Untitled record

The invention relates to a plastic bottle for packaging foodstuffs, in particular beverages, as described in the preamble of claim 1.

Containers made of plastic materials for packaging food or beverages have been known for some time. In the beverage trade in particular, bottles made of thermoplastic polyester with particularly thin walls, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are used as so-called PET bottles or PET lightweight bottles, both as disposable and returnable bottles. Such plastic bottles are preferably produced with particularly thin wall or material thicknesses.

It is now common practice to keep drinks filled in such plastic bottles in refrigerated showcases and to offer them for sale in a chilled state.

After removing these beverage bottles, however, it is known that the contained beverages are reheated relatively quickly. Particularly in the case of plastic bottles with a relatively large capacity, such as the 11 or 1.51 plastic bottles usually used, the problem is also known that when the contents are poured into a drinking vessel, for example, due to the weight shifting of the drink or The weight of the drink itself causes a sudden deformation of the container wall, which also creates the risk of spilling some of the contents of the bottle.

In order to give these plastic bottles adequate dimensional stability, in spite of their particularly thin-walled design, especially when filled, various structural measures have already been proposed to improve the mechanical stability of the plastic bottles. For example, from DE 696 06 084 T2 a pressure-resistant and self-standing container is known, the bottom section of which has recess sections

AT 006 627 U2 and a plurality of foot sections that alternate with one another are formed. The foot sections or recess sections extend in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the plastic bottle. In addition to structural measures, it is known from DE 696 06 084 T2 to subject the container or partial areas of the container, in particular the base section, to a heat treatment.

In recent years, the single-use PET (polyethylene) bottle for packaging food has gained significantly in importance. On the one hand, the almost limitless color and design, and on the other hand, the high convenience benefits for consumers were responsible for this development. So far, however, the problem of the relatively rapid heating of the products in these containers at high outside temperatures could not be solved.

Common processes for the production of single-walled PET bottles are the stretch blow molding process and the injection molding process. Both methods are state of the art and should not be described further here. In the blow-in process, bottles are blown into corresponding molded parts from prefabricated preforms - a process step. In the injection molding process, PET granulate is injected into corresponding molded parts under high pressure using an extruder under the influence of heat.

The object of the invention is to create a plastic bottle with improved mechanical and thermal properties.

The object of the invention is achieved by a plastic bottle for packaging food, in particular beverages, in that the container wall is formed from an inner container and an outer shell, the outer shell being at least partially spaced from an outer surface of the inner container by a normal distance and a upper end region of the outer shell and an upper end region of the inner container is connected to the shoulder part. The advantage of this plastic bottle is that it can be produced inexpensively with little material expenditure and is therefore also suitable as a disposable product, but at the same time also has good dimensional stability when filled and a significantly greater thermal insulation effect compared to single-walled plastic bottles.

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The further development of the plastic bottle, wherein the mouth part and the shoulder part and the inner container are formed in one piece, offers the advantage of being easy to manufacture. In the most favorable case, only two parts are required to manufacture the plastic bottle, namely the outer shell and the unit formed from the mouth part, the shoulder part and the inner container.

The further development of the plastic bottle is also advantageous, the mouth part being designed with a thread for connection to a closure cap, since this allows the plastic bottle to be closed again in a simple manner and thus it can also be used several times or as a reusable bottle can also be provided for refilling .

The design of the plastic bottle, in which spacing elements are arranged between the outer surface of the inner container and an inner side of the outer shell, offers the advantage of improved dimensional stability. Since the outer shell as well as the inner container are preferably designed with very thin walls, the weight of the food or the inside of the plastic bottle alone can be used. Beverage suffice to deform the inner container to such an extent that its outer surface touches the inside of the outer shell, which would impair the heat-insulating effect of the container wall. By arranging the spacing elements between the outer surface of the inner container and the inside of the outer shell, the relative spatial position of the outer shell with respect to the spatial position of the inner container can advantageously be maintained largely unchanged.

The further development of the plastic bottle is also advantageous in which the spacing elements are formed by first webs formed on the inside in a bottom area of ​​the outer shell, which are plate-shaped and are aligned parallel and at least approximately radially to the longitudinal center axis, since this means that the outer shell and the inner container are relatively can be centered to each other. Although the spacing elements designed as webs provide a point of increased thermal conductivity between the outer shell and the inner container, due to the plate-shaped design of the webs and their parallel or radial alignment with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the plastic bottle, these webs are only with their narrow sides with the Outer shell or

AT 006 627 U2 the inner container in contact, whereby the heat transfer in these areas can be kept very low.

The development of the plastic bottle, according to which the webs in the bottom area of ​​the outer shell extend between an inside of the side wall area of ​​the outer shell and an inside of the bottom area of ​​the outer shell, the advantage is achieved that the plate-shaped or flat webs have greater rigidity. This is particularly advantageous if the webs are attached both to the inside of the outer shell and to the outer surface of the inner container, since the container wall then has an increased rigidity against torsional loads, as occurs when opening or closing a threaded cap can occur.

The design of the plastic bottle is also advantageous, the outer surface of the inner container in a bottom area of ​​the inner container being formed by elevations and depressions aligned radially to the longitudinal center axis, since the elevations and depressions formed in the bottom area of ​​the inner container improve dimensional stability and rigidity of the floor area of ​​the Inner bottle is achievable.

The design of the plastic bottle, according to which webs of the outer shell protrude into depressions in the bottom area of ​​the inner container, has the advantage that the outer shell and the inner container are secured against undesired relative rotation. This is particularly advantageous when the plastic bottle or the connection point between the outer shell and the shoulder part of the plastic bottle are designed with a circular cross-section and the connection area between the outer shell and the shoulder area of ​​the plastic bottle itself is not secured against rotation. On the other hand, in the event that the connection between the outer container and the shoulder area of ​​the plastic bottle does not allow any rotation, the torsional rigidity of the container wall is increased overall by the webs of the outer shell protruding into the depressions in the bottom area of ​​the inner container.

The development of the plastic container, according to which further spacing elements are formed by second webs formed on the inside in the upper end region of the outer shell, which are plate-shaped and parallel and at least approximately radial to

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Longitudinal central axis is aligned, on the one hand, offers the advantage of increased rigidity of the container wall in the area of ​​the shoulder part of the plastic bottle and, on the other hand, with a corresponding shape of the webs, the assembly can be facilitated by a centering effect of these webs.

A further development of the plastic bottle provides that the outer shell is designed in two parts. The outer shell is divided transversely or perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis into an outer shell upper part and an outer shell lower part, the connection zone or the connection between the outer shell upper part and the outer shell lower part extending transversely to the longitudinal central axis. This offers the advantage of greater variability in the shapes of the container wall that are possible for the plastic bottle, since container walls other than cylindrical can be produced in this way.

The development of the plastic bottle is also advantageous, according to which the outer casing and the shoulder area of ​​the plastic bottle are connected to one another by flanges or a flange connection. If the flange contact surfaces are manufactured with a correspondingly precise fit, this ensures in a simple manner that the outer shell and the inner container can be centered with respect to one another or their longitudinal center axes can be precisely aligned with one another.

According to a further embodiment of the plastic bottle, it is provided that the flange contact side of the outer shell upper part faces away from the mouth part of the plastic bottle, while the corresponding flange contact side of the shoulder area faces the mouth part. Thus, it is necessary during the assembly of the inner container in the outer shell of the outer shell upper part coming from the end region of the plastic bottle corresponding to the mouth part being slipped over the inner container, while the outer shell lower part is slipped over the inner container from the end region of the plastic bottle opposite the mouth part. This has the advantage that after the connection between the outer shell upper part and the outer shell lower part has been established, the inner container is fastened in a form-fitting manner in the outer shell.

The development according to which the outer shell and the inner container are designed with a circular cross-section is also advantageous, since the circular cross-section of the outer shell or the inner container altogether increases the mechanical stability of the

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Container wall is improved and on the other hand the connections between the outer shell upper part and the outer shell lower part and between the outer shell upper part or the outer shell and the shoulder part of the plastic bottle can be formed by screw connections.

The development of the plastic bottle, according to which the connection of the upper part of the outer shell to the lower part of the outer shell is formed by a screw connection or a snap connection, offers the advantage that the upper part of the outer shell and the lower part of the outer shell are connected to one another in a reversible or releasable manner.

According to a further development of the plastic bottle according to FIG. 1, it is provided that the connections between the outer shell and the inner container as well as between the outer shell upper part and the outer shell lower part are designed to be gas-tight. The intermediate space formed in the container wall between the inner container and the outer shell is accordingly sealed off from the outside in a gas-tight manner. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the container wall has improved mechanical stability or improved mechanical stability. has improved rigidity and, on the other hand, the thermal insulation of the container wall is additionally improved in that the prevention of gas exchange also prevents convective heat exchange.

The development of the plastic bottle is also advantageous, the material for forming the same from a thermoplastic material from the group of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA) is selected because when using such materials for the production of the individual components of the plastic bottle, known plastic processing methods, such as blow molding or Stretch blow molding or injection molding, are available.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

1 shows a plastic bottle according to the invention, vertically sectioned and in a simplified schematic representation;

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FIG. 2 shows the plastic bottle according to FIG. 1 in plan view; FIG.

3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a plastic bottle according to the invention, in vertical section and in a simplified schematic representation;

FIG. 4 shows the plastic bottle according to FIG. 3 in a plan view; FIG.

5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a plastic bottle according to the invention, in vertical section and in a simplified schematic representation;

6 shows a detail of the plastic bottle according to FIG. 5;

7 shows the inner container for forming the plastic bottle according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the unassembled state, in a simplified perspective view;

8 shows a part of the outer shell for forming the plastic bottle according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the unassembled state, in a simplified perspective view;

9 shows a further part of the outer shell for forming the plastic bottle according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the unassembled state, in a simplified perspective view.

At the outset, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols or the same component names, whereby the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred accordingly to the same parts with the same reference symbols or the same component names. The location details chosen in the description, such as above, below, to the side, etc. based on the figure immediately described and shown and are to be transferred accordingly to the new position in the event of a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

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1 shows a plastic bottle 1, shown in vertical section, and FIG. 2 shows a top view of the plastic bottle 1. The plastic bottle 1 comprises at least one mouth part 2, a shoulder part 3 and a container wall 5 surrounding an interior 4 of the plastic bottle 1 The container wall 5 is formed at least in two parts or with two shells and consists of an inner container 6 and an outer shell 7. This outer shell 7 encloses the inner container 6 at least in some areas and is at least in some areas at a distance from an outer surface 8 of the inner container 6 by a normal distance 9, as a result of which an intermediate space is formed. An upper end region 10 of the outer shell 7 and an upper end region 11 of the inner container 6 are connected to the shoulder part 3. The mouth part 2, the shoulder part 3 and the inner container 6 are preferably designed in one piece, so that the plastic bottle 1 according to this embodiment consists of only two parts.

The inner container 6 and the outer shell 7 are at least approximately cylindrical in this exemplary embodiment, so that the plastic bottle 1 can be produced by inserting the inner container 6 into the outer shell 7 or sliding the outer shell 7 over the inner container 6. A flange connection 12 is provided for fastening the outer shell 7 to the inner container 6 or the shoulder part 3. The formation of the flange connection 12 can ensure that the outer shell 7 or the inner container 6 are aligned concentrically to one another. The plastic bottle 1 thus has a longitudinal center axis 13 common to the outer casing 7 and the inner container 6. The connection between the outer shell 7 and the inner container 6 can be made by any other type of connection, for example a snap or snap connection.

A thread for producing a connection or a screw connection with a closure cap is formed on the muzzle part 2.

In the case of the plastic bottle 1 according to this exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the interior 4 has a capacity or a volume of 330 ml.

FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the plastic bottle 1, shown in vertical section, and FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the plastic bottle 1. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the same component designations are used for the same parts

AT 006 627 U2 and reference numerals are used and the detailed description in FIGS. 1 and 2 is referred to or referred to.

The interior 4 of the plastic bottle 1 is initially enclosed by the inner container 6, which is connected in its upper end region 10 to a shoulder part 3 and subsequently to a mouth part 2. The outer surface 8 of the inner container 6 is surrounded by the outer shell 7, the outer surface 8 of the inner container 6 being at least partially spaced from the outer shell 7 by the normal distance 9 and thus an intermediate space 14 being formed between the outer surface 8 and the outer shell 7 . With its upper end region 10, the outer shell 7 is connected to the shoulder part 3 in the transition region between the shoulder part 3 and the mouth part 2.

In this embodiment of the plastic bottle 1, the inner container 6 is first manufactured in a multistage process and then the outer shell 7 is fixedly and permanently connected to the inner container 6. The outer shell 7 consists of two parts. The outer shell 7 can be produced, for example, by injection molding two halves corresponding to a vertical division of the outer shell 7. The two halves of the outer shell 7 are then connected to one another so as to surround the inner container 6, it being possible for the connection zones to be closed in an airtight or gas-tight manner.

A third exemplary embodiment of the plastic bottle 1 is described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the same component designations and reference symbols are used for the same parts and reference is made to the detailed description in FIGS. 1 to 4.

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the plastic bottle 1, shown in vertical section. The container wall 5 of the plastic bottle 1 according to this exemplary embodiment is also formed by an inner container 6 and an outer casing 7. Mouth part 2, shoulder part 2 and inner container 6 form a unit and are preferably made in one piece. Several spacing elements 15 are arranged in the space 14 between the outer shell 7 and the outer surface 8 of the inner container 6. These are formed here by webs 16 designed in the form of plates, which are attached to an inner side 17, preferably by molding, mostly in the same manufacturing process. The spatial alignment of the plate-shaped webs 16 is like this

AT 006 627 U2 provides that the webs 16 are directed both parallel to the longitudinal center axis 13 and also radially to this longitudinal center axis 13. In a bottom area 18 of the outer shell 7, first webs 19 are arranged on the inside 17, for example molded on, while second webs 20 are arranged, for example molded on, in the upper end region 10 of the outer cover 7 on the inside 17.

The first webs 19 of the bottom area 18 of the outer shell 7 extend between the inside 17 of a side wall area 21 and the inside 17 of the bottom area 18 of the outer shell 7. The so arranged webs 19 give the bottom area 18 of the outer shell 7 greater rigidity. At the same time, however, the inner container 6 is also supported with the formation of a predeterminable distance. In addition, however, it is also possible for individual webs or ribs to be arranged in the intermediate space 14 and to run from the bottom area 18 to the end area 10. These webs or ribs can be arranged continuously but also only in certain areas over the longitudinal extent, wherein they can be formed on the inside 17 of the outer shell 7 and / or on the outer surface 8 of the inner container 8. The number as well as the arrangement of the same can take place arbitrarily over the circumference, a parallel as well as radial alignment to the longitudinal center axis 13 being preferred. By means of these ribs or webs, an improved stability of the entire plastic bottle 1 is achieved during its intended use.

In the case of the plastic bottle 1 according to this exemplary embodiment, it is further provided that the outer shell 7 is formed in two parts, namely from an outer shell upper part 22 and an outer shell lower part 23. The outer shell 7 is divided in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis 13 of the plastic bottle 1, ie A connection 24 is provided between the outer shell upper part 22 and the outer shell lower part 23, a connection zone 25 extending between the outer shell upper part 22 and the outer shell lower part 23 transversely to the longitudinal center axis 13 of the plastic bottle 1. The formation of the connection 24 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6.

To connect the outer shell 7 or the outer shell upper part 22 to the shoulder part 3 or the inner container 6, a flange connection 12 is formed. A flange contact side 26 faces away from the mouth part 2 of the plastic bottle 1, while a flange contact side 27 of the shoulder part 3 faces the mouth part 2. To the

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When the outer shell 7 is mounted on the inner container 6 or the shoulder part 3, the outer shell upper part 22, coming from the end region of the plastic bottle 1 facing the mouth part 2, must be slipped over the inner container 6 until the flange contact side 26 of the outer cover upper part 22 rests against the flange contact side 27 of the shoulder part 3 . The webs 20 provided in the outer shell upper part 22 facilitate the centering and joining and, if necessary, the locking of the parts. For complete assembly, the only thing left to do is to slip the outer shell lower part 23 from the end region of the plastic bottle 1 opposite the mouth part 2 and fasten the outer shell upper part 22 and the outer shell lower part 23 to one another by making the connection 24.

A bottom area 28 of the inner container 6 facing the bottom area 18 of the outer shell 7 is designed in such a way that the outer surface forms elevations 29 and depressions 30 that are aligned radially with respect to the longitudinal center axis 13. The elevations 29 and depressions 30 are distributed with respect to the longitudinal center axis 13 in such a way that the webs 19 of the outer shell lower part 23 when joined to the inner container 6 or the outer shell upper part 22 protrude into the depressions 30 of the bottom region 28 of the inner container 6. This configuration of the engagement of the webs 19 of the outer shell lower part 23 in the recesses 30 of the inner container 6 provides several advantages.

By designing the bottom area 28 of the inner container 6 with elevations 29 and depressions 30, the mechanical stability of the bottom area 28 is improved by increasing the rigidity. In cooperation with the webs 19 of the outer shell lower part 23, the outer shell 7 is centered with respect to the inner container 6 and at the same time secured against rotation about the longitudinal center axis 13. There are preferably four webs 19 arranged in a cross shape.

In the case of the flange connection 12 between the shoulder part 3 and the outer shell 7 and / or the connection 24 of the outer shell upper part 22 with the outer shell lower part 23, it is preferably provided that these are designed to be gas-tight. This increases both the rigidity and Overall mechanical stability of the plastic bottle 1 is improved and, on the other hand, the thermal insulation effect of the entire double-shell container wall 5 is increased, since the convective heat exchange is almost completely but also completely prevented. The rigidity or mechanical stability of art12

AT 006 627 U2 material bottle 1 is in particular also increased in that the inner container 6 and the outer casing 7 are preferably designed with a circular cross-section.

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the plastic bottle 1 according to FIG. 5. The connection 24 between the outer shell upper part 22 and the outer shell lower part 23 is formed by a snap connection according to this exemplary embodiment. In the case of an outer shell 7 designed with a circular cross section, the connection 24 can, however, also be formed by a screw connection.

The connection points of the individual components of the plastic bottle 1 can also be put into a non-releasable state by gluing or welding or similar connection methods. In this way, the gas tightness of the connection points can be ensured. Furthermore, however, it is also possible to lower the intermediate space 14 to a pressure lower than the external air pressure or to evacuate it completely before the gluing or welding.

7 to 9 show the individual components for the formation of the plastic bottle 1 as an associated structural unit corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, shown in perspective in the unassembled state.

The unit formed from the mouth part 2, the shoulder part 3 and the inner container 6 is shown obliquely from below, while the outer shell upper part 22 and the outer shell lower part 23 are each shown obliquely from above. One of the webs 20 can be seen on the inside 17 of the upper end region 10 of the outer shell upper part 22. On the other hand, two of the webs 19, which are integrally formed on the inside 17 of the lower outer shell part 23, can be seen in the bottom region 18 of the lower outer shell part 23.

At the bottom area 28 of the inner container 6 facing the viewer, the elevations 29 and depressions 30, which are distributed over the circumference of the bottom area 28, can be seen. In the assembled state, the webs 20 of the outer shell upper part 22 are supported on the outer surface 8 on the upper end region 11 of the inner container 6 (FIG. 5). On the other hand, the webs 19 of the outer shell lower part 23 protrude into the recesses 30 in the bottom region 18 of the inner container 6. This also achieves

AT 006 627 U2 that the inner container 6 and the outer shell lower part 23 are secured against relative rotation.

To produce the plastic bottle 1 according to the invention, thermoplastic materials from the group of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA) are preferably used. These materials can advantageously be processed by known plastics processing methods, such as blow molding or stretch blow molding or injection molding.

With the plastic bottle 1 according to the invention, several needs of consumers or customers of the food retail trade can now be satisfied. If products which are offered for sale in a cooled state, for example in refrigerated showcases, have been heated relatively quickly up to now, the plastic bottle 1 according to the invention can prevent this rewarming over a significantly longer period of time. At the same time, the plastic bottle 1 has improved dimensional stability and there is no deformation of the container walls due to the weight of the contents alone, as is the case with otherwise common thin-walled plastic bottles, when the bottle is held in the hand and inclined at an angle, e.g. to pour the contents into a drinking glass will. In the case of the thin-walled plastic bottles that were customary up to now, especially the 1 liter or 1.5 liter plastic bottles, the risk of spilling due to sudden deformation of the container wall due to the gradual shift in weight of the contents. In addition, this unit is also well suited as a disposable bottle, since its components can be easily recycled without having to separate them into their individual components prior to disposal.

With the plastic bottle 1 according to the invention it is also possible to specify a method for providing chilled food or chilled beverages. This method initially comprises the assembly of the individual parts of the plastic bottle 1 from the outer shell 7 and the unit formed by the inner container 6, the shoulder part 3 and the mouth part 2. In the second process step, the plastic bottle 1 is then filled with the food or the drink and closing the plastic bottle 1 with a cap. In the third process step, the food or drink is jointly cooled together with the plastic bottle 1,

AT 006 627 U2 wherein the space 14 of the container wall 5 or the gas located in this space 14 is also cooled in the same cooling process. The advantage here is that there is no reheating of the filled food or drink by absorbing heat from the container wall, as is usually the case when a cooled drink or food is placed in a thermos flask. Through the entire structural unit of the plastic bottle 1, the space in the container wall 5 is also cooled during the cooling process, which means that after removal from the refrigerated shelf, the contents in the interior 4 remain cool longer through the space 14, which is also cooled, since the space 14 acts as an additional insulating layer works.

The object of this invention is, in particular, the production of a double-walled PET bottle which has a corresponding thermally insulating function. The technical task consists in the development of this single-use PET bottle on the basis of the existing processes mentioned above (the goal is quasi a single-use thermos jug made of PET).

The invention of a double-walled disposable PET bottle can basically be produced by means of both of the technical processes described above. Both processes provide a double-walled, disposable PET bottle with identical properties in terms of their thermal insulation properties.

Stretch blow molding process according to FIG. 1: The stretch blow molding process is based on a multi-stage process: production of an inner bottle, production of an outer bottle and airtight connection of the two bottles (threaded closure, clip closure).

Injection molding process as shown in FIG. 2: With this process, a double-walled, disposable PET bottle is produced in a one-step process using appropriately designed molded parts.

The double-walled disposable PET bottle produced in this way (according to the state of the art) is characterized in that it has a thermo-insulating effect. The products filled in it are heated or cooled only with a considerable time lag compared to existing one-way PET bottles. The double-walled disposable PET bottle for packaging food is also characterized by this15

AT 006 627 U2 net that there is an insulating layer between the vessel walls and that the bottle either in a multi-stage process (Fig. 1, bottle in bottle principle, thus a correspondingly airtight connection between the bottles is necessary) or in a process this isolation cavity produces becomes (Fig. 3).

For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that for a better understanding of the structure of the plastic bottle 1, this or its components have been shown partially not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The task on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual in FIGS. 1, 2; 3.4; 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The related tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.