FR2675364A1 - Combined unit for carrying out different handling operations on closed cups each having a spout - Google Patents

Abstract

Combined unit for a disposable cup (1) consisting of an end piece (2) and a refill (3) which are assembled at the moment of use. The unit comprises four sections: - a filling section (101) comprising at least one recess (105) and a device (107) designed to operate in combination with a valve for supplying liquid to the cup (1); - a section (102) comprising compartments (109) for storing the refill (3); - a section (103) for storing at least one end piece (2) and - a washing section (104) for washing at least one end piece (2).

Description

COMBINED FURNITURE FOR PERFORMING DIFFERENT
CLOSED CUP HANDLING OPERATIONS
PROVIDED WITH A SPOUT.

 The present invention relates to a combined piece of furniture making it possible to carry out various operations for handling closed cups provided with a spout capable of being taken into the mouth by a user for the consumption of drinks, cup comprising a rigid tip with which different refills can be associated .

In the application entitled "Closed cup provided with a spout capable of being taken into the mouth by a user for the composition of beverages" filed on the same day, the applicant describes a cup made up of two parts capable of being assembled one with the other by bringing two rigid surfaces into contact, namely a tip and a complementary refill, the tip being a closed enclosure comprising
- a rigid base fitted with a
gripping by the user, of a first
means of passage of the liquid from the refill into
the end piece and a first fastening element
refill on the nozzle;
- a spout made of flexible material secured to the base
and likely to be taken in the mouth by
the user, said spout containing a conduit
fitted with a valve at its end
flexible opening by pinching the spout and connected
at its other end at the first means of
passage of the liquid from the refill into the nozzle, the refill being a closed enclosure comprising
- a rigid cover fitted with a second means
of the refill liquid passing through
the tip, second means which is complementary
the first passage means carried by the end piece,
and a second fixing element of the
refill on the tip, second element which
is complementary to the first element of
fixation ; and
- a container, the wall of which, by its
constituent material and / or its arrangement
structural, elasticity such that
can expand when you inject a
liquid and exert pressure on this liquid
tending to expel said liquid from the container
by the second means of passage ,. the recipient
being closed by the cover which carries a
non-return valve for supplying
liquid from said container.

 Using this mug requires a number of operations. When the user wishes to drink, he chooses a refill. It must therefore be stored in an easily accessible manner. He then takes a nozzle which must also be easily accessible. He then snaps the tip onto the refill and fills the cup. It is therefore necessary to have a cup filling installation. When the user has finished drinking, he separates the mouthpiece from the refill. The nozzle must then between washed and stored after washing to be able to be used again. This use is, in particular, carried out in a state of weightlessness on board a spacecraft.

 The present invention provides a piece of furniture occupying a small volume making it possible to carry out all of the operations for storing refills, filling the cup, washing the nozzle and storing the nozzle.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a combined piece of furniture making it possible to carry out the various manipulations of a cup constituted by two parts likely to be other assembled with one another by bringing two complementary rigid surfaces into contact, namely a nozzle and a refill, the nozzle being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid base provided with a first means of passage of the liquid from the refill to the nozzle and the refill being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid cover carrying a non-return valve for the liquid supply to the refill and, fixed to the cover, a container which can be expanded under the pressure of the injected liquid, characterized in that it comprises at least two zones, namely
- a filling area comprising at
at least one water tank, at least one
cup filling imprint,
and a device likely to cooperate
with the non-return valve for
the supply of liquid to the refill; and
- a washing area for at least one nozzle
having means for washing the interior
tip and washing means
the outside of the nozzle.

 The cabinet preferably has an area with stacked compartments for storing refills. It also advantageously includes a storage area for at least one end piece.

 Preferably, the filling zone comprises two reservoirs and two cavities, a first reservoir being provided for cold water and communicating with a first cavity and a second reservoir being provided for hot water and corresponding to a second cavity.

 The imprint advantageously has the shape of an ovoid cap corresponding to the shape of the cup after expansion of the container.

 The device capable of cooperating tightly with the non-return valve for the supply of water to the refill is advantageously constituted by a tube provided with a protective ring and connected to a valve, the insertion of the protective ring causing the valve to open.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the filling zone includes a device for measuring the quantity of liquid dispensed, making it possible to dispense a determined quantity of liquid. This device allows, for example to introduce 10 cl or 20 cl of liquid into the container. It is preferably associated with an indicator light, which alerts the user to the end of the distribution.

 Under these conditions, the front face of the filling zone advantageously carries four buttons on which the user presses to obtain, for example 10 cl or 20 cl, of cold or hot water.

 The washing zone preferably comprises at least one base having a shape complementary to that of the surface of the rigid base of the nozzle and a device capable of cooperating with the means for passing the liquid towards the nozzle for injecting a washing liquid in the nozzle and to suck it up, so as to wash the inside of the nozzle.

 The base complementary to the assembly surface of the rigid base of the nozzle is advantageously provided with a magnet or a metal part which cooperates with a corresponding magnet placed on the rigid surface of the nozzle so to fix the nozzle on the base.

 This washing area is preferably capable of being sealed by a door, so that the outside surface of the nozzle can be washed as in an ordinary dishwasher.

 The tip storage area preferably includes at least one rack, the bottom of which has a shape complementary to that of the assembly surface of the rigid base of the tip.

 To better understand the object of the invention, there will be described below, by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

On this drawing
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup being assembled
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same cup after assembly and injection of water
- Figure 3 is a section of the cup during assembly
- Figure 4 is a top view of the cup of Figure 1;
- Figures 5 and 6 are side views (right and left respectively) of the tip of the cup according to the invention;
- Figure 7 is a top view of the refill according to VII-VII of Figure 8
- Figure 8 is a side view of the same refill according to VIII-VIII of Figure 7
- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cabinet for storing refills and tips, washing tips and filling the cup
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the washing area of the cabinet in FIG. 9.

 The cup shown in Figures 1 to 8 is designated as a whole by the reference 1.

It consists of a tip 2 and a refill 3.

The nozzle 2 consists of a rigid base 4 and a spout 5 of flexible material and the refill 3 is formed of a rigid cover 6 and of a container 7 of flexible material having an accordion structure. The different rigid and flexible parts of the cup are made of polypropylene, the rigid parts being thicker.

 The base 4 of the end piece 2 is constituted at its lower part (in the position shown in FIG. 2) by a part 8 consisting of two half-disks 8a and 8b of the same dimension, parallel to each other, and connected by a perpendicular wall 8c, part 8, the lower surface of which constitutes the assembly surface of the nozzle. Under the half-disc 8b located at the highest level is disposed a magnetic plate 9. Below the periphery of the semi-disc 8a is disposed a skirt 8d where a groove has been formed inside 10. A shell 11 whose wall is, in general, arranged according to a spherical cap is connected to the edge of the part 8.

This shell 11 is symmetrical relative to the plane of the wall 8c. The shell 11 forms a point ila arranged in a diametral plane of the cup passing through the end of the spout 5 and is connected by a notch to a low point llb arranged in the same diametral plane as the point lla. A notch 12, made on the right, allows the user to grasp the cup with a finger.

 The beak 5 protrudes beyond the shell there; its end 5a is provided with an opening and it is situated on the longitudinal axis of the cup 1.

The spout 5 is connected by curved surfaces to the edge of the shell 11, the lower surface connecting it to the lower part of the shell being a concave veil 5b.

On the perpendicular wall 8c of the part 8, in the vicinity of the periphery, is disposed a small tube 13 which projects perpendicularly to this wall.

This tube 13 constitutes one of the means of the device for passing the liquid from the refill to the nozzle. The tube 13 is connected to a non-return valve 14 allowing only the passage of the liquid in the refill-tip direction. The valve 14 is itself connected to a flexible material conduit 15 which opens into the opening 5a of the spout 5. At the end of the conduit 15, au.voisinage the opening 5a of the spout, is inserted a valve 16 This valve 16 is constituted by two coaxial tubes: the internal tube is closed at its end and is split obliquely in the vicinity of this end; the outer tube is the conduit 15 itself.

 The cover of the refill 3 is constituted by a part 17 formed by two half-discs 17a and 17b of the same dimension located in two parallel planes and connected by a perpendicular wall 17c, the lower surface of the part 17 constituting the assembly surface of the recharge. In the wall 17c is pierced an opening 18 of diameter such that the tube 13 can penetrate therein. This opening is connected to a valve 19. The half-disc 17a is provided with a peripheral bead 20 capable of cooperating with the groove 10 formed at the periphery of the base. On the periphery of the part 17 is arranged a cylindrical skirt 21 directed downwards, the lower edge of which is situated in a plane parallel to the semi-disks 17a and 17b. In the part of the skirt 21, which is situated at the periphery of the half -disc 17b is arranged a supply valve 22; this valve 22 is inside the skirt 21, at a point located on the radius of the half-disc 17b which is perpendicular to the wall 17c.

 The container 7 is arranged on the lower edge of the skirt 21; it has the shape of a truncated cone of flexible material having an accordion structure. When folded, it is practically flat (see Figure 1), but it can expand (see Figure 2) elastically.

 FIG. 9 illustrates a combined piece of furniture according to the invention making it possible to carry out various operations relating to the cup described above, more particularly in a state of weightlessness, on board a spacecraft. The combined piece of furniture is designated, in its entirety, by 100. This piece of furniture successively comprises four zones arranged one above the other. Zone 101 contains two indentations 105a and 105b respectively for cold water and for hot water. These imprints are advantageously colored respectively in blue for cold water and in red for hot water. The imprints 105a and 105b have the shape of an ovoid cap corresponding to the shape of the cup 1 after injection of liquid. The imprint 105b comprises a water inlet tube 106b; similarly, the imprint 105a contains a water inlet tube (which is not visible in Figure 4). The tube 106b is provided with a ring (not shown), which is itself connected to a non-return valve (not shown); this non-return valve opens in a pressurized hot water tank. Similarly, the imprint 105a is placed in communication with a pressurized cold water tank.

 As can be seen on the imprint 105b, the imprint includes a bead 107b for positioning the cup. On the front face of the filling area 101 are arranged four buttons 108 a, 108b, 108c, 108d. The buttons 108a and 108c respectively control the distribution of cold water and hot water; buttons 108b and 108d control the distribution of 10 cl and 20 cl of water respectively; these buttons are connected to electrical distribution control devices and to measure the quantity of liquid dispensed. The buttons 108b and 108d have indicator lights which go out when the dispensing is finished.

 The refill storage area 102 located above the area 101 is, according to the embodiment shown, consisting of three vertical rows of racks 109.

 The zone 103 comprises three compartments 110 of ogival shape arranged above the three rows of compartments of the zone 102; these lockers allow the storage of three end caps. The bottom of each of these three compartments 110 has a shape complementary to that of the assembly surface of the nozzle and has an opening for the introduction of the tube 13 of the nozzle.

 Zone 104 is the nozzle washing zone: it is closed by a door 111 shown in FIG. 10. The bottom of this zone 104 is provided with three bases 112 each comprising an imprint 112a having, apart from the necessary clearance, the shape of the half-disc 8b of the tip 2 of the cup 1. This imprint 112a is covered with a magnet 113. The height of the front wall 112b of the base (including the thickness of the magnet 113) is equal, up to the required clearance, to the height of the vertical wall 8c of the end piece 2. Each base 112 is provided with a valve 114 capable of cooperating with the tube 13 of the end piece 2, when the latter is placed on the base, to allow injection and aspiration of washing water into the nozzle. An injection and a suction of washing water are also provided inside the zone 104 to allow washing of the external surface of the nozzle.

 The use of the cup is described below, for reasons of simplification in the case of a astronaut, in a state of weightlessness. It is understood that this use could also be carried out by a consumer, in a state of gravity, on earth.

 When the astronaut desires a drink, he selects in zone 102 of the combined cabinet 100 the refill 3 corresponding to the drink he wants.

Field 102 contains, for example, empty refills in case the astronaut wishes to drink water and refills of coffee without milk or with milk, sweetened or unsweetened, sweetened or unsweetened chocolate, tea with or without milk, sweetened or unsweetened, or different fruit juices in the form of powder obtained by lyophilization. He takes a clean nozzle 2 in zone 103 and assembles this nozzle 2 with the selected refill 3. To carry out this assembly, he slides the half-disc 8b of the base on the half-disc 17b of the cover and the half -disc 8b of the base on the half-disc 17a of the cover presenting the opening 18 of the cover 6 opposite the small tube 13 fixed to the base, until the perpendicular wall 8c of the base is at contact of the perpendicular wall 17c of the cover; the bead 20 of the cover then rests entirely in the groove 10 of the base. The pipe 13 passes through the opening 18 of the cover 6 and will open the valve 19.

 When cup 1 is thus assembled, the astronaut fills it. He introduces cup I into an imprint 105a or 105b depending on whether he wants a hot or cold drink. The water inlet tube 106 is inserted into the valve 22 for supplying water to the cup 1; the skirt 21 of the cup pushes in the protective ring by releasing the tube 106 and by opening the associated non-return valve. This operation avoids the problems linked to the lack of precision, since the filling can only be done when the tube 106 is completely disengaged from the ring and that it is, consequently, inside the valve 22. The astronaut then presses on the button 108a or 108c depending on whether he wants cold or hot water and the button 108b or 108d depending on whether he wants 10 cl or 20 cl of drink. The filling of the refill 3 begins, which causes the deployment and the expansion of the container 7. The latter having an elasticity due to its construction material and a structural elasticity, tends to return to its initial shape and expel the drink towards the upper part of the refill 3, until it reaches the tube 13. The drink then causes the valve 14 to open and can go up to the spout 5.

 When the astronaut drinks, he takes the cup by putting a finger in the notch 12, then he takes the flexible beak 5 in the mouth and crushes said beak 5 with his lips or his teeth. It thus causes the valve 16 to open and the drink flows into his mouth without him having to suck or press with the hands on the container 7.

 When the astronaut has finished drinking, he separates the nozzle 2 from the refill 3. I1 thus releases the tube 13 from the valve 19 which closes, and from the opening 18. The tube 13 being released, the valve 14 does not is no longer subject to a pressure difference and closes.

Under these conditions, the refill 3 and the nozzle 2 are closed and the liquid which they can contain cannot spill. The astronaut then throws the refill 3 and introduces the nozzle 2 into the washing zone 104 of the combined cabinet 100. The astronaut places the nozzle 2 on the base 112, the magnet 9 of the nozzle attaching to the magnet 113. I1 simultaneously pushes the tube 13 of the nozzle into the valve 114. I1 closes the door 111 and starts the washing device from the inside of the nozzle 2 and the washing device from the outside of end piece 2.

 The device for washing the inside of the nozzle allows a water injection to be carried out through the valve 114 and a suction to evacuate the waste water. The washing device for the exterior of the nozzle 2 functions like an ordinary washing machine.

 When the washing is finished, the astronaut puts the nozzle 2 in one of the compartments 110 in zone 103 of the combined unit 100.

Claims (11)

 1 - Combined cabinet (100) allowing different operations relating to a cup (1) made up of two parts capable of being assembled with each other by contacting two surfaces (8a, 8b, 8c; 17a, 17b, 17c) additional rigid, namely a nozzle (2) and a refill (3), the nozzle (2) being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid base (4) provided with a first means (13) for passing the liquid from the refill (3) to the nozzle (2) and a spout made of flexible material (5), and the refill being a closed enclosure comprising a rigid cover (6) carrying a valve (22) for supplying liquid of the refill (3) and, fixed on the cover (6) a container (7) expandable under the pressure of the injected liquid, characterized in that it comprises at least two zones, namely  - a filling area (101) comprising  at least one water tank, and at least  a filling imprint (105a, 105b)  cup (1) and a device  capable of cooperating with the valve (22)  for the liquid supply of the  refill (3); and  - a washing zone (104) for at least one  nozzle, comprising washing means for  inside the end piece (2) and means for  washing for the outside of the nozzle (2).  2 - Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an area (102) comprising lockers (109) for the storage of refills (3).  3 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an area (103) for storing at least one end piece (2).  4 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filling area (101) has two tanks and two cavities (105a, 105b), a first tank being provided for cold water and communicating with a first footprint (105a) and a second tank being provided for hot water and corresponding with a second footprint (105b).  5 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the imprint (105a, 105b) of the area (101) has the shape of an oval cap corresponding to the shape of the cup (1) after expansion of the container (7).  6 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device capable of cooperating sealingly with the non-return valve (22) for the supply of water to the refill (3) consists of a tube fitted with a protective ring and connected to a valve, the insertion of the protective ring causing the valve to open.  7 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the filling area (101) comprises a device for measuring the amount of liquid dispensed, for dispensing a determined amount of liquid.  8 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the washing zone (104) comprises at least one base (112) having a shape complementary to that of the surface (8a, 8c) of the rigid base (4) of the nozzle and a device (114) capable of cooperating with the means (13) for passing the liquid towards the nozzle (2) to inject a washing liquid into the nozzle (2) and the 'suck.  9 - Furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that the base (112) is provided with a magnet (113) which cooperates with a corresponding magnet (9) of the end piece (2) for fixing the end piece (2) on the base (112).  10 - Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the washing zone (104) is sealed by a door (111).  11 - Furniture according to claim 3, characterized in that the area (103) for storing the end pieces (2) comprises at least one rack (109), the bottom of which has a shape complementary to that of the assembly surface ( 8a, 8b, 8c) of the rigid base (4) of the end piece (2).