CA2289104A1

CA2289104A1 - Pouring device

Info

Publication number: CA2289104A1
Application number: CA002289104A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thomas Von Ronn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-09
Filing date: 1998-04-09
Publication date: 1998-10-15
Also published as: WO1998045179A3; ATE195695T1; EP0870694B1; EP0870694A1; AU8101298A; WO1998045179A2; DE19714734C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pouring device which can be placed, by an interior bearing surface (4), on the edge of a pouring orifice (5) of a bottle-like receptacle (1). Said pouring device has an axial bore hole (3) for the liquid to flow through, and fastening elements enclosing the outer wall of the pouring orifice, as well as a trumpet-shaped wall (8) extending the bore hole (3) from the interior bearing surface (4) outwards and that has a circumferential pouring edge forming a pull-off edge (7). The pouring device has an aperture angle of 60~ - 120~. Furthermore, the fastening elements enclosing the outer wall of the receptacle comprise elastic brackets (10) with stop pins (11), and a highly elastic sealing element (6) is fitted between the pouring orifice and the bearing surface (4). The invention thus provides a pouring device which can be easily placed on the neck of the receptacle and is held there securely. It is characterized by substantially improved pouring properties.

Description

POURING DEVICE
The invention relates to a pouring device for bottle-like receptacles according to the disclosure part of Claim 1.
Such a pouring device is known for example from DE 88 14 921 U1. With a pouring device in general it is common that it consist of a plug-like member having a borehole in the middle, into which, according to the intended use, is fitted a straight or easily bent tube with diameter remaining the same or narrowing upward to the pouring edge. As is required for uniform pouring, the bottle is ventilated through a separate borehole or a separate tube.
The fastening and sealing usually occurs in the top nearly cylindrically formed part of the bottle-like receptacle. For the most part the widening areas in this case incorporate tapering corks as well as basic plastic members of one piece and having radially aligned annular ribs or chutes arranged around the circumference.
However, the pouring device of the aforementioned type, and including particularly pouring devices which can be mounted interchangeably on wine flasks, display considerable drawbacks One common drawback lies in the geometry and dimensions of the pouring device.
Because a relatively heavy concentrated stream of liquid is being discharged in the pouring process, the stream produces a relatively long pouring parabola. With greater liquid through-flow the liquid discharge generally begins to take the form of strong pulses, which counteracts control of the desired volume of discharge. Effective control of the pouring process can take place essentially only through considerable uninterrupted modifications of the tilt angle of the bottle, whereby fine dosing is then not generally possible, especially dosing with avoidance of any subsequent dripping.
Another considerable drawback lies in the relatively limited liquid through-flow. Thus the use of such a pouring device, especially for the distribution of wine or similar beverages in traditional volumes for consumption, is possible only in a very unsatisfactory manner.
Another drawback lies in the handling, residing in its requiring either an especially considerable output of force in order to fasten the pouring device to the pouring orifice, or in the problematical sealing with the result that liquid drips out uncontrolled.
Starting from this state of the art, the object of the invention is to disclose a pouring device which increases the ease of pouring, and can be mounted simply on the receptacle neck and held there securely.
The solution of this problem has been disclosed in the characterizing features found in Claim 1.
The advantages obtained with the invention consist especially in the essential improvement of the pouring properties. By shifting the pouring orifice forward from the pouring orifice of the bottle-like receptacle and by its widening, a geometric arrangement is produced which circumferentially surrounds the parabolic-shaped liquid flow occurnng during the pouring and/or offers this same parabolic shape while pursuing a sliding or slipping surface.
It has been shown surprisingly that a considerably shorter and thus more controllable pouring parabola is thus produced, which with the narrowing of the liquid through-flow changes its course only unremarkably, whereby a concentrated liquid stream is maintained despite the configuration of the wall widening outward. By using the pouring device according to the invention, even inexperienced persons are able to generate a finely dosed, drip-free and thus elegant pouring of beverages.
As a result of the elastic brackets the pouring device can also be mounted by less experienced persons with little outlay of force, securely holding and sealing the pouring device on a bottle-like receptacle corresponding to the configuration of the pouring device, whereby even deviations produced by stopping of a press during production or by variations in dimensions are compensated by the elastically springing elements.
Corresponding to one advantageous embodiment, the pouring device has a cover which can be mounted on the pull-off edge or on the interior wall beneath the pull-off edge, covering the orifice, said cover being penetrated in another embodiment to advantageously facilitate air ventilation or exchange.
It is then advantageous that additional further functions can be fulfilled with a pouring device of the invention. Since the pouring orifice having large dimensions has a greater tendency to receive a greater quantity of dust or other particles, especially foreign bodies present in the air in the room, a covering of the orifice is necessary, whereby this cover can be capable of breathing.
In another embodiment of the object of the invention a screen structure is provided which can be arranged between the sealing member mountable on the edge of the pouring orifice of the bottle-like receptacle and the contact surface of the body, stretching over the orifice.
It is advantageous in this case that according to another additional function of the pouring device foreign bodies can be screened out of the liquid, for which purpose a simple upgrading of the pouring device of the invention is facilitated.
Hereinafter are described a plurality of embodiments of the device according to the invention relative to the drawing.
The drawings show Fig. 1 a pouring device of the invention with cover, in a configuration for a standard wine bottle, in side view Fig. a pouring device as in Fig. 1 without cover and in 2 cross section Fig. a pouring device as in Fig. 2 showing the pouring 3 out of a small volume Fig. a pouring device as in Fig. 2 showing the pouring 4 out of a greater volume Fig. a pouring device as in Fig. 2 at an inclination, in S which the liquid flow is interrupted Fig. 6 a pouring device as in Fig. 2 at an inclination, in which liquid residues flow back Fig. 7 a pouring device as in Fig. 2 with modified interior wall and an inserted screen, in cross section Fig. 8 a pouring device as in Fig. 2 with reduced pouring orifice and open cut Fig. 9 a pouring device in cross section with two-part hollow body.
The pouring device according to the invention represented in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a hollow body 2 which can be placed on a wine bottle 1. Hollow body 2 has an axially aligned borehole 3 for the through-flow of liquid, in this case wine, and engages with the bearing surface 4 on the edge of the pouring orifice S of the wine bottle 1. For sealing, a highly elastically working sealing element 6 is inserted between bearing surface 4 and the edge of pouring orifice 5 in work direction W. Extending the axial borehole 3 upward, the wall 8 is arranged inclined outward in the direction of pull-off edge 7. Wall 8 and outer wall 9 then form an acute angle S, producing pull-off edge 7. Outer wall 9 is determined to be such that the exterior diameter of body 2 diminishes in a downward direction. For this purpose it is important that a hollowed-out, fillet-like rear taper cut be provided directly beneath pull-off edge 7. The rear taper cut is fitted smoothly on the exterior contour of the pouring device.
Beneath bearing surface 4 are arranged eight elastically springing working brackets 10 in such a manner that hollow body 2 is extended downward. At the bottom edge of brackets 10 are provided stop pins 11, which hold the pouring device on the edge of pouring orifice 5 of wine bottle 1. Stop pins 11 are of such configuration that with thrusting of the pouring device on the bottle neck they are pressed away from one another by bottom diagonals 12, slide over the enlarged area of the bottle and beneath this enlarged area they spring back together. The material thicknesses of brackets 10 in the area over stop pins 11 are selected so that a sufficient springing effect is produced and the forces working upward impinging on sealing element 6 in work direction W are overcome and with that the pouring device is held securely.
For removal of the pouring device, it is simply pulled upward from wine bottle 1 while the bottle is being held. For this purpose brackets 10 are again pressed away from one another by a top diagonal 14, whereupon the pouring device comes free in upward direction. Relative to their operation and in order to function, bottom diagonals 12 are embodied with a long notch or bevel and thus with a small side angle, in this case approximately 20° to the axis of the body, and top diagonals 14 are embodied with a side angle of approximately 45° to the axis of the body. The pouring device can then be remarkably lightweight, which means it can be displaced with minimal outlay of force.
Because of the 45° diagonal the pouring device is automatically braced self locking under enlarged area 13 of the wine bottle against the elastically working sealing element 6. The self locking effect of top diagonal 14 however is effective only insofar as the pouring device can be pulled upward with an easily increased outlay of force.

The diameter of axial borehole 3 corresponds maximally to the narrow width of the neck of wine bottle 1. Thus the possible through-flow is not reduced by the pouring device.
The aperture angle L is 90°. It has been shown that this angle is particularly suitable for the combination of the other effects according to the invention.
If necessary the pouring device can be closed with a cover 15. Such a cover is provided in another configuration, the cover having an orifice at the top, whereby the orifice advantageously has a flow passing through it allowing for breathing. When for example a red wine has been opened for breathing and is to be held for a certain time, such a cover prohibits foreign bodies from penetrating into the bottle.
The pouring procedure corresponding to all of the configurations of the pouring device is to be described in greater detail relative to Figs. 3 to 6. For the pouring, wine bottle 1 is inclined sufficiently that the liquid begins to flow, and flows down through pouring orifice 5 of bottle 1 and through axial borehole 3 of the pouring device over inclined wall 8, describing a pouring parabola P. If bottle 1 is tilted further, then indeed the liquid flow increases, but then, as shown in Fig. 4, describes the parabola P. The decisive advantage lies in that the position of bottle 1 during the dosed pouring must be adapted or proportional, and not following a changing pouring parabola. In connection with the large axial borehole 3, the possibility is yielded of dosing the liquid stream over a wide band width while retaining the same ease of pouring.
With interruption of the pouring process the liquid stream, as shown in Fig. 5, is interrupted at the transition 16, which means the liquid level drops behind this edge, whereby the liquid residue found at this moment still on the inclined wall 8 conglomerates into a trickle 17, which flows back into the interior or else remains on the interior wall, corresponding to the representation in Fig. 6, upon further straightening up of bottle 1.

The pa~uriag device shown m Fig. 7 corresponds in its essential feahn~es to Figs. 1 and 2.
~her~ore the esse~o~ial feattmes art not to be described again. In order to disclose a possibility of filtering Foreign bodies for example bits of cork out of the wino, here is found as additional screen striLCturc I8, which is formed like a pointed cone and has a bottle-like added part, inserted between bearing surface 4 and sealing element 6. Since annular sealing eleazcnt 6 seals to the side and at the bottom, und~uted disobar$e of wine is P~~- A refitting o~r an exchange of the screen structtae as possible at any time because of the simple arrangenvcnt. The cone-shaped configuration facilitates improved sir feed and thus improves the floyv behavior of the wine. In another configuration the inclined wall 8 is slightly arched or camber.d and is represented overlapping a rou~d~ing pad un the vertical wall of axial borehole 3. Such a g~mettical ~g~ent ~a~esponds with the inclination of wall 8 according to the invention and likewise to the concept of the imiention. The eonfigtuation of transition area 15 as rounding can slightly improve the uniform flow of the wine, 'fhe pouring device shown in Fig. 8 cotrespotsds in its essential featiQes likewise to Figs. 1 and 2.
Identical parts are here too not to be described again. The pouring orifice of the pouring device suszounded by pull-off edge 7 is reduced to a minimum. In order to guarantee fuactzon without any problem, an open cut 19 is provided in this case, which replaces the fillet-lice rear taper cut of the pull-off edge working is the same manner. Using a cvnfigttrahoa as in Fig, 8 it is possible to modify and mini~oni~e the p~p~oas of hollow body 2 so that a ale-saving form is derived theTefirom, and also less adaptation is required. Cost reductions necessitated is the manufsciure ate additionally advantageous.
The pouring devioe shows in Fig. 9 includes a two-part hollow body 2. The top pert 20 engages with its bearing surface 4 on eeatinB element 6, wl~ch in turn engagoa oz~
pouring orifice 5 of a bottle. Axial borehole 3 is extendmd according to the invention into an incli~aed wall 8 having a pull-off edge 7. Open cut 19 uadercutg pull.off edge 7 on the outside. Top part 20 is fa9tened togethez with bottom part 21 on the exterior bottle waU surrounding po,uin8 0~' rrx 5, bottom part 21 being aacbwred in the annular groove 22 of top part 20.1 he advstttage of this e~aabodiment lies is the plurality of possible material combinations, whereby the material of top part 20 need not have the same special properties ijn relation to the springing effect ss the maxerial of bottom part 21.
It is expedient to produce the pouring device of the inventuon iun either one'part or two-part plastic con~rgurabiaa using it~e~on molding tcchraique and to insert a slotted sealing elemeAt interchangeably tberein. However, the po~uiag device can likewise be produced by sht;tchitag or beading m ssnglo-part 8 processes, whereby all admissible and suitable mar~rials can be used.

List of references 1 wine bottle 2 hollow body 3 axial borehole 4 bearing surface (contact surface) pouring orifice 6 sealing element 7 pull-ofl edge 8 inclined wall 9 outer wall bracket 11 stop pin 12 bottom diagonal 13 enlarged area 14 top diagonal cover 16 transition area 17 dripping 18 screen 19 open cut top part 21 bottom part 22 annular groove S acute angle L obtuse or aperture angle P pouring parabola

Claims

1. Pouring device for bottle-like receptacles having --a hollow body (2) with an interior contact surface (4) resting on the edge of the pouring orifice (5), of which the bottom part (21) engages around the outer wall of the pouring orifice (5) and of which the top part (20) with a wall (9) widening outward forms an undercut pouring edge (7), --a borehole (3) passing axially through the contact surface (4) for conduction of a liquid, and with --an interior wall (8) widening out and extending outward from a transition area (16) of the contact surface (4), which wall (8) with the outer wall (9) embodies an acute angle (S) and together with wall (9) at the pouring edge forms a pull-off edge (7) for the liquid, characterized in that --the interior wall (8) includes an aperture angle (L) between 60° and 120°, --on the bottom part (21) beneath the contact surface (4) are constructed surrounding elastic brackets (10), which have stop pins (11) cooperating with the outer wall of the pouring orifice (5), and that --a highly elastic sealing element (6) is provided between the edge of the pouring orifice and the contact surface (4).

2. Pouring device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the aperture angle (L) is 90°.

3. Pouring device as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the orifice diameter at the pull-off edge (7) is at least half again greater than the diameter of the borehole (3).

4. Pouring device as in one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a cover (15) is provided, covering the orifice, which can be mounted on the pull-off edge (7) or the interior wall (8).

5. Pouring device as in Claim 4, characterized in that the cover (15) has orifices facilitating an air exchange.

6. Pouring device as in Claim 5, characterized in that the orifices are spanned with a flow allowing breathing.

7. Pouring device as in one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that a screen (18) is provided between the seal (6) and the contact surface (4).

8. Pouring device as in Claim 7, characterized in that the screen is configured as conical.

9. Pouring device as in one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the top part (20) and the bottom part (21) are configured as two separate structural parts.