GB2508735A

GB2508735A - Valve on a pourer regulating discharge from a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2508735A
Application number: GB1321020.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Joseph Slevin; Adam Michael Robinson
Original assignee: DISRUPTIVE DOSING Ltd
Current assignee: DISRUPTIVE DOSING Ltd
Priority date: 2012-11-28
Filing date: 2013-11-28
Publication date: 2014-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-28
Also published as: GB201321020D0; GB201221393D0; GB2508735B

Abstract

A pourer has radial sealing flanges 2 through which a conduit 5 and air vent 10 pass; a chamber 15 in the air vent has an annular valve seat 17 against which the moving component 14 of the valve seals. Ideally the moving component is a ball and fall under gravity against the seat as the pourer is inverted. There are preferably multiple apertures in the chamber allowing ingress of liquid. The conduit and vent can be entirely contained between the sealing flanges or extend out from either end. There may be a baffle at the end of the conduit. The pourer could be used with a bottle 13.

Description

AIR VENT VALVE

This invention relates to a pourer for use in facilitating pouring of a liquid from a bottle, particularly but not exclusively for reducing the likelihood of a surge of liquid or splashing during pouring into a drinking glass, to allow the velocity and direction of the liquid flow to bc controlled and for the amount of liquid to be metered independent of the angular rotation of the bottle.

Pour spouts commonly comprise a cylindrical body member and a protruding spout. The body may be dimensioned to be received in various sizes of bottle neck.

A disadvantage in use of such pourers is that the liquid in the bottle is permanently exposed to the ambient atmosphere. While this may not be a problem in a busy bar, there is a risk of spoilage or contamination, for example by insects in a less busy bar or domestic environment. Sealing mcchanisms are known but these introduce complications and have varying degrees of effectiveness. Resealing with the original cap is a superior option but removal of the pourer after each use is inconvenient.

US 2010/0230447 discloses an afterniarket pour spout having a flange which extends out of the bottle neck. Such a pourer may be fitted after removal of the bottle cap, Alternatively a pourer may be fitted before the bottle is capped but this would make it necessary to alter the tooling of the capping apparatus to accommodate the increased length of the bottle neck, According to a first aspect of the present invention a pourer comprises a conduit having an inlet and an outlet; sealing means comprising a plurality of sealing members extending radially from the conduit and dimensioned to engage an interior surface of a bottle neck; an air vent having an inlet and an outlet; the inlet and outlet of each of the conduit and air vent being located on opposite sides of the sealing means; wherein the pourer has a maximum diameter permitting it to be engaged completely within a bottle neck; and wherein the air vent includes a chamber having a valve comprising an annular valve seat and a moveable member located in the chamber arranged to engage the valve seat to close the valve when the pourer is inverted.

The air vent is preferably arranged so that the inlet and outlet are open to the atmosphere on the exterior and interior of the bottle respectively so that a free flow of air may equalise the pressure within the bottle with external ambient pressure.

The pourer is preferably configured to be inserted into the neck of a glass bottle in use, preferably without any part of the pourer extending outwardly from the bottle neck. Conventional bottles have necks with an internal diameter which increases inwardly from the bottle outlet. Parallel sided necks are not commonly used.

The pourer is preferably configured so that it may be located within a bottle neck coplanar with or slightly below the bottle lip. In such an arrangement, a seal may be formed with the underside of the cap, preferably a screw cap. The upper surface of the pourer may include an annular or disc shaped upwardly facing sealing surface, for example, composed of polymeric or elastomeric resiliently deforniable material to engage the sealing surface of the cap.

Closing of the air vent prevents or substantially restricts airflow through the pourer into a bottle in use. After a predetermined amount of liquid has been poured, the consequent reduction in pressure within the bottle prevents pouring of further liquid.

The moveable member may comprise a ball or disc composed of sufficiently dense material so that it moves downwardly to engage the valve seat and close the valve when the pourer is inverted.

In preferred embodiments, the moveable member is a steel or other metal or ceramic ball having sufficient weight to prevent suction of air through the valve due to reduced pressure within the bottle.

The length of the air vent and the internal dimension of the air vent may be selected to adjust the time taken for the ball to move to the closed position.

The air vent may have a relatively small radius in comparison to the conduit and the radius of the ball may be selected so that airflow past the bore is limited as the ball passes from an open position to the closed position. The airflow is completely prevented when the ball engages the valve seat in the closed position.

The pourer is preferably used for pouring a bottled liquid, for example, a bottled alcoholic beverage including spirits or liqueurs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle having a neck and a pourer in accordance with the first aspect located wholly within the neck. The bottle may further include a cap or cork stopper closing the neck.

The upper part of the pourer preferably provided with a sealing surface which extends across the opened neck of a bottle in use to engage a cap used to close the bottle. The surface and cap may cooperate to form a seal when the bottle is closed. This serves to facilitate closing and sealing of the bottle, preventing ingress of unwanted materials into the pourer or evaporation and deposit of solids within the pourer between uses.

Various pourers having ball valves have been disclosed in which the pourer and valve component extends beyond the mouth of the bottle neck. Many of these arrangements require the bottle to be tipped at a correct speed and orientation in order to ensure a metered quantity of liquid is delivered. A disadvantage of prior art arrangements is that the pourer and valve assembly is quite bulky and occupies a large volume so that it may not be received within the neck of a conventional bottle.

Previously disclosed pourers are generally directional in use and require a comparatively large amount of materials in their construction.

It is an object of thc present invention to provide a metered dose pourer which may be wholly or substantially located within the neck of a conventional bottle, preferably to allow existing commercial spirit or liqueur bottles to be used without any need for modification of the capping apparatus.

The dimensions of the conduit air intake and openings into the conduit are controlled so that the time taken for the movement of the moveabic member towards the valve seat allows a predetermined volume of liquid to flow through the pourer.

This arrangement provides a simple construction using a minimum number of components and constructional materials in order to maximise the available volume within the bottle neck.

The chamber is preferably a parallel sided cylindrical tube having a diameter sufficiently greater than the ball to permit a flow of air.

in preferred embodiments, the chamber has a constriction or projection extending into the tube so that the ball is retained captive within the chamber.

The chamber may be integral with the air vent so that the air vent extends from the pourer to an outlet inwardly of the sealing means and communicating with the interior of the bottle to which the pourer is fitted.

In an alternative embodiment, the chamber may comprise a valve unit provided for attachment to an air vent of an existing pourer, for example, as disclosed in our UK patent application number GB 1215732.7, the disclosure of which is incoiporated into the specification by reference for all purposes.

The valve unit may comprise a cylindrical tube defining a chamber having an attachment for engagement to the outlet of the air vent, for example, a socket or clip may be dimensioned to receive and engage the outlet.

The unit may further comprise a valve seat facing upwardly when the unit is in the pouring position, and a closure at the outlet end, remote from the valve seat, dimensioned to retain the ball captive within the chamber.

The tube forming tile chamber may have one or more apertures adjacent the valve seat to permit a flow of air when a pourer is in the inverted pouring orientation.

Preferably, the valve unit is coaxial with the air vent.

The conduit preferably includes one or more inlets arranged to allow a flow of liquid into the conduit when the moveable member is not in the closed position.

Preferably liquid flow into the conduit is permitted as the pourer is tilted until the moveable member reaches the closed position to prevent release of the reduced air pressure within the bottle.

In preferred embodiments the moveable member comprises a steel or other metal or ceramic ball or a steel or ceramic disc, having a radial dimension sufficiently small to permit passage along the cylindrical chamber. The rate of movement of the hall or disc shaped member may be controlled by selection of a suitable length of the chamber and clearance between the moveable member and the interior wall of the chamber. In this way the amount of liquid dispensed may be selected by controlling the time taken for the valve to close as the pourer is tipped.

The air vent preferably extends inwardly from the sealing means by a sufficient distance so that the flow of air from the outlet into the bottle does not disturb the flow of liquid into the conduit inlet.

In a first preferred embodiment a single ball or disc member is employed with the valve seat being located adjacent an interior surface of the closing member.

Such an arrangement affords a cost efficient construction and provides simplicity in use.

In an alternative embodiment the conduit includes a second valve arranged at the inner end thereof The second valve may comprise a valve seat and moveable member arranged to close the inner end of the conduit when the pourer is inverted.

This arrangement serves to reduce the rate of liquid flow into the conduit as the pourcr is inverted to enhance the metering effect of the valve in the air vent in order to improve accuracy of metered dosing.

The pourer of this invention has the advantage that it may be inserted into a bottle neck after filling and prior to capping of the bottle, without any need for alteration of the tooling of a capping apparatus. Use in bottles closed by cork stoppers is also facilitated because the pourer may be located a sufficient distance within the bottle neck to accommodate a cork.

The pourer, being wholly located within the neck may be concealed by the foil wrapper or label applied to the neck of the bottle.

Alternatively the pourer may include a formation extending from the bottle neck and arranged to cooperate with a cap to seal the bottle.

The conduit may comprise a cylindrical tube extending from an inlet located inwardly of the sealing means to an outlet located outwardly of the sealing means.

Use of an axial conduit is preferred. This has the advantage that the rate of pouring is independent of rotation of the bottle.

The sealing means preferably comprises an array of radially extending resilient flanges arranged in axially spaced relation, the diameter of each flange being selected to allow liquid-tight engagement with an interior surface of a bottle neck. A pourer may be configured for use with a particularly dimensioned bottle. A selection of pourers may be provided for use with a range of bottles, for example as used by a particular drinks manufacturer. The sealing means may have flexible flanges to accommodate a range of common bottle sizes.

In a first embodiment of the invention the outlet of the conduit is located outwardly of the sealing means so that the conduit extends outwardly of the sealing means to form a pourer tube.

In a second embodiment the conduit has an outlet generally co-planar with an outer surface of the sealing means.

In a third embodiment the inlet of the conduit may be located inwardly of the sealing means so that the conduit extends inwardly of the sealing means to form an inlet tube.

S In a fourth embodiment the conduit has an inlet generally co-planar with an inner surface of the sealing means.

In a particularly preferred pourer the second embodiment is present together with the third embodiment. Alternatively the first embodiment may be present together with the fourth embodiment. In such pourers the conduit has a sufficient length to permit controlled flow of liquid from the bottle.

Any combination of the above mentioned first or second together with third or fourth embodiments may be employed. 1-lowever preferred pourers have the location of the conduit outlet and air intake configured so that the air and liquid flows are kept separate during pouring of the liquid, preferably irrespective of the rotational orientation of the bottle.

In an embodiment in which the conduit extends inwardly of the sealing means, one or more inlets may be provided in the conduit adjacent the sealing means.

One or more, preferably two opposed apertures may be dimensioned to control the maximum rate of liquid flow. The apertures may also be configured to facilitate drainage of the last quantity of liquid from a bottle in use. The apertures may be located on opposite sides of a tubular conduit to improve drainage at any orientation of the bottle.

The conduit may extend inwardly from one or more inlets.

An auxiliary inlet may be located at the inner end of the air vent.

The auxiliary inlet may serve to equalise pressures created within the bottle neck and conduit during pouring.

B

Preferably the conduit extends outwardly of thc sealing means by a distance greater than the distance of the inlet of the air vent from the sealing means. This ensures that liquid pouring from the outlet does not enter the inlet of the air vent to avoid choking of the air vent.

In preferred embodiments, the distance of the outlet is more than 1 nun, preferably 5-50 mm, more preferably 10-50 mm, from the sealing means. The distance may be more than twice, preferably more than three times, the internal diameter of the conduit.

The distance of the air intake may be preferably 5-50 mm, more preferably 10-50 mm, from the sealing means.

In a preferred embodiment the sealing members may extend radially from a generally cylindrical body, the body having an internal cavity communicating with the inlet of the conduit. The cavity may be cylindrical or conical in shape. The cavity may serve to provide a funnel to direct a flow of liquid into the conduit. In addition, the hollow sealing means decreases the available volume within the bottle neck that is occupied by the pourer.

In preferred embodiments the air vent extends parallel to the pourer axis at a radial distance greater than the circumference of the conduit. The air vent may be located circumferentially of the pourer. A plurality of circumferentially located air vents may be provided.

In the first embodiment a closing baffle may be provided at the outer end of the conduit, arranged to be located within the neck of the bottle in use and co-planar with the rim of the neck. The baffle may have one or more apertures to permit air flow to the air vent.

The baffle may serve as a drip guard. A plurality of apertures which serve as air intakes may be located to form an annular array around the conduit.

The air vent preferably has a cross sectional area smaller than the conduit.

Preferably the air intake has a smaller diameter. This serves to restrict liquid flow into the intake due to surface tension and viscosity of the liquid.

One embodiment the air intake comprises an annular passageway into it. For example the conduit and air intake may be provided as two concentric tubes. The narrow dimension of such an air intake may scrve to minimise fluid ingress during use.

In an alternative embodiment of the invcntion the pourer further comprises sealing means having an annular bearing and a pourer body rotatably mounted within the bearing; the pourer body including a radially asymmetric weight, arranged so that the pourer body rotates as thc bottle is rotated in a horizontal orientation; the air intake being located diametrically opposite the weight.

In such an embodiment the conduit may be located circuinferentially rather than axially of the pourer body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle having a neck fitted with a pourer in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention and sealed with a screw cap.

Use of a pourer in accordance with this invention confers several advantages, The quantity of a liquid poured from a bottle may be controlled, avoiding splashing and reducing the likelihood of an unnecessarily large portion being supplied independent of the rotational angle of a bottle or if a bottle is rotated during pouring.

This may be particularly beneficial if alcoholic spirits are being poured and the consumer does not wish to over indulge. The pourer may be inserted into the bottle during the bottling process, but does not impede application of a screw cap or a cork stopper inserted into the neck. Re-tooling of bottling apparatus is avoided.

Furthermore, the pourer may be concealed by the foil wrapper applied to the neck of a bottle or by a suitable label.

It is not necessary that the pourer dispenses a measure sufficiently accurately to comply with legal requirements, although preferred embodiments of the invention may achieve this degree of reproducible accuracy. In alternative embodiments, the measure of liquid is determined sufficiently accurately to allow a user to monitor his 6 or her alcoholic intake as an aid to avoiding excessive consumption.

The invention is further described by means of example, but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first pourer in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the pourer inserted into the neck of a bottle; Figure 3 shows views of the pourer shown in Figure I; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative pourer; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the pourer shown in figure 4 inserted into the neck of a bottle; Figure 6 shows various views of the pourer shown in Figure 4.

Figures 1-3 show a first pourer in accordance with this invention. A cylindrical body (1) is disposed axially of the pourer. Four cylindrical disk-like flanges (2) extend radially from the body (I) and are dimensioned to engage an inner surface (3) of a bottle neck (4) as shown in Figure 2.

The upper cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body (1) extends across the opening of the bottle neck as shown in Figure 2 to provide a seal with the bottle cap.

In this way a convenient seal is provided without need for alteration to the bottle cap and bottling apparatus.

The body (1) forms a cylindrical conduit (5) extending axially of the pourer and bottle neck in use. A cylindrical inlet conduit (6) extends inwardly into the bottle neck in use, downwardly as shown in the Figures. The inlet conduit (6) has rectangular primary inlet openings (7) disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the conduit (6) adjacent the inner surface of the innermost sealing means (2). The conduit (6) has a further opening (8) at the innermost end. This may serve as a secondary inlet.

An air vent (9) extends from an inlet (10). The inlet is co-planar with the outer surfacc of the sealing means. The air vent has an outlct (11) facing inwardly of the pourer on the inner side of the sealing means. In the embodiment shown, the air vent 9 is longer than the conduit (6) with the air inlet (10) and conduit outlet (12) being generally co-planar with the scaling ring (2). The conduit inlet (8) and air outlet (11) are not located at generally the same axial distance from the sealing means (2), the air outlet being slightly longer.

A steel ball (14) is captive within a chamber (15) in the air vent (9) and may slide along the length of the chamber from an open position as shown in Figure 1, wherein the ball engages the end of the conduit adjacent the inlet (8) and a closed position when the pourer is inverted. A valve seat (17) is formed as an annular shoulder at the upper end of the chamber (15). As the pourer is inverted the ball (14) moves towards the valve seat (17) causing a restriction in the flow of air through the air vent. When the ball (14) engages the valve seat (17) the flow of air through the air vent is terminated due to the prevention in release of the partial vacuum in the bottle due to the outward flow of liquid and the pourer may then be returned to the upright position for ffirther use.

The chamber (15) may be formed integrally with the air vent (9) or may be manufactured as a separate component having a sleeve (18) dimensioned to receive an outiet (19) of the vent (9) by a snap fit or interference fit. Auxiliary air outlets (12) may be provided adjacent the valve seat (17).

Figures 4-6 show an alternative pourer.

A cylindrical body (20) is disposed axially of the pourer. Five cylindrical disc-like flanges (21) cxtend radially from the body (20) and are dimensioned to engage an inner surface (22) of a bottle neck in use. as shown in Figure 2.

The body (20) has a hollow central portion which forms a cylindrical conduit (23) extending from the outermost flange (21) to the innermost flange. An axial aperture (24) communicates with an outwardly extending pourer (25). In use the pourer is inserted entirely witlun the bottle neck so that the pourer (25) is located within the cap (26).

An air vent (27) extends from an inlet (28) through the body (20) and flanges (21) to form an outlet (29) extending into the interior of the bottle neck.

A chamber (30) has a tubular attachment (31) to engage the outlet (29) to extend the air vent into the neck of the bottle, terminating in an end fitted with an end cap (34).

A steel ball (32) captive within the interior (36) of the cylindrical chamber (30) is able to move downwardly within the chamber when the pourer is inverted. An aperture in the end cap (34) allows liquid to flow into the chamber as the pourer is inverted to urge the ball (32) downwardly into engagement with annular valve seat (33), Valve seat (33) faces upwardly when the pourer is inverted so that the weight of the ball and liquid in the chamber closes the valve to prevent passage of air into the bottle. The chamber may be configured so that a column of liquid is supported above the bail in the inverted position in order to increase the pressure and efficiency of sealing against the valve seat. Prevention of air flow into the bottle restricts and then prevents flow of liquid from the outlet (24) so that inversion of the pourer leads to delivery of a predetermined measure of liquid. Apertures (35) allow air to pass into the neck of the bottle until the ball engages the valve seat.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A pourer comprising a conduit having an inlet and an outlet; sealing means comprising one or a plurality of sealing members extending radially from the conduit and dimensioned to engage an interior surface of a bottle neck; an air vent having an inlet and an outlet; the inlet and outlet of each of the conduit and air vent being located on opposite sides of the sealing means; wherein the pourer has a maximum diameter permitting it to be engaged completely within the bottle neck; and wherein the air vent includes a chamber having a valve comprising an annular valve seat and a moveable member located in the chamber ananged to engage the valve seat to close the valve when the pourer is inverted.
2. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber is a cylindrical tube.
3. A pourer as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the chamber is integral with the air vent.
4. A pourer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber may comprise a valve unit with an attachment adapted to be secured to the air vent.
5. A pourer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve unit comprises a cylindrical tube, including a valve seat at the inlet and a closure at the outlet end.
6. A pourer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closure has an aperture permitting liquid to flow into the chamber.
7. A pourer as claimed in of claims 4-6, including one or more apertures in the valve unit adjacent the valve seat.
8. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit comprises a cylindrical tube extending from an inlet located inwardly of the sealing means to an outlet located outwardly of the sealing means.
9. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an axial conduit.
10. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the scaling means comprises an array of radially extending flanges arranged in axially spaced relation.
11. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet of the conduit is located outwardly of the sealing means.
12. A pourer as claimed in any of claims I to 10, wherein the conduit has an outlet generally co-planar with an outer surface of the sealing means.
13. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet of the conduit is located inwardly of the sealing means.
14. A pourer as claimed in any of claims 1-12, wherein the conduit has an inlet generally co-planar with an inner surface of the sealing means.
15. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit extends inwardly of the sealing means and one or more inlets are provided in the conduit adjacent the sealing means.
16. A pourer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the conduit extends inwardly from the one or more inlets.
17. A pourer as claimed in any claim 16, further comprising a secondary inlet located at an inner end of the conduit.
18. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet of the air vent extends inwardly of the sealing means.
19. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing members extend radially from a generally cylindrical body, the body having an internal cavity communicating with the inlet of the conduit.
20. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the air vent extends parallel to the pourer axis at a radial distance greater than the circumference of the conduit.
21. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the air vent is located circumferentially of the pourer.
22. A pourer as claimed in claim 11 or any claim dependent on claim 11, wherein a closing baffle is provided at the outer end of the conduit.
23. A bottle having a neck and a pourer in accordance with any preceding claim.
24. A pourer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
25. A bottle including a pourer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to thc accompanying drawings.