EP1884493B1 - Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles - Google Patents

Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1884493B1
EP1884493B1 EP06425545.8A EP06425545A EP1884493B1 EP 1884493 B1 EP1884493 B1 EP 1884493B1 EP 06425545 A EP06425545 A EP 06425545A EP 1884493 B1 EP1884493 B1 EP 1884493B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
slider
connector
container
sleeve
probe
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP06425545.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1884493A1 (fr
Inventor
Piero Battegazzore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Guala Closures SpA
Original Assignee
Guala Closures SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Guala Closures SpA filed Critical Guala Closures SpA
Priority to EP06425545.8A priority Critical patent/EP1884493B1/fr
Priority to US11/829,643 priority patent/US20080023500A1/en
Publication of EP1884493A1 publication Critical patent/EP1884493A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1884493B1 publication Critical patent/EP1884493B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D3/0029—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers
    • B67D3/0032—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a connector according to the preamble of Claim 1.
  • a connector is known by WO 00/07902 A .
  • Other known connectors are disclosed in US 5 289 855 and on US 4 375 864 .
  • This type of connector may be used on containers with a neck, such as bottles, in combination with devices for controlled dispensing of the beverages present inside the said containers.
  • the devices for controlled dispensing of beverages referred to are already known in the art and comprise, in brief, control means, a probe able to be inserted inside the connector, an end unit by means of which it is possible to dispense the beverage and, in some cases, also a source of carbon dioxide or other inert gas.
  • the device When the probe is inserted inside the connector, which is positioned on the mouth of the container and the latter is arranged with its mouth directed downwards, the device is ready for dispensing.
  • the dispensing device will comprise refrigerating means; if the container is a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage and the dispensing device is suitable for preparing a cocktail, it will comprise a source of inert gas which is able to exert on the beverage a pressure which allows it to easily reach the end unit from which it must be dispensed.
  • the connectors used on the bottles designed for this type of dispensing device comprise a main body which, during use, is constrained to the container and a slider positioned inside the main body. These connectors are very similar to the one described in the American patent US 4,375,864 which discloses a connector suitable for use in water dispensers.
  • the main disadvantage of the connectors known hitherto is that they are able to ensure sealing of the container only before initial opening and, thereafter, only when probe is inserted inside them.
  • This technical effect would allow temporary interruption during dispensing of the beverage present in the container, while ensuring, at the same time, that there is no risk of accidentally introducing into the container substances which are foreign to the liquid present therein and that there is no accidental leakage of liquid.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide connectors able to satisfy the requirements described above more so than known hitherto.
  • a further advantage of the present connector is that it is possible to disconnect probe from the connector without the alcohol contained in the beverages being able to evaporate, altering the organoleptic properties thereof.
  • 100 denotes a container with a longitudinal axis Z-Z, having a neck 101 and a mouth, such as a bottle for example.
  • a probe 103 which in Figure 1 is shown separate from the container/connector assembly, is connected to the apparatus which controls it and which forms the dispensing device. As can be seen in the figures, it has a retaining groove 104 and windows 105 for allowing the introduction of liquid from the container 100 into the channel 106 of probe 103.
  • 1 denotes overall a connector which is integrally joined to the container 100 and composed of a main body 3 and a slider 4 situated inside it and longitudinally sliding therein.
  • the connector 1 has a longitudinal axis X-X which, when the connector 1 is mounted on container 100, coincides with the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the container 100.
  • the main body 3 is provided with retaining means able to constrain it firmly to the container 100.
  • retaining means able to constrain it firmly to the container 100.
  • it may advantageously comprise an outer skirt 5 with a lip 7 such as to engage with a suitable locating element formed on the neck 101 of the container 100, preventing extraction of the connector 1 from the neck 101 of the container 100.
  • the retaining means may also be formed by an inner thread able to engage with a corresponding thread formed on the container 100.
  • the main body 3 may also comprise means able to prevent rotation relative to the container 100; these means may advantageously consist of projections which are parallel to the axis X-X and engage with corresponding projections formed on the outer surface of the neck of the container 100.
  • Slider 4 is able to slide longitudinally between a bottom closed position, shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 6 , where it defines a closed configuration of the connector 1, and at least one upper open position, shown in Figure 5 , where it defines an open configuration of the connector 1, and vice versa.
  • slider 4 ensures the liquid-tightness of the connector 1 and is able to engage with and disengage from probe 103.
  • slider 4 When connector 1 is in the upper open configuration, slider 4 is completely disengaged from main body 3 and is situated completely within container 100; the apertures of windows 105 associated with probe 103 are completely free.
  • the direction from the bottom closed position towards the upper open position thus defines the bottom-to-top direction and relates to the arrangement of the container 100 when it is being used, i.e. is upside down.
  • the connector 1 may furthermore comprise special means (not shown) for indicating attempts to remove the connector 1 from the container 100 or the fact that initial opening has occurred.
  • the main body 3 comprises a sliding sleeve 9 which preferably has a circular cross-section and which has a first end 11 such that, when the connector 1 is fixed to the container 100, the first end 11 is directed towards the mouth of the container 100; the first end 11 is therefore the bottom end of the sleeve 9, according to the definition given above.
  • Slider 4 comprises a central guiding portion 6 which is able to be guided by the sleeve 9 of the main body 3 and a bottom engaging portion 8 which is able to engage reversibly with probe 103 and is arranged towards the mouth of the container 100, i.e. on the bottom side of the central portion 6.
  • Slider 4 defines inside it a seat 10 able to receive probe 103.
  • the bottom portion 8 of slider 4 is situated on the side of the plane ⁇ which is opposite to the said sleeve 9.
  • the bottom portion 8 is able to receive probe 103 by expanding radially. It is divided into a plurality, for example six, eight or ten elongated parts 12 which may advantageously be identical to each other and preferably equally spaced along the outer perimeter of the bottom portion 8 of slider 4.
  • teeth 14 which are advantageously formed on said bottom portion 8 and preferably project towards said seat 10.
  • a tooth 14 is formed on each elongated part 12.
  • the size of the seat 10 of slider 4 is determined so that the base 16 of the seat 10 is in contact with the top end 109 of probe 103, which is generally flat so as to allow also the transmission to slider 4 of high longitudinal forces directed towards the centre of the container 100.
  • the distance between the teeth 14 and the base 16 is slightly less than the distance between the top end 109 and the groove 104, so as to ensure constant contact between probe 103 and slider 4.
  • the main body 3 comprises, at the end of the sleeve 9 opposite to the bottom end 11, a first abutment surface 17 able to cooperate with a second corresponding abutment surface 18 formed on slider 4 in the vicinity of the end of the central portion 6 which is longitudinally opposite to the bottom portion 8 and which has an outer diameter d2.
  • first and second abutment surfaces 17, 18 are preferably formed as surfaces converging towards the plane ⁇ , for example frustoconical surfaces and/or surfaces with a cross-section in the form of a circumferential arc, and are respectively adjacent to the inner surface of the sleeve 9 and to the outer surface of the central portion 6 of slider 4.
  • the function of these surfaces is to allow extraction of probe 103 from the seat 10 formed in slider 4 and preventing extraction of slider 4 from the main body 3, exerting a longitudinal force greater than the maximum force which the bottom portion 8 is able to exert on probe 103 via the teeth 14.
  • the bottom portion 8 is formed so that the longitudinal force which it is able to exert via the retaining means (i.e. teeth 14) is less than the maximum longitudinal force which the abutment surfaces 17 and 18 may exert.
  • the inner diameter d1 of the sleeve 9 is such that it is able to provide a liquid-tight seal when said sleeve is engaged with the outer surface of slider 4 or with its central portion 6 or with the outer surface of the channel 106.
  • the main body 3 On the side of the first abutment surface 17 opposite to sleeve 9 (and therefore above it), the main body 3 comprises an upper portion 19 able to engage with a corresponding upper portion 20 of slider 4, formed on the opposite side, relative to the first abutment surface 18, to that of the central portion 6.
  • This upper portion 19 of the main body 3 is advantageously cylindrical, having an inner diameter d3>d1.
  • the bottom portion 19 of the main body 3 has, in the vicinity of its upper end (namely opposite to plane ⁇ ), a third and a fifth abutment surface denoted by 25 and 27 in Figure 2 , respectively. These surfaces are advantageously formed on a circumferential projection 23 projecting towards the inside of main body 3 and with an inner diameter d5.
  • the abutment surfaces 25 and 27 therefore define two conical surfaces having opposite vertices with respect to the projection 23 and are advantageously inclined relative to axis X-X by about 15° and about 45°, respectively.
  • the upper portion 20 of slider 4 terminates in an end 22 opposite to the bottom portion 8 where the outer diameter d4 is such as to engage, with slight interference, with the upper portion 19 having a diameter d3, so as to prevent any relative movements of slider 4 and main body 3.
  • the upper portion 20 may advantageously have a cylindrical section with an outer diameter d6 (not indicated in the figures), where d2 ⁇ d6 ⁇ d4 and d6>d5, joined on one side to the first abutment surface 18 and, on the opposite side, to an additional conical surface which converges towards the bottom portion 8 and the outer diameter of which reaches the value of d4 substantially at the end 22.
  • the surfaces 25 and 27 co-operate with surfaces 28 and 26, respectively, so as to allow safe opening and closing of the connector 1.
  • This peak depends on the relative inclination of the surfaces, which is chosen so that slider 4 can be suitably actuated by probe 103.
  • the first of the two peaks mentioned above occurs, during opening of the connector, when surface 28 passes over surface 25; the second peak occurs during the closing phase, when surface 26 passes over surface 27.
  • the longitudinal distance between the end 22 and the projection 23 when the connector 1 is in the bottom closed configuration, namely the travel movement which probe 103 must perform between the bottom closed position and the position where the abovementioned peak may be detected, must be such as to satisfy a condition clarified below.
  • the upper portion 20 of slider 4 which has a conical shape, tends to open, producing interference with the inner wall of the upper portion 19.
  • the force which probe 103 may apply on slider 4 depends on the engagement of the bottom portion 8 inside the retaining groove 104. Since the bottom portion 8 of slider 4 is deformable radially outwards, the force pulse produced as a result of passing over projection 23 could be greater than the opposing force which may be generated by the sole resistance to radial expansion of bottom portion 8 of slider 4.
  • connector 1 it is therefore possible to design connector 1 so that the bottom portion 8 of slider 4 is situated inside the sleeve 9 when the upper portion 20 of slider 4 passes over the projection 23, as can be seen in Figure 3b .
  • the longitudinal distance between second abutment surface 18 and sixth abutment surface 28 may be advantageously greater than the longitudinal extension of the bottom portion 8 and less than the longitudinal distance between the first abutment surface 17 and third abutment surface 25.
  • Main body 3 and slider 4 may be both made of a single piece of polymer material, preferably by means of moulding.

Claims (7)

  1. Connecteur (1) apte à être monté sur l'extrémité ouverte du col (102) d'un récipient (100), tel qu'une bouteille, ledit connecteur (1) présentant un axe longitudinal principal (X-X) et comprenant :
    - un corps principal (3) qui comprend des moyens de contrainte pour assujettir ledit connecteur (1) au récipient (100) ainsi qu'un manchon (9) apte à faire communiquer l'intérieur du récipient (100) avec l'environnement extérieur,
    - une sonde (103) avec un canal (106) pour l'introduction de liquide en provenance du récipient (100),
    - un coulisseau (4) qui, lors de l'utilisation, est introduit à glissement dans ledit manchon (9) et qui est apte à se déplacer longitudinalement entre une position fermée au fond du manchon (9), dans laquelle le coulisseau (4) ne permet pas un écoulement de liquide hors du récipient (100), et une position ouverte sur le haut du manchon (9), dans laquelle le coulisseau (4) permet un écoulement de liquide hors du récipient (100), ledit coulisseau (4) définissant intérieurement un logement (10) apte à recevoir ladite sonde (103) apte à permettre la distribution du liquide,
    ledit coulisseau (4) comprenant en outre:
    - une portion centrale (6) apte à être guidée au moins en partie par ledit manchon (9),
    - une portion inférieure (8) qui fait saillie du manchon (9) vers l'extérieur du récipient (100) lorsque ledit coulisseau (4) se trouve en position fermée, ladite portion inférieure (8) comprenant une pluralité de parties allongées longitudinalement (12) qui, lorsque le coulisseau (4) se trouve en position fermée, s'engagent de manière réversible dans une portion correspondante d'engagement formée dans la sonde (103), en s'étendant élastiquement dans une direction radiale par rapport à l'axe longitudinal (X-X),
    caractérisé par le fait que
    ledit coulisseau (4) comprend en outre une portion supérieure (20) qui se termine dans une extrémité ayant un diamètre extérieur d4 de manière à s'engager, avec faible interférence, dans la portion supérieure du corps principal (3),
    ledit corps principal (3) présentant, à proximité de son extrémité supérieure, une projection circonférentielle (23) faisant saillie vers l'intérieur du corps principal (3) et ayant un diamètre intérieur d5, ledit connecteur (1) étant tel que, lorsque la portion supérieure (20 du coulisseau (4) passe sur ladite projection (23), la portion inférieure (8) du coulisseau (4) est située à l'intérieur du manchon (9).
  2. Connecteur (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les parties allongées longitudinalement (12) comprennent chacune une dent (14).
  3. Connecteur (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit corps principal (3) comprend:
    - un manchon (9) ayant un diamètre intérieur d1,
    - une portion supérieure (19) ayant un diamètre intérieur d3 > d1,
    - ledit manchon (9) étant situé longitudinalement plus près du goulot du récipient (100) que la portion supérieure (19), lorsque le connecteur (1) est fixé sur le récipient (100), et
    - la portion supérieure (19) comprenant une projection circonférentielle (23) faisant saillie vers l'intérieur du corps principal (3) et ayant une hauteur h telle que h < (d5 - d3)/2.
  4. Connecteur (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit coulisseau (4) comprend :
    - une portion centrale (6) avec un diamètre extérieur d2,
    - une portion supérieure (20) ayant un diamètre extérieur d4 > d2,
    ladite portion centrale (6) étant située longitudinalement plus près du goulot du récipient (100) que la portion supérieure (20), lorsque le connecteur (1) est fixé sur le récipient (100) et que le coulisseau (4) se trouve dans la position inférieure.
  5. Connecteur (1) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le diamètre intérieur d1 du manchon (9) est dimensionné de manière à fournir une fermeture étanche au liquide lorsque le manchon (9) est en prise avec la surface extérieure du coulisseau (4) ou avec la portion centrale (6) du coulisseau (4) ou avec la surface extérieure du canal (106) de la sonde (103).
  6. Connecteur (1) selon les revendications 3 et 4, dans lequel d1 est pour l'essentiel égal à d3 et d2 est pour l'essentiel égal à d4.
  7. Connecteur (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit coulisseau (4) comprend une base (16) généralement plane entre ses portions centrale (6) et inférieure (8).
EP06425545.8A 2006-07-31 2006-07-31 Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles Not-in-force EP1884493B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06425545.8A EP1884493B1 (fr) 2006-07-31 2006-07-31 Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles
US11/829,643 US20080023500A1 (en) 2006-07-31 2007-07-27 Connector for Bottle-Like Containers

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06425545.8A EP1884493B1 (fr) 2006-07-31 2006-07-31 Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1884493A1 EP1884493A1 (fr) 2008-02-06
EP1884493B1 true EP1884493B1 (fr) 2013-04-17

Family

ID=37575106

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06425545.8A Not-in-force EP1884493B1 (fr) 2006-07-31 2006-07-31 Bouchon de distribution et connecteur pour conteneurs en forme de bouteilles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20080023500A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1884493B1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4375864A (en) * 1980-07-21 1983-03-08 Scholle Corporation Container for holding and dispensing fluid
US4874023A (en) * 1988-09-30 1989-10-17 Liqui-Box Corporation Decap dispensing system for water cooler bottles
US5289855A (en) * 1988-10-14 1994-03-01 Elkay Manufacturing Co. Liquid container support and probe-type hygienic liquid dispensing system
NL1009812C2 (nl) * 1998-08-05 2000-02-08 Euro Maintenance Lease Prod Bv Afsluitklep voor een container.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080023500A1 (en) 2008-01-31
EP1884493A1 (fr) 2008-02-06

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