EP3071494B1

EP3071494B1 - Pneumatic multifunctional cap

Info

Publication number: EP3071494B1
Application number: EP14815007.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Domenico Antonio ANTINONE
Original assignee: Auto ESURL
Current assignee: Auto ESURL
Priority date: 2013-11-25
Filing date: 2014-11-21
Publication date: 2018-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-21
Also published as: ITCB20130006A1; WO2015101818A1; EP3071494A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for plugging, or close the mouth of vessels to ensure a good seal, where required, even after the first opening.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a special pneumatic multifunctional cap adaptable to vessels with mouths of various sizes, shapes and sections.

Background art

The current types of caps for containers, typically used to contain liquids, such as drinks, can be divided by material:

cork, made of natural cork, agglomerated or multi-layered, used primarily for wines,
synthetic cork, which is also used for wines, now tends to replace the cork,
metal cap, the cap is created with a metal alloy, which is generally covered with other materials,

crown cap, normally used for bottles of mineral waters, beers and soft drinks,
threaded cap, of metal or plastic, screwed onto the threaded bottleneck,
capsuled cap, press-fitted inside the bottleneck,
mechanical cap, stuck on the bottleneck with a metal mechanism, this system is mainly used for condensates.

The application of the current caps, for each type, is strictly limited to the shape and dimension of the mouth opening of the vessels.
Some of them are not even reusable after first opening and, depending on use, may be fitted with certain devices.
Often the drinks contained in the containers, coming in contact with oxygen, start an oxidation process that, over time, can transform them and make them lose their organoleptic characteristics (aroma, flavor, color ...).
For this purpose, some special devices called "aroma savers" currently known in the state of the art, also have the function of being able to pressurize the inside of the vessel with the advantage, for example, to deduct air from the vessel, to inhibit the release of liquid anhydride carbon in the drink and to keep its almost original characteristics.
Among such devices are cited, for example, a particular kit consisting of a blower to draw air and a special vacuum cap provided with a venting device; the cap is inserted on the opened bottle neck and with the pump, held steady by pressing one hand in the lower part of the cap and moving up and down the upper part until feeling resistance, as much air as possible is extracted from the vessel.
Until today said device, and other similar devices, are however limited, as to their function of pressurization, to the type of mouth of the container for which the special cap is designed.
In the current state of the art several patent documents that illustrate similar multifunctional caps are known, among which we cite the following:

FR 2 903 671 A1 discloses a multifunctional cap from which the subject-matter of claim 1 differs essentially in that the expansion means consists of a pump and an inflatable body, the pump simultaneously pressurising the vessel, whereas in FR 2 903 671 A1 the expansion means consists of a separately operated screw and an expansible element.
DE 23 59 209 A1 discloses a non-pressurising inflatable cap, inflated with pumping action.
US 1 843 532 discloses a pneumatic sealing and air pressure device
DE 34 00 283 A1 discloses a pneumatic cap with bellows for de-pressurising a vessel.

These documents illustrate pneumatic multifunctional caps having an expandable body and pumping devices for pressurizing the contents.

Presentation of the Invention

The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the use of said pneumatic multifunctional caps.
In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of the limited and constrained application of a cap to only one type of mouth or opening of vessels, the cap being also provided with a pressurization function.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for closing containers that do not need pressurization devices to deduct air from the inside.
These and other purposes are achieved by the present invention that describes a special pneumatic multifunctional cap adaptable to vessels with openings of various sizes, shapes and sections.
In particular, the invention is identified, with respect to the main components, in a special cap with the key innovative feature to adapt to bottles, gallon bottles, flasks etc., with openings of various diameters and shapes.
Therefore, its application requires no beading or threading, neither internally nor externally, of the opening of the vessel's neck.
Furthermore, it has the function of pressurizing the air of the residual volume in the vessels.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly in the following description, given by way of illustration and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a sectional view of the pneumatic multifunctional cap;
Fig. 2 shows the cap of Figure 1, evidencing the deformation of the corresponding inflatable body after the activation of the compressor bellow.

The pneumatic multifunctional cap, object of the invention, illustrated in figure 1, consists of the following components: an inflatable body 1, a compressor bellows 2, an inlet and safety valve of the compressor bellow 4, a first inlet valve 5 supplying air to the inflatable body, a second inlet valve 6 for supplying air to the vessel to be pressurized, a button valve 7 discharging the inflatable body for the removal of the cap, a manifold 3 supporting said valves 5, 7.
The invention exercises its function by inserting by pressure of the inflatable body 1 in the mouth of the vessel.
As illustrated in Figure 2, by applying an alternating pressure on the compressor bellows 2 in the direction of the vessel, a volume variation of the bellow itself is generated, by which said bellow, charged of air through the valve 4, transfers the air, via the air supply inlet valve 5, to the inflatable body 1.
The deformation 1.1 of the inflatable body 1, due to the pressurization of the air inside it, ensures the seal between the vessel and the pneumatic multifunctional cap. Repeated alternating action of compression of the compressor bellows 2, creates inside the inflatable body 1a pressure interrupting the air inlet into the inflatable body 1 and inducing the opening of the inlet valve 6 for supplying air to the vessel. The inlet valve 6 is calibrated in such a way that the inlet valve 6 has a higher opening pressure than the first inlet valve 5; in other terms, the inlet valve 6 is tighter than the inlet valve 5.
At this point, the subsequent pressurization inside the vessel occurs.
The special inlet and safety valve 4, suitably calibrated, avoids a too high pressurization inside the vessel in order to preserve the mechanical characteristics.
The removal of the cap from the vessel is made possible by depressurization via the button valve 7.
Many modifications and variations, of an average technician in the field, may be applied to the present invention as defined in the appended claims without departing from the scope of protection of the same.

Claims

Pneumatic multifunctional cap for a vessel to be pressurized, comprising an inflatable body (1), a compressor bellows (2), an inlet and safety valve (4) of the compressor bellows (2), a first inlet valve (5) supplying air from the compressor bellows (2) to the inflatable body (1), a second inlet valve (6) supplying air from the compressor bellows (2) to the vessel to be pressurized, a button valve (7) discharging the inflatable body (1), a manifold (3) supporting said first inlet valve (5) and button valve (7), wherein after inserting with pressure said inflatable body (1) within the mouth of the vessel, pumping the compressor bellows (2) in the direction of the vessel sucks air through the valve (4) into the compressor bellows (2) and transfers it, by means of the first inlet valve (5) to the inflatable body (1).
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to claim 1, characterized in that, the inflatable body (1), is capable of evolving from its original shape, according to the pressure within it, and is capable of assuming exactly the shape of the inner wall of the mouth of the vessel on which it is placed, ensuring its seal with the container.
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the alternate action of compression of the compressor bellows (2), determines inside the inflatable body (1) a pressure such as to interrupt the air inlet in it and induce the drive and opening of the inlet valve (6) for supplying pressurized air into the vessel.
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the first inlet valve (5) for supplying air to the inflatable body and the second inlet valve (6) for supplying air to the container to pressurize, are suitably and differently calibrated in such a way that inlet valve (6) has a higher opening pressure than the first valve (5).
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inflatable body (1) and the interior of the vessel are pressurized by operation of a single compressor device, namely the compressor bellows (2).
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal of the cap from the vessel is made possible by performing a depressurization of the device through the button valve (7).
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is adaptable to vessels with mouths of various sizes, shapes and sections.
Pneumatic multifunctional cap according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that for its application requires no beading or threading, neither within nor outside of the neck of the mouth of the container.