WO1995021109A1

WO1995021109A1 - Device for use in a container with one or more similar pouring necks, to eliminate air in the container and restore back pressure lost on pouring

Info

Publication number: WO1995021109A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carl Leijonhufvud
Original assignee: Carl Leijonhufvud
Priority date: 1994-02-01
Filing date: 1995-01-24
Publication date: 1995-08-10
Also published as: SE9400316D0; AU1673595A; SE9400316L

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which is inserted in the pouring neck of a container to enable air/oxygen in the container to be eliminated and to enable the potential back pressure in the container to be increased. The invention solves this problem by enabling an expansion element, which is fitted in the upper or lower pouring neck of the container, to be filled with water/air in such manner that the contents of the container are not admixed. This is achieved by providing the ordinary pouring neck of the container or, alternatively, a specially designed pouring neck, for example in the bottom of a bottle, with a tube provided with vertical air passages along the outer side. The air passages commence at the upper edge of the tube and should preferably terminate at the point at wich the neck of the container begins to expand. An expansion element is attached to the lower end of the tube. When the expansion element is filled with water or air, the air external to the element within the container is forced out through the air passages in the tube and a high proportion of the back pressure which existed in the container prior to pouring is restored, following which the container may be resealed. The invention is used primarily for containers and bottles filled with carbonated drinks and wines or, alternatively, for tins and containers filled with chemicals, such as paints, which are not always completely used on one single occasion.

Description

Device for use in a container with one or more similar pouring necks, to eliminate air in the container and restore back pressure lost on pouring

It is well known that the liquid, as well as the chemicals, remaining in a container when it is partially emptied of its contents often deteriorates in quality. This is often caused by reaction between the oxygen in the air and chemical constituents, both liquid and semi-liquid, of the liquid.

In many instances also, a back pressure is required to ensure that the liquid does not lose its properties as volatile chemicals evaporate or are expelled from it.

In the case of carbonated drinks, such as soft drinks, beers etc., in containers such as bottles, which are partially emptied of their contents and then reseated, the liquid remaining in the bottle will release carbon dioxide until equilibrium is again established in the container. Repeated pouring will cause the carbon dioxide to become exhausted quickly, causing the drink to taste flat.

In addition, the oxygen in the air frequently accelerates various fermentation processes, particularly in the case of wines, as well as in chemical mixtures of various types. In some instances, this causes the wine or mixture in question to become completely unusable for the purpose intended.

This problem can largely be overcome by eliminating the air in the container and re¬ establishing a back pressure in the container which, in all essential respects, will prevent evaporation and loss of carbon dioxide from the remaining liquid.

Various methods of solving this problem have been tried, all based on efforts to eliminate the air which enters the container when it is filled, either by pumping out most of the air or by filling the container with a gas, which is often expensive and not always readily obtainable. Balloon-type elements inside the container have also been used in this context. The devices used in these cases are expensive and often obstruct the container opening to the extent that it is difficult to achieve a simple, practical pouring function. In all likelihood, this is the reason why these methods have achieved only limited use.

The purpose of the [resent invention is to solve the foregoing problems by a method which is easier to use, simpler, more functional and less expensive. In addition, the invention also facilitates the cleaning of containers with two or more pouring necks.

An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the appended figures, of which Figs. 1 and 3 show a section through a container with two pouring necks (20A, 20B), one with and one without a device, as shown in Fig. 2, for eliminating air in the container.

Fig. 4 shows a can-type container (2), the inside of which is provided with a graduated scale (16) to indicate the amount of water which must be added to the expansion element (5) when, for example, the contents of the container (2) have fallen to a certain level. The purpose of this is to ensure that the volume of liquid in the container when it is sealed is appropriate from the aspect of storing the contents.

Figs. 5 and 6 show two expansion elements (5), that shown in Fig. 5 being designed to adapt to the internal shape and volume of various containers, while that shown in Fig. 6 is preformed to fill the internal shape and volume of a specific container.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, excluding the tabs (11), of the tube shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to which the expansion element is attached at the lower end.

Fig. 8 shows a cork, which is provided with 'bayonet-type' pegs (11 A) at the lower end, and is sized to fit the grooves (10) and inside diameter of the tube (6 in Fig. 7).

Fig. 9 is a sectional side view of the tube (6 in Figs. 2 and 3), showing that the tops of the air passages in the tube (6) are covered by tabs (11). Fig. 10 shows a hook (17) designed for insertion in and engagement with a loop (8, 9 in Figs. 2-6).

Fig. 1 shows an unopened container (2) with two corks (1), a removable support stand (3) with an inward-facing lip (4A) and a groove (4B) on the outside, in which the edge (4A) can be seated. The device shown in Fig. 2 is shown inserted in the container in Fig. 3, in which the directions of the arrows (14, 15) indicate the function.

The pouring neck (20A) and device as per Fig. 2, shown inserted in the container Fig. 3, can be connected to the mains water supply by means of a hose, valve and pressure converter. Thus, the system affords the facility of continuously filling the expansion element (5) in the container with the same quantity of liquid as that poured simultaneously from a pouring device in the other neck (20B).

Fig. 2 shows a device which is inserted in the pouring neck of a container. The device consists of a tube (6) with air passages (7). The air passages (7), which adjoin the inner surface of the container, commence at the top of the tube and terminate preferably where the internal shape of the container begins to expand. An expansion element (5 in Fig. 5) is attached to the lower end of the tube, the inside of which is provided with grooves (10) in which pegs (11 A) on the cork shown in Fig. 8 are inserted.

The device shown in Fig. 2 which, in Fig. 3, is shown inserted in a container which has been partially emptied of its contents, consists of a tube (6) in which air passages (7) are arranged vertically and emerge at the inner surface of the pouring neck. Grooves (10) for pegs (11 A) on a cork designed to suit the diameter and length of the tube are provided on the inside of the tube (6). The upper end of the tube (6) is provided with tabs (11) covering the air passages (7), while the mouth of the expansion element (5) is fitted over the lower, outward-facing lip (18) at the lower end of the tube (6). The bottom of the expansion element (5), opposite the container opening or openings, is provided with two loops, an internal loop (8) and an external loop (9). Fig. 4 shows the situation when the expansion element (Fig. 6) in the container is filled with water (14), displacing the original liquid (13) upward towards the lid of the container. The inside of the container is provided with a scale (16) which, for different liquid levels in the container, indicates the quantity of water which must be added to the expansion element to bring the original contents of the container to a level suitable for their storage.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tube (6) which, however, does not show the tabs (11) covering the air passages (7). The figure shows the grooves (10) in which the pegs (11 A) on the cork (Fig. 8) are seated. Fig. 8 shows a cork designed to suit the internal dimensions of the tube (6), including the projecting pegs (11A), which are designed for insertion in the grooves (10) in the tube.

Item 11 in Fig. 9 represents the tabs which cover the air passages (7) in the tube (6), the said passages (7) being situated between the inner surface of the container and the outer surface of the tube (6).

The procedure for using the device in a container with one opening is as follows: When a container, such as a soft drinks bottle, has been partially emptied of its contents, the hook (17) is inserted in the tube (6) of the device shown in Fig. 2. The expansion element (5) is then inserted through the neck of the bottle and the tube is fitted inside the neck. Water (14) is poured into the expansion element (5) and the air (15) in the bottle (2) is expelled through the air passages (7) between the tube (6) and the inner surface of the bottle neck. The cork is inserted when the expansion element has expelled all of the air from the bottle; in other words, when the outer surface of the expansion element (5) is pressed against the inner surface of the bottle. When pouring from the bottle subsequently, the cork is removed, the hook (17) is inserted in the pouring neck and engaged in the loop (8), and the expansion element (5) is emptied. The cork (Fig. 8) is then replaced in the pouring neck and used, as required, to twist or withdraw the tube (6) to which the expansion element (5) is attached. The original contents of the bottle may then be poured again. If the container/bottle is provided with two openings and each half is a mirror image of the other (Fig. 1), the container may be inverted after the expansion element has been filled with water and the cork inserted. The support stand (3) may then be removed and attached to the opposite end, thereby 'reversing' the top and bottom of the bottle. The contents of the bottle may then be poured from the 'new' pouring neck while water is filled continuously through the originally opened pouring neck.

When the bottle has been emptied of its original contents and the water-filled expansion element is to be removed, the bottle is opened at the bottom and the hook (17) engaged in the loop (9). The expansion element (5) is thereby held in a fixed position and may be emptied of its contents. It is then a simple matter to withdraw the device described in Fig. 2 in the manner described above.

Finally, it may be noted that a container provided with two openings, in which each half is a mirror image of the other, is easier to clean than a similar container with one opening.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Device for eliminating air from a container (2), incorporating a sealable tube (6), which device may be inserted in a pouring neck (20A) of the container (2) and is provided with an expansion element (5) attached to the tube (6) and designed, by filling with air or water through the tube (6), to expand in the container (2), thereby filling the space created by pouring of the container contents, characterised in that the tube (6) is provided with air passages (7) along part of its outer surface, which passages commence at the upper end of the tube (6) and terminate at the point where the pouring neck (20A) begins to expand inside the container (2), and which air passages (7) enable air to be discharged from the pouring neck space as the expansion element (5) expands.

2. Device in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the air passages (7) are protected, at the upper end of the tube (6), by tabs (11) and are sealed by the said tabs when the tube (6) is sealed by insertion of a cork (1) or fitting of a screw cap.

3. Device in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the shape and volume of the expansion element (5, Fig. 5), when expanded, conform to the internal shape and volume of the container (2, Fig. 3).

4. Device in accordance with patent claim 1, characterised in that the expansion element (5, Fig. 6) is preformed, in terms of shape and volume, to the internal shape and volume of the container (2, Fig. 4).

5. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing patent claims, characterised in that the lower end of the tube

(6) is provided with an outward facing lip (18), over which the mouth of the expansion element (5) can be fitted and attached.

7. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing patent claims, characterised in that the container (2, Fig. 3) is provided with several pouring necks (20A, 20B), one of which (20A) is for the tube (6) and expansion element (5), and may be connected to the mains water supply through a control valve and pressure converter.

8. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing patent claims, characterised in that the container (2, Fig. 3) is provided with two axially opposed pouring necks (20A, 20B), one of which (20A) is for the tube (6) and expansion element (5), and in that the container (2) may be also mounted reversibly in a support stand

(3, Fig.3).

9. Device in accordance with patent claim 2, characterised in that the tube (6) is provided, on the inside, with grooves (10) for interlocking engagement with pegs (11 A) on a cork (1, Fig. 8) when the latter is inserted in the tube (6) and closes the tabs (11) on the tube.

10. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing patent claims, characterised in that the container (2, Fig. 4) is provided with a scale (16, Fig. 4) indicating the quantity of water required to fill the expansion element (5) to a level satisfactory for storage of the container contents.