GB2454670A

GB2454670A - A dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2454670A
Application number: GB0722277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Appanna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-13
Filing date: 2007-11-13
Publication date: 2009-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-13
Also published as: GB2454670B; GB0722277D0

Abstract

A dispensing device for dispensing into a liquid, by dissolution or infusion, a product or products, to alter the characteristics of the liquid, the products being contained in a reservoir 6 in the device. A predetermined amount of product can be dispensed from the reservoir. The device includes a stirrer to facilitate mixing of the products into the liquid or a plunger device (fig 3; 10,11) operable to infuse the liquid through the products. The plunger device may be replaced by an electrically driven pump to pump liquid through the reservoir. A clip 6 on the dispensing device enables it to be secured to the rim of a drinking vessel and the device may include a temperature responsive element to indicate the temperature of the liquid. Products to be dispensed include tea, coffee, medicines, drugs, syrups, sugar, soups, formula milk feed, milk shakes, milk or chocolate.

Description

I

A dispensing device The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing into a liquid, a product or products to alter charactenstics of the liquid, such as its taste.

The invention is particularty applicable to the creation of a drink such as tea or coffee. It is known to prepare such drinks by placing a tea bag or a sachet of coffee in a cup of hot water, but on many occasions these methods have disadvantages. For example, when a teabag is placed in a cup of hot water to infuse tea into the liquid, the user then has to dispose of a wet teabag which is invariably dripping with water and the product. This is often not convenient. Similarly with sachets of coffee in which, after being used, the sachet has to be disposed of. In both cases, when the product is infused or mixed with water in a cup, it is usually necessary to stir the liquid to ensure even distribution of the product in the liquid, and on many occasions such as in offices, trains or similar places, the user will then use a pencil or pen to stir the liquid and then has the problem of drying the pencil or pen.

The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing device for dispensing into a liquid, a product or products to alter the characteristics of the liquid, the product(s) being contained in a reservoir in the device, the device including an element adapted to function as a stirrer to facilitate mixing of the said product (s) into the liquid, or being operable to infuse the liquid through the product or products.

Preferably, the said element includes said reservoir. The reservoir preferably has a liquid permeable cover, which may comprise a substantially rigid fabric or mesh.

The dispensing device preferably includes a case in which the reservoir is located, the case being closable to seal the reservoir in the case in a substantially waterproof manner, in which case the reservoir may be mounted on a cap adapted to be fastened onto the case to close the case. A clip may be formed on the cap to enable the device to be secured to the rim of a drinking vessel.

The dispensing device preferably includes a temperature responsive element adapted to give a visual indication of the temperature of a liquid in which the reservoir is inserted.

In a further embodiment, the reservoir comprises a cartridge detachably secured to the cap. The reservoir may be adapted to dispense into the liquid, one or more of: -tea, coffee, medicines, syrups, sugar soups, milk shakes, milk or chocolate, and may have, preferably, at least two separate compartments.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the reservoir comprises an annular sleeve surrounding a liquid permeable cylinder with a plunger carrying a piston slideable in the cylinder so that when the reservoir is placed in a liquid, and said plunger operated, liquid is forced under pressure to circulate through said annular sleeve back into the main body of liquid Preferably, the piston includes a one-way vaNe to enable the plunger to be cycled through its range of movement to make multiple operations of forcing successive quantities of liquid through the reservoir. Preferably, the plunger and/or cylinder is rotatable to cause one or more sections of the reservoir to be masked from the pressure generated by the plunger In a further embodiment, the piston is located in a chamber isolated from fluid communication with the reservoir by a diaphragm, operation of the plunger when the reservoir is located in a liquid, drawing liquid into the interior of the reservoir, the device including a one-way valve operable when the plunger is moved in one direction to force liquid drawn up by the plunger through the reservoir.

In an alternative embodiment, the dispensing device includes an electrically driven pump, so that when the reservoir is placed in a liquid, the pump is operable to force the liquid under pressure through said reservoir, in the manner of filter coffee.

In yet another embodiment, the device is, adapted to dispense a predetermined amount of said product or products, and may compnse a baby's bottle having a teat which is temperature responsive, or has thereon a temperature responsive element, to give a visual indication of the temperature of the contents.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a sectional view to a first embodiment of a dispensing device, Figure 2 shows a view of a casing of the device illustrated in Figure 1 Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a dispensing device, and Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of dispensing device.

Referring known to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a dispensing device having an outer case 1 consisting of a cylindrical tube closed at one end 2, and at its other axial end contains an internal screw thread by which the case may be screwed onto a closure element in the form of a cap 3 to close the case in a substantially waterproof manner. The cap 3 includes a clip element 4 extending downwardly on the outer side of the case and includes that it free end a protuberance 5 which abuts the case 1. The clip element 4 has a degree of resilience to enable the device to be clipped into a pocket or on to the wall of a drinking vessel such as a plastic cup or mug.

As shown in Figure 1, the cap 3 carries a substantially cylindrical reservoir 6 in the form or a liquid permeable fabric or a mesh formed of a substantially rigid plastic material having small gaps in the interstices. The reservoir is adapted to contain a product, such as tea leaves or coffee granules. The reservoir also carries, in this embodiment, a temperature responsive strip 7 of material which is adapted to give a visual indication of the temperature of a liquid in which the reservoir is inserted, In operation, in order to make a drink, the cap 3 Is unscrewed from the case and the reservoir 6 is inserted in a cup of hot water. The contents of the reservoir thus infuse into the liquid and this effect can be speeded up by stirring the hot water by holding the cap 3, keeping the reservoir 6 in the liquid and stirring. In the aftemative, it is possible to clip the cap 3 and hence the reservoir 6 to the cup or mug in which the drink is being prepared.

After the drink has been prepared, the reservoir 6 is then replaced into the case 1 and the cap 3 is screwed tight to thereby store the used reservoir 6 in the case in a leakproof manner, for disposal at a more convenient time When the reservoir is formed of a fabric, the necessary rigidity to enable it to act as a stirring device, may be provided by substantially rigid plastic elements extending along the length of the reservoir 6.

Although shown as integrally formed with the cap, it is possible for the reservoir to be a replaceable item which is screwed onto the cap. In this way, the device can be used, selectively, for prepanng a wider variety of drinks. In its simplest form, the device is intended as a use once, throwaway item, in which case it is manufactured from biodegradable or recyclable materials. In the form in which the reservoir is a replaceable item, it is envisaged that the product will be a very much more up-market product manufactured of for example stainless steel, or may have advertising material incorporating a company name, colour scheme or logo.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown an alternative embodiment in which like parts have like references. In this embodiment, the reservoir 6 is of annular construction, reference 8, containing a central bore 9 within which a piston 10 is axially slidable. The piston 10 a is connected to an operating rod 11 which passes through with the cap 3 and carries on its outer end a manually operable button I la. At its lower end, the cylindrical bore 9 contains a one-way flap valve (not shown) which, in operation, when the piston is pulled up through the bore, enables liquid to be drawn up into the cylindrical bore 9. When the piston 10 is pushed downwardly again at the flap valve closes so that the liquid in the cylindrical bore 9 is forced through the reservoir 6 to infuse the contents of the reservoir into the liquid.

In one version of this embodiment, the cylindrical bore 9 is impermeable to water and the piston 10 includes a one-way valve which is not shown so that when the reservoir 6 is inserted in a cup of liquid, liquid is able to flow through the one-way valve in the piston 10 to fill the cylindrical bore 9. As the plunger is pulled out, the liquid in the cylindrical bore is forced through openings into the top end of the annular reservoir to be forced down through the reservoir to infuse the product into the water.

As shown in the sketch 3a, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the device adjacent the cap, the reservoir is divided impermeable waits into three axially extending segments 13a, 13b, 13c, and is provided with a rotatable closure element which can be rotated manually to close off segments of the reservoir, to thereby dispense only the product in a selected segment.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the piston 10 is contained in a cylindrical 15 in a sleeve 16 which cames the reservoir. The piston is biased upwardly by a spnng 14 a flexible diaphragm (not shown) is disposed in the cylinder between the piston and the upper end of the reservoir. Also, the cylindrical bore 9 has adjacent to its lower end a one-way valve (not shown) which enables liquid to be drawn up into the cylindrical bore and into the cylinder 15 below the diaphragm from where the liquid is pumped by the action of the piston down through the annular reservoir. In this way, the contents of the reservoir and the liquid are separated from the piston and plunger which, when the reservoir is a disposable reservoir, obviates the need for cleaning the piston before reuse.

In a further embodiment, the plunger is replaced by an electrically driven pump which is adapted to pump liquid through the reservoir. In yet a further embodiment, not illustrated, it is envisaged that the device will be adapted to dispense a predetermined amount of product from the reservoir into the liquid. This embodiment is envisaged particularty for use with formula milk feed for babies, in which the correct amount can be added to the liquid only when needed. Thus, improved hygiene is obtained since the milk product is exposed to hot water and the air only at the moment it is needed. In this arrangement, it is envisaged that the teat may incorporate, or consist of, a temperature responsive material to provide a visual indication of the temperature of the water. Again, this enhances safety of the product.

The reservoir is adapted to dispense into the liquid almost any product which can be consumed by a human and which can either infuse flavour into the liquid, be dissolved in the liquid or held in suspension. Typically, the product will consist of one or more of: -tea, coffee, medicines, synips, sugar, soups, milk shakes, milk or chocolate. It could also be used for dispensing drugs where a predetermined amount of product is required to be dissolved in liquid to facilitate consumption.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing into a liquid, a product or products to alter the characteristics of the liquid, the product(s) being contained in a reservoir in the device, the device including an element adapted to function as a stirrer to facilitate mixing of the said product (s) into the liquid, or being operable to infuse the liquid through the product or products.

2 A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said element includes said reservoir

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the reservoir has a liquid permeable cover.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the liquid permeable cover comprises a substantially rigid fabric or mesh.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, including a case in which the reservoir is located, the case being closable to seal the reservoir in the casing in a substantially waterproof manner.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reservoir is mounted on a cap adapted to be fastened onto the case to close the case.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 6 wherein a clip is formed on the cap to enable the device to be secured to the rim of a drinking vessel.

8. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, including a temperature responsive element adapted to give a visual indication of the temperature of a liquid in which the reservoir is inserted.

9. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the reservoir comprises a cartridge detachably secured to the device.

10. A dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the reservoir is adapted to dispense into the liquid, a product which can be consumed by a human and which can erther infuse flavour into the liquid, be dissolved in the liquid or held in suspension.

11. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the reservoir has at least two separate compartments.

12. A dispensing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir comprises an annular sleeve surrounding a liquid permeable cylinder with a plunger carrying a piston slideable in the cylinder so that when the reservoir is placed in a liquid, and said plunger operated, liquid is drawn up and forced under pressure through said annular sleeve back into the liquid.

13. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the piston includes a one-way valve to enable the plunger to be cycled through its range of movement to make multiple operations of forcing successive quantities of liquid through the reservoir into the liquid.

14. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the plunger and/cylinder is rotatable to cause one or mote sections of the reservoir to be masked from the pressure generated by the plunger.

15. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the piston is located in a chamber isolated from fluid communication with the reservoir by a diaphragm, operation of the plunger when the reservoir is located in a liquid, drawing liquid into the interior of the reservoir, the device including a one-way valve operable when the plunger is moved in one direction to force liquid drawn up by the plunger through the reservoir.

16. A dispensing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, further including an electrically driven pump operable, when the reservoir is placed in a liquid, to force the liquid under pressure through said reservoir.

17. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to dispense a predetermined amount of said product or products.

18. A dispensing device according to claim 17, comprising a babs bottle having a teat which is temperature responsive, or has thereon a temperature responsive element, to give a visual indication of the temperature of the contents.

19. A dispensing device substantially as described here in with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.