WO2020070629A1

WO2020070629A1 - Cap and adapter for gravity dispensing liquid from a container

Info

Publication number: WO2020070629A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/058308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Goran TOMIC
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-01
Filing date: 2019-09-30
Publication date: 2020-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-01
Also published as: RS61383B1; RS20181148A1

Abstract

Assembly of an adapter (3) for holding an inverted bottled drink dispenser and a cap (2). The cap, intended for closing a bottle, comprises a liquid passage with an outlet which is normally closed by a valve member (17) biased by a spring (16). When the capped bottle is connected to the adapter (3), a lid (19) mounted on the adapter (3) pushes against valve member (17) and opens the liquid passage. When the bottle is removed from the adapter (3), the spring- biased valve member (17) closes the liquid passage in the cap, thus preventing spilling residual liquid from the bottle. In an embodiment, the adapter (3) comprises a filter (18) for the liquid.

Description

CAP AND ADAPTER FOR GRAVITY DISPENSING LIQUID FROM A

CONTAINER

Area of technology to which the invention relates

The invention belongs to the field of handling of liquids in a broader sense and relates to apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes, and to caps with dispensing devices.

According to International Patent Classification (IPC), the invention can be classified as:

B67D3/02 -Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes, through liquid-dispensing valves having operating members arranged to be pressed upwards, e.g. by the rims of receptacles held below the delivery orifice.

B65D47/14 - Closures with discharging and devices and closure-retaining means

Technical problem

The technical problem solved by this invention is how to solve the construction of a cap on containers for dispensing liquid and the adapter which holds the container and activates liquid dispensing for liquids under gravity, in order for the application of such a solution to permit the dispensing of a liquid beverage and removal of the container which is partially emptied, without spilling the liquid beverage from the container in the surrounding area. The problem of filtering the liquid beverage poured into receptacles during dispensing from the container is also solved.

State of the Art

There are various types of water cooler dispensers and water filtering devices on the market. One of the most widespread on the territory of Serbia is La Fantana http://www.lafantana.rs/aparati-za-vodu-promo. They have water dispensers for cold and hot water, as well as devices that include water purification. Another well known device is by the company ZEPTER http://rs.zepter.com/MainMenu/Products/HomeCare/Cleansy, which is connected to the water installation.

The patent documentation contains several published patent applications and patents that can be considered relevant with regard to the solution which will be presented here.

Patent application US 1501068 (A), which became available to the public on 15 June 1924, presents an invention entitled Liquid cooling and dispensing apparatus. The apparatus consists of a hermetical stand comprised of two chambers. The inner chamber has a tap at its very bottom, while the top chamber has a gasket which is in contact with a container. A container filled with water is placed on top of the stand. The container is closed off with a specially constructed cap.

The cap is cylindrically shaped whose outer shell is in the shape of a truncated cone, with the interior of the cap shaped like a hollow cylinder that is closed off with a flat disk. The flat disk is rotationally connected to the cap with a hinge. The function of the invention is based on the difference in water pressure. When the container is full, it is turned upside down and placed on the stand. After opening, the hydraulic pressure of the liquid opens the disk, with the liquid spilling into the inner chamber. When the level of the liquid reaches the level of the cap, the flat disk closes off the neck of the container, because the diameter of the disk is larger than the diameter of the cap.

The disadvantage of this invention is that the container must remain on the stand until completely emptied.

Patent application US 4310038 (A), which became available to the public on 12 January 1982, presents an invention entitled Metering valve for beverage containers. The valve consists of a housing that is divided into two parts by a divider, forming two chambers. Each of the chambers has its own ball. There is a round opening in the divider with lateral serrations. The housing in the lower chamber has an opening onto which the ball rests, and at its top is a neck with an internal thread with which it attaches to a container with a liquid. The cover of the upper chamber has an opening that connects the interior of the container with the surroundings through a small tube. The valve acts by allowing the liquid from the container to spill into the upper chamber, pressing the ball onto the opening in the divider. Since the opening in the divider has lateral serrations, the liquid from the upper chamber slowly fills the lower measuring chamber because the ball in the lower chamber hermetically seals the lower opening. When the beverage is to be delivered into a glass, which usually contains ice cubes, the ice presses the ball away from the opening, after which the measured amount of liquid spills out. In order for it to be possible for a new quantity of liquid to be delivered, the vacuum created in the container is annulled owing to the small tube which connects the surroundings with the interior of the container.

The disadvantage of this invention is that the liquid could not spill out easily if the glass into which it spills out does not have ice cubes.

Patent application EP0134142 (A2), which became available to the public on 13 March 1985, presents an invention entitled Bag-in-box. The invention consists of a tap and a bag(s) housed in a solid box. The tap consists of a body and a spindle. The body consists of two concentric circular flanges separated by a circular channel that connects the tap to the box. Integrally connected with the flanges is a tube element that is circular in its cross section. The tube element contains a valve and two outtake pipes that are removed with respect to the axis of the body. The spindle of the tap is hollow and is formed with two openings that correspond to the two outtake pipes on the body that are linked to the spindle.

Two flexible bags are usually placed into the box, with different contents, whose form is maintained by the box into which they are placed. Each of the bags is connected with pipes on the body of the tap. With the opening of the tap both liquids intermix and spill due to gravity. With the closing of the tap, the interior of the bag receives air through one of the openings on the body of the tap, so that with its next opening the desired quantity of liquid can be delivered. The process unfolds by alternating the cycles of liquid release and receipt of air until the bags are completely emptied.

The disadvantage of this invention is that it is only for one-time use.

The mentioned disadvantages are corrected by the proposed solution as per this patent application, which will be explained in detail below and which will be presented in the accompanying drawings. Basis of the invention

The basis and the comfort of the user of the invention is in that the container can be filled with different beverages, it can be emptied up to the desired quantity and removed from a standard device from the state of technology, before complete emptying of the container without spilling of the liquid beverage in the surroundings. This comfort is provided by the constructive solution of the cap and adapter. When the cap is fastened to the container, it closes it hermetically, while the adapter permits for the container to be held and the liquid beverage to be released, which can only pass through the filter to the user.

The cap consists of an outtake, a cylindrical spring, a base and gaskets.

The outtake is shaped like a hat, with a hole located at axis level. At one end of the outtake is a rim in the shape of a wreath and, at the other end, in the area of the hole, there are rectangular openings along the cylinder. On the rim, on the exterior, parallel with the axis are mutually parallel indentations, whose cross section is in the shape of a section of a circle, while on the inside there is a wide thread, so-called fast connection, for faster connecting and disconnecting with the container. At the bottom, beneath the end of the interior thread there is a groove in which a flat gasket is placed, creating a seal between the cap and the container.

At the bottom of the hole, a cylindrical spring is inserted into the outtake, resting at one end, while the other side of the spring is pressed against the base.

The base is in the shape of a shallow cup, with an outtake inside the cup in the shape of a wreath, such that the spring is inserted into the cup and touches the wreath which at the same time serves to guide the spring.

The gasket is tube shaped. At one end of the gasket, on the exterior side is a wreath, and on the other side, on the exterior, there are spines. As part of the outtake the wreath rests in a channel, with the spines fitting into openings in the outtake, thus ensuring the position of the gasket with respect to the outtake and securing the gasket against coming loose. The cylindrical spring in the apparatus presses the base against the gasket, ensuring hermetic closing of the cap. The adapter consists of the base with which the lid is firmly, hermetically and separably connected.

The base is in the shape of an inverted hat. On the wider end of the base, along the axis of the base, there is a groove into which the water filter is placed. The base on that side is fortified with ribs that connect the rim to the foundation, in order for the adapter to be able to support the container filled with liquid. Along the outer edge of the base, where the filter is placed, there are slits that permit the air from the surrounding environment to fill the empty space in the container after release of the liquid. In the foundation of the base there is a channel. On the exterior wall of the channel there is an interior thread for the connection with the lid. On the other side of the base there is a neck with an opening inside of it through which the base is connected to a standard dispenser for dispensing a liquid beverage, through the gasket.

The lid is cylindrical and funnel shaped. On one (wider) side of the lid there is a wreath with an exterior thread, while on the other side there is a cylindrical top with lateral openings. The lid is hermetically and firmly connected to the base using the thread via the gasket, located in the groove, for shaping the adapter. The hermetic link between the base and the lid ensures that all liquid that is delivered gravitationally from the container passes through the filter to the user.

The container is balloon shaped, with handles made in its body which are positioned symmetrically. At one end of the container is a neck with an exterior thread for the connection with the cap.

The advantages of a cap with an adapter on a container for releasing liquid gravitationally are as follows:

- the container can be filled with the desired liquid beverage;

- it is easy for handling;

- the container can be removed from the dispenser even when it is not completely empty;

- there is no spilling of liquid when placing the container on the adapter;

- liquid beverages are always filtered.

Brief description of drawings The invention is described in detail in the example of presentation in drawings in which:

Drawing 1 - presents the cross section of the invention along the horizontal axis; Drawing 2 - presents detail“D” from drawing 1 ;

Drawing 3 - presents the side view of the cap;

Drawing 4 - presents the cap in disassembled state with lid and gasket;

Drawing 5 - presents the adapter base in isometry;

Drawing 6 - presents the side view of the container.

Detailed description

The invention consists of a cap 2 which is hermetically and firmly connected to the container 1 and is lowered on the adapter 3 for use.

The cap 2, acting as a lid, is firmly, separably and hermetically connected to the container 1. The connection between the container 1 and the cap 2 is via a thread, with threads made directly on the neck 5 of the container 1 and rim 7 of the outtake 11. On the neck 5 there is an external thread 6, while on the rim 7 there is an internal thread 8.

The cap 2 consists of an outtake 11, a cylindrical spring 16, a base 17, a gasket 13 and a flat gasket 10. The outtake 11 is shaped like a hat, with a hole located at axis level. At one end of the outtake 11 is a rim 7 in the shape of a wreath and, at the other end, in the area of the hole, there are rectangular openings 12 along the edge of the cylinder. On the rim 7, on the exterior, parallel with the axis are mutually parallel indentations 7a, whose cross section is in the shape of a section of a circle, while on the inside there is a wide thread 8, so-called fast connection, for faster connecting and disconnecting with the container 1. The parallel indentations 7a serve for easier connecting/disconnecting of the cap 2 from the container 1. At the bottom, beneath the end of the interior thread 8 there is a groove 9 in which a flat gasket 10 is placed, creating a seal between the cap 2 and the container 1. At the bottom of the hole, a cylindrical spring 16 is inserted into the outtake 11, resting at one end, while the other side of the spring 16 is pressed against the base 17. The base 17 is in the shape of a shallow cup, with an outtake 17a inside the cup in the shape of a wreath, such that the spring is inserted into the cup and touches the wreath 17a which at the same time serves to guide the spring 16. The gasket 13 is tube shaped. At one end of the gasket 13, on the exterior side is a wreath 14, and on the other side, on the exterior, there are spines 15. As part of the outtake 11 the wreath 14 rests in a channel 11a, with the spines 15 fitting into openings 12 in the outtake, thus ensuring the position of the gasket 13 with respect to the outtake 11 and securing the gasket 13 against coming loose. The cylindrical spring 16 in the cap 2 presses the base 17 against the gasket 13, ensuring hermetic closing of the cap 2.

The adapter 3 consists of the base 3a with which the lid 19 is firmly, hermetically and separably connected, and into which a filter 18 is inserted. The filter 18 is a finished product which is inserted into the base 3a, and it is best to use the filter 18 by the manufacturer“BRITA” Water Filter Systems.

The base 3a is in the shape of an inverted hat. On the wider end of the base 3a, along the axis of the base 3a, there is a groove 27 into which the water filter 18 is placed. The base 3a on that side is fortified with ribs 33 that connect the rim 32 to the foundation 34, in order for the adapter to be able to support the container 1 filled with liquid. Along the outer edge of the base 27, where the filter 18 is placed, there are slits 28 that permit the air from the surrounding environment to fill the empty space in the container 1 after release of the liquid. In the foundation of the base 27 there is a circular channel 29. On the exterior wall of the channel 29 there is an interior thread 31 for the connection with the lid 19. On the other side of the base 3a there is a neck 24 with an opening 25 inside of it through which the base 3a is connected to a standard water dispenser through the gasket 26.

The lid 19 is funnel shaped. On one (wider) side of the lid 19 there is a wreath 19a with an exterior thread 30. On the other side of the lid 19 there is a cylindrical top 22 whose bottom is closed off, with lateral openings 23 on the sides in the shape of rectangular openings. The lid 19 is separably, hermetically and firmly connected to the base 3a using threads 30,31 via the gasket 21, located in the groove 20, for shaping the adapter 3. The hermetic link through the gasket 21 ensures that all liquid that is delivered gravitationally from the container 1 passes through the filter 18 to the user.

The container 1 is balloon shaped, with handles 4 made in the body of the container 1 which are positioned symmetrically with respect to the container 1. At one end of the container 1 is a neck 5 with an exterior thread 6 for the connection with the cap 2. Mounting of the container 1 with the cap 2 onto a standard dispenser for the delivery of a liquid beverage, as per state of technology, is via the adapter 3. First the adapter 3 is connected hermetically, through the gasket 26, with the dispenser for dispensing a cold/hot liquid beverage. The container 1 is filled with the desired liquid beverage and hermetically sealed with the cap 2 via the threads 6,8 and the flat gasket 10. The container 1 is pulled onto the cylindrical top 22 made on the lid 19 through the hole of the cap 2.

The top 22 presses onto the base 17 which contracts the spring 16, after which the liquid beverage from the container 1 gravitationally flows through the cap 2, past the filter 18 to the user. The liquid beverage passes first through the opening 12 and through the passage 23 reaches the filter 18 and enters the neck 24 of the adapter 3.

When the container 1 is taken off the dispenser, the cylindrical top 22 exits the hole of the cylindrical outtake 11. Under the pressure of the spring 16, the base 17 is pressed against the gasket 13, thus closing off the passage for the release of the liquid beverage, so that the container 1 can be taken off from the adapter 3 even when the container 1 is not completely empty.

The basis and the comfort of the invention is that the container 1 can be filled with different beverages, it can be emptied up to the desired quantity and removed from a dispenser before complete emptying of the container 1 without spilling of the liquid beverage in the surroundings. This comfort is provided by the constructive solution of the cap 2 and adapter 3. When the cap 2 is fastened to the container 1, it closes it hermetically, while the adapter 3 permits for the container 1 to be held and the liquid beverage to be released, which can only pass through the filter 18 to the user.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Cap with adapter on container for dispensing liquids gravitationally, characterized in that the cap (2) comprising the outtake (11), in the shape of a hat, in which is inserted a cylindrical spring (16), where one end of the spring (16) rests on the bottom of the outtake (11) and is connected by sliding to the outtake (11), where into the outtake (11) a gasket (13) is inserted, where the wreath (14) of the gasket (13) is inserted into the channel (11a) of the outtake (11), while spines are inserted into the openings (12) in the outtake (11), where in the groove (9) of the rim (7) a gasket is inserted (10), and where the adapter (3) consists of the base (3a) shaped like an inverted hat, that is firmly, hermetically and separably connected with the lid (19), funnel shaped, over the gasket (21) inserted in the groove (20) of the lid (19).

2. The cap with adapter on container for dispensing liquids gravitationally, based on application 1, characterized in that , in the narrower part of the outtake (11), in the shape of a hat, there are rectangular openings (12), and at the cylindrical top (22) of the lid (19) there are openings (23), where rectangular openings (12) and openings (23) are locations at which liquid beverages are dispensed when the base (17) is pressed on the top (22).

3. The cap with adapter on container for dispensing liquids gravitationally, based on applications 1,2, characterized in that , on the rim (7) of the outtake (11) there is an internal thread (8), where on the lid (19) there is an external thread (30) and where in the channel (29) of the base (3a), there is an internal thread (31).