EP3698677A1

EP3698677A1 - Closure device for a liquid container

Info

Publication number: EP3698677A1
Application number: EP20158395.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alejandro José RUIZ BRAVO
Original assignee: Artsana SpA
Current assignee: Artsana SpA
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2020-08-26
Also published as: IT201900002639A1

Abstract

A closure device (6) for a liquid container (1) comprises a collar (7), configured to be applied to the edge (4) of the opening of the container, a lip (9) which axially projects out of the peripheral contour of the collar defining a cavity (10) therein, an elastically deformable membrane (11), located within the cavity defined by the lip of the collar, and configured to rest on the lip and create a reversible seal along the lip. The collar of the device has a flange (12) that projects radially toward the interior of its axial opening (7a), which defines an axial support for an annular splash guard member (14), placed between the edge of the opening of the liquid container and the collar. The annular splash guard member has openings between the interior of the liquid container and the cavity as well as means (18,19,20,21) for removable connection with the elastically deformable membrane.

Description

The present invention concerns a closure device for containers adapted to contain liquids. In particular, such a device is particularly designed to close a glass, a cup or any other container mainly intended for children or people with disabilities, and to prevent liquid splashing during use and when the container is shaken.
Closure devices for liquid containers are known in the state of the art, these devices allow users to drink from the container, i.e. To use it as a glass or a cup, without causing liquid splashing during use.
A few examples of such devices are disclosed in WO 126042 2009 A1 by Gunnar Berg.
This document discloses a cup-shaped device comprising a container and a valve arranged to close the container. The valve comprises a main body, attached to the container, and a cut-off member attached to the main body, and external to the container. The cut-off member is defined by a flexible member, which may be deformed by a pressure of the user's lips, during drinking. As a result of such deformation, liquid is free to flow outside the container and toward the user's lips.
More in detail, the main body of the valve in the aforementioned document has an anchor portion for the shut-off member, which is located in a central area of the valve. Such anchor portion is defined by a splash guard flange which projects out of a surface of the main body and connected to the latter and is located, in operation, substantially within the cup. Such splash guard flange has slotted holes for the passage of liquid from the container toward the cup when the latter is inclined on the lips during drinking.
As described in the aforementioned document, the flange mainly acts as a splash guard, i.e. damps any splashes of liquid from the interior of the container, caused by the movements exerted thereon. Thus, as liquid is stirred, it hits the cut-off member with less force and not is able to displace it, thereby preventing the outflow of liquid.
A further device for drinking from a container without causing liquid splashing is also disclosed in European Patent application EP 3 266 352 A1 .
Additional teachings concerning closure devices can also be found in GB 2 461 005 B . This document, a patent granted by And Design Ltd., discloses differential pressure valves for closing of containers. These valves are very similar to the devices disclosed in WO 2009 126042 A1 but, unlike the latter, they are opened by the user by exerting a suction on the edge of the container where the cut-off member of the sealing valve rests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The prior art devices as disclosed in the aforementioned documents have the drawback of requiring a molding process of complex shaped components and thus complex molds and molding operations, with high costs especially due to the one-piece formation of the splash guard flange of the closure device with the main body of the device.
Here, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a closure device for liquid containers, that allows even persons with disabilities or children to drink therefrom while preventing liquid splashing, that overcomes the above discussed drawbacks of the prior art.
In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a closure device for containers adapted to contain liquids and allowing a child or a person with disabilities to drink from the container without causing undesired liquid leakage, that can be manufactured with simple molding means and is thus cost-effective, without losing its function.
A further object of the present invention is to find an alternative to prior art solutions, that has a lower manufacturing cost and affords easier cleaning of its parts, especially those intended to contact the liquid.
The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are fulfilled by a device for a liquid container that has the features presented in claim 1.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will result clearer from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a closure device as shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a glass-shaped container equipped with the device of the invention, which is applied to the opening of the container;
Figure 2 shows a transversal cross-section view of the container of Figure 1, with the device applied thereto;
Figure 3 shows an enlarged-scale, cross-section view of the upper part of the closure device of the glass-shaped container;
Figure 4 shows a transversal cross-section view of the closure device without the elastically deformable membrane placed on the collar of the device and without the annular splash guard member;
Figure 5 shows a cross-section view of the annular splash guard member of the device of the invention;
Figure 6 shows a vertical cross-section view of the elastically deformable membrane of the device of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the aforementioned figures of the annexed drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 refers to a liquid container, which is configured to contain a beverage such as water, fruit juice and the like, having the shape of a drinking glass, extending mainly vertically along an axis X-X, whose closed bottom 2 acts as a support base, and faces away from an opening 3 defined by an edge 4 having threading elements 5 for reversible sealing engagement of a closure device, generally referenced 6, as best shown in Figure 3.
The device 6 comprises a collar 7, which can be hermetically sealed to the edge 4 of the opening 3 of the container 1, for example by means of the threading elements 5 of the container and mating threading elements 8 of the collar 7.
The collar 7 has a lip 9 that projects axially, concentrically with respect the axis X-X of the container 1, from the peripheral contour thereof, and defines a cavity 10 therein. An elastically deformable membrane 11 is located within the cavity 10 defined by the lip 9 of the collar 7, and it is configured to rest on the lip 9 and create a reversible sealing along the lip.
According to the invention, the collar 7, as shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4, has a flange 12 that projects radially toward the interior of its axial opening 7a, the flange defining an axial support for an annular splash guard member 14, placed between the edge 4 of the opening 3 of the container 1 and the collar 7, the annular member 14 having circumferential slots 15 and circular holes 16 adapted to provide communication between the interior 17 of the liquid container 1 and the cavity 10 defined by the lip 9 of the collar 7, as well as means for removable connection with the membrane 11.
As particularly shown in the cross-section view of Figures 3, 5 and 6, the aforementioned means for removable connection between the elastically deformable membrane 11 and the annular splash guard member 14, comprise a substantially cylindrical portion 18 of the membrane 11, which projects from the membrane 11 toward the central opening 13 of the annular member 14, the projecting end 19 of the cylindrical portion 18 being closed, as well as an annular groove 20 obtained around the cylindrical portion 18 of the membrane 11.
The annular groove 20 is configured to be elastically engageable and disengageable with the circular edge 21 of the annular member 14 which is also equipped with an element 14a that faces the edge 4 of the container 1 and acts as a sealing member. Preferably, the annular member 14 comprises an annular portion 14b made of an elastomeric overmolding material that ensures a hermetic sealing and prevents any liquid leakage. In particular, the flange 12 comprises an annular rib 12a that engages the annular portion 14b of the annular member 14 to ensure the hermetic sealing.
Referring to Figure 4, it will be appreciated that the surface of the lip 9 that faces the interior of the cavity 10 of the collar 7, has a plurality of protuberances 22, alternated with flat sections 23, upon which the membrane 11 rests.
During use of the device, the liquid contained in the container 1 is prevented from flowing out, even when the container is shaken or turned upside down, due to the presence of the membrane 11 connected to the edge 21 of the annular splash guard member 14, which acts as a valve cut-off member.
In order to drink the liquid contained in the container 1, as the user puts his/her lips on a portion of the edge 24 of the lip 9 of the collar 7 and the container 1 is inclined, the liquid may flow from the container 1 to the cavity 10 beneath the membrane 11, through the openings 15 and the holes 16 of the annular member 14 may reach the user's mouth and from this cavity 10 through the passages 23 of the lip 9 of the collar 7, not engaged with the membrane 11.
As an alternative to threads, the reversible connection between the device 6 and the edge 4 of the container 1 may be formed as a bayonet connection, for quicker connection and disconnection of the device 6 to/from the container 1.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the design of the molds for the fabrication of the device 6 using moldable materials, namely plastics, is very simple and with reduced undercut portions, as the annular splash guard member 14 is not integral with the collar 7 and is formed by an independent mold, which provides additional advantages in terms of cleaning and hygiene of the device.

Claims

A closure device (6) for a liquid container (1) having an opening (13) delimited by an edge (4), the device (6) comprising:
- a collar (7), configured to be applied to the edge (4) of the opening (3) of the container (1), the collar (7) having an axial opening (7a) extending in an axial direction (X-X) and having a lip (9) which axially projects out if its peripheral contour and defines a cavity (10) therein,

- an elastically deformable membrane (11), located within the cavity (10) defined by the lip (9) of the collar (7), and configured to rest on the lip (9) and create a reversible seal along the lip (9),
characterized in that

- the collar (7) has a flange (12) that projects radially towards the interior of the axial opening (7a),

- the flange (12) defining an axial support for an annular splash guard member (14), which is configured to be placed between the edge (4) of the opening (3) of the container (1) and the collar (7), the annular splash guard member (14) having communication openings (15, 16) for providing communication between the interior of the container (1) and the cavity (10) defined by the lip (9) of the collar (7) as well as connection means (18, 19, 20, 21) for removable connection of the annular splash guard member (14) with the membrane (11).
A device (6) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connection means (18, 19, 20, 21) comprise a substantially cylindrical portion (18) of the membrane (11) extending to a closed end (19), as well as an annular groove (20) obtained around the cylindrical portion (18) of the membrane (11), the annular groove (20) being configured to be elastically engageable and disengageable with an inner circular edge (21) of the annular member (14).
A device (6) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the annular member (14) has an annular seal member (14a) which is designed to be placed in front of the edge (4) of the opening (3) of the container (1).
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the annular member (14) comprises an annular portion (14b) made of an elastomeric overmolding material and the flange (12) comprises an annular rib (12a) that engages the annular portion (14b) of the annular member (14) for hermetically sealing the device.
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the communication openings (15, 16) are formed and arranged along the circumferential extension of the annular member (14).
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lip (9) has a surface that axially projects out of the collar (7) and faces the cavity (10) defined by the lip (9), said surface of the lip having a plurality of ridges (22), alternating with flat sections (23), the membrane (11) resting on said ridges (22).
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the closed end (19) of the cylindrical portion (18) of the membrane (11) has a domed configuration whose convexity faces the container (1).
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (6) is configured to be removably and hermetically coupled with the container (1) via a screw coupling (5).
A device (6) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device (6) is configured to be removably and hermetically coupled with the container (1) via a bayonet connection.