DE60126605T2 - CONTAINER FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGES WITH AUSGIESSTÜLLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention related to a "flow control element" with suction spout for carbonated beverage cans. The fluid remains under pressure while access is possible when suction is applied to the spout. The spout is attached to a housing enclosure that holds a spring, a centrally perforated membrane, a valve stem and a valve. This housing enclosure extends into the inside of the container, which extended part functions as a guide for the valve stem and that incorporates the valve seat. The valve stem is attached to the perforated membrane on one side and to the valve on the other side. When suction is applied the membrane moves the valve and opens a flow path, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the valve stem and the perforated membrane to the mouth. When the suction stops, a spring closes the valve against the gas pressure in the can or container.

Description

SCOPE OF APPLICATION THE INVENTION

The The invention relates to completely closed cans, bottles or drinking cup for carbonated soft drinks, which serve to spill the liquid contained in the can, the bottle or the drinking cup to avoid while the movement and even if the liquid from the can, the Drinking cup or the hand container is removed. This refers to US Class 220/706; 220/85; 222/214; 220/713; 220/714 etc. (International Patent Classification A47G 19/22; BD65d 1/00; BD65D 25/48 etc.)

OBJECT THE INVENTION

carbonated Become a soft drink supplied for consumption in aluminum cans, bottles or other containers. Once the can or bottle is opened becomes, the liquid dissolves and will be within the shortest possible time Time shy. Be bottled soft drinks will be usually transplanted into a glass for immediate consumption during the Rest for later Use in the bottle remains with a screw cap kept under pressure. However, aluminum cans are becoming common open, by doing a piece peel off the lid; after that you can they will not be closed anymore. That means the liquid must be drunk more or less immediately after opening. If the liquid also can be transferred from a bottle into a glass, it can happen that the amount meets the need for the exceeds immediate consumption and thus a part of the liquid longer must be kept. The previous kind solutions have been found that it is impossible is upright, the pressure in a so-called spill-free glass or hand container to preserve, with the liquid thoroughly spill can be when the vessel is carbonated or hot Liquids is filled. The invention presented here thus aims to the carbonation of the soft drink inside the container while receiving the liquid effortless at the same time can be removed and the shedding at the movement - regardless the position of the container - prevented becomes. The same applies Hot drinks in which it is ensured that the liquid in the cup or container remains while the air pressure increases due to the expansion of trapped air.

BACKGROUND THE INVENTION

For the temporary Storage will be carried over the years with drinking cups and hand containers leakproof lids, in combination with a non-dripping spout and Ventilation opening in offered in many shapes and sizes, to spill the contained therein liquid to avoid. Here are the grommet and the ventilation opening with Valves provided with the aid of the liquid from the container or the cup can be removed when the nozzle of a certain suction is suspended. The by reducing the liquid level in the container resulting free space fills with air entering through a second opening in the lid. These Ventilation opening is provided with a control valve, which is due to the suction effect opens at the spout, though the pressure under the atmospheric pressure falls. For example, a drip-free feeding / training container is this Type of Belanger in U.S. Patent Specification 5,079,013; U.S. PAT. 5,542,670 to Morano; U.S. PAT. 5,186,347 from Freeman etc. been described. All of these inventions related first Line on the target group of infants and infants, the fluid even when tipping the cup or container prevented from spilling should be; the same was true when drinking in motion. The The above patent specifications also contain references to other inventors who all had the same goal or similar goals in mind namely the spill the liquid to prevent.

The However, described applications are suitable only for non-aerated liquids and cold drinks. When carbonated liquids get used, the pressure in the container increases, thereby opening the valve and prevents therefore no longer the licking and spilling the Liquid. The same applies to hot drinks in which the air over the liquid is heated and thus expands, causing a pressure increase in the container entails, so that the liquid necessarily leaks when the container is not held vertically becomes. The spill let yourself However, avoid using a stronger elastic material (see Morano U.S. Patent 5,542,670) or a stronger spring (see Belanger, U.S. PAT. 5,079,013) for the valve is used. That, however, has the disadvantage that the suction power at the spout must be pretty strong, to the point where the human Skills no longer sufficient. In this case, the opening of the valve would be impossible or at least only with difficulty to force.

for soda cans of the kind often offered to consumers today, which are filled with carbonated drinks. There are special adapters that can be plugged onto the can lid to close the can with the soft drink after opening again or to facilitate drinking compared to direct drinking from the can. Such functionalities are in the fol Descriptions include: US PAT. 4,796,774 of Nabinger; US PAT. 4,852,776 to Patton; US PAT. 4,883,192 to Krugman; US PAT. 5,071,042 to Esposito, US PAT. 5,947,324 to Palinchak, EP 0870 685 A1 However, these proposals have the disadvantage that the pressure drops immediately when opening the can and the carbon dioxide escapes within a very short time from the liquid, which is thereby stale and loses much of its taste.

The means that all the above-described proposals for carbonated soft drinks or Hot drinks unsuitable are.

The The invention described herein eliminates all of these problems with soft drink cans and Bottles as well as with closed spill-free drinking cups. This offers a number of advantages compared to the previous ones Art solutions. Within the same scope this allows maintenance the gas pressure, the carbonic acid content not the liquid to be affected; as well as the effortless transport of partial filled containers being the liquid is neither spilled while drinking nor in motion. In connection with soft drinks the invention presented here has the further advantage of improved Hygiene compared to can closures for soft drinks or Drinking adapters, such as those described in U.S. Pat. PAT. 4,883,192 from Krugman and other inventions are described thereafter.

SHORT SUMMARY THE INVENTION

The The invention described herein includes two preferred variants, which in the claims 1 and 2 are described. One of these variants has a current regulator with a spout for sucking the liquid from a pressure cup, a metal can for soft drinks, one Bottle or a hand container, where the liquid is around a carbonated Soft drink or a hot drink such as Coffee or tea can act. The current regulator is powered by the suction effect on the spout activated. Thereafter, the membrane element lifts a valve, the the inside of the container from the outside area concludes. In the interior of the container normally there is a gas overpressure in relation to to atmospheric pressure, that of the carbonated liquid or the expanding due to a hot drink Air is generated within the drinking cup. The current regulator includes a Spout, the gas-tight with a housing is connected, a spring and a centrally perforated membrane molding element, which is connected to a valve stem in hollow construction (on this way the liquid can from the container through the opening flow in the membrane to the nozzle); a Valve stem guide with valve seat; this is an extrusion part of the housing with a valve made of a soft elastic material. The built-in Spring ensures the good valve closure. This spring exerts a pressure in the direction of the valve seat on diaphragm and valve stem. Because the valve over the Valve stem is connected to the diaphragm, generates the movement the membrane in the axial direction a similar valve movement. By Reducing the pressure on one side of the membrane by a suction effect on the spout the membrane moves the valve and thus opens the interior of the container, so that the liquid now flow can. The liquid flows from the container through a thin one flexible hose in the form of a drinking straw inside the container, the from the bottom of the container up to the valve opening extends through the valve stem and through the membrane into the spout up to the outlet. The closure area of the valve is much smaller than that active surface the membrane. A small suction pressure difference across the membrane creates a relatively large opening force of the Valve against the spring pressure, which normally closes the valve holds. The Combination of valve, spring and diaphragm is therefore an essential aspect This invention, which is based on the principle of operation of the current controller lies. The housing of the flow regulator fits either gas-tight in a hole in the lid one Aluminum can or a bottle for soft drinks, or It is integrated in a gas-tight drinking cup lid. The bottom the membrane is through an opening in the case of the flow regulator to atmospheric pressure held. For the case that the pressure in the can or the cup due to the sinking liquid level under the atmospheric pressure sinks, is in the valve guide a ventilation opening installed, which only opens, if this is really the case, to compensate for the fluid loss. The invention also includes a variant in which a membrane comes to the application, which postpones a valve instead of pulling, as described above. In this case, it is a inverted diaphragm with an airtight sliding seal leading to a extruded ring extension within the spout, which in turn is extruded Ring expansion of the centrally perforated membrane fits. Also included this variant, a valve for limiting the pressure of the container. This Valve is due to the suction effect on the spout against the internal pressure of the container postponed.

According to this Description closes the flow regulator the inside of the hand container from the outside area from. This applies under all conditions and regardless of the position the container, as long as it is not used for drinking.

SUMMARY THE DRAWINGS

The clarify the following accompanying drawings of four preferred variants all functionalities of here presented invention for all the jeningen, the drawings and the corresponding specifications read and interpret.

1 Figure 3 is a perspective view of an assembled soft drink can embodying one of the preferred variants of the present invention. Further details of this variant are the 3 . 4 and 5 refer to.

2 is a perspective view of an assembled spill-free drinking cup or container according to a second variant of the invention, wherein further details of 6 can be seen.

3 includes a partial cross section drawing and a view of the first preferred variant. Here are all the parts needed to control the current in this invention.

4 shows a cross section of an enlarged part of the 3 ., in order to better represent the current control system.

5-a ) to 5-e ) show cross sections of the parts of the flow controller according to the invention.

6 shows a partial cross section with a view of a spill-free drinking cup according to the second variant of the invention. 2 is the corresponding perspective view.

7 shows a cross section through a third variant of the invention, wherein the valve is pushed, when the spout is under suction, instead of the valve - as in the first two variants - is pulled out of its seat.

8th shows a cross section through a fourth variant of the invention, the third variant according to 7 similar - except that the extruded part of the membrane in this case includes the spout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Under Referring to the drawings, the invention is associated with of use with a soft drink can (teen) described the commonly for carbonated Soft drinks for sale is, in this case, however, with a modified cover, for the "current regulator" or the "tulle system" of the described here Invention has been adjusted accordingly. The description below the individual variants of the invention is merely illustrative intended and is in no way the scope of the invention restrict these variants.

1 shows a partially opened cup and the outside view of a beverage can with a centrally positioned flow regulator in the lid of the first preferred variant, which extends from the outside to the can inside. Details of this variant are a partial cross-sectional drawing of 3 to be taken while the 4 for clarity, shows an enlarged cross-section through the current regulator. The can for soft drinks with a cylindrical wall 1 a floor 2 a lid 3 and a current regulator 4 contains a carbonated soft drink 5 , which is under a gas pressure (P3) due to the carbonic acid 6 , This gas pressure can far exceed the atmospheric pressure (P1) in the outside air, which ensures the carbonation of the soft drink and thus the enjoyment of drinking the liquid in the long term. The current regulator 4 maintains this gas pressure as long as necessary, while still allowing access to the fluid in the can. This is from a case 9 allows that tight in the lid 3 the soft drink can fits and forms part of the barrier between the interior and exterior of the can. A spout 7 is gas-tight connected to this housing and holds a centrally perforated membrane 8th , on the suction side gas-tight in the housing 9 fits, while on the other side there is continuous atmospheric pressure. There is enough space above and below the diaphragm to allow the diaphragm to move up and down a few millimeters in the middle, with it attached to the periphery. The membrane 8th is integral with a hollow valve stem 10 connected, through which thus the liquid can pass. The membrane is also perforated in the middle. At this point, the valve stem is gas-tightly connected to the membrane. The valve stem 10 fits in the lower cylindrical part 14 and acts there as a valve stem guide. He is in the case 9 integrated so that only a very small gap remains between these parts. This space has a sliding fit and allows unilateral movement of the valve stem. However, it is so narrow that on the other side no liquid and no gas can pass. The lower part of the valve stem guide 14 also holds the valve seat 13 , At the bottom of the valve stem is a valve made of elastic material 11 recorded. This valve closes the access opening 12 to the valve seat 13 opposite the interior of the soft drink can. So now the can can be emptied completely on request, a fle xibler hose (drinking straw) 15 for use. This sits firmly on the valve opening 12 and reaches all the way down to the bottom of the can. The valve is closed via a drive element. This may be, for example, a spring 16 act on the suction side of the flow regulator, which is the diaphragm 8th and therefore also the valve 11 pushes into its rest position. The hollow valve stem becomes narrower at the bottom 17 , In this tapered section are one or more holes 18 drilled through which the liquid passes when the valve 11 from his seat 13 is lifted. In the case 9 there is a small air passage 19 to ensure that the back pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm remains at the atmospheric pressure (P1) level.

The current regulator 4 is activated as follows:
Due to the suction effect through the outlet opening to the spout 7 becomes the membrane 8th The force required to activate the valve is derived from the pressure difference across the diaphragm multiplied by the active surface area of the diaphragm plus the pressure difference across the valve multiplied by the pressure active surface of the valve, minus the driving force (F) of the spring. This is (P1-P2) * A + (P3-P2) * a-F. Here, "A" is the active surface of the membrane, ie ..⎕.D2, with "⎕" (pi) equal to 3.14. "D" is the active membrane diameter and "a" is the active surface of the valve, ie ..⎕.d2, where "⎕" (pi) is equal to 3.14. "d" is the active valve diameter. "F" is the driving force of the spring in combination with the spring force of the diaphragm. When the valve is lifted out of its seat, the liquid in the can is pushed out due to the pressure difference (P3 - P2). These are the gas pressure in the can or the suction pressure in the nozzle. When there is a suction, the liquid flows through the flexible hose 15 to the nozzle 12 and happens while the valve 11 , passes through the hole (s) 18 in the hollow valve stem 10 to the top of the membrane 8th and from there into the spout 7 until it reaches the outlet. As soon as the suction stops, the pressure difference (P1 - P2) disappears, so that only the driving force "F" of the closure element (the spring) disappears. 16 and the spring force of the membrane remains. This pushes the valve 11 in his seat 13 back and thus closes the passage for the liquid.

Under certain conditions, it can happen that the internal pressure P3 drops very sharply when the can is emptied, even to below the atmospheric pressure P1. In this case, the suction pressure is able to open the valve, but is not sufficient for complete emptying of the soft drink can. In this case there is a ventilation opening 20 consisting of one or more holes in the upper part of the valve stem guide 14 consists. These vents are usually with a sufficiently wide rubber band 21 closed, which covers the holes completely and acts as a valve, allowing the air from the air passage 19 into the area below the diaphragm and along the upper portion of the valve stem guide through the ventilation holes 20 can flow into the can. Thanks to this functionality, the internal pressure P3 in the can can never fall very much below the atmospheric pressure P1. Therefore, the upper portion of the valve stem guide 14 a little bigger, so that the air can flow past it. When the soft drink box current regulator is used as described above, a hygienic cap is used 21 fitted exactly on the shoulder of the case 9 fits and tightly closes, so that the spout can not pollute during transport and storage.

5-a ) to 5-e ) show the items of the current controller according to the description of the first preferred variant. However, this variant is not intended to limit the invention to other configurations, wherein the same principle of force amplification is used by a perforated membrane is used to activate a valve.

2 and 6 show the second preferred variant, wherein a current regulator is used in a spill-free drinking cup. The lid is firmly screwed onto the cup or container. In this case, the case is 9 ' of the current controller 4 ' an integral and leak-proof element of the lid, and the cup can be filled with carbonated soft drinks or hot and cold drinks without spillage after closure. With hot drinks, the air expands above the liquid, increasing the pressure in the cup or hand container. In the context of this area of application, the 2 a perspective view of a partially opened cup or container. A partial cross section of the same variant is the 6 refer to. Because the operating principle of the current controller 4 for this application corresponds exactly to the description of the first preferred variant, the issues in question are not repeated here; instead, only the changes should be discussed.

6 shows a metal or plastic container 22 with a removable lid 23 that on the container 22 is screwed and this using the seal made of elastic material 24 gas-tight. Thus, the container can not leak when mixed with a soft drink or a hot or cold drink is filled. In this second variant, the housing 9 ' of the current controller 4 ' now in the lid 23 integrated. This concept thus differs slightly from the flow regulator of the soft drink can. The spout 25 can be removed, so you can also reach the inside of the current controller for cleaning. The remaining parts correspond in principle to the in 1 . 3 . 4 and 5 illustrated aluminum beverage can.

7 shows a third variant of the current controller 4 '' , which is suitable for soft drink cans, bottles or drinking cups. The difference to the previously described variants of the invention lies primarily in the fact that the valve is pushed in this case by the suction pressure and is not pulled out of his seat. The third variant consists of a centrally perforated membrane 8th'' with an extruded sealing tube 40 '' and a sealing structure 26 '' , the gas-tight - but movable - in the axial direction in a cylindrical tube 27 '' is fitted, which to the spout 7 '' belongs. The spout 7 '' holds the membrane 8th'' fixed and ensures at the edge for the gas-tight connection to a valve housing 9 '' with a seal 30 '' , The current regulator system is on top of a can 1'' , a bottle or a cup for soft drinks attached and has a connection 31 '' for a screw cap. To the valve holder integrated in the valve body 14 '' belongs a valve seat 13 '' with a valve 11 '' , This creates a good seal that seals the inside of the soft drink container 1'' hermetically sealed from the outside so that the fluid can pass when the vessel is not in use. The valve 11 '' is over the valve stem 10 '' with the membrane 8th'' connected. This is done by a valve holder 17 '' large enough to cover and even be part of the centrally positioned hole in the membrane while allowing the liquid to pass through. The valve shaft holder 17 '' that is a driving force or spring force 32 '' is exposed, squeezes the valve 11 '' gas-tight in his seat 13 '' if no suction on the spout 7 '' is applied, but allows the passage of the liquid when the device is activated due to the suction effect. Part of the spout contains an open-air passage 29 '' ensuring that the atmospheric pressure in the clearance above the diaphragm is maintained. On request, a spring 32 '' be installed, which helps that the valve remains closed, if the spring action of the membrane should not be sufficient. The functional principle of this variant of the invention can be described as follows. If a suction on the spout 7 '' is exercised, this reduces the pressure P2 within the clearance 28 '' relative to the external pressure P1 over the membrane. This causes the membrane to move 8th'' down, thereby pushing the valve 11 '' from his seat 13 '' and opens a liquid passage from inside the soft drink container to the discharge port. If the pressure within the container falls due to the aspiration of the soft drink from the container to below the atmospheric pressure, the valve can 11 '' open against the pressure of the spring-loaded membrane when no suction is present.

In the described variant, a gas-tight, movable connection 26 '' of the extruded sealing tube 40 '' the membrane to the cylindrical tube 27 '' inside the spout 7 '' needed. The air outlet at this point could affect the function of the flow controller. One solution could be to install a bellows or a so-called O-ring between the membrane and the spout, although on the other hand, again, this might not be easy. It is therefore conceivable that the grommet 7 '' is completely omitted, so that then the extruded sealing tube 40 '' the membrane 8th'' assumes the function of the spout, which greatly simplifies this variant of the invention. This fourth variant is in the 8th shown and has the same parts as in the 7 , with the exception of the spout 7 '' , The functional principle is also identical and needs no further explanation.

Claims (12)

A flow control element ( 4 ) for discharging a liquid under pressure from a container. The flow element consists of the following parts: _ a) a drain ( 7 ), which is connected to a housing ( 9 ), in which a membrane device ( 38 ) and a valve ( 11 ) are housed; b) said housing comprises a valve stem guide ( 14 ), which are in a valve seat ( 13 ), which is closed by said valve; c) said membrane device consists of (i) a membrane ( 8th ) with a central opening and (ii) a hollow valve stem ( 10 ), which in its lower part has an opening ( 18 ) having; d) said membrane device has at the edge of the membrane via a fixed seal ( 39 ) as well as a sliding density structure ( 40 ) in the center between the hollow valve stem and the lower part ( 17 ) said valve stem guide; e) said housing has in its upper part via an air passage ( 19 ), which connects the space below the membrane with the outside and keeps the lower membrane side, which points to the container interior, to atmospheric pressure; f) the said valve stem guide has in its upper part an enlarged inner diameter ( 41 ) with vents ( 20 ), so that the air can flow from the space below the membrane into the container interior ( 6 ); g) said vents are by a Closing element ( 21 ) to close the orifices when the gas pressure (P3) in the interior of the vessel is above the atmospheric external pressure (P1) or to open the orifices when, due to the displacement of liquid from the vessel, the gas pressure may fall below the atmospheric external pressure ; h) said membrane device is by means of a sliding element ( 16 ) in the direction of the interior of the container so that the valve remains closed when it is in its rest position; i) said membrane device bends away from the interior of the container against the compressive force of the pusher element when suction is applied to the outflow, thereby opening the valve to allow liquid to flow therethrough. Flow control element ( 4 '' ) for discharging a liquid under pressure from a container. The flow element consists of the following parts: _ a) a drain ( 7 '' ) with a cylindrical tube ( 27 '' ), a membrane device ( 38 '' ), a valve housing ( 9 '' ) and a valve system ( 41 '' ); b) said membrane device consists of (i) a membrane ( 8th'' ) with a central opening and (ii) sealing closure ( 40 '' ), which has a flexible sealing structure ( 26 '' ) with the cylindrical tube ( 27 '' ) of the outflow; c) in said flow control element is an air passage ( 29 '' ) which promotes maintenance of the atmospheric pressure between the drain and one side of the membrane facing away from the interior of the container; d) said valve housing comprises a valve holder ( 14 '' ) with a valve seat ( 13 '' ) holding the said valve system; e) said valve system comprises a valve stem ( 10 '' ), a valve mounted on the valve stem ( 11 '' ) and a perforated valve stem holder ( 17 '' ); f) said valve is resiliently against the valve seat by means of a sliding element ( 32 '' ) which is held in place by the perforated valve holder on one side and by a horizontal part of the valve seat on the other side; g) said membrane device is leaktight on its periphery ( 30 '' ) of said membrane is mounted, but is movable at its center in the direction of the container interior when a suction acts on the drain, wherein the valve is pressed away from the valve seat against the pressure force caused by the sliding element. The flow control element of claim 1, in the said closing element includes an elastic band. The flow control element of claim 1 or 2, in which the membrane has a corrugated shape in the transverse profile and made of a resilient material. The flow control element of claim 1 or 2, in which the sliding element includes a spring. The flow control element of claim 1 or 2, in which the sliding element realizes the spring force of the membrane. The flow control element of claim 1 or 2, in which the surface area The membrane on which the suction pressure acts, considerably larger than the surface area of the valve on which the internal gas pressure of the container acts. The flow control element of claim 1 or 2, in which the sealing structure between the cylindrical tube of Outflow and the sealing tube of the membrane comprises a blower. A combination of the following parts: a container that a liquid can record and the over an opening in the upper area, and the flow control element of claim 1 or 2 attached to the container is and the opening covers. The combination of claim 9, wherein the container is made of Metal or plastic material exists and a liquid under gas pressure or can hold at a raised temperature. The combination of claim 9, wherein the liquid a drink, a hot one Drink or any other drinking fluid is. The combination of claim 9, wherein the flow control element on the container is removably attached by means of a threaded connection.