Very Light Beverage Container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container ( 1 ) for a liquid or viscous product, comprising a substantially ovoid or spherical container body ( 2 ) having a diameter D 1 , and a neck ( 3 ) having a diameter D 2 , said neck comprising a dispensing opening and means for allowing closing means to be attached thereto, D 1 being greater than D 2 , said container ( 1 ) being made out of semi-cristalline PET, the walls of 10 said container body ( 2 ) having a thickness inferior or equal to 100 μm at least in the middle-height region of said container. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the container body comprises at least two opposite flat, substantially vertical, surfaces ( 8 ), and a flat, substantially horizontal, surface ( 9 ) located opposite the neck and forming a bottom side.

1 . A container for a liquid or viscous product, comprising a substantially oval or spherical container body having a diameter D 1 , and a neck having a diameter D 2 , the neck comprising a dispensing opening and means for allowing closing means to be attached thereto, D 1  being greater than D 2 , the container being made out of semi-cristalline PET, the walls of the container body having a thickness of not greater than 100 μm at least in Ha middle-height region of the container, the container body comprises at least two flatten or embossed surfaces. 
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises at least two opposite flat, substantially vertical, surfaces, and a flat, substantially horizontal surface opposite a neck of the container forming a bottom side. 
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the neck is located symmetrically opposite to the bottom side. 
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein the neck is offset relative to a vertical axis of the container. 
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises four flat, substantially vertical, surfaces that are opposite to one another a pair relationship. 
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein sad the flat vertical surfaces are disk shaped. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the adjacent flat vertical surfaces are in contact with one another at least at one point. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the vertical flat surfaces are in contact with the bottom flat side. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to any of the  claim 2 , wherein the vertical and horizontal flat surfaces have equal area. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of D 1 /D 2  is between 1.2 to 15. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom flat side comprises reinforcing ribs and/or grooves. 
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of water-based and milk-based products. 
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 1 , which has a weight of less than or equal to 5 g, and a total contents volume of at least 25 cl. 
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of D 1 /D 2  is between 2 to 5. 
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the container is less than or equal to  3 g and having a total contents volume of at least 25 cl. 
   
   
       16 . A container for a liquid product, comprising a body having a diameter D 1 , and a neck having a diameter D 2 , the neck comprising a dispensing opening D 1  that is greater than D 2 , the container being made of a semi-cristalline PET material, the walls of the container body having a thickness of not greater than 100 μm at least at a middle portion of the body of the container and the container body comprises at least two surfaces selected from the group consisting of flatten and embossed. 
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the liquid product is selected from the group consisting of water-based and milk-based products. 
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 16 , which has a weight of less than or equal to 5 g and a total contents volume of at least 25 cl. 
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of D 1 /D 2  is between 2 to 5. 
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein the weight of the container is less than or equal to 3 g and having a total contents volume of at least 25 cl.