Plastic Bottle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved plastic bottle, in particular a PET bottle comprising: a bottle body, a neck connecting to the bottle body, which neck is provided with at least one engaging element adapted to enable mechanical engaging of the bottle at least during the production process of blow moulding of the bottle, and coupling means connected to the neck for releasable coupling of the bottle to a closing element closing the bottle, wherein the shortest distance between an upper edge of the neck defining an upper outer end of the bottle and at least one engaging element lies between 0 and 7 millimetres. The invention also relates to an assembly of such a bottle and a closing element which is connected releasably to the bottle and closes the bottle.

1 . A plastic bottle, in particular a PET bottle, comprising:
 a bottle body,   a neck connecting to the bottle body, which neck is provided with at least one engaging element adapted to enable mechanical engaging of the bottle at least during the production process of blow moulding of the bottle, and   coupling means connected to the neck for releasable coupling of the bottle to a closing element closing the bottle,   
       wherein the shortest distance between an upper edge of the neck defining an upper outer end of the bottle and the at least one engaging element lies between 0 and 7 millimetres. 
     
     
         2 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one engaging element is positioned at a distance from the upper edge of the neck, and that a part of the neck lying above the at least one engaging element is adapted for sealing co-action with a closing element closing the bottle. 
     
     
         3 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the shortest distance between the upper edge of the neck and the at least one engaging element lies between 0.5 and 7 millimetres. 
     
     
         4 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the ratio of the shortest distance between the at least one engaging element, positioned at a distance from the upper edge, and the upper edge on the one hand and the wall thickness of the neck on the other lies between 0 and 3. 
     
     
         5 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the neck is provided with a plurality of engaging elements adapted to enable mechanical engaging of the bottle during production of the bottle. 
     
     
         6 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the shortest distance between the upper edge of the neck and each engaging element lies between 0.5 and 7 millimetres. 
     
     
         7 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one engaging element is formed by a sealing ring adapted for sealing co-action with a closing element coupled to the bottle. 
     
     
         8 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one engaging element is formed by a recess arranged in the neck. 
     
     
         9 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the neck is provided with a plurality of engaging elements formed by recesses, these recesses being arranged distributed in a peripheral side of the neck. 
     
     
         10 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is provided with sealing means for sealing a space located between the bottle and a closing element coupled releasably to the bottle. 
     
     
         11 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least a part of the sealing means is arranged on at least a part of the at least one engaging element. 
     
     
         12 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least a part of the sealing means is arranged on at least a part of the upper edge of the neck. 
     
     
         13 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the sealing means form an integral part of the bottle. 
     
     
         14 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the sealing means comprise at least one elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one engaging element protrudes laterally relative to the neck. 
     
     
         16 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one engaging element is formed by a support ring protruding laterally relative to the neck. 
     
     
         17 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one engaging element, in particular the support ring, protrudes at least 1.5 millimetres relative to the neck. 
     
     
         18 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a peripheral side of the support ring lying at a distance from the neck is given a cross-sectional form which is substantially round. 
     
     
         19 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a peripheral side of the support ring lying at a distance from the neck is given a cross-sectional form which is substantially angled. 
     
     
         20 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a peripheral side of the support ring lying at a distance from the neck is given a hexagonal form. 
     
     
         21 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a peripheral side of the support ring lying at a distance from the neck is provided with at least one recess. 
     
     
         22 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the dimensioning of the support ring corresponds to a standardized dimensioning. 
     
     
         23 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the protrusion of the at least one engaging element relative to the neck and the wall thickness of the neck amounts to at least 0.45. 
     
     
         24 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least one laterally protruding engaging element is connected to the upper edge of the bottle. 
     
     
         25 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the shortest distance between the at least one engaging element and the upper edge on the one hand and the protrusion of the at least one engaging element relative to the neck on the other lies between 0.2 and 3.33. 
     
     
         26 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the coupling means forms part of the at least one engaging element. 
     
     
         27 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the coupling means forms part of the neck. 
     
     
         28 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein at least part of the coupling means is positioned in a space enclosed by the neck. 
     
     
         29 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein at least part of the coupling means is arranged on an inner side of the neck. 
     
     
         30 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the coupling means connect to the upper edge of the bottle. 
     
     
         31 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling means comprise at least one screw thread. 
     
     
         32 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the screw thread takes an interrupted form. 
     
     
         33 . The bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dimensioning of the bottle body of the bottle corresponds to a standardized dimensioning. 
     
     
         34 . An assembly of a bottle as claimed in  claim 1  and a closing element connected releasably to the bottle and closing the bottle. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the closing element and the bottle are mutually connected by means of a clamp connection, a snap connection, a bayonet fitting or a screw connection. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the closing element is coupled to at least one engaging element. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the closing element is coupled to the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the closing element is arranged at least partially in the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         39 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the closing element is adapted to engage under bias on a part of the neck lying above the at least one engaging element for the purpose of realizing a substantially medium-tight closure of the bottle. 
     
     
         40 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the closing element is adapted to engage multilaterally under bias on a part of the neck lying above the at least one engaging element. 
     
     
         41 . A preform for manufacturing a plastic bottle as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a sleeve-like body provided with the at least one engaging element adapted to enable mechanical engagement of the preform or the formed bottle during the production process of the bottle, wherein the shortest distance between an upper edge of the sleeve-like body defining an upper outer end of the bottle to be formed and the at least one engaging element lies between 0 and 7 millimetres, in particular between 0.5 and 7 millimetres. 
     
     
         42 . A method for manufacturing a preform as claimed in  claim 41 , comprising the steps of:
 A) arranging melted plastic in a mould cavity enclosed by a mould and forming the preform provided with the at least one engaging element,   B) arranging coupling means on an inner side of the preform, and   C) removing the preform from the mould.   
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein step A) and step B) are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein step B) is performed after step C). 
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the coupling means arranged during step B) connect to an upper edge of the preform. 
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the coupling means arranged during step B) are formed by an internal screw thread. 
     
     
         47 . A closing element for closing a bottle as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         48 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein the closing element comprises counter-coupling means, which counter-coupling means are adapted to be at least partially received in a neck of the bottle for co-action with coupling means arranged in the neck. 
     
     
         49 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the counter-coupling means are arranged on an outer side of a bush-like element forming part of the closing element, this bush-like element being adapted to be at least partially received in the neck of the bottle. 
     
     
         50 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the counter-coupling means are formed by an external screw thread. 
     
     
         51 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the external screw thread takes an interrupted form. 
     
     
         52 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein the closing element is provided with at least one sealing element. 
     
     
         53 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the sealing element takes an annular form and is adapted to engage the neck of the bottle under bias. 
     
     
         54 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the sealing element is adapted to engage the neck of the bottle multilaterally under bias. 
     
     
         55 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the sealing element comprises an annular receiving space for receiving the upper edge of the neck. 
     
     
         56 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the sealing element has an at least partially wedge-shaped form in cross-section. 
     
     
         57 . The closing element as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein the sealing element is manufactured at least partially from a flexible material.