Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D49/00—Arrangements or devices for preventing refilling of containers
  • B65D49/02—One-way valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a pourer for a container, for example a bottle.
• This pourer is particularly of the non-refillable type, i.e. has the purpose to prevent replenishment of the liquid in the container and, as a result, to prevent the container from receiving a liquid other than the one originally contained therein.
• This is particularly useful in the field of high-quality food supply (for example oil and alcoholic beverage supply) as it prevents alteration of the original product and introduction of a poorer-quality product into the container, unless the pourer is broken.
• IT 1 131 961 discloses a closure for a bottle comprising a pourer.
• This pourer comprises a flat grille with narrow slits, which is designed to lie over a non-return valve.
• This pourer As liquid is poured on the grille, it interacts with the slits and creates a meniscus due to surface tension, which can prevent the fluid from flowing past the grille.
• the geometry of the grille and the inherent properties of the fluid create a "barrier effect" which prevents any unauthorized replenishment attempt.
• IT '961 recognizes that the grille alone is not sufficient to prevent refilling of the container, as a fluid poured from a greater height can overcome the barrier created by grille-fluid interaction. Therefore, IT '961 specifies the presence of a non-return valve in the container located inward from the grille.
• US patent application 2010/0018940 by Alcan Packaging Capsules discloses a non-refillable pourer, in which the above discussed barrier effect is provided by a convex member having a plurality of holes. These holes are adapted to allow the passage of the liquid that flows out of the pourer, while creating the above discussed barrier effect in case of attempted unauthorized filling.
• US '940 describes several variants of the convex member, having various degrees of convexity. All these variants show a uniform arrangement of holes on the surface. Also, the holes have converging axes. Finally, the smallest dimension of the holes is less than 0.7 mm.
• a further drawback of prior art pourers is their construction complexity. Particularly referring to types of holes as disclosed in US '940, they have been found to be hardly formed by molding.
• the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a pourer for a container that can obviate the aforementioned prior art drawbacks.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a pourer for a container that can improve the pouring operation.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a pourer for a container that has a simpler construction.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a pourer for a container of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the pourer of Figure 1, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts;
• Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the pourer of Figures 1 and 2, when applied to the neck of a container;
• Figure 3a is a detail of the view of Figure 3, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pourer for a container of the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a top view of the pourer of Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a sectional side view of the pourer of Figures 4 and 5, when applied to the neck of a container;
• Figure 6a is a detail of the view of Figure 6, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts;
• Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the pourer of Figures 4 and 5, during a replenishment attempt.
• numeral 1 designates a pourer for a container of the present invention.
• the pourer 1 comprises a conduit 2.
• the conduit 2 is designed to be fixed to a neck 3 of a container, e.g. a bottle.
• the conduit 2 is designed to allow the passage of a liquid, e.g. oil.
• the conduit 2 has an axially symmetric, more particularly a substantially cylindrical shape. In certain alternative embodiments, not shown, the conduit 2 may have any shape whatever.
• the conduit 2 has a central axis "A”.
• the conduit 2 further defines a flow direction "B" for a liquid, which is parallel to the central axis "A".
• the conduit 2 has an inlet opening 4 that faces an interior compartment of the container and an outlet opening 5 opposite to the inlet opening 4.
• the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5 are arranged transverse to the flow direction "B" for the liquid. More particularly, the inlet opening 4 establishes fluid communication between the interior compartment of the container and the interior compartment of the conduit 2. Likewise, the outlet opening 5 establishes fluid communication between the interior compartment of the conduit 2 and the environment outside the container. In operation, the liquid flows in the flow direction "B" from the inlet opening 4 toward the outlet opening 5.
• the inlet opening 4 is situated within the container, and the outlet opening 5 is situated outside. It shall be noted that the outlet opening 5 generally has a rim 5a which is specially shaped for drip control.
• the conduit 2 comprises a flange 6 which is externally placed between the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5.
• the flange 6 is adapted to abut the neck 3 of the container, to stop the introduction of the conduit 2.
• the flange 6 divides the conduit 2 into an upper portion 7 and a lower portion 8.
• the upper portion 7 is placed outside the container.
• the lower portion 8 is placed within the container, and in particular is specially shaped to be restrained in the container by interference, or in any manner known to the skilled person.
• the inlet opening 4 is located at the flange 6. In this case, the entire conduit 2 will be located outside the neck 3.
• the outlet opening 5 is located at the flange 6. Therefore, the entire conduit 2 will be located within the neck 3.
• a transverse wall 9 is placed inside the conduit 2.
• the transverse wall 9 is arranged transverse to the flow direction "B" between the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 5. More in detail, the transverse wall 9 extends along the entire cross section of the conduit 2. It shall be noted that the transverse wall 9 is designed to allow liquid to flow therethrough from the inlet opening 4 to the outlet opening 5 while being able to prevent the liquid from being introduced into the container, i.e. from flowing from the outlet opening 5 to the inlet opening 4.
• the transverse wall 9 comprises a top surface 9a that faces the outlet opening and a bottom surface 9b that faces the inlet opening 4.
• the top surface 9a has a central area l la and a peripheral area l lb.
• the central area l la is surrounded by the peripheral area l lb and both areas are centered on the central axis "A" of the conduit 2.
• the central area l la and the peripheral area 1 lb of the top surface 9a are perpendicular to the central axis "A" of the conduit 2.
• the transverse wall 9 has a substantially flat shape.
• the central area l la is perpendicular to the central axis "A" of the conduit 2, whereas the peripheral area l lb is inclined with respect to the central axis.
• the top surface 9a of the transverse wall 9 has a concavity that faces the outlet opening 5.
• each hole 10 has a respective central axis "C".
• each hole 10 preferably has a substantially cylindrical shape. In certain alternative embodiments, not shown, the holes 10 may have any shape.
• the holes 10 are grouped into a plurality of groups.
• the holes 10 of each group are arranged along a respective circumference 12.
• the central axes "C" of the holes 10 of each group are arranged along their respective circumference 12.
• Each circumference 12 has a radius that differs from that of the others.
• each circumference has its origin on the central axis "A" of the conduit 2.
• the holes of each group are preferably angularly equally spaced with respect to the central axis "A" of the conduit 2. In other words, the holes 10 are evenly arranged in each respective group.
• At least one group of holes 10 is formed in the central area l la and at least one group of holes 10 is formed in the peripheral area l lb.
• a single group of holes 10 is formed in the peripheral area l lb, and two groups of holes 10 are formed in the central area l la.
• the holes 10 of each group may have a diameter other than that of the holes 10 of the other groups.
• the transverse wall 9 has an even arrangement of holes 10 over the entire top surface 9a. Furthermore, the central axis "C" of each hole 10 is parallel to the flow direction "B" of the conduit 2.
• one of the groups of holes 10 formed in the central area l la may be composed of a single hole 10. In particular, the single hole 10 is centered on the central axis "A" of the conduit 2.
• a group of holes 10 is formed in the peripheral area l lb, and two groups of holes 10 are formed in the central area l la. Furthermore, the central axis "C" of each hole 10 is inclined with respect to the flow direction "B" of the conduit 2.
• the pourer 1 comprises a plurality of rods 13 projecting from the transverse wall 9 to the outlet opening 5. In particular, these rods 13 project out of the top surface 9a of the transverse wall 9.
• the rods 13 are arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the flow direction "B" of the conduit. These rods 13 are closely spaced. Particularly referring to Figure 3, the rods 13 are placed at such a distance from each other that, when an attempt is made to refill the container, the surface tension between the liquid that is being introduced and the rods 13 stops the flow from the outlet opening 5 to the inlet opening 4. This will prevent the liquid from being poured into the container.
• the rods 13 have a thickness that ranges from 0.4 mm to 1 mm.
• the rods 13 generally span a portion of the volume between the outlet opening 5 and the top surface 9a of the transverse wall 9 that ranges from 60% to 90%.
• this greatly reduces the volume of liquid that can stay on the transverse wall 9.
• quick filling greatly hinders air exhaust from the container.
• the rods 13 are inclined with respect to the flow direction "B" of the conduit.
• the rods 13 are flexible, i.e. are able to bend under the action of the liquid both during normal pouring and during a replenishment attempt, for example as shown in Figure 7.
• the pourer 1 has a flow configuration and a closed configuration.
• the rods 13 are spread apart for the liquid to flow from inlet opening 4 to the outlet opening 5.
• the rods are compacted to block the flow of the liquid from the outlet opening 5 to the inlet opening 4.
• the rods 13 bend and cover the holes 10 of the transverse wall 9.
• the bending rods 13 create a surface tension with the liquid such that, like in the previously discussed embodiment, a liquid-impervious barrier is created.
• the rods 13 of the embodiment as shown in Figures 4 to 6 have a thickness that ranges from 0.001 mm to 0.02 mm.
• the rods 13 have a length that ranges from 50 to 75% of a distance "D" between the top surface 9a of the transverse wall 9 and the outlet opening 5.
• the distance “D” is the distance between the point of the top surface 9a of the side wall 9 and the outlet opening 5, along the central axis "A” of the conduit.
• the distance “D” is the distance from the point of the top surface 9a of the side wall 9 that is closest to the the outlet opening 5 and the outlet opening 5, along the central axis "A" of the conduit.
• the holes 10 of the transverse wall 9 have a diameter that ranges from 0.5 to 3 mm. This will eliminate the "barrier effect" created when the liquid flows from the inside to the outside of the container.
• this "barrier effect” is conversely provided by the rods 13 that project out of the transverse wall 9. These rods 13 block of the liquid flow from the outside to the inside of the container.
• the "barrier effect" provided by the rods 13 in the embodiment of Figure 4 is twofold: first, as they bend toward the flow direction "B" they cover the holes 10 and in addition their mutual contact forms a liquid-impervious barrier due to the surface tension created between the rods 13.
• the pourer as disclosed herein is made by molding, which affords simpler manufacture as compared with prior art pourers.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=67875815

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (3)

• 2018
  • 2018-10-30 IT IT102018000009901A patent/IT201800009901A1/it unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-10-22 WO PCT/IB2019/059003 patent/WO2020089731A1/en unknown
  • 2019-10-22 MA MA054065A patent/MA54065A/fr unknown
  • 2019-10-22 IL IL282693A patent/IL282693B2/en unknown
  • 2019-10-22 ES ES19801975T patent/ES2939019T3/es active Active
  • 2019-10-22 EP EP19801975.4A patent/EP3873823B1/de active Active

Patent Citations (3)

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