Stretch Sleeve Plastic Bottle for Stable Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic bottles face challenges in resource-saving production, stackability, and recyclability, with shrink sleeves requiring additional energy and material, and potentially causing distortions and recycling issues.

Innovation Solution

A plastic bottle design featuring a constant horizontal cross-section with a stretch sleeve band made of elastic plastic, such as polyethylene, that wraps around the jacket area, providing compression resistance and reducing material usage, while allowing for efficient stacking and easy recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shrink sleeve band is used to wrap the bottle body, then the band can be securely applied and provide labeling function, but additional energy is required for heating the shrink film and adhesive may be needed which causes recycling problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveband securityVSAvoidheating energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the band from a heat-shrinking film to an elastomeric material that relies on elastic deformation. The band is stretched during application and then contracts elastically to secure itself without requiring thermal energy input, thus resolving the contradiction between secure application and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical system (heating + adhesive) with a purely mechanical elastic system. The elastomeric band uses elastic deformation and recovery forces to achieve secure attachment, eliminating the need for heat treatment and adhesive materials, thereby solving both the energy consumption and recycling issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If a shrink sleeve band is used, then the band can be applied to the bottle, but shrinkage can lead to undesirable distortions in the print or layout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveband applicationVSAvoidprint distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material properties from heat-shrinking film to elastomeric material that is stretched during application. This reversal of deformation direction (stretching instead of shrinking) prevents print distortion while maintaining the band's ability to conform to the bottle surface and secure itself through elastic recovery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If additional adhesive is used between the band and bottle body, then the band can be securely fixed, but additional material is required and recycling becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveband securityVSAvoidadhesive material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive component from the band attachment system. The elastomeric band achieves secure fixation solely through its elastic deformation and recovery properties, removing the need for additional adhesive materials and simplifying the recycling process by reducing material complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomeric band serves its own attachment function through its inherent elastic properties. The band stretches during application and contracts to create securing force without requiring external adhesive materials, making the system self-sufficient and easier to recycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The stretch sleeve design enhances vertical compression resistance by 20% compared to bottles without a banderole, reduces material usage, and facilitates stable stacking and recycling, while maintaining transparency for content visibility.

Implementation Method 1

The band (stretch sleeve) is made of an elastic plastic material, which is preferably polyethylene (PE). The band can be pulled over the jacket region in a pre-tensioned, i.e. stretched, initial state and is then pressed against the outside of the jacket region by the elastic restoring forces.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The band acts like a reinforcing, circumferential sheathing, which pushes the jacket area inwards with a certain force and holds it in position. In this way, the band counteracts bulging of the jacket area, which can occur when the bottle is subjected to a compressive force in the vertical direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic restoring force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4245680B1Stackable plastic bottle with stretch-sleeve
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 HENKEL KGAA
  • EP4245680B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4245680B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4245680B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a bottle (1) with a bottle body (10) made of plastic and an associated closure (70).The bottle body (10) comprised: a shoulder (13), a neck (14) formed on the shoulder with a dispensing opening (15) which can be closed with the closure (70); a base (12) which has a stacking recess (41) projecting into a receiving space (40) of the bottle body (10), which is suitable for completely receiving the closure (70) and the neck (14) of an identical bottle (1a), so that when stacking an upper bottle (1b) on a lower bottle (1a) the weight of the upper bottle (1b) rests completely on the shoulder (13) of the lower bottle (1a); and a mantle area (11) extending between shoulder (13) and bottom (12) in a vertical direction of the bottle body (10) and comprising a front wall (18), a rear wall (19) opposite the front wall (18) and two side walls (20, 21) arranged between the front wall (18) and the rear wall (19).The invention is characterized in that a cross-section of the bottle body (10), which lies in a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to the vertical direction, is constant in shape and size over the entire height of the jacket area (11), wherein a band designed as a stretch sleeve is attached to an outside of the jacket area (11).