ES2613281B1 - A carbonated beverage dispensing accessory contained in a bottle and a container provided with said accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

A carbonated beverage dispensing accessory contained in a bottle and a container provided with said accessory. # A carbonated beverage dispensing accessory contained in a bottle comprising a main body attachable to the mouth of a bottle and having a spout conduit capable of hydraulically communicate the inside of the bottle with the outside; a valve device to regulate the flow of beverage passing through the conduit; and means for actuating the valve device operable by digital pressure, the main body having a recess in which it is housed, movable in the cavity, a weight that adopts by gravity a first natural waiting position (a) when the accessory is vertical, which prevents the actuation of the valve device by means of the actuation means; and that it also adopts by gravity a pouring position (b), when the accessory is inverted or partially inverted in which it enables the actuation of the valve device by means of the actuating means.

Description

A carbonated beverage dispensing accessory contained in a bottle and a container provided with said accessory

Technical Sector of the Invention The invention relates to a carbonated beverage dispensing accessory contained in a bottle especially suitable for dispensing sparkling beverages. The invention also relates to a package provided with said accessory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At present, numerous accessories are known that are capable of closing bottles reversibly once opened. Such accessories play a stopper function, which closes the bottle and prevents the passage of air from inside to outside and vice versa.

Foamy beverages, and especially high value added beverages such as cava, are conventionally sold in closed bottles with a cap that closes the bottle irreversibly, that is, with a cap that cannot be reapplied to the bottle once extracted from it. Although it is possible to recap the bottle once opened using the accessories as described above, the pressure conditions inside the bottle will not be the same after its first opening. Consequently, the beverage quickly loses its original properties, we refer to its organoleptic properties.

An object of the present invention is an accessory capable of avoiding these inconveniences. More specifically, it is an object of the invention a dispensing accessory that, placed in the original bottle, can preserve its contents even when several pouring operations have been carried out to serve its content especially when this content is in the form of a carbonated drink or a foamy drink.

In order for the beverage to preserve its properties, the accessory must allow the beverage to pass during a pouring operation but avoid the passage of free gas contained in the bottle. Moreover, since the contents in the bottle are pressurized, that is at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, improper handling of the dispensing accessory could cause free gas to escape from the inside of the bottle if a

Hydraulic communication with the outside when the bottle is upright which is when the free gas accumulates on the top of the bottle.

It is therefore also an object of the invention a dispensing accessory that overcomes this difficulty, this is a dispensing accessory with safety or other means that prevent free gas extraction or depressurization of the bottle while it contains a usable amount. of drink inside, especially when a pouring operation is performed but also when the bottle is in a waiting position. However, it is not desirable that the dispensing accessory be a complex element, difficult to handle and also to manufacture.

For this reason it is also an object of the invention to disclose a dispensing accessory that in addition to fulfilling all the aforementioned objectives is simple constructively and therefore not too expensive; and also that it is of simple implantation in a bottle and therefore that does not increase the cost of packaging.

Explanation of the invention The beverage dispensing accessory according to the invention is especially suitable for carbonated beverages contained in a bottle. The accessory is of the type that comprises a main body with means for its tight fitting to the mouth of a bottle and that has a pouring duct capable of hydraulically communicating the inside of the bottle with the outside when said main body is coupled to the mouth of the bottle; a valve device disposed in the conduit to regulate the flow of beverage passing therethrough; and means for actuating the valve device operable by digital pressure.

In essence, the dispensing accessory is characterized in that the valve device comprises a moving duct sealing member in relation to the duct and tends to adopt a sealing position (A), and because the main body has a recess in which it is housed, movable in the cavity, a weight that takes by gravity a first natural waiting position (a) when the accessory is vertical, which occurs when the accessory is coupled to the bottle and the bottle is vertical, which prevents the actuation of the device from valve with drive means; and that it also adopts by gravity a pouring position (b), when the accessory is inverted or partially inverted, which occurs when the bottle is inclined to pour its contents, in which it enables the actuation of the valve device with the means of actuation being able to adopt the sealing member a pouring position (B) in which it allows the passage of drink through the duct.

Preferably the accessory may be placed in the bottle at the source. Consequently and according to another aspect of the invention, a container is disclosed in the general form of a bottle containing a mixture of a liquid and a gas under pressure and having a mouthpiece in which the accessory of the invention is coupled.

Advantageously, the accessory being conveniently coupled to the mouth of the bottle, said accessory is prepared to prevent hydraulic communication between the inside of the bottle and the outside being enabled while the bottle is upright. This preserves the optimal conditions of the drink inside the bottle.

The invention takes advantage that the free gas is at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, so that said pressure is used to be able to pour the beverage outside when a hydraulic communication is enabled between the inside of the bottle and the outside, which can only occur when the bottle is in an inverted or partially inverted position.

The invention also takes advantage that the free gas contained in the bottle is lighter than the beverage, so that the beverage itself forms a barrier that prevents the free gas from escaping during a pouring operation.

In a variant of the invention, the means for coupling the main body to the mouth of a bottle comprise an annular piece, in which the neck of a bottle can be plugged, provided with anti-return means sized to cooperate with the lip from the mouth of a bottle and prevent its removal, and the annular piece is a separable piece from the main body.

This allows that when the pressure of the free gas inside the bottle has decreased to the point of not favoring or cooperating in the extraction of the drink, the bottle can be completely uncovered in the traditional way to pour its contents as well as to leave escape the free gas that remains inside, now unusable.

In a variant, the annular piece and the main body are prepared to join each other in a threaded and sealed manner.

According to a variant of the invention, the accessory comprises elastic means that tend to place the sealing element of the valve device in the sealing position (A). According to this variant, it is guaranteed that the sealing member performs its function of preventing the free gas from leaving the bottle even when the pressure of this free gas is low or low enough so as not to place said sealing member in its sealing position ( TO).

The invention provides that the weight present spheroidal general form.

Preferably the cavity is oblong, it extends in a straight direction and its width corresponds to that of the weight in a way that guides its displacement through its interior.

According to one embodiment, the actuation means of the valve device comprise a movable mounted push-button with respect to the main body in which a pushing portion is distinguished, prepared to contact and move the valve device when the push-button is actuated; a drive portion, prepared to receive a digital pressure and promote the movement of the button; and a stop portion intended to support against the weight when it adopts its natural waiting position (a) then preventing the movement of the button in a driving direction.

The button can be connected articulated to the main body, for example performing the function of a second-gen lever.

The push-button can also be slidably coupled to the main body in a direction substantially normal to the valve device, the pushing portion having a cam profile intended to contact and exert a push on said valve device when the push button is slid in A drive address.

According to another characteristic of an embodiment of the invention, the valve device comprises a mounted rod guided in the main body with a first end on which the duct sealing member is arranged and with a second end forming a percussive head, ready to receive the thrust of the drive means.

In a variant of interest, the duct has an inner section that embeds the bottle when the accessory is attached to the mouth of the bottle and on which the organ acts valve device shutter; and an outer section angled with respect to the section interior that leads to one side of the main body.

Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a bottle with a dispensing accessory according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows in detail the dispensing accessory and its coupling to the mouth of the bottle according to the cutting plane AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the bottle of Fig. 1 in the pouring position, suitable for serving the contents Of the bottle; Fig. 4, is an enlargement of the image indicated within the circle of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a bottle with another dispensing accessory according to the invention; Fig. 6 shows in detail the dispensing accessory and its coupling to the mouth of the bottle according to the cutting plane AA of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows the bottle of Fig. 5 in the pouring position, suitable for serving the contents Of the bottle; Y Fig. 8, is an enlargement of the image indicated within the circle of Fig. 7.

Detailed description of the invention In Figs. 1 and 2 shows a conventional bottle 2 that mounts in its mouth 2a top one accessory 1 dispenser according to the invention. In the example, bottle 2 is full of a drink 10. As explained in detail below the accessory 1 dispenser it shows its full potential when said drink 10 is a carbonated drink and especially when it comes to sparkling wine, such as cava, the drink 10 being enclosed in the bottle 2 with a free gas 16 at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the dispenser accessory 1 is basically formed by two parts of which one is one is an annular piece 4a in which the neck of the bottle 2, which is provided with anti-return means 14 sized to cooperate with the typical lip 2b of the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 and prevent its removal. In the example the anti-return means 14 are formed by an internal projection in the annular part 4a which determine a ramp 14a intended to slide down the lip 2b of the bottle during the placement of the annular piece 4a, and causing a slight elastic expansion of said piece cancel 4a; and by a seat 14b essentially perpendicular to the axis of the annular body 4a which

It acts as an anti-return stop when the lip 2b of the bottle 2 has exceeded said ramp 14a.

The annular part 4a is fitted to the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 and is prepared to receive the tight fitting of the other main part of the accessory 1 which is implemented in the form of a main body 3 with a discharge duct 5 that communicates hydraulically the inside of the bottle 2 with the outside.

The coupling between this main body 3 and the annular piece 4a can be for example a threaded coupling for which both parts will be provided with threaded thread, not shown, in this case an external thread thread for the case of 4a annular piece and an internal thread thread formed in a coupling spout for the case of the main body 3.

The main body 3 is provided with a valve device 6 arranged in the conduit 5 to regulate the flow of drink 10 that can pass through it.

In the example of Figs. 1 and 2 the valve device 6 comprises a rod 6b mounted guided in the main body 3 in an axial direction in relation to the bottle 2 and having a first, lower end, in which a sealing member 6a of the duct 5 is arranged and a second, upper end, which forms a hammering head 6c, prepared to receive the thrust of drive means 7.

As Fig. 2 illustrates in detail, the conduit 5 has an inner section 5a that embeds the bottle 2 on which said sealing member 6a of the valve device 6 acts; and an outer section 5b angled with respect to the inner section 5a leading to a side of the main body 3.

The sealing member 6a has, in the example, a general truncated cone shape and can be applied from the outside against the mouth of the inner section 5a of the duct 5, closing its passage to both the beverage and the free gas 16 contained in the bottle 2. When this occurs the sealing member 6a adopts a sealing position (A).

It is of interest that this sealing position (A) is achieved by the effect of the pressure of the free gas 16 contained in the bottle 2. The beverage 10 being for example a cava the pressure inside the bottle 2 is approximately 7 bar and the invention contemplates that the weight of the valve device 6 is small enough that the pressure inside the bottle 2 is sufficient to keep the sealing member 6a by default in the sealing position (A).

The invention, however, provides for the provision in the accessory 1 of elastic means, not shown, which help to arrange the sealing member 6a of the valve device 6 in said sealing position (A). This can be advantageous for when the bottle 2 is emptied of drink 10 causing a loss of internal pressure, not so much because of the fact that free gas 16 escapes from its interior but because it will have more space to occupy.

Fig. 2 shows that the main body 3 of the accessory 1 has a recess 8 in which it is housed, movable in said recess 8, a generally spherical weight 9 that takes by gravity a first natural waiting position (a) when Accessory 1 is vertical, which occurs when accessory 1 is conveniently coupled to bottle 2 and the bottle is in an upright or upright position.

In order to pour the beverage 10 contained in the bottle 2 outside, it is necessary to actuate the valve device 6 so that the sealing member 6a stops sealing the conduit 5 and passes from the sealing position (A) to a pouring position ( 6).

For this purpose, the accessory 1 is provided with actuating means 7 of the valve device 6 operable by digital pressure.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is not desirable for the sealing member 6a to adopt said pouring position (6) when the bottle 2 is erected, thereby allowing it to free gas 16 contained in the bottle 2, accumulated in the upper part thereof, escape from bottle 2. This would impair the preservation of drink 10 under ideal conditions of consumption.

In order that this circumstance cannot occur, the natural arrangement of the weight 9 in the waiting position (a), illustrated in Fig. 2, prevents by mechanical stop with the actuation means 7 that these can be operated in the sense that they would move the valve device 6 to place its sealing member 6a in the pouring position (6).

In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, these actuation means 7 of the valve device 6 comprise a connected pushbutton 12 articulated around a pivot axis 15 integral with the main body 3 and arranged in an upper edge thereof. In a variant, it is envisioned that the button 12 is a tongue formed in the same main body 3 of the accessory 1 and that the articulated joint between the button 12 and the part of the main body 3 integral with the bottle 2 is constituted by a flexible hinge , that is for a weakened part of the material constituting the elastically deformable main body 3.

This push-button 12 is in practice a second-gen lever in an angled shape having a thrust portion 12a, which acts as a resistance arm and is prepared to contact the hammering head 6e and move the valve device 6 when the push-button 12 is actuated; an actuation portion 12b, which is extreme and extends in an angled direction with respect to the thrust portion 12a and which acts as a power arm, which is prepared to receive a digital pressure and promote the movement of the button 12 during a pouring maneuver.

It is characteristic of this exemplary embodiment that the button 12 has a stop portion 12c, in the form of a bulge, intended precisely to rest against the weight 9 when it adopts its natural waiting position (a), thus preventing the movement of the button 12 in the drive direction.

In the accessory 1 of the invention, the recess 8 is oblong and extends in a functional direction that in the example is straight, but which could have other shapes, intended to allow the weight 9 to move to a pouring position (b) when bottle 2 tilts during a pouring maneuver.

This situation is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in which it is observed how the shape of the cavity 8 is such that it guides the displacement of the weight 9 inside it until it adopts by gravity the said pouring position (b) when the accessory 1 is inverted or partially inverted, What happens when bottle 2 has tilted to pour its contents.

In this pouring position (b) of the weight 9 the actuation of the pushbutton 12 is enabled and consequently the actuation of the valve device 6, the sealing member 6a can adopt the pouring position (8) illustrated in Fig. 4, position in which allows the passage of drink 10 through the duct 5 thanks to the pressure exerted by the free gas 16 contained in the bottle 2.

Note that the free gas 16 contained in the bottle 2 will not escape from its interior since, precisely because the bottle 2 is inverted or partially inverted, the free gas 16 will occupy the free space remaining in the bottle 2 at a level above the of its mouth 2a. The same drink 10 acts as a barrier to prevent free gas 16 from leaving the bottle 2

5 through accessory 1.

In order to enable the beverage 10 to leave the bottle 2 when the free gas 16 does not exert sufficient pressure, which can occur when the free space inside the bottle 2 is high due precisely to the fact that a significant amount of beverage 10 has been extracted from its

10, the invention has precisely provided that the main body 3 can be separated from the annular part 4a. In this case, as if it were a conventional stopper, the main body 3 of the annular piece 4a would be unscrewed and the final drink content 10 of the bottle 2 would be poured out regardless of the release of the free gas 16 until then enclosed in the bottle 2.

Figs. 5 to 8 show another embodiment for an accessory 1 according to the invention.

In these figures the same numerical references are used as in Figs. 1 to 4 to designate the same components or components that perform an equivalent function.

20 This embodiment differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in the form of the button 12 and its relation to the main body 3.

Specifically, in the example of Figs. 5 to 8, button 12 is coupled in sliding mode

25 to the main body 3 in a direction substantially normal to the valve device 6. The push button could for example be inserted in a guide formed for this purpose in the main body 3.

In this case, the pushing portion 12a of the button 12 has a cam profile 13 intended for

30 to contact and to exert a thrust on said valve device 6, in particular on the firing head 6c, when the button 12 is slid in the driving direction illustrated by the arrow in Fig. 8.

In the variant of Figs. 5 to 8 the accessory 1 is provided with elastic means 11 in 35 in the form of a spring that acts as a compression which tends to place the sealing member 6a of the valve device 6 in the sealing position (A).

Both in the example of Figs. 1 to 4 as in Figs. 5 to 8 it is envisioned that the button 12 returns to its initial position when pressure on its actuating portion 12b ceases to be exerted. For this purpose, the same elastic means 11 that request the valve device 6 towards the direction in which they return their sealing member 6a to the sealing position (A) can be performed, pushing the button 12 to its original position 12; or provide the accessory with auxiliary elastic means, for example in the form of an elastically deformable flange formed on the button 12 or on the body

Main 10 that is charged when the button 12 is moved to operate the valve device 6.

In order to realize its maximum potential, it is of interest that the accessory 1 is placed in the bottle 2 at the origin, when the beverage content is bottled 10. In this case it is envisaged to protect the accessory 1 or cover / plug the outlet of the conduit 5 to exterior for reasons of hygiene and also as a measure of inviolability of the container.

In addition, it is also provided that in any of the variants of the invention, the actuating portion 12b of the pushbutton 12 is originally connected to the main body 20 by means of a frangible part 17, or by means of a breakable seal, which as a seal, ensure that the package has not been opened before.

Claims (11)

1.-An accessory (1) carbonated beverage dispenser (10) contained in a bottle (2) comprising 5 -a main body (3) with means for its coupling (4) sealed to the mouth (2a) of a bottle and having a discharge duct (5) capable of hydraulically communicating the inside of the bottle with the outside when the said main body is coupled to the mouth of the bottle; -a valve device (6) arranged in the duct (5) to regulate the flow of beverage that 10 passes through; and -a drive means (7) of the valve device actuates by digital pressure, the accessory being characterized in that the valve device (6) comprises an obturator member (6a) of the duct (5) movable in relation to the duct and which it tends to adopt a sealing position (A), and because the main body (3) has a recess (8) in the 15 that is housed, movable in the cavity, a weight (9) that adopts by gravity a first natural waiting position (a) when the accessory is vertical, which occurs when the accessory is coupled to the bottle and the bottle is vertical , which prevents the actuation of the valve device (6) by means of the actuation means (7); and which also adopts by gravity a pouring position (b), when the accessory is inverted or partially 20 inverted, which occurs when the bottle is tilted to pour its contents, in which it enables the actuation of the valve device (6) by means of the actuating means, the sealing member (6a) being able to adopt a pouring position (B ) in which it allows the passage of drink (10) through the duct (5). An accessory (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for coupling (4) of the main body (3) to the mouth of a bottle comprise an annular piece (4a), into which the neck of a bottle, equipped with anti-return means (14) sized to cooperate with the lip of the mouth of a bottle and prevent its removal, and because the annular part (4a) is a separable part of the body 30 main (3). 3. An accessory (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the annular part (4a) and the main body (3) are prepared to join each other in a threaded and sealed manner. 35. An accessory (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized because it comprises elastic means (11) that tend to place the sealing member (6a) of the valve device (6) in the sealing position (A). 5. An accessory (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight (9) has a general spheroidal shape. 6. An accessory (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity (8) is oblong, extends in a straight direction and its width corresponds to that of the weight (9) so that it guides the movement of this one inside. 7. An accessory (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating means (7) of the valve device (6) comprise a button (12) movable mounted with respect to the main body (3) in which a thrust portion (12a) is distinguished, prepared to contact and move the valve device (6) when the button is actuated; a drive portion (12b), prepared to receive a digital pressure and promote the movement of the button (12); and a stop portion (12c) intended to support against the weight (9) when it adopts its natural waiting position (a) thus preventing the movement of the button (12) in a driving direction. 8. An accessory (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the button (12) is connected articulated to the main body (3). 9. An accessory (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the button (12) is a second-gen lever. 10. An accessory (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the button (12) is slidably coupled to the main body (3) in a direction substantially normal to the valve device (6), and because the thrust portion (12a) has a cam profile (13) intended to contact and exert a thrust on said valve device (6) when the button (12) is slid in a driving direction. 11. An accessory (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve device (6) comprises a rod (6b) mounted guided in the main body with a first end on which the sealing member ( 6a) of the duct (5) And with a second end that forms a percussive head (6c), ready to receive the thrust of the drive means (7). 12. An accessory (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the duct (5) has an inner section (5a) that embeds the bottle (2) when the accessory is coupled to the 5 mouth of the bottle and on which the sealing member (6a) of the valve device (6) acts; and an outer section (5a) angled with respect to the inner section (5a) that leads to a side of the main body (3). 13.-A container in the general form of a bottle (2) containing a mixture of a liquid 10 and a gas under pressure and having a mouth (2a) in which an accessory (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is coupled.