GB2237265A

GB2237265A - An adaptor for a bottle dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2237265A
Application number: GB8919233A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Wenfield
Original assignee: Gaskell and Chambers Ltd
Current assignee: Gaskell and Chambers Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-24
Filing date: 1989-08-24
Publication date: 1991-05-01
Also published as: GB8919233D0

Abstract

An adaptor 1 for providing a connection between a liquid dispenser and a non-refillable closure fitted to a bottle, wherein the adaptor comprises means (2) for receiving the said dispenser and means (4, 6, 7) for receiving the said closure, the said means being adapted to receive closures of different sizes. Preferably, the means for receiving the said closure are adjustable, e.g. in the form of arcuate clamps 4 biassed by a spring 5. The invention allows bottles having non-refillable closures of different sizes to be attached to a liquid dispenser of standard dimensions, e.g. a dispenser of the "optic" (RTM) type. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ADAPTOR The invention relates to an adaptor particularly, but not exclusively. for use with bottles having closures of different diameters.

In the licensed trade. beverage manufacturers have found it necessary to fit non-refillable closures onto their bottles. Such closures differ in size. The bottles are often then required to be attached to a liquid dispenser which is usually fitted with standard attachment means.

The non-uniformity of the sizes of the closures on the bottles means either-that sometimes the bottles may not be fitted to an available dispenser or that different types of dispenser must be available. This is inconvenient and/or expensive for the end user of the product, e.g. for the publican.

An object of the invention is to provide an adaptor which enables bottles having different sizes of closure to be fitted to a standard liquid dispenser.

The invention provides an adaptor for providing a connection between a liquid dispenser and a closure fitted to a bottle. wherein the adaptor comprises means for receiving the said dispenser and means for receiving the said closure, the said means for receiving the said closure being adapted so as to enable closures of different sizes to be received.

Preferably, the means for receiving the said closure are adjustable.

Preferably, the means for receiving the said closure are adjusted in use by insertion of a closure into the adaptor.

Preferably, the means for receiving the said closure are biased into a first position and movable therefrom into a second position.

The invention also provides a dispenser for attachment to a bottle fitted with a closure, comprising means for receiving the said closure, said means being adapted so as to enable closures of different sizes to be received.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional view of an adaptor according to the invention; and Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are side and end views respectively of the adaptor of Figure 1.

The adaptor shown in Figure 1 has a generally cylindrical body 1 which encloses at one end la a sleeve member 2 shaped to releasably receive the inlet tube of a liquid dispenser (not shown) of standard dimensions, e.g. any of those marketed under the registered trade mark "OPTIC". The sleeve member 2 is resilient to enable an airtight seal to be achieved between the dispenser and the adaptor. The inlet tube of the dispenser is locatable in the sleeve member by push-fitting.

The opposite end ib of the body 1 encloses a cage member 3 which retains and guides two diametrically opposed arcuate clamping members 4. The clamping members 4 are movable in a radial direction towards and away from the body 1. A spring 5 is located radially outside the clamping members 4 and is deformed by outward movement of the clamping members 4. Thus the clamping members 4 are biased towards the longitudinal axis X of the adaptor in order to grip a closure inserted into the end 1b of the adaptor.

The body 1 also carries an internal projection 6 which has an annular tongue 7 extending within the adaptor parallel to the longitudinal axis X thereof. The closures most commonly fitted to bottles in the licensed trade carry annular grooves which are of a standard diameter and the annular tongue 7 is dimensioned to be received in such a groove. Sealing means (not shown) are provided to ensure that an airtight seal is obtained between the closure and the adaptor.

The annular groove 7 defines the circumference of an aperture within the adaptor. Located within this aperture and attached to the inner walls of the tongue 7 is a pin 8 having a stem 9 extending along the longitudinal axis X towards the end lb. The pin 8 is planar in the longitudinal direction (see Figure 2(b)) to allow passage of liquid from the bottle to the dispenser. The stem 9 is used to operate a valve located in the closure fixed to the bottle.

It is anticipated that the majority of the parts of the adaptor descibed above would be made from a plastics material, although the spring 5 would be of spring steel. The parts are moulded either separately or integrally. Various modifications would be apparant to one skilled in the art, e.g. the number of clamping members 4 could be varied and alternative biasing means could be provided.

The adaptor described above can be attached to any closure having an apropriately sized groove, no matter what the diameter of the closure itself. The clamping members will be adjusted to receive the closure which, having been fitted to a bottle, can then be used to dispense liquid from the bottle to the dispenser.

Claims

Claims:

1. An adaptor for providing a connection between a liquid dispenser and a closure fitted to a bottle, wherein the adaptor comprises means for receiving the said dispenser and means for receiving the said closure, the said means for receiving the said closure being adapted so as to enable closures of different sizes to be received.

2. An adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for receiving the said closure are adjustable.

3. An adaptor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for receiving the said closure are adjusted in use by insertion of a closure into the adaptor.

4. An adaptor as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the means for receiving the said closure are biased into a first position and movable therefrom into a second position.

5. An adaptor as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the means for receiving the said closure comprise at least one clamping member for supporting a closure or bottle located thereagainst.

6. An adaptor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means for receiving the said dispenser and the means for receiving the said closure each comprise sealing means for forming an airtight seal between the adaptor and the dispenser and between the adaptor and the closure respectively.

7. An adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A dispenser for attachment to a bottle fitted with a closure, comprising means for receiving the said closure, said means being adapted so as to enable closures of different sizes to be received.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for receiving the said closure are adjustable.