GB2136774A

GB2136774A - A connector for use in the dispensing of liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2136774A
Application number: GB08407776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Hamilton
Original assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Current assignee: Daniel Montgomery and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-25
Filing date: 1984-03-26
Publication date: 1984-09-26
Also published as: GB8407776D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector for enabling a liquid dispensing device 11 such as an optics (RTM) glass to be mounted on a liquid container 10 such as a bottle provided internally of the neck thereof with an obstruction such as an anti-refill device. The connector comprises a housing 1 having a first connection means 4 for securing the connector to the liquid container 10 and second connection means 3 for enabling connection of a liquid dispensing device 11 to the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A connector for use in the dispensing of liquids This invention relates to a connector for use in the dispensing of liquids.

In the dispensing of drinks, such as spirits, in licensed premises, it is common practice to mount a bottle of, for example whisky, in an inverted position and to fit an optics glass into the neck of the bottle to enable predetermined measured quantities of spirits to be drawn off. Known optics glasses are fitted into the neck of the bottle by means of a tapered cork and are provided with a double valve arrangement whereby when a liquid receptacle is caused to actuate an outlet valve from the otpics glass, an inlet valve between the bottle and the optics glass is closed to prevent passage of liquid therebetween.

The optics glass is also provided with an air valve so that when the outlet valve is opened to allow liquid to be withdrawn from the chamber of the optics glass reservoir, air is drawn into the chamber. When the outlet valve is closed and the inlet valve between the bottle and the reservoir is simultaneously opened, the air content in the chamber of the optics glass is expelled therefrom by incoming liquid from the bottle and the air passes upwardly into the bottle.

Also, there is a problem in the spirit trade of unscrupulous traders who remove at least part of the contents of bottles containing high quality spirits and mixed or substitute a low quality spirit in the bottles. As a result, it has been proposed to incorporate in the necks of bottles containing high grade spirits an anti-refill device which, while permitting liquid to be poured from the bottles, prevents liquid from being introduced into the bottles. An example of such an anti-refill device is described in our co-pending British Patent Application No. 2105293A.

It will be readily apparent that it is impractical to fit a customary cork of an optics glass into the neck of a bottle which is fitted with an anti-refill device.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the customary form of optics glass can be fitted to a bottle provided with an anti-refill device in the neck thereof.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for enabling the fitting of means for dispensing a predetermined measured quantity of liquid to a liquid container having an internally obstructed outlet, said connector comprising a hous ing defining a liquid reservoirtherein; first connection means on said housing for connection to the liquid container so as to be spaced from said internally obstructed outlet, said first connection means having an inlet passage therethrough for permitting passage of liquid from the container to the reservoir; and second connection means on said housing for connection to the liquid dispensing means, said second connection means having an outlet passage therethrough for permitting passage of liquid from the reservoir to the liquid dispensing means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic illustration of a connector in accordance with the present invention fitted between a bottle and an optics glass.

Referring to the drawings, a connector comprises an annular housing 1 defining a reservoir 2 therein, the housing 1 having openings 3 and 4, in opposed upper and lower walls 5,6 of the housing 1. The openings 3 and 4 constitute entry and discharge openings respectively. The opening 3 is formed in an integral spigot 7 having a bore which is internally screw-threaded at 8 to engage the neck of a bottle 9, which neck is provided with an anti-refill device (not shown) obstructing the outlet from said neck. The opening 4 is formed in an integral spigot 10 having a bore which has an internally tapered surface 11 engageable with a cork 12 carried by an optics glass 13 of known construction and which has a measuring chamber 14.The upper wall 5 of the reservoir housing 1 surrounding the inlet opening 3 slopes upwardly from the periphery of the connector towards the opening 3 and the lower wall 6 of the reservoir housing 1 surrounding the discharge opening 4 is sloped downwardly from the periphery of the connector towards the discharge opening.

The volume of the connector reservoir 2 is at least as great as the volume of the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13.

The reservoir housing 1 is conveniently constructed in the form of an upper half and a lower half joined together at joint 15.

In practice, liquid runs out of the neck of the inverted bottle 9 past the anti-refill device and fills the reservoir 2. It cannot leave the reservoir 2 because the outlet valve at the discharge end of the optics glass 13 is closed when it is not in use. The inlet valve of the optics glass 13 is, however, open and the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass is full. When a measure of spirit is to be withdrawn, a receptacle is applied to nozzle 16 of the optics glass 13 and in the normal manner pressure of the receptacle against the nozzle 16 causes the outlet valve of the optics glass to open so that liquid contained in measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13 flows out of the measuring chamber 14 into the receptacle.During this operaton, no liquid can leave the reservoir 2 because the inlet valve to the optics glass normally permitting entry to the measuring chamber 14 from the reservoir 2 is closed at the same time as the outlet valve of the optics glass is open. When the optics glass has dispensed the predetermined measured volume of liquid, the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13 is now empty and when the charged receptacle is removed, the outlet valve of the optics glass closes and the inlet valve thereof opens thus permitting liquid to run from the reservoir 2 of the connector to the optics glass 13 and again fill the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13. This operation is performed quickly since there is no resistance to the passage of the liquid from the reservoir 2 to the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13.Since, however, liquid can only pass through the anti-refilling device (not shown) fitted within and obstructing the neck of the bottle 9, at a comparatively slow rate, a trickle of liquid now runs from the bottle into the reservoir 2 and in time fills this reservoir. However, this is no disadvantage because the measuring chamber 14 of the optics glass 13 is already full of liquid so that another receptacle can be charged immediately if desired with the predetemined measured volume of liquid. The arrangement is then ready for continued action as already described. The sloping surface of the upper wall 5 of the reservoir 2 is important as it causes air bubbles trapped within the reservoir 2 to be directed out of the reservoir 2 through the inlet opening 3 where they can enter the bottle and move through the body of liquid in the bottle to take the place of dispensed liquid. The sloping surface of the lower wall 6 of the reservoir facilitates the flow of liquid from the chamber 1 through discharge opening 3 into the optics glass 13.

It is believed that the connector of the present invention, in addition to facilitating connection of an optics glass to a bottle provided with an anti-refill device within the bottle neck, has an advantage in that replenishment of the measuring chamber of the optics glass is achieved more quickly from the reservoir of the connector than would be the case if the optics glass was fitted directly to the bottle.

Claims

1. A connector for enabling the fitting of means for dispensing a predetermined measured quantity of liquid to a liquid container having an internally obstructed outlet, said connector comprising a housing defining a liquid reservoir therein; first connection means on said housing for connection to the liquid container so as to be spaced from said internally obstructed outlet, said first connection means having an inlet passage therethrough for permitting passage of liquid from the container to the reservoir; and second connection means on said housing for connection to the liquid dispensing means, said second connection means having an outlet passage therethrough for permitting passage of liquid from the reservoir to the liquid dispensing means.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the first connection means comprises an internally screw-threaded bore adapted to engage operatively an external screw thread on the outlet of the liquid container.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, in which the liquid container is a bottle.

4. A connector as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the second connection means comprises a bore adapted to releasably retain a cork or the like provided on the liquid dispensing means.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4, in which the liquid dispensing means is an optics glass.

6. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the reservoir is provided with an upper wall which slopes upwardly towards the inlet passage to said reservoir whereby air contained within the reservoir can be directed out of the reservoir through said inlet passage.

7. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the reservoir is provided with a lower wall which slopes downwardly towards the outlet passage from said reservoir.

8. A connector for enabling the fitting of means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid to a liquid container having an internally obstructed outlet, said connector being substantially as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing.