GB1588302A

GB1588302A - Distributing valve and cover device for whipped cream dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB1588302A
Application number: GB858478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-31
Filing date: 1978-03-03
Publication date: 1981-04-23
Also published as: DE2810996A1; CH621936A5; AT373850B; ATA222678A; FR2385962A1; DE2810996C2; IT1076650B

Abstract

It possesses a hole made up of three consecutive lengths (6, 8 and 10) whose diameters decrease from the exterior towards the interior and a shutoff member (9) pushed by a spring. The shutoff member therefore forms a seal against a valve seat (12) formed in said hole and is guided at the innermost end by an integral pin (11) sliding in the smallest-diameter part of the hole. Said shutoff member has a rod (15) on the outward end with an axial hole so that its interior communicates with the hole of the valve through radial holes (17) and with the exterior so as to provide an outlet for the dispensed cream when the shutoff member is removed from said valve seat. The assembly is so constructed that the shutoff member can be removed into the open position either by means of a control lever, so as to dispense the cream in a controlled manner, or by the accidental creation of excess pressure in the container of cream, so that in this case it acts as a safety valve. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) DISTRIBUTING VALVE AND COVER DEVICE FOR WHIPPED CREAM DISPENSER (71) I, GIULIANO MASSARANI, a citizen of Italy, of Viale Ortles 11/13, 20139, Milano, Italy do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a distributing valve and cover device for a whipped cream dispenser. Such a device is attachable to a container of the dispenser and operable to distribute or dispense cream from a mixture of cream and gas under pressure in the container.

The gas serves both to raise the cream and as a propellant.

This gas can be carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2 O) or simply air. Such a gas commonly is distributed in small high pressure bulbs, so that the user, after charging the container with liquid cream and carefullyKclosing it, introduces the gas in the bulb by inserting the latter on a connector provided to this end on the container and equipped with check valve means for permitting the passage of gas from the bulb to the container. The gas-cream mixture is then distributed or dispensed through a lever operated distributing valve.

For safety reasons, the container must be protected against accidental abnormal pressures which could cause the container to burst. This protection is generally provided by a separate safety valve which is expensive, time consuming to install and possibly not very effective. It is desirable to provide a combined distributing valve and safety valve.

Accordingly the present invention provides a distributing valve and cover device attachable to a container of a whipped cream dispenser and operable to distribute or dispense cream from a mixture of cream and gas under pressure, when the mixture is present in the container, wherein the device includes a cover having an axially stepped bore therethrough, and formed therein, providing three coaxial communicating bore portions including an outer bore portion opening from the cover exterior, an intermediate bore portion of smaller diameter than the outer bore portion from which it opens and an inner bore portion opening directly into the cover interior and thereby directly into the container interior when the cover is attached to the container, which inner bore portion is smaller in diameter than the intermediate bore portion from which it opens, a valve seat provided by the step between the intermediate and inner bore portions, a valve member slidably locatable within the bore and biassed towards a closed position against the valve seat by a spring able to keep the valve member in the closed position against normal operating pressure in the container but allow the valve member to move into an open position away from the valve seat in response to abnormal pressure in the container, and a cap screwably engageable in the outer bore portion to retain the spring and valve member in the bore, the valve member having an axially bored stem opening at one endo the cover exterior for engagement with a distributing spout, and opening at the other end into radial bores in the stem which in turn open to the valve member exterior on the side of the valve member remote from the valve seat, so that the interior of the container may be put in communication with the valve member stem axial bore when the valve member is moved into the open position away from the valve seat The valve member rests against the valve seat via an inter-posed 0-ring seal.

The end of the valve stem opening to the cover exterior is engageable, preferably by screwthreads, by a distributing spout for cream, and a lever for controlling opening and closing of the valve member is provided between the spout and the cap which lever has a first arm located between the spout and the cap, a second outwardly projecting manually operable arm, and a fulcrum in the form of a wedge shaped projection provided on the periphery of the cap.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example to the accompanying single figure drawing which shows in vertical axial section one embodiment of the device of the invention.

As shown in the drawing a distributing valve and cover device of the invention includes a cover 1 engaged by screw threads on a neck 2 of a cream container 3; the closure being rendered gas-tight by the interposition of a seal 4.

The cover 1 preferably is cast to provide the desired thickness and a portion 5 thereof has an axially stepped bore therethrough and formed therein, providing three coaxial communicating bore portions. These include an outer bore portion 6 opening from the cover exterior, an intermediate bore portion 8 of smaller diameter than the portion 6 from which it opens and an inner bore portion 10 opening directly into the cover interior and thereby directly into the container interior when the cover is attached to the container, which portion 10 is smaller in via meter than the portion 8 from which it opens.

A cap 7 is provided in screwed engagement with the bore portion 6 to retain therein a valve member 9 and a spring 20. The valve member 9 slidably engages in the bore portion 8 and has a pin portion 11 slidably engaging in the bore portion 10.

The step formed by the bore portions 8 and 10 is shaped to provide a valve seat 12, a base 13 of the pin portion 11 forming a valve head carrying an 0-ring seal 14 to seal against the valve seat 12. The valve member 9 has the shape of a piston sliding smoothly in the bore portion 8 and has an axially bored stem opening at one end 18 through the cap 7 and cover 1. The stem 15 has an axial bore 16 opening at its other end into radial bores 17 in the valve member 9, which in turn open to the valve member exterior on the side of the valve member remote from the valve seat.

The outer end 18 of the stem is threaded for engagement with the lower end of the cream distributing spout 19.

The coil spring 20, wound around the stem 15 and inter-posed between the cap7 and the valve member 9,biasses the latter into closed position against the valve seat 12 against normal operating pressure in the container 3. The spring 20 is calibrated so that it yields to allow the valve member 9 to move into an open position away from the valve seat 12 in response to abnormal pressure in the container 3, and thereby act as a safety valve allowing the container contents to vent until normal operating pressure has been reestablished.

For controlled distribution of the cream there is provided a lever 21, preferably of shaped sheet. Such a lever is fulcrumed on a wedge shaped projection 22, provided on the periphery of the cap 7 and has a first arm 23 interposed between the cap 7 and the spout 19, and a second arm 24 projecting outwardly for manual operation. The lever 21 is kept in place by the stem 15 passing through the arm 23 as well as by side walls embracing the upper region of the cover portion 5.

When the arm 24 is depressed, the lever pivots around the fulcrum 22, so that the arm 23 acts against the spout 19 causing components connected to the latter to lift, i.e. the stem 15 and the valve member 9; the latter lifting from its seat 12 against pressure of the spring 20.

In this way the mixture of cream and gas in the container is allowed to pass between the pin portion 11 and the bore portion 10 into the bore portion 8 via the open valve, through the radial bore 17 and axial bore 16, to the spout 19 where the mixture expands and is distributed outwardly.

The pin portion 11, being a close fit in the bore portion 10, causes lamination of the mixture passing between the portions 10 and 11 and therefore a more intimate mixing of the gas and the cream, favouring emulsification and a greater output of the cream.

The pin portion 11 and the bore portion 10 have complementary rectangular cross-sections and swerve as an axial guide for the valve member and the stem, avoiding inclination of the valve member and stem, allowing the valve member to return to the closed position and preventing relative rotation between the pin portion 11 and bore portion 10 when the spout 19 is screwed or unscrewed from the valve stem.

A member 25 is provided to form a connection for a bulb containing gas utilized to pressureize the container 3. Such a member 25 is known per se and is not further illustrated. It is closed by a screw cap 26, which is removed only during the connecting of the gas bulb.

From the foregoing description, it can be noted that the valve and cover device of the present invention gives the security against overpressure, minimises leaks or escapes due to poor closure and is formed of a few components having a simple structure and being quickly assembled.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A distributing valve and cover device attachable to a container of a whipped cream dispenser and operable to distribute or dispense cream from a mixture of cream and gas under pressure, when the mixture is present in the container, wherein the device includes a cover having an axially stepped bore therethrough, and formed therein, providing three coaxial communicating bore portions including an outer bore portion opening from the cover exterior, an intermediate bore portion of smaller diameter than the outer bore portion from which it opens and an inner bore portion opening directlyinto the cover interior and thereby directly into the container interior when the cover is attached to the container, which inner bore portion is smaller in diameter than the intermediate bore portion from which it opens, a valve seat provided by the step between the intermediate and inner bore portions, a valve member slidably locatable within the bore and biassed towards a closed position against the valve seat by a spring able to keep the valve member in the closed position against normal operating pressure in the container but allow the valve member to move into an open position away from the valve seat in response to abnormal pressure in the container, and a cap

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The cover 1 preferably is cast to provide the desired thickness and a portion 5 thereof has an axially stepped bore therethrough and formed therein, providing three coaxial communicating bore portions. These include an outer bore portion 6 opening from the cover exterior, an intermediate bore portion 8 of smaller diameter than the portion 6 from which it opens and an inner bore portion 10 opening directly into the cover interior and thereby directly into the container interior when the cover is attached to the container, which portion 10 is smaller in via meter than the portion 8 from which it opens. A cap 7 is provided in screwed engagement with the bore portion 6 to retain therein a valve member 9 and a spring 20. The valve member 9 slidably engages in the bore portion 8 and has a pin portion 11 slidably engaging in the bore portion 10. The step formed by the bore portions 8 and 10 is shaped to provide a valve seat 12, a base 13 of the pin portion 11 forming a valve head carrying an 0-ring seal 14 to seal against the valve seat 12. The valve member 9 has the shape of a piston sliding smoothly in the bore portion 8 and has an axially bored stem opening at one end 18 through the cap 7 and cover 1. The stem 15 has an axial bore 16 opening at its other end into radial bores 17 in the valve member 9, which in turn open to the valve member exterior on the side of the valve member remote from the valve seat. The outer end 18 of the stem is threaded for engagement with the lower end of the cream distributing spout 19. The coil spring 20, wound around the stem 15 and inter-posed between the cap7 and the valve member 9,biasses the latter into closed position against the valve seat 12 against normal operating pressure in the container 3. The spring 20 is calibrated so that it yields to allow the valve member 9 to move into an open position away from the valve seat 12 in response to abnormal pressure in the container 3, and thereby act as a safety valve allowing the container contents to vent until normal operating pressure has been reestablished. For controlled distribution of the cream there is provided a lever 21, preferably of shaped sheet. Such a lever is fulcrumed on a wedge shaped projection 22, provided on the periphery of the cap 7 and has a first arm 23 interposed between the cap 7 and the spout 19, and a second arm 24 projecting outwardly for manual operation. The lever 21 is kept in place by the stem 15 passing through the arm 23 as well as by side walls embracing the upper region of the cover portion 5. When the arm 24 is depressed, the lever pivots around the fulcrum 22, so that the arm 23 acts against the spout 19 causing components connected to the latter to lift, i.e. the stem 15 and the valve member 9; the latter lifting from its seat 12 against pressure of the spring 20. In this way the mixture of cream and gas in the container is allowed to pass between the pin portion 11 and the bore portion 10 into the bore portion 8 via the open valve, through the radial bore 17 and axial bore 16, to the spout 19 where the mixture expands and is distributed outwardly. The pin portion 11, being a close fit in the bore portion 10, causes lamination of the mixture passing between the portions 10 and 11 and therefore a more intimate mixing of the gas and the cream, favouring emulsification and a greater output of the cream. The pin portion 11 and the bore portion 10 have complementary rectangular cross-sections and swerve as an axial guide for the valve member and the stem, avoiding inclination of the valve member and stem, allowing the valve member to return to the closed position and preventing relative rotation between the pin portion 11 and bore portion 10 when the spout 19 is screwed or unscrewed from the valve stem. A member 25 is provided to form a connection for a bulb containing gas utilized to pressureize the container 3. Such a member 25 is known per se and is not further illustrated. It is closed by a screw cap 26, which is removed only during the connecting of the gas bulb. From the foregoing description, it can be noted that the valve and cover device of the present invention gives the security against overpressure, minimises leaks or escapes due to poor closure and is formed of a few components having a simple structure and being quickly assembled. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A distributing valve and cover device attachable to a container of a whipped cream dispenser and operable to distribute or dispense cream from a mixture of cream and gas under pressure, when the mixture is present in the container, wherein the device includes a cover having an axially stepped bore therethrough, and formed therein, providing three coaxial communicating bore portions including an outer bore portion opening from the cover exterior, an intermediate bore portion of smaller diameter than the outer bore portion from which it opens and an inner bore portion opening directlyinto the cover interior and thereby directly into the container interior when the cover is attached to the container, which inner bore portion is smaller in diameter than the intermediate bore portion from which it opens, a valve seat provided by the step between the intermediate and inner bore portions, a valve member slidably locatable within the bore and biassed towards a closed position against the valve seat by a spring able to keep the valve member in the closed position against normal operating pressure in the container but allow the valve member to move into an open position away from the valve seat in response to abnormal pressure in the container, and a cap

screwably engageable in the outer bore portion to retain the spring and valve member in the bore, the valve member having an axially bored stem opening at one end to the cover exterior for engagement with a distributing spout, and opening at the other end into radial bores in the stem which in turn open to the valve member exterior on the side of the valve member remote from the valve seat, so that the interior of the container may be put in communication with the valve member stem axial bore when the valve member is moved into the open position away from the valve seat.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the valve member has an axially extending pin portion locatable within the inner bore portion and an 0-ring seal provided against the base of the pin portion to seal against the valve seat, the pin portion and the inner bore portion having complementary rectangular crosssections to prevent relative rotation there between.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a lever for controlling opening and closing of the valve member, the lever having a first arm locatable between the cap and the distributing spout, when the latter is engaged on the valve member stem, a second arm projecting outwardly for manual operation, and, located between the arms, a fulcrum in the form of a wedge-shaped projection provided on the periphery of the cap.

4. A distributing valve and cover device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.