U.S. patent application number 15/016119 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-23 for bottle registration feature.
The applicant listed for this patent is Smart Bottle, Inc. Invention is credited to Kenneth R. Wilkes.
Application Number | 20160176567 15/016119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48135108 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160176567 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilkes; Kenneth R. |
June 23, 2016 |
Bottle Registration Feature
Abstract
A fitment has an axis and a registration feature. The fitment is
sealed within a bottle neck in a position in which the registration
feature has a predetermined orientation to the bottle neck
rotationally about the axis. Preferably, the fitment has a screw
thread defining a limit of rotation for a bottle cap to be screwed
onto the fitment. The registration feature has a predetermined
orientation to the screw thread rotationally about the axis,
whereby the limit of rotation also has a predetermined orientation
to the bottle neck rotationally about the axis.
Inventors: |
Wilkes; Kenneth R.;
(Asheville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Smart Bottle, Inc |
Asheville |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48135108 |
Appl. No.: |
15/016119 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13656170 |
Oct 19, 2012 |
9284106 |
|
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15016119 |
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61550482 |
Oct 24, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/44 ; 215/386;
215/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0847 20130101;
B65D 75/5883 20130101; B29C 49/46 20130101; B65D 41/04 20130101;
B65D 1/0246 20130101; B29C 2049/227 20130101; B65D 1/023 20130101;
B29C 2049/021 20130101; B65D 41/0492 20130101; B65D 41/3447
20130101; B29C 2049/0057 20130101; B29C 2049/4664 20130101; B65D
41/0471 20130101; Y10T 29/49826 20150115 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a bottle neck; and a cylindrical
fitment having an axis and a registration feature, the fitment
being sealed within the bottle neck in a position in which the
registration feature has a predetermined orientation to the bottle
neck rotationally about the axis.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the fitment further
has a screw thread defining a limit of rotation for a bottle cap
screwed onto the fitment, and the registration feature has a
predetermined orientation to the screw thread rotationally about
the axis, whereby the limit of rotation also has a predetermined
orientation to the bottle neck rotationally about the axis.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising a bottle
cap screwed onto the fitment to the limit of rotation.
4. An apparatus comprising: a bottle comprising an expanded preform
web structure having a neck; and a cylindrical fitment having an
axis and a registration feature, the fitment being sealed within
the neck of the expanded preform web structure in a position in
which the registration feature has a predetermined orientation to
the expanded preform web structure rotationally about the axis.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the fitment further
has a screw thread defining a limit of rotation for a bottle cap to
be screwed onto the fitment, and the registration feature has a
predetermined orientation to the screw thread rotationally about
the axis, whereby the limit of rotation also has a predetermined
orientation to the expanded preform web structure rotationally
about the axis.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising a bottle
cap screwed onto the fitment to a limit of rotation.
7. A fitment for use with a bottle neck and a bottle cap,
comprising: a lower tubular fitment portion configured for sealed
installation in a bottle neck; an upper tubular fitment portion
with a screw thread defining a limit of rotation for a bottle cap
screwed onto the upper tubular fitment portion; and a registration
feature having a predetermined orientation to the screw thread
rotationally about the axis.
8. A fitment as defined in claim 7 wherein the registration feature
is a flat.
9. An apparatus comprising: a bottle cap having a screw thread
centered on an axis of rotation and a cap feature that renders the
cap asymmetrical about the axis; a fitment configured for sealed
installation in a bottle neck; the fitment having a screw thread
defining a final position to which the bottle cap can be screwed
onto the fitment; and the fitment further having a registration
feature which, when the bottle cap is in the final position, has a
predetermined orientation to the cap feature rotationally about the
axis.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the cap feature is a
flip-top portion of the bottle cap.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the registration
feature is a flat.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising a bottle
preform web structure having a neck in which the fitment is
sealed.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising a bottle
having a neck in which the fitment is sealed.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of utility U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/656,170, filed Oct. 19, 2012, which claims
the priority benefit of provisional U.S. patent application
61/550,482, filed Oct. 24, 2011.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This technology includes bottles that have fitments
installed in the bottle necks.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Plastic bottles can be formed from plastic film. One or more
webs of the plastic film are unrolled from spools, and are folded
and seamed together to form structures known as a preforms. Each
preform corresponds to an individual bottle, and has a generally
flat shape defined by the flat panels of plastic film. A fitment
may be installed in the neck of the preform to provide a spout. The
preform is then placed inside a blow-molding cavity that has the
size and shape of the bottle, and is expanded under fluid pressure
inside the cavity. This deflects the plastic film into the shape of
the bottle.
SUMMARY
[0004] A cylindrical fitment has an axis and a registration
feature. The fitment is sealed within a bottle neck in a position
in which the registration feature has a predetermined orientation
to the bottle neck rotationally about the axis.
[0005] Preferably, the fitment has a screw thread defining a limit
of rotation for a bottle cap to be screwed onto the fitment. The
registration feature has a predetermined orientation to the screw
thread rotationally about the axis. Accordingly, the limit of
rotation also has a predetermined orientation to the bottle neck
rotationally about the axis.
[0006] In a method of assembling a bottle with a fitment, a
cylindrical fitment is mounted on an insertion tool in a position
in which a registration feature on the fitment has a predetermined
orientation to the insertion tool rotationally about an axis of the
insertion tool. The insertion tool is moved to a position in which
the mounted fitment is located within a bottle neck, and in which
the insertion tool has a predetermined orientation to the bottle
neck rotationally about the axis. This establishes a predetermined
orientation of the fitment relative to the bottle neck rotationally
about the axis. The fitment can then be secured to the bottle neck
in the established orientation.
[0007] The bottle neck is preferably defined by a plastic bottle
preform web structure. The secured fitment and the web structure
are placed into a blow-molding cavity in a position in which the
registration feature on the fitment has a predetermined orientation
rotationally relative to a registration feature of the mold cavity.
This establishes a predetermined rotational orientation between the
web structure and the mold cavity. The web structure can then be
blow-molded into a bottle having a predetermined rotational
orientation with the fitment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle with a fitment and
a bottle cap screwed onto the fitment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fitment of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top view showing the bottle cap of FIG. 1 in a
closed condition.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top view showing the bottle cap of FIG. 1 in an
open condition.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a plastic film web
structure.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a bottle assembly
apparatus.
[0017] FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic views similar to FIG. 9,
showing parts in different positions.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a schematic view taken on line 12-12 of FIG.
11.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a partly schematic view showing other parts of a
bottle assembly apparatus.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a top view of parts shown in FIG. 13.
[0021] FIG. 15 is a partly sectional view taken on line 15-15 of
FIG. 13.
[0022] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a blow molding
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] A plastic bottle 10 is shown in FIG. 1. In this particular
embodiment, the bottle 10 has a square cross-sectional shape with a
front face 12, a rear face 14, and a pair of opposite side faces
16. A fitment 20 projects upward from a neck portion 22 of the
bottle 10. The fitment 20 is configured and arranged to receive a
bottle cap 28 in a specified position relative to the neck 22 and
other parts of the bottle 10. Specifically, when the cap 28 is
screwed fully onto the fitment 20 as shown in FIG. 1, a
non-cylindrical portion 30 of the cap 28 has a predetermined
orientation relative to the front face 12 of the bottle 10.
[0024] As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4, this example of a
fitment 20 is a cylindrical tube with a central axis 31. A lower
section 32 of the fitment has ribs 34 for gripping to the bottle
neck 22. An intermediate section 36 of the fitment 20 has a
registration feature. In the preferred embodiment the registration
feature is a flat 38 that extends lengthwise as chord relative to
the circular peripheral shape of the fitment 20. An upper section
40 of the fitment 20 has a screw thread 42.
[0025] The screw thread 42 on the upper section 40 of the fitment
20 is configured for the cap 28 to be screwed onto the fitment 20,
and defines a limit of rotation of the cap 28 about the axis 31
relative to the fitment 20. The flat 38 on the fitment 20 has a
predetermined orientation circumferentially about the axis 31
relative to the limit of rotation defined by the screw thread 42.
This ensures that the cap 28 will have a correspondingly
predetermined orientation relative to the fitment 20 rotationally
about the axis 31 when the cap 28 is screwed fully onto the fitment
20.
[0026] As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5-7, the cap 28 has a
short cylindrical body 50 with a central axis 51. A top wall 52 of
the body 50 has a spout 54. An insert 56 is fitted closely into the
body 50 from beneath, and has a screw thread 58 for engaging the
screw thread 42 on the fitment 20.
[0027] The non-cylindrical portion 30 of the cap 28 is a feature
that renders it asymmetrical circumferentially about the axis 51.
In the illustrated embodiment, the non-cylindrical portion 30 of
the cap 28 is a rectangular flip-top extending diametrically across
the top wall 52. A hinge 60 enables the flip-top 30 to move
pivotally back and forth between the closed and open positions of
FIGS. 5 and 6. In accordance with the predetermined rotational
orientations of the cap 28 and the fitment 20, the flip-top 30 in
this example extends longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to
the lengthwise direction of the flat 38 when the cap 28 is screwed
fully onto the fitment 20.
[0028] The bottle 10 in the illustrated embodiment is formed from a
plastic film web structure. FIG. 8 shows an example of a web
structure 100 that can be used to manufacture the bottle 10. In
this cross-sectional view, the web structure 100 is shown to
include four panels of plastic film. These include a front panel
102, a rear panel 104, and two gusseted side panels 106. The web
panels 102-106 are arranged together along the length of the web
structure 100 to form multiple bottles 10 having the front, rear
and side faces 12, 14 and 16 shown in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIGS. 9-12 show a method and apparatus for assembling parts
of the bottle 10. The web panels 102, 104, and 106 are fed
lengthwise between a pair of rollers 120 to form the web structure
100 downstream of the rollers 120. A fitment insertion tool 122
includes a mandrel 124 with an axis 125, and further includes a
driver 126 that is operative to advance and retract the mandrel 124
axially into and out of the web structure 100.
[0030] When the mandrel 124 is being advanced toward the position
shown in FIG. 9, it carries a fitment 20 toward and between the
panels 102-106 to place the fitment 20 within the web structure
100. The mandrel 124 is then retracted. In the next step, a pair of
grippers 130 (FIG. 10) move into engagement with the fitment 20.
The grippers 130 form a heat seal that fixes the fitment 20 to the
web structure 100, and also pull the fitment 20 and the web
structure 100 downward from the position of FIG. 9 to the position
of FIG. 10 to advance another section of the web structure 100
downward between the rollers 120. A seaming press 140 then acts
upon the web structure 100 to form seams that attach the panels
102-106 together, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0031] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the seaming press 140
forms seams 142 at the bottom of the leading section 144 of the web
structure 100, and forms seams 146 at the top and sides of a
trailing section 148 of the web structure 100. This forms the neck
22 in which the fitment 20 is to be inserted. The seaming press 140
also cuts out extraneous portions 150 of the web structure 100, and
severs the leading section 144 from the trailing section 148 at a
cut line 151. The leading section 144 is thus assembled as a bottle
preform 152 with a neck 22, and the process repeats to form
multiple bottle preforms 152 successively in this manner.
[0032] As thus far described, the method and apparatus for forming
a preform web structure, and for inserting a fitment into the neck
of a preform web structure, are substantially similar to the method
and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,597, which is
incorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/813,216, filed Jun. 10, 2010, which also is incorporated by
reference, describes additional web-forming and fitment insertion
methods and apparatus that are suitable for adaptation to the
present invention.
[0033] In the preferred method of inserting a fitment with a
registration feature, a track 160 (FIGS. 13-15) feeds the fitments
20 to the mandrel 124. The track 160 is inclined so that fitments
20 loaded at the upper end of the track 160 will slide toward the
lower end under the force of gravity. When a fitment 20 reaches a
gate 166 at the lower end of the track 160, a spacer bar 168 is
moved across the track 160 to interrupt movement of the fitments
20. The mandrel 124 is then moved downward into engagement with the
fitment 20 in the gate 166, and sections 170 of the gate 166 are
opened to allow the mandrel 124 to move the engaged fitment 20
downward into the web structure 100 as described above. The spacer
bar 168 is then retracted to allow the next successive fitment 20
into the gate 166.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 15, the track 160 in this example has a
pair of side walls 182 that are spaced apart a distance that is
just slightly greater than the diameter of a fitment 20 at the
lower section 32 of the fitment 20. A rail 184 projects
transversely inward from one side wall 182 at the height of the
flat 38 on a fitment 20. The track 160 thus configured to receive a
row of the fitments 20, with the flats 38 on the fitments 20
adjoining an inner edge of the rail 184. This permits a fitment 20
to be mounted on the track 160 in only one orientation rotationally
about the axis 31 of the fitment 20. The track 160 delivers the
fitment 20 to the mandrel 124 in the same orientation rotationally
about the axis 125 of the mandrel 124.
[0035] The orientation of the fitment 20 on the mandrel 124 has a
predetermined relationship to the web structure 100. In the
illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished by advancing the
fitments 20 along the track 160 toward the mandrel 124 in a
direction parallel to the axes 189 of the rollers 120 that guide
the panels 102-106 together into the configuration of the web
structure 100. When the mandrel 124 moves the fitment 20 into the
web structure 100 along the axis 125, it does not rotate the
fitment 20 about the axis 125, but instead maintains the fitment 20
fixed relative to the rollers 120 and the web structure 100
rotationally about the axis 125. In this example, the mandrel 124
thus inserts each fitment 20 into the web structure 100 in an
orientation in which the flat 38 extends lengthwise in a direction
parallel to the front and rear panels 102 and 104. The fitment 20
is then heat-sealed to the neck portion 22 of the bottle preform
152 in the same orientation rotationally relative to the web
structure 100. This provides a correspondingly predetermined
orientation between the panels 102, 104 and 106 of the preform 152,
the flat 38 on the fitment 20, and the rotational limit of the
bottle cap 28 on the fitment 20. In the illustrated embodiment,
that predetermined orientation ensures that the flip-top portion 30
of the cap 28 will extend lengthwise in a direction perpendicular
to the front and rear faces 12 and 14 of the finished bottle 10,
with the hinge 60 at the rear, when the cap 28 is screwed fully
onto the fitment 20 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0036] Although the given example of a fitment 20 has a single flat
38, multiple flats 38 or other registration features could provide
multiple corresponding orientations between the panels 102, 104 and
106 of the preform 152, the registration feature on the fitment 20,
and the rotational limit of the bottle cap 28 on the fitment 20.
For example, a pair of flats 38 at diametrically opposite locations
on the fitment 20 would provide a pair of orientations that are
offset from each other by 180 degrees.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 16, a pair of mold structures 190 and 192
are configured to receive the preform 152 for blow-molding of the
preform 152 into a finished bottle 10. When the mold structures 190
and 192 are closed, they define a mold cavity in which the front,
rear, and side panels 102, 104 and 106 of the preform 150 are
expanded to the size and shape of the front, rear, and side faces
12, 14 and 16 of the bottle 10. Neck portions 196 of the mold
structures 190 and 192 together correspond to the neck portion 22
of the bottle 10. One of the neck portions 196 has a registration
feature in the form of a rail 198 projecting radially inward. The
rail 198 on the mold structure 190 is configured to register with
the flat 38 on the fitment 20 in the preform 152. This helps to
ensure that the panels 102, 104 and 106 of the preform 152 will be
expanded into a bottle 10 in which the fitment 20, and a bottle cap
28 screwed onto the fitment 20, will have the predetermined
rotational orientations described above.
[0038] This written description sets forth the best mode of
carrying out the invention, and describes the invention so as to
enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention,
by presenting examples of elements recited in the claims. The
patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may
include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such
other examples, which may be available either before or after the
application filing date, are intended to be within the scope of the
claims if they have elements that do not differ from the literal
language of the claims, or if they have equivalent elements with
insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
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