Flying beverage container with impact crush zone

Abstract

Disclosed herein are flying beverage bottles having fins and an energy-absorbing impact crush zone within the bottle body, capable of protecting bottle-integrity upon impact. The crush zone may include corrugations or accordion-folds in a bottle wall. Fins may be molded within the wall of the bottle, or may included in a finned section attached thereto. Such bottles may also include one or more of: a base section adapting a finned bottle for transport in a track or conveyor of bottling machinery; aerodynamic noses and nosecones, attachable to the neck or bottom of a bottle or other location, optionally holding an object, prize or additive, also optionally acting as a stand; and a production sleeve permitting transport through a track or conveyor. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

1 . A throwable beverage product having an impact-absorbing crush zone, comprising:
 a bottle body having a bottom and an interior, and wherein said body interior is capable of holding a beverage;   a neck incorporated in said bottle body, said neck including an opening through which a beverage may be placed into and removed from said interior;   fins providing for aerodynamic guidance of said body as said body travels through the air in a forward direction;   a crush zone, said crush zone providing for the absorption of impact energy by the collapse of said zone, said crush zone providing for the integrity of said bottle body on impact in the forward direction with an object; and   a cap portion attachable to said neck by said threads, said cap portion having a seal fitted to seal said neck and provide enclosure for said interior.   
     
     
         2 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , wherein said crush zone includes corrugations. 
     
     
         3 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottle body includes walls, wherein said crush zone is implemented within said walls of said bottle body, and further wherein said walls are collapsible at the crush zone implementation. 
     
     
         4 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a base portion adapted for transport through a track or conveyor, whereby said bottle body may be transported on a track or conveyor without substantial interference between said fins and the track or conveyor. 
     
     
         5 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a nose that is separable and attachable to said body. 
     
     
         6 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a nose incorporated in said body. 
     
     
         7 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 6 , further comprising walls incorporated in said body, wherein said crush zone is implemented within the walls of said bottle body between said nose and said neck. 
     
     
         8 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 7 , wherein said fins are molded into said body walls. 
     
     
         9 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottle body includes a base opposite to said neck, wherein said product further comprises a nose incorporated in said base. 
     
     
         10 . A throwable beverage product having an impact-absorbing crush zone, comprising:
 a bottle body having a bottom and an interior, and wherein said body interior is capable of holding a beverage;   a neck incorporated in said bottle body, said neck including an opening through which a beverage may be placed into and removed from said interior, said neck optionally incorporating threads;   optionally a cap portion attachable to said neck by said threads, said cap portion having a seal fitted to seal said neck and provide enclosure for said interior;   fins incorporated within the wall of said bottle body, said fins providing for aerodynamic guidance of said body as said body travels through the air in a preselected direction; and   an impact-energy absorbing crush zone, said crush zone providing for the integrity of said bottle body on impact with an object while travelling in the preselected direction.   
     
     
         11 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 9 , wherein said bottle body includes a base opposite to said neck, wherein said product further comprises a nose attachable to said base. 
     
     
         12 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 9 , further comprising a nose attachable to said bottle body. 
     
     
         13 . A throwable beverage product having an impact-absorbing crush zone, comprising:
 a bottle body having a bottom and an interior, and wherein said body interior is capable of holding a beverage;   a neck incorporated in said bottle body, said neck including an opening through which a beverage may be placed into and removed from said interior;   a finned section attachable to said bottle body, said finned section including a plurality of fins configured to provide aerodynamic guidance of said body as said body travels through the air in a preselected direction;   a crush zone incorporated to said body, said crush zone providing for the integrity of said bottle body on impact with an object while travelling in the preselected direction; and   optionally, a cap portion having a seal fitted to seal said neck and provide enclosure for said interior.   
     
     
         14 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 13 , wherein said body incorporates a cavity, said finned section includes a feature mating to said cavity, and said attachment of said finned section is accomplished by insertion of said feature into said cavity. 
     
     
         15 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 13 , wherein said cavity and said feature are threaded. 
     
     
         16 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 13  further comprising an object, wherein said product optionally includes a nose, and further wherein said product incorporates a cavity for holding said object within either of said optional nose or said finned section. 
     
     
         17 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 16 , wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of prizes, toys, messages, identifiers, beverage additives and colorants. 
     
     
         18 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 13 , wherein said nose is attachable to said bottle body. 
     
     
         19 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 18 , wherein said neck includes threads, and further wherein the attachment of said finned section to said bottle body is by way of said threads. 
     
     
         20 . A throwable beverage product according to  claim 18 , wherein said bottle body includes a base opposite to said neck, and further wherein said nose is attachable to said base.