Plastic bottles and liquid products

Abstract

To provide a plastic bottle and a liquid product having a characteristic appearance in which a local constriction is provided in a part of a trunk.SOLUTION: A plastic bottle 1 of the present invention includes a mouth part 2, a trunk 3, and a bottom part 4. The trunk 3 includes an upper portion 31 connected to the mouth part 2, a lower portion 32 connected to the bottom part 4, and a connection portion 33 connecting the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32. At least one of the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32 is formed as a cylindrical portion 32. The connection portion 33 is provided as a portion having a reduced diameter compared with the cylindrical portion 32. The diameter of a smallest portion 33b having the smallest diameter of the connection portions 33 is 65% or more and 75% or less of the diameter of a part 32a connected to the connection portion 33 of the cylindrical portion 32, and the angle formed between the cylindrical portion 32 and the connection portion 33 is 130° or greater and 150° or smaller in a vertical section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plastic bottle and a liquid product filled with a liquid in the plastic bottle.

Background Art

[0002] Plastic bottles are widely used as containers for liquids such as beverages, drugs, and cosmetics for distribution, sales, storage, etc. Since these liquid products are often sold at retail stores for end consumers, it is important not only that the added value of the contents themselves is high, but also that the appearance is appealing to consumers. Therefore, various studies have been conducted on the shape of plastic bottles that can affect the appearance of liquid products. For example, in each of the plastic bottles shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the shape of the bottle and the like are devised so that a characteristic appearance is maintained even when the inside is in a pressurized state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the plastic bottles of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are based on a substantially cylindrical structure that easily obtains resistance to internal pressure, and it was not possible to achieve an appearance with a constriction. Further, in the plastic bottle of Patent Document 3, although an appearance with a constriction is desired, the shape in which the diameter of the body part is reduced as a whole is only realized, and it was not possible to achieve a local constriction.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to realize plastic bottles and liquid products that have a distinctive appearance with a localized constriction in part of the body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The plastic bottle according to the present invention is a plastic bottle comprising a mouth portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, wherein the body portion includes an upper portion connected to the mouth portion, a lower portion connected to the bottom portion, and a connecting portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion has an egg-shaped form with curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and the lower portion The material is formed as a cylindrical portion, the connecting portion is provided as a portion with a smaller diameter compared to the cylindrical portion, the diameter of the smallest portion of the connecting portion is 65% to 75% of the diameter of the portion of the cylindrical portion connected to the connecting portion, the angle between the cylindrical portion and the connecting portion in a vertical cross-section is 130° to 150°, and the length of the smallest portion is 1 mm to 10 mm.

[0007] Furthermore, the liquid product according to the present invention comprises a mouth portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, wherein the body portion includes an upper portion connected to the mouth portion, a lower portion connected to the bottom portion, and a connecting portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion has an egg-shaped form with curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and the lower portion The plastic bottle is characterized by being formed as a cylindrical portion, the connecting portion being provided as a portion that continuously decreases in diameter from the cylindrical portion, the diameter of the smallest portion of the connecting portion being 65% to 75% of the diameter of the cylindrical portion, the angle between the cylindrical portion and the connecting portion in a vertical cross-section being 130° to 150°, and the length of the smallest portion being 1 mm to 10 mm, and is filled with liquid.

[0008] These configurations make it possible to create plastic bottles and liquid products with a distinctive appearance, characterized by a localized constriction at the connection point, which is part of the body. Furthermore, because the pressure resistance of the connection point is relatively high, the constriction is easily maintained even after internal pressure is generated due to factors such as liquid filling.

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the examples of preferred embodiments described below.

[0010] In one embodiment, the plastic bottle according to the present invention preferably has a wall thickness of 0.25 mm or more and 0.45 mm or less at the connecting portion.

[0011] This configuration allows for both reducing material usage and providing pressure resistance to the connection points.

[0012] In one embodiment, the plastic bottle according to the present invention is preferably formed such that either the upper portion or the lower portion is formed as the cylindrical portion, and the other portion is formed in a shape having curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0013] This configuration allows for a distinctive design in the upper section and provides pressure resistance to the connection points.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid product is preferably a carbonated beverage, and the internal pressure of the plastic bottle is 0.3 MPa or more and 0.5 MPa or less.

[0015] This configuration makes it possible to achieve a distinctive constricted appearance at the connection point in carbonated beverage products classified as so-called highly carbonated.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer through the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the area around the connection portion of a plastic bottle according to an embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0018] Embodiments of the plastic bottle and the filled product according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an example in which the plastic bottle according to the present invention is applied to a plastic bottle 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as bottle 1) mainly filled with a carbonated beverage will be described. Also, an example in which the liquid product according to the present invention is applied to a carbonated beverage product (an example of a liquid product) in which bottle 1 is filled with a carbonated beverage will be described.

[0019] 〔Overall Structure of the Bottle〕 Bottle 1 includes a mouth portion 2, a body portion 3, and a bottom portion 4 (Fig. 1). The mouth portion 2 is provided with structures known in the art as the mouth of a bottle, such as a male screw portion 21 to which a cap (not shown) can be screwed, and a support ring 22. Further, the bottom portion 4 is formed in a petaloid shape having a plurality of grooves 41 and has a structure known in the art as a bottle for carbonated beverages. That is, as the mouth portion 2 and the bottom portion 4, known configurations in the art can be applied. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these parts will be omitted hereinafter. [[ID=,If the input text contains tags like , they should be preserved exactly as they are. The same applies to other tags like . For the text content, use appropriate English expressions to convey the meaning accurately. For example, "

発明を実施するための形態

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0020] In the present embodiment, the lower end of the support ring 22 is defined as the boundary between the mouth portion 2 and the body portion 3. Also, the upper end of the groove 41 provided in the bottom portion 4 is defined as the boundary between the body portion 3 and the bottom portion 4. In the field of plastic bottles to which the present invention belongs, a portion continuously provided at the mouth may be referred to as a neck portion, and a portion further below (bottom side) than the neck portion may be referred to as a body portion. However, in the present embodiment, the neck portion and the (narrow sense) body portion are not distinguished and are collectively treated as the body portion 3.

[0021] When using terms representing directions in the following description, unless otherwise specified, each term is used based on the posture when the bottle 1 is placed with the bottom 4 as the grounding part (that is, the posture shown in FIG. 1). For example, the vertical direction is the up-and-down direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1, and the horizontal direction is the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1. Also, the up-and-down direction is the up-and-down direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1.

[0022] The bottle 1 is designed particularly for filling carbonated beverages, but it does not prevent the accommodation of liquids other than carbonated beverages. Therefore, the liquid contained in the bottle 1 is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be soft drinks (fruit drinks, tea drinks, coffee drinks, tea-based drinks, mineral water, soy milk, vegetable drinks, sports drinks, cocoa drinks, etc.), alcoholic beverages, milk drinks and other beverages, liquid foods such as soups, liquid seasonings such as sauces and soy sauces, medicines, cosmetics, etc.

[0023] The bottle 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called PET bottle. The bottle 1 is obtained by stretching a preform by a stretching molding method such as biaxial stretch blow molding. In the present embodiment, the bottle 1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate and is colorless and transparent. The capacity of the bottle 1 is not particularly limited, and it can be about 200 mL to 2 L, such as 280 mL, 350 mL, 500 mL, etc. that are generally circulated, and it is preferably 500 to 2000 mL. In the following description, the case where the full filling capacity of the bottle 1 is 1035 mL will be described as an example.

[0024] However, as the material constituting the bottle 1, polyethylene terephthalate is representative, but it may also be polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. The bottle 1 made of any material can be obtained by a stretching molding method using a preform made of the material to be used as a raw material. Note that resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene can be supplied from a supply source selected from a petrochemical process, a recycling process such as used PET bottles, a process derived from plant-derived raw materials, etc., or a combination of these supply sources.

[0025] Bottle 1 may be a thinner-walled bottle compared to conventional bottles. Specifically, the ratio of the weight of Bottle 1 (in grams) to its full capacity (in mL) is preferably 0.025 g / mL or more and 0.050 g / mL or less, and more preferably 0.030 g / mL or more and 0.040 g / mL or less. When the weight ratio to full capacity is within the above range, the amount of resin used can be sufficiently reduced while ensuring appropriate strength, contributing to resource conservation and weight reduction of Bottle 1.

[0026] The bottle 1 according to this embodiment has a weight of 35 g. As mentioned above, the full capacity of bottle 1 is 1035 mL, so the ratio of the weight of bottle 1 to its full capacity is 0.034 g / mL. In this example, if the weight of bottle 1 is 31 g or more, it is easier to ensure sufficient wall thickness, which is good from the viewpoint of strength and yield. Furthermore, if the weight of bottle 1 is 41 g or less, it is preferable from the viewpoint of resource conservation. The weight of bottle 1 is more preferably 33 g or more, and even more preferably 40 g or more.

[0027] [Structure of the torso] The body portion 3 has an upper portion 31 connected to the opening portion 2, a lower portion 32 connected to the bottom portion 4, and a connecting portion 33 that connects the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32. The upper portion 31 generally has an egg-like shape with curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions. On the other hand, the lower portion 32 is formed as a cylindrical portion with a circular horizontal cross-section. Hereinafter, the lower portion 32 will be referred to as the cylindrical portion 32.

[0028] As mentioned above, the upper portion 31 is generally formed in an egg shape, but a base portion 31a is provided in the part connected to the connecting portion 33, and a design is realized in which the egg-shaped portion 31b, which is the main part of the upper portion 31, appears to be supported by the base portion 31a. The maximum diameter of the upper portion 31 is 79 mm, and this maximum diameter appears at a position of 24.8 mm from the lower end of the upper portion 31.

[0029] In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 32 is divided into a first portion 32a connected to the connecting portion 33 and a second portion 32b extending between the first portion 32a and the bottom portion 4. Both the first portion 32a and the second portion 32b are cylindrical, but the first portion 32a is provided with a slightly larger diameter than the second portion 32b. Specifically, the first portion 32a is formed as a cylinder with a diameter of 80 mm and a length of 4 mm, and the second portion 32b is formed as a cylinder with a diameter of 77.8 mm and a length of 96.2 mm. The lengths of the first portion 32a and the second portion 32b are defined as the vertical lengths of each portion.

[0030] The connecting portion 33 is provided as a portion that is smaller in diameter compared to the cylindrical portion 32. More specifically, the connecting portion 33 is divided into a frustoconical portion 33a connected to the cylindrical portion 32 and a minimum portion 33b extending between the upper portion 31 and the frustoconical portion 33a. The minimum portion 33b is the part of the connecting portion 33 with the smallest diameter and is formed as a cylindrical portion with a diameter of 56 mm and a length of 3 mm. As in this example, it is preferable that the length of the minimum portion 33b is between 1 mm and 10 mm, because this suppresses deformation of the connecting portion 33 when the bottle 1 is filled with a carbonated beverage. The length of the minimum portion 33b is defined as the length of the minimum portion 33b in the vertical direction.

[0031] The diameter of the first part 32a (the part connected to the connecting part 33) is 80 mm, and the diameter of the minimum part 33b is 56 mm. Therefore, the diameter of the minimum part 33b is 70% of the diameter of the first part 32a. As in this example, the ratio of the diameter of the minimum part 33b to the diameter of the first part 32a is set within the range of 65% to 75%.

[0032] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical section around the connecting portion 33. In this vertical section, the angle θ between the cylindrical portion 32 (first portion 32a) and the connecting portion 33 (frustoconical portion 33a) is 140°. As in this example, the angle θ between the cylindrical portion 32 and the connecting portion 33 is set within the range of 130° to 150°. The connecting portion between the cylindrical portion 32 (first portion 32a) and the connecting portion 33 (frustoconical portion 33a) is rounded to a radius of 8 mm.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the position where the diameter begins to expand at the upper end of the connecting portion 33 is defined as the boundary between the upper portion 31 and the connecting portion 33. Also, the position where the diameter begins to expand at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 32 is defined as the boundary between the cylindrical portion 32 and the connecting portion 33.

[0034] The wall thickness of bottle 1 is 0.35 mm, except for reinforced parts such as the bottom 4. In particular, in this embodiment, the wall thickness of the body 3 (upper part 31, cylindrical part 32, and connecting part 33) is 0.35 mm. As in this example, it is preferable for the wall thickness of bottle 1 to be 0.45 mm or less, as this can reduce the weight of bottle 1 and, consequently, the amount of material used. Also, if the wall thickness of bottle 1 is 0.25 mm or more, it is easier to increase the strength of bottle 1 (especially the connecting part 33).

[0035] [Composition of carbonated beverage products] The carbonated beverage product according to this embodiment is a bottle 1 filled with a carbonated beverage. The carbonated beverage is filled into the bottle 1 and the mouth 2 is sealed with a cap (not shown) and then used for distribution, sale, storage, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "distribution, etc.").

[0036] When a carbonated beverage is filled into bottle 1 and the mouth 2 is sealed, the internal pressure of bottle 1 increases. This internal pressure may cause bottle 1 to deform (bulge), and this deformation may be concentrated in areas with relatively low strength. Considering the shape of bottle 1 according to this embodiment, the egg-shaped upper portion 31 and the cylindrical portion 32 are both shapes with relatively high pressure resistance, so the pressure resistance of the connecting portion 33 is relatively low. Therefore, in bottle 1, the connecting portion 33 is a part where deformation due to increased internal pressure is of particular concern. However, in this embodiment, the characteristic structure of the connecting portion 33 suppresses deformation of the connecting portion 33 when bottle 1 is filled with a carbonated beverage.

[0037] Firstly, by setting the angle θ between the cylindrical portion 32 and the connecting portion 33 to 130° or more and 150° or less, the connecting portion 33 (frustoconical portion 33a) extends upward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 32 in a shape close to a sphere. As a result, pressure resistance similar to that of a sphere is obtained in the frustoconical portion 33a.

[0038] Secondly, by setting the ratio of the diameter of the minimum portion 33b to the diameter of the first portion 32a to 65% or more and 75% or less, the dimensions of the frustoconical portion 33a can be made sufficiently large, assuming that the angle θ is between 130° and 150°. Furthermore, the frustoconical portion 33a is none other than the part that functions as a pressure-resistant structure. Therefore, by setting the ratio of the diameter of the minimum portion 33b to the diameter of the first portion 32a to the above range, the frustoconical portion 33a can be given a level of pressure resistance that is sufficient to suppress deformation of the connecting portion 33.

[0039] Thirdly, by making the length of the minimum portion 33b between 1 mm and 10 mm, a relatively strong portion is provided at the upper end of the connection portion 33. This further enhances the pressure resistance of the entire connection portion 33.

[0040] Due to the above features, the pressure resistance of the connection portion 33 is enhanced, so that deformation of the connection portion 33 can be suppressed even if the gas pressure of the carbonated beverage filled into the bottle 1 is at a high level (for example, 0.5 MPa or more when filled at 20°C). As a result, the distinctive design of the connection portion 33 with its constriction is maintained even after the carbonated beverage is filled into the bottle. In other words, a distinctive appearance can be given to carbonated beverage products that are put into distribution, etc.

[0041] In the carbonated beverage product according to this embodiment, the internal pressure of bottle 1 is 0.45 MPa. This internal pressure is lower than the value at the time of filling (0.5 MPa) as described above, because some of the carbon dioxide gas escapes during distribution. As in this example, when the internal pressure of bottle 1 in a carbonated beverage product is between 0.3 MPa and 0.5 MPa, it is filled with a carbonated beverage classified as so-called highly carbonated, and the bottle 1 is under conditions where it is prone to deformation. Even under such conditions, applying bottle 1 according to this embodiment can suppress deformation of bottle 1 (especially the connecting portion 33).

[0042] The internal pressure of bottle 1 in a carbonated beverage product refers to the internal pressure measured at 20°C for a carbonated beverage product in which the bottle 1 has been filled with the carbonated beverage, the opening 2 has been sealed with a cap, and the product has not been opened since. The fact that bottle 1 has not been opened since being filled with the carbonated beverage can be confirmed, for example, by checking that the tamper-evident ring on the cap is not broken.

[0043] [Other Embodiments] Finally, other embodiments of the plastic bottle and liquid product according to the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations disclosed in each of the following embodiments can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as this does not create a conflict.

[0044] In the above embodiment, a configuration was described as in which the upper portion 31 of the body 3 is formed in an egg shape and the lower portion 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape. However, for the plastic bottle according to the present invention, it is sufficient that at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion is formed as a cylindrical portion. Therefore, in addition to the above embodiment, only the upper portion may be cylindrical, or both the upper portion and the lower portion may be cylindrical.

[0045] In the above embodiment, a carbonated beverage product in which a carbonated beverage is filled into a bottle 1 was described as an example, and the case in which the internal pressure of the bottle 1 is 0.45 MPa was illustrated. However, in the liquid product according to the present invention, the liquid filled into the plastic bottle is not limited to carbonated beverages, nor is its internal pressure limited.

[0046] With regard to other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, other embodiments modified without departing from the spirit of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0047] The present invention can be used, for example, in containers for filling carbonated beverages. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1: Plastic bottle 2: Mouth 21: Male threaded portion 22: Support Ring 3: Torso 31: Upper part 31a: Base part 31b: Oval part 32: Lower part (cylindrical part) 32a: first part 32b :Second part 33: Connection part 33a: Truncated cone portion 33b :Minimum part 4: Bottom 41: Groove θ: Angle between the cylindrical part and the connecting part

Claims

1. A plastic bottle comprising a mouth, a body, and a bottom, The body portion includes an upper portion connected to the mouth, a lower portion connected to the bottom, and a connecting portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion has an egg-shaped form with curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The lower portion is formed as a cylindrical portion, The connecting portion is provided as a portion that is smaller in diameter compared to the cylindrical portion. The diameter of the smallest portion of the connecting portion is 65% or more and 75% or less of the diameter of the portion of the cylindrical portion that is connected to the connecting portion. In a vertical cross-section, the angle between the cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is 130° or more and 150° or less. A plastic bottle in which the length of the minimum portion is 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

2. The plastic bottle according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness at the connection portion is 0.25 mm or more and 0.45 mm or less.

3. The plastic bottle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein either the upper portion or the lower portion is formed as the cylindrical portion, and the other portion is formed in a shape having curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

4. It comprises a mouth, a body, and a bottom, The body portion includes an upper portion connected to the mouth, a lower portion connected to the bottom, and a connecting portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion has an egg-shaped form with curvature in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The lower portion is formed as a cylindrical portion, The aforementioned connecting portion is provided as a portion that continuously decreases in diameter from the cylindrical portion, The diameter of the smallest part of the connection portion is 65% or more and 75% or less of the diameter of the cylindrical portion. In a vertical cross-section, the angle between the cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is 130° or more and 150° or less. A liquid product in which a liquid is filled into a plastic bottle having a minimum length of 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

5. The aforementioned liquid is a carbonated beverage, The liquid product according to claim 4, wherein the internal pressure of the plastic bottle is 0.3 MPa or more and 0.5 MPa or less.

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