FR3152425A1 - Injected preform suitable for transfer into a blow mold, method of manufacturing a bottle by blowing a preform and assembly comprising a blown bottle and a closure member - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE Injected preform suitable for being transferred into a blow mold, method for manufacturing a bottle by blowing a preform and assembly comprising a blown bottle and a closure member The invention relates to an injected preform (1) suitable for being transferred into a blow mold (40) in order to form, after blowing, a bottle (100) for a cosmetic product (P), said preform (1) comprising a neck (11) whose outer surface (15) has: - a threaded portion (16); - a gripping portion (19) comprising a gripping relief (20, 21) suitable for cooperating with jaws of a gripping tool; in which the gripping relief comprises two gripping relief segments (20, 21) discontinuous in the circumferential direction, and in which the threaded portion (16) and the gripping portion (19) have a non-zero overlap (c) in projection onto the longitudinal axis (X).. Figure for abstract: Fig. 6.

Description

Injected preform adapted for transfer into a blow mold, method for manufacturing a bottle by blowing a preform, and assembly comprising a blow-molded bottle and a closure device

The present invention relates to the field of plastic containers, made in particular of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

These containers can be used in particular to store and package a product intended for human consumption, including a food product, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

A cosmetic product is in particular a product as defined in Regulation 20 EC No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council dated 30 November 2009, relating to cosmetic products.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an injected preform, adapted to be transferred into a blow mold in order to form after blowing a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product.

In this field, we know of containers shaped by blow molding from an injected plastic preform. An "injected preform" refers to a preform obtained through a molding process by injecting plastic material into the cavity of a mold that defines the shape of the preform to be obtained.

In injection blow molding, the process begins by injecting molten plastic material into a preformed mold to create an injected preform. Once the injected preform has cooled, either completely or partially, it is transferred to a new machine for the container blow molding stage. In the final stage, the blow mold closes, the preform is reheated if necessary, and a blow rod or nozzle is inserted into the preform. The blow rod first stretches the injected preform, and then pressurized air is blown into the preform, forcing the plastic material of the preform toward the inner surface of the mold, thus giving the blown bottle the shape defined by the mold cavity. This technique is commonly used to produce plastic bottles.

A preform can be injected and blown at a single industrial site. Alternatively, a preform can be injected at one industrial site and then blown at a different industrial site.

In this latter case in particular, the preform must be grasped for transfer and placement inside the blow mold for blowing and shaping of the corresponding bottle or container.

Typically, the transfer of the injected preform into the blow mold of the container is done using the jaws of a gripping tool. These jaws of the gripping tool, positioned opposite each other, come together and grip the preform at its neck to grasp it and transfer it to the blow mold.

An injected preform typically has a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a closed end, or bottom, and an open end not intended to be deformed during blow molding, associated with a neck. The neck, as is known, comprises a cylindrical tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and having an inner face and an outer face on which are provided:
- a threaded axial portion, in which a thread extends helically along and around the longitudinal axis, said thread being intended to cooperate with a sealing element provided with a complementary thread and used to seal the bottle obtained after blowing the preform
- an annular projection, located axially below the threaded axial portion, on the bottom side of the preform, and used in particular for conveying the preform on conveying lines and/or for associating the bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform with a sealing element provided with a first opening indicator ring.

For the purpose of transferring the preform to the blow mold, the external surface of the preform neck also has an annular gripping groove, located axially above the threaded axial portion on the side of the opening defined by the neck, or below the annular conveying protrusion on the side of the preform bottom. This groove is adapted to receive the gripping tool jaws for transferring the preform to the blow mold. Typically, each jaw has a protrusion adapted to fit into the annular groove of the preform and extending along an arc centered on the longitudinal axis of the preform and over an angular range of less than 180°; in other words, the protrusions of the gripping tool jaws together extend over an angular range of less than 360° around the longitudinal axis of the preform.

Document EP2207722B1 describes an example of such a preform, in which the annular groove is provided below the conveying annular projection, on the bottom side of the preform.

Figures 1 and 2 of this application illustrate another example of such a preform, in which the annular gripping groove is located axially above the threaded axial portion, on the side of the opening defined by the neck.

Such containers made of plastic have a number of drawbacks, particularly in terms of environmental issues.

Offering eco-responsible, environmentally friendly solutions, whose design and development take environmental issues into account, is becoming a major concern in order to help address global challenges. It is therefore essential to design products that reduce the amount of materials used and/or replace them with more environmentally friendly materials and/or use recyclable materials to decrease the product's carbon footprint.

In this context, it is important to develop packaging that generates less waste, particularly optimized for the quantity of product transported, notably by redesigning and/or resizing it in order to reduce the volume and weight of the packaging and thus reduce its carbon footprint.

Therefore, in this context, there is a need to further optimize the quantity of material used to produce preforms of the aforementioned type, intended to be blown to form product containers, particularly cosmetic product containers.

The present invention aims to achieve this objective and, to this end, proposes an injected preform adapted for transfer into a blow mold to form, after blowing, a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product, said preform extending along a longitudinal axis between a base and a neck defining an open end, a lateral wall connecting said base to said neck, said neck comprising a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, said radially outer surface comprising:
- a threaded axial portion, in which a thread extends helically along and around the longitudinal axis;
- an axial gripping portion comprising a gripping relief adapted to cooperate with jaws of a gripping tool to ensure the gripping and transfer of the injected preform to the blow mold;
in which the gripping relief comprises two discontinuous gripping relief segments in the circumferential direction, extending together around the longitudinal axis over an angular range of less than 360°,
and in which the threaded axial portion and the gripping axial portion have a non-zero overlap in projection onto the longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the threaded axial portion should have a height greater than the height of the gripping axial portion when projected onto the longitudinal axis. To achieve this, a person skilled in the art will be able to determine the thread pitch(es) of the threaded axial portion and the axial height of the gripping axial portion.

By "two discontinuous segments extending together around the longitudinal axis X over an angular range of less than 360°", it should be understood that the sum of the angular ranges over which each of the discontinuous segments of the gripping relief extends around the longitudinal axis is less than 360°. In other words, the union of the angular ranges over which the discontinuous segments of the gripping relief extend is less than one complete rotation around the longitudinal axis.

Thanks to these arrangements, the invention proposes a spatial overlap of the threaded axial portion and the gripping axial portion, allowing a plurality of functions on the same axial portion, which makes it possible to have a preform neck of reduced dimension along the longitudinal axis and therefore to use less plastic material to make the injected preform. Furthermore, the implementation of two discontinuous segments in the gripping portion of the preform allows it to be oriented angularly in the blow mold to which it is intended to be transferred, in particular when the bottle obtained after blowing the preform has a body with a non-circular cross-section and it is desired to give the threaded portion a predetermined angular orientation with respect to this non-circular section.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the axial gripping portion is predominantly, and preferably entirely, contained within the threaded axial portion projecting onto the longitudinal axis, the overlap length corresponding to at least 20%, better at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion projecting onto the longitudinal axis. This optimizes the neck height of the injected preform along the longitudinal axis, thereby reducing the amount of plastic material used to produce the preform.

The gripping relief can be a protruding relief, extending in projection in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform, or a recessed relief, extending in recess in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform.

Preferably, the gripping relief consists of a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending into the radially outer surface of the preform's neck. It comprises a first groove segment and a second groove segment, preferably diametrically opposed, adapted to accommodate a corresponding protruding portion on the gripping tool jaws. By choosing a recessed relief in the form of groove segments to create the axial gripping portion, the amount of plastic used to produce the preform is further reduced. This also allows the gripping tool jaws to fit into each of the groove segments, held in place in the axial and circumferential directions respectively by the axial and circumferential flanks defined by these groove segments.

Alternatively, the gripping relief is formed of a discontinuous rib in the circumferential direction extending in projection from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform and comprises a first rib segment and a second rib segment, preferably diametrically opposed, adapted to fit respectively into a corresponding hollow portion provided on jaws of the gripping tool.

In this embodiment variant, the rib segments advantageously have a height measured in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform, less than the height of the thread(s) of the axial threaded portion, measured in the radial direction from the radially outer surface of the neck of the preform.

Thus, the presence of the rib segments allows and does not hinder the cooperation of the thread(s) of the neck of the preform, which corresponds to the neck of the bottle obtained after blowing the preform, with the complementary thread(s) provided on a suitable sealing element to seal the bottle, such as a screw cap.

The jaws of the gripping tool are selectively mobile in coming together and moving apart, between a gripping position, in which the jaws are brought together and a release position, in which the jaws are moved apart.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the first groove segment and/or the second groove segment extends over an angular range between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°. Thanks to these arrangements, an advantageous compromise is achieved between reducing the amount of plastic material used to make the preform, reliably holding the preform when gripped by the jaws of the gripping tool, and the functionality of the threaded axial portion in the context of its association with a threaded cap intended to seal the bottle produced by blowing the preform.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the neck has a thickness in the radial direction measured between the radially inner and radially outer surfaces, and the first groove segment and/or the second groove segment has a depth of between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30%, and in particular 25% of the neck thickness, specifically between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm. Thanks to these arrangements, a neck with reduced thickness at the groove segments is proposed, thus further minimizing the amount of plastic used in its manufacture, while maintaining sufficient rigidity to preserve its structural and functional integrity, particularly when the bottle neck, produced by blow molding the preform, is intended to be used with a closure device equipped with a sealing skirt that rests against the inner surface of the bottle neck to ensure its seal when the bottle is closed by the closure device.

Advantageously, the axial threaded portion comprises two threads extending helically along and around the longitudinal axis, said two threads preferably being angularly offset by 180° and each preferably extending over less than one turn, in particular over an angular range close to 120°.

In another embodiment, the threaded axial portion comprises one or two double threads, each of the double threads extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis, being axially offset from each other, in particular by 180°.

According to an advantageous provision, the preform is produced as a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of at least one plastic material, in particular a polyolefin, or preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The use of PET as the plastic material for the preform and, after blow molding, the resulting blow-molded bottle, is particularly advantageous, especially with regard to the end-of-life recycling of the bottle, as well as the possibility of using recycled PET (or rPET) to produce the preform. Indeed, PET currently benefits from the most efficient recycling stream of any plastic material, which facilitates the end-of-life recycling of the bottle obtained from the preform. Furthermore, this recycling stream provides recycled PET of satisfactory quality for producing the preform from this recycled material, thus promoting a circular economy model. Finally, PET or rPET offers the potentially desirable advantage of a high level of transparency.

The invention also proposes a method for manufacturing a bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product by blow molding, comprising the steps of:
- provide a preform as defined previously;
- orient the preform angularly around its longitudinal axis so as to place the gripping relief segments opposite corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws of a gripping tool;
- grasp the preform by mutually bringing the jaws together and cooperation of the gripping relief segments and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws of the gripping tool;
- transfer the preform towards the blow mold;
- release the preform by mutually separating the jaws;
- insert a blow nozzle through the open end of the preform neck;
- blow the preform through the blowing cannula, so as to obtain the bottle intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck of the bottle being unchanged in relation to the neck of the preform;
- extract the resulting bottle from outside the blow mold.

In this manufacturing process, the cannula is inserted through the open end of the neck and presents a wall in tight contact with the radially lower surface of the neck of the preform.

The invention also relates to a cosmetic product packaging assembly, comprising:
- a bottle obtained by the aforementioned process and containing in particular a cosmetic product;
- a bottle closure element comprising a thread adapted to cooperate with the threaded axial portion of the bottle to close its open end, said closure element preferably being a closure and dispensing element, such as a dispensing cap, comprising a base having a plate extending transversely to the open end of the bottle and provided with a dispensing orifice and a skirt erected from the plate and carrying the thread, and a cap hinged on the base and rotatably movable between a position of closing the dispensing orifice and a position of clearing the dispensing orifice, said cap preferably being provided with a stud adapted to insert and close the dispensing orifice in the cap closure position.

Thanks to the provisions of the invention, proposing a preform and a bottle resulting from the blowing of the preform having a neck of reduced height, the sealing element associated with the bottle in a cosmetic product packaging assembly can also have a reduced axial height, which makes it possible to further minimize the quantity of material, in particular plastic, required to produce the elements of said assembly.

The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, accompanied by non-limiting examples of its implementation, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents an example of a preform neck existing in the prior art, in which the annular gripping groove is located axially above the threaded axial portion, on the side of the opening defined by the neck;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the neck of the preform illustrated on the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective an injected preform conforming to an example of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates, in front view, the injected preform of the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates in side view the injected preform of the FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the neck of the preform of the FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 illustrates in longitudinal section a detail of the neck of the preform of the FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 8 illustrates, from a top view, the preform of the FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of the FIG. 6 , side view, illustrating a variant embodiment of the injected preform according to the invention;

FIG. 10 And FIG. 11 illustrate in side view a gripping step of the injected preform by gripping jaws;

FIG. 12 And FIG. 13 are top views of figures 10 and 11;

FIG. 14 illustrates a cosmetic product packaging assembly comprising a bottle produced by blowing the injected preform according to the invention and a sealing device associated with the bottle;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottle of the FIG. 14 filled with cosmetic product;

FIG. 16 illustrates in perspective the closing mechanism of the entire FIG. 14 , in closed position, viewed from the back, slightly offset to the left and raised;

FIG. 17 illustrates in perspective the closing mechanism of the entire FIG. 14 , in closed position, viewed from the side slightly offset to the left and below;

FIG. 18 illustrates in perspective the closing mechanism of the entire FIG. 14 , in open position, viewed from above, slightly offset to the left.

As seen on the FIG. 1 , it is known in the prior art an injected preform 1' extending along a longitudinal axis X', the neck 11' of which is provided on its radially external surface with a threaded axial portion 16' in which two threads 17', 18' extend helix along and around the longitudinal axis X' and a gripping portion 19' in the form of a continuous annular groove 20.

As can be seen in particular on the FIG. 2 , in such an injected preform known from the prior art, the threaded axial portion 16' and the gripping axial portion 19' extend over totally distinct axial portions, the gripping axial portion 19' extending above the threaded axial portion 16', in the vicinity of the opening defined by the neck 11', without axial overlap with said threaded axial portion 16'.

There FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective an example of the realization of preform 1 according to the invention.

As seen on this FIG. 3 The preform 1 extends along a longitudinal axis X between a bottom 10 and a neck 11 defining an open end 12. The bottom 10 and the neck 11 of the preform are connected by a lateral wall 13. The neck 11 comprises a radially inner surface 14 and a radially outer surface 15.

Advantageously, the injected preform 1 is produced in the form of a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of plastic material, and in particular of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

As can be seen in particular in Figures 3 to 6, the radially outer surface 15 of the neck 11 comprises:
- a threaded axial portion 16, in which two threads 17, 18 extend helically along and around the longitudinal axis X, and;
- an axial gripping portion 19 comprising a gripping relief 20,21.

The grip relief comprises two discontinuous grip relief segments 20, 21 in the circumferential direction, extending together around the longitudinal axis X over an angular range of less than 360°.

As can be seen in particular on the FIG. 6 The threaded axial portion 16, that is, the axial portion in which the thread(s) 17, 18 extend, has a height greater than the height of the gripping axial portion 19, that is, the axial portion in which the gripping ridge(s) extend, projected onto the longitudinal axis X. For this purpose, a person skilled in the art will know how to appropriately dimension the pitch of the thread(s) 17, 18 of the threaded axial portion 16 and the axial height of the gripping axial portion 19. Furthermore, and still in relation to the FIG. 6 , the threaded axial portion 16 and the gripping axial portion 19 have a non-zero overlap c in projection onto the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the gripping axial portion 19 is at least partially axially embedded in the threaded axial portion 16 of the neck 11, which makes it possible to reduce the axial height of the latter and minimize the amount of plastic material required for its manufacture.

The axial gripping portion 19 is predominantly, and preferably entirely, contained within the threaded axial portion 16 projected onto the longitudinal axis X. In other words, the axial length of the overlap c corresponds to at least 20%, better at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion 19 projected onto the longitudinal axis X. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the FIG. 6 , the axial gripping portion 19 is fully integrated into the threaded axial portion 16.

As is clearly shown in particular in figures 4 to 6, the axial threaded portion 16 comprises two threads 17, 18 extending helix along and around the longitudinal axis X, said two threads 17, 18 being angularly offset by 180°.

As seen on the FIG. 7 The neck 11 has a thickness t in the radial direction measured between the radially inner surface 14 and the radially outer surface 15. In this thickness t, the groove segment 21 has a depth d between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30% and in particular 25% of the thickness t of the neck 11. The depth of the groove segment 21 is in particular between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm.

With reference to the FIG. 8 , the first groove segment 20 and the second groove segment 21 are diametrically opposed and each extend over an angular range α1, α2. This angular range α1, α2 is in particular between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°.

Still referring to the FIG. 8 , the two nets 17, 18 are diametrically opposed and each extend over an angular range β1, β2. This range β1, β2 is in particular close to 120°.

There FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the preform according to the invention, in which the two threads 17, 18 each extend over less than one turn. The distinctive feature of this variant is that the two threads are not interrupted by the groove segments 20, 21.

As can be seen in particular on the FIG. 9 , the threaded axial portion 16 and the gripping axial portion 19 have a non-zero overlap c in projection onto the longitudinal axis X.

Thus, in this embodiment illustrated on the FIG. 9 The groove segments 20, 21 are located upstream of the start of each thread 17, 18. In an alternative embodiment, the groove segments 20, 21 can be located downstream of the end of each thread 17, 18. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the FIG. 9 , the axial gripping portion 19 is partially, but mostly integrated into the threaded axial portion 16.

Advantageously, the neck 11 of the preform 1 has axial symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis X, each groove segment 20, 21 being associated with one of the threads 17, 18, extending either from the start of the thread, or interrupting the thread, or from the end of the thread.

In another embodiment, not illustrated, the axial threaded portion 16 comprises two double threads 17,18, each of the double threads 17,18 extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis X, being axially offset from each other.

As seen in figures 10 to 13, the gripping relief 20,21 of the injected preform is adapted to cooperate with jaws 30, 31 of a gripping tool to ensure the gripping and transfer of the preform 1 to a blow mold.

The gripping relief 20, 21 being adapted to the jaws 30,31 of the gripping tool, the gripping relief 20, 21 can be provided in protrusion or in recess in the radially external surface 15 of the neck depending on the structure of the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool.

In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the gripping relief 20, 21 is formed by a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending in a hollow in the radially outer surface 15 of the neck 11 of the preform 1. This discontinuous groove comprises a first groove segment 20 and a second groove segment 21. These groove segments 20, 21 are preferably diametrically opposed and provided to house corresponding protruding portions provided on the gripping jaws 30, 31. These protruding portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 extend in an arc of a circle, with a radius corresponding substantially to that of the groove segments 20, 21 and over an angular range close to, but slightly smaller than, the angular range α1, α2 over which each of the groove segments 20, 21 extends.

Thus, and as can be seen in figures 10 to 13, in order to grip the injected preform for transfer to a blow mold, the gripping jaws 30, 31, initially separated from each other, as shown in the FIG. 10 and 12, are brought together in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the injected preform 1, to adopt the position illustrated in figures 11 and 13. In this position, the protruding portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 fit into a respective groove segment 20, 21 provided on the radially external surface 15 of the neck 11 of the injected preform 1.

The upper and lower flanks in the axial direction of the groove segments 20, 21 form abutment surfaces against which the protruding portions of the gripping jaws 30, 31 bear when they are inserted into a respective groove segment 20, 21 to ensure the retention in the axial direction of the preform 1 between the jaws 30, 31.

Furthermore, the lateral sides in the circumferential direction of the groove segments 20, 21 form stop surfaces retaining in the circumferential direction the gripping jaws 30, 31 when they are inserted into a respective groove segment 20, 21 to ensure the retention in the circumferential direction of the preform 1 between the jaws 30, 31.

This grasping and transfer of preform 1 is part of the process of manufacturing a bottle by blowing preform 1, comprising a first step of providing an injected preform 1 as described previously.

The manufacturing process then includes a step consisting of angularly orienting the preform 1 around its longitudinal axis X so as to place the groove segments 20, 21 opposite corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool, as seen in particular in figures 10 and 12 and symbolized by the curved arrow visible in these figures.

The manufacturing process then includes a preform gripping step 1 by mutually bringing the jaws 30, 31 together and cooperation of the groove segments 20, 21 and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool, as seen in particular in figures 11 and 13 and symbolized by the opposing arrows visible in these figures.

The preform 1 is then transferred towards the blow mold and released into this mold by mutual separation of the jaws 30, 31 of the gripping tool.

The manufacturing process then classically includes a step of inserting a blow cannula through the open end 12 of the neck 11 of the preform 1, a step of blowing the preform 1 through the blow cannula, so as to obtain a bottle 100 intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck 11 of the bottle 100 being unchanged compared to the neck 11 of the preform 1, and a step of extracting the bottle 100 obtained from the blow mold.

There FIG. 14 Figure 100 represents a bottle 100 formed from the injected preform 1 after it has been blown into a blow mold, along with a sealing element 200, which will be described in more detail later. During the blowing of the injected preform 1, the neck 11 is not deformed. Therefore, the geometric characteristics of the neck 11 of the injected preform 1 remain essentially the same as those of the neck 11 of the bottle 100.

The resulting bottle 100 is intended to contain a cosmetic product P, as illustrated on the FIG. 15 .

Figures 16 to 18 illustrate an example of a sealing element 200 that can be associated with the bottle 100 obtained from the blowing of the injected preform 1 according to the invention.

In Figures 16 and 17, the obturator 200 is shown in the closed position. On the FIG. 18 The 200 obturator element is shown in the open position.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 16 to 18, the sealing element 200 is a sealing and dispensing element, such as a dispensing cap. The sealing element 200 comprises a base 210 and a cover 220.

The base 210 has a platform 211 extending transversely to the open end 12 of the bottle 100 when the closure device is fixed to its neck 11. The base 210 is provided with a dispensing orifice 212 formed in the platform 211 and a skirt 213 extending from the platform 211 and intended to secure the closure device 200 to the neck 11 of the bottle 100.

For this purpose, the skirt 213 has on its radially inner surface a thread 217, here discontinuous, adapted to cooperate with the threads 17, 18 of the threaded axial portion 16 of the neck 11 of the bottle 100 to seal its open end 12.

Thanks to the provisions of the invention, proposing a preform 1 and a bottle 100 obtained by blowing the preform having a neck 11 of reduced axial height, the sealing element 200 associated with the bottle 100 in a cosmetic product packaging assembly, and in particular the skirt 213 carrying the thread 217, can also have a reduced axial height, which makes it possible to further minimize the quantity of material, in particular plastic, required to make the elements of said assembly.

Furthermore, and as can still be seen in figures 16 to 18, the cover 220 of the sealing element 200 is articulated on the base 210, notably by means of a film hinge, and is rotationally movable between a position of sealing the distribution orifice 212 and a position of unsealing the distribution orifice 212. The position of sealing the distribution orifice 212 corresponds to the closed position of the sealing element 200. The position of unsealing the distribution orifice 212 corresponds to the closed position of the sealing element 200.

The hood 220 is also provided with a stud 221 adapted to insert and seal the distribution orifice 212 in the hood 220 sealing position.

The Applicant thus proposes an injected preform 1 intended to be transferred to a blow mold to obtain, after blowing, a bottle intended to receive a cosmetic product, having a neck of reduced axial height and which can be associated with a closure element also of reduced axial height, in order to minimize the quantity of plastic material needed to produce these elements and thus be part of an eco-design approach aimed at significantly reducing the ecological impact of the products designed.

Claims (10)

preform (1) injected adapted to be transferred into a blow mold in order to form after blowing a bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product (P), said preform (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) between a base (10) and a neck (11) defining an open end (12), a side wall (13) connecting said base (12) to said neck (11), said neck (11) comprising a radially inner surface (14) and a radially outer surface (15), said radially outer surface (15) comprising:
- a threaded axial portion (16), in which a thread (17, 18) extends helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X);
- an axial gripping portion (19) comprising a gripping relief (20, 21) adapted to cooperate with jaws (30,31) of a gripping tool to ensure the gripping and transfer of the injected preform (1) to the blow mold (40);
characterized in that the grip relief comprises two discontinuous grip relief segments (20, 21) in the circumferential direction, extending together around the longitudinal axis (X) over an angular range of less than 360°,
and in that the threaded axial portion (16) and the gripping axial portion (19) have a non-zero overlap (c) in projection onto the longitudinal axis (X). Preform (1) according to claim 1, wherein the axial gripping portion (19) is predominantly, and preferably entirely, contained within the threaded axial portion (16) in projection onto the longitudinal axis (X), the length of the overlap (c) corresponding to at least 20%, better at least 50%, and preferably 100%, of the axial length of the axial gripping portion (19) in projection onto the longitudinal axis (X). Preform (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the gripping relief (20, 21) is formed of a discontinuous groove in the circumferential direction extending inward into the radially outer surface (15) of the neck (11) of the preform (1) and comprises a first groove segment (20) and a second groove segment (21), preferably diametrically opposed, adapted to house respectively a corresponding protruding portion provided on the jaws (30, 31) of the gripping tool. Preform (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first groove segment (20) and/or the second groove segment (21) extends over an angular range (α1, α2) between 60° and 120°, and preferably close to 90°. Preform (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the neck (11) has a thickness (t) in the radial direction measured between the radially inner surface (14) and the radially outer surface (15), and wherein the first groove segment (20) and/or the second groove segment (21) has a depth (d) of between 10% and 50%, preferably between 20% and 30% and in particular 25% of the thickness (t) of the neck (11), in particular being between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, and preferably close to 0.25 mm. Preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the threaded axial portion (16) comprises two threads (17, 18) extending helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X), said two threads (17, 18) preferably being angularly offset by 180° and each preferably extending over less than one turn, in particular over an angular range (β1, β2) close to 120°. Preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial threaded portion (16) comprises one or two double threads (17, 18), each of the double threads (17, 18) extending parallel in a helix along and around the longitudinal axis (X) while being axially offset from each other. Preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, made in the form of a single-piece component obtained by injection molding of at least one plastic material, in particular a polyolefin, or preferably Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A method for manufacturing a blow-molded bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product, comprising the steps of:
- provide a preform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims;
- to orient the preform (1) angularly around its longitudinal axis (X) so as to place the gripping relief segments (20, 21) opposite corresponding reliefs provided on jaws (30, 31) of a gripping tool;
- grasp the preform (1) by mutually bringing the jaws (30, 31) together and the gripping relief segments (20, 21) and the corresponding reliefs provided on the jaws (30, 31) of the gripping tool;
- transfer the preform (1) towards the blow mold (40);
- release the preform (1) by mutually separating the jaws (30, 31);
- insert a blow nozzle through the open end (12) of the neck (11) of the preform (1);
- blow the preform (1) through the blowing cannula, so as to obtain the bottle (100) intended to contain a cosmetic product, the neck (11) of the bottle (100) being unchanged in relation to the neck (11) of the preform (1);
- extract the bottle (100) obtained from outside the blow mold. Set (300) of cosmetic product packaging, comprising:
- a bottle (100) obtained by the process according to claim 9 and containing in particular a cosmetic product (P);
- a bottle (100) closure member (200) comprising a thread (217) adapted to cooperate with the threaded axial portion (16) of the bottle (100) to close its open end (12), said closure member preferably being a closure and dispensing member, such as a dispensing cap, comprising a base (210) having a plate (211) extending transversely to the open end (12) of the bottle (100) and provided with a dispensing orifice (212) and a skirt (213) extending from the plate (211) and carrying the thread (217), and a cap (220) hinged to the base (210) and rotatably movable between a position of closing the dispensing orifice (212) and a position of opening the dispensing orifice (212), said cap (220) preferably being provided with a stud (221) adapted to fit into and seal the distribution orifice (212) in the seal position of the hood (220).