ES2242492A1 - Stopcock with pushbutton for carafes and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopcock for a container neck, comprising valve means with a pushbutton (1) suitable for being moved between open and closed positions of a liquid delivery passage. Said valve means comprises, further to said pushbutton (1), a seating member (3) provided with a mouth, adapted to be attached to said neck. Between said seating member (3) and said pushbutton (1) there is defined an interstitial space (5) wherein there is housed a resilient member (6) ensuring the return of the pushbutton (1) to the closed position thereof, at the same time as it ensures the opening and closing of the liquid delivery passage thanks to ports and to hermetic stoppering means of said interstitial space (5).

Description

Faucet cap with push button for bottles and Similar.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a suitable tap plug to be applied on a neck of a liquid product container food, such as a carafe, of the type comprising valve means with a push button suitable for moving between a closed position of a liquid outlet passage and a opening position of said step.

State of the art

The plugs applicable to a neck are known of carafe and the like, for example carafes or water bottles mineral, solidary to said carafe and with valve function or pouring tap, this tap can swing between a position closed and an open position. Among these, they are particularly appreciated for its ease of use those whose pouring tap is operated by a button with elastic return. This type of tap plug finds special application in water bottles mineral whose use position is reclined or horizontal, where in resting position of the button, the tap is closed and when push said button the tap opens, letting out the water contained in the carafe by the pouring mouth of said stopper. These Known caps have a design that is susceptible to improvement, especially with regard to the simplicity and reliability of its operating mechanism and the ease of manufacture of its components.

Summary of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of known plugs, providing a design novelty of a plug with improved valve means and whose advantages are a small number of pieces and great versatility with respect to the type of liquid with which it can operate.

This purpose is achieved by a plug tap with push button for bottles or similar of the type indicated by principle, characterized in that said button comprises less a liquid outlet duct, because said means of The valve comprises, in addition to said push button, a seat body equipped with a mouth that defines an axial axis oriented towards its upper end, said seat body being suitable for Solidarity in said neck of said container, and being defined an interstitial space between said seat body and said button, and because said valve means also comprise a elastic element, housed in said interstitial space, which blocks in a sealed manner said exit step when said button is is in the closed position and leaves said exit step free when said button is in the open position.

It should be noted that it is called "lower" to the part of an off-center plug element towards the base of said seat body intended to be fixed in the neck of a carafe and "superior" to the off center in the opposite direction. This denomination is adopted only with clarity purposes in the description, corresponding to the drawings annexes in which the cap is represented in position vertical. However, this does not imply any limitation in the absolute orientation of said plug.

The tap plug according to the invention is consisting of only three elements: a seat body for the fixing the tap plug to the neck of a carafe or similar, a push button with built-in liquid outlet and an elastic element whose function is to plug the liquid passage when the button is in rest position and leave it free when a user keeps Pressed said button. This configuration is simple, with a minimum number of pieces, which are significantly reduced manufacturing costs and plug weight. The solution of define an interstitial space between said seat body and said button is particularly advantageous, since it allows to accommodate the elastic element so as to ensure all three functions basic sealing between said seat body and said button, opening and closing of the liquid outlet passage, and elastic return of the button to its resting position, which is the closing position of said exit step.

Moreover, the fixation of said body of seat to the neck of a carafe can be, for example, by enclosed or threaded, in a known way.

Preferably, said button comprises minus an air inlet duct, said outlet passage being of liquid also an air intake passage. So when said button is in the closed position, said means of valve prevent both water outflow and air inlet, the inside of the carafe being hermetically isolated from outside, and when said button is in the open position, the water and air flow countercurrently through the same step, called liquid outlet passage.

Advantageously, said outlet duct of liquid presents, in its final section through which it flows into the air free, a direction with an angle between 30 and 90º with with respect to said axial axis of said mouth. This arrangement inclined of the liquid outlet duct is especially advantageous when the carafe that incorporates the cap is intended to be placed in a position of use substantially horizontal, as is the case of carafes that comprise a face lateral flat support on a horizontal surface. In this case, the jet of liquid outlet is directed downwards, so that the user can comfortably serve by placing a glass under of said outlet duct.

Preferably, said button defines by its upper face a substantially flat thrust surface of so that the user can comfortably press the button pushing it on said surface without risk of getting wet with the jet of liquid outlet.

Advantageously, said air inlet duct runs through said liquid outlet duct in the upper section through which both ducts flow into the air free. In this way an adequate separation of the flows of liquid and air between the outer mouths of the ducts and the mentioned liquid outlet and air inlet passage, of so that a liquid flow rate is obtained without instabilities

Advantageously, the mouth of the body of seat has a cylindrical shape, and said push button comprises a peripheral cylindrical wall coaxial and external to said mouth, said mouthpiece having at least one outer shoulder and said peripheral cylindrical wall presenting at least one interior projection, constituting said exterior and interior projections stop means for the closing position of said button. Thanks to this configuration, the button slides along said mouth, guided by its peripheral cylindrical wall, and remains retained in its resting or closing position by said projections at stop media mode.

Preferably, said button comprises a internal cylindrical wall, coaxial with said cylindrical wall peripheral, defining an inner chamber through which the lower sections of said liquid outlet ducts and of air inlet, where said interstitial space is cylindrical and is defined between said internal cylindrical wall and said embouchure, and presenting said internal cylindrical wall in its lower end at least one window defining said step of liquid outlet Thus, the air inlet and outlet ducts of liquid flow into the lower end of said chamber inside, this lower end being communicated with the inside of the carafe through said windows that constitute the passage of liquid outlet and air inlet. This push button design allows the mentioned elastic element, intended to stay in said interstitial space ensuring the functions of tightness, elastic return of the button, and opening and closing of said liquid outlet passage, have a simple configuration. By on the other hand, said windows can have very different shapes and be arranged in a variable number so that, optimizing the number and shape of these, the cap can be easily adapted tap according to the invention to liquids of very varied viscosity.

In addition, preferably, each of said windows has an open shape at its lower end according to the axial direction of said internal cylindrical wall, and said inlet and outlet ducts, in its lower section included in said inner chamber, are parallel to the common axial axis of said internal cylindrical wall and said peripheral cylindrical wall, and said inlet and outlet ducts, in its upper section by the that flow into the open air, are mutually parallel. This design of the button allows to manufacture it by means of plastic injection of optimally, being able to easily unmold according to only two addresses.

Advantageously, said elastic element is substantially cylindrical and comprises retention means of its upper end at said mouth of said seat body, support means of its lower end in said button, sealing means of said interstitial space, an area elastic stretch, and at least one port suitable for circulation of outlet liquid from said exit passage and of incoming air from said inlet duct. He elastic element thus constituted ensures the elastic return of the button to its closed position thanks to its retention means from its upper end, to its support means in said button and to its elastic stretch zone, while ensuring the opening and closing the liquid outlet passage thanks to its ports and its means of tight clogging of said interstitial space.

Preferably, said retention means of the upper end of the elastic element are constituted by a thick tubular wall terminated at its end by a flange external, and said mouth of said seat body has, in its upper section, an internal recess that is complemented by said thick tubular wall. This ensures, on the one hand, a retention effective of the upper end of the elastic element and, on the other part, that said elastic element, under the action of the button, is Stretch exclusively for your elastic stretch zone. Further, Through this design, the elastic element also guarantees the tightness of the mentioned interstitial space in the part superior of this one.

Furthermore, advantageously, said means of lower end support of said elastic element are constituted by a lower base that closes said end lower. These support means permanently ensure closure airtight of the lower end of said elastic element, so that said lower end is only open by those mentioned windows

Preferably, said plugging means of said elastic element are constituted by a wall section tubular terminal, adjacent to said lower end. Further, preferably, said terminal tubular wall is extended, by the lower end of said elastic element, by an annular shoulder external. This configuration optimally guarantees a closure tightness of the mentioned interstitial space when the pusher is It is in rest or closing position.

Advantageously, said stretch zone elastic of said elastic element is constituted by a section thin tubular wall, located between said retaining means of the upper end and said support means of the lower end of said elastic element. This configuration ensures adequate elasticity to the elastic element, while allowing it stretch and contract a large number of times keeping your functionality

Preferably, said ports are arranged in said thin tubular wall, and in the position of opening of said button, said ports are located faced, at least partially, with said windows of said  button. In this way, when the button is in opening position, in which a part of its lower end it is displaced outside the mentioned interstitial space, the outlet liquid and the inlet air flow optimally to through said windows and facing ports.

Advantageously, said seat body is provided with at least one substantially flat fin and oriented with an angle between + 30º and -30º with respect to a plane perpendicular to said axial axis (X) of said mouth. The user can thus hold on these fins the carafe in which the plug is mounted, so that you can comfortably operate the One-handed push button.

Optionally, advantageously, the tap plug according to the invention it is provided with a protective cap that it comprises a fixed part in solidarity with said seat body and a removable part attached to said fixed part by a line of weakening. This protective cover allows hygienically insulating the plug of the outside environment, while constituting, thanks to said weakening line, a guarantee against manipulation of the contents of the carafe.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention they are appreciated from the following description, in which, without no limiting character, a preferred mode of embodiment of the invention, mentioning the drawings that are accompany. The figures show:

- Fig. 1, a front elevational view in section of a tap plug according to an embodiment of the invention, with the button in the closed position;

- Figs. 2, 3 and 4, views, respectively in front elevation in section, on top floor and in side elevation, of the cap of Fig. 1 without the removable part of the protective cap and with the button in the open position;

- Figs. 5, 6 and 7 views, respectively in front elevation in section, on top floor and in side elevation, of the button belonging to the cap of Figs. 1 to 4;

- Figs. 8, 9 and 10, views, respectively in front elevation in section, in upper floor and in elevation lateral, of the elastic element belonging to the cap of Figs. 1 to 4;

- Figs. 11, 12 and 13, views, respectively in sectional side elevation, top floor and elevation side, of the seat body belonging to the cap of Figs. 1 to 4

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The tap plug described here by way of non-limiting example corresponds to a cap for a bottle of mineral water. However, the invention relates to any tap plug as described, suitable for applying to a neck any of a container or similar container any containing Any type of food liquid.

Fig. 1 shows a section in front elevation of the cap with all its elements: three main pieces constituted by a button 1, a seat body 3 and a elastic element 6, in addition to a protective cap 24 with a part fixed 25 and a removable part 26 joined by a line of delimitation 27. Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate the plug once it is said removable part 26 has been removed from the cover 24, leaving only its fixed part 25.

This protective cap 24 is optional; could dispense with it without leaving the framework of the present invention.

As can be seen in more detail in Figs. 5 a 6, button 1 consists of a water outlet duct 2 and a air inlet duct 7 which is interior to the first. These ducts 2 and 7, in their upper section where they flow into the air free, they have a direction that forms an angle α of 75º with with respect to the axial axis X of the cylindrical mouth 4 of said seat body 3. On the upper face of said outlet duct of water 2, a flat surface 8 is defined on which the consumer can comfortably press button 1 to take it to its opening position. Pushbutton 1 consists of a wall peripheral cylindrical 9 that has a protrusion at its end annular interior 11, and of an internal cylindrical wall 12, coaxial with the peripheral wall 9, which defines an inner chamber 13 by where the lower sections of ducts 2 and 7 pass and whose lower end 14 has a plurality of straight windows 15 and open at its lower end.

In this example, said button 1 is made of material plastic. As can be seen in Figs. 5 to 6, ducts 2 and 7 are parallel in its upper section, and so are in its section lower, where they are also parallel to the axial direction of said internal cylindrical walls 12 and peripheral 9. In addition, the windows 15 are open at their lower end and are straight and parallel to this last address. This design is particularly advantageous, since it allows manufacturing button 1 by injection so optimal, with only two directions of mold extraction.

In this exemplary embodiment, the body of Seat 3 is made of plastic material. As seen in Figs. 11 a 13, said seat body 3 is provided at its lower end with a cylindrical wall with an annular shoulder intended to be fixed by encircling the neck of a carafe. This mode of fixing is intended to prevent the cap from being removed from the carafe with the objective of filling it. However, the body of seat 3 could also be designed to be fixed by screwed into the neck of the carafe, without leaving the field of the present invention. The seat body 3 shown consists of of two fins 23 perpendicular to the X axis. These fins 23, which are optional, are intended to facilitate the operation of the push button 1 with one hand. In effect, the consumer can hold the carafe with one or more fingers resting on said fins 23 while pushing button 1 with the thumb. For other part, the seat body 3 comprises a mouth 4 that It has at its end an outer annular shoulder 10 and internally a recess 28, elements whose function will be described later in in relation to the seat body 3 and the elastic element 6.

In Figs. 1 and 2 it can be seen that button 1 axially slides over the mouth 4 of the seat body, between a closed position (Fig. 1), where it is retained by the Highlights 10 and 11, these highlights exerting a stopper function, and an opening position (Fig. 2) where button 1 is supported butt, at the end of its peripheral cylindrical wall 9, on said seat body 3. It is also seen in these figures that between the internal cylindrical wall 12 of button 1 and the mouth 4 of the seat body 3 an interstitial space is defined cylindrical 5.

The elastic element 6, shown in Figs. 8 to 10, it is substantially cylindrical. It includes a means of retention 16 of its upper end 17 at the mouth 4 of said seat body 3. These retention means 16 are constituted by a thick wall 16a with an annular outer flange 16b, said thick wall 16a complementing the internal recess 28 of said mouthpiece 4, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. These retention means 16a, 16b also ensure the function of permanently plug and seal the top of the mentioned cylindrical interstitial space 5. Moreover, the elastic element 6 is closed by its lower base, forming this closed base 18 support means on the push button 1 which also tightly plug the lower end of button 1. The elastic element 6 also comprises plugging means airtight 20 of the lower end of said interstitial space 5 when button 1 is in the closed position. These means of capped 20 are formed by a section of terminal tubular wall 20a which is extended by an external annular shoulder 20b. For other part, the stretching of the elastic element 6 is performed in a stretch zone constituted by a section of tubular wall thin 21 located between said thick wall 16a and said wall tubular terminal 20a. Finally, said elastic element 6 consists of a plurality of rectangular ports 22 located in said thin wall 21 so that when this elastic element 6 is It is mounted on the cap, occupying the mentioned space interstitial 5, these ports are facing the windows 15 of button 1.

In this exemplary embodiment, the element elastic 6 is made of elastomeric material, such as a silicone.

In its opening position (Fig. 2), the button 1 is displaced, so that its windows 15 protrude of said interstitial space 5 and the ports 22 of the element elastic 6, which are stretched when the wall has been stretched thin 21, are at least partially faced with said windows 15, leaving free the passage of liquid outlet and air of entrance through said ports 22 and said windows 15. In this position, the push button 1 pushes the elastic element 6 by its closed base 18. Being held by its retention means 16a, 16b, said elastic element 6 stretches elastically by its wall thin 21. When the push of button 1 ceases, it returns to its resting position by the return action of the elastic element 6. In this resting position, which is the closing position, the push button windows 15 are located in said interstitial space 5, which is then sealed tightly at its end lower by said elastic element 6 thanks to its means of sealed plug 20a, 20b, so that the passage of water and air through said windows 15 is closed.

Claims (17)

1. Tap plug suitable for application on a neck of a container of liquid food product, of the type comprising valve means with a push button (1) suitable for moving between a closed position of a liquid outlet passage and a position opening of said passage, characterized in that said push button (1) comprises at least one liquid outlet duct (2), because said valve means comprise, in addition to said push button (1), a seat body (3) provided of a mouth (4) defining an axial axis (X) oriented towards its upper end, said seat body (3) being able to be joined in said neck of said container, and an interstitial space (5) being defined between said body of seat (3) and said push button (1), and because said valve means also comprise an elastic element (6), housed in said interstitial space (5), which tightly clogs said exit passage when said push button (1 ) is found n closed position and leaves said exit step free when said push button (1) is in the open position. 2. A tap according to claim 1, characterized in that said push button (1) comprises at least one air inlet duct (7) and that said liquid outlet passage is also an air inlet passage. 3. Tap according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said liquid outlet duct (2) has, in its final section through which it flows into the open air, a direction with an angle (?) Between 30 and 90 ° with respect to said axial axis (X) of said mouth (4). 4. Faucet cap according to claim 3, characterized in that said push button (1) defines on its upper face a substantially flat pushing surface (8). 5. Tap according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said air inlet duct (7) runs through said liquid outlet duct (2) in the upper section through which both ducts (2, 7) flow into the open air. 6. Tap according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mouth (4) of the seat body (3) has a cylindrical shape, and said push button (1) comprises a peripheral cylindrical wall (9) coaxial and external to said mouth (4), said mouth (4) having at least one outer shoulder (10) and said peripheral cylindrical wall (9) having at least one inner shoulder (11), said outer (10) and inner (11) ) stop means for the closing position of said push button (1). 7. Tap according to claim 6, characterized in that said push button (1) comprises an internal cylindrical wall (12), coaxial with said peripheral cylindrical wall (9), defining an inner chamber (13) through which the lower sections of said run liquid outflow (2) and air inlet (7) ducts, wherein said interstitial space (5) is cylindrical and is defined between said internal cylindrical wall (12) and said mouth (4), and said internal cylindrical wall having (12) at its lower end (14) at least one window (15) defining said liquid outlet passage. 8. Tap according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said windows (15) has an open shape at its lower end according to the axial direction of said internal cylindrical wall (12), because said inlet (2) and outlet ducts (7), in its lower section comprised in said inner chamber (13), are parallel to the common axial axis of said inner cylindrical wall (12) and said peripheral cylindrical wall (9), and because said inlet ducts (2) and Exit (7), in its upper section through which they flow into the open air, are mutually parallel. 9. A tap according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said elastic element (6) is substantially cylindrical and comprises retaining means (16) of its upper end (17) in said mouth (4) of said body of seat (3), support means (18) of its lower end (19) in said push button (1), sealing means (20) of said interstitial space (5), an elastic stretching zone (21) , and at least one port (22) suitable for the circulation of outlet liquid from said outlet passage (2) and of incoming air from said inlet duct (7). 10. Tap according to claim 9, characterized in that said retaining means of the upper end (17) of the elastic element (6) are constituted by a thick tubular wall (16a) terminated at its end by an external flange (16b), and because said mouth (4) of said seat body (3) has, in its upper section, an internal recess (28) that is complemented with said thick tubular wall (16a). 11. Tap according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that said support means of the lower end (19) of said elastic element (6) are constituted by a lower base (18) that closes said lower end (19). 12. Tap plug according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said sealing cap means (20) of said elastic element (6) are constituted by a section of tubular terminal wall (20a), adjacent to said lower end (19 ). 13. Tap according to claim 12, characterized in that said tubular terminal wall (20a) is extended, by the lower end (19) of said elastic element (6), by an external annular shoulder (20b). 14. Tap according to any of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that said elastic stretch zone of said elastic element (6) is constituted by a section of thin tubular wall (21), located between said retaining means (16) of the upper end (17) and said support means (18) of the lower end (19) of said elastic element (6). 15. Tap according to claim 14, characterized in that said ports (22) are arranged in said thin tubular wall (21), and because in the opening position of said button (1), said ports (22) are facing each other , at least partially, with said windows (15) of said button. 16. Tap plug according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said seat body (3) is provided with at least one substantially flat and oriented fin (23) with an angle between + 30 ° and -30 ° with respect to a plane perpendicular to said axial axis (X) of said mouth (4). 17. Tap according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is provided with a protective cap (24) comprising a fixed part (25) joined to said seat body (3) and a removable part (26) attached to said fixed part (25) by a line of weakening (27).