In/or relating to bottles

Abstract

A container for the storing and dispensing a part-frozen or semi-frozen product. The container has an upper portion including an outlet spout defining an outlet aperture to receive a re-sealable complimentary closure. A crushable container body portion is disposed from the container upper portion. A container base portion defines a plurality of vertical facets between the upper portion and container base. The container body portion includes a crush zone, the crush zone of the container body portion is separated from the container upper position by an isolation zone.

1 . A container for the storing and dispensing of an at least part-frozen product, comprising or including,
 a container upper portion including an outlet spout defining an outlet aperture to receive a complimentary closure,   a container base portion, and   a crushable container body portion disposed from said container upper portion to said container base portion,   said container upper portion, said container base portion and said container body portion being substantially axially aligned to a container axis; and said container body portion having lines of weakness that define a plurality of facets aligned parallel to the container axis between said container upper portion and container base portion,   wherein at or adjacent the boundary of said container body portion and said container upper portion there is provided at least one waist region (“first waist region”) of said container body portion, said container upper portion or both, that in use provides reinforcement to prevent, in the event of crushing along said lines of weakness, deformation of said container upper portion.   
   
   
       2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at or adjacent the boundary of said container body portion and said container base portion there is provided a second waist region of said container body portion, said container base portion or both that in use provides reinforcement to prevent, in the event of crushing along said lines of weakness, deformation of said container base portion. 
   
   
       3 . A container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein either of both of said first and second waist region is/are an increase in dimension orthogonal to said container axis from said container body portion to said container upper portion and said container base portion. 
   
   
       4 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there is a first inward circumferential groove on said container body portion disposed toward, but not on, said first waist region of said container body portion to said container upper portion to act as further reinforcement to prevent deformation of said container upper portion. 
   
   
       5 . A container as claimed in  claim 4  wherein there is a second inward circumferential groove on said container body portion disposed toward, but not on, said second waist region of said container body portion to said container base portion to act as further reinforcement to prevent deformation of said container base portion. 
   
   
       6 . A container as claimed in  claim 5  wherein a central axis of said first and second inward circumferential grooves is parallel to said container axis. 
   
   
       7 . A container as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said lines of weakness extend above and below said first and second inward circumferential grooves respectively to define facets. 
   
   
       8 . A container as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said facets above said first inward circumferential groove, and below said second inward circumferential groove are rectangular with a minor axis thereof parallel to said container axis. 
   
   
       9 . A container as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said facets between said first and second inward circumferential grooves are rectangular with a major axis thereof parallel to said container axis. 
   
   
       10 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said facets are regular polygons formed by said lines of weakness. 
   
   
       11 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a major axis of said facets is substantially parallel to said container axis. 
   
   
       12 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are between three and forty said facets. 
   
   
       13 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are eight facets in total. 
   
   
       14 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said facets are rectangular shaped with a major axis thereof parallel to said container axis. 
   
   
       15 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said facets are triangular shaped. 
   
   
       16 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said complimentary closure is re-sealable to said outlet spout. 
   
   
       17 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said complimentary closure forms a gas and water tight closure to said outlet spout. 
   
   
       18 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said complimentary closure is thread wise engaged to said outlet spout. 
   
   
       19 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said complimentary closure is a push on closure to said outlet spout. 
   
   
       20 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein either said upper portion or outlet spout have provision for a tamper evident feature of said complimentary closure. 
   
   
       21 . A container as claimed in  claim 3  wherein a label of said container lies between said first and second waist regions. 
   
   
       22 . A container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said first and second waist region(s) is/are an over hang or abutment between said container upper portion and said container body portion, and said container body portion and said container base portion. 
   
   
       23 . A container as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said first and second waist region(s) act as outward abrasion ridges to protect said label from rubbing against adjacent objects, such as other containers. 
   
   
       24 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said part-frozen product is selected from any one or more of a juice, a milk product and a cordial. 
   
   
       25 . A container as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said product is juice in a frozen state. 
   
   
       26 . A container as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said juice is in a concentrated form. 
   
   
       27 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container is substantially of a plastics material. 
   
   
       28 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container is moulded from any one or more of a,
 i) high density polyethylene,   ii) low density polyethylene,   iii) poly vinyl chloride, and   iv) polyethylene terephthalate (PET).   
   
   
       29 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container is blow moulded from polyethylene terephthalate.