Compressible plastic container with base cup

Abstract

A container, in particular a plastic container with a base region, a main body which adjoins this base region and is suitable to receive a volume of liquid, and with a mouth region, wherein the container can be compressed along its longitudinal direction for the removal of liquid located in the container is provided. On the base region a base cup is disposed which forms a base surface for the container and which when the container is compressed can also serve as a die element and/or die counter-element for compressing the container.

Claims

1. A plastic container comprising: a mouth region, a base region with a bottom surface and side surfaces; and a main body which adjoins this base region and is suitable to receive a volume of liquid, wherein the plastic container can be compressed along its longitudinal direction for the removal of liquid located in the plastic container, a contact element having a body with a downwardly directed surface, said contact element disposable about the mouth region, a base cup disposable about the base region, said plastic container being compressible between the contact element and the base cup, wherein when the plastic container is compressed, the downwardly directed surface of the contact element geometrically corresponds to an inner surface of the bottom of the base region of the plastic container to empty the container as completely as possible.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the base cup facing the base region of the container is at least in sections adapted to a die element which serves for compressing the container and which is movable relative to the base region in a longitudinal direction of the container.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the contact element is designed as a die element and the container can be compressed between the base cup and the die element.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the base cup lying at least partially in contact on the base region of the container and a surface of the contact element lying at least partially in contact on the mouth region of the container are co-ordinated with one another geometrically in such a way that when the contact element and the base cup are advanced towards one another a distance between these surfaces is defined at least in sections substantially only by a wall of the container.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the contact element is geometrically adapted to the base cup in such a way that two similar containers can be stacked one above the other in a longitudinal direction of the containers.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the contact element has a carrying element with an opening through which a mouth portion of the container can be passed.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base cup and the contact element are made from a material which is selected from a group of plastic materials which includes polypropylene or polyethylene.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the base region, the main body and the mouth region of the container are formed in one piece.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein a shoulder and the mouth region of the container when pushed into the base region is surrounded by the base cup.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the base cup has a convex structure.

11. The container according to claim 1, wherein said base cup which forms a base surface for the container and which when the container is compressed can also serve as a die element or a die counter-element for compressing the container.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the mouth region of the container, which in an uncompressed state of the container is located outside a hollow space surrounded by the base cup and is located inside the hollow space surrounded by the base cup when in a compressed state, and wherein a fold edge is formed in the container during compression such that when the container is compressed, said fold edge is outside a hollow space surrounded by the base cup.

13. Die elements for use with a plastic container, said plastic container has having a mouth region, a base region, and a main body which adjoins this base region and is suitable to receive a volume of liquid, wherein the container can be compressed along its longitudinal direction for removal of liquid located in the plastic container, said die elements comprising: a contact element having a body with a downwardly directed convex surface, said contact element disposable about the mouth region, a base cup, disposable about the base region, said plastic container being compressible between the contact element and the base cup, wherein when the plastic container is compressed, the downwardly directed convex surface of the contact element geometrically corresponds to an inner surface of the base region of the plastic container to empty the container as completely as possible.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a container;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a representation of two containers stacked one above the other;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a representation of a folded container;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a further representation of a folded container;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a further perspective representation of a container;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a representation of two containers stacked one inside the other;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective representation of a container;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a view from below of the container shown in FIG. 4;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a sectional representation of a folded container;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a plurality of containers stacked one above the other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a container 1 according to embodiments of the invention. This container 1 has a base region 6 adjoined by a main body 4. This main body 4 in turn adjoins a mouth or shoulder region 2 respectively. In this case the majority of a liquid in the container is located in the region surrounded by the main body of the container. The reference numeral L designates a longitudinal direction of the container along which the container 1 is also compressed.

(13) The reference numeral 10 designates a base cup which is disposed on the base region. In this case it can be seen that in a region A1 this base cup lies directly in contact on the base region 6 and in a further region A2 is distanced from the base region. In this case the region A1, along which the base cup 10 lies in contact on the base region 6, is of rotationally symmetrical or circular construction respectively (when viewed in a projection along the longitudinal direction L). Furthermore, however, the surface A2 along which the base cup does not lie in contact on the base region 6 is of annular construction and extends here in a curved manner and in this section merges into the main body 4.

(14) The reference numeral 8 designates a contact element which lies in contact on the shoulder region of the container. In this case again a region A3 can be seen in which this contact element lies in contact on the shoulder 2 of the container. The reference numeral 14 designates a closure on which the container is disposed. In this case it is possible that this contact element 8 is held between the shoulder region 2 and a carrying ring 18 of the container. In a compression operation of the container 1 this contact element 8 acts as a die and in particular co-operates with the base cup 10. Thus the container is compressed in particular in its longitudinal direction between the contact element and the base cup. The reference numeral 22 relates to a supporting foot region of the base cup 10 and the reference numeral 26 relates to a circumferential and vertical wall section.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a representation of two containers 1 disposed one above the other. It will be recognised that the contact part 8 of the lower container can co-operate or interengage respectively with a base cup 10 of the container disposed above it. In this case it is possible that corresponding projections and webs which are adapted to corresponding recesses on the base cup (or vice versa) enable such an interengagement of two containers disposed one above the other. Thus as mentioned above an upper face of the contact element is adapted to an underneath face of the base cup (in particular of a further container).

(16) FIG. 3 shows a representation in which the container has been compressed or folded together respectively by means of a die element. A circumferential fold edge can be seen which is moved downwards during the compression of the container. The reference numeral 50 designates a die which serves for folding of the container. This is in particular a die which is not a component of a tap system but which serves for deforming the plastic containers in order to make them transportable. Within the context of the production it is possible that first of all the container is finished (for example blow moulded) and is then compressed by means of a compression device, in this case in particular by means of the die 50, so that the container can be transported in a more lightweight and space-saving manner.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a variant of the configuration of the base cup. In addition to the contact element the base cup could also be configured so that it can be clipped on. For this purpose a snap element is conceivable in the centre of the container base on which the base cup can be fastened or snapped on respectively.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a further perspective representation of a container according to embodiments of the invention. Here too the base cup 10 can be seen as well as the main body 4 and the shoulder region 8. In turn the closure 14 can also be seen which serves for closure of the container. At the same time the contact element 8 can also serve to receive further elements such as for instance a tap line.

(19) FIG. 6 shows a representation of two containers stacked one inside the other. In this case the representation of a container corresponds substantially to FIG. 3, whereby it can be seen that the two containers and also several containers can be stacked one inside the other, so that in this way a transport of the containers is simplified.

(20) FIG. 7 shows a further perspective representation of a container. The base cup 10 and also the contact element 8 can also be seen here. It will be seen that the container as a whole has a convex structure, so that for the purpose of the compression both the contact element and also the base cup 10 can be used and that the container or the main body thereof located between these two elements can be compressed.

(21) FIG. 8 shows a further representation from below of the container shown in FIG. 7. It can be seen here that the base cup 10 has an annular portion 102 which also serves here as a base surface. Furthermore a plurality of reinforcing ribs 104 can be seen which connect the ring 102 to a central region 106. In this case as mentioned above the region 106 preferably lies flat on the base surface of the particular plastic container.

(22) FIG. 9 shows a sectional representation of a container 1 in a compressed state. Again it can be seen that the base region 6 lies in the base cup. Also the fold edge 32 can again be seen, along which the container has been folded together. The reference numeral 24 designates a mouth region or a mouth of the container and the reference numeral 28 designates an annular receiving section of the contact element 8 which surrounds the mouth region. Fixing sections 82 can also be seen which are disposed on the contact segment and which from below lie in contact on a carrying ring 18 of the container in order thus to fix the contact segment to the container. Furthermore it will be recognised that a downwardly directed surface 86 of the contact element is adapted to an outer surface 88 of the base cup 10, in order as mentioned above to empty the container as completely as possible.

(23) FIG. 10 finally shows a plurality of containers stacked one above the other. It will be recognised that with the exception of one base pallet 72 the containers 10 do not require any further pallets but can be stacked directly one above the other.

(24) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(25) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(26) 1 container 2 mouth or shoulder region respectively 4 main body 6 base region 8 contact element, die 10 base cup 14 closure 18 carrying ring of the container 22 supporting foot region 24 mouth 26 circumferential vertical section 28 annular receiving section 32 fold edge 50 die 72 base pallet 82 fixing section 86 surface of the contact element 88 surface of the base cup 102 annular section 104 reinforcing ribs 106 central region A1, A2 regions of the base region 6 A3 region of the shoulder region