REUSABLE BOTTLE MADE OF PLASTIC

Abstract

A reusable bottle (1) made of plastic, in particular for carbonated soft drinks, defining a longitudinal axis (X), comprising an upper portion (2) defining an opening (20) extending about said longitudinal axis (X); a side wall (3); a lower portion (4), defining a closed bottom (40); wherein the lower portion (4) comprises: a heel (5), in particular an annular heel; a standing ring (6), extending from the heel (5) and defining the lower standing surface of the bottle (1); a central dome (7), in particular concave outwards; wherein said heel (5) is concave towards the outside of the bottle (1); and wherein the projection (H) of the heel (5) on said longitudinal axis (X) has a length from 7 to 14% with respect to the total height (H1) of the bottle (1) along the longitudinal axis (X).

Claims

1. A reusable bottle made of plastic, in particular for carbonated soft drinks, defining a longitudinal axis, comprising an upper portion defining an opening extending about said longitudinal axis; a side wall; a lower portion, defining a closed bottom; wherein the lower portion comprises: a heel, in particular an annular heel; a standing ring, extending from the heel and defining the lower standing surface of the bottle; a central dome, in particular concave outwards; wherein said heel is concave towards the outside of the bottle; and wherein the projection of the heel on said longitudinal axis has a length from 7 to 14% with respect to the total height of the bottle along the longitudinal axis.

2. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the heel on said longitudinal axis has a length from 8 to 11% with respect to the total height of the bottle along the longitudinal axis.

3. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the heel has a radius of curvature from 100 to 1000 mm, preferably from 300 to 600 mm.

4. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the heel on said longitudinal axis has a length from 20 to 45 mm.

5. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the heel on said longitudinal axis has a length from 20 to 38 mm.

6. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein a tangent line to an inner surface of the heel forms an acute angle from 30 to 40, or from 35 to 39, with said longitudinal axis.

7. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein an inflection point is present between the heel and said standing ring.

8. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein the standing ring is convex towards the outside of the bottle.

9. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, made of PET.

10. The reusable bottle according to claim 9, wherein the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation in the standing ring is at least 29%, preferably from 29% to 32%, preferably from 29.7% to 31.2%.

11. The reusable bottle according to claim 9, wherein the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation of the inner surface of the standing ring is at least 45%, preferably from 45 to 49%, preferably from 46.8 to 48.5%.

12. The reusable bottle according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion comprises an annular portion, convex towards the outside of the bottle, extending from the heel upwards; in particular, arranged between the heel and said side wall.

13. A mold component, or mold bottom, configured to mold said lower portion of a bottle according to claim 1, wherein the projection of the heel on said longitudinal axis has a length from 7 to 14% with respect to the total height of the bottle along the longitudinal axis.

14. The mold component according to claim 13, having a molding surface comprising: a first surface portion, which is annular, convex and adapted to mold said heel; a second surface portion, which is annular, concave and adapted to mold said standing ring; a third surface portion adapted to mold said central dome; in particular, wherein said first annular surface portion and said second annular surface portion are adjacent to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In the description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bottle according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a front view of part of the bottle of FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows section A-A in FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of a component of a mold adapted to mold the lower portion of the bottle of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows section B-B in FIG. 4.

[0046] The same elements or components have the same reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0047] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, exemplary embodiments are described of a reusable bottle 1 made of plastic, in particular for carbonated soft drinks, according to the invention.

[0048] In all embodiments, the bottle 1 defines a longitudinal axis X and comprises [0049] an upper portion 2 defining an opening 20 extending about said longitudinal axis X; [0050] a side wall 3; [0051] a lower portion 4, defining a closed bottom 40; [0052] wherein the lower portion 4 comprises: [0053] a heel 5, in particular an annular heel; [0054] a standing ring 6, extending from the heel 5 and defining the lower standing surface, or support surface, of the bottle 1; [0055] a central dome 7, in particular concave outwards.

[0056] Advantageously, said heel 5 is concave towards the outside of the bottle 1. In particular, the heel 5 is formed by an annular portion, completely extending about the axis X, the outer surface of which is concave, in particular completely concave, towards the outside of the bottle 1. The inner surface of the heel 5, in particular, is convex inwards.

[0057] Advantageously, furthermore, the projection H of the heel 5 on said longitudinal axis X has a length (or height) from 7 to 14% with respect to the total height H1 of the bottle 1 along the longitudinal axis X.

[0058] Optionally, the aforesaid projection H of the heel 5 on said longitudinal axis X has a length (or height) from 8 to 11% with respect to the total height H1 of the bottle 1 along the longitudinal axis X.

[0059] In particular, the aforesaid total height H1 extends from the lower end of the bottle 1, defined by the standing ring 6, to the upper end of the bottle 1, defined by said upper portion 2.

[0060] Preferably, the heel 5 has a radius of curvature R from 100 to 1000 mm, preferably from 300 to 600 mm.

[0061] Preferably, the projection H of the heel 5 on said longitudinal axis X has a length from 20 to 45 mm or from 20 to 38 mm.

[0062] Preferably, the tangent line T to the inner surface of the heel 5 forms an acute angle with axis X, preferably from 30 to 40, or from 35 to 39, for example equal to about 38. The aforesaid angle is, in particular, the angle proximal to the bottle 1.

[0063] The heel 5, in particular, is between the standing ring 6 and the side wall 3. The heel 5, in particular, extends downwards with respect to the side wall 3, in particular downwards and inwards.

[0064] The standing ring 6 is preferably convex towards the outside of the bottle 1.

[0065] Preferably, there is an inflection point F between the heel 5 and the standing ring 6.

[0066] Preferably, the lower portion 4 comprises an annular portion 8, convex towards the outside of the bottle 1, extending from the heel 5 upwards. In particular, said annular portion 8 is arranged between the heel 5 and the side wall 3.

[0067] Preferably, said annular portion 8 is adjacent to both the heel 5 and the side wall 3. Alternatively, the annular portion 8 may also have a different shape, or it may not be provided. In the latter case, the heel 5 extends directly from the side wall 3.

[0068] In all the embodiments, preferably, the heel 5 is radially more inwards with respect to the side wall 3. In other words, the heel 5 extends inwardly with respect to the side wall 3. The heel 5 and the side wall 3 are, in particular, coaxial with respect to each other. When the annular portion 8 is present, preferably, the heel 5 is radially more inwards with respect to said annular portion 8.

[0069] The central dome 7 is concave or substantially concave outwardly (i.e., convex inwardly). The central dome 7, in particular, extends upwards with respect to said standing ring 6. In other words, the central dome 7 is recessed with respect to the standing ring 6. The central dome 7, in particular, is radially more inwards with respect to the standing ring 6.

[0070] The upper portion 2, in particular, comprises the neck 21 of the bottle 1. The neck 21 preferably comprises a threaded portion, so as to allow screwing a cap capable of closing the opening 20. The neck 21 is preferably provided with an annular flange 22, also called neck ring.

[0071] The side wall 3 is, in particular, between the upper portion 2 and the heel 5. The side wall 3 is, in particular, below the upper portion 2 and above the heel 5.

[0072] Preferably and advantageously, with respect to a conventional bottle of the same weight, a bottle 1 according to the invention has a greater wall thickness of the side wall 3 and/or a greater wall thickness of the standing ring 8 and/or a lesser wall thickness of the central dome 7.

[0073] Preferably, with respect to a conventional bottle, in a bottle 1 according to the invention the percentage increase in the wall thickness of the side wall 3 is from 9% to 12% (for example is equal to about +9.8%) and/or the percentage increase in the wall thickness of the standing ring 6 is from 12% to 18% (for example from +12.5% to +13%) and/or the reduction in the wall thickness of the central dome 7 is from 3% to 7% (for example, from 3.4% to 6.1%).

[0074] By way of explanation and not by way of limitation, preferably, for a bottle 1 having, for example but not exclusively, a capacity of 3 liters, the wall thickness of the side wall 3 is from 0.67 to 0.68 mm and/or the wall thickness of the standing ring 6 is from 2.25 to 2.33 mm and/or the wall thickness of the central dome 7 is from 3.85 to 4.01 mm. In particular, preferably, with respect to a conventional bottle, given the same weight, a 3 liter bottle according to the invention has a wall thickness of the side wall 3 which is about 9.8% greater; a wall thickness of the standing ring 6 which is from 12.5% to 13% greater and a wall thickness of the central dome 7 which is from 3.4% to 6.1% lesser.

[0075] In all the embodiments, the bottle 1 is preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0076] Preferably, and advantageously, the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation in the standing ring 6 is at least 29%, preferably from 29% to 32%, preferably from 29.7% to 31.2%.

[0077] Preferably, and advantageously, the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation in the side wall 3 is at least 39%, preferably from 39% to 52%, preferably from 39.6% to 51.3%.

[0078] Preferably, and advantageously, the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation of the inner surface of the standing ring 6 is at least 45%, preferably from 45% to 49%, preferably from 46.8% to 48.5%.

[0079] Preferably, the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation of the outer surface of the standing ring 6 is from 12% to 14%, preferably from 12.6 to 13.8%.

[0080] Values relating to a preferred example of the bottle 1 according to the invention are set out below. Values relating to a conventional bottle, of the type having an outward convex heel, are also set out. In order to be able to make a comparison, conventional bottles and bottles according to the invention having the same weight (i.e., made with the same amount of material), were considered.

[0081] In Table 1 the values of PET in the Trans conformation in the side wall and in the standing ring are reported.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 INVENTION CONVENTIONAL Trans % Trans % Side wall 39.6-51.3 42.1-56.2 Standing ring 29.7-31.2 23.8-25.1

[0082] Table 2 shows the values of PET in the Trans conformation on the inner surface of the standing ring and on the outer surface of the standing ring.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 INVENTION CONVENTIONAL Trans % Trans % Inner surface of the 46.8-48.5 34.1-36.1 standing ring Outer surface of the 12.6-13.8 13.6-14.1 standing ring

[0083] Advantageously, a bottle 1 according to the invention has on average a higher percentage of PET in the Trans conformation with respect to a conventional bottle. Therefore, a bottle 1 according to the invention has a greater chemical-physical resistance with respect to a conventional bottle.

[0084] This was confirmed by the number of washing cycles. In particular, tests have been carried out which have shown that a bottle 1 according to the invention is capable of undergoing at least 40 washing cycles without being damaged, i.e., a number of cycles approximately 10 times greater with respect to a conventional bottle.

[0085] Advantageously, in particular, the conformation of the lower portion of the bottle allows a better stretching of the polymer chains in the standing ring, such that the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation in the standing ring is suitably increased, in particular on the inner surface of the standing ring.

[0086] The increase in the percentage of PET in the Trans conformation which is obtained in a bottle 1 according to the invention is from 34% to 37% for the inner surface of the standing ring 6, which is adapted to contact the carbonated drink. For the outer surface of the standing ring 6, a decrease of 2% to 8% was observed.

[0087] The shape of the lower portion 4 of the bottle 1 according to the invention allows a better distribution of the polymer material in the standing ring 6 and also allows to obtain a higher percentage of PET in the Trans conformation on the inner surface of the standing ring 6, whereby a greater chemical-physical resistance is obtained.

[0088] Therefore, a bottle 1 according to the invention may also be made with less material with respect to a conventional bottle, without loss of performance.

[0089] Advantageously, as already mentioned, a bottle 1 according to the invention may have a wall thickness of the side wall 3 and/or of the standing ring 6 greater with respect to a conventional bottle. Furthermore, a bottle 1 according to the invention may preferably have a wall thickness of the central dome 7 which is lower with respect to a conventional bottle.

[0090] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the invention also relates to a component 100 of a mold, or mold bottom, configured to mold said lower portion 4 of a bottle 1. In particular, the component 100 has a molding surface 104 comprising: [0091] a first surface portion 105, which is annular, convex and adapted to mold said heel 5; [0092] a second surface portion 106, which is annular, concave and adapted to mold said standing ring 6; [0093] a third surface portion 107 adapted to mold said central dome 7.

[0094] In particular, said first annular surface portion 105 and said second annular surface portion 106 are adjacent to each other.

[0095] In particular, said first surface portion 105 is convex so as to allow molding the heel 5 concave towards the outside of the bottle 1.

[0096] Preferably, said molding surface 104 also comprises a fourth portion of annular surface 108 adapted to mold said annular portion 8. Preferably, said portion of annular surface 108 is concave, so as to allow molding an annular portion 8 convex outwards.