GB2508736A

GB2508736A - Valve on a pourer regulating discharge from a bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2508736A
Application number: GB201321028A
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: GB201321028D0; GB201221394D0; GB2508736B

Abstract

A pourer has radial sealing flanges 2 through which a conduit 5 and air vent 10 pass. A valve member 18 selectively closes the conduit and a further sealing element 15 selectively seals against a lower region of the bottles neck to prevent flow. The conduit valve and the further sealing element are connected by a stem 14 so that either one or the other prevents discharge from the bottle. This enables the region between the valve and the sealing member to be filled ant then emptied resulting in doses of the contents similarly to an optic. Inverting the bottle could open valve 18 and seal element 15 due to a weight, a spring, and/or flow of fluid past it. The sealing element may expand due to deformable material in response to a compressive force between the stem and a tube. The further sealing member could be a flexible disc which can be withdrawn into a receptacle, the further sealing member may have a valve in it.

Description

METERED POURER

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 be controlled and for the amount of liquid to metered independent of the angular rotation.

Pour spouts commonly comprisc a cylindrical body mcmbcr 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 tl1at 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 mechanisms 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 aftermarket 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 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 further comprising an elongate stem connected at a first end to the sealing means and supporting a terminal member at a second end; the terminal member including terminal sealing means moveable between a first position in which an interior surface of a bottle neck is engaged to form a barrier S to a flow of liquid when the pourer is inverted in usc; and a second position in which flow is permitted; an actuator engaging the terminal sealing means and extending along the stem to form a valve member in the conduit; the actuator being moveable as the pourer is inverted to urge the terminal sealing means between the second and first positions.

It is an object of the 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 or bottle neck dimensions.

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 deformable material to engage the sealing surface of the cap.

This arrangement provides a simple construction using a small number of components and constructional materials in order to maximise the available volume within the bottle neck. Commercially used bottles are made from a rigid material typically glass and have necks with an internally increasing diameter from the opening towards the interior. Parallel sided necks are uncommon.

The stem preferably has an axial length selected so that a volume of a single measure of liquid may be retained between the sealing means, the terminal member and the interior surface of the bottle neck.

In a preferred embodiment the dimensions of the valve components are selected so that a receptacle for holding a metered volume of liquid is defined by the sealing means, the tenninal member, the interior surface of the bottle neck, any of the conduit or air vent components which extend inwardly from the sealing means into the bottle neck.

The pourer is preferably configured to be inserted into a bottle neck in use without any part of the pourer extending outwardly from the bottle neck.

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

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the terminal sealing member may comprise a resilient or flexible disc, the terminal member comprising a receptacle into which the flexible disc is withdrawn by movement of the actuator during installation into a bottle neck to reduce the diameter of the sealing member.

This permits convenient insertion into the neck of a bottle.

A spring may be provided to automatically deploy the sealing member. The spring may act on the actuator urging it into a downward position so that the sealing member is allowed to extend radially.

The terminal sealing member is preferably a disc which is both flexible and resilient and attached centrally to the actuator and having a diameter selected so that the circumference of the disc engages the internal surface of a bottle neck when the disc is deployed in a normally extended state.

The receptacle may be conical having an axial aperture to receive the actuator. The arrangement is configured so that all or part of the sealing member may be withdrawn into the receptacle to create an annular passageway between the circumference of the disc and the internal surface of the bottle neck.

In a preferred embodiment the length of the wall of the conical receptacle is generally equal to or greater than the radius of the disc. This arrangement allows the disc to be completely stowed within the receptacle, for example for storage and transportation before insertion into a bottle during use.

A spring may be provided to automatically deploy the sealing member after it has been inserted into the bottle neck.

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.

Various pourers having chamber and valve systems providing a metered dose through the transferal of liquid between chambers of pre determined volumes have been disclosed in which the pourer and chamber and valve components extend 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 chamber 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 and at the same time provide a sufficiently large volume to dispense a standard portion of an alcoholic beverage.

In a first preferred embodiment the conduit extends axially inwardly from the sealing means, the conduit including a valve seat positioned at the outlet of the conduit and the movable actuator being attached to a terminal sealing member and valve at apposing ends; the movable actuator being movable within the conduit between a first position where the terminal sealing member is configured to create a barrier with the internal walls of the bottle neck restricting the flow of liquid into the chamber created therein and the valve is open in a position remote from the valve seat, and a second position where the terminal sealing member is open and the valve is engaged with the valve seat.

Preferably liquid flow is permitted into the chamber created between the terminal scaling member, the interior bottle neck walls and the sealing members as the pourer is tilted until the movable actuator and terminal sealing member reaches the first position.

The conduit may have an outlet closable by a valve which comprises the end of the actuator and a valve seating around the outlet.

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

The actuator may comprise a gravity actuated shuttle. The actuator may comprise a relatively dense material to provide sufficient force to actuate the terminal sealing means.

In a first preferred embodiment, the terminal sealing means comprises a body of deformable material which may be urged radially outwardly by a compressive force applied by movement of the actuator. The deformable material may comprise an annular or disc-shaped elastomeric gland having a radius permitting insertion into a bottle neck but arranged to be urged radially outwardly by the weight of the actuator when the pourer is inverted into the pouring position. Use of a silicone elastomer is preferred.

The terminal member and actuator may combine to provide a nip between which the deformable material is located. The deformable material may comprise a hollow disc-shaped or annular skin, for example composed of silicone elastomer, filled with a compatible liquid, for example a silicone material.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the terminal sealing member may comprise a resilient or flexible disc, with the stem having a length selected so that the sealing member is located in a shoulder of a bottle in use, the sealing member being arranged to move towards a narrower part of the bottle neck as the pourer is inverted in order to close the valve.

In a further embodiment, thc actuator may have a valve member at each end arranged so that the lower valve is opened and the upper valve is closed in each orientation of the pourer, that is in the upright and inverted positions.

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 bccause 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 partially or wholly 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 preferably comprises 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 scaling means so that the conduit extends inwardly of the sealing means to form an inlet tube.

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 sccond 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 first or second together with the third or fourth embodiments may be employed. However 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.

S

In an advantageous embodiment, the outlet of the air intake extends inwardly of the sealing means by a distance sufficient to prevent bubbles from entering the conduit or becoming entrained in the liquid flow into the inlet and provides suction at tile inlet.

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

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 circurnferentially 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.

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 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 nmy be concealed by the foil wrapper applied to the neck of a bottle or by a suitable label.

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 is a cross-sectional view of the pourer shown in Figure 2 inverted; Figure 4 shows views of the pourer shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further pourer; Figure 6 is a crosssectional view of the pourer shown in Figure 5 inserted into the neck of a bottle; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the pourer shown in Figure 6 in an inverted position; Figure 8 shows various views of the pourer shown in Figures 5 to 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative pourer; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pourer shown in Figure 9 inserted into a bottle neck; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pourer shown in Figure 10 in an inverted position; Figure 12 shows various views of the pourer shown in Figures 9 to 11.

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

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 Figurc 4. 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).

An air vent (9) extends from an inlet (10). The inlet is co-planar with the outer surface of the sealing means. The air vent has an outlet (11) facing inwardly of the pourer on the inner side of the sealing means. In the embodiment shown, the conduit (6) and air vent (9) havc a similar axial length so that the air inlet (10) and conduit outlet (12) are generally co-planar with the sealing ring (2).

A stem (8) extends downwardly as shown in Figure 1 into the neck of a bottle in use and has a first end connected by conduits (6) to the body (1) and a second end carrying a terminal member (13) in the form of a disc-like plate. An actuator rod (14) is slidably mounted within the tubular stem (8) and has a lower end, as shown in Figure 1 and 2, connected to terminal seal member (15). The seal member (15) is composed of flexible, for example elastomeric, material and comprises a hollow annular structure with a circumference (16) arranged to be urged radially outwardly as the actuator (14) is withdrawn into the stem (8). When the pourer is inverted as shown in Figure 3, the weight of the actuator (14) causes compression of the sealing member (15) urging the circumferential edge (16) outwardly into contact with the neck of a bottle (17) to prevent a flow of liquid.

Downward movement of the actuator (14) by gravity, as shown in Figure 3, opens the valve (18) allowing passage of liquid contained in the created chamber (N) to be dispensed. The upper end of actuator (14), as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a valve member (18) arranged to engage a valve seat in the uppermost sealing ring (19) to close the pourer when in the upright position but to open the valve (18) permitting flow of liquid as the pourer is inverted.

The actuator (14) serves as a shuttle moving downwardly from a rest position during each inversion of the bottle or return to an upright position.

Figures 5-8 show an alternative embodiment. The body, sealing means, conduit, outlet and air vent are as described with reference to Figures 1-4. The terminal member (20) located on the end of stem (21) has a conical receptacle into which a resilient disc (22), for example composed of elastomeric material, may be withdrawn by upward motion of the actuator (23) within stem (21). A spring (24) located within the stem, urges the actuator downwardly so that the sealing member (22) is deployed in a radially expanded orientation after insertion and installation in a bottle neck.

The conical receptacle has a depth sufficient that the resilient disc (22) may be withdrawn completely into the receptacle by retraction of the actuator within the stem.

In use of the pourer, the actuator is disposed with the terminal member (20) and sealing means (22) opened to provide a passageway for liquid. When the bottle and pourer are inverted, liquid pours past the member (22) to fill the chamber adjacent the sealing means. When frilly inverted the actuator or shuttle moves under the influence of gravity to close the sealing member (22) against the bottle neck and opens the outlet valve (18) allowing a measure of liquid to be poured.

The spring (24) serves to bias the sealing member (22) towards the opened position, upwardly from the location shown in Figure 7, to counteract the weight of the body of liquid in the bottle acting on the surface of the disc-shaped member (22).

In the fully inserted position, the mass of the actuator (23) overcomes the force of the spring to close the valve.

Figures 9-12 show a further embodiment of the invention. The body, sealing means, conduit and outlet are as described in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1-4. The stem (30) carries a conical terminal member (31) having a radially extending sealing member (32) arranged to contact the interior surface of a bottle neck as shown in Figures 10 arid 11. An air vent (34) permits passage of air during pouring of liquid. The terminal member (31) forms an inlet (37) through which liquid may pass via apertures (35) into a metering volume defined by the terminal member, sealing means and interior surface of the bottle neck.

When the pourer is inverted, the actuator (33) moves downwardly, as shown in Figure 11, opening the outlet valve (38) as previously dcscribed.

The inner end of the actuator (33) carries a valve member which engages the surface of inlet (37) to close the valve preventing further flow of liquid from the bottle into the bottle neck. In this way the actuator (33) acts as a shuttle operated by gravity to close the uppermost valve and open the lowermost valve in either orientation of the bottle into which the pourer is inserted in use.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pourer comprises 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 further comprising an elongate stem coimected at a first end to the sealing means and supporting a terminal member at a second end; the terminal member including terminal sealing means moveable between a first position in which an interior surface of a bottle neck is engaged to form a barrier to a flow of liquid when the pourer is inverted in use; and a second position in which flow is permitted; an actuator engaging the terminal sealing means and extending along the stem to form a valve member in the conduit; the actuator being moveable as thc pourer is inverted to urge the terminal sealing means between the second and first positions.
2. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem has an axial length selected so that a measure of liquid may be retained between the sealing means, terminal member and interior surface of the bottle neck.
3. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the terminal sealing member comprises a resilient or flexible disc with a stem having a length selected so that the sealing member is located in a shoulder of a bottle in use, the sealing member being arranged to move towards a narrower part of the bottle neck as the pourer is inverted.
4. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the terminal sealing member comprises a resilient or flexible disc, the terminal member comprising a receptacle into which the disc is withdrawn by movement of the actuator.
5. A pourer as claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring is provided to automatically deploy the sea! ing member.
6. A pourer as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the receptacle is conical having an axial aperture to receive the actuator
7. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a spring is provided to increase the force required to engage the sealing member with the bottle walls.
8. A pourer as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the terminal sealing means comprises a body of deformable material which may urged radially outwardly by a compressive force applied by movement of the actuator.
9. A pourer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the terminal member and actuator combine to provide a nip between which the deforniable material is located.
10. A pour as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a weight is incorporated into the actuator or sealing member to increase the gravitational force acting on the actuator.
11. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator has a valvc member at each end arranged so that the lower valve is opened and the upper valve is closed in each orientation of the pourer.
12. 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.
13. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an axial conduit.
14. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means comprises an array of radially extending flanges arranged in axially spaced relation.
15. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, whcrcin the conduit has an outlet generally co-planar with an outer surface of the sealing means.
16. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet of the conduit is located inwardly of the sealing means.
1 7. 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.
18. A pourer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the conduit extends inwardly from the one or more inlets.
19. A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet of the air vent extends inwardly of the sealing means.
20. 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.
21. A pourer as claimed in any preccding claim configured to be received completely within the neck of a bottle.
22. A bottle having a neck and a pourer in accordance with any preceding claim.