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WO2010145700A1 - Récipient multifonctionnel - Google Patents

Récipient multifonctionnel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010145700A1
WO2010145700A1 PCT/EP2009/057534 EP2009057534W WO2010145700A1 WO 2010145700 A1 WO2010145700 A1 WO 2010145700A1 EP 2009057534 W EP2009057534 W EP 2009057534W WO 2010145700 A1 WO2010145700 A1 WO 2010145700A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wall portion
container
containers
channel
food
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/EP2009/057534
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Arnold Joseph Louis Michel
Robert Hugo Sluijter
Camille Wilhelmus Van Den Brande
Simon James Hemingway Wilkinson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BOTTLE-PLUS
Original Assignee
BOTTLE-PLUS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BOTTLE-PLUS filed Critical BOTTLE-PLUS
Priority to PCT/EP2009/057534 priority Critical patent/WO2010145700A1/fr
Publication of WO2010145700A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010145700A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
    • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
    • B65D21/0201—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together side-by-side
    • B65D21/0202—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together side-by-side and loosely interengaged by integral complementary shapes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
    • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
    • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
    • B65D21/023—Closed containers provided with local cooperating elements in the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. projection and recess
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
    • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
    • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
    • B65D21/023—Closed containers provided with local cooperating elements in the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. projection and recess
    • B65D21/0231—Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
    • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
    • B65D21/0235—Containers stackable in a staggered configuration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/36—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/361—Modular elements with complementary shapes, interengageable parts or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/36—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/365—Containers, or parts thereof, simulating or being incorporated into other items, e.g. puppet, animal, vehicle, building, dumb bells
    • B65D81/366—Containers, or parts thereof, simulating or being incorporated into other items, e.g. puppet, animal, vehicle, building, dumb bells the container closure only being provided with a three dimensional figure, e.g. chess piece, animal
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
    • E04B2/04—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements
    • E04B2/06—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
    • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
    • E04B2/16—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
    • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
    • E04B2/24—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element the walls being characterised by fillings in some of the cavities forming load-bearing pillars or beams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0081—Bottles of non-circular cross-section

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to the field of multifunctional packaging, in particular to containers and construction materials.
  • Foodstuffs are generally provided as packaged units for purposes of metering, hygiene, transportation, advertisement etc.
  • the packaging material tends to be discarded after use.
  • the thus produced waste may end up as environmental pollution, in particular in areas where there is no satisfactory waste removal and/or recycling system.
  • US 7,175,498 discloses a combination toy building block and container for holding liquids and the like, wherein the functional configuration of the device permits both the carrying of a dispensable substance and the stacking of multiple containers, thereby enabling the imaginative play construction of buildings and objects such as, but not limited to, play forts, play houses, play cars and boats, statues, tables and chairs.
  • the building block may comprise a handle.
  • US 5,890,595 discloses a food-service kit and a method including a plurality of similar or diverse-type containers wherein the containers may be coupled together in various configurations to form toy-like assemblies.
  • the respective containers include compatible projection and socket configurations so that they may be joined together as building blocks in order to create the toy-like devices.
  • the container has an interior volume and a wall.
  • the wall comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion opposite each the first wall portion.
  • the first wall portion comprises at least a first male connector and the second wall portion comprises at least a first female connector configured to mate with a female or male connector, respectively, of a further food container of the construction system.
  • the container comprises at least a first channel extending on an exterior side of the container in a first direction of extension from the first wall portion to the second wall portion, the channel being defined by the third wall portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension for more than 180 degrees.
  • the container allows building a construction by combining it with another, similar or substantially identical container of the construction system such as any container described herein and mating respective male and female connectors of the containers.
  • the first wall portion may be opposite the second wall portion, preferably substantially parallel to it.
  • the male and female connectors provide interconnection and stability of the construction.
  • the channel being defined by the third wall portion surrounding the first direction of extension for more than 180 degrees allows to provide a holding force onto an object arranged at least partially in the channel, thus allowing to hold the object in the channel.
  • the first channel facilitates combining the container with other objects, e.g. for fixing two containers together.
  • Providing the channel in such way obviates cutting one or more holes in a container of the kind described in US 7,175,498 or US 5,890,595, cited above. This facilitates use of the presently provided container. Further, cutting a hole in an object, in particular in a hollow container, generally weakens the object. Instead, the presently provided container is provided with additional material (the third wall portion) about the channel so that the channel may be used intact. At or near the channel the container may be at least as strong as, if not stronger than, elsewhere in the container.
  • the channel is defined by the third wall portion in a plane perpendicular to the first direction of extension for 360 degrees such that the first channel forms a through hole through the container.
  • objects accommodated in the channel are held in all directions perpendicular to the direction of extension of the channel.
  • the versatility of the container is hereby significantly increased, e.g. even thin rods or pieces of string may be securely connected to the container or used to connect the container to another object.
  • an object closely fitting the inner dimensions of the through hole (or: closely following a circumference the channel) is maintained within an outline of the container in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the channel, instead of protruding from an outline of the container.
  • the first channel may be arranged substantially about a centre of gravity in one or more directions of the container to facilitate balancing (forces in) a construction.
  • At least one channel extends from the first male connector to the first female connector such that at least one through hole extends through the first male connector and the first female connector.
  • the first channel has an interior diameter in a plane perpendicular to the first direction of extension, which diameter varies along the first direction of extension with a minimum diameter between the first and second wall portions.
  • This provides a holding force onto an object closely fitting the minimum diameter while reducing friction to an inserted object or during insertion of it. It also provides guiding to an object during insertion of into the channel, further facilitating insertion.
  • An object closely fitting the minimum diameter inserted in the channel may substantially close off the channel at the position of the minimum diameter, facilitating filling the remaining volume between the third wall and the object with a further object and/or substance such as a wedge, sand, glue, cement and/or concrete, to fix the object to the container.
  • a varying diameter also prevents a rigorous size cut-off between objects thin enough to fit into the channel, and possibly to slide or fall through the container and objects too thick to fit into the channel at all.
  • a varying diameter facilitates limiting insertion depth of an object into (the channel of) the container and/or fixing an object to the container by clamping it against the wall of the channel.
  • the first male connector and/or the first female connector extends along a direction of extension which is substantially perpendicular to the first wall portion or second wall portion, respectively, and that connector has a non-circular or non-rotationally symmetric shape in a cross- sectional plane substantially parallel to the first wall portion or second wall portion, respectively, preferably a polygonal shape .
  • both the female and the male connectors have matching shapes.
  • a polygonal shape of the male connector matingly fitting in a substantially circular female connector reduces friction during insertion; thus a point- pressure at one or more angles of the polygon may be increased and a strong fitting force may be achieved with reduced insertion friction. Similar holds for a polygonal female connector and a substantially circular male connector.
  • the wall comprises a further wall portion which comprises at least one of a second male connector and a second female connector, wherein the second male connector or female connector, respectively, is configured to mate with a first or second female connector or male connector, respectively, of another food container as described herein.
  • the container wall may comprise a fourth wall portion, and a fifth wall portion opposite the fourth wall portion wherein the container comprises at least a second channel extending in a second direction of extension from the fourth wall portion to the fifth wall portion on an exterior side of the container, wherein the channel is defined by a sixth wall portion in a plane substantially perpendicular to the second direction of extension for more than 180 degrees, advantageously for 360 degrees such that second channel forms a through hole through the container.
  • Such container has further increased versatility in that it can be combined with and/or connected to objects, e.g. different containers, in different directions.
  • objects e.g. different containers
  • forces acting in different directions on the container or a construction of a plurality of containers and/or other objects may be used or countered in different directions.
  • At least one of the first wall portion may comprise a plurality of male connectors and the second wall portion may comprise a plurality of female connectors configured to mate with a female connector or male connector, respectively, of a further food container of the construction system, wherein at least one of the plurality of male connectors and the plurality of female connectors is arranged to concurrently mate with a male connector or female connector, respectively, of a plurality of food containers of the construction system for interconnecting said containers, such as a plurality of containers as described herein.
  • the container may be manufactured from any suitable material. Particularly suitable materials for food stuffs, especially liquid food stuffs, are considered metal, e.g. steel or aluminium sheet material, or glass, polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate and/or PET.
  • the container may be manufactured in a process comprising one or more moulding process steps, e.g. injection moulding, blow moulding and/or extrusion blow moulding in a suitably formed mould. Blow moulding processes facilitate to manufacture the container as an integral whole, increasing strength of a container with a predetermined wall thickness and reducing manufacturing costs.
  • the mould may comprise one or more movable portions for forming the channel during moulding.
  • a versatile construction system comprises a plurality of interconnectable food containers as described herein.
  • At least a first container of the described kind has a size which is a first unit size or a first integral multiple of a first unit size and at least a second container has a second size being a second integral multiple of the first unit size, wherein the second integral multiple is larger than the first integral multiple, and at least the second container is a food container which is connectable to a plurality of other food containers as described herein.
  • Fig. IA is a schematic perspective view of an improved container
  • Fig. IB is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. IA as indicated in the plane IB in Fig. IA;
  • Figs. 2A-2C are perspective views of three improved containers annex building blocks with different unit sizes;
  • Fig. 3A is a front view and Fig. 3B is a cross section view as indicated in Fig. 3A of the containers of Figs. 2A and 2B in a mated situation;
  • Fig. 4 is a cross section view as in Fig. 3B of the containers of Figs. 2A and 2B in a different mated situation;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a construction comprising a plurality of the containers of Figs. 2A-2C and further objects.
  • Figs IA and IB schematically show a food container 1 in the form of a bottle 1 in perspective (Fig. IA) and in cross section in the plane IB indicated in Fig. IA (Fig. IB) .
  • the container 1 has an interior volume 2 and a wall 3.
  • the wall comprises a first wall portion 4 and a second wall portion 5 opposite the first wall portion 4 and substantially parallel to it (not visible in Fig. IA) .
  • the first wall portion 4 comprises two male connectors 6 and the second wall portion 5 comprises two female connectors 7.
  • the male and female connectors 6, 7, are configured to mate with a female connector 7 or male connector ⁇ , respectively, of a substantially identical or at least similar food container 1, enabling to interconnect the containers 1 to build a construction from a construction set comprising a plurality of containers 1.
  • the container 1 comprises further wall portions 8, 9, 10 and 11 which comprise one or more male connectors 6 and/or female connectors 7.
  • the container comprises a neck 12 and a cap 13 to close the neck 12 substantially fluid tight.
  • the cap 13 is configured to mate with a female connector 7 of a substantially identical or at least similar container 1, thus acting as a male connector.
  • the connectors 6, 7 are arranged on a regular pitch of a unit length, to enable the connectors 6, 7 of the container 1 to concurrently mate with a male connector 6 or female connector 7, respectively, of a plurality of food containers 1 of a construction system for interconnecting containers 1.
  • the container 1 comprises a third wall portion 14 defining a first channel 15 extending in a first direction of extension A from the first wall portion 4 to the second wall portion 5.
  • the interior of the channel 15 is on an exterior side of the container 1, outside of and not in direct communication with the interior volume 2 of the container.
  • the channel 15 is separated from the interior volume 2 of the container 1 and defined by the third wall 14 portion in a plane perpendicular to the first direction of extension A (e.g. the plane IB) for about 200 degrees.
  • the third wall portion 14 in the shown embodiment extends in the direction of extension A with a substantially circular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the first direction of extension A (e.g. the plane IB), but any cross-sectional shape may be contemplated, e.g. oval or polygonal.
  • the channel 15 extends substantially linearly in the direction of extension A and it has a substantially constant diameter D with respect to the direction of extension A.
  • the channel 15 has an opening in its direction of extension A in the wall portions 4 and 5.
  • the channel 15 is accessible in the direction of extension A in the first and second wall portions 4 and 5, respectively.
  • Perpendicular to that the direction A the channel 15 is open and accessible in wall portion 9, and it allows to provide a holding force or a clamping force to an object arranged in the channel (not shown) .
  • the circumferential extension of the third wall portion may be more than about 200 degrees, e.g. in the range of about 240-300 degrees, such as about 270 degrees.
  • Figs. 2A-2C are perspective views of three embodiments of improved multifunctional food containers 1A-1C, respectively, each also in the shape of a bottle.
  • Figs. 3A-5 show further views of the containers 1A-1C in various interconnected situations.
  • Fig. 3A is a front view of a container IA and IB in an interconnected state;
  • Fig. 3B is a cross-section view of Fig. 3A as indicated in Fig. 3A.
  • Fig. 4 is a cross-section view similar to Fig. 3B of two containers IA and IB interconnected differently.
  • Each of the containers 1A-1C has a wall 3 surrounding an interior volume 2.
  • the containers 1A-1C comprise an integral multiple of block-like units 16, with the container IA comprising one such unit 16, the container IB comprising two such units and the container 1C comprising three such units 16.
  • the interior volumes 2 of the three containers 1A-1C are one, two and three times a unit volume, respectively, e.g. 0,5 1, 1,0 1, and 1,5 1; 0,33 1, 0,66 1 and 1,0 1; or 1 1, 2 1 and 3 1.
  • Containers having different shapes, sizes, volumes and numbers of units are equally conceivable.
  • each container 1A-1C comprises a first wall portion 4 and a second wall portion 5 opposite the first wall portion 4 and substantially parallel to it.
  • the first wall portion 4 comprises one, two or three male connectors 6
  • the second wall portion 5 comprises one, two or three female connectors 7, respectively.
  • the male and female connectors 6, 7, are configured to mate with a female connector 7 or male connector 6, respectively, of any one of the containers 1A-1C or of a similar or substantially identical container, such that the containers may be interconnected for building a construction, e.g. a plurality of containers stacked onto each other or put adjacent each other.
  • a construction e.g. a plurality of containers stacked onto each other or put adjacent each other.
  • the containers 1A-1C further comprise wall portions 8 and 10.
  • the containers 1A-1C comprise a neck 12 and a cap 13 to close the neck 12 substantially fluid tight.
  • the containers 1A-1C comprise a female connector 1' .
  • the cap 13 is configured to mate with a female connector 7' of a container 1A-1C, the neck 12 and cap 13 acting as male connector.
  • the containers 1A-1C further comprise wall portions 9 and 11 which form substantially flat side walls without male or female connectors. This facilitates manufacturing of the containers via a moulding process.
  • Each container 1A-1C comprises one, two or three wall portions 14 defining channels 15 extending along substantially parallel respective directions of extension A from the first wall portion 4 to the second wall portion 5.
  • the wall portions 14 surround the interior volume of the channels 15 for 360 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the direction of extension A, such that each channel 15 forms a through hole through the container 1A-1C.
  • each third wall portion 14 forms a tubular structure 14 providing a channel 15 through the container 1A-1C from the first side wall 4 to the second side wall 5 on an exterior side of the container.
  • each channel extends from the male connector 6 to the female connector 7 such that a through hole 15 extends through the male connector 6 and the female connector 7.
  • the channels have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the direction of extension A with an interior diameter D which varies along the direction of extension A with a minimum diameter 18 in between the first and second wall portions.
  • the minimum diameter is arranged substantially in the middle of the length of the channel 15 in the direction of extension A. This facilitates manufacturing of the containers via a moulding process. It also allows to provide a clamping force to a further object introduced into the channel 15 and/or to limit an insertion depth of a relatively broad object into the channel 15.
  • the male connectors 6 and the female connectors 7 extend along a direction of extension which is substantially perpendicular to the first wall portion 4 or second wall portion 5, respectively, and the connectors 6, 7, have a substantially square shape in a cross-sectional plane substantially parallel to the first wall portion 4 or second wall portion 5, respectively.
  • different containers 1A-1C may be placed in parallel or substantially perpendicular to each other, with respect to a rotation about the male and female connectors 6, 7 to build a construction.
  • the repetitive substantially modular shape of units 16 facilitates interconnecting adjacent containers 1A-1C in offset, or overlapping, manner (e.g. as indicated in Fig. 5 one three- units-l ⁇ container 1C interconnects in the second layer interconnects two two-units-l ⁇ containers IB in the lowest layer) and/or interconnecting a plurality of containers by arranging one or more containers across several containers arranged in side-by-side relation (not shown) .
  • the channels 15 are arranged in the containers 1A-1C such that channels 15 of adjacent containers 1, 1A-1C, may register with each other.
  • substantially continuous channels 15 which extend over a plurality of adjacent containers 1A-1C are formed.
  • the channels 15 are brought to register substantially automatically when mating male and female connectors 6, 7, of adjacent containers 1A-1C during assembly of the construction.
  • male and/or female connectors 6, 7, and channels 15 should be arranged on a regular pitch, so as to provide substantially continuous channels through a plurality of adjacent containers.
  • a constant or repeating pattern of integral multiples of a unit size, as indicated for the container 1 of Figs. IA, IB, where two connectors 6, 7, are arranged per one channel 15, is also possible with the same effect.
  • the connectors 6, 7, extend substantially over the entire surface area of a unit 16 maximizing both surface area for contact and edge length of the connectors 6, 7, facilitating robust constructions. Further, by maximizing the surface area of the male and female connectors 6,7, respectively, the volume fraction occupied by the container 1A-1C of a circumscribed parallelepiped is optimized. This assists reducing material and material waste in manufacturing the container 1A-1C and/or packing a plurality of containers 1A-1C to a packet for transportation and/or sale.
  • the containers may be made of plastic material which is generally light-weight.
  • the wall portions 14 provide additional wall material to the container 1, 1A-1C and fortify the container in the direction of extension A of the channels 15.
  • a relatively thin-walled container 1, 1A-1C may be subject to relatively large forces, such as may be provided by a carbonated liquid stored inside the container, concrete or sand filled in the container and/or rather by a high stack of containers placed atop each other.
  • Providing a container 1, 1A-1C with one or more channel (s) 15 greatly increases versatility of the containers.
  • a construction of containers 1A-1C stacked on top of each other is shown. Due to the substantially block-like shape of the containers 1A-1C and the connectors 6, 7, in particular the connectors having a relatively large surface area, the construction is generally robust and stable. Where in the construction, e.g. such as shown in Fig. 5, a neck 12 and/or cap 13 (are to) meet a wall portion without a mating female receptacle 7' at that point, the neck 12 and cap 13 may be removed, e.g. cut off, to enable a substantially close packing.
  • a wall of containers 1A-1C of e.g. about 2 meters height or higher may be provided and fortified with one or more thin rods 19 which may extend continuously from a base floor to into the topmost row or containers lA-lC. Concrete reinforcement bars may be very useful for such purposes. Sticks or branches may also be used.
  • Short thick rods 20 with a diameter wider than the minimum diameter 18 of the channels 15 may be arranged between adjacent containers 1A-1C for fortification between layers without extending to the lowest level.
  • Short sticks or wine bottle corks may be useful, depending on the relative diameters of the object 20 and the channel 15, but stronger material may be used.
  • apertures e.g. doors and/or windows, may be made in a wall and the containers arranged above the apertures be interconnected and fortified, allowing a relatively strong construction. Further, combination with other building materials such as rope or string, sand, cement, concrete, adobe, clay etc. is facilitated.
  • Empty light-weight containers e.g. thin-walled plastic water bottles, may be filled with sand, pebbles and/or concrete, forming building blocks for durable constructions; even walls for durable homes may be built this way.
  • a plurality of containers 1, 1A-1C may be interconnected and fortified with one or more rods and fastening means, e.g. nails, screws, tape and/or rope, to provide a roof, possibly to be combined with a wall-like construction.
  • Fluid tight containers may serve as floats, e.g. for use with fishing nets or as a swimming aid.
  • a substantially plane construction of interconnected fluid tight containers may be used to build a raft. Rafts made of water bottles and/or soft drink bottles are known, but such rafts require significant amounts of fastening materials and they are known to be relatively delicate and dangerous in use since they may break apart unexpectedly.
  • a raft constructed with the present containers will require less construction material and still be stronger and thus be generally more reliable and safe.
  • the channel 15 may be used to provide the container 1, IA-1C with carrying means such as a handle, e.g. by stringing a rope through the channel, to facilitate transport of one or more containers and/or to use the container as a canteen.
  • carrying means such as a handle, e.g. by stringing a rope through the channel, to facilitate transport of one or more containers and/or to use the container as a canteen.
  • Plastic waste bottles, in particular PET-bottles are sometimes collected to be reused for base material.
  • a small number of bottles may rapidly grow to a large volume for transportation, which is hard to control.
  • the present containers may readily be strung together with a length of string or rope and/or be stuck onto a rod for transportation, increasing transportation handling and safety.
  • a set of two or more containers filled with a material, e.g. water, sand, pebbles etc, arranged on opposite ends of a pole may serve as a dumbbell for weightlifting training.
  • Unit sizes and volumes of the containers facilitate comparisons and/or establishing a training regimen.
  • a channel 15 increases the surface area of the container 1, 1A-1C without occupying a significant fraction of the volume defined by the wall portions 4, 5 , 8-11, thus not affecting the interior volume 2 so much.
  • the increased surface area may facilitate thermal management of contents of the container, e.g. cooling or heating of contents of the container 1, 1A-1C, such as drinking water, fruit juices, soft drinks, beer, or tea, coffee, soup etc.
  • the temperature distribution through the contents is also more homogeneous than in a container without a channel 15, in particular in a container wherein the channel (s) 15 is (are) arranged in or near a central region of the container, such as in the containers lA-lC.
  • the containers described herein may assist in maintaining a desired food condition and reducing chances of unsavoury or spoilt food or even food poisoning, in particular in regions with limited hygienic possibilities and/or standards.
  • the cap 13, or any closure means may be provided with collectable items and/or toys, e.g. pieces for chess or checkers, or chance game tokens. Such objects may also be located in a channel and covered with a label for maintaining their position for storage and transportation.
  • the cap may be provided with means for drinking and/or fitting into a channel, possibly for reducing the open diameter of the channel.
  • the container may also generally serve for playing- purposes; the channel (s) 15 may serve for holding (an) axle(s) to provide a toy vehicle, possibly using caps 13 and/or other objects as wheels.
  • a stick through the channel may be used as a mast to make a boat from a liquid tight container.
  • Wings may be attached on either side of a rod arranged through a channel, extending from the container on either side and being freely rotatable about the direction of extension A in the channel 15; such construction may function as a kite. Since the revolving wings generate noise, such container-kite may serve as a scarecrow.
  • a container may comprise one or more additional channels extending along a second direction of extension, e.g. perpendicular to one or more other channels. This allows interconnection and/or fortification in such other direction.
  • Different channels may be separate and/or be arranged to cross and connect within the container, e.g. forming a tube- cross of through holes through the container having openings at approximately 90° to each other.
  • a container may comprise more, less and/or differently arranged connectors and/or channels. More, e.g. two or three parallel rows of connectors and/or channels may be provided.
  • Male and/or female connectors may comprise means, e.g.
  • a container may be provided with tamper evident material, packaging material etc.
  • the containers described herein may be sold singly, or in sets of plural containers. Sets of containers with different unit sizes may be sold, e.g. three three-unit (16) containers (1C) together with three two-unit (16) containers (IB) and three single-unit (16) containers (IA), which may be packed together as a substantially block-like packet of three units (16) broad by two units (16) wide by three units (16) high.
  • a neck 12 and/or a cap 13 may be formed as or provided with means to act as a female connector.
  • the container may be openable or closable in more than one location and/or in other ways than with a neck and a cap, e.g. by comprising a hinged lid.
  • the construction system may comprise one or more containers comprising only male or female connectors and one or more channels.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Un récipient pour aliments (1A, 1B, 1C) destiné à un système de construction comprend une pluralité de récipients pour aliments pouvant être reliés. Le récipient pour aliments comporte un volume intérieur (2) et une paroi (3). La paroi comprend une première partie de paroi (4) et une deuxième partie de paroi (5). La première partie de paroi comprend un premier élément de liaison mâle (6 ; 12, 13) et la deuxième partie de paroi comprend un premier élément de liaison femelle (7 ; 7') conçus pour s'accoupler respectivement avec un élément de liaison femelle ou un élément de liaison mâle d'un autre récipient pour aliments du système de construction. Le récipient pour aliments comprend un canal (15) s'étendant sur un côté extérieur du récipient dans une première direction d'extension (A) depuis la première partie de paroi jusqu'à la deuxième partie de paroi. Le canal est délimité par la troisième partie de paroi dans un plan perpendiculaire à la première direction d'extension sur plus de 180 degrés.
PCT/EP2009/057534 2009-06-17 2009-06-17 Récipient multifonctionnel Ceased WO2010145700A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2009/057534 WO2010145700A1 (fr) 2009-06-17 2009-06-17 Récipient multifonctionnel

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2009/057534 WO2010145700A1 (fr) 2009-06-17 2009-06-17 Récipient multifonctionnel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010145700A1 true WO2010145700A1 (fr) 2010-12-23

Family

ID=41570227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2009/057534 Ceased WO2010145700A1 (fr) 2009-06-17 2009-06-17 Récipient multifonctionnel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2010145700A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014009892A1 (fr) * 2012-07-10 2014-01-16 Wolfowitz Steven Éléments de construction empilables et interverrouillables et système comprenant de tels éléments
WO2015056183A1 (fr) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-23 Ortiz Figueroa Marcos Alejandro Contenant en plastique pour liquides pouvant être recyclé grâce à une seconde utilisation dans la construction
WO2015151406A1 (fr) * 2014-04-01 2015-10-08 ビーエルデーオリエンタル株式会社 Accessoire de couplage, réceptacles assemblables, dispositif de manipulation de réceptacles assemblables, et procédé de présentation et vente de marchandise
FR3026092A1 (fr) * 2014-09-24 2016-03-25 Martin Olivier Dispositif tel une bouteille en plastique permettant un assemblage
WO2016165038A1 (fr) * 2015-04-17 2016-10-20 Ortiz Figueroa Marcos Alejandro Récipient utilisé comme élément de construction
WO2016189359A1 (fr) * 2015-05-28 2016-12-01 De Stasio Enrico Mario Bouteille en matière plastique, appropriée pour contenir des liquides, présentant des joints en forme de briques pour relier deux ou plusieurs bouteilles de manière à former une construction
IT201700078617A1 (it) * 2017-07-13 2019-01-13 Roberto Simioni Contenitore per lattine
GB2572142A (en) * 2018-03-18 2019-09-25 Ecodacity Ltd A glass container and method of manufacturing a glass container
FR3160680A1 (fr) * 2024-03-29 2025-10-03 Azeliop Contenant, ensemble comprenant au moins un tel contenant, structure murale comprenant une pluralité de tels contenants et procédé de fabrication d’une telle structure murale

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0197526A2 (fr) * 1985-04-09 1986-10-15 Universal Symetrics Corporation Emballage constitué de récipients multiples
US4708253A (en) * 1986-11-06 1987-11-24 Universal Symetrics Corporation Multiple interconnected containers with elongated necks and transverse recesses
EP0857664A1 (fr) * 1997-02-07 1998-08-12 Mirta Mabel Fasci Récipient modulaire et interconnectable à usages multiples
US20060261063A1 (en) * 2005-05-23 2006-11-23 Dyehouse Douglas J Interlocking and stackable container
US20090045157A1 (en) * 2007-08-15 2009-02-19 Industrial Alchemy Kitchen, Llc Interlocking container for conduction of flowable materials
WO2009052550A1 (fr) * 2007-10-24 2009-04-30 Modtank Pty Ltd Appareil de réservoir de liquide

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0197526A2 (fr) * 1985-04-09 1986-10-15 Universal Symetrics Corporation Emballage constitué de récipients multiples
US4708253A (en) * 1986-11-06 1987-11-24 Universal Symetrics Corporation Multiple interconnected containers with elongated necks and transverse recesses
EP0857664A1 (fr) * 1997-02-07 1998-08-12 Mirta Mabel Fasci Récipient modulaire et interconnectable à usages multiples
US20060261063A1 (en) * 2005-05-23 2006-11-23 Dyehouse Douglas J Interlocking and stackable container
US20090045157A1 (en) * 2007-08-15 2009-02-19 Industrial Alchemy Kitchen, Llc Interlocking container for conduction of flowable materials
WO2009052550A1 (fr) * 2007-10-24 2009-04-30 Modtank Pty Ltd Appareil de réservoir de liquide

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014009892A1 (fr) * 2012-07-10 2014-01-16 Wolfowitz Steven Éléments de construction empilables et interverrouillables et système comprenant de tels éléments
GB2517878A (en) * 2012-07-10 2015-03-04 Steven Wolfowitz Stackable, interlockable building elements and a system including such elements
WO2015056183A1 (fr) * 2013-10-16 2015-04-23 Ortiz Figueroa Marcos Alejandro Contenant en plastique pour liquides pouvant être recyclé grâce à une seconde utilisation dans la construction
WO2015151406A1 (fr) * 2014-04-01 2015-10-08 ビーエルデーオリエンタル株式会社 Accessoire de couplage, réceptacles assemblables, dispositif de manipulation de réceptacles assemblables, et procédé de présentation et vente de marchandise
FR3026092A1 (fr) * 2014-09-24 2016-03-25 Martin Olivier Dispositif tel une bouteille en plastique permettant un assemblage
WO2016165038A1 (fr) * 2015-04-17 2016-10-20 Ortiz Figueroa Marcos Alejandro Récipient utilisé comme élément de construction
WO2016189359A1 (fr) * 2015-05-28 2016-12-01 De Stasio Enrico Mario Bouteille en matière plastique, appropriée pour contenir des liquides, présentant des joints en forme de briques pour relier deux ou plusieurs bouteilles de manière à former une construction
IT201700078617A1 (it) * 2017-07-13 2019-01-13 Roberto Simioni Contenitore per lattine
WO2019012341A1 (fr) * 2017-07-13 2019-01-17 Simioni Roberto Récipient destiné à des canettes
GB2572142A (en) * 2018-03-18 2019-09-25 Ecodacity Ltd A glass container and method of manufacturing a glass container
FR3160680A1 (fr) * 2024-03-29 2025-10-03 Azeliop Contenant, ensemble comprenant au moins un tel contenant, structure murale comprenant une pluralité de tels contenants et procédé de fabrication d’une telle structure murale

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