WO2007008082A1

WO2007008082A1 - Closure device for a bottle

Info

Publication number: WO2007008082A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geir L. Olsen; Frode Busterud
Original assignee: Tastein Technology As
Priority date: 2005-07-12
Filing date: 2006-07-10
Publication date: 2007-01-18
Also published as: EP1907292A1; EP1907292B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device (1) with or without a drinking mechanism (30) for bottles/receptacles, arranged to be attached to the bottle/receptacle, and where the device comprises a first cavity (2) preferably for additive. The invention is characterised in that at least one second cavity is provided in the device, where the first and the at least second cavity can be opened individually by means of opening mechanisms which are integrated in the device and can be influenced from the outside of the device.

Description

Closure device for a bottle

The present invention relates to a closure device for bottles/receptacles arranged to be attached to the bottle/receptacle, and where the device comprises a first cavity, preferably for additive.

Closure devices of the above-mentioned type are previously known, for example from US 2,631,521 which describes a closure for a bottle. The closure has an elastic top which is mechanically connected to a needle. The elastic top is convexly curved, and when depressed it causes the needle to pierce a protective membrane, thereby permitting an additive (in this case a flavour additive) to come into contact with the liquid in the bottle. The closure has to be removed in order to gain access to the contents of the bottle, while at the same time the closure permits a single flavour additive to be dispensed.

US 4,221,291 discloses a closure comprising a bottom part connected to a top part by a rod projecting downwards towards the bottom part. When the top part is depressed, the rod is pushed inwards and the bottom part is partly detached, permitting an additive to be mixed with liquid in the bottle. In order to gain access to the contents of the bottle, the top part has to be removed and a straw inserted in the closure. In this case too the closure does not permit more than a single flavour additive to be dispensed.

US 5,217,433 discloses a closure for medicinal additive. It comprises a first part with the additive, where the part can be pushed in for dispensing the additive into a bottle, whereupon access can be gained to the additive through the first part. This closure does not permit access to the contents of the bottle without dispensing the additive, nor does it permit several different substances to be added.

The object of the invention is to redress the above-mentioned and other drawbacks of the prior art.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure device for a bottle or a receptacle, which closure device permits several additives to be dispensed into the contents of the bottle or receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure device which permits the independent dispensing of different additives into the contents of the bottle/receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure device which permits access to the contents of the bottle or receptacle without prior dispensing of additives into the contents. These and other objects are achieved by means of a closure device according to the invention, which is characterised by providing in the device at least one second cavity, where the first and the second cavities can be opened individually by means of opening mechanisms, which are integrated in the device and can be influenced from the outside of the device.

The closure device according to the invention therefore comprises at least two cavities, where one cavity is intended for a first additive and the second cavity can either be used for a second additive which is similar to the first or different from the first, or for access to the liquid inside the bottle/receptacle.

Amongst other things, the invention permits easy production, distribution and storage of one type of product, which is capable of satisfying different needs among the consumers.

For example, the invention may be employed for adding flavouring to a drink, with the ability either to choose between different additives (where the closure device comprises different additives) and/or to choose the concentration of additive in the drink (where the closure device comprises several cavities with similar additives).

In an embodiment of the invention the closure device is equipped with a drinking mechanism, which is preferably connected to the second cavity. Since the cavities are opened independently of each other, it is possible to provide a closure mechanism that gives access to the contents of the bottle without necessarily having to dispense the additive.

The invention is furthermore characterised by the features which will become apparent in the attached patent claims.

In the present description, the closure device will comprise capsules, corks, crown corks, screw corks, etc. Thus the closure device according to the invention will be able to be connected to the bottle by means of screw threads on the inside or on the outside of the cork, by clamping round the neck of the bottle, by insertion in the neck of the bottle and clamping effect, etc.

The closure device may be integrated in the bottle/receptacle or it may be supplied as a separate part.

The invention also comprises a variant, where a drinking mechanism is provided in a closable manner by turning a rotating part, as indicated in claims 23-25.

The invention will now be described by means of several examples which are only illustrative and in no way limiting. The examples are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 illustrates a detail of the plunger part in the embodiment in figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a variant of the plungers.

Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a variant of the plungers.

Figure 9 illustrates a second variant of the plungers.

Figure 10 illustrates a further variant of the plungers.

Figure 11 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the invention.

Figure 15 illustrates a drinking spout.

Figure 16 illustrates a cap.

Figure 17 illustrates an eighth embodiment of the invention.

Figures 18-20 illustrate a part of the drinking mechanism.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a part of the closure device according to the invention. The closure device 1 comprises a closure body 10 with a drinking mechanism 30. The closure body is further equipped with threads 40 for attachment to a bottle or receptacle (not shown) and with a seal 41 to ensure against tampering. The closure body comprises a first cavity 2 for additive and a second cavity 120 which in this embodiment is intended for access to the beverage. The first and the second cavities 2 and 120 respectively can be opened individually (as shown in figure 2) by means of opening mechanisms which are integrated in the closure device and can be influenced from the outside of the device.

The closure body comprises a third cavity 3 which can be connected with the first and the second cavities 2 and 120 respectively.

Figure 1 also illustrates different axes that can be defined for the closure device and the cavities. As mentioned earlier, in this embodiment of the invention the closure device comprises a cylindrical closure body 10 arranged to be affixed to the bottle/receptacle and with an axis of rotation Al . The first cavity 2 is elongated along a first axis Bl and the second cavity 120 is elongated along a second axis Cl. As can be seen in the figure, the axis Bl of the first cavity 2 is not parallel to the axis Al of the closure body 10 while the axis Cl of the second cavity 120 coincides with the axis Al of the closure body 10. The figures illustrate that the drinking mechanism 30 in this embodiment of the invention comprises a central part 130 for insertion in a central opening in a rotatable part 31. The interaction of the rotatable part 31 and the central part 130 will be explained in more detail later. Even though it is not shown in the figure, it is possible to implement a closure body according to the invention where the axis Bl is parallel to the axis Cl.

The drinking mechanism 30 further comprises wall parts 110 defining elongated cavities 120 both from the side and from below. As shown in figure 2 A the cavities 120 are connected with the cavity 3, thus enabling the drink to flow out therethrough.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the opening mechanism comprises a plunger part 5 with several plungers 4, where each of the plungers can be influenced individually. As can be seen, in this special embodiment of the invention the bottom 42 of the plungers 4 is concavely curved. The edge of the bottom is sharp with the result that when the plunger 4 is depressed, a cap 43 covering the bottom of the cavities 2 is completely or partly removed, enabling the additive to be freely mixed with the contents of the bottle.

In this embodiment of the invention the cavity 120 is not intended for additive, but for use in the drinking mechanism, the latter comprising a drinking spout 44. Figure 3 B illustrates the device equipped with a cover 45.

Figures 3C and 3D illustrate the same embodiment as figure 3A but provided with a transparent cover 45. Figure 3 E is a view of the invention from above, and this figure illustrates the oval shape of the upper part of the plungers 4.

Figures 3F-3I illustrate a variant of the same embodiment, where the closure device is made of a transparent plastic material, thereby enabling the user to see which additive is used.

Figure 4 depicts a detail of the plunger part 5 in the embodiment in figure 3. In this embodiment of the invention plunger part 5 comprises a ring 6, and the plungers 4 project downwards from the ring 6 into the additive cavity/cavities 2 (figure 3). In this embodiment of the invention the ring 6 is corrugated with raised portions 7 and depressions 8, and the plunger/plungers 4 project downwards from the raised portions 7. In a preferred embodiment the plungers 4 are integrated in the ring 6. In this figure the plungers are arranged slantingly relative to the closure body's axis, but it is possible to implement a variant where the plungers are vertical, i.e. with an axis which is parallel to the closure body. Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, figure 5 A is a view of the closure body from below, 5B is a view from above, 5C is a view from the side, 5D is a section and 5E is a view from above. In this embodiment the closure device 1 does not contain any drinking mechanism, and both the first and the second cavities are intended for additive. In this embodiment of the invention the opening mechanism comprises plungers 4 which can be influenced from the outside of the device. In this embodiment of the invention the plungers comprise an upper part which is oval and a lower part with a circular cross section. It is also possible to make plungers with an oval cross section along the entire length of the plungers. In this embodiment the closure device has to be removed in its entirety in order to gain access to the beverage inside the bottle.

Figure 6 illustrates variants of the closure mechanism for use, for example, in the embodiment according to figure 5. Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a variant where the plungers 4 are free-standing and can be passed through apertures in the ring part 6. Figures 6C and 6D illustrate an embodiment where the plungers are integrated with the ring 6; in figure 6C the plungers comprise cavities 9 for additive. All other variants of the closure mechanism mentioned in this description will be able to be used in this variant of the invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the axes Bl of the cavities 2 are at right angles to the axis Al of the main body. In addition, cavity 2 is arranged for connection to the third cavity 3. Plunger part 5 is composed of a ring 6 and the plungers 4 project inwards from the ring 6, where the ring 5 may be flexible and the plungers may also be free. While in the embodiment in figures 7A-7C the plungers 4 are still operated independently of each other, the plungers 4 in figures 7D-7F are arranged in such a manner that the first plunger that is depressed will project into the common space and substantially lock the other plungers in the outer position. The opening mechanism is therefore arranged to prevent opening of an additive cavity when another additive cavity is opened.

Most of the embodiments of the invention require the ring 6 to be made of a flexible and/or elastic material, with the result that the plungers return to the initial position due to the elasticity of the material. The material is also important for ensuring the necessary individual movement of the plungers 4.

In figure 7F the plungers 4 are free-standing, but the plungers 4 may also be integrated in the ring 6. Figure 7E shows a lobe 250 that locks the plunger 4 in the inner position.

Figures 7E and 8 illustrate a variant of the plungers 4, where they are provided with cavities 9 for additive, i.e. they form one of the said first and second cavities 2 and 120 respectively. Cavity 9 is restricted partly by the plunger walls and partly by the cavity walls. As will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, these plungers may be employed in several embodiments of the opening mechanism, i.e. independently of whether the axis of the cavity is parallel or not parallel to the axis of the closure body or whether they are attached to a ring (fig, 6) or not (fig. 8).

Figure 9 illustrates the case where plungers 4 with cavities 9 are integrated in a ring 6.

Figure 10 illustrates a further variant of the plungers 4. In this variant the plungers 4 comprise a threaded part 23 as illustrated in figure 1OB. In the same figure the plungers further comprise slots 24 for inserting a screwdriver device (not shown) while in figure 1OD the plungers comprise wings 25 for causing rotation of the plunger.

Figure 11 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention. The closure device according to this embodiment comprises a storage part 20 with cavity 2 (and possibly 120). This embodiment permits a food company, for example, to supply a ready-filled storage unit that can be attached to the closure body 10 from below. From the production point of view, this embodiment will permit low-cost manufacture of the closure device.

Figure 12 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the invention. Figure 12C is a view of the closure body from below. In this embodiment the cavities 2 are bounded by a capsule 21 and a foil 22. The capsule 21 and the foil 22 thereby constitute the opening mechanism which can be depressed from the outside of the device. To manufacture this embodiment, the additive is placed, for example in the form of tablets from the bottom, whereupon the foil 22 seals the cavities. Capsule 21 is flexible. A tray 20 may also be employed for insertion and it can be broken when depressed. The closure body further comprises a rotatable drinking spout 31 with a control protrusion 100.

Figure 13 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the invention. Figure 13A is a view of the closure body from above, figure 12B is a section, figures 12C and 12E are views of the closure body from below. Figure 13D depicts the lower surface of the upper part 1. In this embodiment the axis of rotation Al for the cylindrical closure body 10 is parallel with the axes of rotation Bl and Cl for the cavities. The closure body 10 is equipped with an aperture 47 in the bottom. A disc 26 with sealed cavities 27 and 28 is mounted under the closure body. An upper part 50 is twisted in order to align the aperture 47 with one of the cavities 27 or 28. This embodiment also comprises a rotatable drinking spout.

Figure 14 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the invention which is a variant of the embodiment shown in figure 13. Figure 14A is a view of the closure body from below, 14D is a view of the upper part of the closure body from below, and this part is provided with a gasket surface while the lower part has grooves for sealing. Figure 14E is a view of the lower part of the closure body from above. Figure 14H is a detail from figure 14G illustrating grooves for locking the upper part of the closure body to the lower part. In this embodiment all the axes Al₅ Bl, Cl are parallel. The closure device requires rotation of the parts 50 (upper part) and 10 (lower part) relative to one another. In this embodiment the drinking spout will be connected to the contents of the bottle by turning the upper part relative to the lower part.

Figure 15 illustrates a drinking spout or rotatable part 31 which is a part of a drinking mechanism 30 and was shown in some of the previously described embodiments of the invention. Figure 15A is a section of the rotatable part, depicting a protrusion 100 which permits the rotatable part to be easily turned. Figure 15F shows a detail of figure 15B. A special variant or an eighth embodiment of the invention, utilising a rotating movement of a rotatable part of the type described and illustrated, for example, in figures 1-3, 7-10 and 12-13 is an embodiment where additives do not necessarily have to be dispensed. As illustrated in the above-mentioned figures, the device comprises a rotatable part 31 , where the cavity is equipped with a through opening from the at least one cavity. This through opening is of approximately the same size as an aperture in the rotatable part, which can be rotated at least between a position where the aperture is located directly above the through opening to a position where the through opening is blocked/closed.

The rotatable part may also have several apertures and be equipped with means for holding the rotating part in an open of closed position, for example a patterned peripheral surface area. Furthermore, the rotating part may have several cavities and several positions for opening several openings simultaneously in order to provide greater flow of liquid through the through-opening or to enable the openings to be opened after one another to provide faster access to the drinking opening or also give access to cavities with additives. Many variants are possible.

Figure 16 illustrates a cover 45 for protection of the closure device. Figure 16D shows a rib/seal that has to be broken when the bottle is opened in order to avoid tampering.

Even though individual examples of the invention have been illustrated, several variants may be envisaged by a person skilled in the art.

Figures 17-20 illustrate the embodiment of the drinking spout in greater detail. Figure 18 shows that the rotatable part 31 comprises a protrusion 100 which permits the part 31 to be easily turned. The part 31 further comprises a drinking opening 102 in fluid connection with a cavity 103. The cavity 103 is connected with the cavities 120 in the drinking mechanism 30. A control protrusion 104 is arranged to slide in a groove 105 (figure 19B) in the drinking mechanism 30, with the result that on rotation of part 31, part 31 is pulled up and away from the closure body 10.

Figure 19A is a view of the closure body from below with cavities 2 and 120. Figure 19C is a view of the closure body from below with protective cap 145 to prevent tampering.

Figure 20 illustrates the rotatable part 31.

Even though specific combinations of features of the invention have been depicted in the illustrated embodiments, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that other combinations are also possible. For example, as regards the angle between the axis Bl for the cavities and the vertical axis Al for the closure body, this could be 0 degrees (as illustrated for example in figure 14), 90 degrees (as illustrated for example in figure 6A) or it could have a value between these values (as illustrated for example in figure 6C). It is also possible to envisage an embodiment without a drinking spout (as illustrated in figure 5) where the plungers are arranged horizontally (as illustrated for example in figure 7). The plungers may for example be independent of one another (for example figure 5) or partly interconnected by means of a ring (for example figure 6A) or integrated in the ring (for example figure 6C). These variants may of course be combined with different mechanisms for definition and connection of cavities (hollow plungers, figure 6C, plungers that cut a membrane, figure IB, blister solution figure 1 IB).

Thus the invention will provide a simple and flexible solution for supplying drinks with different flavours with a distinct reduction in stocks of drinks compared with the prior art.

Claims

1. A closure device (1) with or without a drinking mechanism (30) for bottles/receptacles, arranged to be attached to the bottle/receptacle, and where the device comprises a first cavity (2) preferably for additive, characterised in that at least one second cavity is provided in the device, where the first and the at least second cavity can be opened individually by means of opening mechanisms which are integrated in the device and can be influenced from the outside of the device.

2. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening mechanism comprises at least one plunger (4).

3. A closure device according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least one cavity (120) is not intended for additive.

4. A closure device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the opening mechanism comprises a plunger part (5) with one or more plungers (4), where each of the plungers can be influenced individually.

5. A closure device according to claim 4, characterised in that the plunger part comprises a ring (6) and that the plunger/plungers (4) project downwards from the ring (6) into the additive cavity /cavities (2), or that the plunger/plungers (4) project upwards from the ring (6) and downwards from the ring (6) into the additive cavity/cavities (2).

6. A closure device according to claim 5, characterised in that the ring (6) is provided in a corrugated shape with raised portions (7) and depressions (8), and the plunger/plungers (4) project down from the raised portions (7).

7. A closure device according to claim 4, characterised in that the plunger/plungers (4) are integrated in the ring (6).

8. A closure device according to claim 2, characterised in that in the plunger there is provided at least one cavity (9) constituting one of the aforementioned first and second cavities (2).

9. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a cylindrical closure body (10) arranged to be affixed to the bottle/receptacle and with an axis of rotation (Al), and that the first cavity (2) is elongated along a first axis (Bl) and the second cavity (120) is elongated along a second axis (Cl), where the axis (Bl) of the first cavity (2) is not parallel to the axis (Al) of the closure body (10), and/or the axis (Cl) of the second cavity (120) is not parallel to the axis (Al) of the closure body (10).

10. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a cylindrical closure body (10) arranged to be affixed to the bottle/receptacle and with an axis of rotation (Al), and that the first cavity (2) is elongated along a first axis (Bl) and the second cavity (120) is elongated along a second axis (Cl), where the axis (Bl) of the first cavity (2) is parallel to the axis (Al) of the closure body (10), and/or the axis (Cl) of the second cavity (120) is parallel to the axis (Al) of the closure body (10).

11. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a storage part (20) with at least one cavity.

12. A closure device according to claim I₅ characterised in that at least one cavity (2) is bounded by a capsule (21) and a foil (22), where the capsule (21) and the foil (22) constitute the opening mechanism which can be depressed from the outside of the device.

13. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first cavity (2) is arranged for connection to the second cavity (120).

14. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that the device comprises two or more cavities (2) for additive and that the opening mechanism is arranged to prevent opening of an additive cavity when another additive cavity is opened.

15. A closure device according to claim 2, where the plunger (4) comprises a threaded part (23), with a slot (24) for insertion of a screwdriver device or with a wing (25) to permit rotation of the plunger (4).

16. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening mechanism comprises a rotatable disc (26).

17. A closure device according to claim 16, characterised in that the rotatable disc (26) comprises at least one opening (27) for connection to the first cavity (2) and/or the second cavity (120), or a first opening (27) for connection to the first cavity and a second opening (28) for connection to the second cavity (120).

18. A closure device according to claim 17, characterised in that the opening mechanism comprises at least one plunger (4).

19. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a drinking mechanism (30) connected to the second cavity.

20. A closure device according to claim 19, characterised in that the drinking mechanism (30) comprises a rotatable part (31).

21. A closure device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the additive is a flavour additive, a vitamin additive, effervescing powder, or a medicine.

22. A closure device according to claim 1, characterised in that the additive is a fluid, a powder or a solid body.

23. A closure mechanism with a drinking mechanism for bottles/receptacles, arranged to be affixed to the bottle/receptacle, where the device comprises at least one cavity, characterised in that the closure device comprises a rotatable part which has at least one aperture which is substantially adapted to a through opening from the at least one cavity and which can be rotated from a position where the aperture is located directly above the through opening to a position where the through opening is blocked/closed.

24. A closure device according to claim 23, characterised in that the rotatable part has several apertures and means for holding the rotating part in a closed or open position.

25. A closure device according to claim 23 or 24, characterised in that the rotating part has several cavities and/or several positions for opening several openings simultaneously or after one another.