FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bottle with a detachable bottom part.

Bottles typically have a body for holding the contents, and a pouring opening for pouring out the contents of the bottle. Typically, the diameter of the pouring opening is small compared to the diameter of the body. The body has a large diameter to enable the bottle to hold a significant volume of liquid. The pouring opening has a comparatively small diameter to facilitate pouring out the product, for example into a glass without, spilling.

The comparatively small pouring opening makes it notoriously difficult to thoroughly clean the inside of bottles.

In the prior art this has been overcome by providing bottles with large size pouring openings, which hampers the precise pouring of its contents.

Also, it is known from the prior art to provide bottles with a removable bottom part, to provide easy access to inside of the body of the bottle and thus facilitate cleaning thereof. These bottom parts are attached to the body by way of a threaded connection.

This solution is particularly used with plastic bottles, and is not highly suitable with glass bottles. However, glass bottles are often preferred over plastic bottles because these allow for a more refined presentation of products. Furthermore, with repeated cleaning and extended use, plastic bottles will tend to lose their clarity more quickly than glass bottles.

A large drawback of the threaded connection is that a solid and leak free connection between the body of the bottle and the bottom requires a fine thread in combination with a strong tightening of the bottom onto the body part. The strong tightening may cause the screw thread to chip, especially when a thin thread is used. Furthermore, after a strong tightening it may be difficult or even impossible to again remove the bottom from the body of the bottle. It has furthermore been found that placing a filled bottle on a table surface may cause peak loads in the screw thread, which forms the interface between the bottom part and the body of the bottle, and may thus cause the thread to partially chip.

The presence of glass particles is especially unwanted when the bottle is used for holding consumables, for example water, wine, olive oil, etc.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle which can be thoroughly washed and cleaned. A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle with a detachable bottom section, which can be reliably sealed without the risk of the bottom getting stuck or the bottle getting damaged. Still a further object of the invention is to provide a bottle which allows for a refined presentation of liquids, also after repeated use and cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore provides a bottle having a detachable bottom part and a simple and reliable mechanism for attaching the bottom part to the body of the bottle. Furthermore, a bottle according to the invention reduces or even removes the risk of the bottom part getting stuck onto the body part.

A bottle according to the invention has a glass body, for holding the contents of the bottle, a detachable bottom part and a locking ring.

The body has a top end provided with a pouring opening, for pouring out the contents of the bottle, and a bottom end provided with an entry opening, which entry opening is larger than the pouring opening. The entry opening thus provides easy access to the inside of the body to facilitate cleaning.

The bottom part is releasable attached to the bottom end of the body and seals off the entry opening of the body. Thus the bottle can for example be used for holding liquids.

With a bottle according to the invention, the locking ring is moveably mounted on the detachable bottom part. It can be moved relative to the bottom part between a locking position and a release position. When the locking ring is in its locking position it secures the bottom part and thus prevents the bottom part from coming loose from the body during use of the bottle, for example when pouring water out of the bottle into a glass.

When the locking ring is in its release position it allows the bottom part to be removed from the body, and thus provide easy access to the inside of the body.

The body of a bottle according to the invention is, on an outside surface of its bottom end, provided with a recess. This recess cooperates with components of the bottom part to enable the bottom part to be attached to the body of the bottle.

The bottom part has a foot section, a peripheral wall section, and one or more

circumferential sealing rings that sealingly engage the bottom end of the body. The bottom part is furthermore provided with at least one projection, as will be explained in more detail below, which cooperates with the recess to enable the bottom part to be attached to the body of the bottle.

The peripheral wall section of the bottom part defines a receiving opening in which the bottom end of the body is received. This is the part of the body provided with the recess. Furthermore, the peripheral wall section has an inside surface, facing the outside surface of the bottom end of the body, which inside surface is provided with the projection that is received in the recess of the body, thus attaching the bottom part to the body.

According to the invention, the peripheral wall section has a flexible portion that enables the projection to resiliently move in a radially outward direction out of the recess, and thus allows the bottom part to be detached form the body by pulling the body out of the receiving opening.

The locking ring, when in the locking position, blocks movement of the projection in the radially outward direction, and, when in the release position, allows the projection to move in the radially outward direction.

Thus, with a bottle according to the invention, the bottom is attached to, and detached from, the body by simply pushing the body of the bottle into the bottom part, and pulling it out of the bottom part respectively. The bottom part is provided with one or more circumferential sealing rings that sealingly engage the bottom end of the body when inserting it into the bottom part, thus establishing a leak free connection between body and bottom part. Once attached to the body, the bottom can be secured in this position by sliding the locking ring relative to the bottom part into its locking position.

Since it is the ring that secures the connection between bottom part and body during use, the force required for flexing the projection, or projections, of the bottom part into and out of the recess, or recesses, provided on the body can be kept small, thus facilitating the process of attaching and detaching the bottom part to and from the body.

Because there is no threaded connection between bottom part and body, there is a reduced risk of the bottom getting stuck onto the body due to string tightening.

The invention is in particular suited for use with glass bottles. Because of the absence of the threaded connection there is no risk of the threaded glass chipping when attaching the bottom part to the body of the bottle.

The invention can be implemented without the use of small ribs and notches and sharp angles and corners on the glass body. Further reducing the risk of the glass chipping or breaking when attaching the bottom part to the body of the bottle.

More in particular, the invention allows for the recess or recesses and protrusion or protrusions to be dimensioned such that there is no risk of the interaction between them, when attaching or detaching the bottom part, chipping the glass of the body.

It is noted that the entry opening of a bottle according to the invention also allows for bringing objects that do not fit the pouring opening into the bottle, for example flowers, fruit, ice cubes, etc.

In an embodiment according to the invention the locking ring is moved along its central axis when moved between the locking position and the release position.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring is rotated about its central axis when moved between the locking position and the release position. This allows for a compact bottom part, since the location of the locking ring on the bottom part does not change when the locking ring changes position. In an embodiment according to the invention the locking ring is located in a recess in an outside surface of the peripheral wall section, such that an outside surface of the locking ring is flush with an outside surface of the peripheral wall section.

In a preferred embodiment of a bottle according to the invention, the body is a single component made out of glass, the bottom part is a single component made out of a flexible material, for example a silicone material, and the locking ring is a single component, for example obtained by slicing a ring from a stock metal tube. The invention thus provides an improved bottle with a detachable bottom comprising three components only, which allows for a simple production process.

In an embodiment according to the invention at least the peripheral wall section of the bottom part is made of a flexible material, for example a rubber material or silicone material.

In a further embodiment according to the invention the peripheral wall section, the projection, the circumferential sealing ring and the foot section are combined in a single unitary body made of a flexible material, for example made of a rubber material or silicone material. Combining the components into a single unitary body provides a bottom part without seems, and thus reduces the risk of leakage and facilitates cleaning.

Furthermore, the flexible peripheral wall section and flexible connection between peripheral wall section and foot section allow for variations in the dimension of the body. It is submitted that glass components, even when made on the same production line, may show slight dimensional differences. This may be problematic when the components are to be part of a leak free connection. The flexible peripheral wall section allows for the bottom part to compensate for such differences.

Furthermore, the invention allows for the bottom part to be configured as a simple cup shaped component, provided with one or more projections and one or more sealing rings on the inside surface of the peripheral wall section. Since the design of the bottom part is configured to be slid onto and of the bottom end of the body of the bottle, it may also be slid of the core of an injection mould, and therefore does not require a complicated mould to be injection moulded. Thus, the invention allows low cost manufacture of a unitary bottom part.

In an embodiment, the foot section, the peripheral wall section, or part thereof, and/or the sealing rings are made out of different materials, by way of two component injection moulding. Also, components, for example the sealing rings, may be provided as inserts in the injection moulding process. In an alternative embodiment, the bottom part comprises multiple components, for example a foot section made of a rigid material, for example glass, connected with a peripheral wall section made out of a flexible material, for example a silicone material. The foot section and the peripheral wall section can be combined permanently, for example by gluing them together during the production process.

In an alternative embodiment, the foot section is a detachable foot section, which is releasable attached to the peripheral wall section. In an embodiment, a rigid foot section is attached to the flexible peripheral wall in the same way as the body is connected to the peripheral wall. In such an embodiment, the locking ring may lock both the body and the foot section when in its locking position and allow for detachment of both the foot section and the body when in its release position.

In an embodiment according to the invention additional projections are provided on the inside surface of the peripheral wall section, each projection being received in a recess provided on the outside surface of the bottom end of the body, and the peripheral wall section having one or more flexible portions, which enable all the projections to resiliently move in the radially outward direction, and out of the recess, when the body is pulled out of the receiving opening of the bottom part.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the peripheral wall section is provided with two projections on its inside surface, which projections are located on opposite each other. Thus a balanced coupling, i.e. at multiple points around the circumference of the body, is provided, while only some portions of the peripheral will need to flex outward during the attachment and detachment of the bottom part.

Such a configuration his especially beneficial when the bottom part is cup-shaped, i.e. is provided with a continuous peripheral wall section. A continuous projection extending along the entire inside circumference of the wall section of the bottom part would require the entire wall section to flex radially outward, and thus requires a large push or pull force when inserting or extracting the body into or out of the bottom part.

In an embodiment according to the invention the recess on the outside surface of the body extends along the entire circumference of the body. In a further preferred embodiment, the single circumferential recess is combined with multiple projections located on the inside surface of the peripheral wall, which projections are dimensioned and located on said peripheral wall such that they all cooperate with, i.e. are received in, the circumferential recess.

By combining the multiple projections with the circumferential recess, there is no need to correctly align the projections with respective recesses when the body is inserted into the receiving opening to couple the body with the bottom section.

Preferably, the one or more circumferential sealing rings sealingly engage the bottom end of body along the inside and/or outside circumference thereof, to provide a fluid tight seal between the bottom part and the body.

In a preferred embodiment, a sealing rings is provided in the form of flexible rib, the rib projecting from a wall surface of the bottom part. Preferably, the sealing rings engage the outside surface of the body near the entry opening, while the projection or projections received in the recess or recesses in the body are located further away from the entry opening. Thus, one or more sealing rings are provided between the entry opening and the projection or projections, preventing the contents of the bottle from contacting the projection or projections.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the one or more circumferential sealing rings are provided on the inside surface of the peripheral wall section, the one or more sealing rings engaging the outside surface of the body at the bottom end thereof, to provide a fluid tight seal between the peripheral wall section of the bottom part and the outside surface of the body.

The sealing rings may be provided as a unitary part of the peripheral wall, for example by injection moulding both the peripheral wall and the sealing rings out of a resilient plastic material, combining the peripheral wall and the one or more circumferential sealing rings into a unitary component.

In an alternative embodiment, the circumferential sealing rings may be provided as separate components which are combined with the bottom part during the manufacturing process. For example, rubber circumferential sealing rings may be inserted into grooves provided in the inside surface of the peripheral wall, which peripheral wall has been injection moulded out of a silicone material. In an alternative embodiment, the circumferential sealing rings may be glued onto the peripheral wall, may be combined with the peripheral wall by two component injection moulding, etc. When the one or more circumferential sealing rings are provided on the inside surface of the peripheral wall section, they engage the outside surface of the bottom end of the body, received in the receiving opening of the bottom part.

In addition, or as an alternative, the bottom part may be provided with circumferential sealing rings that engage the inside surface of the bottom end of the body. For example, the bottom section of the bottom part may be provided with a protrusion extending into the entry opening of the body, which protrusion is provided with sealing rings in the form of flexible ribs that extend in the radially outward direction.

The locking ring preferably is a closed loop that fully encircles the bottom part. In an alternative embodiment, the ring is provided with a single cut through, providing the ring with a c-shape. Such a locking ring can alternatively be obtained by bending a metal strip. In this embodiment, the ring still encircles most of the bottom part such that it functions as closed loop ring.

The ring typically has a height of at least 1 cm, and may have a thickness of one or more millimetres. The height of the ring provides a grips surface for engagement by a user and also a surface are for covering the flexible portion and/or projections when in its locking position. In a preferred embodiment, the ring is provided in a recess in the outside surface of the peripheral wall section of the bottom part, the sidewalls of recess guiding the locking ring and/or defining the range of movement of the locking ring when moved between the release position and the locking position. In such an embodiment the peripheral wall section preferably has a flexibility that allows the top end of the wall section to be flexed inward to thus allow the locking ring to be mounted in the recess.

In an embodiment according to the invention the locking ring is substantially cup shaped and the bottom part is at least partially received in the locking ring when the locking ring is in its locking position. In such an embodiment, the lower edge of the ring is provided with a flange that extends in the radially inward direction, the flange thus forming the bottom of the cup. The cup may have a closed bottom or an open bottom, for example having a central opening. Thus, the bottom part may be partially or even fully received within the locking ring. The cup shaped ring is still rotated or translated relative to the bottom part to move it between its locking position and its release position.

The ring is preferably made out of a metal, for example steel or aluminium, but in an alternative embodiment may for example be made out of injection moulded plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the ring is dimensioned such that it can be cut from a stock tubular product, which allows for low production costs.

In an embodiment, the locking ring is provided with one or more cut-aways or openings that leave the flexible portion of the peripheral wall section uncovered when the locking ring is positioned in the release position.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring is for example provided with sections that are located radially inward, i.e. towards the peripheral wall section, and sections that are located radially outward, i.e. away from the peripheral wall section. The inwardly located sections are located over the flexible portion and/or projection, or a part thereof, when the locking ring is in the locking position, and the outwardly located sections of the locking ring are located over the flexible portion and/or projection, or part thereof, when the locking ring is in the release position, thus providing space for the projection to move in the radially outward direction.

In an embodiment, the locking ring is provided with a text/and or figures which may for example be printed onto the ring or cut out of the ring. In an embodiment, the ring may be provided with a specific colour, for example to indicate the something about the contents of the bottle. For example, bottles filled with plain water can be provided with a blue locking ring, while bottles provided with water and lime are provided with a green locking ring.

In an embodiment according to the invention the recess for receiving the projections is provided in a circumferential receiving area of the body, which circumferential receiving area is set back relative to an outside surface area of the body directly adjacent the receiving area, preferably such that an outside surface of the peripheral wall section of the bottom part and/or an outside surface of the locking ring is flush with that outside surface area of the body directly above the receiving area.

In a further embodiment, the transition between the receiving area of the body and the outside surface area of the body directly adjacent the receiving area is configured as an abutment area, and the top end of the peripheral wall section is located adjacent said abutment area. Thus, axial load forces, for example due to the impact of the bottom contacting a table surface when the bottle is placed on said table surface, are at least partially transferred from bottom part to body part via said abutment surface.

In an embodiment according to the invention the locking ring is provided with a notch which is received in a groove in the outside surface of the peripheral wall section of the bottom part, which groove guides the locking ring via said notch when the locking ring is moved between the locking position and the release position. Thus, a single guiding system is provided for guiding movement of the locking ring when moved.

In an embodiment, the locking ring is rotated about its central axis when moved between the locking position and the release position and, in addition or as an alternative to the guide system mentioned above, the outside surface of the peripheral wall section is provided with ridges that engage the sides of the locking ring to restrict the movement of the ring to rotation about its central axis. For example, in such an embodiment the locking ring is located in a circumferential recess provided in the outside surface, i.e. the surface facing radially outward, of the peripheral wall section, and the edges of the ring are guided by the circumferential edges of the recess.

In an embodiment according to the invention the peripheral wall section is on an outside surface thereof provided with a cam, which cam functions as a stop which prevents the locking ring to be moved past the locking position and/or past the release position. For example, the locking ring may be provided with a slot shaped opening in which a cam- shaped protrusion is received, the projection being located at one end of the slot when the ring is in its locking position and at the opposite end of the slot when the locking ring is in its release position.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom part may be provided with a flexible protrusion which cooperates with an opening or recess provided in the inside surface of the locking ring, such that when the ring is moved in a particular position, for example the locking position, the flexible protrusion is received in the opening or recess to hold the ring in the predetermined position. The protrusion is dimensioned such that with some extra force protrusion flexes and the ring can be moved out of the position.

In an embodiment according to the invention the recess or recesses is or are provided with a bevelled, chamfered or rounded edge at its/their bottom side to instigate the outward movement of the projection received in said recess when the body is pulled out of the receiving opening of the bottom part.

In addition or as an alternative, the top and/or bottom sides of the one or more projections, which are received in the one or more recesses provided in the outside surface of the body when the bottom part is coupled with said body, are bevelled, chamfered or rounded edges to instigate the outward movement of the protrusion when the body is pulled out of the receiving opening. The rounded edges and/or angled surfaces, i.e. angled relative to the direction of movement of the bottom end of the body when pulled out of or pushed into the receiving opening of the bottom part, help to transfer the axially directed pushing or pulling force in a radially directed force flexing, i.e. resiliently move, the projections in the radial outward direction out of the recess, when pulling the body out of the receiving opening, or out of the way of the bottom edge of the body, when inserting the body into the receiving opening.

In an embodiment according to the invention the entry opening of the body has a diameter at least 7 cm, and/or the entry opening has a diameter which is at least two times, more preferably is at least three times the diameter of the pouring opening.

In an embodiment according to the invention the pouring opening is provided with a removable stopper, for example a screw cap. Thus, the bottle can also be used as a temporary storage device.

In an embodiment according to the invention the bottom part and locking ring are

dimensioned such that, when the locking ring is in the locking position, the locking ring is held in this position by frictional contact between the locking ring and the bottom part.

For example, in an embodiment, the outside surface of the peripheral wall section is provided with flexible ribs that push against the inside surface of the locking ring to provide friction small enough to not hamper movement by hand of the ring but large enough to prevent the ring from simply moving out of position by itself, e.g. due to rotation of the bottle when pouring its contents into a glass.

In an embodiment, to enable the locking ring to move relative to the bottom part, the outside surface of the bottom part, in particular the outside surface of the circumferential surface of the peripheral wall section, is provided with a guide surface that is adjacent the inside surface of the locking ring. Thus, the inside surface of the locking ring slides over the guide surface of the bottom part.

In a further embodiment, the guide surface comprises tolerance ribs, i.e. flexible protrusions which engage the inside surface of the locking ring. Thus, the locking ring does not engage the full outside guide surface of the bottom part, but only the tolerance ribs. These tolerance ribs prevent the locking ring from getting stuck on the bottom part in case the dimension of the bottom end of the body is slightly off, i.e. is too wide due to production tolerances.

Thus, when a body with a wide bottom end is inserted into the receiving opening of the bottom part, the flexible peripheral wall part is pushed outwards. As a consequence, the flexible tolerance ribs engaging the inside surface of the locking ring will bent, thus compensating for the enlarged circumference of the bottom part without significantly increasing the surface area and/or the contact pressure with which the bottom part engages the inside surface of the locking ring. The flexible tolerance ribs thus ensure a movable support of the locking ring by the bottom part.

The invention furthermore provides a method for cleaning a bottle according to the invention, the method comprising the steps:

- sliding the locking ring from its locking position into its release position;

- moving the one or more projections in a radially outward direction out of one or more recesses provided in the outside surface of the body by pulling the body out of the receiving opening defined by the peripheral wall section of the bottom part;

- removing the bottom part from the body and thus providing free access to the inside of the body via the entry opening;

- cleaning the inside of the body via the entry opening;

- pushing the bottom end of the body into the receiving opening of the bottom part and thus moving the one or more projections in a radially outward direction;

- sliding the body in an axial direction into the receiving opening until the one or more projections are again received in the one in the one or more recesses provided in the outside surface of the body; and

- sliding the locking ring from its release position into its locking position.

Advantageous embodiments of the bottle according to the invention and the method of cleaning a bottle according to the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and in the description, in which the invention is further illustrated and elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments, of which some are shown in the schematic drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a bottle according to the invention, the bottle having a body, a bottom part and a locking ring;

Fig. 2 shows the body of the bottle of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows the body of fig. 2 in cross section;

Fig. 4 shows the bottom part of the bottle of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 shows the bottom part of Fig. 4 in cross section;

Fig. 6 shows the locking ring of the bottle of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 7 shows part of the bottle of Fig. 1 in cross section;

Fig. 8 shows the bottle of Fig. 1 with the locking ring in a locking position;

Fig. 9 shows part of the bottle of Fig. 8 in partial cross section;

Fig. 10 shows the bottle of Fig. 1 with the locking ring in a release position; and

Fig. 1 1 shows part of the bottle of Fig. 8 in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a bottle 1 according to the invention. The bottle 1 has a body 2, shown in isolation in Figs. 2 and 3, a bottom part 3, shown in isolation in figs. 4 and 5, and a locking ring 4, shown in isolation in Fig. 6.

The body 2 is the part of the bottle 1 for holding the contents. The body 2 has a top end 5 that is provided with a pouring opening 6, and has a bottom end 7 that is provided with an entry opening 8. The entry opening 8 is larger than the pouring opening 6, and thus provides easy access to the inside of the body 2 to facilitate cleaning of the bottle 1.

The bottom part 3 is releasable attached to the bottom end 7 of the body 2 and seals off the entry opening 8 of the body 2.

The locking ring 4 is moveably mounted on the detachable bottom part 3 and can be moved relative to the bottom part between a locking position, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and a release position, shown in Figs. 10 and 1 1.

The body 2 is, on an outside surface 9 of its bottom end 7, provided with a recess 10.

The bottom part 3 has a foot section 11 , a peripheral wall section 12, and a circumferential sealing ring 13 that sealingly engages the bottom end 7 of the body 2.

The peripheral wall section 12 of the bottom part 3 defines a receiving opening 14 in which the bottom end 9 of the body 2 is received. The peripheral wall section 12 has an inside surface 15, facing the outside surface 9 of the bottom end 7 of the body 2, which inside surface is provided with a projection 16 that is received in the recess 10 of the body 2, thus attaching the bottom part 3 to the body 2.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom part 3 is provided with two projections 16, 16', located opposite each other on the inside surface of the peripheral wall section 12. The tow projections both cooperate with the same recess 10 in the body 2 of the bottle 1.

In an alternative embodiment, a single projections is provided, for example extending along a significant part, for example 80%, of the inside circumference of the peripheral wall section.

In an alternative embodiment, three or more projections are provided, when multiple projections are provided, they preferably engage the same recess, which recess is provided as a single groove extending along the entire outside circumference of the body, for example as shown in Fig. 2.

The peripheral wall section 12 has a flexible portion 17 that enables the projection 16 to resiliently move in a radially outward direction out of the recess 10, and thus allows the bottom part 3 to be detached form the body 2 by pulling the body out of the receiving opening 14.

The locking ring 4, when in the locking position, blocks movement of the projection 16 in the radially outward direction, and, when in the release position, allows the projection 16 to move in the radially outward direction.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom part 3 is cup shaped, having a peripheral wall section 12 extending along the entire circumference of the foot section 1 1. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the entire peripheral wall section 12 is flexible, i.e. the peripheral wall section forms the flexible portion 17 that enables the projections 16, 16' to flex in the radially outward direction, indicated in Fig. 5 with arrows 18.

The locking ring 4 extends along the entire circumference of peripheral wall section of the bottom part 3. The locking ring 4 is located in a recess 19 provided in the outside surface of the peripheral wall section 12, and which allows the locking ring to rotate about its central axis between the locking position and the release position. The locking ring 4 is in its upper part provided with partial cut-outs 20, which, when the locking ring 4 is in its release position, allow the projections 16, 16', and part of the flexible peripheral wall section 12, this part of the peripheral wall section thus forming the flexible portion 17, to move in the radially outward direction.

The release position is shown in more detail in the cross sectional views depicted in Figs 7 and 1 1. From this figures it is clear that the locking ring 4, when in its locking position, covers part the flexible portion 17 of the peripheral wall section 12, including the part of the peripheral wall section on which the projections 16, 16' are provided, and thus blocks movement in the radially outward direction of the projections and prevents the body 2 to be pulled out of the receiving opening 14 of the bottom part 3.

The locking position of the locking ring is shown in more detail in the cross sectional views depicted in Fig. 9. From this figure it is clear that the locking ring 4, when in its release position, does not cover the part the flexible portion 17 of the peripheral wall section 12, including the part of the peripheral wall section on which the projections 16, 16' are provided, and thus allows movement in the radially outward direction of the projections and thus allows the body 2 to be pulled out of the receiving opening 14 of the bottom part 3.

It is noted that the body 2 can only be inserted into the bottom part 3 when the locking ring 4 is in its release positon.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the peripheral wall section 12, the projections 16, 16', the circumferential sealing rings 13 and the foot section 1 1 are combined in a single unitary body made of a flexible material, for example a silicone material. Combining the components into a single unitary body provides a bottom part without seems, and thus reduces the risk of leakage and facilitates cleaning.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment shown, the body 2 is a single component made out of glass, the bottom part 3 is a single component made out of a flexible material, for example a silicone material, and the locking ring 4 is a single component, for example a steel ring. The bottle thus comprises only three components.

To provide easy access to the inside of the body 2 of the bottle 1 , for example for cleaning the inside of the bottle or to put an object such as a flower or fruit inside the bottle, the bottom part is to be separated from the body. To achieve this, first the locking ring 4 is rotated about its central axis from the locking position into the release position. Subsequently, the two projections 16, 16' are moved in a radially outward direction out of the recesses 10 provided in the outside surface 9 of the body 2 by pulling the body out 2 of the receiving opening 14 defined by the peripheral wall section 12 of the bottom part 3.

The bottom part 3 can now be removed from the body 2 and thus free access to the inside of the body via the entry opening is provided.

To reattach the bottom part 3 to the body 2, the body 2 is pushed with its bottom end 8 into the receiving opening 14 of the bottom part 3. Thus, the two projections 16, 16' are moved in the radially outward direction. Subsequently, the body 2, more in particular the bottom end 7 of the body 2, is pushed further into the receiving opening 14, until the projections are again received in the recesses 10 provided in the outside surface 9 of the body 2.

Finally, the locking ring 4 is rotated about its central axis, which in the embodiment shown coincides with the central axis of the bottle, from its release position into its locking position, to prevent the bottom part 3 from coming loose for the body 2 during use.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring is not rotated between its locking position and its release position, but is translated in the vertical direction, i.e. is moved up or down along its central axis, to block or allow the radial movement of projections.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the recess 10 for receiving the projections 16, 16' is provided in a circumferential receiving area 22 of the body 2. This circumferential receiving area 22 is set back relative to an outside surface area of the body 2 directly adjacent the receiving area, such that an outside surface of the locking ring 4 is flush with said outside surface area of the body directly above the receiving area. This provides the bottle with an, ecstatically pleasing, clean outline or contour.

In the particular embodiment shown, the receiving area of the body part is the part that is received inside the bottom part when the bottom part is attached to the body.

Furthermore, in the particular embodiment shown, the transition between the receiving area 22 of the body and the outside surface area of the body directly adjacent the receiving area 22 is configured as an abutment area 23, and the top end of the peripheral wall section 12 is located adjacent said abutment area. Thus, axial load forces, for example due to the impact of the bottom contacting a table surface when the bottle is placed on said table surface, are at least partially transferred from bottom part to body part via said abutment surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the outside surface of the locking ring and or an outside surface of the peripheral wall section of the bottom part is not flush with the outside surface of the body, and the outside of the bottom part may be set back or set outward relative to the surface of the body, providing the bottle with a stepped contour.

The peripheral wall section 12 of the bottom part 3 is on an outside surface thereof provided with a cam 21. The cam 21 functions as a stop that prevents the locking ring 4 to be moved past the locking position and/or past the release position. In the embodiment shown the cam is received in the partial cut-outs 20, which, when the locking ring 4 is in its release position, allow the projections 16, 16', to move in the radially outward direction.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring may be provided with a slot shaped opening in which a cam-shaped protrusion is received, the cam being located at one end of the slot when the ring is in its locking position and at the opposite end of the slot when the locking ring is in its release position.

In the embodiment shown the locking ring 4 is provided in a recess 19 in the outside surface 9 of the peripheral wall section 12. Thus, the outside surface of the locking ring 4 is flush with the outside surface of the bottom end of the peripheral wall section 12, adjacent the recess 19, of the bottom part 3. The recess 19 is open at the top end, such that the top edge of the locking ring 4 is adjacent a wall surface of the abutment area 23 of the body 2 while the bottom edge of the locking ring 4 is adjacent a side wall of the recess 19 of the bottom part. Vertical movement of the locking ring relative to the flexible bottom part is restricted by the side wall of the recess 19 on the bottom end and the cam 21 at the top end.

Preferably, there is some friction between the locking ring and bottom part to prevent free movement of the locking ring relative to the bottom part. In an embodiment, the outside surface of the bottom part is configured such that it frictionally engages the inside surface of the locking ring at least when the locking ring is in its locking position, thus preventing the locking ring to accidently move out of the locking position, for example while pouring water into a glass. In a further embodiment, there is always some friction between locking ring and bottom part, such that the locking ring always holds its position when not manipulated.

In the embodiment shown, the outside surface of the bottom part 3, more in particular the peripheral wall section 12, is provided with tolerance ribs 23, i.e. flexible protrusions which engage the inside surface of the locking ring 4. Thus, the locking ring does not engage the full outside guide surface of the bottom part, but only the tolerance ribs 23. These tolerance ribs 23 prevent the locking ring 4 from getting stuck on the bottom part in case the dimension of the bottom end of the body is slightly off, i.e. is wide due to production tolerances.

When a body with a wide bottom end is inserted into the receiving opening of the bottom part, the flexible peripheral wall part is pushed outwards. As a consequence, the flexible tolerance ribs engaging the inside surface of the locking ring will bent, thus compensating for the enlarged circumference of the bottom part without significantly increasing the surface area and/or the contact pressure with which the bottom part engages the inside surface of the locking ring. The flexible tolerance ribs thus ensure a movable support of the locking ring by the bottom part.

Reference signs

01 bottle

02 body

03 bottom part

04 locking ring

05 top end body

06 pouring opening

07 bottom end of body

08 entry opening of body

09 outside surface bottom end

10 recess

1 1 foot section

2 peripheral wall section

13 circumferential sealing ring

14 receiving opening

15 inside surface peripheral wall section

16 projection

17 flexible portion bottom part

18 arrow indicating radial movement

19 recess in outside surface peripheral wall section

20 cut outs in upper end locking ring

21 cam

22 receiving area

23 tolerance ribs