beverage bottles

Abstract

To provide a beverage bottle allowing easy coming-out of non-liquid contents like bits, without enlarging a mouth.SOLUTION: A beverage bottle has a mouth, a transition part and a trunk having a common central axis. The mouth is formed smaller than the trunk in the direction orthogonal to the central axis, and the transition part connects the mouth to the trunk. Multiple grooves are formed on an inner face of the transition part, and juxtaposed in the circumferential direction of the transition part. Each of the multiple grooves has a twist part twisted in relation to the central axis Y-Y between a starting point of the mouth side and an end point of the trunk side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage bottle. [Background technology]

[0002] Containers for various beverages, such as soft drinks, carbonated drinks, and alcoholic drinks, include, for example, plastic bottles such as PET bottles, metal bottles such as aluminum cans, and glass bottles. This type of beverage bottle generally consists of, from top to bottom, a mouth, a shoulder, a body, and a bottom, with the shoulder connecting the body with a larger diameter and the mouth with a smaller diameter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When drinking, a person grasps the body and tilts it, causing the contents to flow out of the mouth.

[0003] In recent years, with the increasing variety of beverages, in addition to sherbet-like smoothies, bottled beverages containing bits (solid substances) such as fruit pulp, granules, corn flakes, nata de coco, and tapioca, as well as gel-like substances such as jelly, gelee, pudding, and mousse are now available on the market. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 9340314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, existing beverage bottles are not adequately suited to beverages containing non-liquid ingredients. For example, in the case of beverages containing bits, the bits can get caught on the shoulder, making it difficult for them to drain out of the opening. Furthermore, the snagging can cause the bits and liquid to be ejected forcefully at a certain point. Increasing the diameter of the opening (for example, increasing the inner diameter to 33 mm, compared to the typical inner diameter of approximately 21.74 mm for amorphous bottles) can improve the ejection of bits. However, this increases the material cost of the beverage bottle. Furthermore, in the case of carbonated beverages, it is difficult to create a wide drinking opening from a technical design perspective.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a beverage bottle that can stably and easily dispense beverages containing ingredients other than liquids, such as bits, and highly viscous beverages, such as smoothies, from its mouth without making the mouth larger than necessary. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A beverage bottle according to one embodiment of the present invention has a mouth portion, a transition portion, and a body portion, all of which share a central axis; the mouth portion is formed smaller than the body portion in a direction perpendicular to the central axis; the transition portion connects the mouth portion and the body portion; a plurality of groove portions are formed on the inner surface of the transition portion in a line circumferentially of the transition portion; and each of the plurality of groove portions has a twist portion twisted about the central axis between its starting point on the mouth side and its end point on the body side.

[0008] According to this aspect, when a beverage is contained in the beverage bottle and the beverage is dispensed from the opening by tilting the bottle, the beverage is guided to flow along the twisted portion. This causes the beverage to flow in a spiral-like twisted manner at the transition portion. As a result, if the liquid in the beverage contains bits, for example, the liquid will smoothly carry the bits. In other words, the beverage as a whole will be more likely to move and flow together with the bits toward the opening. Therefore, even if the beverage contains ingredients other than liquid, such as bits, or is highly viscous, such as a smoothie, it can be easily dispensed from the opening without making the opening larger than necessary. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C show a beverage bottle according to an embodiment, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is an end view cut along line CC in (a). [Figure 2] 10 illustrates the angle range of the twisted portion of the beverage bottle according to the embodiment, where (a) shows a 90-degree twist, (b) shows a 120-degree twist, (c) shows a 140-degree twist, (d) shows a 160-degree twist, and (e) shows a 180-degree twist. [Figure 3] 1B is a perspective half-sectional view of the upper portion of the beverage bottle of FIG. 1A, showing a schematic diagram of the flow of the beverage; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view of a beverage bottle according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B show a beverage bottle according to yet another embodiment, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C show a beverage bottle according to yet another embodiment, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is an end view cut along line AA in (a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A beverage bottle (hereinafter referred to as "bottle") according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the side of the bottle where the bottom is located will be referred to as the lower side, and the side where the mouth of the bottle is located will be referred to as the upper side. The vertical direction refers to the height direction of the bottle or the direction of the central axis of the bottle. The transverse section refers to the cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the bottle, and the longitudinal section refers to the cross-sectional shape in a plane including this central axis.

[0011] The bottle according to the embodiment is intended to be filled with beverages such as soft drinks, carbonated drinks, and alcoholic drinks. In particular, the bottle is suitable for filling beverages containing non-liquid ingredients, such as bits (solid substances) such as fruit pulp, granules, corn flakes, nata de coco, and tapioca, and gel-like substances such as jelly, gelee, pudding, and mousse. The size of the bits is, for example, up to 10 mm. The bottle is also suitable for filling highly viscous beverages, such as sherbet-like smoothies. The following description will be given using a bottle filled with carbonated drinks containing bits as an example.

[0012] The bottle according to the embodiment may be, for example, a metal bottle, a plastic bottle, a glass bottle, or a paper bottle, depending on the material from which it is manufactured. In the case of a metal bottle, the material is, for example, aluminum or steel. In the case of a plastic bottle, the material is primarily a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. The bottle is then molded by a stretch molding method such as biaxial stretch blow molding. The following description will be given using a plastic bottle as an example.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the bottle 1 has, in order from the top, a mouth portion 2, a transition portion 3, a body portion 4, and a bottom portion 5. These portions (2, 3, 4, and 5) are integrally formed and constitute a cylindrical bottle wall with a bottom for storing a beverage inside.

[0014] The mouth portion 2, transition portion 3, body portion 4, and bottom portion 5 all share a central axis YY. The mouth portion 2, transition portion 3, and body portion 4 are basically circular in cross section. The mouth portion 2 is formed smaller than the body portion 4 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis YY. The mouth portion 2, which has a smaller diameter, and the body portion 4, which has a larger diameter, are connected by the transition portion 3. The bottom portion 5 has, for example, a petaloid shape in which five valley portions 10 and five leg portions 12 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

[0015] An example of the manufacturing process for bottle 1 will be described below. First, a thermoplastic resin, which is the main material, is injected into a mold to injection-molde a preform. The preform consists of a mouth portion having the same shape as mouth portion 2 and a cylindrical portion with a bottom connected to the bottom. After injection molding, the preform is placed in a blow molding machine, and the cylindrical portion of the preform is heated. Then, a stretching rod is used to stretch the cylindrical portion vertically, and compressed air is blown in to stretch the cylindrical portion horizontally. The stretched portion of the cylindrical portion is pressed against the inner surface of the mold and then solidified. This forms transition portion 3, body portion 4, and bottom portion 5, completing the molding process for bottle 1.

[0016] The mouth portion 2 is open at its upper end and functions as a beverage outlet. The inner peripheral surface 20 of the mouth portion 2 extends straight and without any steps in the vertical direction. From the top, a threaded portion 22, a bead ring 23, and a support ring 24 are formed protrudingly on the outer peripheral surface 21 of the mouth portion 2. A cap (not shown) is screwed onto the threaded portion 22 to close the opening of the mouth portion 2. The inner diameter of the mouth portion 2 is slightly larger than the typical inner diameter of 21.74 mm of an amorphous-type mouth portion, but is sufficiently smaller than the 33 mm to 38 mm inner diameter of the mouth of a bottle of bit-containing beverages currently available on the market, e.g., 25 mm to 30 mm, and preferably 28 mm. The thickness of the mouth portion 2 is similar to the typical thickness of an amorphous-type mouth portion, e.g., approximately 3.2 mm.

[0017] The body 4 is a cylindrical portion, and its inner circumferential surface extends straight in the vertical direction without any steps. The body 4 has the largest diameter portion of the bottle 1. For example, the body 4 has an upper maximum diameter portion 30 and a lower maximum diameter portion 32. The upper maximum diameter portion 30 is formed at the uppermost portion of the body 4 and connects to the transition portion 3. The lower maximum diameter portion 32 is formed at the lowermost portion of the body 4 and connects to the bottom portion 5. The presence of the maximum diameter portions 30, 32 at the upper and lower portions of the body 4 ensures that the bottle 1 is suitable for use in vending machines. In some embodiments, the body 4 may have a label attachment portion 34 between the maximum diameter portions 30, 32 (see Figures 2 and 6). The label attachment portion 34 may be a portion of the body 4 that is slightly recessed in the circumferential direction between the maximum diameter portions 30, 32. The diameter of the body 4 is, for example, 60 mm to 70 mm. In this case, for example, the capacity of the bottle 1 is about 330 mL, and the content of the beverage is about 300 mL.

[0018] The transition portion 3 has a shoulder portion 40 that connects to the body portion 4 and a neck portion 42 that connects to the mouth portion 2. The shoulder portion 40 is formed so that its circular cross section gradually widens downward. The neck portion 42 is formed smaller than the shoulder portion 40 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis YY, and connects the shoulder portion 40 to the mouth portion 2. The neck portion 42 starts below the support ring 24 of the mouth portion 2 and ends where it connects to the shoulder portion 40. Here, the neck portion 42 is formed longer than the shoulder portion 40 in the direction of the central axis YY.

[0019] The neck portion 42 has a diameter roughly the same as that of the mouth portion 2, and extends in a generally straight line in the direction of the central axis YY, or expands slightly downward. Compared to the neck portion 42, the shoulder portion 40 has a diameter that expands more rapidly downward. While it is difficult to identify the exact boundary between the shoulder portion 40 and the neck portion 42, it is possible to consider, for example, the point where the rate of expansion of the diameter begins to change as the boundary.

[0020] A plurality of grooves 52 are formed on the inner surface 50 of the transition portion 3, and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the transition portion 3. Each groove 52 is formed concavely on the inner surface 50, and adjacent grooves 52 are separated by a wall that is convex relative to the groove 52. Furthermore, on the outer surface 54 of the transition portion 3, portions corresponding to each groove 52 are formed so as to protrude from the outer surface 54. For convenience, the grooves 52 and related reference numerals (52a, 52b, 52c, etc. below) are attached to the outer surface 54 shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] The number of grooves 52 is arbitrary, but a preferred example is eight or twelve. Here, eight is used. The number of grooves 52 should be determined taking into consideration the size of the bit. For example, for a 7 mm square bit, the number of grooves 52 should be eight. This is because if there are 12 grooves 52, the groove width of the grooves 52 will be narrow.

[0022] Each of the plurality of grooves 52 has a twisted portion 52c twisted about the central axis YY between a starting point 52a on the mouth 2 side and an end point 52b on the body 4 side. In each groove 52, the starting point 52a and the end point 52b are not located on the same vertical cross section including the central axis YY, and as a result, a twisted portion 52c twisted in the length direction is formed in the portion between the starting point 52a and the end point 52b.

[0023] 1, twisted portion 52c is formed over the entire groove portion 52, that is, from start point 52a of groove portion 52 to end point 52b of groove portion 52. In other words, twisted portion 52c includes start point 52a and end point 52b of groove portion 52, and the start point and end point of twisted portion 52c coincide with start point 52a and end point 52b of groove portion 52.

[0024] The twisted portion 52c is twisted within a predetermined angle range without orbiting around the central axis YY. Specifically, the twisted portion 52c is formed so that, when a circle is imagined with the central axis YY as its center, the end point 52b is shifted a predetermined angle from the start point 52a. This predetermined angle can be designed as appropriate, for example, from an angle greater than 0 degrees to 1080 degrees. Exemplary angle ranges of the twisted portion 52c are shown in FIG. 2(a) as 90 degrees, FIG. 2(b) as 120 degrees, FIG. 2(c) as 140 degrees, FIG. 2(d) as 160 degrees, and FIG. 2(e) as 180 degrees. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the greater the angle of the twisted portion 52c, the closer the slope of the twisted portion 52c approaches horizontal when viewed from the front. If the slope of twisted portion 52c becomes too close to horizontal, the expected effect of twisted portion 52c (good beverage dischargeability) may be reduced. For this reason, the angle of twisted portion 52c depends on the height of neck portion 42, the number of grooves 52, the depth of grooves 52, the width of grooves 52, etc., but is preferably less than 360 degrees, more preferably 30 to 360 degrees, even more preferably 60 to 180 degrees, and even more preferably 90 to 140 degrees.

[0025] Each groove 52 is formed across both the shoulder portion 40 and the neck portion 42. Each groove 52 is formed so that the groove width is larger on the end point 52b side than on the start point 52a side.

[0026] The starting point 52a of each groove 52 is located in the neck portion 42 a predetermined distance (e.g., 5 mm) below the support ring 24 of the mouth portion 2. From another perspective, the neck portion 42 has an uneven region 60 in which multiple grooves 52 are formed, and a flat region 62 above the uneven region 60. The flat region 62 is formed below the support ring 24 over a predetermined height (5 mm), with the starting point 52a of each groove 52 located at the upper end of the uneven region 60. Here, the flat region 62 is a portion (non-stretched portion) that remains unstretched when, for example, a preform is biaxially stretch-blow molded, and its inner and outer surfaces are straight. This non-stretched portion has a height of, for example, 5 mm in biaxial stretch-blow molding. Because it is difficult to form grooves 52 in such non-stretched portions, the grooves 52 are formed from the next region (uneven region 60) that connects to the flat region 62. The flat region 62 is held by a chuck when the preform is transported.

[0027] At the starting point 52a, the concave (groove) shape of the groove portion 52 remains, and therefore a step is generated in the flat region 62. That is, each groove portion 52 is formed so that the starting point 52a connects to the flat region 62 (the portion of the transition portion 3 on the mouth 2 side) with a step. However, in other embodiments, the groove may be gradually eliminated in the vicinity of the starting point 52a toward the starting point 52a so that the starting point 52a connects to the flat region 62 without a step.

[0028] An end point 52b of each groove 52 is located in the shoulder 40, close to the body 4. Specifically, the end point 52b is located in the vicinity of the maximum diameter portion 30 on the upper side of the body 4. Furthermore, at the end point 52b, the concave (groove) shape of the groove 52 does not substantially remain. That is, in each groove 52, the groove gradually disappears near the end point 52b so that the end point 52b connects to the vicinity of the maximum diameter portion 30 (the portion of the transition section 3 on the body 4 side) without a step. However, in other embodiments, the end point 52b may connect to the vicinity of the maximum diameter portion 30 with a step.

[0029] According to the bottle 1 of the embodiment described above, a plurality of grooves 52 are formed in a circumferential row on the inner surface 50 of the transition section 3, and each of the plurality of grooves 52 has a twisted section 52c between a starting point 52a and an ending point 52b. This allows the contents of the bottle 1 filled with a carbonated beverage containing bits to be discharged smoothly and stably.

[0030] This point will be explained with reference to Figure 3. The presence of twisted portion 52c changes the flow of the liquid contents toward the opening of spout 2. Specifically, as shown by arrow 70 in Figure 3, the liquid is guided to follow the shape of twisted portion 52c, causing the liquid flow at transition portion 3 to twist like a spiral. This allows the liquid to smoothly carry the Bits, making it easier for the contents as a whole to move and flow toward the opening of spout 2. This allows consumers to easily drink the liquid and the Bits simultaneously, allowing them to enjoy a carbonated beverage with Bits that is easy to drain. Furthermore, the Bits that are steadily discharged along with the liquid are less likely to remain in bottle 1, allowing the carbonated beverage with Bits to be drained to the last drop.

[0031] Such good discharge properties also apply to beverages other than carbonated beverages containing bits, such as soft drinks containing bits, alcoholic beverages containing bits, beverages containing gel-like substances such as jelly, gelee, pudding, and mousse, and highly viscous beverages such as smoothies.

[0032] According to the bottle 1 of this embodiment, the diameter of the mouth portion 2 does not need to be larger than necessary to allow for such beverage discharge. Specifically, while bottles for drinks containing bits and the like currently available on the market have an inner diameter of 33 mm to 38 mm, the bottle 1 of this embodiment allows the inner diameter of the mouth portion 2 to be set to, for example, 25 mm to 30 mm, even for drinks containing bits up to 10 mm square. This reduces the cost of materials for the mouth portion 2. In addition, the bottle can also be used as a bottle for carbonated beverages, for which it is difficult to create a wide drinking opening from a technical design perspective.

[0033] Furthermore, in the bottle 1 according to this embodiment, the grooves 52 are gradually eliminated near the end points 52b of each groove 52 so that the end points 52b connect seamlessly to the portion of the transition section 3 on the body 4 side. This allows the contents (liquid and / or bits) to flow smoothly into the twisted section 52c, further improving the discharge of the contents and reducing residue.

[0034] Furthermore, in the bottle 1 according to this embodiment, each groove 52 is formed so that its starting point 52a is connected to the transition section 3 at a step on the side of the mouth 2. If the grooves 52 were connected without a step, the twisted portions 52c would disappear at the top of the neck 42, reducing the effect of the twisted portions 52c. However, as described above, connecting the grooves 52 with a step allows the twisted portions 52c to be formed up to the very limit of the top of the neck 42 (directly below the flat region 62).

[0035] Furthermore, in the bottle 1 according to the embodiment, the twisted portion 52c is formed on both the shoulder portion 40 and the neck portion 42 in the transition portion 3. This allows the range of the twisted portion 52c to be longer than when it is formed on only one side, thereby further improving dischargeability.

[0036] Furthermore, in the bottle 1 according to this embodiment, the neck portion 42 is longer in the direction of the central axis YY than the shoulder portion 40. This ensures that the twisted portion 52c is longer in the portion of the transition section 3 that is closer to the mouth portion 2 and has a smaller diameter than the shoulder portion 40, i.e., in the neck portion 42, thereby improving dischargeability.

[0037] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, configurations shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined with each other.

[0038] For example, the twisted portion 52c may be formed in a part of the groove portion 52, rather than in the entire groove portion 52. An example of this is shown in FIG.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the groove 52 has a twisted portion 52c and a straight portion 52d between a starting point 52a on the mouth 2 side and an ending point 52b on the body 4 side. The straight portion 52d extends in the direction of the central axis YY. The starting point of the straight portion 52d coincides with the starting point 52a of the groove 52, and the ending point of the straight portion 52d is connected to the starting point of the twisted portion 52c. The ending point of the twisted portion 52c coincides with the ending point 52b of the groove 52. The straight portion 52d has a shorter range (height) along the central axis YY than the twisted portion 52c. To give an example of the dimensions, the height of the straight portion 52d is 10 mm, and the height of the twisted portion 52c is 14 mm.

[0040] In another embodiment, groove 52 may have multiple straight sections or another straight section between starting point 52a and ending point 52b. For example, groove 52 may have straight section 52d connected to the upper side of twisted section 52c and a straight section connected to the lower side of twisted section 52c. Alternatively, groove 52 may have a straight section connected to the lower side of twisted section 52c without an upper straight section. However, as shown in FIG. 1, forming the entire groove 52 as twisted section 52c allows the liquid to flow in a spiral-like twisted flow throughout the entire groove 52, which is preferable in terms of drainage.

[0041] 5, in other embodiments, the twisted portion 52c may be formed in either the shoulder portion 40 or the neck portion 42, rather than in both, or may be formed primarily in one of the shoulder portion 40 and the neck portion 42, with little or no twisted portion formed in the other. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the twisted portion 52c is formed primarily in the neck portion 42. The start and end points of the twisted portion 52c coincide with the start point 52a and end point 52b of the groove portion 52. As described above, it is difficult to precisely identify the boundary between the shoulder portion 40 and the neck portion 42, and therefore it is difficult to precisely identify the position of the end of the twisted portion 52c. However, in this example, the end of the twisted portion 52c can be considered to be located in the upper portion of the shoulder portion 40, for example.

[0042] Furthermore, in another embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the length of the neck portion 42 in the direction of the central axis YY may be shortened. For example, the neck portion 42 may be shorter than or approximately the same length as the shoulder portion 40 in the direction of the central axis YY. This may result in a slightly reduced ability to dispense the beverage compared to a bottle with a relatively long neck portion 42 such as the bottle 1 of Figure 1, but may be more suitable for use in vending machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...bottle, 2...mouth, 3...transition section, 4...body section, 5...bottom, 10...valley section, 12...leg section, 20...inner surface, 21...outer surface, 22...thread section, 23...bead ring, 24...support ring, 30, 32...maximum diameter section, 34...label attachment section, 40...shoulder section, 42...neck section, 50...inner surface, 52...groove section, 52a...starting point, 52b...ending point, 52c...twisted section, 52d...straight section, 54...outer surface, 60...uneven area, 62...flat area, 70...arrow, YY...central axis

Claims

1. A beverage bottle having a mouth, a transition portion, and a body portion that share a common central axis, wherein the mouth portion is formed smaller than the body portion in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and the transition portion connects the mouth portion and the body portion, A plurality of grooves are formed on the inner surface of the transition portion and are aligned in the circumferential direction of the transition portion, Each of the plurality of grooves has a twisted portion twisted about the central axis between a starting point on the mouth portion side and an end point on the body portion side, The transition portion is a shoulder portion connected to the torso portion; a neck portion that is smaller than the shoulder portion in a direction perpendicular to the central axis and that connects the shoulder portion and the mouth portion, an expansion rate of the diameter of the cross section of the shoulder portion from the mouth portion side toward the body portion side is greater than an expansion rate of the diameter of the cross section of the neck portion, the body portion has a maximum diameter portion having a largest diameter in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, the shoulder portion is connected to the body portion at the maximum diameter portion, The twisted portion is formed at least in the neck portion, The neck portion is longer than the shoulder portion in the direction of the central axis. Drinking bottle.

2. 2. The beverage bottle according to claim 1, wherein each of the grooves is gradually tapered toward the end point so that the end point connects seamlessly to the body-side portion of the transition section.

3. The beverage bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grooves are formed so that the starting points of the grooves are connected to the mouth-side portion of the transition portion at a step.

4. 4. The beverage bottle according to claim 1, wherein the end point of each groove is located near the maximum diameter of the beverage bottle.

5. 5. The beverage bottle according to claim 1, wherein the starting point of each groove is located a predetermined distance below a support ring of the mouth portion, and the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle are formed into straight surfaces between the support ring and the starting point.

6. The beverage bottle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the twisted portions is formed from the start point to the end point of each of the grooves.

7. 6. The beverage bottle according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grooves has a straight portion extending in the direction of the central axis between a starting point on the mouth side and an end point on the body side.

8. a start point of the straight portion coincides with the start point of the groove portion, 8. The beverage bottle of claim 7, wherein the straight portion terminates at the twisted portion.

9. The beverage bottle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the grooves is formed so that the groove width is greater on the end point side than on the start point side.

10. 10. The beverage bottle according to claim 1, wherein each twisted portion is twisted in the range of 30 degrees to 180 degrees.

11. 11. A beverage bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the twisted portion is formed in both the shoulder portion and the neck portion.

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