WO2001026990A1 - Erectile dripless spout for a bottle closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The spout (1) is fixed to the neck (60) of a bottle and comprises: a body (2) with a waterproof fixing means inside said bottle neck; a center tube (3) which is integral with said body and which can move axially in relation thereto (2) between a low position (32) and a high position (31), a linking means between the body (2) and the center tube (3) and a means for displacing said center tube (3) in relation to said body (2) in such a way that the tube is in a high position (31) when the contents are poured and in a low position when the receptacle is blocked by the bottle closure. The dripless spout is formed by a single-piece structure comprising a flexible part which acts as a linking means.

Description

ERECTILE ANTI-DRIP POURER FOR CAPPING CAP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of anti-drip pourers typically used in the field of fractionated consumption in bottles, typically that of aperitifs, syrups, oils, condiments, etc.

STATE OF THE ART

Anti-drip pourers are already known, such as those of the type illustrated in Figures la and lb. They typically consist of two elements: - a pouring element, the lower part of which, in a sealed manner, enters a neck of standardized diameter of the container, typically a bottle or a bottle, the upper part projecting from the rim according to a substantially flared circular lip , so as to obtain the anti-drip effect, a shutter which acts as a sealing element and which can be fixed, typically by snap-fastening at the bottom of a capsule in the retaining groove of the seal.

It is of course necessary that the effort to extract the pouring element from the neck of the container or “draining” effort is greater than the pouring / shutter separation effort during the opening of the bottle.

There are also known pourers comprising several parts and formed by assembling these parts as described in patent GB 922,188, in patents US 3,217,935 and 4,569,464, and in patent FR 2,057,345.

PROBLEMS POSED On the one hand, these anti-drip systems do not work correctly under all conditions of use, or work in a very variable manner, in particular according to the inclination of the bottle or according to whether it is more or less full.

On the other hand, these systems have an extra thickness taking into account the height of the flared lip which projects beyond the rim, which appreciably modifies the aesthetics of the glass rings once the bottle or the bottle is open.

Finally, the pourers of the state of the art are expensive insofar as they require the manufacture of several parts and their subsequent assembly, and where they can involve, in order to operate, special capsules.

In addition, known pourers convey a typical image of everyday consumer products. It has been argued that these pourers would have a connotation which would therefore tend to limit their use to these sole uses, whereas they could be in common use for high-end products.

The invention therefore aims to improve the functioning of known pourers, to modify the design of these pourers so as to enhance the appearance of the open bottle, to reduce the cost of the pourers, to facilitate their operation and to renovate the image of these tippers to significantly expand their potential customer base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the anti-drip pourer to be fixed on a neck of a container closed by a closure cap (5) comprises: a) a body (2), typically tubular, with a sealing means inside of said neck, whether or not including a flange (21) which can bear on the rim (61) of said neck (60), b) a central tube (3) integral with said body, movable axially relative to said body (2) between a so-called low position (32) and a so-called high position (31), said tube (3) being in the “low” position ( 32) when the said container is closed by the said capsule, the end (33) of the said central tube being at the level of the said rim (21) or of the said flange (61), and being in the “up” position (31 ) when the content of said container is poured, said central tube (3) serving for the flow of the content of said container when a consumer pours this content, typically in a glass, the end of said central tube being above the level said flange (21) and said flange (61) when said central tube (3) is in the “high” position (31), c) a means of connection between said body (2) and said central tube (3) and a means displacement of said central tube (3) relative to said body (2), so that said tube is in the "up" position (31) during any pouring of said content and in the “low” position when the container is closed by said stopper capsule, and is characterized in that: 1) said drip-proof pourer is formed by a single piece,

2) and in that said connecting means consists of a flexible membrane (40) sealingly connecting said body (2) and said central tube (3), said membrane (40) being tensioned during the passage of the "high" position (31) to the "low" position (32) and tending naturally, by an elastic or permanent spring effect, to return to the "high" position (31) as soon as the container is reopened, the "high" position (31) constituting the stable position of said central tube (3), so as to form the displacement means.

This combination of essential means provides a solution to the problems posed. Indeed, this combination allows simultaneously to have an answer to the different problems posed: the operation of the anti-drip pourer is improved in particular because the central tube (3) can have the most suitable geometric shape, in particular by its diameter. inside and by the flaring of its end, with a regular flow of the contents, and this without undesirable dispersion in the form of drops, the fact that the pourer according to the invention comprises an axially erectile or retractable part makes it possible to avoid unsightly excess thicknesses, and to have closed bottles provided with anti-drip pourers having the same height as that of standard bottles without pourers anti-drip, which can also be of practical interest for the storage or arrangement of these bottles, in addition, the fact of having a pourer in a single piece reduces the manufacturing costs, moreover, the fact that the body central tends by itself and by its own elastic effect of the flexible membrane, towards the “high” position as soon as the capsule is removed is an advantage insofar as this simplifies the closure capsule associated with this pourer, finally, the pourers and the capsules with integrated pourer according to the invention renew the image of the pourers of the state of the art by giving them an attractive technical side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

All the figures, except Figures 1 and 2, relate to the invention. All the figures, with the exception of FIG. 4, are axial sections or half axial sections along the axis (62) of symmetry of the neck (60) of the container (6).

Figure 1 shows a closure cap (5) and its plastic insert (50) sealing a container (6) and its neck (60) provided with a pourer (1) according to the prior art , as shown in Figure 2. This pourer (1) has a flange (21) which presses on the rim (61) of the neck.

Figures 3 and 3b, 5a to 5c show a method of the invention in which the pourer (1) comprises a body (2), a central tube (3) formed of coaxial tubes (34) with an inner tube (35) and an outer tube (36), the connecting means between the body (2) and the central tube (3) being constituted by a flexible membrane (4.40). FIG. 3a represents the capsule (5) provided with the plastic insert (50), with the pourer (1) in the “low” or retracted position (32), closing the neck (60). It can be seen that the upper end (350) of the central tube allows temporary cooperation with the plastic insert (50) when the cap (5) provided with the pourer (1) must be fixed and screwed onto the neck of a bottle, so that the capsule and the pourer are fixed simultaneously. Furthermore, it can be seen that the capsule with pourer does not have any additional thickness compared to a standard capsule without pourer.

FIG. 3a shows the projection of the lower base (37) of the pourer (1): this lower base forms an arc of a circle (370), the axis A-A indicating the section shown in FIG. 3a. The lower opening of the inner tube (35) therefore comprises two parts: a part delimited by said arc of a circle (370) and a part, inclined, forming an oblique opening (375).

Figure 3b is similar to Figure 3a, but after unscrewing the capsule (5): the pourer (1) is in the "up" position and its free end (350) is located above the rim (61).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the pouring of the contents of the container (6), here a bottle, into a glass, the neck (60) being provided with a pourer (1) which is in the "high" position ( 31).

FIGS. 5a and 5b represent pourers (1) respectively in the “high” position

(31) and "bass" (32), similar to those of FIGS. 3a and 3b, but enlarged.

In FIG. 5a, the projection of the lower base (37) of the pourer (1) has been shown: this lower base forms an arc of a circle (370), the axis B-B, perpendicular to the axis A-

A of Figure 3a, showing the section shown in Figure 5a.

Figure 5 c is an enlarged representation of the upper part of Figure 3 a.

The central lip of the plastic insert (50) has been represented according to a modality (500) in solid lines, and according to another modality (501) in dotted lines. FIG. 6 represents another modality of the invention, the pourer being represented in the "low" position (32) on the left half-cup, and the "high" position (31) on the right half-cup.

This FIG. 6 illustrates the case where the central tube (3) is not a coaxial tube, and where the flexible membrane (40) which provides the connection between the body (2) and central tube (3) is located at the lower end of the body (2) and of the central tube (3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, and as illustrated in the figures, said fixing means can be constituted by a series of fins (20) ensuring the seal between said neck (60) and said body (2).

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the pourer according to any one of claims 1 to 2 in which said central tube (3) comprises two coaxial tubes (34), having between them a typically annular space (374), joined together according to a base lower common (37):

an inner tube (35), typically frustoconical with a lower part of larger diameter than its upper part, ensuring the flow of the contents of the container and its end (350) being above the level of said rim (21) and said rim (61) when said central tube (3) is in the “high” position (31),

- An outer tube (36) carrying, typically at its upper end (360), said flexible membrane (4.40). This method has been shown in Figures 3a to 5c.

As illustrated in FIG. 5a, said lower base (37) may have an orifice (373) connecting the interior of said container and said annular space (374) in continuity with the exterior of the container, said orifice having a diameter, typically less than 2 mm, chosen to facilitate the entry of air inside the container during the pouring of its contents, the ratio between the inside diameter of said inner tube at its lower part and that of said orifice being between 5 and 15.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 5 a, said lower base (37) common to the two coaxial tubes (35) and (36) can be constituted by a circular area, or a circular area arc (370) typically between 180 and 330 °, the 360 ° complement of said arc (371) delimiting a recess (372), common to the two inner and outer tubes, extending between said level of said range or circular range arc (370) and the level of said membrane (40), so as to facilitate a regular flow of the content during said pouring.

According to another pouring arrangement of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6, the flexible membrane (40) which provides the connection between the body (2) and central tube (3) can be located at the lower end of the body (2 ) and the central tube (3). In this case, the central tube (3) is not a coaxial tube.

According to the invention, the pourer, although one-piece, can be made of one or more materials, typically plastics, of the same or different colors, in particular depending on the function of each of the different parts of the pourer. Preferably, the plastics used are polyolefins, typically PE or PP and the pourer or the parts constituting the pourer (1) are obtained by molding (injection).

Another object of the invention is constituted by a closure capsule (5) comprising a sealing element (50) integral with said capsule and a pourer according to the invention, in which said capsule (5) and said pourer (1 ) are temporarily joined so as to be able to distribute, place and simultaneously encapsulate said pourer (1) and said stopper capsule (5) on the neck (60) during the packaging of said content in said container (6). Preferably, the pourer (1) is temporarily attached to the closure cap (5) comprising a sealing element (50,51). According to a variant, said sealing element of said capsule can cooperate with the upper end (33) of said central tube (3), typically by clipping or snap-fastening, to ensure both the tight sealing of said central tube (3) and temporary joining between said capsule and said pourer, as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 5c.

Most often, said sealing element is a plastic insert (50) comprising a central lip or groove (500), possibly sealing, cooperating with the upper end (33) of said central tube (3), and, optionally, a peripheral sealing lip (501) cooperating with the rim (61) of said neck or said flange (21), as illustrated in FIG. 5c.

Said sealing element can also be a seal (51) held in position at the bottom of the capsule typically by a groove (52), said groove also ensuring said temporary joining of said pourer.

EXAMPLES OF REALIZATION

The attached figures are exemplary embodiments of the invention.

PE or PP pourers were produced by injection according to the figures corresponding to the invention.

The pourers (1) manufactured have flexible fins (20) intended to fix them in a neck of standardized glassware (in Europe: 20.5 +/- 0.4 mm for the rings of 30 and 31.5). The central tube (3) also allows a service of the same type as that found in bars, and in particular a service "on the fly" ensuring a constant flow to fill a series of aligned glasses without stopping time between each of them.

The lower base (37) has been provided with one or two orifices (373) to allow air intake and emptying of the bottle.

The body (2) and the central tube (3) have an average thickness of 1 mm. In the case of the modality shown in Figures 3a & 3b, the flexible membrane (40) has a thickness of 0.3 mm. The tests carried out, both by professionals and consumers, with the capsules provided with pourers according to the invention have made it possible to show that the capsules with pourer according to the invention respond well to the various problems posed.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Anti-drip pourer 1

BODY 2

FINS 20

EDGE 21 central TUBE 3

ADDED ELEMENT 30

“HIGH” POSITION 31

“LOW” POSITION 32

UPPER END 33 COAXIAL TUBE 34

INTERIOR TUBE 35

EXTREMITE 350

OUTSIDE TUBE 36

COMMON LOWER BASE 37 ARC PORTION 370

SUPPLEMENT OF ARC 371

OF course 372

ORIFICE 373

ANNULAR SPACE 374 OBLIQUE OPENING 375

LINK 4

FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE 40

ELASTIC ELEMENT 41

CAPSULE 5 PLASTIC INSERT 50

CENTRAL LIP / sealing element .. 500 PERIPHERAL LIP sealing 501

PERIPHERAL LIP fixing 502

THROAT 52

CONTAINER 6

NECK 60

BUVANT 61

SPINDLE AX 62

Claims

1. Anti-drip pourer (1) to be fixed on a neck (60) of a container (6) closed by a closure cap (5), comprising: a) a body (2), typically tubular, with means tight fixing inside said neck, whether or not including a flange (21) which can bear on the flange (61) of said neck (60), b) a central tube (3) integral with said body, axially movable relative to said body (2) between a so-called low position (32) and a so-called high position (31), said tube (3) being in “low” position (32) when said container is closed by said capsule, the end (33) of said central tube being located at or below said rim (21) or said flange (61) and being in the “up” position (31) when the contents of said container are poured, said central tube (3) serving to the flow of the contents of said container when a consumer pours this content, typically into a glass, the end of said central tube being above the level water from said rim (21) and said flange (61) when said central tube (3) is in the “high” position (31), c) a means of connection between said body (2) and said central tube (3) and a means for moving said central tube (3) relative to said body (2), so that said tube is in the "high" position (31) during any pouring of said content and in the "low" position when the container is closed by said closure cap, characterized in that: 1) said anti-drip pourer is formed by a single piece, 2) and in that said connecting means consists of a flexible membrane (40) sealingly connecting said body (2) and said central tube (3), said membrane (40) being tensioned during the passage of the "high" position (31) to the "low" position (32) and tending naturally, by an elastic or permanent spring effect, to return to the "high" position (31) as soon as the container is reopened, the "high" position (31) constituting the stable position of said central tube (3), so as to form the displacement means. 2. Pourer according to claim 1 wherein said fixing means is constituted by a series of fins (20) sealing between said neck (60) and said body (2). 3. Pourer according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein said central tube (3) comprises two coaxial tubes (34), having between them a typically annular space (374), joined together according to a common lower base (37): an inner tube (35), typically frustoconical with a lower part of larger diameter than its upper part, ensuring the flow of the contents of the container and its end (350) being above the level of said rim (21) and said rim (61) when said central tube (3) is in the “high” position (31), - An outer tube (36) carrying, typically at its upper end (360), said flexible membrane (4.40). 4. Pourer according to claim 3 wherein said lower base (37) carries an orifice (373) connecting the interior of said container and said annular space (374) in continuity with the exterior of the container, said orifice having a diameter , typically less than 2 mm, chosen so as to facilitate the entry of air inside the container during the pouring of its contents, the ratio between the inside diameter of said inner tube at its bottom and that of said orifice being between 5 and 15. 5. Pourer according to any one of claims 3 to 4 wherein said lower base (37) common to the two coaxial tubes (35) and (36) is constituted by a circular range, or a circular range arc (370) typically between 180 and 330 °, the 360 ° complement of said arc (371) delimiting a recess (372), common to the two inner and outer tubes, extending between said level of said range or circular range arc (370) and the level of said membrane (40), so as to facilitate a regular flow of the content during said pouring. 6. Pourer according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the flexible membrane (40) which provides the connection between the body (2) and central tube (3) is located at the lower end of the body (2) and the tube central (3). 7. Pourer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 consisting of one or more materials, typically plastics, of the same or different colors. 7. closure cap (5) comprising a sealing element (50) integral with said capsule and a pourer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said capsule (5) and said pourer (1) are temporarily secured so to be able to distribute, place and simultaneously encapsulate said pourer (1) and said closure cap (5) on the neck (60) during the packaging of said content in said container (6). 8. closure cap with pourer according to claim 7 wherein said sealing element (50) of said capsule cooperates with the upper end (33) of said central tube (3), typically by clipping or snap-fastening, to ensure that the both the tight sealing of said central tube (3) and the temporary joining between said capsule and said pourer. 9. closure cap with pourer according to claim 10 wherein said sealing element is a plastic insert (50) comprising a central lip or groove (500), possibly sealing, cooperating with the upper end (33) of said central tube (3), and, optionally, a peripheral sealing lip (501) cooperating with the rim (61) of said neck or said flange (21). 10. closure cap with pourer according to claim 9 wherein said sealing element is a seal (51) held in position at the bottom of the capsule typically by a groove (52), said groove also ensuring said temporary attachment said pourer.