GB2402926A

GB2402926A - Improved bottle top pourer

Info

Publication number: GB2402926A
Application number: GB0313109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Anthony Edwards
Original assignee: Mitchell and Cooper Ltd
Current assignee: Mitchell and Cooper Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-06
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2004-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-06
Also published as: GB0313109D0; GB2402926B

Abstract

A hand operable bottle mounted drinks dispenser 30 is disclosed comprising a substantially hollow body 32 defining a cavity 40. The cavity 40 includes a measurement chamber 44 and an inlet valve 46 operable to permit the flow of liquid into the measurement chamber 44. The dispenser further includes an inlet 34 connectable to the bottle and an outlet 36 having an outlet valve 47, wherein the outlet valve 47 and the inlet valve 46 are operable by an actuator mechanism 38. The actuator mechanism 38 is operable to permit liquid to be dispensed from the measurement chamber 44 in use and the inlet valve 46 is operable to close the measurement chamber 44 prior to the outlet valve 47 opening. Since the inlet valve 46 closes before the outlet valve 47 opens, a measured quantity of liquid is trapped in the measurement chamber 44 and the weight of the liquid within the bottle does not adversely affect the accuracy of the measured volume of liquid dispensed.

Description

Improved Bottle Top Pourer The present invention relates to a dispenser

for liquid and in particular, although not exclusively, to a dispenser for dispensing liquid from a bottle.

It is known to provide a hand operated drinks dispenser for a bottle to dispense accurate quantities of liquids that are subject to Government control and regulation. Such a dispenser is know from IJK patent GB2329173 which comprises a body defining a measuring chamber with a snap- over valve. The snap-over valve comprises a single body having an inlet seal at one end and an outlet seal at the other end. The inlet seal locates on an inlet valve seat. The dispenser of GB2329173 is used to dispense measured quantities of liquids such as whisky, gin, vodka and rum that are subject to measurement control by the Government.

l 5 Government regulations for liquid dispensers of this kind require that the dispenser should not only work accurately when the dispensing outlet is aligned vertically downward, but also when it is tilted at up to 45 from the vertical.

Several problems are associated with the prior art dispensers. The requirement for the dispenser to operate at 45 can present difficulties whereby there is a tendency for an air bubble to be trapped between the inlet valve seat and dispenser measuring chamber.

The size of the trapped air bubble can sometimes be sufficiently large so as to adversely affect the accuracy of the liquid volume being dispensed, and cause the dispensing device to discharge a volume of liquid that is outside of the required measurement tolerance.

A further problem associated with prior dispensers is that the speed at which the snap over valve operates can vary according to the volume of the liquid in the bottle. If the bottle is nearly full the weight of the liquid bearing down on the surface area of the inlet seal causes the snapover speed of the valve to be slower than when the bottle is nearly empty. More liquid is dispensed when the snap-over speed of the valve is slower since there is a direct fluid communication path from the bottle and past the outlet seal 20.

What is required is an improved hand operated drinks dispenser which can overcome the aforementioned problems, and maximise the accuracy with which liquids subject to (government control can be dispensed in a simple and cost effective manner.

According to the invention there is provided a hand operable drinks dispenser for a bottle, the dispenser having a substantially hollow body which defines a cavity and a measurement chamber in fluid communication with an inlet valve arranged in the cavity and being operable to prevent the fluid communication between the reservoir and the measurement chamber, the cavity having an inlet connectable to a bottle, in use, and the measurement chamber having an outlet with an outlet valve, the outlet valve and the inlet valve being operable by an actuator mechanism, the outlet valve being operable to permit liquid to be dispensed from the measurement chamber in use, wherein the inlet valve is operable to close the fluid communication between the cavity and the measurement chamber prior to the outlet valve opening, in use.

A drinks dispenser so arranged has improved accuracy of the measured quantity of liquid being dispensed. Since the inlet valve closes before the outlet valve opens a measured quantity of liquid is trapped in the measurement chamber and the weight of the liquid within the bottle does not adversely affect the accuracy of the measured volume of liquid dispensed. The inlet valve is preferably arranged such that the weight of liquid within the bottle will tend to close the inlet valve thereby improving its operation. This feature reduces the dependence of the measured liquid on the amount of liquid in the bottle. While it is disclosed that the inlet valve is operable to close prior to the opening of the outlet, it will be understood that the operation of said valves may be near instantaneous.

In a preferred embodiment the cavity comprises a reservoir. The reservoir facilitates filling of the measuring chamber and may be a slightly larger volume or substantially the same volume as the measuring chamber. The reservoir is a particularly useful feature since it accumulates liquid when the measured quantity of liquid is being dispensed from the measuring chamber. On closing of the outlet valve and opening of the inlet valve the accumulated liquid passes into the measuring chamber thereby decreasing the time that a second measured quantity of liquid can be dispensed from the measuring chamber.

In a preferred embodiment the inlet valve is resiliently biased in an open condition to permit fluid communication between the reservoir and the measurement chamber in use, and the outlet valve is resiliently biased in the closed condition to prevent liquid to be dispensed from the measurement chamber, in use.

The inlet valve may be provided with an annular seal to seal the inlet valve to a valve seat of the body when the inlet valve is in the closed condition. The valve seat is formed by an outwardly facing flange of the body so that air cannot be trapped when the bottle is inclined at an angle of up to 45 from the vertical.

A drinks dispenser so arranged has no overhangs or undercuts which might trap air.

The dispenser permits air to escape from the measuring chamber when the dispenser is located on a bottle containing liquid and when the bottle is inverted since the inlet valve is operable within the reservoir. This provides the measurement chamber with a greater measurement accuracy when compared to prior art drinks dispensers and also permits the dispenser to be used when the bottle is oriented at 45 from the vertical.

in a preferred embodiment, the inlet valve inlet and outlet are arranged substantially linearly whereby the inlet valve is operable in a direction away from the inlet to prevent fluid communication between the reservoir and the measuring chamber.

Preferably the outlet valve is operable in a direction away from the inlet to close the outlet.

In a preferred embodiment the actuator mechanism comprises a trigger which is pivotable about a pivot pin of the body, wherein the trigger has a lever with an over centre spring, the over centre spring connectable to a bell crank which is operable to open the outlet valve.

Preferably the body is elongate wherein the reservoir and the measuring chamber are at opposite ends of the elongate body.

The outlet valve may be mounted on a shaft that is axially movable within the elongate body, the shaft having a groove within which a fork of the bell crank is locatable to operate the outlet valve.

The trigger may further be provided with a return spring which is operable to close in the inlet valve.

The shaft may be provided with shaft seals to seal the shaft against leakage of liquid from the reservoir and from the measuring chamber, in use. A further inlet seal may be provided to seal the inlet valve with the valve seat.

In a preferred embodiment the first part of the movement of the trigger, in use, closes the inlet valve and the second part of the movement of the trigger opens the outlet valve.

The inlet may be provided with a divider which comprises two channels to facilitate the exchange of liquid from the bottle into the reservoir with air from the reservoir into the bottle, in use. The inlet may further be provided with a resilient seal on an external surface of the inlet to seal the dispenser to the bottle, in use.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a schematic cross section of a drinks dispenser in a drink filling condition according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross section of the drinks dispenser of Fig. 1 in a drink dispensing condition.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a schematic cross section of a drinks dispenser in a drink filling condition according to the present invention, generally designated 30. The drinks dispenser 30 has an elongate, substantially hollow, body 32 which has an inlet 34, an outlet 36 and a dispensing mechanism 38. The hollow body 32 defines an internal space 40 which is divided into a reservoir 42 and a measuring chamber 44 by an inlet valve 46. The outlet 36 has an outlet valve 47 to permit liquid to be dispensed from the measuring chamber 44. The inlet 34 is divided into two channels by a divider 48 the provision of two channels facilitates the exchange of liquid from a bottle (not shown) into the reservoir 42 with air from the reservoir 42 into the bottle. The inlet 34 is further provided with a resilient seal 50 to seal the dispenser 30 to the bottle.

The dispensing mechanism 38 of Fig. 1 has a trigger 52 which is pivotable about a pivot pin 54 of the body 32. The trigger 52 has a lever 56 on which is mounted a pin 58. The pin 58 is adapted for attachment of one end of a snap-over spring 60. The other end of the snap-over spring 60 is attached to a pin 62 on a bell crank 64. The bell crank 64 is pivotable about pivot pin 54 and has an arm 66 with a fork end. The fork end co-operates with a groove 67 of a shaft 68. The shaft 68 is arranged to move longitudinally within the body 32 to operate the outlet valve 47 to permit liquid to exit the measuring chamber 44 via the outlet 36.

Also shown in Fig. 1 is a return spring 70 which is operable about the pivot pin 54. The spring 70 has one free end 72 connected to the trigger 52 and another free end connected to operate the inlet valve 46. The inlet valve 46 has a return spring 78 to bias the inlet valve 46 in the open condition. Movement of the free end 74 connected to the inlet valve 46 is limited by a stroke limiting member 76.

In Fig. I the dispenser 30 is illustrated with the outlet 36 pointing vertically downwards and the trigger 52 in the relaxed position so that the inlet valve 46 is open and the outlet valve 47 is closed. In this position liquid from the bottle (not shown) enters the reservoir 42 and passes around the inlet valve 46 to fill the measuring chamber 44.

Inuring this operation air travels upwardly from the measuring chamber 44 and reservoir 42 and into the bottle via the inlet 34.

Now referring to Fig. 2 there is shown a schematic cross section of the drinks dispenser of Fig. 1 in a drink dispensing condition whereby the trigger 52 has been operated to close the inlet valve 46 and open the outlet valve 47. Like features with the drinks dispenser of Fig. 1 are shown with like reference numerals. In Fig. 2 a trigger stop 80 of the trigger 52 is shown. The trigger stop 80 makes contact with the dispenser body 32 when the trigger 52 is in the relaxed condition shown in Fig. 1.

Also shown in Fig. 2 is a seal 81 to seal the shaft 68 against leakage of the liquid from the reservoir 42. A seal 82 is also shown which seals the inlet valve 46 with a valve seat 84 of the body 32. A further seal 86 is shown which seals the shaft 68 from the measuring chamber 44.

In use the drinks dispenser 30 is attached to the bottle. The configuration of the dispenser 30 on the bottle permits the bottle and the dispenser 30 to be conveniently balanced in the hand of a user with the minimum of moments placed about the wrist.

The bottle is then inverted so that the outlet 36 of the dispenser points vertically downwards. This causes liquid from the bottle to enter the reservoir 42 and the measuring chamber 44. A measured quantity of liquid is then dispensed by movement of the trigger 52. The first part of the movement of the trigger 52 operates the free end 74 of the spring 70 to close the valve 46. The valve 46 closes because the force applied by the return spring 78 is less than that force applied by the spring 70. Continued movement of the trigger 52 operates the snap- over spring 60 which operates the outlet valve 47 thereby dispensing the liquid. It can therefore be seen that between the inlet valve 46 closing and the outlet valve 47 opening a measure of liquid is captured in the measuring chamber 44. When the trigger 52 is released the snap over spring 60 operates the outlet valve 46 to close the outlet valve 47 and the inlet valve 46 opens to permit liquid to pass from the reservoir 42 into the measuring chamber 44.

The dispenser is capable of dispensing accurate quantities of liquid when inclined at 45 to the vertical since the inlet valve 46 is operable in a vertically upward direction relative to the bottle. In Figs. 1 and 2 the inlet valve is shown to be as wide as possible so that during the filling of the measuring chamber 44 air can pass from the measuring chamber 44 into the reservoir 42 and into the bottle. Air in the measuring chamber 44 cannot be trapped between the inlet valve 46 and the dispenser body 32 because the inlet valve 46 forms an annular seal with the valve seat 84.

The accuracy of the liquid dispensed from the measuring chamber 44 is not dependent on the amount of liquid in the bottle since the inlet valve 46 is closed before the outlet valve 47 is opened. When the bottle is inverted any liquid within the bottle will tend to bias the inlet valve 46 in the closed condition thereby improving the seal between the inlet valve 46 and the valve seat 84.

Claims

Claims 1. A hand operable bottle mounted drinks dispenser for a bottle,

the dispenser having a substantially hollow body defining a cavity, which cavity includes a measurement chamber and an inlet valve operable to permit the flow of liquid into the measurement chamber, the dispenser further including an inlet connectable to a bottle, in use, and an outlet having an outlet valve, wherein the outlet valve and the inlet valve are operable by an actuator mechanism operable to permit liquid to be dispensed from the measurement chamber in use, wherein the inlet valve is operable to close the 1 () measurement chamber prior to the outlet valve opening.
2. A drinks dispenser as claimed in claim I wherein the cavity further includes a reservoir, the inlet valve being intermediate the reservoir and the measuring chamber.
3. A drinks dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, the inlet valve is resiliently biased to an open condition and the outlet valve is resiliently biased to a closed condition.
4. A drinks dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet valve is provided with an annular seal which, in use, seals to a valve seat of the body.
5. A drinks dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet valve is movable in a direction away from the dispenser inlet to permit the flow of liquid into the measurement chamber.
6. drinks dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the outlet valve is movable in a direction away from the dispenser inlet to close the outlet.
7. 1Y drinks dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a trigger having a lever pivotable about a pivot pin of the body, a bell crank operable to move the inlet and outlet valves, and an over centre spring positioned between the lever and the bell crank.
8. A drinks dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inlet and outlet valves are mounted on a shaft that is axially movable within the body of the dispenser, the shaft having a groove within which a fork of the bell crank is located.
9. A drinks dispenser as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the trigger is further be provided with a return spring.