EP2266891B1

EP2266891B1 - Dispenser device for a recipient containing a liquid product

Info

Publication number: EP2266891B1
Application number: EP10165374A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guglielmo Ferrari; Silvia Ferrari
Original assignee: ROEM Srl
Current assignee: ROEM Srl
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2010-06-09
Publication date: 2012-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-09
Also published as: IT1394564B1; ITMI20091111A1; EP2266891A1; ATE543745T1; EP2266891B8

Abstract

A dispenser device (10) for a recipient (14) for liquid products of the type shaped like a cup is described. The dispenser device (10) is configured to be applied onto the upper surface of the protective film (12) that seals the upper opening of the recipient (14). The dispenser device (10) comprises a circumferential base portion (16), provided to be fixedly connected to the upper surface of the protective film (12), and a central portion (18), which is hollow and elongated and which forms the spout through which it is possible to dispense the liquid product. Between the circumferential base portion (16) and the spouted central portion (18), a deformable membrane (20) of substantially annular shape is interposed. The spouted central portion (18) is also provided with at least one tooth (22) placed in contact with the upper surface of the protective film (12) so that, by acting manually on the spouted central portion (18), it is possible to make the spouted central portion (18) itself partially rotate with respect to the circumferential base portion (16) to obtain the perforation of at least part of the protective film (12) by the at least one tooth (22).

Description

The present invention refers to a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products, in particular drinks. For packaging drinks in general, like for example fruit juices, infusions and non-alcoholic drinks, special single dose containers are known to be used, usually made of plastic material and having a cup like shape. In the packaging step, after introducing the drink, the upper open end of such single dose containers is sealed through a protective film, which makes it possible to preserve the drink itself in the subsequent storing, transport and sales display steps of the containers.
During consumption of the drink, the film must be manually removed from the container, or perforated with a straw, thus giving access to the drink in the same conditions of hygiene and freshness which characterised it during its production step.
However, one drawback of this type of single dose containers, without an actual reclosable cover as such, lies in the fact that it is not possible to preserve the drink, even for a short time, after the container has been opened for the first time, unless improvised covers are used or unless the drink is poured in other types of reclosable containers.
Another drawback consists of the difficulty of transporting these containers once they are opened, since after being perforated or after the removal of the protective film, the drink can easily come out when the container is moved.
Finally, a further drawback of the single dose containers of the aforementioned type is related to the fact that they are difficult for young children to use by themselves, normally requiring suitable dispenser spouts in order to drink from any type of container.
Another known solution is shown in DE 20010210 U in the name of SIG COMBIBLOC INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS GmbH, which shows a device in accordance with the preamble of appended claim 1; although useful this solution has a folding portion exposed to the external environment and easily subjected to be damaged.
Another relevant drawback of this solution is that the upper membrane that closed the container is the same portion on which the toothed spout is attached , thereby making the whole assembly easily breakable.
The general purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products, in particular drinks, which is capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in an extremely simple, cost-effective and particularly functional manner.
In particular, one purpose of the present invention is that of making a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products that makes it possible to preserve the product for a certain amount of time after opening the recipient for the first time.
Another purpose of the invention is that of making a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products that makes it possible to transport the recipient, once it is open, without the risk of having the liquid inside it accidentally coming out from the recipient itself.
A further purpose of the invention is that of making a dispenser device for recipients containing liquid products which makes it possible to easily and safely access the liquid product contained in the recipient even by very young children.
These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by making a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products, in particular drinks, as outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted in the dependent claims, which are an integral part of the present description.
The characteristics and the advantages of a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a recipient provided with a dispenser device according to the invention, in its closed configuration;
figure 2 is a perspective view of the recipient of figure 1, with the dispenser device in its open configuration;
figure 3 is a side elevational view of the recipient shown in figure 1;
figure 4 is a side elevational view of the recipient shown in figure 2;
figure 5 is a section view of the recipient shown in figure 1;
figure 6 is a section view of the dispenser device according to the invention, in its closed configuration;
figure 7 is a section view of the dispenser device according to the invention, in its open configuration; and figure 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser device according to the invention, in its closed configuration. With reference to the figures, a dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products according to the present invention is shown, wholly indicated with reference numeral 10.

The dispenser device 10, preferably made of plastic material, is configured so as to be applied onto the upper surface of the protective film 12 that seals the upper opening of a recipient 14 of the type shaped like a cup, in which a generic liquid drink is introduced before being sealed by the protective film 12 itself.
The dispenser device 10 therefore comprises a circumferential base portion 16 provided to be fixedly connected, to the upper surface of the protective film 12, for example through heat coupling. The dispenser device 10 also comprises a central portion 18, which is hollow and elongated and which forms the spout through which it is possible to dispense the drink.
According to the invention, a deformable membrane 20 of substantially annular shape is interposed between the circumferential base portion 16 and the spouted central portion 18 of the dispenser device 10. Moreover, the spouted central portion 18 of the dispenser device 10 is provided with at least one tooth 22 placed in contact with the upper surface of the protective film 12. In such a way, by acting manually on the spouted central portion 18, it is possible to make such a spouted central portion 18 partially rotate with respect to the relative circumferential base portion 16, thanks to the deformability of the membrane 20, so as to obtain the perforation of at least part of the protective film 12 by the teeth 22 (figure 7).
The dispenser device 10 can be provided with a cover 11, made of transparent plastic material in the illustrated embodiment. Even the cover 11 is provided with a base portion 24, suitable for engaging with the respective circumferential base portion 16 of the dispenser device 10, and with a central portion 26 that forms the cover of the spout 18 of the dispenser device 10 itself. In particular, according to the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 24 of the cover 11 is irremovably connected to the circumferential base portion 16 of the dispenser device 10 by means of a ridge 28 that engages with a corresponding ridge 30 provided on the circumferential base portion 16 itself of the dispenser device 10.
In order to make possible attempts of tampering with the dispenser device 10 well visible, the central portion 26 and the base portion 24 of the cover 11 are connected to one another by means of a plurality of breakable bridges 32 that must be broken upon first use of the dispenser device 10 itself.
Alternatively, the base portion 24 of the cover 11 can be removably connected to the circumferential base portion 16 of the dispenser device 10 through snap coupling, i.e. without needing to foresee breakable bridges 32.
The central portion 26 of the cover 11 can be provided on the inside with a projection 34 configured so as to engage by interference into the upper end of the spout 18 of the dispenser device 10, so as to ensure that the recipient 14 is sealed closed even after the dispenser device 10 itself has been opened for the first time.
From what has been described thus far, it should be clear how the dispenser device 10 like that according to the present invention operates. Upon first use of the recipient 14 and the relative dispenser device 10, it is first of all necessary to remove the cover 11, breaking the respective breakable bridges 32 or disengaging it from the circumferential base portion 16 of the dispenser device 10 itself, in another way. At this point it is sufficient to apply light pressure on the spout 18, pushing it downwards, so as to obtain the deformation of the membrane 20 and the consequent perforation of the protective film 12 by the teeth 22, as shown in figures 2, 4 and 7. The drink can thus come out from the recipient 14 only and exclusively through the spout 18, making it easier for anyone to use, in particular children, and preventing it from being wasted.
After having brought the spout 18 back into its original position, without for this reason closing the hole made previously in the membrane 20, it is possible to reapply the cover 11 on the dispenser device 10, so as to block the spout 18 and preserve the residual contents of the recipient 14 even when moving and transporting it.
It has thus been seen that the dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products according to the present invention achieves the purposes previously highlighted.
The dispenser device for a recipient containing liquid products of the present invention thus conceived may in any case undergo numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used, as well as the shapes and sizes, can be any according to the technical requirements.
The scope of protection of the invention is thus defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Dispenser device (10) for a recipient (14) for liquid products of the type shaped like a cup, said dispenser device (10) being configured to be applied onto the upper surface of a protective film (12) that seals the upper opening of said recipient (14), said dispenser device (10) comprising a circumferential base portion (16), provided to be fixedly connected to the upper surface of said protective film (12), and a central portion (18), which is hollow and elongated and which forms a spout through which it is possible to dispense the liquid product, a deformable membrane (20) of substantially annular shape being interposed between said circumferential base portion (16) and said spouted central portion (18), said spouted central portion (18) also being provided with at least one tooth (22) placed in contact with the upper surface of said protective film (12) so that, by acting manually on said spouted central portion (18), it is possible to make said spouted central portion (18) partially rotate with respect to said circumferential base portion (16) to obtain the perforation of at least part of said protective film (12) by said at least one tooth (22).
said dispenser device (10) comprising a cover (11) capable of closing up said spouted central portion (18) ,
characterised in that said cover (11) is provided with a base portion (24), suitable for engaging with the respective circumferential base portion (16) of the dispenser device (10), and with a central portion (26), which forms the cover of said spouted central portion (18).
Dispenser device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said base portion (24) of the cover (11) is irremovably connected to said circumferential base portion (16) of the dispenser device (10) by means of a ridge (28) that engages with a corresponding ridge (30) provided on said circumferential base portion (16).
Dispenser device (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that said central portion (26) and base portion (24) of said cover (11) are connected together by means of a plurality of breakable bridges (32) that must be broken upon first use of the dispenser device (10).
Dispenser device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said base portion (24) of the cover (11) is removably connected to said circumferential base portion (16) of the dispenser device (10) through snap coupling.
Dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said central portion (26) of the cover (11) is provided on the inside with a projection (34) configured to engage by interference in the upper end of said spouted central portion (18), so as to ensure that the recipient (14) is sealed closed even after the dispenser device (10) has been opened for the first time.
Dispenser device (10) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said circumferential base portion (16) is fixedly connected to the upper surface of said protective film (12) through heat coupling.
Dispenser device (10) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said cover (11) is made of transparent plastic material.