of the channel 73 may be selected to provide a desired effect. In some embodiments, the first width 75 may be 120% to 150% larger than the second width 76. In each of the illustrated embodiments, for example, the first width 75 is about 136% larger than the second width 76 (the first width is about 37.5 mm and the second width is about 27.5 mm).

[0054] Bottles may also be configured to have high stability when in an upright position, which is important in filling and transport lines, etc. One way to measure bottle stability is by its tilt angle. The tilt angle is a theoretical value calculated by measuring the angle between two lines drawn downward from the theoretical center of mass (or center of gravity) 90. The first line is drawn perpendicularly downward to the upright surface 70 of the bottle. The second line is drawn connecting the center of gravity 90 to the point of contact of the base of the bottle with the surface on which the bottle rests, i.e., the outer edge of the upright surface of the bottle. The tilt angle is calculated for an empty bottle, considering only the weight of the plastic. Since stability is lowest in the short axis direction, i.e., the axis passing through the right wall 23 and the left wall 24, the bottle's tilt angle is measured on these walls, for example, as shown in Figures 2, 9, and 16. A larger tilt angle indicates higher bottle stability.

[0055] In some embodiments, the inclination angle may be increased by inclining the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 inward and upward from the base. This inclination of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 results in the bottle having a greater width in the portion of the wall adjacent to the bottom of the bottle than at the top of the bottle when viewed from the left and right sides, as seen, for example, in Figures 2, 9, and 16. By inclining the walls 21, 22 in this way, the center of gravity 90 of the bottle can be lowered, thereby increasing the inclination angle of the bottle. Including the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 in this way also creates space between bottles standing adjacent to each other, which has the additional advantage of helping to prevent adhesive labels on the bottles that may be affixed to the front and / or rear walls from unintentionally sticking to adjacent bottles during transport or other means.

[0056] Embodiments of the bottle of the present invention may have an inclination angle of at least 10 degrees, or at least 11 degrees, 12 degrees, or at least 13 degrees, or at least 14 degrees, or at least 15 degrees, or at least 16 degrees, or at least 17 degrees, or at least 18 degrees, or at least 19 degrees, or at least 20 degrees.

[0057] In some embodiments, the bottle may be configured to have a desirable discharge time when bolus feeding (free flow) is permitted under gravity, when used with a conventional breathable cap. Specifically, in some embodiments, the bottle may be configured to bolus feed at a rate of 500 mL / 7 to 10 minutes. The bottle should also preferably be configured to completely discharge.

[0058] Example 1 Samples in 0.5-liter and 1.0-liter bottles, such as those shown in the illustrated embodiments, were filled to the specified volume with Osmolite® 1.0 Cal, available from Abbott, and fitted with a FreeGo® Screwcap set equipped with an ENFit® drug port and connector (S790), also available from Abbott, and suspended from an infusion stand. Each bottle was then configured to allow bolus feeding (free flow) in a gravity system. The tests were conducted at ambient temperature, i.e., approximately 20°C. Samples were dispensed at a rate of 500 mL of product over 7 to 10 minutes, and each sample was completely drained.

[0059] The bottle embodiments may also be configured to have a desired ease of crushing. In some embodiments, the bottle may be configured so that discharging the bottle with a breathable cap under conventional pump settings such as 150 mL / hour and / or 300 mL / hour (e.g., using a FreeGo® pump) does not cause the bottle to crush. In other embodiments, the bottle may be configured so that discharging the bottle with a breathable cap under the same conventional pump settings does cause the bottle to crush. The ease of crushing can be controlled by varying the weight of the bottle. When the weight of the bottle is relatively small, the bottle may be configured so that discharging the bottle under conventional pump settings such as 150 mL / hour and 300 mL / hour does cause the bottle to crush. However, when the weight of the bottle is increased, the bottle may be configured so that discharging the bottle with a breathable cap does not cause the bottle to crush under those conventional pump settings. In these embodiments, the bottle may be manually crushed after emptying, for example, by the user manually applying pressure to the front and back walls.

[0060] Example 2 Sample 1.0-liter bottles, such as those shown in the illustrated embodiments, were filled to a specified volume with Abbott-available Jevity® 1.5 Cal, and fitted with a FreeGo® Screwcap set equipped with Abbott-available ENFit® drug port and connector (S790). A FreeGo® pump and associated administration set (i.e., enteral nutrition set) were connected to each bottle. Each bottle was then suspended from an infusion stand, and the contents of the bottle were pumped into the administration set at a flow rate of 150 mL / hour until the bottle was empty. The tests were conducted at ambient temperature, i.e., approximately 20°C. At the end of the tests, the bottles were visually inspected to determine whether they had completely collapsed in response to the vacuum force present inside the bottle during dispensing.

[0061] Although the shape and dimensions of the sample bottles were standardized, the sample bottles were manufactured with three different wall thicknesses, resulting in three different weights: 35g, 40g, and 45.5g. Five samples of each bottle were tested. Of the five 35g bottles, all five completely collapsed during enteral nutrition at 150mL / hour. Of the five 40g bottles, two completely collapsed during enteral nutrition at 150mL / hour. Of the five 45.5g bottles, none completely collapsed during enteral nutrition at 150mL / hour. This test suggests that the collapseability of the bottles can be controlled by controlling the bottle strength (i.e., material weight). As bottle strength increases, the degree of collapse decreases.

[0062] The embodiments described will be found to provide a unique and novel bottle 10 that has many advantages over those of the art. Although certain specific structures embodying the present invention are shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying concept of the invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein, except as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible bottle, The base and, A neck portion that defines the opening, Front wall and, The back wall and, It comprises left and right side walls, and each of the left and right side walls is The rounded shoulder area transitions into the neck. Lower transition region transitioning to the base, and It comprises a central region positioned between a rounded shoulder region and a lower transition region, the central region comprising a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second panel being divided by a substantially vertical central hinge, The first panel is separated from the front wall by a front hinge. The second panel is separated from the rear wall by a rear hinge. When pressure is applied to the front and rear walls of the bottle, the front hinge line bends inward, the rear hinge line bends inward, and the central hinge bends outward, so that the front and rear walls collapse toward each other, and the central hinge is pushed outward from the front and rear walls. A bottle that can be crushed.

2. A crushable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the first panel is angled inward from the central hinge toward the front hinge, and the second panel is angled inward from the central hinge toward the rear hinge.

3. A crushable bottle according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the angle formed between the first panel and the second panel by the central hinge is between approximately 140 degrees and approximately 175 degrees, or between approximately 145 degrees and approximately 170 degrees, or between approximately 150 degrees and approximately 170 degrees.

4. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central hinge fades toward the top of the central region such that each of the left and right side walls has a curved cross section adjacent to a rounded shoulder region.

5. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the front hinge and the rear hinge is provided with a rib that protrudes outward.

6. The rib of the front hinge comprises a vertex, a convex portion transitioning from the vertex to the front wall, and a concave portion transitioning from the vertex to the first panel. The rear hinge rib comprises a vertex, a convex portion transitioning from the vertex to the rear wall, and a concave portion transitioning from the vertex to the second panel. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Each of the front hinge and the rear hinge, (a) Having an outward curvature of approximately 135 degrees to approximately 165 degrees, and optionally selectively from approximately 140 degrees to approximately 160 degrees, (b) Having an internal curvature of about 140 degrees to about 180 degrees, or about 145 degrees to about 175 degrees, (c) Both (a) and (b) A crushable bottle having any of claims 1 to 6.

8. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the central hinge, front hinge, and rear hinge each fade toward the top of the central region such that each of the left and right side walls has a continuously curved cross section adjacent to a rounded shoulder region.

9. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the front wall and the rear wall has an upper arched region.

10. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a suspension element configured to suspend the bottle in an upside-down position.

11. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the suspension element comprises a suspension opening, and a tab having optionally a circular suspension opening.

12. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the tab is located within an access channel spanning between the front wall and the rear wall.

13. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the access channel extends upward from the base, dividing the base of the bottle into independent left and right portions, and the upper edge of the tab, the right edge of the tab, and the left edge of the tab are each integrally connected to a surface defining an access opening.

14. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the lower edge of the tab is positioned above the upright surface of the base.

15. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the access channel has a first width in the front and rear walls and a second width in the tab, and the first width is greater than the second width.

16. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first width is 120% to 150% greater than the second width.

17. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the bottle has an inclination angle of at least 12 degrees, optionally selectively at least 15 degrees, and optionally selectively at least 17 degrees.

18. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the base of the bottle does not deform during crushing.

19. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the bottle is configured to collapse when emptied through a breathable cap at a rate of (i) 300 mL / hour, or (ii) both 150 mL / hour and 300 mL / hour.

20. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the bottle is configured not to collapse when emptied through a breathable cap at a rate of (i) 150 mL / hour, or (ii) both 150 mL / hour and 300 mL / hour.

21. The upper arched region of the anterior wall extends forward from the rounded shoulder portion, forming an upper ledge positioned at a certain distance below the neck portion. The upper arched region of the posterior wall extends posteriorly from the rounded shoulder portion, forming an upper ledge positioned at a certain distance below the neck portion. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein each of the front wall and the rear wall is provided with one or more horizontal reinforcing ribs.

23. A crushable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are each angled inward such that the bottom region of the front wall is further from the central axis of the bottle than the top region of the front wall.

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