WO2000048921A1

WO2000048921A1 - A dual function integrated valve

Info

Publication number: WO2000048921A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/000588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xanthos Menelaou
Original assignee: Xanthos Menelaou
Priority date: 1999-02-18
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2000-08-24
Also published as: AU2564400A; GB9922633D0

Abstract

A dual function integrated valve comprising two cavities (2 and 2a), within same unit, a liquid outlet cavity (2), and air inlet cavity (2a), said cavities open or close by elastic action connected to plugs at the upper exits of said cavities in the form of membrane (5), and when suction is applied, plugs lift to allow liquid to flow outwards through perforations in the membrane (5), and air inwards through inlet holes (6 and 6a) on cavity (2a) and s pout wall (1), and both outlets are blocked once suction seizes and plugs return to their original position, due to elastic tension in the membrane thus turning the drinks vessels into non-spill ones.

Description

A DUAL FUNCTION INTEGRATED VALVE

THIS LNNENTION relates to a dual function integrated valve suitable for non-spill vessels where mechanical valve means open separate channels, thus through one such channel flows liquid from inside the vessel to the outside and through another channel air from the ambient into the vessel and both channels open or shut simultaneously by suction applied to the integrated unit situated within the mouthpiece of a lid , cup, or straw.

There are a number of non-spill vessels with valves where attempts have been made to solve the problem associated with the removal of the atmosphere within the vessel when suction is applied. To such designs separate valves have been used placed apart on the particular lid of the vessel, where mechanical means operated by suction can draw liquid from within the vessel, the mechanical means allowing air to flow into such vessels rely on the differential of the atmospheric pressures created by suction to operate them. It has been my experience that such valves and their arrangements do not work in practice, and on the contrary create more leakage, maintenance and hygiene problems.

The purpose of this invention is to solve such problems efficiently and economically by integrating both functions into a single unit, where the means of drawing liquid from the vessel and allowing air to replace lost atmosphere inside are operated mechanically and set into action simultaneously by suction, and not relying on the creation of differential atmospheric pressures, after suction is applied, in order to activate the air valve. This integrated approach brings not simply efficiency and economy to such a design, but also simplicity, that allows the creation of a single unit that can either be integral part of a lid, bottle cup, or straw, or made into a separate unit that can be placed or removed from them, for maintenance purposes. Other than been part of such non- spill vessels that normally have to be lifted above horizontal for one to drink from them, for convenience the design allows the accommodation of a straw or becoming part of a straw, therefore a valved straw. Furthermore such a straw can be fitted with filters or allowing for the vessel to operate by means of straw suction, or conventionally by the lifting to above horizontal position, opening outlet holes on the upper part of the straw when lifted.

In order that the invention is made clearer and readily understood, several embodiments will now be described, by way of proposed designs and reference to their accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1, is a vertical section through the spout accommodating an integrated valve made in one unit and of elastic material, showing air and liquid channels, valves and air inlet to air channel.

FIGURE 2, a horizontal section to the above design showing channels and valves inside the spout. FIGURE 3, showing same design as in Figure 1 , with valves at an open position once

Suction is applied.

FIGURE 4, a horizontal section of above design through the upper part of the spout showing solid flat surface on which the valve unit rests and holes to the mouthpiece.

FIGURE 5, a vertical section through the spout of one of the alternative designs, where valve means is operated by a single spring situated in the central liquid channel connected to the air valve by a shaft and a beam, the air channel been on the perimeter of the liquid central channel.

FIGURE 6, a horizontal section through the spout and valve of above design, showing air and liquid channels.

FIGURE 7, a horizontal section at the upper part of spout showing plan of the beam connecting the shaft that transfers spring action to the air valve.

FIGURE 8, a vertical section through the spout of an alternative arrangement where the air and liquid channels have their own separate spring means.

FIGURE 9, a horizontal section of the above design, showing liquid and air channels.

FIGURE 10, a vertical section through the spout of an alternative design showing separate channels and elastic valve attached to the central wall of solid spout thus allowing opening and closing action to the channels through elastic tension created when suction is applied.

FIGURE 11, a horizontal section through the spout of above design showing arrangement of the elastic valve above channels. FIGURE 12, a vertical section through an alternative design of an integrated valve, where the operating means are manual, showing valve operated by means of a threaded shaft been part of the rotating upper part of the spout and connecting to the threaded part of the valve, thus closing or opening the valve is provided when upper part of spout is turned to one or the other direction.

FIGURE 13, a horizontal section through the spout of above design showing the valve in plan and central threaded recess.

FIGURE 14, an alternative design of an integrated valve operated by single spring means where the spring is placed at the top of the valve and at the upper part of the spout connected to the valve thus operating both channels.

FIGURE 15, a vertical section through a typical spout and valve showing arrangement where the straw can be attached to the valve or be integral part of it and means by which the straw can be used for drawing liquid or nutralised so that the unit can be used at the conventional upright position.

Now referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, is a spout embodying the present invention, where the entire valve unit 'VI ', is made in one piece and of rubber material and either been integral part of the spout 1, or removable for maintenance purposes. At the upper part of channels 2&2a, plugs 3&4 are formed held to the walls of channels 2&2a by a thinner membrane 5, and at an angle. Once suction is applied through holes 9&10 to the top of the mouthpiece, plugs 3&4 are lifted up, as in Figure 3, allowing liquid to pass through perforations 6, on membrane of channel 2, and air through holes 6&6a, on channel 2a. Tension built on the rubber thin parts 5, from lifting by suction action, allows plugs 3&4 to move back to position ,as in Figure 1, once suction seizes, thus blocking any liquid escaping through channels 2&2a to the outside. The upper part of spout 1, and at the point shown by section lines A-A, is made solid 8, and flat, so that rubber valve does not deform, thus allowing only plugs 3&4, to slide inside channels 9&10, when suction is applied Furthermore spout 1, can be integral part of lid 11, or been able to be attached to it.

Referring to Figures 5,6,7, an alternative design of the integrated valve is shown, where the mechanical means are in the form of a single spring 14, operating valve 15 to the liquid channel and valve 16 to the air channels. Both valves 15&16 are connected to each other and to spring 14, by a shaft 18 and beam 17. When suction is applied through holes on mouthpiece 12, valve 15 and 16 are lifted upwards simultaneously, allowing liquid to flow through central channel 15, and air through holes H into air channels 13. Both channels close once suction seizes. As in previous design Spout 12 can be integral part of lid 20, or removable.

Referring to Figures 8 & 9, an integrated valve operating by means of two springs 32, one in each channel, liquid channel 22 and air channel 23. A valve 24, in channel 22, is connected to a shaft 26, and held to position by beam 27, and when suction is applied valve 24 opens to position 25, allowing liquid to flow through into mouthpiece 21. Valve 24a, connects to a shaft 26a and to valve 28, held into position by beam 27a, and when suction is applied valve 27a moves into position 29, blocking any flow of air into the mouthpiece and valve 24a, moves into position 25, thus allowing air through hole H, to flow into vessel, through channel 31. Channel 30, can be extended to accommodate a straw.

Referring to Figures 10 & 11, is an integrated valve where the valve means are in the form of elastic material 47, shaped in a form that allows the middle part separating the air valve part 49, from the liquid valve part 47, to be of thinner section, so when suction is applied the two valve parts 47 & 49 lift up and tension is built into the thinner part which it is attached to the central wall of unit 46, at point 48. Once suction seizes valve parts 47 & 49, return to position blocking the flow of liquid into the mouthpiece 45, and air flow into channel 51, through air hole 50. Channel 52, can be extended to take a straw, and valve can be integral to cup or lid 53, or removable.

Referring to Figures 12 & 13, an integrated valve operating by manual means, where the valve 33, to air channel 38, and liquid channel 39, are attached to a threaded shaft 40, through a threaded recess 42, and when manual rotation to the upper part of mouthpiece 32, at point 33 is applied, valve 33, opens and closes accordingly to allow liquid to flow through channel 39, and air through air hole 36, and channel 38. When closing rotation is applied, plug 34, blocks air hole 36, stopping liquid to flow to the outside. Valve can be integral to spout 32, and cup 43, or removable. Referring to Figure 14, an integrated valve where mechanical means are provided by a single spring 71, placed at the top part of valve 64, operating liquid plug 65, and air plug 66, simultaneously, when suction is applied or seizes. Once plug 65, lifts up liquid flows through channel 68, and when plug 66, lifts air flows through hole 70, and channel 38, into the vessel.. Valve can be integral to spout and lid, or be removable.

Referring to Figure 15, a lower part of an integrated valve showing method of attaching to liquid channel 55, a straw 58, or been integral part of it. Straw 58, has sliding ring means 59, that closes or opens holes 62, on the upper part of the straw whether the vessel is used conventionally thus lifted up above horizontal level to the mouth, or liquid is drawn by straw means. Filter means 60 can also be provided to the straw if required.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A Valve of dual function integrated into a single unit, both, liquid drawing and atmosphere replacing actions are activated simultaneously when suction is applied thus opening or closing the separate liquid outlet and air inlet holes and cavities, by a single mechanical means and suction action, turning liquid vessels into non-spill ones.

2. A dual function integrated valve as in Claim 1, the said valve made of elastic material and into a single unit, said unit having two separate cavities, a liquid outlet one and air inlet one, said cavities close or open by plug means formed at the upper part of the cavities and connected to them by an elastic membrane ,when suction is applied both plugs lift due to elasticity in membrane, opening the liquid and air channel outlets and inlets, the said liquid outlets are perforations on the plug lifting membrane, the air inlet are holes on the air cavity wall and spout, thus allowing liquid to flow outwards and air inwards, and once suction seizes both plugs return to their original position due to the elastic tension built into the membrane, thus blocking the flow of air and liquid, turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

3. A dual function integrated valve as in Claim 1, where the liquid cavity is in the centre and air cavity on its periphery, the inlets and outlets to both cavities are blocked by plugs connected by means of a shaft and a beam and operated by a single spring situated within the liquid cavity, when suction is applied the liquid plug lifts to allow flow of liquid outwards, simultaneously the air plug lifts to pen holes on side of spout for air to flow inwards through the air cavity, and both outlets are blocked with the return into original position of both plugs ,due to spring action once suction seizes, thus turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

4. A dual function integrated valve as in Claims 1&3, with adjacent liquid and air channels, the liquid channel having a plug blocked outlet, said plug connected by a shaft to a stabilizing beam, passing through a hole in beam that allows upward and downward motion, similarly in air channel with the addition of another plug at the top of the shaft for blocking air flowing outwards once suction is applied allowing it to flow into vessel through air inlet on the side of the channel wall and bottom of air channel, and both channels open or shut by suction and spring action by individual springs in each channel thus turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

5. A dual function integrated valve as in Claims 1&2, the elastic plug means regulating flow of liquid outwards and air inwards, are placed at the top of the liquid and air channels and connected at the middle to the solid wall of channels, the air channel plug extends inside the channel blocking air holes on the side of channel and spout, the liquid plug blocks liquid outlet at the top of the channel, once suction is applied both plugs lift to allow liquid to flow outwards and air inwards, returning to original position by elastic tension built into elastic plug, due to its configuration that allows elastic tension to be built in once suction is applied, thus turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

6. A dual function integrated valve as in Claims 1 ,3 & 4, having a liquid and air channels, a plug blocks liquid outlet at the top and another the air outlet, extending inside the air channel blocking air holes on side of channel and spout , both plugs connected between them and to a single spring sitting inside the top space of spout, when suction is applied both plugs lift simultaneously, allowing liquid to flow outwards and air inwards, returning to the original position once suction sizes, due to spring action, thus turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

7. A dual function integrated valve as in Claim 1&6, a plug blocks the liquid outlet at the top and another the air outlet, extending inside the air channel blocking air holes on the side of channel and spout, both plugs connected between them and to a single shaft by threaded means that allows the shaft to rotate and lift up or down both plugs simultaneously, the said shaft is connected to the upper and rotating part of the spout, and when manual rotation is applied the plugs open to allow flow of liquid outwards and air inwards, or close when reverse rotation aplied, thus turning the vessel into a non-spill one.

8. A dual function integrated valve as in all preceding Claims, that can be made into a single unit capable of been placed or removed from the spout of a baby cup, bottle cup, or any other liquid vessel for maintenance purposes, or been integral part to such vessels, and when in position turning such vessels into non-spill ones.

9. A dual function integrated valve as in all preceding Claims, capable of accommodating a straw, or having such a straw as integral part of it, thus turning into a valved straw, the said straw allowing for use of the vessel in conventional manner by allowing holes at the top part of it to open when vessel is lifted to face level position or close when at vertical position , thus allowing liquid to be drawn by straw means or drunk conventionally.