GB2140391A - Connector for connecting a bar metering device to a liquor bottle provided with an unrefillable security closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector (1) for connecting a bar metering device (4) to a liquor bottle (2) having an unrefillable security closure (3), has a tubular body (7) with opposite open ends (9, 10) connected to the closure (3) and to the metering device (4). respectively, an obturator seat (18) at the end (9) connected to the closure (3) and an obturator (19) guided in the tubular body (7) for movement towards and away from the obturator seat (18), in order to prevent flow of liquor from the body when the latter is inverted from its normal position of use, i.e. when the bottle is upright. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector for connecting a bar metering device to a liquor bottle provided with an unrefillable security closure The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a bar metering device to a liquor bottle having an unrefillable security closure, of the type comprising a tubular body defining a fluid path between first and second open ends, intended to be connected respectively to the security closure and to the metering device.

In order to provide for the speedy dispensing of drinks while ensuring the pouring of exact, constant measures of liquor, it is known to fix the bottles of liquor which are most frequently used above the vending counter in an inverted position and to provide each with a suitable metering device which can be operated directly using the glass to be filled.

When the bottle has an unrefillable security closure, as for example in the case of expensive liquors, the metering device is fixed thereto by a connector of the aforesaid type.

Such known connectors, although generally satisfactory during normal use, have a disadvantage which is manifested when the bartender seeks to replace the bottle before it is completely empty in order to replace it with another bottle. In removing the bottle from its inverted position and replacing it with the new bottle he must transfer the connector with its metering device from one bottle to the other.

In the process the quantity of liquor remaining in the connector is lost, since it is prevented from flowing back into the bottle by virtue of its unrefillable closure. This wastage of expensive liquor is obviously uneconomic and also results in wastage of time in drying and cleaning the counter on each replacement of the bottle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the type specified which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the disadvantage referred to.

The present invention accordingly provides a connector of the type specified in which obturator means are provided at the said first end of the tubular body for allowing flow of liquor through the body in normal use and preventing flow of liquor from the body when the latter is inverted from its normal position of use.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the single appended drawing which is a partially-sectioned elevational view of a connector according to the invention connecting a bottle and a metering device in its disposition ready for use, with the bottle inverted.

With reference to the drawing, a connector according to the invention is generally indicated 1 and is used for connecting a metering device 4 to an inverted bottle 2 (part only of which is shown) having a security closure 3 of the unrefillable type.

The security closure 3, of any known type, is mounted on the mouth of the bottle 2 and houses within it a valve 5 which allows liquor in the bottle to flow out but prevents any liquid from entering it and hence makes any dishonest and fraudulent refilling impossible.

The metering device 4, of any known type, includes within it a valve controlled by an arm 6 which can be lifted by the glass to be filled in order to open the valve and allow the device 4 to dispense a predetermined measure of liquor.

The connector 1 includes a tubular body 7, preferably or rigid plastics material, having a vertical axis X-X. A fluid flow path 8, indicated by a broken line, is defined within the body 7 between a first upper open end 9 and a second lower end 10, which is also open.

At the upper end 9 of the tubular body 7, the connector 1 has an external flange 11 and an internal flange 1 2 which are coplanar with each other and from the peripheries of which extend respective cylindrical sleeves 1 3 and 1 4 which are in effect elongations of the tubular body 7 and coaxial therewith. The sleeve 13, which is longer than the sleeve 14, is force-fitted on the closure 3, while the sleeve 1 4 engages the interior of the closure 3 with a predetermined force-fit.

At the lower end of the tubular body 7, the connector 1 includes an external flange 15 which is fixed by screws 1 6 to the metering device 4.

In an entirely conventional manner, the assembly constituted by the bottle 2 and the metering device 4 connected together by the connector 1 according to the invention is fixed above the bar counter with the bottle inverted and supported by means of a suitable bracket of known type, not shown in the drawing.

The connector 1 according to the invention further includes obturator means 1 7 disposed in the fluid flow path 8 at the upper end 9 of the tubular body 7. The obturator 19 is guided by the fins 22 in the tubular body 7 for movement towards from and away from the obturator seat 1 8.

The mushroom head 21 of the obturator 19 is provided with an annular projection 23 of narrow cross section which engages the obturator seat 1 9 with a specific pressure in use of the connector.

At the lower end 10 of the tubular body 7 the connector 1 includes an insert 24 having an outer annular edge 25 which is retained axially between a shoulder 26 formed in the tubular body 7 and a small ridge 27 also formed in the tubular body 7. The edge 25 passes resiliently over the ridge 27 upon insertion of the insert 24 in the tubular body 7, rendering the insert 24 captive within the body 7.

The insert 24 is provided with a plurality of integral radial fins, each indicated 28, which extend inside the tubular body 7 for a distance adjacent its end 1 0.

The fins 28 are shaped as right angled triangles with their hypotenuses facing the axis X-X and together the fins define a substantially conical seat 29 which is divergent inwardly of the tubular body 7.

A O-ring seal of known type indicated 30 is mounted between the insert 24 and the tubular body 7; an 0-ring seal 31 of known type is located between the insert 24 and the metering device 4.

The connector 1 further includes a metal ball 32 mounted in the tubular body 7 and movable between the obturator 1 9 and the conical seat 29.

The operation of the connector according to the invention is described below with reference to an initial condition shown in the drawing, that is, with the bottle inverted.

In this condition the obturator means are not operative in that the obturator 19, due to its own weight, is in a position spaced from the obturator seat 19. The liquor in the bottle 2 may thus flow freely from the bottle 2 through the valve 5, which is also open, and the obturator means 1 along the path 8, into the metering device 4, passing between the fins 22 and the fins 28.

Clearly the flow of liquor occurs intermittently as each metered quantity is dispensed from the metering device 4.

When it is necessary to replace the bottle 2 by another bottle, the bar tender detaches the assembly constituted by the bottle 2, the connector 1, and the metering device 4 and overturns it, thus returning the bottle 2 to its natural upright position.

The obturator 1 9 then moves under its own weight towards the obturator seat 1 9 reaching the position illustrated in broken outline in the drawing; in this position the obturator 1 9 sealingly engages the obturator seat 1 9. The ball 32 also moves away from the conical seat 29.

The ball 32 assists the movement of the obturator 1 9 and is stopped against it ensuring, by its own weight, better sealing by the obturator.

Under these conditions the obturator means 1 7 are operative. The bar tender may the remove the connector 1 from the bottle 2, together with the metering device 4, without the liquor in the connector being lost, the liquor being retained in the connector 1 by the obturator means 1 7.

At this point one can invert the connector 1 together with the metering device 4 and recover the liquor in the connector and the metering device by bringing the metering device 4 and a glass into mutual engagement.

By virtue of the connector according to the invention, the disadvantage of wastage of liquor and time which until now have been passively accepted at every change of a bottle which is not completely empty is completely overcome. Moreover the connector according to the invention operates better: by virtue of the fins 22 and 28, the passage of the liquor through the connector 1 occurs in a laminar rather than turbulent flow. This ensures a more gradual emptying of the bottle and consequently better passage of the liquor through the valve 5 of the security closure 2.

Obviously, an expert in the art may make numerous modifications and variants to the connector described above in order to satisfy specific contingencies but all of these are contained within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A connector for connecting a bar metering device to a liquor bottle having a unrefilla- ble security closure, comprising a tubular body defining a fluid path between first and second open ends, intended to be connected respectively to the security closure and the metering device, and obturator means at the first end of the tubular body for allowing flow of liquor through the body in normal use and preventing flow of liquor from the body when the latter is inverted from its normal position of use.

2. A connector according to Claim 1, in which the obturator means include an obturator seat and an obturator guided in the tubular body for movement towards and away from the obturator seat.

3. A connector according to Claim 2, in which the obturator includes a stem and a mushroom head and a plurality of radial fins interconnecting the head and the stem and defining a predetermined clearance with the tubular body.

4. A connector according to Claim 3, including a plurality of radial fins rigid with the tubular body at the second end of the latter.

5. A connector according to Claim 4, and further including a metal ball movable in the tubular body between the obturator and the said radial fins rigid with the tubular body.

6. A connector substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.