WO2003086951A1

WO2003086951A1 - Liquid container and valve assembly therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2003086951A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/001490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Webb; Mark Armstrong
Original assignee: Jackel International Limited
Priority date: 2002-04-08
Filing date: 2003-04-04
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Also published as: GB0208080D0; GB2387378B; AU2003222963A1; GB2387378A

Abstract

A valve assembly for a carbonated beverage container includes first and second chambers (7, 8) separated by a diaphragm (9), a gas valve (28, 29) for controlling communication between a gas outlet (21) and the ullage space (13) above the liquid in the container via the first chamber (7), a liquid valve (30, 36) for controlling communication between a liquid outlet (11) and the liquid in the container via the second chamber (8), and a valve actuating button (33) operable to open the gas valve (28, 29) and the liquid valve in sequence so that the gas pressure in the ullage space is relieved before any liquid is dispensed through the liquid outlet. The gas valve member (29) is urged against its seat (28) by a spring (34) and is attached to the diaphragm (9) so that the gas valve is opened in response to a certain pressure in the container and first chamber being exceeded whereby the gas valve also functions as an overpressure relief valve.

Description

LIQUID CONTAINER AND VALVE ASSEMBLY THEREFOR

This invention relates to containers for liquids and more particularly concerns a beverage container having an outlet device for insertion into the mouth to enable the beverage to be drunk directly from the container. Known beverage containers of this kind comprise bottles fitted with caps having drinking spouts incorporating a dispensing valve selectively adjustable between open and closed positions, by pulling out and pushing back a sleeve component of the spout, to allow the beverage to be consumed by sucking on the spout or by squeezing the bottle, or to close the container to avoid accidental spillage of the contents. These known containers have become popular for still water and for flavoured cold drinks which are not fizzy. However, there is a need for a container which allows a carbonated drink contained therein to be consumed directly from the container. The known beverage containers are unsuitable for use with carbonated beverages since the gas pressure within the container can cause the liquid to be discharged as a rapid uncontrolled spray when the dispensing valve is opened.

In US-A-4687122 there is disclosed a liquid container with a valve structure including an air bleed valve for admitting air into the container and a liquid drain valve, the two valves being arranged to be opened simultaneously upon depression of a button. The present invention aims to satisfy the need explained above and in accordance with the invention there is provided a valve assembly for a liquid container comprising a valve housing defining a first chamber with an inlet for communication with the ullage space in the container and a gas outlet communicating with ambient atmosphere, a second chamber sealed from the first chamber and having a liquid inlet for communication with the interior of the container and an outlet connected to a liquid delivery duct, a gas valve for controlling communication between the first chamber and the gas outlet, and a liquid valve for controlling communication between the second chamber and the liquid inlet, the gas valve and the liquid valve being resiliently biased to closed positions, and a valve actuating member operable to open the gas valve and the liquid valve in sequence whereby gas pressure in the ullage space will be relieved before liquid can be dispensed from the container through the liquid dispensing duct.

By providing a gas valve which is always opened before a liquid valve is opened to allow the liquid to be dispensed, it is ensured that liquid can not be discharged under pressure and in an uncontrolled manner when the container holds a carbonated liquid beverage.

Conveniently the first and second chambers are separated by a moveable wall member, in particular a diaphragm, and a valve member of the gas valve which is aligned with the liquid valve, is arranged to act on the valve member of the liquid valve via the diaphragm and a lost motion connection, for opening the liquid valve after the gas valve has been opened. Each of the gas and liquid valves preferably has a valve seat and a valve member arranged to be pressed towards the seat by the pressure prevailing within the container when the valve is closed. The gas valve can be arranged to serve as an overpressure relief valve to avoid excessive pressures building up in the container. The valve actuating member can be a pushbutton arranged to be depressed by a finger of the hand in which the container is held. The valve housing may be enclosed within a cover which defines a drinking spout and which may have a flexible portion disposed in the region of the valve actuating button.

In a currently preferred construction a flexible tube extends from the inlet of the first chamber and carries a float arranged to maintain an open free end of the tube in the ullage space irrespective of the container orientation. A full understanding of the invention and its preferred features will be gained from the following more detailed description of some embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1A, IB and 1C are schematic illustrations of an embodiment of the invention and showing different stages in the opening of the valves;

Figure 2 shows in a schematic cross-sectional view a preferred construction according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another dispensing container embodying the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a variant of the embodiment of Figure 3.

A carbonated drink container embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1A, IB and lC. The container includes a container body 1 with an integral neck 2 having an external screw thread. Attached securely to the container by a collar 3 threadedly engaged with the neck 2 is a valve assembly 4. The valve assembly includes a housing 6 enclosing first and second chambers 7, 8 separated and sealed from each other by a resilient diaphragm 9. Also defined within the housing is a third chamber 10 into which an inlet 11 of the second chamber 8 opens. There are two sealed connections 14, 16 between the valve housing 6 and the interior of the container body 1 in which the carbonated beverage 12 is stored with a ullage space 13 formed above the liquid, the first connection 14 being between an inlet 15 of the first chamber 7 and the interior of the container, and the second connection 16 being between an inlet of the third chamber 10 and the container interior. A flexible tube 18 extends from the first connection and has a open free end carried by a float 20 which is configured and arranged to ensure that the open end of the tube 18 is always open to the ullage space 13 irrespective of the orientation of the container.

The first chamber 7 has an outlet 21 connected to a gas passage 22 which is connected to ambient atmosphere, and the second chamber 8 has an outlet 23 connected to a liquid delivery duct 24 formed by a tubular drinking spout 25. The valve housing 6 defines an annular valve seat 28 surrounding the gas outlet from the first chamber 7, and an annular seat 30 surrounding the liquid inlet 11 of the second chamber 8, the two valve seats 28, 30 being in coaxial alignment. A valve member 29 is located in the first chamber 7 for cooperation with the gas valve seat 28 and is slidably guided for movement between a closed position in sealing engagement with the seat 28 and an open position in which the gas outlet 23 is opened for communicating the ullage space 13 in the container 1 with ambient atmosphere and thereby relieving the gas pressure in the ullage space. The valve member 29 has a stem 32 which is slidably guided in a lateral end wall of the valve housing 6 and at its outer end carries a valve actuating pushbutton 33. A spring 34 surrounds an outer end portion of the valve stem 32 and acts to bias the valve member 29 to the closed position (Fig. 1A).

Another valve member 36 is located in the third chamber 10 for cooperation with the valve seat 30 and is slidably guided for movement towards and away from the seat 30 by a valve stem 37 which extends through the inlet 11 and into the second chamber 8, this stem 37 stopping short of the diaphragm 9 by a predetermined distance when the gas a liquid valves are both closed as illustrated in Figure 1 A. The valve member 36 is biased to a closed position in sealing cooperation with the seat 30 by a spring 39 interposed between the valve member 36 and the adjacent end wall of the housing.

With a carbonated beverage 12 in the container 1 and both valves closed, gas under pressure will fill the ullage space 13. When it is desired to drink the beverage, with the container body 1 held in one hand, the forefinger of that hand can be used to depress the valve actuating button 33 laterally inwardly to push the valve member 29 away from the seat 28 against the action of the spring 34, and also against the force of the gas pressure acting on the valve member 29 and, if the inner end of the valve member is normally resting against the diaphragm 9 as shown, the resilience of the diaphragm (Fig. IB). The displacement of the valve member 29 takes up the lost motion in the connection between this valve member 29 and the stem of the valve member 36 provided by the initial gap between the valve stem 37 and the diaphragm 9, and continued inward movement of the pushbutton 33, and hence valve member 29, results in the valve member 36 being driven to its open position thereby opening up free communication between the interior of the container 1 and the liquid delivery duct 24 (Fig. 1C). With the valves held open, liquid can be dispensed from the container by tipping up the container body 1 so that liquid can flow into the second chamber 8 via the third chamber 10 and the open liquid valve. Squeezing the container and/or sucking lightly on the drinking spout 25 will ensure an appropriate flow of liquid for drinking directly from the container. As liquid is dispensed, air can enter the container, via the gas passage 22, the first chamber 7 and the flexible tube 18 so that a vacuum will not be created in the ullage space 13 and oppose the outflow of liquid. When the pushbutton 33 is subsequently released the valve members 29, 36 are moved back into sealing cooperation with their respective seats 28, 30 by the springs 34, 39. From the foregoing description it will be understood that each and every time a person wishes to drink from the container it is ensured that the gas pressure will be relieved before liquid can be dispensed from the container because the liquid valve can only be opened if the gas valve has first been opened.

The gas pressure release valve formed by the valve member 29 and the seat 28 can also function as an overpressure relief valve to avoid excessive pressures building up in the container 1, by the valve member 29 being attached to the diaphragm. When the valves are closed, as shown in Figure 1 A, the pressure in the container 1 is communicated to the chamber 7 through the flexible tube and acts on one side of the diaphragm, whereas atmospheric pressure in the chamber 8 acts on the other side of the diaphragm 9. If the pressure in the container becomes too high, the diaphragm will deform under the pressure differential between the two chambers 7, 8 and pull the valve member 29 away from its seat 28, against the force of the return spring 34, and thereby allow gas to escape from the container and thereby reduce the pressure therein.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified form of drinking container which operates on the same principles as that of Figure 1 and the same reference numerals have been used to denote equivalent and corresponding parts. In this embodiment the collar 3 securing the valve housing 6 to the container neck 2 is integral with the valve housing 6. The gas passage 22 opens into a splatter chamber 40 defined by an upper part of the valve housing. Any drops of liquid carried out with the gas when the gas valve is opened to relieve the pressure in the container 1 tend to collect in the splatter chamber 40 and the liquid thus collected in the splatter chamber can subsequently flow back into the container via the gas passage 22 and the chamber 7, e.g. when air is flowing into the container and liquid is being dispensed. Also in this embodiment, the diaphragm 9 serves as the return spring for the gas valve member 29 and biases it towards its seat, whereas the return spring 39 for the valve member 36 is integrally formed with the valve member 36. The valve housing is enclosed by a cover 42 which forms the drinking spout 25 and includes a flexible portion 43 in the region of the valve actuating button 33 to enable the button to be operated by pressing on the cover in this area. Gas released into the inside of the cover 42 when the gas valve is opened can escape between the bottom edge of the cover and the container, which ensures it will be directed away from the face if the drinking spout has already been inserted into the mouth when the pushbutton 33 is depressed.

The modified form of drinking container is shown in Figure 3 has a dip tube 50 connected to the inlet of the third chamber 10 and extending down to the bottom of the container interior. When the valves have been opened liquid can be drawn out of the container via the dip tube 50, the second chamber 8 and the delivery duct 24, by sucking on the drinking spout 25. As the container is intended to be maintained in an upright orientation, the inlet 15 of the first chamber 7 can open directly into the container neck.

The valve assembly of the drinking container shown in Figure 4 is essentially the same as that of Figure 3 except it is configured for attachment to a standard carbonated drink bottle, the cover 42 in this case having its lower edge positioned around the collar 3 rather than the body 1 of the container.

To prevent liquid pressing from the interior of the beverage container 1 into the chamber 7 intended for escape of gas, a device can be included, such as at the inlet 15 to the chamber 7 or in the flexible tube 18, if present, at either end thereof, which device allows a passage of gas but blocks flow of liquid. A suitable device comprises a membrane of a material with appropriate permeability properties, such as that sold under the trade mark Gortex. If liquid droplets are prevented from being discharged with the gas, the need for the splatter chamber included in the embodiment of Figure 3 will be obviated.

If desired an additional shut off valve can be included in the liquid delivery duct 24 for providing extra security against liquid spillage from the container. Suitable forms of shut off valves are operable by mampulation or application of external forces and include those opened by pushing down, by pulling up or by biting a nozzle member as known per se.

Modifications to the drinking containers described above are of course possible without departing from the scope of the invention and will occur to skilled readers. Whilst the drinking containers described herein are specifically adapted for carbonated beverages it will be understood that they are suitable for use also with still, i.e. uncarbonated drinks.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for a liquid container (1) comprising a valve housing (6) defining a first chamber (7) with an inlet (15) for communication with the ullage space (13) in the container and a gas outlet (21) communicating with ambient atmosphere, a second chamber (8) sealed from the first chamber and having a liquid inlet (11) for communication with the interior of the container and an outlet (23) connected to a liquid delivery duct (24), a gas valve (28, 29) for controlling communication between the first chamber and the gas outlet, and a liquid valve (30, 36) for controlling communication between the second chamber and the liquid inlet, the gas valve and the liquid valve being resiliently biased to closed positions, characterised in that a valve actuating member (33) is operable to open the gas valve and the liquid valve in sequence whereby gas pressure in the ullage space will be relieved before liquid can be dispensed from the container through the liquid dispensing duct.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second chambers (7, 8) are separated by a diaphragm (9).

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas valve comprises a seat (28) and a valve member disposed (29) in the first chamber for gas pressure in the first chamber (7) to urge the valve member (29) against the seat (28) when the gas valve is closed.

4. A valve assembly according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the valve member (29) is connected to the diaphragm (9).

5. A valve assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid valve comprises a seat (30) and a valve member (36) located on the upstream side of the valve seat (30) for pressure in the container to urge the valve member (36) against the seat (30) when the liquid valve is closed.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second chambers (7,8) are separated by a moveable wall (9) member acted upon by the pressures prevailing in the respective chambers, the moveable wall member (9) being coupled to the gas valve (29) for opening the gas valve in response to an excessive pressure occurring in the container and in the first chamber.

7. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the gas valve (28, 29) and the liquid valve (30, 36) are aligned for linear displacement of the valve actuating member (33) to open the gas and liquid valves in turn.

8. A valve assembly according to claim 7, wherein the delivery duct (24) extends upwardly from the valve housing, and the operating member (33) is disposed for movement laterally inwardly relative to the valve housing (6) for opening the valves.

9. A valve assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the valve actuating member comprises a pushbutton (33) operable by a finger of a hand in which a container fitted with the valve assembly is held.

10. A valve assembly according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein a lost motion connection is provided between movable members (29, 36) of the gas valve and the liquid valve, whereby the movable member of the gas valve acts on the movable member of the liquid valve to open the liquid valve after having been displaced through a predetermined distance and having opened the gas valve.

11. A valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve housing (6) includes a collar (3) for securely attaching the valve assembly to the neck of a container.

12. A valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve housing (6) is accommodated within a cover (42) having a drinking spout (25) through which liquid passing through the delivery duct is discharged.

13. A valve assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cover (42) includes a flexible portion (43) located adjacent the valve actuating member (33).

14. A valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas outlet opens into a splatter chamber (40) for collection of liquid droplets carried through the gas outlet with the gas.

15. A valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein the splatter chamber (40) is shaped to direct collected liquid back into the container through the opened gas valve after the gas pressure has been released.

16. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a device is included to block liquid from entering the first chamber.

17. A valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein the device comprises a membrane permeable to gas and substantially impermeable to liquid.

18. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a flexible tube (18) extends from the inlet of the first chamber and carries a float (20) arranged to maintain the open end of the tube in the ullage space (13) irrespective of the container orientation.

19. A valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a dip tube (50) is connected to the valve housing (6) for conducting liquid to the inlet of the second chamber from the container interior.

20. A valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a shut off valve is included in the liquid delivery duct.

21. A valve assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A container for a liquid beverage having a valve assembly according to any one of the preceding claims for dispensing liquid from the container.

23. A container according to claim 22, wherein a carbonated liquid is contained therein.