WO1993008094A1

WO1993008094A1 - Non refillable fitment for a bottle

Info

Publication number: WO1993008094A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/001883
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Nott; David Christopher Snow; Richard Paul Harbutt
Original assignee: United Distillers Plc
Priority date: 1991-10-14
Filing date: 1992-10-14
Publication date: 1993-04-29
Also published as: AU2695792A; GB9121749D0

Abstract

There is provided a fitment (2) for a bottle (1) comprising a one-way valve means (3) to allow outward flow of liquid from the bottle (1) and to prevent unauthorised re-filling of the bottle (1), wherein the fitment (2) further comprises vacuum break means (17) to allow air to pass into the bottle (1) when a partial vacuum exists in the bottle (1) thereby facilitating the release of the one-way valve means (3) to allow said outward flow of liquid. There is also provided a bottle (1) comprising a fitment (2) as previously described.

Description

Non refiliable fitment for a bottle.

The present invention relates to a fitment for a bottle, in particular, a fitment which inhibits refilling of the bottle. The present invention also relates to a bottle comprising the said fitment.

It is known to provide bottles with closures which include one-way valves to prevent refilling of the bottle once the original contents have been emptied or partially depleted. However, a problem experienced with such an arrangement is that under certain heating/cooling conditions a partial vacuum can be created beneath the one-way valve means which prevents further outward flow of liquid by holding the one-way valve means in its sealing position. A typical example would be when the temperature of a bottle increases so that the contents (eg whisky and air) expand causing any excess air to pass through the one-way valve means to atmosphere. If the bottle is then cooled (eg by placing in a refrigerator) the contents will contract but the one-way valve means will prevent air being sucked back into the bottle. This results in the valve means being held firmly closed by the partial vacuum below the one-way valve means. In order to facilitate release of further liquid from the bottle the pressure difference across the one-way valve must be reduced. This should preferably be achieved when the bottle is inverted to pour liquid out. Clearly, it is considered desirable to provide a fitment which is not subject to the problems associated with a partial vacuum.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fitment for a bottle comprising a one-way valve means to allow outward flow of liquid from the bottle and to prevent unauthorised refilling of the bottle wherein the fitment further comprises vacuum break means to allow air to pass into the bottle when a partial vacuum exists in the bottle thereby facilitating release of the one-way valve means to allow said outward flow of fluid.

Preferably _r the vacuum break means is operable by gravity on inverting the bottle.

Preferably, the one-way valve means is provided with a sealing member.

Preferably, the vacuum break means comprises a secondary one-way valve means.

Preferably, the secondary valve means has an operating member constructed and arranged such that it is not held by the partial vaccum and it is moveable under gravity so that when the bottle is inverted to pour out fluid, air will pass back into the interior of the bottle.

Preferably, the secondary valve means is moveable from a first position which prevents the introduction of both liquid and air into the bottle to a second position which allows only air to pass into the bottle.

Preferably, the sealing member and the first-mentioned one-way valve means are connected by the secondary one-way valve means.

Preferably, there is provided a device wherein the secondary valve means is a needle valve, the needle valve connecting the first-mentioned one-way valve means to the sealing member.

Preferably, the fitment also comprises an absorbent pad which, in use, is located at the mouth of the bottle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bottle comprising a fitment as previously described. A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows how a fitment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention would be located in the neck of a bottle;

Figure 2 depicts a fitment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention when closed;

Figure 3 is a view of the fitment of Figure 2 in the direction of arrow B;

Figure 4 depicts the fitment of Figure 2 when open;

Figure 5 depicts the flow of fluid through the fitment of Figure 2 when fully open; and

Figure 6 shows a fitment in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention when closed.

Figure 1 shows how a fitment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention would be located in a bottle 1.

Figure 2 depicts a preferred embodiment of a fitment, generally indicated by reference numeral 2. The fitment 2 comprises a one-way valve means, generally indicated by reference numeral 3, for outward flow of fluid from the bottle. The one-way valve means 3 is slidable within a housing 4 from a closed position (Figure 2) to an open position (Figures 4 and 5) . The fitment 2 also comprises an absorbent pad 23 in which stem 6 is located. The absorbent pad 23 allows passage of the fluid contained in the bottle but will restrict the passage of thicker or denser substances such as glue and the like. Furthermore, if a liquid is introduced into the fitment and then frozen, with the valve in the open position, the liquid that has wetted the pad will also freeze, thus preventing the refilling of the bottle.

The absorbent pad 23 is intended to restrict flow of a viscous fluid such as glue and the glue will tend to set within the pad, thus hindering the introduction of a counterfeit product.

The fitment 2 is provided with a sprung lip 25 on its external periphery to locate it in the required position.

The one-way valve means 3 depicted is a variation on the vaive arrangement described in the applicant's co-pending U.K. patent application No.

9106578.9. The one-way valve arrangement in Figure 2 is shown in a closed position where a ball 9 pushes the one-way valve means 3 towards the end 10 of the fitment. In this position a soft seal gasket 11 is forced against the end 10 to seal the contents of the bottle. The bottle will be sealed if it is upright or at any position between upright and horizontal. When the bottle is horizontal the conical surface 12 ensures that the ball 9 will roll downwards towards the one-way valve 3 to close it. It is only when the bottle is tilted below the horizontal that ball 9 will roll over the conical surface 12 and seat in the arms 7 on the axial stem 6. Fluid will then force the one-way valve means 3 towards the end 13 of the fitment and the soft seal gasket 11 will be pulled away from its sealing position with end 10.

Figures 4 and 5 depict the fitment when the one-way valve means 3 is fully open and fluid is able to pour from the bottle. It can be seen that the one-way valve means 3 comprises a fixed guide 14 and a slidable chamber 15. The chamber 15 is provided with external fins 31 which help to guide it in housing 4. The chamber 15 contains air and acts as a float so that if an attempt is made to fill the bottle when inverted, chamber 15 will move upwards to close the one-way valve means 3. The space 16 between the chamber 15 and guide 14 will fill with fluid via a narrow clearance 26 during forced filling. When there is fluid in space 16 it will then act as a damping mechanism if an attempt is made to fill by vibrating the one-way valve means because fluid will not be able to leave space 16 quickly having only an exit via narrow clearance 26.

A partial vacuum can be created in a bottle having a one-way valve means under certain heating/cooling conditions. For example, if the temperature of a bottle increases so that its contents (e.g liquid and air) expand, the excess air will pass out through the one-way valve means to atmosphere. If the bottle is then cooled (e.g by placing in a refrigerator) the contents will then contract but the one-way valve means will prevent air from being sucked back into the bottle. This will result in the valve means being held firmly closed by the partial vacuum. In order to release the valve means, the pressure difference across the valve means must be reduced.

If the fitment depicted in Figure 2 was constructed such that a simple soft seal gasket 11 in the form of a disc or the like was located on the lower surface of the one-way valve means 3 (as viewed when the bottle in which the fitment is placed is upright) or simply omitted, an increase in temperature of the contents of the bottle would result in expansion and the excess air would pass through the one-way valve means 3 to atmosphere. Subsequent cooling of the contents would result in contraction but air would be prevented from being sucked back into the bottle by the one-way valve means. This would result in the valve being held firmly closed by the partial vacuum created in the bottle. In order to overcome this problem, a device needs to be incorporated which will allow air to pass back into the bottle when it is inverted to f>our out further liquid.

The fitment depicted in Figure 2 overcomes the problem of a partial vacuum by means of a vacuum _break means in the form of a secondary one-way valve means generally indicated by reference numeral 17. The^" valve means 17 comprises a needle 18 which connects the gasket 11 to the valve means 3. The needle 18 is moveable in a chamber 19 from a first position in which it seals the outlet 20 of valve means 17 to a second position in which fluid can pass through the valve ie when the tip of needle 1*8 clears the lower shoulders 28 of chamber 19. The needle 18 is provided with a number of ribs 30 which allow fluid to pass from chamber 19 into housing 4 in the second position. The needle 18 will move in chamber 19 until it abuts the upper shoulders 29 of chamber 19. There is also a support 21 for the secondary valve means 17 which is intended to prevent the gasket 11 from deflecting too far when a partial vacuum exists and to prevent a counterfeiter from pushing the whole fitment into the bottle during tampering. The support 21 is connected to the housing 4 by a number of spaced ribs 22 through which liquid can pass during emptying of the bottle. The support comprises a central annular portion 24 from which ribs 22 extend and it is the portion 24 against which the gasket 11 will abut to prevent excessive deflection. Figure 3 shows the structure of support 21 as viewed in direction B in Figure 2.

If no partial vacuum exists, ie the pressure on each side of gasket 11 is balanced, when the bottle is inverted, the weight of valve means 3 will pull the gasket 11 away from end 10 thereby allowing liquid to be released. If a partial vacuum exists, when the bottle is inverted, needle 18 will move under gravity within chamber 19 until it abuts the upper shoulders 29 of chamber 19. Air will then be able to enter the bottle through outlet 20, chamber 19 and into housing 4 until the pressure difference is reduced. Liquid will then flow from the bottle as intended. The dimensions and weight of needle 18 and area of outlet 20 are critical in order for it not to be held by the partial vacuum. A typical example of suitable dimensions would be as follows:

Weight of needle 18 0.0018 lb (0.004kg)

Area of outlet 20 0.0012 in² (0.77 x lθ^"2m²)

The maximum pressure differential existing at gasket 5 for these dimensions would be 1.5 lb/in 2

(0.7 kg/m 2) and this would typi.cally occur if the bottle was cooled from 20°C to -10°C.

In practice, the needle 18 could be a little heavier and the cross-sectional area of outlet 20 a little smaller to ensure that the needle 18 is not held by the partial vacuum. However, if the valve does not open, the user would be likely to shake the bottle which would temporarily double the effective weight of the needle 18 and this would further serve to cause its release.

It should be noted that if the bottle is inverted to attempt forced filling and the secondary one-way valve means 17 assumes its open position, any liquid which is introduced into the fitment will have sufficient force to push the chamber 15 and hence needle 18 into contact with shoulders 28 to close the secondary one-way valve means 17. Figure 5 depicts the fitment when tilted below the horizontal so that the one-way valve means 3 is open and fluid is flowing through the fitment. It can be seen that the fluid will flow through the lowermost portion of the fitment whilst air or bubbles will pass through the uppermost portion.

A fitment in accordance with a second embodiment is shown in Figure 6 in which parts corresponding to those previously described in relation to the first embodiment are indicated with like reference numerals. As shown, the second embodiment differs from the first in that the needle 18 is provided with a hammer-head 32 in place of the pointed end previously described. It has been found that under certain circumstances the pointed end of the needle 18 of the first embodiment can be displaced laterally with respect to the outlet 20 thereby adversely affecting the operation of the vacuum brake means. The hammer-head 32 of the second embodiment is designed to overcome this drawback by both limiting the possible lateral movement of the needle 18 by the engagement of the ribs 30 with the sides of the chamber 19 and by the provision of a larger lateral tolerance which enables the needle 18 to be slightly laterally displaced and yet still seal the outlet 20.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a particular one-way valve means 3 it is envisaged that the secondary one-way valve means 17 could be incorporated into many other one-way valve arrangements which suffer from the effects of a partial vacuum.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fitment for a bottle comprising a one-way valve means to allow outward flow of liquid from the bottle and to prevent unauthorised refilling of the bottle, wherein the fitment further comprises vacuum break means to allow air to pass into the bottle when a partial vacuum exists in the bottle thereby facilitating release of the one-way valve means to allow said outward flow of liquid.

2. A fitment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the vacuum break means is operable by gravity on inverting the bottle.

3. A fitment as claimed in claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the one-way valve means is provided with a sealing member.

4. A fitment as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the vacuum break means comprises a secondary one-way valve means.

5. A fitment as claimed in claim 4 wherein the secondary valve means has an operating member constructed and arranged such that it is not held by the partial vacuum and it is moveable under gravity so that when the bottle is inverted to pour out fluid, air will pass back into the interior of the bottle.

6. A fitment as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the secondary valve means is moveable from a first position which prevents the introduction of both liquid and air into the bottle to a second position which allows only air to pass into the bottle.

7. A fitment as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the sealing member and the first-mentioned one-way valve means are connected by the secondary one-way valve means.

8. A fitment as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the secondary valve means is a needle valve, the needle valve connecting the first-mentioned one-way valve means to the sealing member.

9. A fitment as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an absorbent pad which, in use, is located at the mouth of the bottle.

10. A bottle comprising a fitment, said fitment being in accordance with any preceding claim.