EP0621200A1

EP0621200A1 - Pourer for multi-cavity container

Info

Publication number: EP0621200A1
Application number: EP93650014A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carl Keenan; Patrick Rigney; Andrew Nicholson Wrigley
Original assignee: R and A Bailey Co Ltd
Current assignee: R and A Bailey Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-22
Filing date: 1993-04-22
Publication date: 1994-10-26

Abstract

A pourer 1 for pouring liqueurs from one of two sub containers A, B of a bottle comprises a pourer body 2 divided into two sections 2A, 2B with respective pouring passageways 5A, 5B having outlets 6A, 6B. The outlets 6A, 6B are closed by separate valve members 20A, 20B which allow liqueur to be poured from one sub container A, B at one time. The valve members 20A, 20B frictionally engage and move with a wiping action, a stud 37 carried by one valve member 20 engaging in a respective elongate slot 36 of the other valve member to ensure that as valve member 20 is opened the other is automatically closed.

Description

The invention relates to a pourer and in particular to a pourer for pouring especially liquids such as alcoholic beverage, liqueurs and the like from two or more containers.
A new liqueur product has recently been introduced which is provided in a single container having two sub-containers, one for each liqueur. Presently, one of the liqueurs is white coloured cream liqueur and the other is a dark coloured coffee liqueur. It is intended that a user pours the dark liqueur from one of the sub-containers into a glass and the white liqueur is then poured down the side wall of the glass to lie on top of the dark liqueur to present an aesthetically pleasing and pleasant tasting liqueur drink. Conventionally the containers are closed by separate stoppers which are removed as required for pouring a desired liqueur from its container.
This invention is particular directed towards provided a pourer for pouring from two or more containers of this type.
According to the invention there is provided a pourer for pouring from two or more containers comprising:
a pourer body having a pourer body section for each container;
each pourer body section having engagement means for engaging a container outlet and defining a pouring passageway extending from the engagement means to a pourer outlet; and the pourer including valve means for selectively opening and closing the pourer outlets for pouring from the containers.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the valve means comprises a separate valve member for each pourer outlet.
Most preferably the pourer body includes two pourer body sections, a separate valve member being provided for each pourer outlet.
Preferably the valve members are arranged so that one valve member may be opened at one time.
The valve members may be interconnected such that one valve member is automatically closed when the other valve member is opened.
In a particularly preferred arrangement each valve member includes a stud and an elongate slot, the stud of one valve member engaging with the slot of the other valve member, the stud travelling in the slot on movement of one valve member to the open position and engaging with the slot in the open position to prevent the opening of the other valve member.
Preferably the valve members are pivotally mounted to the pourer body for movement between the open and closed position.
In a preferred arrangement the valve members are mounted on a common pivot.
Preferably the valve members are frictionally engaged and are movable relative to one another with a wiping action.
In a particular preferred arrangement the power valve members are produced from a common mould.
In one embodiment of the invention the outlet sealing means are provided between the pourer outlets and the associated valve members.
Preferably the valve members frictionally engage the sealing means for controlled movement of the valving members between open and closed positions.
Preferably, an enlarged seat is provided at each pourer outlet in which a sealing means is mounted.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention each pourer body section includes air vent means extending between the container engagement means and a pourer vent outlet.
Preferably, the vent outlets are closed by the valve members when the valve members are in the closed position.
In a particularly preferred arrangement vent sealing means are provided between the pourer vent outlets and the associated valve members.
Preferably, an enlarged seat is provided at the pourer vent outlets in which a sealing means is mounted.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention at least one pourer body section includes a glass rim engaging portion for engaging the rim of a glass for pouring down the side of the glass.
In one arrangement the container engagement means comprises a plug means for engaging the neck of a container.
Preferably the container engagement means is of a resilient material for sealing engagement with the neck of a container.
Typically the container engagement means is formed separately from the pourer body.
In a preferred arrangement each pourer body section is injection moulded from a plastics material.
Preferably also the valve members are injection moulded from a plastics material.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pourer according to the invention in use in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pourer in use;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pourer;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a body portion of the pourer;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the body portion of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the body portion of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the body portion of Fig. 4;
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the body portion of Fig. 4;
Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a valving spout portion of the pourer;
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the valving spout of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a perspective exploded view of the valving spout of Fig. 9;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the valving spout assembled;
Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of part of the valving spout assembly;
Fig. 14 is a plan view of the part of the valving spout assembly of Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrows XV-XV in Fig. 13;
Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrammatic perspective partially cross-sectional views showing the operation of the valving spout assembly in use;
Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the engagement between the valuing spout and body portion of the pourer;
Fig. 19 is a cross-section view of a pouring passageway seal;
Fig. 20 is a plan view of the seal of Fig. 19;
Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view of an air vent passageway seal; and
Fig. 22 is a plan view of the seal of Fig. 21.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a pourer according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for pouring from two or more containers. In this case the pourer is used for pouring dark and white liqueurs from sub-containers A, B respectively of a bottle, the sub-containers A, B having respective outlets C, D.
Referring particularly to Fig. 3 the pourer 1 comprises a pourer body 2 which in this case is divided into two pourer body sections 2A, 2B each of which is provided with engaging means in the form of stoppers 3A, 3B respectively for engaging the container outlets C, D respectively. Each of the body sections 2A, 2B are provided with a pouring passageway 5A, 5B respectively which extends from the respective stoppers 3A, 3B to an enlarged pourer outlet 6A, 6B. An air vent 9A, 9B also extends from the respective stoppers 3A, 3B to a pourer vent outlet 10A, 10B.
The pourer outlets 6A, 6B and vent outlets 10A, 10B are closable by a valve means which in this case is provided by a valving spout comprising separate valve member 20A, 20B for the pourer body portions 2A, 2B. The valve members 20A, 20B are each provided with respective pouring passageways 21A, 21B and vent passageways 22A, 22B which are aligned with the respective pouring passageways 5A, 5B and vent passageways 9A, 9B in the body portion of the pourer for pouring liqueur from one of the containers. This open pouring configuration is illustrated on the left hand side in Fig. 3. In the closed position of the valving member 20 the pourer passageway 5A and vent passageway 9A are closed as illustrated on the right hand side of Fig. 3.
The valving members 20A, 20B are in this case identical and therefore are formed in the same mould. Each of the valve members 20A, 20B includes a pair of depending legs 25, one of which is formed with a pivot pin 26 and the other of which is formed with a pivot hole 27. The pivot pin 26 of one of the valve members engages with the pivot hole of the other and vice versa. Each body member also includes front and rear pivot mounting holes 29 for receiving the pivot pins 26 of the valve members 20A, 20B. A locating stud 30 is also provided on the body member for engaging with a corresponding locating hole 31 in the valve members 20A, 20B to facilitate assembly of the valve members 20A, 20B to the body member 2.
Each of the valve members 20A, 20B includes inwardly projecting arms 35A, 35B which are formed with elongate arcuate slots 36A, 36B and complementary studs 37A, 37B. On assembly, the stud 37A is inserted in the slot 36B and the stud 37B is inserted in the slot 36B as will be apparent particularly from Figs. 16 and 17. In use, the arrangement of the studs 37 and slots 36 is such as to allow only one valve member to be opened at one time. When one valve member is opened the other valve member is automatically closed. The valve members 20A and 20B are frictionally engaged and move relative to one another with a wiping action. This arrangement will be particularly apparent from Fig. 3 and Figs. 16-17. When the valve member 20B to the left in these drawings is opened by moving the valve member 20B in the direction of the arrow X with a wiping action overcoming the friction engagement the stud 37B travels through the slot 36A until it reaches the end of the slot 36A. At this point the pouring passageways 5A and 21B and vent passageways 9B and 22B are in alignment as illustrated on the left hand side of Fig. 3 and in Fig. 17. If an attempt is made to open the right hand side valve member 20B the stud 37A of that valve member is engaged with the end of the slot 36B and pulls the valve member 20B closed. In this way only one of the valve members can be opened at any one time so that the liqueur can be poured from only one of the containers at one time.
To facilitate pouring the valve members 20A, 20B include respective recesses 35A, 35B which define glass rim engaging portions for engaging the rim of a glass for pouring down the side of the glass as illustrated particularly in Fig. 2.
Referring especially to Figs. 18 to 22 it will be noted that the pouring passageways 5 and the vent passageways 9 are both provided with enlarged seat portions 40, 41 respectively at the upper outlet end thereof for receiving respective seals 42,43. Both seals 42, 43 include respective side tabs 44, 45 for engaging in respective locating slots at the enlarged seat portions of the passageways 5, 9. In use the valve members 20A, 20B frictionally engage and wipe across the surfaces of the seals 42, 43 for controlled movement of the valve members 20A, 20B between the open and closed portions.
Preferably the engagement spouts 3A, 3B are formed of more resilient material than that of the pourer body 2A, 2B to facilitate sealing engagement with the neck of containers.
The pourer body is preferably injection moulded from a suitable process material. Similarly the valve members 20A, 20B are also preferably injection moulded from a suitable plastics material which may be the same or different from the plastics material of the pourer body.
The invention provides a pourer of relatively simple construction which can be readily easily used.
It will be appreciated that while the pourer has been described for a particular application for pouring different coloured liqueurs from sub-containers it will be appreciated that it may have many different applications to different types of containers and materials.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

A pourer (1) for pouring from two or more containers (A,B) comprising :
a pourer body (2) having a pourer body section (2A,2B) for each container (A,B);
each pourer body section (2A,2B) having engagement means (3A,3B) for engaging a container outlet (C,D) and defining a pouring passageway (5A,5B) extending from the engagement means (3A,3B) to a pourer outlet (6A, 6B); and
the pourer (1) including valve means (20A, 20B) for selectively opening and closing the pourer outlets (6A,6B) for pouring from the containers (A,B).
A pourer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve means (20A,20B) comprises a separate valve member (20A,20B) for each pourer outlet (6A,6B).
A pourer as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the pourer body (2) includes two pourer body sections (2A,2B), a separate valve member (20A,20B) being provided for each pourer outlet (6A, 6B).
A pourer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the valve members (20A,20B) are arranged so that only one valve member (20A,20B) may be opened at one time.
A pourer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the valve members (20A,20B) are interconnected such that one valve member (20A) is automatically closed when the other valve member (20B) is opened, preferably each valve member (20A,20B) including a stud (37A,37B) and an elongate slot (36A,36B), the stud (37A,37B) of one valve member (20A,20B) engaging with the slot (36A,36B) of the other valve member (20A,20B), the stud (37A,37B) travelling in the slot (36A,36B) on movement of one valve member (20A,20B) to the open position and engaging with the slot (36A,36B) in the open position to prevent the opening of the other valve member (20A,20B), typically the valve members (20A,20B) being pivotally mounted to the pourer body (2) for movement between the open and closed position, preferably the valve members (20A,20B) being mounted on a common pivot (26,27).
A pourer as claimed in claim 5 wherein the valve members are frictionally engaged and are movable relative to one another with a wiping action.
A pourer as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the pourer valve members are produced from a common mould.
A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein outlet sealing means (42) are provided between the pourer outlets (6A,6B) and the associated valve members (20A,20B), preferably an enlarged seat being provided at each pourer outlet (6A,6B) in which a sealing means (42) is mounted.
A pourer as claimed in claim 8 wherein the valve members (20A,20B) frictionally engage the sealing means (42) for controlled movement of the valving members between open and closed positions.
A pourer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 wherein each pourer body section (2A,2B) includes air vent means (9A,9B) extending between the container engagement means (3A,3B) and a pourer vent outlet (10A,10B), preferably the vent outlets (10A,10B) being closed by the valve members (20A,20B) when the valve members (20A,20B) are in the closed position, typically vent sealing means (43) being provided between the pourer vent outlets (10A, 10B) and the associated valve members (20A,20B), preferably an enlarged seat being provided at the pourer vent outlets (10A,10B) in which a sealing means (43) is mounted.
A pourer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one pourer body section (2A,2B) includes a glass rim engaging portion (35A,35B) for engaging the rim of a glass for pouring down the side of the glass.