FR3124365A1 - Liquid release device coupleable to the neck of a bottle and corresponding liquid release method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid release device which can be coupled to the neck (2) of a bottle. The liquid release device comprises a piercing system carried by an adapter device (11), a container holder (12) movable up and down, and a holding device (13) configured to present an active configuration in which a container (3) is held in the container holder (2), and an inactive configuration in which the container (3) can be removed from the container holder (2). The liquid release device (1) also includes a control ring (14) rotatably mounted relative to the adapter device (11). The control ring (14) is configured so that the rotation of the control ring (14) in a given direction causes the container holder (12) to move relative to the control ring (14) towards the system. drilling (112). The control ring (14) makes it possible to lock the active configuration of the holding device (13) by moving the container holder (12) relative to the control ring (14) towards the piercing system. A corresponding method is also provided. Figure for abstract: Fig. 5C

Description

Liquid release device coupleable to the neck of a bottle and corresponding liquid release method

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the release of liquid into a bottle.

PRIOR ART

We know from the state of the art, and in particular from document EP2864216, a liquid release device that can be coupled to the neck of a bottle. However, such a liquid release device is cumbersome to use.

Indeed, such a liquid release device requires assembling several parts together by screwing. An upper part forming a retaining cap cooperates by screwing with a part which houses a capsule in order to be able to hold the capsule, and the part which houses the capsule cooperates by screwing with a part which forms both an adapter mounted on the neck of the bottle and a lid cutting system.

There is a risk that the part forming a cover, which holds the capsule in the part which receives the capsule, is screwed incorrectly or unscrews involuntarily, which risks posing a problem of tightness of the device between the part which receives the capsule and the part forming the cover.

In addition, the part which receives the capsule must be actuated by screwing on the adapter part to cut the cover of the capsule, and this screwing must be carried out entirely to obtain sealing between the part which receives the capsule and the adapter. . In the event of insufficient screwing or involuntary unscrewing, the seal between these two parts (capsule holder and adapter) is no longer ensured.

The fact of having several parts to be screwed to assemble and use the liquid release device, risks disturbing the user. Indeed, the user may not reliably identify which part he must turn to obtain the cutout of the lid, and incomplete screwing of one or other of the parts leads to a sealing problem.

Furthermore, in the document EP2864216, the three parts (adapter part, capsule holder part, and cover part) which make up the liquid release device are screwed together, so that when the user wishes to unscrew one of these parts, he there is a risk that if the user does not maintain the correct parts, he partially or totally loosens one of the other two, causing a problem with sealing or dismantling the cap. To avoid this inconvenience, the user must, after each refill of a capsule, carefully check the correct tightening of the three parts that make up the device.

Finally, when the bottle contains a liquid, for example water, such a device does not make it possible to place a capsule awaiting release in the device mounted on the bottle, for example for subsequent release of the liquid from the capsule into the bottle, while sealing the liquid release device. In fact, to maintain the seal between the part which houses the capsule and the adapter, the part which houses the capsule must be completely screwed onto the adapter, which necessarily causes the lid of the capsule to be cut, and therefore does not allow the unopened capsule to be kept in the capsule-holder part for subsequent release of liquid. Such a use, which document EP2864216 does not allow, is useful in particular when the liquid contained in the capsule, for example a pharmaceutical product, must be consumed as soon as it is mixed with that present in the bottle, or can only be kept at the isolated state in its packaging.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a new liquid release device and a corresponding method making it possible to overcome all or part of the problems set out above.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a liquid release device that can be coupled to the neck of a bottle, making it possible to pierce a container, so that a liquid from the container falls into the bottle, the liquid release device comprising :
- an adapter device adapted to be fixed, in a removable manner, on the neck of the bottle, the adapter device having a hollow body;
- a piercing system carried by the adapter device, making it possible to pierce the container, such as a capsule having a lid,
- a receiving device, called a container holder, comprising a receiving housing for receiving the container,
the container holder being movable up and down inside the hollow body of the adapter device;
- a holding device configured to present:
- an active configuration in which the container is held in the container holder, and
- an inactive configuration in which the container can be removed from the container holder;
characterized in that the liquid release device also includes a control ring rotatably mounted relative to the adapter device;
the control ring being configured so that the rotation of the control ring in a given direction causes the container holder to move relative to the control ring towards the piercing system,
the control ring being configured to make it possible to lock the active configuration of the holding device by displacement of the container holder relative to the control ring towards the drilling system,
the container holder having a passage opening communicating with the receiving housing, to allow the piercing system to pierce the container so that the liquid of the container flows through said passage opening, then through a passage opening arranged in the adapter device.

The design of the liquid release device according to the invention makes it possible to perform a locking operation of the holding device in the active configuration, and a drilling operation of the container by the same control ring. In the lowered state of the container holder relative to the control ring, the control ring makes it possible to form a stop vis-à-vis the holding device preventing it from going into the inactive configuration.

According to a particular mode of use, the container, for example a capsule, can be kept in the container holder, awaiting use, in the locked position of the holding device without having to pierce this container, precisely in order to be able to transporting the bottle assembly, which may already contain a liquid such as water, and the liquid release device mounted on the bottle with a container, such as a syrup capsule, already loaded into the release device liquid, and ready to use, or a product that must be mixed with the contents of the bottle just before consumption. The locked position of the container holder ensures that the container is well maintained by the holding device, in the container holder, which ensures the container/container holder seal.

Furthermore, the sealing between the container holder and the adapter device can be ensured regardless of the position of the container holder in the adapter device, thanks to a sealing system. According to one embodiment, the sealing system comprises a seal which extends over the outer peripheral wall, preferably in the lower part, of the container holder, which is applied to a smooth zone of the inner peripheral wall of the adapter. Advantageously, the seal is thus supported on a zone of the inner peripheral wall of the adapter which is preferably located below the notches for positioning the container holder, provided in the inner wall of the adapter.

Such a design of the liquid release device makes it possible, with a single part to be rotated, namely the control ring, to control the function of locking the container in the container holder, and the function of piercing the container, while maintaining the tightness of the liquid release device during movement of the container holder, in particular in the piercing position.

According to one embodiment, the presence of notches made in the adapter, preferably in combination with visual indications made on the upper part of the control ring, allows the user to quickly and reliably identify the position in which the container holder is located and thus the associated function (initial position for introduction/removal of the container, locking position of the device for holding the container, position(s) of drilling).

It should be noted that in the document EP2864216, if the screwing of the container holder on the adapter is not carried out to the end, the seal is not ensured, and if the cap is screwed to the end is pierced. Conversely, with the device according to the invention, if the user raises the container by turning the control ring in the direction of raising the container, the latter remains held by the holding device as long as the holding device is not disabled by the user. Sealing is then maintained between the container holder and the container. As mentioned above, sealing can also be ensured thanks to the seal, such as a seal, for example an O-ring, applied between the outer wall of the container holder and the inner wall of the adapter and, when it is present, by a closing control mechanism of the bottom opening of the adapter, thanks to the recall of the mechanism in the closed position.

Advantageously, the fact that the device according to the invention cannot be dismantled, without tools, by the user makes it possible to simplify its use by the user who does not have to assemble several parts and does not risk losing a part. Conversely, it should be noted that in document EP2864216, the parts of the liquid release device are removable and must be assembled by the user.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the raising and lowering of the container (or the container holder) requires a simple rotation of a ring. Advantageously, the control ring causes the sliding movement of the container holder along a groove, preferably formed in the adapter device. The rotation of the control ring does not affect the assembly of the parts, which makes it possible to preserve the tightness of the system.

The ring cooperates by thread with the container holder and rests on the adapter, preferably being nested on the adapter while remaining free to rotate relative to the adapter. The operation of rotation of the ring for drilling goes in the direction of a reinforcement of the tightening of the adapter on the neck. The rotation of the ring in the other direction (anti-clockwise) does not meet any opposition. In fact, this rotation is not the loosening of a thread but only the rotation of the ring on the edge of the adapter device and the only resistance will be the jump of a possible notching for which an appropriate adjustment of the latter allows a reverse without forcing and thus to avoid any unscrewing of the cap. In this way, the user can manipulate the liquid release device by holding the bottle with one hand and the liquid release device with the other, instead of holding two parts of the device as required by patent EP2864216B1 to maintain the seal.

The release device may also include one or more of the following features taken in any technically permissible combination.

According to an optional characteristic, the holding device comprises holding elements, such as holding arms, hinged to the container holder, said holding elements being capable of cooperating with each other in active configuration to prevent the container from coming out from above of the container carrier.

According to an optional characteristic, the device comprises a sliding guide system for the container holder relative to the adapter device, so that the rotation of the control ring causes the sliding movement of the container holder, without rotation of the container holder. relative to the adapter device.

According to an optional characteristic, by rotation of the control ring, the container holder is able to selectively assume several positions relative to the adapter device, said positions comprising:
- A position, called the initial position, in which the holding device can pass from the inactive configuration to the active configuration, and vice versa;
- A position called the locking position, in which, in the active configuration of the holding device, the holding device is locked in said active configuration;
- A position, called the first piercing position, in which the piercing system penetrates a first distance through the passage opening of the container holder; And
- Optionally, a position, called the second piercing position, in which the piercing system penetrates over a second distance, greater than the first distance, through the passage opening of the container holder.

According to an optional characteristic, the rotation of the control ring in a given direction makes it possible, from the initial position, to move the container holder so as to make it successively assume the locking position, the first piercing position and, optionally, the second drilling position.

According to an optional characteristic, the device comprises a notching system for the locking position, the piercing position, and preferably the initial position, allowing the user to detect the position reached by the container holder.

According to an optional characteristic, the container holder, preferably its lower part, is equipped with a seal able to bear against an inner peripheral wall of the hollow body of the adapter device.

According to an optional feature, the seal of the container holder and the adapter device are configured such that, whatever the position of the container holder relative to the adapter device, the seal is in compression against a smooth wall of the adapter device.

According to an optional characteristic, the control ring comprises an internal radial shoulder which forms an upper stop for the container holder preventing the container holder from coming out with respect to the control ring.

According to an optional characteristic, the lower part of the control ring is provided with a snap-fit zone with a corresponding zone of the adapter device.

According to an optional characteristic, the device comprises a control mechanism making it possible to control the opening and closing of the passage opening provided in the bottom of the adapter device.

According to an optional feature, the control mechanism comprises:
- A support element with which part of the container holder is able to come into abutment, such as a plate having at least one passage orifice, said support element being movable towards the bottom of the adapter device;
- Preferably, a return system, such as a spring, of the support element, in a so-called high position; And
- A shutter element, also called valve, mounted integral in movement with the support element.

According to an optional characteristic, the drilling system comprises a drilling member, also called a drilling finger, which has two drilling teeth, one of the teeth being higher than the other tooth.

According to an optional feature, the holding device is configured to, even in the active configuration, leave visible the container present in the container holder.

According to an optional feature, the liquid release device is configured to, before and after piercing, allow the container to be removed without having to disassemble parts of the liquid release device.

According to an optional characteristic, in the fixed state of the liquid release device on the neck of a bottle, the holding device and the container holder are configured to allow the container to be removed without removing the liquid release device from the bottle neck.

According to an optional characteristic, the device comprises, for example on the holding device and/or the container holder, a keying element, capable of cooperating with a corresponding keying provided on the container, to allow the container to be positioned in an orientation predefined inside the container holder.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a liquid release device according to any one of the embodiments and options presented above, and a container adapted to be introduced into the container holder of the liquid release device.

According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises a bottle on the neck of which is mounted the liquid release device.

The invention also relates to a method for piercing a container so that a liquid contained in the container falls into a bottle, said method comprising the following steps:
- mounting a liquid release device in accordance with any one of the embodiments and options presented above, on the neck of a bottle, such as a gourd;
- Introduce the container into the container holder, the holding device being in the inactive configuration;
- Switching the holding device to the active configuration to hold the container in the container holder;
- turn the control ring to move the container holder into a locking position of the active configuration of the holding device, and
- continue to turn the control ring until the piercing system pierces the container and the liquid from the container falls into the bottle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

- there is a perspective view of a liquid release device according to one embodiment of the invention, in the initial "0" position of the container holder allowing the holding device to be inactivated to introduce a container into the container holder or remove it;

- there is an axial sectional view of the liquid release device of the , with diagram of the neck of a bottle on which the adapter of the liquid release device is fixed;

- there is a perspective view of the liquid release device of the mounted on the neck of a bottle;

- there is a perspective view of part of the section of the , showing notches for positioning the container holder relative to the adapter of the liquid release device;

- there is a perspective view of part of the device of the , showing a container before its introduction into the container holder of the device, and in the open state (inactive configuration) of the holding device;

- there is a perspective view of the device of the , in the inserted state of the container in the container holder of the device and in the closed state (active configuration) of the holding device;

- there is a top view of a liquid release device according to one embodiment, in the inserted state of a container and in the rotated state of the control ring in the locking position, to lock the holding device in the closed state (active configuration) by lowering the container holder relative to the control ring;

- there is a cross-sectional view of part of the device of the , showing the blocking of the holding device by the control ring, in the turned state of the control ring in the locking position to lock the holding device in the active configuration;

- there is a sectional view of the device of the , showing the descent of the container holder in the adapter and relative to the control ring, in the turned state of the control ring in the locking position to lock the holding device in the active state;

- there is a detail view of part of the , showing the cooperation of the container holder with a notch of the adapter in the locking position to lock the holding device in the active state;

- there is a top view of the liquid release device of the , in the turned state of the control ring in a piercing position, to pierce the container by lowering the container holder relative to the control ring, while the holding device, which is in the active state locked, keeps the container in the container holder;

- there is a sectional view of the device of the , showing the descent of the container holder in the adapter and relative to the control ring, in the turned state of the control ring in said drilling position;

- there is a detail view of part of the device of the , showing the cooperation of the container holder with another notch of the adapter in said drilling position;

- there is a sectional view of a device according to another embodiment, and of a container having two parallel chambers separated by a vertical partition, in the non-pierced state of said chambers, the control ring being in the locking position of the holding device; the device comprising a drilling system configured to allow the two chambers to be drilled one after the other;

- there is a view of the device and container of the in the piercing configuration of a first chamber of the container;

- there is a view of the device and container of the in the drilling configuration of the second chamber, after drilling the first chamber;

- there is an exploded view in section of a container having two chambers in series separated by a horizontal wall, the first chamber housing a piercing member which extends from a first lid to a second lid of the container;

- there is a cross-sectional view of a liquid release device according to another embodiment, and the container of the ; the liquid release device comprising a piercing system configured to, in cooperation with the piercing member of the container, allow the two chambers to be pierced simultaneously;

- there is a view of the liquid release device and container of the in the piercing configuration of the chambers of the container;

- there is a sectional view of a liquid release device according to another embodiment of the invention with a container having two chambers in series separated by a horizontal wall, the first chamber housing a piercing member which extends between two lids but at a distance from the lid closest to the piercing system of the liquid release device, to allow successive piercing of the two chambers;

- there is a view of the in the drilling configuration of the first chamber;

- there is a view of the in the drilling configuration of the second chamber, after drilling the first chamber of the container;

- is a flowchart presenting several steps of a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. Device (1) for releasing liquid which can be coupled to the neck (2) of a bottle (200), making it possible to pierce a container (3) so that a liquid from the container (3) falls into the bottle (200) ,
the liquid release device (1) comprising:
- an adapter device (11) adapted to be fixed, in a removable manner, on the neck (2) of the bottle, the adapter device (11) having a hollow body (110);
- a piercing system (112) carried by the adapter device (11), making it possible to pierce the container (3), such as a capsule having a lid (32),
- a receiving device, called a container holder (12), comprising a receiving housing (1203) allowing the container (3) to be received,
the container holder (12) being movable up and down inside the hollow body (110) of the adapter device (11);
- a holding device (13) configured to have an active configuration in which the container (3) is held in the container holder (2), and an inactive configuration in which the container (3) can be removed from the container holder (2);
characterized in that the liquid release device (1) also comprises a control ring (14) rotatably mounted relative to the adapter device (11);
the control ring (14) being configured such that rotation of the control ring (14) in a given direction causes the container carrier (12) to move relative to the control ring (14) towards the system drilling (112),
the control ring (14) being configured to make it possible to lock the active configuration of the holding device (13) by moving the container holder (12) relative to the control ring (14) towards the piercing system (112) ,
the container holder (12) having a passage opening (1232) communicating with the receiving housing (1203), to allow the piercing system (112) to pierce the container (3) so that the liquid in the container (3 ) flows through said passage opening (1232), then through a passage opening (113) formed in the adapter device (11). 2. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to claim 1, in which the holding device (13) comprises holding elements, such as holding arms, hinged to the container holder (12), said holding elements being capable of cooperating with each other in an active configuration to prevent the container (3) from exiting from above the container holder (12). 3. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device comprises a guide system (1216, 117) for sliding the container holder (12) relative to the adapter device (11), so that the rotation of the control ring (14) causes the sliding movement of the container holder (12), without rotation of the container holder relative to the adapter device (11). 4. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, by rotation of the control ring (14), the container holder (12) is able to selectively assume several positions with respect to the adapter device (11), said positions comprising:
- a position, called the initial position, in which the holding device (13) can pass from the inactive configuration to the active configuration, and vice versa;
- a position called the locking position, in which, in the active configuration of the holding device, the holding device (13) is locked in said active configuration;
- A position, called the first piercing position, in which the piercing system (112) penetrates a first distance through the passage opening (1232) of the container holder (12); And
- optionally, a position, called the second piercing position, in which the piercing system (112) penetrates over a second distance, greater than the first distance, through the passage opening (1232) of the container holder (12) . 5. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to claim 4, in which the rotation of the control ring (14) in a given direction makes it possible, from the initial position, to move the container holder (12) by so as to make it successively assume the locking position, the first drilling position and, optionally, the second drilling position. 6. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to claim 4 or 5, in which the device comprises a notching system (1217, 1107) for the locking position, the drilling position, and preferably the initial position, allowing the user to detect the position reached by the container holder (12). 7. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the container holder (12), preferably its lower part, is equipped with a seal (127) adapted to come resting on an inner peripheral wall of the hollow body (110) of the adapter device (11). 8. Liquid release device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the seal (127) of the container holder (12) and the adapter device (11) are configured such that, whatever the position of the container holder (12) relative to the adapter device (11), the seal (127) is in compression against a smooth wall of the adapter device (11). 9. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control ring (14) comprises an internal radial shoulder (142) which forms an upper stop for the container holder (12) preventing an outlet of the container holder (12) relative to the control ring (14). 10. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lower part of the control ring (14) is provided with a snap-on zone (1411) with a corresponding zone of the adapter device ( 11). 11. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises a control mechanism (15) making it possible to control the opening and closing of the passage opening (113) formed in the bottom of the adapter device (11). 12. A liquid release device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the control mechanism (15) comprises:
- a support element (151) with which part of the container carrier (12) is able to come into abutment, such as a plate having at least one passage orifice (1513), said support element being movable towards the bottom of the adapter device (11);
- preferably, a return system (152), such as a spring, of the support element (151), in a so-called high position; And
- a shutter element (153), also called valve, mounted integral in movement with the support element (151). 13. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the piercing system (112) comprises a piercing member (1125), also called a piercing finger, which has two piercing teeth ( 1125a, 1125b), one of the teeth being higher than the other tooth. 14. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the holding device (13) is configured to, even in the active configuration, leave the container (3) present in the container holder visible. (12). 15. Device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the device comprises, for example on the holding device (13) and/or the container holder (12), a keying element (139), capable of cooperating with a corresponding keying device (39) made on the container (3), to enable the container (3) to be positioned in a predefined orientation inside the container holder (12). 16. An assembly comprising a device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, and a container (3) adapted to be introduced into the container holder (12) of the device (1) for releasing liquid. 17. An assembly according to claim 16 comprising a bottle on the neck (2) of which is mounted the device (1) for releasing liquid. 18. A method of piercing a container (3) so that a liquid contained in the container (3) falls into a bottle (200), said method comprising the following steps:
- mounting (1010) a device (1) for releasing liquid according to any one of the preceding claims, on the neck (2) of a bottle (200), such as a water bottle;
- introducing (1020) the container (3) into the container holder (12), the holding device (13) being in the inactive configuration;
- passing (1030) the holding device (13) in active configuration to hold the container (3) in the container holder (12);
- turning (1040) the control ring (14) to move the container holder (12) into a locking position of the active configuration of the holding device (13), and
- continue (1050) to turn the control ring (14) until the piercing system (112) pierces the container (3) and the liquid from the container (3) falls into the bottle (200).