EP1976771A1

EP1976771A1 - Liquid container

Info

Publication number: EP1976771A1
Application number: EP07701122A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ways Ab Cleaver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-18
Filing date: 2007-01-17
Publication date: 2008-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-17
Also published as: EP1976771A4; WO2007084054A1; EP1976771B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid container comprising a rigid outer casing (20) , a bag (25) which is disposed inside the outer casing, is made of flexible material impermeable to liquid and is provided with a discharge means (26) which runs through the upper half of the casing (20) , and a pressure element (6) which is disposed in the casing (20), exerts pressure on the liquid in the bag (25) and is placed between the bottom of the outer casing (20) and the bottom of the bag (25) . The invention also relates to a pressure element (6) intended to be introduced into a liquid container. Distinguishing features of the liquid container according to the present invention are that the pressure element (6) comprises two plates (1, 3) , that at least one force-5 generating means (2) is disposed between the plates (1, 3), that the force-generating means (2) endeavours to urge the plates (1, 3) away from one another in a direction transverse to the main plane of the plates (1, 3) , and that the pressure element (6) has releasable locking means for holding the0 plates (1, 3) in a pressed-together state.

Description

LIQUID CONTAINER

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a liquid container com- prising a rigid outer casing, a bag which is disposed inside the outer casing, wherein said bag is made of flexible material impermeable to liquid and has an aperture, a discharge means which is connected to the aperture and which when the liquid container is in the position of use passes through the upper half of the casing, and a pressure element which is disposed in the casing, exerts pressure on the liquid in the bag and is placed between the bottom of the outer casing and the bottom of the bag. The invention also relates to a pressure element intended to be introduced into a liquid container.

State of the art

A liquid container of the kind indicated above is previously known from PCT/SE2005/001932, but in that case the pressure element, normally in the form of a compression spring, exerts a permanent pressure on the liquid contained in the bag made of flexible material. This results in disadvantages, e.g. the connection between the bag and the discharge means is more likely to begin to leak if it is subject to liquid pressure for a long time. The permanent pressure exerted by the pressure element subjects the casing to stress which may even cause deformation of the casing. If the pressure element is in an active state, it is also difficult to effect rational handling when a liquid container of the kind indicated above is put in order.

Objects and features of the invention

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container of the kind indicated above whereby the user directly activates the pressure element when the liquid container is to be put to use.

A further object of the present invention is that activation of the pressure element should be effected in an easy and user-friendly manner. Another object of the present invention is that the pressure element should be extremely compact in an unactivated state.

According to an embodiment of the invention the liquid container is equipped with means to indicate the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container/the amount of liquid that has been discharged from the liquid container.

At least the primary object of the present invention is achieved by a liquid container and a pressure element which are provided with the features indicated in the independent claims set out below. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims .

Brief description of the drawings A pressure element and an embodiment of a liquid container are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a pressure element according to the present invention, with the pressure element in an expanded state;

Fag . 2 depicts a section through the pressure element according to Fig. 1;

Fig . 3 depicts a section through the pressure element according to Fig. 1, but with the pressure element in a pressed-together state;

Fig . 4 depicts on a larger scale a detail which is circled in Fig. 3;

Fig . 5 depicts a plan view of a first plate forming part of the pressure element; F Fiigg.. 6 6 depicts a section through A-A in Fig. 5;

Fig . 7 depicts on a larger scale a detail which is circled in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 depicts a plan view of a second plate forming part of the pressure element; Fig. 9 depicts a section through B-B in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 depicts on a larger scale a detail which is circled in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 depicts a perspective view of a pressed-together pressure element and a casing for a liquid container according to the present invention, but omitting the flaps which constitute the upper portion of the casing;

Fig. 12A-

Fig. 12D depict schematically how a pressure element and a flexible bag for liquid are introduced into the casing of a liquid container according to the present invention; Fig. 13 depicts a perspective view from beneath of a liquid container according to the present invention; Fig. 14A- Fig. 14C depict the use of a liquid container according to the present invention; Fig. 15 depicts a perspective view from beneath of a liquid container according to the present invention, said liquid container being equipped with a first embodiment of indicating means;

Fig. 16 depicts a perspective view from beneath of a liquid container according to the present invention, said liquid container being equipped with a second embodiment of indicating means; Fig. 17 depicts a perspective view of a pressure element in expanded state, said pressure element being equipped with a measuring band;

Fig. 18 depicts a perspective view of the pressure element according to Fig. 17 where a roller for the measuring band is visible;

Fig. 19 depicts a side view of a pressure element according to Fig. 17, the pressure element being in a pressed- together state; Fig. 20 depicts a side view of a pressure element according to Fig. 17, the pressure element being in an expanded state; and Fig. 21 depicts a perspective view from beneath of a liquid container according to the present invention, the casing of said liquid container being equipped with a display for the measuring band. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The pressure element 6 depicted in Figs. 1-4, which constitutes the very core of the present invention, comprises a plate 1 which in the position of use is an upper plate, two compression springs 2 in the form of coil springs, and a plate 3 which in the position of use is a lower plate. The plates 1 and 3 are situated centrally to one another. Figs. 1 and 2 depict the pressure element 6 in an expanded state, Fig. 3 in a pressed-together state. Figs. 5-7 depict the upper plate 1 comprising a first disc-shaped element 4 and two sets of first ribs 5. Each compression spring 2 cooperates with one set of first ribs 5. In the embodiment depicted, each set comprises seven first ribs 5 which have a certain extent perpendicular to the disc-shaped element 4. Each set of first ribs 5 connects to a first central portion 7 which has a certain extent perpendicular to the first disc-shaped element 4. The first ribs 5 of each set extend like spokes from the first central portion 7. The first ribs 5 and the first central portion 7 are formed integrally with the first disc-shaped element 4. The first ribs 5 and the first central portion 7 provide general reinforcement for the first disc-shaped element 4. As may most clearly be seen in Fig. 7, each of the first central portions 7 is provided with a number of recesses 8 which extend axially, i.e. the re- cesses 8 have an extent perpendicular to the main plane of the upper plate 1. The number of recesses 8 corresponds to the number of second ribs 16 in each set, see below.

The upper plate 1 also comprises a first part 9 of a re- leasable locking means pertaining to each first central por- tion 7. The first part 9 of the locking means comprises a first hooklike means 10 and an activation means 11. In the embodiment depicted, the first hooklike means 10 is formed integrally with a flexible part of the central portion 7, and the activation means 11 is formed integrally with the first hooklike means 10. In the embodiment depicted, the activation means 11 takes the form of a lug which has an extent which is in principle parallel with the first disc-shaped element 4. The size of the lug 11 is such that the user will be able to insert a finger in the lug 11. Figs. 8-10 depict the lower plate 3 comprising a second disc-shaped element 15 and two sets of second ribs 16. Each compression spring 2 cooperates with one set of second ribs 16. In the embodiment depicted, each set comprises five sec- ond ribs 16 which have a certain extent perpendicular to the second disc-shaped element 15. Each set of second ribs 16 connects to a second central portion 17 which has a certain extent perpendicular to the second disc-shaped element 15. The second ribs 16 of each set extend like spokes from the second central portion 17. The second ribs 16 and the second central portion 17 are formed integrally with the second discshaped element 15. The second ribs 16 and the second central portion 17 provide general reinforcement for the second discshaped element 15. The lower plate 3 also comprises a second part 18 of the releasable locking means pertaining to each second central portion 17. The second part 18 of the locking means takes the form of a second hooklike means 18. In the embodiment depicted, the second hooklike means 18 is formed integrally with the second central portion 17 but is generally relatively rigid, unlike the first hooklike means 10, which is fastened to a flexible part of the first central portion 7. The lower plate 3 also comprises two first apertures 19 situated on a longitudinal centreline of the lower plate 3 and at some dis- tance from one another.

The construction and function of the pressure element 6 will now be described with reference to Figs. 1-4. As may be seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the pressure element 6 comprises, as already mentioned above, a plate 1 which in the position of use is an upper plate, two compression springs 2, and a plate 3 which in the position of use is a lower plate. Each of the compression springs 2 takes the form of a heli- coidal wire. The diameter of the compression springs 2 is such that the wire turns situated at the respective ends en- compass the free ends of the respective ribs 5 and 16. The free ends of the respective ribs 5 and 16 thus define the position of the compression springs 2 on the upper plate 1 and the lower plate 3. In this context it should be noted that the first and second central portions 7 and 17 are situated in the centre of the compression springs 2, resulting in no torque when the engagement means are activated. This makes it possible, for example, to save material in the plates 1, 3.

Changing the pressure element 6 from an expanded state, see Figs. 1 and 2, to a pressed-together state, see Fig. 3, is effected by the upper plate 1 and the lower plate 3 being moved towards one another, thereby compressing the compression springs 2. This movement thus takes place in a direction transverse to the main plane of the plates 1 and 3. When the movement of the upper plate 1 and the lower plate 3^' towards one another has proceeded far enough, the first hooklike means 10 will come into engagement with the second hookline means 18, see Fig. 4. The first hooklike means 10 will thus only spring sideways when it passes the second hookline means 18 and will thereafter spring back so that the engagement depicted in Fig. 4 is established. This sideways resilience is made possible by the first hooklike means 10 being disposed on a flexible part of the first central portion 7. During the final phase of the pressing together, the second ribs 16 of the lower plate 3 will be accommodated in the recesses 8 of the first central portions 7 of the upper plate 1, see Fig. 4. The result is increased mutual stability between the plates 1 and 3 when they are in a pressed-together state.

As may be seen in Fig. 3, mutually adjacent wire turns of the compression springs 2 will pile up on one another in the height direction, but the height of the pressed-together pressure element 6 is relatively small. By way of non- limitative example it may be indicated that the height is normally 1.5-2 cm. As may be seen in Fig. 3, an activation means 11 is accommodated in a relating first aperture 19 when the pressure element 6 is in a pressed-together state. The significance of this will be explained below.

Fig. 11 depicts the pressure element 6 and a casing 20 forming part of a liquid container according to the present invention. The casing 20 comprises two long sides 21 (only one of which is visible) , two short sides 22 (only one of which is visible) and a bottom 23. The casing 20 normally comprises also flaps which constitute the upper portion of the casing 20, but these flaps have been omitted for the sake of clarity. As may be seen in Fig. 11, the bottom 23 of the casing 20 is provided with two second apertures 24, the significance of which will be explained below. These apertures 24 may be defined by the bottom 23 of the casing being provided with perforations corresponding to the contours of the second apertures 24, said second apertures 24 being created by removal of the portions of the bottom 23 which are encompassed by the perforations. Figs. 12A-12D depict schematically how a pressed- together pressure element 6 according to the present invention is introduced into a casing 20 of a liquid container according to the present invention. This entails the pressure element 6 being inserted downwards into the casing 20, see Fig. 12B, un- til it rests against the bottom 23 of the casing 20. Thereafter a flexible bag 25 is inserted downwards into the casing 20, see Fig. 12C. At this stage, a discharge cock 26 is retracted in the bag 25. Fig. 12D shows the stage when the flexible bag 25 is fitted in the casing 20, with an upper por- tion 28, normally in the form of flaps, of the casing 20 symbolising the fact that the casing 20 constitutes an enclosed space in which the pressure element 6 and the flexible bag 25 are accommodated.

Fig. 13 shows the underside of the liquid container ac- cording to the present invention, with the activation means 11 of the pressure element 6 situated centrally to the second apertures 24 of the casing 20. This means that the user will now have access to the activation means 11. Moving the activation means 11 towards one another, e.g. by means of the thumb and forefinger, will result in cessation of the engagement between the first and second first hooklike means 10 and 18 and in the compression springs 2 moving the upper plate 1 upwards, a movement which generally takes place in a direction transverse to the main plane of the plates 1 and 3. Figs. 14A-14C illustrates schematically the use of the liquid container according to the present invention when the pressure element 6 has been put into an active state. Here there is also in the casing 20 a third aperture 27 which may be formed by removal of a portion encompassed by a perfora- tion. A discharge cock 26 connected to the bag 25 has been caused to extend out through the third aperture 27. A glass 30 has been placed under the discharge cock 26 and in this context it should be noted that the liquid container and the glass 30 rest on the same support.

Fig. 14A depicts a situation in which the flexible bag 25 is in principle full. The pressure element 6 has expanded somewhat as compared with the pressed-together locked state. In Fig. 14B, about one-third of the content of the flexible bag 25 has been consumed, resulting in the pressure element 6 having expanded correspondingly. In Fig. 14C, a further portion of the content of the flexible bag 25 has been consumed, resulting in further expansion of the pressure element 6. The expansion of the pressure element 6 normally proceeds until in principle all the content of the flexible bag 25 have been discharged via the discharge cock 26. Arrangements are made to ensure that the pressure force of the compression springs 2 is sufficient at all stages of use of the liquid container. As the pressure force is greatest when the compression springs 2 are compressed, the weight of the contents of the flexible bag 25 will also be balanced and the pressure which causes the contents of the flexible bag 25 to flow out through the discharge cock 26 will in principle be constant throughout the use of the liquid container. The liquid container according to the present invention may be equipped with indicating means that gives the user information about the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container. This information of course also gives information about the amount of liquid that has been discharged from the liquid container.

In Fig. 15 a liquid container is shown that comprises a casing 120. A straight, longitudinal slot 140 is provided in one short side 122 of the casing 120, the longitudinal slot 140 extending in the height H of the casing 120. In more gen- eral terms the longitudinal slot 140 constitutes a transparent means provided in the short side 122 of the casing 120. The extension of the slot 140 constitutes a major part of the height H of the casing 120. It is feasible that the slot 140 has an extension along the, entire height H of the casing 120. As is evident from Fig. 15 a measuring scale 141 is provided adjacent to the slot 140. Generally, it is suitable that the measuring scale 141 is provided with some kind of readable information in the shape of figures or letters (not shown in Fig. 15) . In the shown embodiment it is suitable that for instance "1/1" (indicating a full liquid container) is located at the end of the measuring scale 141 that faces towards the bottom 123 of the casing 120, "1/2" (indicating a half liquid container) is located in the middle of the measur- ing scale 141 and that "0" (indicating an empty liquid container is located at the end of the measuring scale 141 facing towards the upper portion 128 of the casing 120.

In Fig. 15 an edge 4A of the upper plate 1 is visible in the slot 140, the position of said edge 4A, in relation to the measuring scale 141, indicating the amount of liquid that is left in the liquid container according to the present invention. As is evident from the description above of the pressure element 6 the upper plate 1 is in its lowest position when the flexible bag 25 is full and the pressure element 6 is in an inactivated state.

In Fig. 16 an alternative embodiment of the transparent means 240 in the short side 222 of the casing 220 is disclosed. The transparent means 240 according to Fig. 16 constitutes a number of openings 240, said openings 240 being ar- ranged in a row that extends in the height H of the casing

220. Preferably the diameter A of the openings 240 is larger than the distance B between the openings, this arrangement ensuring that at least a portion of an edge 4A of the upper plate 1 being visible in an opening 240. Adjacent to the row of openings 240 a measuring scale 141 is provided, said measuring scale 141 may in principle be identical to the measuring scale 141 of Fig. 15. Hence, the measuring scales 141 have been denominated the same reference numeral.

In Figs. 18-21 a further embodiment of the indicating means is described. As is evident from Figs. 17-20 the indicating means comprises a measuring band 341 that extends between the upper plate 301 and the lower plate 302 of a pressure element 306. In the disclosed embodiment the measuring band 341 is, fixed to the upper plate 301 and is wound on a roller 342 that is attached to the lower plate 302. The measuring band 341 is located close to a corner of the upper plate 301 and the lower plate 302 respectively. When studying Figs. 18-20 it is realised that when the distance between the plates 301, 302 increases the measuring band 341 is unwound from the roller 342. Fig. 19 shows the pressure element 306 in an inactivated state, i.e. the plates 301, 302 are in close proximity to each other and almost the entire measuring band 341 is wound on the roller 342. In Figs. 18 and 20 an intermedi- ate state is disclosed where the upper plate 301 is at some distance from the lower plate 302.

In Fig. 21 a casing 320 is shown that is adapted to house the pressure element 306 according to Fig. 17. The casing 320 is equipped with a transparent means 340 in the shape of an opening/a display. In the disclosed embodiment the display 340 is located at a lower corner of a short side 322. When the pressure element 306 is mounted in the casing 320, i.e. the lower plate 302 of the pressure element 306 will abut the bottom 323 of the casing 320. The pressure element 306 is in an inactivated state when mounted in the casing 320, i.e. in principle the entire measuring band 341 is wound on the roller 342, see Fig. 19. Thus, it is suitable that the portion of the measuring band 341 that is shown in the display 340, when the pressure element 306 is in inactivated state, indicates a full liquid container.

When the pressure element 6 is put into an active state the upper plate 301 will be displaced in a direction from the lower plate 302, see Figs. 18 and 20. When studying Figs. 18 and 20 it is realised that the measuring band 341 is unwound from the roller 342. This means that a new part of the measuring band 341 is shown in the display 340 when the measuring band 341 is unwound from the roller 342. Since the distance between the plates 301 and 302 corresponds to the amount of liquid that is left in the container and also to the length of the measuring band 341 that is unwound from the roller 342 the measuring band 341 may serve as information means regarding the remaining amount of liquid in the container. More precisely, the part of the measuring band 341 that is visible in the display 340 will give information about the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container. A prerequisite for this is of course that the measuring band 341 is equipped with a suitable scale marking.

Conceivable modifications of the invention

In the embodiment described above, the compression springs 2 depicted in the form of coil springs have in principle a circular cylindrical outer contour. Within the scope of the present invention, it is also possible to conceive of us- ing compression springs with a conical outer contour. With suitable conicity, compression of these compression springs will result in mutually adjacent wire turns not piling up on one another in a height direction but the possibility in the ideal case of their being in a single plane, thereby further reducing the axial extent of the spring in a pressed-together state.

In the embodiment described above of a liquid container according to the present invention, the pressure element 6 is loosely resting on the bottom 23 of the casing 20. Within the scope of the present invention, it is conceivable for the pressure element to be fastened adhesively to a casing blank, said fastening being effected to the portion of the blank which will constitute the bottom of the casing. A further alternative is for the pressure element to be fastened, e.g. by adhesive bonding, to the bottom of the bag before the bag is inserted downwards into the casing.

In the embodiment described above, the releasable locking means take the form of mutually cooperating hooklike means, but it is possible within the scope of the present in- vention to conceive of the releasable locking means being configured in various different ways. By way of non-limitative example it may be mentioned that the plates may be mutually connected by a holding-together means which comprises a fracture indication whereby the holding-together means is caused to break, preferably manually, when the pressure element is to be put into an active state.

Within the scope of the present invention it is feasible that the slot 140/the openings 240/the display 340 is equipped with a transparent cover or the like. Within the scope of the present invention the transparent means may be embodied by further different types than the ones described above. For instance the shapes and the locations of the holes may vary as long as a proper presentation of the edge 4A of the upper plate 1 is achieved.

Within the scope of the present invention the information related to the measuring scale 141 could be of various type. Apart from figures there could be a word information, e.g. "Full", "Half" and "Empty". The information could also be in the shape of %-figures or how many glasses that have been consumed/remain in the liquid container.

As regards the embodiment according to Figs. 17-21 the roller 342 may be equipped with winding means, e.g. a spring, that winds the measuring band 341 on the roller when the plates 301 and 303 are displaced towards each other. Thereby, it is possible to use the pressure element 306 several times by bringing the plates 301 and 302 together and then activating the locking means. Thus the state depicted in Fig. 19 has been achieved. Within the scope of the present invention it is feasible that the indicating means depicted in Figs. 15 and 16 also comprises a zeroing cursor that could be placed adjacent to the edge 4A of the upper plate 1. Thereby, the user may get information about how much liquid that is discharged from the liquid container when starting from for instance a half full container. The zeroing cursor may also be equipped with an own additional measuring scale that gives a more direct information about the discharge of liquid for a certain occasion.

Claims

1. A liquid container comprising a rigid outer casing (20), a bag (25) which is disposed inside the outer casing (20) , wherein said bag (25) is made of flexible material impermeable to liquid and is provided with a discharge means (26) which in the state of use of the liquid container runs through the upper half of the casing (20), and a pressure element (6) which is disposed in the casing (20), exerts pressure on the liquid in the bag (25) and is placed between the bottom of the outer casing (20) and the bottom of the bag (25), characterised in that the pressure element (6) comprises two plates (1, 3), that at least one force-generating means (2) is disposed between the plates (1, 3), that the force-generating means (2) endeavours to urge the plates (1, 3) away from one another in a direction transverse to the main plane of the plates (1, 3) , and that the pressure element (6) has releasable locking means (10, 18) for holding the plates (1, 3) in a pressed-together state.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1, characterised in that the force-generating means takes the form of at least one compression spring (2) .

3. A liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the force-generating means takes the form of two compression springs (2) .

4. A liquid container according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the releasable locking means comprises two hooklike means (10, 18), that the one hooklike means (10) is anchored in the one plate (1) , and that the second hooklike means (18) is anchored in the other plate (3) .

5. A liquid container according to claim 4, characterised in that the one hooklike means (10) is provided with an activation means (11) , and that the one hooklike means (10) is fastened flexibly to the one plate (1) .

6. A pressure element (6) intended to be used in a liquid container comprising a rigid outer casing (20), a bag (25) which is disposed inside the outer casing (20) , wherein said bag (25) is made of flexible material impermeable to liquid and is provided with a discharge means (26) which in the state of use of the liquid container runs through the casing (20) , said pressure element (6) being intended to be placed between the bottom of the outer casing (20) and the bottom of the bag (25) , characterised in that the pressure element (6) comprises two plates (1, 3) , that at least one force-generating means (2) is disposed between the plates (1, 3) , that the force- generating means (2) endeavours to urge the plates (1, 3) away from one another in a direction transverse to the main plane of the plates (1, 3) , and that the pressure element (6) has releasable locking means (10, 18) for holding the plates (1, 3) in a pressed-together state.

7. A pressure element (6) according to claim 6, characterised in that the force-generating means takes the form of at least one compression spring (2) .

8. A pressure element according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the force-generating means takes the form of two compression springs (2) .

9. A pressure element according to any one of claims 6-8, characterised in that the releasable locking means comprises two hooklike means (10, 18), that the one hooklike means (10) is anchored in the one plate (1) , and that the second hooklike means (18) is anchored in the other plate (3) .

10. A pressure element according to claim 9, characterised in that the one hooklike means (10) is provided with an activation means (11) and is fastened flexibly to the one plate (1) .

11. A liquid container according to any of claims 1-5, characterised in that the liquid container is equipped with means to indicate the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid container, said means comprising at least one transparent por- tion (140; 240; 340) in the casing (120; 220; 320), that the transparent portion (140; 240) is arranged in such a way that the upper plate (1) is visible in the transparent portion (140; 240) or that a measuring band (341) is attached to the upper plate (1), the measuring band (341) being arranged to be visible in the transparent portion (340) .

12. Liquid container according to claim 11, characterised in that a measuring scale (141) is provided adjacent to the transparent portion (140; 240) , the measuring scale (141) having an extension in the height (H) of the casing (120; 220) .

13. Liquid container according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the measuring band (341) is wound on a roller (342) on the lower plate (3) .