EP4596440A1

EP4596440A1 - Pourer and product

Info

Publication number: EP4596440A1
Application number: EP24386030.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emmanouil Smyrlakis
Original assignee: Serve Sterile Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia
Current assignee: Serve Sterile Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia
Priority date: 2024-03-20
Filing date: 2024-03-20
Publication date: 2025-08-06
Also published as: US20250296746A1

Abstract

A pourer (1) installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer (1) comprising: a liquid flow channel (2) configured to permit a flow of the liquid in an outflow direction (OD); an air intake channel (3); a filter (4) at the air intake channel (3). The liquid flow channel (2) may comprise a first portion (2a), a second portion (2b) and a third portion (2c); wherein the flow of the liquid the first portion (2a) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction (OD), the second portion (2b) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction (OD), and the third portion (2c) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction (OD). The pourer may comprise a non-return valve (17) at the air intake channel (3). Also, a product.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a pourer which is installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container. The present disclosure also relates to a product which comprises the pourer and a container. Preferably the container is a bottle.

STATE OF THE ART

There are known pourers for pouring liquids from containers. There are for example known pourers for pouring liquids, such as drinks or food liquid products or ingredients, from containers such as bottles in which said drinks or liquid food products or ingredients may be stored. Also, there are known pourers for pouring liquid pharmaceutical or chemical products from containers containing said pharmaceutical or chemical products. Hence, pourers have a variety of applications and types of liquids and containers with which can be used.
In some applications, it is desirable that the pourer enables a pouring of the liquid from the container, and at the same time maintains a sterile environment within the container in which some of the liquid may remain. This may be required if the liquid inside the container is prone to be spoiled by microbes which may enter the container during or after the pouring of the liquid. Maintaining a sterile environment in the container even after the consumption/pouring of the container's liquid has started may be required for maintaining the quality and safety, and for prolonging the lifetime, of said liquid content.
Patent application document WO 2021/240314 A1 describes a pourer for pouring non-alcoholic drinks from a bottle, wherein the pourer comprises: a flow channel via which the drink flows and exits the bottle under the effect of gravity when the pourer with the bottle is at a serving/pouring position; and an air vent channel via which air enters the bottle during the flow of the liquid via the flow channel; wherein a check-ball valve is at the flow channel and a sterile filter is at the air vent channel for filtering the air. Also, WO 2021/240314 A1 discloses that for pouring the drink from the bottle, the pourer is attached to the neck and the mouth of the bottle, and the pourer and the bottle are at a parking position when the bottle is upright, as it would normally be stored on a shelf, and also the bottle and the pourer are at the serving position when they are turned upside down so that liquid can flow via the bottle's neck and the pourer under the action of gravity. According to WO 2021/240314 A1 , the pourer described therein may prolong the lifetime of the drink after the first serving, because the check valve in combination with the sterile filter of the pourer contribute to maintaining a sterile environment in the bottle after the first serving.
However, the prior art does not provide a sufficient solution to the problem of how to avoid air entering the bottle via the flow channel of the pourer. Although a check valve located at the flow channel may in principle prevent the air from entering the bottle via the liquid channel when the bottle is the parking position, it may not sufficiently prevent the entrance of the air via the flow channel during the pouring of the liquid, because during said pouring any sudden movement of the bottle may cause some air bubbles to travel via the liquid flow channel towards entering the bottle. Such sudden movements are not uncommon during a real-life use of the pourer, e.g. when a bartender shakes the bottle while serving the drink. If unfiltered air bubbles enter the bottle via the flow channel which is for the liquid, then this may compromise the quality and lifetime of the drink in the bottle. Also, a lot of conventional pourers of the prior art are difficult and complex to manufacture.
Hence, there is a need for overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes many of the drawbacks of conventional and previously known pourers. The present invention offers a pourer installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container. At least some embodiments of the present invention, may advantageously prevent or at least significantly inhibit unfiltered air bubbles to fully enter the container via the liquid's flow channel and spoil the liquid in the container. Also at least some embodiments of the present invention advantageously allow for improving the flow and pouring of the liquid via the pourer, and for preventing unintended interruptions of said flow. Overall, the present invention offers a pourer that can offer the ability to repeatedly pour a liquid from a container while at the same protecting the liquid in the container from spoilage. This may be especially beneficious in some applications, such when the pourer is used for pouring drinks or liquid food products or ingredients which should be preservative free or contain a small amount added preservatives. Such liquid products which are preservative free or contain a small amount of preservatives may be more sensitive to be contaminated and spoiled compared to respective product versions with high amounts of added preservatives. Hence, the improved functionality of the pourer of the present invention may enable its use for prolonging the shelf lifetime of liquid products which are preservative-free or contain a low amount of added preservatives. Also, the pourer of the present invention is not complex nor difficult to manufacture.
A first aspect of the present invention concerns a pourer installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer comprising: a liquid flow channel configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel in an outflow direction (OD) from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position; an air intake channel configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel in an inflow direction from outside the container to inside the container; a filter at the air intake channel for filtering the air; wherein the liquid flow channel comprises a first portion, a second portion connected to the first portion, and a third portion connected to the second portion such that during the flow of the liquid the latter passes successively via the first portion, the second portion and the third portion. Also, during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is the pouring position, the first portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction, the second portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction, and the third portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction. It is noted that the liquid flow channel may simply be called flow channel. Also, the air intake channel may simply be called intake channel.
The aforementioned configuration of the first, second and third portions of the flow channel may advantageously prevent air bubbles from entering the container and spoiling the liquid via travelling through the liquid flow channel from outside the container towards inside the container. Advantageously, in the pourer according to the first aspect of the invention, if such bubbles enter the liquid flow channel via the third portion, due to the configuration of the first, second and third portions, said bubbles may stop in the liquid flow channel so that they may not enter the container. Hence, the pourer of the first aspect of the invention, may advantageously function and protect the liquid that remains in the container, even when the container with the pourer attached to it are suddenly or violently shaken during the pouring of the liquid. It is noted that, similarly to what is described in WO 2021/240314 A1 , the pouring position of the pourer, i.e. the position at which liquid can flow via the pourer from inside the container towards outside the container, is a position at which the gravity acting at the liquid can cause the flow of the liquid via the pourer so that the liquid exits the container.
Also, another technical effect of the aforementioned configuration of the first, second and third portions of the pourer's liquid flow channel is that, after the pouring is stopped and the pourer is moved from the pouring position to a resting or parking position, a small pool of liquid can advantageously be formed in the liquid flow channel at or close to where the second and third portions of the liquid flow channel connect to each other. Said pool of liquid may be formed under the action of gravity by some liquid which may have remained in or between the third and second portions when the pouring stopped. Said pool of liquid may act as a liquid trap that may prevent air from entering the container via the liquid flow channel when the container and the pourer are at the parking (resting) position. Hence, advantageously the pourer of the first aspect of the present invention does not necessarily require a distinct check valve at the liquid flow channel, because the aforementioned configuration of the liquid flow channel may result to the creation of a liquid trap that can prevent the air from entering the container when the pourer is at the parking position. It is noted that similarly to what is described in WO 2021/240314 A1 , the parking position may preferably be the normal upright position at which an opening of the container, and the pourer attached to said opening are pointed towards the sky. Hence, the parking or resting position may be the typical position at which a bottle is left standing on a floor or on a shelf of a bar, with the mouth and neck of the bottle pointing towards the sky, and the bottom of the bottle contacting the floor or shelf. It is also noted that the aforementioned pool of liquid that may be formed in the liquid flow channel may advantageously also act as a liquid trap and block the passage of air through the liquid flow channel in cases where the pourer is at an intermediate position. If for example the pourer is used with a bottle, said intermediate position may be one where the bottle lies/rests horizontally on a shelf. Hence, when the bottle rests horizontally said pool of liquid that may be formed may advantageously act to protect the content of the bottle by blocking the passage of air through the liquid flow channel towards the interior of the bottle. Said blocking of the passage of air through the liquid flow channel when the pourer is at an intermediate position may be challenging or not possible to achieve with a conventional check valve e.g. with a check ball valve.
Although from the above it can be understood that the pourer of the first aspect of the invention does not require the presence of a distinct non-return valve, i.e. check valve, at the liquid flow channel, the optional presence of a non-return valve may improve the function of the pourer in preventing air from entering the container via the liquid flow channel, and may also advantageously prevent the back flow of liquid from the liquid flow channel towards the container after the pouring and when the pourer is brought from the pouring position to a resting (i.e. resting) position. Hence, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pourer further comprises a first non-return valve which is at the liquid flow channel and is configured to permit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve towards the outflow direction when the pourer is at the pouring position, and inhibit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve in the direction opposite the outflow direction when the pourer is at a resting position. More preferably, said non-return valve is located at, or is connected to, the first portion of the liquid flow channel, and most preferably is at the entrance of the liquid flow channel at the latter's side via which the liquid enters the liquid flow channel from the container during the pouring of the liquid via the pourer.
In a preferred embodiment which is according to the previous one, said optional first non-return valve is a check ball valve. Advantageously a check ball valve may allow for further preventing, in a simple yet efficient way, the backflow of liquid from the liquid flow channel towards inside the container when the pourer is brought from the pouring condition back to the resting position. Also, very preferably said check ball valve comprises a ball which is made of a copper alloy and/or is silver anodized. Making the ball being silver anodized and/or of a copper alloy, e.g. bronze, can advantageously inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the ball for further preventing the spoilage of the drink that remains in the container. For the same reason, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid flow channel is made of, or at least comprises, a plastic mixed with an antimicrobial agent, more preferably said amicrobial agent being a silane quaternary ammonium salt, most preferably the weight percentage of the agent in the plastic being about 1%. Said antimicrobial agent may advantageously prevent the growth of microbes inside the liquid flow channel even in dark and without requiring the presence of light.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention the filter is a sterile filter. A sterile filter may advantageously cause a sterile filtration of the air entering the container via the air intake channel for improving the protection of the liquid inside the container from microbes from the environment outside the pourer and the container.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the first portion of the liquid flow channel is helicoidal and/or the second portion the liquid flow channel is helicoidal. More preferably each of the first and the second portion is helicoidal. Advantageously, if either or both of the first and second portion has/have a helicoidal shape, the later further prevents air, in the form of bubbles, from traveling all the way through the liquid flow channel for entering the container during the pouring of the liquid. Said bubbles may enter the liquid flow channel during the pouring, especially if the container and the pourer are suddenly or violently shaken during said pouring. However, said optional helicoidal shape(s) of one or more portions of the liquid flow channel may advantageously result to said bubbles being trapped and stopped inside the flow channel before they can enter the container while the pourer is at the pouring condition.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer comprises a tube which forms the third portion of the liquid flow channel. Using a tube as the third portion may advantageously contribute to simplifying the structure and manufacturability of the pourer. Preferably a length of the tube is at least three times larger than a diameter of the tube, and more preferably the length of the tube being at least ten times larger than a diameter of the tube. Optionally having the length of the tube being larger than the diameter of the tube as described above, may advantageously allow for increasing the hydrostatic pressure in the liquid flow channel for inhibiting or preventing the entrance of air in the container via the liquid flow channel.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer further comprises a protector which comprises an opening through which passes the third portion of the liquid flow channel; wherein an end of the third portion is located on a first side of the protector; the filter is located on a second side of the protector, the second side being opposite the first side; the protector is configured to cover and protect the filter from the liquid which exits the end of the third portion when the liquid flows via the third portion in the outflow direction. The protector of the latter embodiment may advantageously protect the filter from the liquid that exits the liquid flow channel. When the pouring stops and the pourer is brought back to a resting/parking position, some liquid may have remained in the form of drops at the exit of the liquid flow channel, and if such drops fall and wet the filter at the air intake channel, then the wet filter may be clogged/blocked thereby blocking the air intake channel. When the air intake channel is blocked then the pouring of liquid via the liquid flow channel may be inhibited. Hence, the aforementioned protector and respective configuration may advantageously prevent an interruption of the pourer's functionality.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer further comprises a cap receptor which is attached to the filter and to the protector and comprises a cylindrical wall; the pourer comprises a chamber formed between the filter, the protector and the cylindrical wall; the cylindrical wall comprises openings configured to allow air to flow through the openings towards the chamber and the filter. The configuration of the latter embodiment and the cap receptor therein, may allow for a cap to be attached/coupled to the pourer for thereby closing or sealing the pourer. For this purpose, more preferably the aforementioned cylindrical wall of the optional cap receptor of the pourer comprises a screw thread configured for the screwing thereon (i.e. on the screw thread) of a screw cap.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the filter is shaped as a disc comprising a hole through which passes the third portion. A disc shaped filter may offer a sufficiently large filter area via which the air may pass as it enters or travels through the air-intake channel, so that that the venting effect of the pourer's air intake channel is sufficient for achieving a good flow rate and related pouring of the liquid. Also, preferably the filter comprises pores of an average size of 400 micrometers or smaller. More preferably the filter is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer further comprises second non-return valve which is at the air intake channel and is configured to permit the air to flow via the second non-return valve towards the inflow direction and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the second non-return valve towards a direction opposite the inflow direction and towards the filter when the pourer is at a pouring position. Hence, said optional second non-return flow may advantageously prevent liquid inside the container from entering the air-intake channel and wetting the filter. As mentioned further above, a potential wetting of the filter may block the filter and consequently may cause an undesired interruption in the pourer's functionality. Hence, advantageously the optional presence of the aforementioned second non-return valve in the pourer may advantageously contribute to preventing the accidental wetting of the filter. More preferably, said second non-return valve is a duck bill valve. The use of a duck bill valve may contribute to improving the manufacturability of the pourer. Also, a duck bill valve may act very efficiently as a check valve for preventing the flow of a liquid via the duck bill valve towards the filter.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer further comprises: an adaptor configured to be firmly attached to an opening of the container; an intermediate part configured to be firmly attached to the adaptor such that at least part of the intermediate part is surrounded by the adaptor, wherein the intermediate part comprises a peripheral wall; a central part configured to be firmly attached to the intermediate part such that at least a part of the central part is surrounded by the peripheral wall of the intermediate part; and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the liquid flow channel are at least partially formed by an open space between the peripheral wall and the part of the central part surrounded by the peripheral wall of the intermediate part. The aforementioned configuration of the latter embodiment may advantageously contribute to improving the manufacturability of the pourer. In particular, the adaptor, the intermediate part and the central part by being configured to The irmly attached to each other as mentioned above may advantageously allow for manufacturing the pourer and for forming the liquid flow channel in a simple yet efficient manner.
In a preferred embodiment which is according to the previous one, the central part comprises a tube, two helicoidal protrusions which protrude from and around a first portion of a wall of the tube, and a disc shaped protrusion which protrudes from the wall of the tube between the first portion and a second portion of the wall of the tube; a first end of the tube is closed; the tube comprises a first opening at the first portion of the wall of the tube, and a second opening at a second end of the tube opposite the first end; the tube forms the third portion of the liquid flow channel; the third portion of the liquid flow channel extends from the first opening to the second opening of the tube; the first opening connects the third portion to the second portion of the liquid flow channel; at least a part of the first portion of the liquid flow channel and at least a part of the second portion of the liquid flow channel are formed between the first portion of the wall of the tube, the disc shaped protrusion, the helicoidal protrusions and the peripheral wall of the intermediate part. The aforementioned configuration of the latter embodiment may advantageously contribute to improving the manufacturability of the pourer. In particular, the aforementioned configuration of the latter embodiment may advantageously allow for making in a simple and cost-effective manner a pourer wherein the first portion and the second portion of the liquid flow channel are helicoidal which is a shape that, as mentioned further above, can advantageously contribute to preventing air bubbles from passing through the pourer and entering the container via the liquid flow channel.
In a preferred embodiment which comprises the aforementioned optional adaptor and intermediate part, the air intake channel comprises a tubular portion and a helicoidal portion connected to the tubal portion; the adaptor comprises a tubular part which forms the tubular portion of the air intake channel; the intermediate part comprises a helical protrusion which protrudes from and around the peripheral wall of the intermediate part and is configured to be attached to the adaptor such that the helicoidal portion of the air intake channel is formed by an open space between the adaptor, the helical protrusion of the intermediate part and the peripheral wall of the intermediate part. In latter embodiment, the tubular portion of the air intake channel may advantageously prevent liquid, that may accidentally enter the air intake channel from the container, reach and wet the filter. Hence, said optional tubular portion of the intake portion may advantageously prevent the blocking of the air intake channel. Moreover, the configuration of the latter embodiment may advantageously contribute to improving the manufacturability of the pourer, and may advantageously enable making said optional helicoidal portion of the air-intake channel in a simple and reliable manner.
In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, at least part of the air intake channel is helicoidal. As described above, if a part of the air intake channel is helicoidal, this may advantageously contribute to preventing a wetting and blocking of the pourer's filter.
A second aspect of the present invention concerns a pourer installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer comprising: a liquid flow channel configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel in an outflow direction from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position; an air intake channel configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel in an inflow direction from outside the container to inside the container; a filter at the air intake channel for filtering the air; wherein the pourer further comprises a non-return valve which is at the air intake channel and is configured to permit the air to flow via the second non-return valve towards the inflow direction and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the non-return valve towards a direction opposite the inflow direction and towards the filter when the pourer is at the pouring position. It can be understood that said non-return valve at the air intake channel of the pourer of the second aspect of the invention can be considered as being the same and having the same technical effect as the optional second non-return valve of a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention as mentioned further above. Hence, it may be understood that the pourer of the second aspect of the invention may advantageously achieve avoiding the wetting of the filter of the pourer during the pouring of the liquid, hence, avoiding the unintentional interruption of the pourer's functionality and ability to offer a good pouring and related liquid flow via the liquid flow channel.
It may be understood that in embodiments of the pourer of the first aspect of the invention, the liquid flow channel may or may not comprise the aforementioned first, second and third flow portions. Also, in embodiments of the pourer of the first aspect of the invention, the pourer may or may not comprise any of the aforementioned optional or non-optional elements related to the aforementioned first, second and third flow portions of the liquid flow channel. However, any optional or preferred features of any of the embodiments of the first aspect of the invention disclosed herein, can also be optional or preferred features, respectively, of corresponding embodiments of the second aspect of the invention. Consequently, it may also be understood that in a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the non-return valve at the air intake channel is a duck bill valve.
A third aspect of the present invention concerns a product which comprises a container and a pourer which is according to the first and/or the second aspect(s) of the invention and is attached to the container. As can be understood, the pourer may be attached to an opening of the container i.e. the opening via which the liquid should flow. Preferably, said container is a bottle. In the latter case it may also be understood that the pourer is preferably attached to the neck or the mouth of the bottle.
In a preferred embodiment of third aspect of the invention, the product also comprises a drink inside the bottle. More preferably the drink is a non-alcoholic or a low-alcohol drink, wherein low-alcohol means that concentration by volume of alcohol in the drink is less than 5%.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate embodiments of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as examples of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a pourer according to an aspect of the invention.
Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 illustrates a cross section of the part of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 illustrates together the parts of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 illustrates a cross section of the part of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 illustrates a different view of the cross section of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 12 illustrates a part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 13 illustrates a cross section of the part of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 illustrates a cross section of a part of the embodiment Fig. 2.
Fig. 15 illustrates a partial cross section of part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.
Fig. 16 illustrates a partial cross section of part of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the invention. Next embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings, showing apparatuses and methods according to the invention.
Particular embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to Fig. 1-16. Fig. 1-16 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a pourer which can be installed on a bottle for pouring a liquid from the bottle. The pourer 1 of Fig. 1-16 is particularly suitable for pouring drinks and comprises a liquid flow channel 2, an air intake channel 3 and a filter 4. The liquid flow channel 2 is configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel 2 in an outflow direction OD from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position. The air intake channel 3 is configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel 3 in an inflow direction ID from outside the container to inside the container. Hence, when the pourer is attached to a bottle and is at the pouring position, liquid can exit the bottle via the pourer's liquid flow channel, and air can enter the bottle via the pourer's air intake channel. The respective thick arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the aforementioned outflow direction OD and inflow direction ID. Also, the filter 4 at the air intake channel is for filtering the air that enters the bottle via the air intake channel 3. In the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 said filter 4 is attached to said air-intake channel 3 so that the air passing via the air-intake channel 3 also passes via the filter 4. However, it is noted that in other embodiments according to the invention, said filter may be considered as part of the air-intake channel.
Also, in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 the liquid flow channel 2 comprises a first portion 2a, a second portion 2b and a third portion 2c. The second portion 2b is connected to the first portion 2a. Also, the third portion 2c is connected to the second portion 2b. Moreover, the first portion 2a, the second portion 2b and the third portion 2c are arranged such that during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is at the pouring position, the liquid passes successively via the first portion 2a, the second portion 2b and the third portion 2c. Said pouring position is a position at which the liquid is driven by the gravity to travel via the liquid flow channel 2 and exit the latter via the third portion 2c. Also, in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is the pouring position, the first portion 2a is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction OD, the second portion 2b is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction OD, and the third portion 2c is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction OD. Consequently, and as a result of the aforementioned configuration of the liquid flow channel in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16, when the pourer is brought from the pouring position back to a resting (parking) position, liquid that may have been left in the third and second portions of the liquid flow channel 2, may accumulate and form a small pool of liquid at the connection between the third and the second portions 2b, 2c. Said small pool of liquid may act as a liquid trap which can blocks air from passing through said pool and entering the bottle. Also, it is noted that in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2 is essentially a tube 7, and the filter 4 is shaped as a disc and comprises a hole 16 through which passes said tube 7.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1-6 the pourer 1 also comprises a first non-return valve 5 which is at one end of the liquid flow channel 2 towards the latter's side that would face the interior of the container when the pourer is functionally attached to the container. In the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 said first non-return valve 5 is a check ball valve which is configured to permit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve 5 towards the outflow direction OD when the pourer is at the pouring position, and inhibit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve 5 in the direction opposite the outflow direction OD when the pourer is at a resting position. It may be understood when the pourer is attached to a bottle, the resting position will typically be one at which the mouth's neck is pointed towards the sky, and the bottom of the bottle rests on a supporting surface, e.g. on a shelf, on which the bottle stands in an upright position.
Also, in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16, the pourer comprises a protector 8, a cap receptor 11, an adaptor 18, and intermediate part 19, a central part 20 and a second non-return valve 17. The protector 8 comprises an opening 9 through which passes the tube 7 that is the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2. An end 10 of the third portion 2c is located on a first side 8a of the protector 8. In the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 said end 10 of the third portion 2c is an open end 27 of the tube 7. Said open end 27 of the tube further down herein is also called second end 27 to be distinguished from a first end 24 of the tube 7. The filter 4 is located on a second side 8b of the protector 8, said second side 8b being opposite the first side 8a. The protector 8 is configured to cover and protect the filter 4 from the liquid which exits the end 10 of the third portion 2c when the liquid flows via the third portion 2c in the outflow direction OD. The cap receptor 11 is attached to the filter 4 and to the protector 8 and comprises a cylindrical wall 12 which comprises a screw thread 15 which is configured for the screwing thereon of a screw cap. Also, between the filter 4, the protector 8 and the cylindrical wall 12 there is formed a chamber. Also, the cylindrical wall 12 comprises openings 14 which are configured to allow air to flow through the openings 14 towards the chamber 13 and the filter 4. Hence, when the pourer is attached to a bottle, air can enter the chamber via the openings 14, and subsequently pass via the filter and travel via the air intake channel towards entering the bottle. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1 said openings 14 are on lateral sides of the pourer to prevent the poured liquid that exits the liquid flow channel from entering the chamber and wetting the filter. For the same reason, the protector 8 essentially acts a shelter or cover that protects the filter 4 and prevents the latter's wetting from liquid that exits the end of the flow channels during the pouring process.
Also, in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16, the adaptor 18 is configured to be firmly attached to an opening of the bottle. For this purpose, the adaptor comprises a set of protrusions and recesses 31 arranged around an external surface of the adaptor which is shaped to fit inside the neck of a bottle. Said set of protrusions and recesses 31 serve as a seal between the adaptor and the bottle's mouth. Also, the adaptor comprises a lip 32 for being fitted on the mouth of the bottle. Also, the intermediate part 19 is configured to be firmly attached to the adaptor 18 such that at least part of the intermediate part 19 is surrounded by the adaptor 18. Said intermediate part 19 comprises a peripheral wall 19a and a set of openings 33 arranged around a lip 34 of the intermediate part 19, said lip 34 being on one end of the intermediate trap 19. The central part 20 is configured to be firmly attached to the intermediate part 19 such that at least a part of the central part 20 is surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Also, the central part comprises an annular support structure 35 on which rests the filter 4. The first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 are formed by an open space between the peripheral wall 19a and the part of the central part 20 surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Hence, the peripheral wall 19a and the part of the central part 20 surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 act as walls of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b. The central part 20 also comprises the tube 7 which is the third portion 2c of the flow channel 2. In addition, the central part also comprises a disc shaped protrusion 22 and two helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21 b. The helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b protrude from and around a first portion 23a of a wall 23 of the tube 7. The disc shaped protrusion 22 protrudes from the wall 23 of the tube between the first portion 23a and a second portion 23b of the wall 7a of the tube 7. Also, a first end 24 of the tube 7 is closed. Moreover, the tube 7 comprises a first opening 25 and a second opening 26. The first opening 25 of the tube 7 is at the first portion 23a of the wall 23 of the tube 7. The second opening 26 of the tube 7 is at a second end 27 of the tube opposite the first end 24. As mentioned further above, the tube 7 forms the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2, and said third portion 2c extends from the first opening 25 to the second opening 26 of the tube 7. Said first opening 25 connects the third portion 2c to the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2. At least a part of the first portion 2a of the liquid flow channel 2 and at least a part of the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 are formed between the first portion 23a of the wall 23 of the tube 7, the disc shaped protrusion 22, the helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Hence, the wall 23 of the tube 7, the disc shaped protrusion 22, the helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 delimit (i.e. act as boundaries of) and act as walls of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the flow channel 2 which is for the flow of the liquid. Consequently, each of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 is also helicoidal i.e. has a helicoidal shape.
Also, in the embodiment of Fig. 1-16, the air intake channel 3 comprises a tubular portion and a helicoidal portion which is connected to the tubal portion. The adaptor 18 comprises a tubular part 28 which forms the tubular portion of the air intake channel 3. The intermediate part 19 comprises a respective helical protrusion 19b which protrudes from and around the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 and is configured to be attached to the adaptor 18. Hence, the helicoidal portion of the air intake channel 3 is formed by an open space between the adaptor 18, the helical protrusion 19b of the intermediate part 19 and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Therefore, the adaptor 18, the helical protrusion 19b of the intermediate part 19 and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 act as boundary walls of the air intake channel 3. Consequently, a part of the air intake channel 3 is helicoidal.
In the embodiment of Fig. 1-16, the pourer further comprises a second non-return valve 17 which is at end of the air intake channel 3 towards a pourer's side that is inserted in the bottle when the pourer is attached to the bottle. In the embodiment of Fig. 1-16 said second non-return valve 17 is duck bill valve which is made of flexible polymer and is configured to permit the air to flow via the duck bill valve towards the inflow direction ID and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the duck bill valve towards the filter and a direction opposite the inflow direction ID, when the pourer is at a pouring position.
A preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the invention comprises the bottle, a drink inside the bottle, a pourer attached to neck of the bottle, and a cap attached to the pourer.
In this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements etc.
The invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

A pourer (1) installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer (1) comprising:
a liquid flow channel (2) configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel (2) in an outflow direction (OD) from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position;

an air intake channel (3) configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel (3) in an inflow direction (ID) from outside the container to inside the container;

a filter (4) at the air intake channel (3) for filtering the air;

wherein the liquid flow channel (2) comprises a first portion (2a), a second portion (2b) connected to the first portion (2a), and a third portion (2c) connected to the second portion (2b) such that during the flow of the liquid the latter passes successively via the first portion (2a), the second portion (2b) and the third portion (2c);

characterized in that during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is at the pouring position, the first portion (2a) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction (OD), the second portion (2b) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction (OD), and the third portion (2c) is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction (OD).
A pourer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pourer (1) further comprises a first non-return valve (5) which is at the liquid flow channel (2) and is configured to permit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve (5) towards the outflow direction (OD) when the pourer is at the pouring position, and inhibit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve (5) in the direction opposite the outflow direction (OD) when the pourer is at a resting position.
A pourer (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first non-return valve (5) is a check ball valve, preferably comprising a ball (6) which is made of a copper alloy and/or is silver anodized.
A pourer (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first portion (2a) is helicoidal and/or the second portion (2b) is helicoidal.
A pourer (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the pourer comprises a tube (7) which forms the third portion (2c) of the liquid flow channel (2), preferably a length of the tube (7) being at least three times larger than a diameter of the tube (7), more preferably the length of the tube (7) being at least ten times larger than a diameter of the tube (7).
A pourer (1) according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a protector (8) which comprises an opening (9) through which passes the third portion (2c) of the liquid flow channel (2);
wherein an end (10) of the third portion (2c) is located on a first side (8a) of the protector (8);

the filter (4) is located on a second side (8b) of the protector (8), the second side (8b) being opposite the first side (8a);

the protector (8) is configured to cover and protect the filter (4) from the liquid which exits the end (10) of the third portion (2c) when the liquid flows via the third portion (2c) in the outflow direction (OD).
A pourer (1) according to claim 6, comprising a cap receptor (11) which is attached to the filter (4) and to the protector (8) and comprises a cylindrical wall (12);
the pourer (1) comprises a chamber (13) formed between the filter (4), the protector (8) and the cylindrical wall (12);

the cylindrical wall (12) comprises openings (14) configured to allow air to flow through the openings (14) towards the chamber (13) and the filter (4);

preferably the cylindrical wall (12) comprising a screw thread (15) configured for the screwing thereon of a screw cap.
A pourer (1) according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a second non-return valve (17) which is at the air intake channel (3) and is configured to permit the air to flow via the second non-return valve (17) towards the inflow direction (ID) and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the second non-return valve (17) towards a direction opposite the inflow direction (ID) and towards the filter when the pourer is at the pouring position.
A pourer (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second non-return valve (17) is a duck bill valve.
A pourer (1) according to any of the previous claims, further comprising;
an adaptor (18) configured to be firmly attached to an opening of the container;

an intermediate part (19) configured to be firmly attached to the adaptor (18) such that at least part of the intermediate part (19) is surrounded by the adaptor (18);

the intermediate part (19) comprising a peripheral wall (19a);

a central part (20) configured to be firmly attached to the intermediate part (19) such that at least a part of the central part (20) is surrounded by the peripheral wall (19a) of the intermediate part (19);

the first portion (2a) and the second portion (2b) of the liquid flow channel (2) are at least partially formed by an open space between the peripheral wall (19a) and the part of the central part (20) surrounded by the peripheral wall (19a) of the intermediate part (19).
A pourer (1) according to claim 10, wherein:
the central part (20) comprises a tube (7), two helicoidal protrusions (21a, 21b) which protrude from and around a first portion (23a) of a wall (23) of the tube (7), and a disc shaped protrusion (22) which protrudes from the wall (23) of the tube between the first portion (23a) and a second portion (23b) of the wall (7a) of the tube;

a first end (24) of the tube (7) is closed;

the tube (7) comprises a first opening (25) at the first portion (2a) of the wall (23) of the tube (7), and a second opening (26) at a second end (27) of the tube opposite the first end (24);

the tube (7) forms the third portion (2c) of the liquid flow channel (2), and said third portion (2c) extends from the first opening (25) to the second opening (26);

the first opening (25) connects the third portion (2c) to the second portion (2b) of the liquid flow channel (2);

at least a part of the first portion (2a) of the liquid flow channel (2) and at least a part of the second portion (2b) of the liquid flow channel (2) are formed between the first portion (23a) of the wall (23) of the tube (7), the disc shaped protrusion (22), the helicoidal protrusions (21a, 21b) and the peripheral wall (19a) of the intermediate part (19).
A pourer (1) according to any one of claims 10-11, wherein the air intake channel (3) comprises a tubular portion and a helicoidal portion connected to the tubal portion;
the adaptor (18) comprises a tubular part (28) which forms the tubular portion of the air intake channel (3); and

the intermediate part (19) comprises a helical protrusion (19b) which protrudes from and around the peripheral wall (19a) of the intermediate part (19) and is configured to be attached to the adaptor (18) such that the helicoidal portion of the air intake channel (3) is formed by an open space between the adaptor (18), the helical protrusion (19b) of the intermediate part (19) and the peripheral wall (19a) of the intermediate part (19).
A pourer according to any of the previous claims, where at least part of the air intake channel (3) is helicoidal.
A pourer (1) installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer (1) comprising:
a liquid flow channel (2) configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel (2) in an outflow direction (OD) from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position;

an air intake channel (3) configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel (3) in an inflow direction (ID) from outside the container to inside the container;

a filter (4) at the air intake channel (3) for filtering the air;

characterized in that the pourer further comprises a non-return valve (17) which is at the air intake channel (3) and is configured to permit the air to flow via the non-return valve (17) towards the inflow direction (ID) and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the non-return valve (17) towards a direction opposite the inflow direction (ID) and towards the filter when the pourer is at the pouring position.
A product comprising a container and a pourer (1) which is according to any of the previous claims and is attached to the container, preferably the container being a bottle.