Plastic bottles and beverage products

Abstract

To provide an easily crushable plastic bottle, even though exhibiting corresponding strength with respect to being held by hand.SOLUTION: A plastic bottle comprises a mouth part, a shoulder part, a trunk part, and a bottom part. The shoulder part comprises a shoulder upper end part, and a shoulder main part extending from the shoulder upper end part. The shoulder upper end part is constituted in such a manner that a curvature center of an outer side surface of the plastic bottle is located outside the outer side surface. The shoulder part and the trunk part are divided by a first peripheral groove. The shoulder main part reaches the first peripheral groove from the shoulder upper end part. The trunk part comprises a trunk upper part extending toward the bottom part from the first peripheral groove, and a trunk lower part extending between the trunk upper part and the bottom part. The trunk upper part and the trunk lower part are divided by a second peripheral groove. The trunk lower part and the bottom part are divided by a third peripheral groove. A plurality of shoulder part vertical grooves are provided at the shoulder main part with equal angle pitches. A plurality of trunk part peripheral grooves are provided at the trunk upper part at equal intervals. A plurality of trunk part vertical grooves are provided at the trunk lower part at equal intervals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to plastic bottles and beverage products. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a heat-resistant bottle that can increase the radial rigidity of its body while maintaining its buckling strength. This heat-resistant bottle has a mouth, a shoulder, a body, and a bottom, and the body is provided with multiple annular grooves that extend continuously over its entire circumferential length. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-020703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Providing a circumferential groove along the entire circumference, such as the annular groove described in Patent Document 1, on the body of a plastic bottle is advantageous in that it allows the plastic bottle to be made thinner while still ensuring the necessary strength.

[0005] However, if the plastic bottle can be easily crushed after the beverage inside has been consumed, it is convenient for reducing the volume.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a plastic bottle and beverage product that are easy to crush while exhibiting adequate strength when held by hand. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present invention relates to a plastic bottle having a mouth, a shoulder extending from the mouth, a bottom having a bottom surface, and a body between the shoulder and the bottom, wherein the shoulder includes an upper shoulder end connected to the mouth and a main shoulder portion extending from the upper shoulder end, and the upper shoulder end is configured such that, in a vertical cross section of the plastic bottle, the center of curvature of the outer surface of the plastic bottle is located outside the outer surface, the shoulder and the body are separated by a first circumferential groove, and the main shoulder portion extends from the upper shoulder end to the first circumferential groove, and the body includes an upper body portion extending from the first circumferential groove toward the bottom, and a lower body portion extending between the upper body portion and the bottom. The upper body and the lower body are separated by a second circumferential groove, and the lower body and the bottom are separated by a third circumferential groove. The shoulder main portion is provided with a plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves at equal angular pitches extending in a direction parallel to the central axis of the plastic bottle. The upper body is provided with a plurality of body circumferential grooves extending around the entire circumference of the upper body. The lower body is provided with a plurality of body longitudinal grooves at equal intervals extending from the second circumferential groove or its vicinity to the third circumferential groove or its vicinity. Each of the plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves and each of the plurality of body longitudinal grooves have two opposing surfaces with a curvature radius of 2.5 mm or more and 8.0 mm or less in the cross section of the plastic bottle. .

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a beverage product, the beverage product including a plastic bottle according to the first aspect, a beverage filled in the plastic bottle, and a cap attached to the mouth of the plastic bottle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention provides a plastic bottle and beverage product that is easy to crush while exhibiting adequate strength when held by hand. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment taken along line BB in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment taken along line CC in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment taken along line AA or BB in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the function of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the shape of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 1A shows a plastic bottle according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B shows a plastic bottle of a comparative example. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a plastic bottle PB of one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic bottle PB taken along the AA plane in FIG. 1 (only the outer shape is shown). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic bottle PB taken along the BB plane in FIG. 1 (only the outer shape is shown). FIG. 4 is a plan view of the plastic bottle PB as seen from above. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plastic bottle PB taken along the CC plane in FIG. 4 (only the outer shape is shown). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic bottle PB taken along the AA plane or the BB plane in FIG. 1 (only the outer shape is shown). FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the function of the plastic bottle PB. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for explaining the shape of the plastic bottle PB.

[0015] The plastic bottle PB may have a mouth 10, a shoulder 20 extending from the mouth 10, a bottom 40 having a bottom surface, and a body 30 between the shoulder 20 and the bottom 40. After the plastic bottle PB is filled with a beverage, a cap (not shown) is attached to the mouth 10, thereby producing a beverage product. A label such as a shrink label or a roll label may be attached to the plastic bottle PB. The beverage may be, for example, a non-carbonated beverage such as tea (e.g., unfermented tea, semi-fermented tea, fermented tea), water, a soft drink, or a fruit juice, and the plastic bottle PB may be configured to be filled with, for example, a non-carbonated beverage.

[0016] The shoulder portion 20 may include an upper shoulder end portion 21 connected to the neck portion 10 and a main shoulder portion 22 extending from the upper shoulder end portion 21. As shown in FIG. 8 , the upper shoulder end portion 21 may be configured such that, in a longitudinal cross section of the plastic bottle PB, the center of curvature CC1 of the outer surface of the plastic bottle PB is located outside the outer surface PB. The shoulder portion 20 and the body portion 30 are separated by a first circumferential groove 51, and the main shoulder portion 22 extends from the upper shoulder end portion 21 to the first circumferential groove 51. The body portion 30 may include an upper body portion 31 extending from the first circumferential groove 51 toward the bottom portion 40 and a lower body portion 32 extending between the upper body portion 31 and the bottom portion 40. The lower body portion 32 may be understood as a portion extending to connect the second groove 52 and the third circumferential groove 53. The upper body portion 31 and the lower body portion 32 may be separated by the second circumferential groove 52. The lower body portion 32 and the bottom portion 40 may be separated by a third circumferential groove 53 .

[0017] The main shoulder portion 22 may be provided with a plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 extending in a direction parallel to the central axis CX of the plastic bottle PB (the height direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1 )) at equal angular pitches. The number of the shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 may be, for example, 10 to 22, preferably 14 to 18, and in one example, 16. The shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 are useful for increasing the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that crushes the plastic bottle PB in a direction parallel to the central axis CX. On the other hand, the shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 may act to weaken the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that crushes the plastic bottle PB in the radial direction (toward the central axis CX) (e.g., a force exerted by a user gripping the body portion 30). However, the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that acts in the radial direction (e.g., a force exerted by a user gripping the body portion 30) can be supplemented by a plurality of body circumferential grooves 35 provided in the upper body portion 31, as described below.

[0018] The upper body portion 31 may be provided with a plurality of circumferential body grooves 35 extending around the entire circumference of the upper body portion 31. The plurality of circumferential body grooves 35 may be provided, for example, at equal intervals. The number of the plurality of circumferential body grooves 35 is, for example, two or more and five or less, and in one example, three. The plurality of circumferential body grooves 35 is useful for increasing the strength of the plastic bottle PB against forces acting radially on the plastic bottle PB.

[0019] The lower body portion 32 may be provided with a plurality of evenly spaced body longitudinal grooves 36 extending from the second circumferential groove 52 or its vicinity to the third circumferential groove 53 or its vicinity. The number of the body longitudinal grooves 36 may be, for example, 10 to 22, preferably 14 to 18, and in one example, 16. The body longitudinal grooves 36 are useful for increasing the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that crushes the plastic bottle PB in a direction parallel to the central axis CX. On the other hand, the body longitudinal grooves 36 may act to weaken the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that crushes the plastic bottle PB in the radial direction. However, the strength of the plastic bottle PB against a force that acts in the radial direction on the plastic bottle PB can be supplemented by the body circumferential grooves 35 provided in the upper body portion 31.

[0020] As shown schematically in FIG. 7 , the configuration in which multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 are provided in the lower body 32 provides the function of allowing the lower body 32 to easily dent inward of the plastic bottle PB when a force that radially crushes the plastic bottle PB is applied to the lower body 32. After the lower body 32 dents inward of the plastic bottle PB, the upper body 31 can also easily dent inward of the plastic bottle PB. Therefore, after consuming the beverage filled in the plastic bottle PB, consumers can easily crush the plastic bottle PB to reduce its volume. Meanwhile, since multiple grooves 35 are provided in the upper body 31, which is held by a person when drinking a beverage, the strength of the plastic bottle PB against radial forces acting on the plastic bottle PB can be ensured by the multiple body circumferential grooves 35 under normal use conditions.

[0021] Although not shown in Figure 7, the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 provided in the shoulder main portion 22 also provide the function of allowing the shoulder main portion 22 to easily recess into the inside of the plastic bottle PB when a force is applied to the shoulder main portion 22 to radially crush the plastic bottle PB.

[0022] The depth of the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 is preferably smaller than the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35. In other words, the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35 is preferably larger than the depth of the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25. Similarly, the depth of the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 is preferably smaller than the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35. In other words, the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35 is preferably larger than the depth of the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36. This configuration is useful for radially crushing the plastic bottle PB after consumption of a beverage, while ensuring the strength of the body 30 against forces acting radially on the plastic bottle PB under normal use conditions. Here, it is preferable that the depth of both the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 and the depth of the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 are smaller than the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35.

[0023] It is desirable that the number of the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 is equal to the number of the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36. Furthermore, it is desirable that the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 and the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 are aligned in a direction parallel to the central axis CX of the plastic bottle PB, in other words, that the orientation of the shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 as viewed from the central axis CX of the plastic bottle PB is the same as the orientation of the body longitudinal grooves 36 as viewed from the central axis CX of the plastic bottle PB.

[0024] The depth of the shoulder grooves 25 may be, for example, 0.5 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less, and the depth of the body grooves 36 is 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

[0025] The depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35 is, for example, 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm, and preferably 0.8 mm to 1.6 mm. Here, the depth of the multiple body circumferential grooves 35 is preferably deeper than the depth of the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 and the depth of the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 within this numerical range.

[0026] The depths of the first circumferential groove 51, the second circumferential groove 52, and the third circumferential groove 53 are, for example, 1.7 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, and preferably 2.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less. Here, the depths of the first circumferential groove 51, the second circumferential groove 52, and the third circumferential groove 53 are preferably deeper than the depths of the multiple body portion circumferential grooves 35 within this numerical range.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 6, each of the shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 and each of the body longitudinal grooves 36 may have two opposing surfaces SF1, SF2 in the cross section of the plastic bottle PB. The radius of curvature RC of the opposing surfaces SF1, SF2 in the cross section of the plastic bottle PB may be, for example, 2.5 mm or more and 8.0 mm or less. The minimum angle α formed by the opposing surfaces SF1, SF2 may be, for example, 90 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less.

[0028] The first circumferential groove 51 may be located at a height of 60% to 70% of the height of the plastic bottle PB. The second circumferential groove 52 may be located at a height of 25% to 35% of the height of the plastic bottle PB. The plastic bottle PB may have a capacity of, for example, 600 mL to 660 mL. The plastic bottle PB may have a height of 215 mm to 225 mm.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, the shoulder main portion 22 can be configured such that the center of curvature CC2 of the outer surface of the shoulder main portion 22 is located inside the outer surface in the longitudinal cross section of the plastic bottle PB. The shoulder main portion 22 can include a portion of the outer surface where the radius of curvature R is 30 mm or more and 40 mm or less in the longitudinal cross section. This configuration is advantageous for increasing the capacity of the plastic bottle PB. FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show prototype plastic bottles manufactured to confirm the effect of increasing capacity. FIG. 9(a) shows a plastic bottle according to this embodiment, and FIG. 9(b) shows a comparative plastic bottle. The plastic bottle of FIG. 9(a) is configured such that the center of curvature CC2 of the outer surface of the shoulder main portion 22 is located inside the outer surface, and the shoulder main portion 22 includes a portion of the outer surface where the radius of curvature R is 35 mm in the longitudinal cross section. The plastic bottle in Figure 9(b) is configured so that the center of curvature CC2 of the outer surface of the main shoulder portion 22 is located outside the outer surface, and the main shoulder portion 22 includes a portion of the outer surface with a radius of curvature of 15 mm in the longitudinal cross section. The capacity of the plastic bottle in Figure 9(a) is 630 mL, which is approximately 37 mL larger than the capacity of the plastic bottle in Figure 9(b).

[0030] The plastic bottle PB can be formed by blow molding. As shown in FIG. 10, a flash CF formed by blow molding can be located midway between two adjacent shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 among the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25. Alternatively, a flash CF formed by blow molding can be located midway between two adjacent body longitudinal grooves 36 among the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36. From this perspective, it is preferable that the number of shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 and the number of body longitudinal grooves 36 are even numbers. Note that the flash CF is exaggerated in FIG. 10. By designing the position of the flash CF as described above, the multiple shoulder longitudinal grooves 25 can be uniformly formed, and the multiple body longitudinal grooves 36 can also be uniformly formed.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10: Mouth, 20: Shoulder, 21: Upper end of shoulder, 22: Main shoulder part, 25: Shoulder longitudinal groove, 30: Body, 31: Upper body, 32: Lower body, 35: Body circumferential groove, 36: Body longitudinal groove, 40: Bottom, 51: First circumferential groove, 52: Second circumferential groove, 53: Third circumferential groove, CX: Central axis, SF1, SF2: Opposing surfaces, CC1, CC2: Center of curvature, R: Radius of curvature, CF: Burr

Claims

1. A plastic bottle having a mouth, a shoulder extending from the mouth, a bottom having a bottom surface, and a body between the shoulder and the bottom, the shoulder portion includes an upper shoulder end portion connected to the mouth portion and a main shoulder portion extending from the upper shoulder end portion, The shoulder upper end portion is configured such that, in a vertical cross section of the plastic bottle, the center of curvature of the outer surface of the plastic bottle is located outside the outer surface; The shoulder portion and the body portion are separated by a first circumferential groove, and the shoulder main portion extends from the shoulder upper end portion to the first circumferential groove, the body portion includes an upper body portion extending from the first circumferential groove toward the bottom portion, and a lower body portion extending between the upper body portion and the bottom portion, The upper body section and the lower body section are separated by a second circumferential groove, The lower body portion and the bottom portion are separated by a third circumferential groove, The shoulder main portion has a plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves extending parallel to the central axis of the plastic bottle at equal angular intervals, The upper body portion is provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves extending around the entire circumference of the upper body portion, A plurality of longitudinal grooves are provided at equal intervals in the lower body portion, the longitudinal grooves extending from the second circumferential groove or its vicinity to the third circumferential groove or its vicinity, Each of the plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves and each of the plurality of body longitudinal grooves have two opposing surfaces with a curvature radius of 2.5 mm or more and 8.0 mm or less in a cross section of the plastic bottle. A plastic bottle characterized by:

2. The plurality of body circumferential grooves are provided at equal intervals, 2. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

3. a depth of the shoulder longitudinal grooves and a depth of the body longitudinal grooves are smaller than a depth of the body circumferential grooves; 3. The plastic bottle according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The number of the shoulder longitudinal grooves is equal to the number of the body longitudinal grooves.

4. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

5. The plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves and the plurality of body longitudinal grooves are aligned in a direction parallel to the central axis.

5. The plastic bottle according to claim 4.

6. The number of the shoulder longitudinal grooves and the number of the body longitudinal grooves are 10 or more and 22 or less.

6. The plastic bottle according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The depth of the shoulder grooves is equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and equal to or less than 0.9 mm; The depth of the plurality of body longitudinal grooves is 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

7. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

8. In the cross section, the minimum angle formed by the two opposing surfaces is 90 degrees or more and 120 degrees or less.

8. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

9. The depth of the plurality of body circumferential grooves is 0.8 mm or more and 1.6 mm or less.

7. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

10. The depths of the first circumferential groove, the second circumferential groove, and the third circumferential groove are greater than the depths of the plurality of body portion circumferential grooves. The plastic bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The first circumferential groove is located at a height of 60% to 70% of the height of the plastic bottle, The second circumferential groove is located at a height of 25% to 35% of the height of the plastic bottle. The plastic bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. the shoulder main portion is configured such that, in the longitudinal cross section, the center of curvature of the outer surface is located inside the outer surface; The shoulder main portion includes a portion in which the radius of curvature of the outer surface is 30 mm or more and 40 mm or less in the longitudinal cross section.

12. The plastic bottle according to claim 1.

13. a flash caused by blow molding is located between two adjacent shoulder longitudinal grooves among the plurality of shoulder longitudinal grooves; 13. The plastic bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A flash caused by blow molding is located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of body longitudinal grooves.

13. The plastic bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. The plastic bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 11; a beverage filled in the plastic bottle; a cap attached to the mouth of the plastic bottle; A beverage product comprising:

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