WO2014199060A1

WO2014199060A1 - Decorative anti-drip device

Info

Publication number: WO2014199060A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/051379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Louis Joly
Original assignee: Royance Sas
Priority date: 2013-06-10
Filing date: 2014-06-10
Publication date: 2014-12-18
Also published as: FR3006675B1; FR3006675A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a decorative anti-drip device intended for retaining drops dripping from a bottle while pouring the content thereof. According to the invention, said device includes: a decorative element (11) located at a first end of said device, said decorative element being placed such as to form an extension of an assembly portion of said device which is configured to rest around a neck (13) of said bottle, said decorative element projecting from the upper end of said bottle when said device is assembled with said bottle; a tube (14) defining a channel for the passage of the liquid contained in said bottle, wherein said tube (14) is intended to be placed opposite the opening of the neck (13) of said bottle such as to form an extension thereof, said tube (14) being at least partially surrounded by said decorative element, said tube (14) including a radial wall (15) supported by the decorative element (11); and an absorbent element (16) placed between said tube (14) and said decorative element (11) in order to absorb the drops that might flow along said tube (14).

Description

Decorative anti-drop device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a decorative anti-drop device for bottle intended to eliminate any drop of liquid likely to trickle after pouring at least a portion of the liquid contained in this bottle.

It also relates to an assembly comprising a bottle, or a similar container provided with such an anti-drip device.

Technological background

It is known that a disadvantage of the bottles lies in the liquid or droplets that bead at the end of their neck after pouring at least a portion of the liquid contained in these bottles.

These drops are, in fact, likely by runoff along the bottle to come stain the label or the support such as a table, on which the bottle is rested after pouring the liquid.

With the exception of an expert grip turn, it is difficult to prevent these drops from flowing down the neck of the bottle. The thickness of the glass at the neck is the main cause.

It is therefore known to use so-called drip devices, or drop reclaimers, also called pickup-drop, to avoid the inconveniences mentioned above.

A drip device typically consists of a thin and flexible sheet, made for example of paper or metal and generally round in shape.

The user rolls this sheet on itself and then inserts it into the neck of the bottle to position the device. The fineness of the sheet allows to break the last drop thus avoiding the appearance of sagging.

Failure to break the drop, it is always possible to stop its progress along the bottle. Figure 1 shows a pickup 1 of the state of the art. This droplet 1 is formed of a metal part having a rounded bearing surface 2 extended at each of its ends by branches 3, 4 intended to ensure the maintenance of this dropper on the neck of a bottle by clipping.

The inner face of the bearing face 2 intended to come opposite the neck of the bottle comprises a felt 5 to collect the drops that would run down the neck of the bottle.

This pickup 1 gives good results but requires the user to orient his bottle during the pouring of the liquid so as to ensure that the drops may run down the neck of the bottle, flow to the pickup 1.

Although this pickup 1 is, for illustrative purposes, made of brushed steel, it is not intended to dress the bottle for its development. In this sense, there remains only an accessory completely dissociated from the shape and / or dressing of the bottle with which it can be implemented.

Moreover, if the bearing face 2 can receive one or more inscriptions, this pickup 1 is not configured to be a vector of a message such as advertising, vis-à-vis the consumer.

Document GB-1.066.912 discloses a spout which comprises a first part which is fixed on the neck of a bottle and a second tubular part which slides in the first part.

The first part comprises in the upper part a flared shape and in the lower part an outer tube which is positioned outside the neck of the bottle and an inner tube which is positioned inside the neck of the bottle, the latter coming from nest between the two tubes. The second tubular portion comprises at its lower end a flange which abuts against the lower end of the inner tube of the first portion to limit the sliding movement of the second portion.

This spout is not satisfactory because the shapes to maintain it on the neck of a bottle are relatively complex. In addition, the material used to maintain the spout on the neck of a bottle is not suitable for affixing a message such as advertising. According to a last disadvantage, it is not possible to close the bottle if it is not completely consumed. It is known from DE-10.2005.036784 a spout which comprises a first tubular portion which is fitted inside the neck of a bottle and a second tubular portion which is fitted into the first tubular portion. An absorbent element is interposed between the two tubular parts.

As before, the system for holding the spout on the neck of a bottle is relatively complex. According to another disadvantage, it is not possible to close the bottle if it is not completely consumed.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome these various disadvantages by providing an anti-drip device, simple in its design and its operating mode, economic and participating in the dressing of a bottle that is equipped, for its development commercial. Another object of the present invention is such a device which allows the pouring of the liquid without causing accidental projection of the latter.

Yet another object of the present invention is an anti-drip device for aeration of the liquid intended for human consumption, especially wine, when poured.

Yet another object of the present invention is a versatile anti-drop device that allows to close a bottle that is not fully consumed to keep the remaining wine in good conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to an anti-drip device for retaining runoff that may be generated during the pouring of the contents of a bottle.

According to the invention, said device comprises:

a decorative element placed at a first end of said device, said decorative element being placed in the extension of an assembly portion of said device configured to bear around a neck of said bottle for assembling said device and said bottle said decorative element projecting from the upper end of said bottle when said device is assembled to said bottle,

a chimney defining a channel for the passage of the liquid contained in said bottle, said chimney being intended to come opposite the mouth of the neck of said bottle so as to form an extension thereof, said chimney being at least partially surrounded by said decorative element, said chimney comprising a radial wall held by the decorative element,

an absorbent element placed between said chimney and said decorative element for absorbing drops that may flow along said chimney.

Said device is configured to bear around the neck of a bottle forming a hermetic assembly with the neck, the device then forming part of the projection of the bottle by extending it at its upper end by a decorative element.

The decorative element is advantageously of flared shape so as not to disturb the flow of the liquid contained in the bottle provided with the device of the invention and to allow, in case of runoff of one or more drops along the chimney , the recovery of this or these drops in the absorbent material surrounding a portion of its height, this chimney.

This decorative element is, in addition, of simple shape such as a crown, allowing in association with the text and / or color (s) and / or the sign (s) written on the label carried by the bottle to deliver a message to the buyer of the bottle thus equipped with the device of the invention.

In various particular embodiments of this anti-drip device, each having its particular advantages and susceptible to many possible technical combinations:

this chimney has a longitudinal dimension ensuring the passage of the liquid contained in said bottle over said decorative element during its pouring.

This ensures the absence of accidental projection when pouring the liquid contained in the bottle equipped with such an anti-drip device.

Advantageously, this chimney comprises at its free end a lip surrounding the liquid outlet orifice, this lip having a shape and / or a thickness adapted to, under certain liquid flow conditions on the surface of this lip (surface tension , viscosity of the liquid, ...), play the role of "cutter".

said chimney comprises an aeration member, also called an aerator, of the liquid contained in said bottle.

For purely illustrative purposes, this aeration device has the shape of a cross. The supply of oxygen in a liquid intended for human consumption, especially wine, is obtained by breaking the flow of the liquid during its pouring.

Indeed, the aerator being placed on the flow path of the liquid contained in the bottle, the latter can generate turbulence able to effectively aerate the liquid during its payment.

The absorbent element is made from felt or blotting paper.

This absorbent element advantageously forms a drop recovery element. By way of illustration, having the shape of a thin disc pierced at its center, this absorbent element is positioned at the base of the chimney, the chimney passing through said orifice and the absorbent element then being placed between this chimney and the decorative element. to recover any uncut drops, flowing along the outer surface of the chimney. the decorative element comprises a radial wall with an orifice allowing passage of the chimney which maintains the radial wall of the pouring element against the neck. This radial wall of the decorative element ensures effective maintenance of the pouring element. The body of the device is, for example, obtained by molding from a plastic material. Alternatively, said device comprises:

a decorative element,

a pouring element sealingly extending and extending the neck, said pouring element comprising said chimney extended at its base by a thin wall oriented radially,

an absorbent element,

a ring for assembling the device to the bottle, said decorative element being extended by a skirt surrounding and bear on said ring.

The device which is monobloc is formed of initially separate parts assembled together.

Advantageously, this ring is made of a flexible material such as rubber to fit the outer surface of the neck of the bottle while adapting to small variations in the diameter of the necks. As a purely illustrative example, this ring forms a portion of tube whose side wall is slightly curved in its median part so as to ensure the plating of this ring against the neck.

Preferably, the pouring element being removable, this device further comprises a shutter element which can be attached, said shutter member comprising a stopper for closing said neck, said plug being extended a thin wall oriented radially identical in its dimensions to that of said pouring element so as to cooperate with the other elements of said device,

said decorative element has a flared shape.

For purely illustrative purposes, this decorative element comprises branches conferring on said device the general appearance of a crown or comprises petals conferring on said device the general appearance of an open flower.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one container provided with a neck on which is mounted an anti-drip device as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, for an explanatory and non-limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a droplet of the prior art; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottle provided with a non-drip device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the anti-drip device of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an anti-drip device according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the anti-drip device of FIG. 4, Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the anti-drip device of FIG. 4, the aerator having been omitted for the sake of clarity,

7 shows an exploded view of an anti-drip device according to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein the chimney has a non-circular right cross section, here of triangular section,

Figure 8A is a sectional view of the anti-drip device of FIG. 2 equipped with a pouring element,

Figure 8B is a sectional view of the anti-drip device of FIG. 2 equipped with a shutter element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled. Figures 2, 3 and 8A schematically show an anti-drip device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This anti-drip device 10 is intended to be implemented with a bottle containing a liquid intended for consumption, especially wine.

This anti-drip device 10 comprises a decorative element 11 formed of a tubular base defining a skirt, extended in its upper part by a plurality of branches 12 curved towards the outside of the anti-drip device 10.

These branches 12 are evenly distributed around the periphery of this skirt so that this decorative element 11 has the general shape of a crown whose main technical feature in the light of the invention lies in the flared nature of its shape. This decorative element 11 is here made of polypropylene (PP).

The anti-drip device 10 also comprises a pouring element intended to cover tightly and extend the neck 13 of the bottle. This pouring element comprises a chimney 14 extended at its base by a thin wall 15 oriented radially. The thin wall 15 is intended to be pressed against the upper end of the neck 13 via the decorative element 11 which holds this thin wall in position.

The chimney 14 which here has the shape of a tube, has an internal channel defining a path for the passage of the liquid contained in the bottle provided with such a device. This chimney 14 is placed in the center or substantially in the center of this crown, its inner channel creating an extension of the interior volume of the bottle delimited by its glass wall. The invention is not limited to a circular section for the chimney 14. According to another embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the chimney 14 has a triangular section.

This chimney 14 also forms a spout for transporting and passing the liquid contained in the bottle over the branches 12 so as to avoid accidental projection. However, the upper end of this chimney 14 is not placed protruding from these branches 12 so that for a consumer looking at the anti-drip device 10 mounted on the bottle, from the front, this chimney 14 is not directly if not very little, apparent.

The device further comprises an absorbent element 16 having here in the form of a thin disc pierced at its center so that it can receive at its center said chimney 14 of completely surround it. This absorbent element 16 is a blotting paper made from wool felt with a thickness of several millimeters and a density of about 500 g / m ² .

This absorbent element 16 is positioned above the thin wall 15 integral with the chimney 14.

In order to ensure an effective assembly of the anti-drip device 10 and the neck 13 of the bottle on which it is intended to be received, the anti-drip device 10 further comprises a ring 17 made of a flexible material.

Conveniently, this ring 17 is mounted directly on the neck 13 by an operator so as to form an anchor for the rest of the anti-drip device 10. The base of circular section or skirt, the decorative element 11 surrounds and to bear on this ring so as to ensure the assembly of the decorative element and the ring 17. This ring 17 is, for example, made of rubber or polyethylene (PE).

According to another variant, the ring 17 is fixed inside the skirt of the decorative element 11. Thus, the anti-drop device 10 can be easily mounted on the neck.

According to the invention, the decorative element 11 is made of a material that allows the apposition of message, such as polypropylene (PP), and the ring 17 is made of a material that promotes the establishment and maintenance anti-drip device 10 on the neck 13 of a bottle, such as rubber or polyethylene (PE).

The pouring element being a separate element from the other elements of the anti-drip device 10, the latter comprises a closure element 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8B which can be attached instead of the pouring element. when the user wishes to keep in good conditions a bottle that has been opened.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 8A and 8B, the decorative element 11 comprises a radial wall 19 with an orifice allowing the passage of the chimney 14. Preferably, this orifice has a section equal to the external section of the chimney so that the latter slides in the orifice of the radial wall 19 of the decorative element 11. The radial wall 19 can effectively maintain the wall 15 of the pouring element or the shutter member 18 pressed against the upper end of the neck 13.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, the shutter element 18 comprises a boss on its upper face whose section is identical to that of the orifice of the radial wall 19 of FIG. the decorative element 11. This configuration makes it possible to obtain a better positioning of the shutter element 18.

Figures 4 to 6 show an anti-drip device 20 according to another embodiment. The elements of FIGS. 4 to 6 bearing the same references as those of FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the same objects which will not be described again below.

This anti-drip device differs in particular from that described in Figures 2 and 3 in that it comprises a main body 21 in one piece, which is here made by molding a hard plastic material for example, a food plastic such polypropylene (PP) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

This main body 21 has in its upper part a plurality of branches 12 curved outwardly of the anti-drip device 20 by giving the device the general shape of a ring.

In the center of this ring is placed a chimney 22 whose inner channel defines a path for the passage of the liquid contained in the bottle provided with such a device. The bases of the branches 12 are connected to the chimney 22 by a thin wall 23 oriented radially to fit the upper surface of said neck when the anti-drip device 20 is mounted on the neck 13 of a bottle.

The chimney 22 passes through this thin wall 23 and is therefore projecting from each of the faces of this thin wall, a first end of this chimney 22 being placed on the side of the branches 12 while being surrounded by the latter, while its other end is surrounded by a skirt 24 defining the outer surface of the lower part of the main body 21 of the anti-drip device 10.

Thus, when the anti-drip device 20 is mounted on the neck 13 of the bottle, the skirt 24 surrounding this neck, the end of the chimney 22 which is surrounded by this skirt 24 is received in the outlet of the neck 13 being pressed against the inner wall of this neck to ensure a seal when pouring the liquid contained in the bottle.

The inner channel of the chimney 22 thus forms an extension of the interior volume of the bottle delimited by its glass wall.

The thin wall 23 also forms a support for receiving an absorbent element (not shown), which then surrounds the chimney 22. On a portion of the inner channel of this chimney 22 is placed a liquid aerator 25 here having the shape of a cross.

Between the skirt 24 and the outer surface of the end of the chimney 22 surrounded by this skirt, is defined a housing in which is received a ring 26 made of a flexible plastic material.

This ring 26 reported ensures a good hold of the anti-drip device 20 on the neck 13 of the bottle and ensures the adaptation of the anti-drip device 20 to the necks having slightly different sections.

This ring 26 is, for example, made of rubber or polyethylene (PE).

Whatever the variant, the pouring element comprises a radial wall 15 or 23 held by the decorative element 11.

Claims

1. anti-drip device for retaining runoff that may be generated during the pouring of the contents of a bottle, characterized in that said device comprises:

a decorative element (11) placed at a first end of said device, said decorative element (11) being placed in the extension of an assembly part of said device configured to bear around a neck (13) of said bottle, said decorative element projecting from the upper end of said bottle when said device is assembled to said bottle,

a chimney (14, 22) defining a channel for the passage of the liquid contained in said bottle, said chimney (14, 22) being intended to come opposite the orifice of the neck (13) of said bottle so as to form a an extension thereof, said chimney (14, 22) being at least partially surrounded by said decorative element, said chimney (14, 22) comprising a radial wall (15, 23) held by the decorative element (11),

an absorbent member (16) disposed between said chimney (14, 22) and said decorative member for absorbing drops that may flow along said chimney (14, 22).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said chimney (14, 22) has a longitudinal dimension ensuring the passage of the liquid contained in said bottle over said decorative element during its pouring.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said chimney (14, 22) has a frustoconical shape.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said chimney (14, 22) comprises an aeration member (25) of the liquid contained in said bottle.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said aeration member (25) has the shape of a cross.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the decorative element (11) comprises a radial wall (19) with a hole for the passage of the chimney (14) which maintains the radial wall (15). ) of the pouring element against the neck (13).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the orifice of the radial wall (19) of the decorative element (11) has a section equal to the outer section of the chimney (14).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises:

a decorative element (11),

a pouring element sealingly extending and extending the neck, said pouring element comprising said chimney (14, 22) extended at its base by a radial wall (15),

an absorbent element (16),

9. Device according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that said pouring element being removable, it further comprises a closure element (18) comprising a plug for closing said neck, said plug being extended a thin wall oriented radially identical in its dimensions to that of said pouring element so as to cooperate with the other elements of said device.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a ring, to fit at least partially to the outer surface of said neck (13) and seal the device / neck connection.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said decorative element (11) has a flared shape.

12. Assembly comprising at least one container provided with a neck (13) on which is mounted an anti-drip device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.