Patent Publication Number: US-2022234781-A1

Title: Container Capable of Standing on its Bottom

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to French patent application 2100834 filed on Jan. 28, 2021, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a container capable of standing on its bottom and the recycling thereof. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     It is known that flexible tube-type containers include a tube head and a flexible skirt attached to the tube head. In particular, the tube is closed at its end opposite the head by welding the edge of the skirt to itself, thus creating a ridge-shaped bottom. In such a configuration, the container must be placed on its head so as to stand upright. It is an object of the present invention to modify such a container so that it can stand upright when placed on its bottom so that its head is oriented upwards. Furthermore, such a container should advantageously be compatible with existing bottle production lines. The bottle filling lines, unlike tube filling lines, require the bottle to be filled from above, i.e. through the neck. Once the filling is finished, you just have to screw or clip the cap on the bottle. In a tube filling line, the filling is done from the bottom, i.e. at the end opposite the neck/cap. After this filling, it is necessary to close the tube by an operation of welding the skirt to itself. Such a welding operation in the vicinity of the cosmetic formula contained in the tube is complex because it must not damage the cosmetic formula, for example by heat. 
     As to the recyclability of containers, nowadays, the global production of plastic is one of the largest sources of waste. The consumption and the recycling of these plastic products is a major concern of the national and regional organizations. The non-recycled plastic material are currently disposed of through a variety of methods ranging from landfill to energy recovery to thermal and chemical treatments. Some alternatives to plastics are being studied in many technical fields. In the field of the cosmetic packaging, it has already been envisaged to replace a certain proportion of plastics by paper. The use of paper/cardboard allows to reduce the environmental impact, measured in particular by a life cycle analysis, and decouples the packaging from materials of fossil origin and therefore not renewable. The paper/cardboard, in addition to being of renewable origin, is a material that can be recycled today and tomorrow. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the present invention is to provide a container capable of standing upright, head towards the top, while advantageously limiting the amount of plastic in order to promote the recyclability of the container. To this end, the present invention relates to a container extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and including a tubular body having a longitudinal weld substantially parallel to the axis (X), a bottom and a head, the tubular body including at least 50% by weight of paper, the bottom including an annular distal end and an oblique portion, the oblique portion extending along an axis (Y) forming an angle α with the longitudinal axis (X), the tubular body being attached to the bottom at the level of the oblique portion. 
     The annular distal end of the bottom allows the container to stand upright head up. In addition, the oblique portion at the level of which the tubular body is attached allows for easy placement and attachment of the tubular body to the bottom and also allows for a compatibility with existing bottle production lines. Finally, the proportion of paper in the tubular body allows the container to be recycled. 
     The invention may also includes any of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:
         the bottom includes an undercut,   the undercut has a height h 1  of between 1 and 6 mm, in particular between 2.5 and 4 mm,   the oblique portion is flared downwards,   at least one part of the oblique portion has a diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular body,   the diameter of the upper part of the oblique portion is smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular body,   the bottom includes a central disc and an annulus including the oblique portion,   the disc is a laminate,   the laminated disc includes at least one paper layer,   the laminated disc includes at least one plastic layer,   the laminated disc includes at least one EVOH barrier layer,   the disc is essentially flat,   the annulus includes a plastic material,   the annulus includes PE,   the annulus is made of plastic material,   the annulus is made of PE,   the tubular body is a laminate,   the tubular body has a thickness e 1  of between 200 and 600 μm,   the tubular body includes PE,   the tubular body includes a barrier layer of EVOH,   the annulus includes an annular rim defining a support and/or a stop for the tubular body,   the annular rim has a depth p greater than or equal to the thickness e 1  of the tubular body,   the tubular body is flush with the annular rim,   the annulus has a height h of between 2 and 7 mm,   the annulus has a height h of between 3.5 and 5.5 mm,   the annulus includes an angled portion defining a housing for the disc,   α is between 5 and 45°,   the angle α is between 8 and 30°,   the angle α is between 10 and 20°,   the oblique portion has a thickness e 2  between 0.1 and 2.5 mm,   the annular rim has a depth p of between 0.1 and 0.7 mm,   the bottom has a maximum external diameter d 1 ,   d 1  is between 30 and 70 mm, in particular between 40 and 60 mm,   the tubular body has an external diameter d 2  upstream of the bottom,   d 2  is between 30 and 70 mm, in particular between 40 and 60 mm,   the ratio d 1 /d 2  is between 1.01 and 1.1,   the ratio d 1 /d 2  is between 1.01 and 1.05,   the annulus has a minimum internal diameter of between 35 and 55 mm,   the annulus has a minimum external diameter at the level of the oblique portion which is smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular body,   the container includes at least 50% by weight of bio-sourced material,   the container includes at least 50% by weight of paper,   the container includes at least 60% by weight of paper,   the container includes at least 70% by weight of paper.       

     Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional profile view of a head of a container according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional profile view of a container according to the invention, 
         FIG. 4  is a zoom of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional profile view of another container according to the invention, 
         FIG. 6  is a zoom of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  illustrates schematically the formation of a weld between the tubular body and the bottom of a container according to the invention 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the present invention relates to a container  1  extending along a longitudinal axis (X). The container includes a tubular body  10  having a longitudinal weld  11  substantially parallel to the axis (X), a bottom  20  and a head  30 . Finally, the container is closed by a cap  40 . The tubular body  10  may in particular be of the flexible skirt type. Advantageously, the tubular body  10  has the shape of a straight cylinder. The tubular body  10  includes at least 50% by weight of paper. As mentioned above, the paper is an easily recyclable material. This proportion of paper in the tubular body  10  thus allows to promote the recyclability of the container  1  according to the invention, in particular in the existing recycling stream of the food bricks or paper/plastic complexes. 
     As illustrated in particular in  FIG. 2 , the head  30  includes a shoulder  30   a  and a neck  30   b . The shoulder  30   a  is the part of the head connected to the tubular body  10 . The connection between the tubular body  10  and the shoulder  30   a  may be carried out in particular by welding or by over-molding. The neck  30   b  may include a thread allowing the screwing and the unscrewing of the cap  40 . Alternatively, not shown, the cap  40  can be clipped onto the head  30 . The head  30  is made of plastic material, for example polyethylene. The bottom  20  of the container  1  includes a wall  20   a  and a ring  20   b . The wall  20   a  extends substantially in a plane A perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. The ring  20   b  surrounds the wall  20   a  at the level of its periphery and includes an annular distal end  21  allowing the container  1  to stand upright head up. Indeed, this annular distal end  21  is contained in a plane P perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X). The ring  20   b  also includes an oblique portion  22  extending along an axis (Y) forming an angle  ± with the longitudinal axis (X). In particular, an oblique portion is defined as a portion including a vertical component and a radial component, so that the bottom  20  has a substantially frustoconical shape. It is at the level of this oblique portion  22  that the tubular body  10  is attached to the bottom  20 . The oblique portion  22  allows to facilitate the placement and the attachment of the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20  and also allows a compatibility with the existing tube production lines. 
     Advantageously, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the bottom  20  includes an undercut  23 . This undercut is bounded by the external surface of the wall  20   a  and the ring  20   b  and forms a recess. The external surface is the surface facing the outside of the container. The attachment of the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20  is in particular carried out by welding by heating and applying a pressure to the tubular body  10  in the direction of the center of the container  1 . The presence of this undercut  23  allows the introduction of a tool under the bottom  20  of the container  1  so as to manage a counter-pressure during the formation of the weld between the tubular body  10  and the bottom  20 .  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates the interaction between the bottom  20  of a container  1  according to the invention and tools  50 ,  51  when forming the weld between the tubular body and the bottom. The application of a pressure by the tools  50 ,  51  against the tubular body  10  and the bottom  20  is here represented by greyed arrows. Advantageously, the undercut  23  has a height h 1  of between 1 and 6 mm, in particular between 2.5 and 4 mm. The height h 1  is understood to be the distance between the external surface of the wall  20   a  and the plane P along a line perpendicular to the plane P. This range of height h 1  allows the introduction of several types of tools adapted to manage a counter-support while limiting the space that may be considered lost because it is not part of the internal volume of the container. 
     Advantageously, the oblique portion  22  flares towards the outside of the container. To this end, the bottom  20  includes an annular radial end  21   a  defining the maximum radial cluttering of the bottom  20 . In other words, the annular radial end  21   a  defines a maximum diameter d 1  of the bottom  20 . This annular radial end  21   a  is contiguous with the annular distal end  21 . Thus, the diameter d 1  of the annular radial end  21   a  is greater than the diameter defined by the intersection of the plane A and the external surface of the ring  20 B. This flared shape towards the outside of the container is particularly advantageous in that it further facilitates the positioning of the bottom  20  within the tubular body  10 . Indeed, in such a configuration, the tubular body is easily positioned against the oblique portion  22  of the bottom  20 , the oblique portion  22  then acting as a guiding means for the tubular body  10  in its sealing position against the bottom  20 . Furthermore, such a configuration implies that the tubular body  10  is deformed radially outwardly of the container  1  at the level of the bottom  20 . This allows the tubular body to be put under tension, which is particularly advantageous for attaching the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20 . Advantageously, the oblique portion has a thickness e 2  of between 0.1 and 2.5 mm. 
     According to a first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wall  20   a  of the bottom is formed by a central disc  24  and the ring  20   b  is formed by an annulus  25 . The subdivision of the bottom into two separate pieces assembled or attached to each other, i.e. an annulus  25  and a disc  24 , allows for better control of the composition of the bottom  20 . In such a configuration, the disc  24  may be, in particular, a laminate. Such a laminate advantageously includes at least one paper layer and one plastic layer. The introduction of recyclable material, in particular at least one paper layer, further allows to enhance the recyclability of the container  1  according to the invention. This increases the paper content of the container, as the paper is located both in the tubular body  10  and in the bottom  20 . Advantageously still, the laminated disc  24  includes at least one barrier layer, in particular an EVOH layer. Preferably, the disc  24  is substantially flat. The annulus  25  preferably includes a plastic material, in particular polyethylene (PE). Preferably still, the annulus  25  is made of plastic material, in particular PE. 
     Advantageously, the annulus  25  includes the oblique portion  22  and an angled portion  28  defining a housing  29  for the disc. Such a housing  29  allows a good attachment of the disc  24  to the annulus  25 . Preferably, the annulus  25  has a height h 2  of between 2 and 7 mm. Even more preferably, the annulus  25  has a height h 2  of between 3.5 and 5.5 mm. 
     According to a second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bottom  20  is made in one piece. The bottom  20  may then be made of plastic material, in particular PE (polyethylene). In this mode, the wall  20   a  and the ring  20   b  form a monolithic piece. 
     According to the two embodiments, the tubular body  10  is a laminate. The tubular body  10  includes at least one paper layer such that the tubular body  10  includes at least 50% by weight of paper. Preferably, the tubular body  10  has a thickness e 1  of between 200 and 600¬μm. Advantageously, the thickness e 1  is between 200 and 400 ¬μm. Advantageously, the tubular body includes polyethylene (PE). Advantageously, the tubular body includes a barrier layer, in particular of EVOH. As an example, the tubular body is constituted according to these 2 following examples: 
     Example 1 (from the external layer to the internal layer):
         Polyethylene layer   EVOH barrier layer   Polyethylene layer   Paper layer   Polyethylene layer       

     Example 2 (from the external layer to the internal layer):
         Polyethylene layer   Paper layer   Polyethylene layer   EVOH barrier layer   Polyethylene layer       

     Advantageously, in the two embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the ring  20   b  includes an annular rim  26 . The annular rim  26  corresponds to an excess thickness of material at the level of the annular radial end  21   a . The annular rim  26  defines a support and/or a stop for the tubular body  10 . Thus, when the tubular body  10  is positioned against the oblique portion  22  of the bottom  20  and guided into its sealing position against the bottom  20 , the tubular body  10  comes in abutment against the annular rim  26 . Once the tubular body is attached to the bottom  20  and the container is in an upright position on the bottom, the annular rim  26  serves to support the distal end of the tubular body. 
     Furthermore, the annular rim  26  also serves as a stop when pressure is applied when attaching the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20 . Indeed, as mentioned above, the attachment of the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20  is in particular carried out by welding by heating and applying a pressure to the tubular body  10  in the direction of the center of the container  1 . The thickness e 1  of the tubular body is then locally reduced by the application of pressure, this being due in particular to the paper content of the tubular body. The local reduction of the thickness e 1  may also be due to the creep of plastic material at the level of the weld area. The presence of the annular rim  26  thus allows to limit an excessive crushing of the tubular body  10  which could damage its structure. In addition, the annular rim  26  serves to protect the slice of the tubular body  10 . Indeed, the annular rim  26 , by the heat of the welding method, will weld to the slice of the tubular body  10  and thus act as a moisture barrier to the paper layer included within the tubular body  10 . 
     Preferably, the annular rim  26  has a depth p greater than or equal to the thickness e 1  of the tubular body. Thus, the slice of the tubular body  10 , constituting a sensitive area, is protected. The annular rim advantageously has a depth p of between 0.1 and 0.7 mm, in particular between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. Even more preferably, the tubular body  10  is flush with the annular rim  26 . Thus, the boundary between the tubular body  10  and the bottom  20  will be only slightly visible, which is aesthetically particularly appreciable. Before the weld between the tubular body  10  and the bottom  20  is carried out, the thickness e 1  of the tubular body  10  may be greater than the depth p, the annular rim  26  then acting as a stop and allowing to limit an excessive crushing of the tubular body  10 . 
     The container  1  according to the invention has a particularly advantageous design and dimensions. As mentioned above, the oblique portion  22  extending along an axis (Y) forming an angle  ± with the longitudinal axis (X). This angle  ± thus defines the inclination of the oblique portion  22 . An inclination that is too small, thus corresponding to an angle  ± tending towards 0, would not allow to achieve the desired effect of improving the positioning of the tubular body  10 . An inclination that is too steep could also prevent the desired effect from being achieved and would not be aesthetically pleasing. Advantageously, the angle  ± is between 5 and 45¬∞. Advantageously still, the angle  ± is between 8 and 30¬∞. Advantageously still, the angle  ± is between 10 and 20¬∞. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the bottom  20  has a maximum external diameter d 1 . Advantageously, d 1  is between 30 and 70 mm. Advantageously, d 1  is between 40 and 60 mm. 
     The tubular body has an external diameter d 2 , upstream of the bottom  20 . The diameter d 2  is therefore the external diameter of the skirt. Advantageously, d 2  is between 30 and 70 mm. Advantageously still, d 2  is between 40 and 60 mm. 
     Once the diameters d 1  and d 2  have been defined, it is possible to determine a ratio d 1 /d 2 . Such a ratio is representative of the shape of the container at the level of its base. A ratio d 1 /d 2  greater than 1 implies that the tubular body is deformed outwardly from the container at the level of the bottom  20 . Such a deformation allows the tubular body to be put under tension, which is particularly advantageous for attaching the tubular body  10  to the bottom  20 . However, if the ratio d 1 /d 2  is too high, this can lead to excessive deformation of the tubular body and damage it. In addition, a container that is too flared outwards at the level of the base is not particularly aesthetically pleasing. A ratio d 1 /d 2  equal to 1 means that, for a tubular body having the shape of a straight cylinder, the bottom  20  is straight and perfectly aligned with the tubular body  10 . Such a configuration does not allow a tensioning as mentioned above. Advantageously, the ratio d 1 /d 2  is between 1.01 and 1.1. Such a ratio allows to obtain the desired effect of tensioning and improving the positioning and the attachment of the tubular body  10  on the bottom  20  while maintaining a satisfactory design. Advantageously still, the ratio d 1 /d 2  is between 1.01 and 1.05. 
     Preferably, the container  1  according to the invention includes at least 50% by weight of bio-sourced or recycled materials. The bio-sourced material can in particular be paper. As mentioned above, it is possible to increase the proportion of paper in the container not only by using paper in the tubular body, but also by forming a bottom  20  with a disc  24  also including paper. Advantageously, the container  1  according to the invention includes at least 60% by weight of paper. Advantageously still, the container  1  according to the invention includes at least 70% by weight of paper, in particular at least 70% by weight of paper Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     As well, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows: