Closing device, valve unit and container

Abstract

A closing device is described for a container for fluids, comprising a valve unit provided with a passage aperture for the fluid and a body, wherein the body comprises shutter means and is mobile with respect to the passage aperture to alternatively define at least a closed configuration in which the shutter means close the passage aperture, and an open configuration in which the shutter means are distanced from the passage aperture.

Claims

1. Closing device for a container for fluids, comprising: a valve unit comprising: a support element provided with a passage aperture for the fluid entering into and exiting from said container and a body, provided with shutter means disposed to engage with said passage aperture, and mobile with respect to said passage aperture to alternatively define at least a closed configuration and an open configuration of said valve unit, wherein said shutter means and said passage aperture have an at least partly complementary shape, said body also comprising elastic means that are integrated in a single body with said shutter means to elastically deform said body between an extended position, in which said shutter means close said passage aperture in an at least partly complementary manner and form a seal, and a compressed position, in which said shutter means are distanced from said passage aperture; and a lid disposed to close an opening of said container, and comprising holding means disposed to engage with attachment means of said support element, so as to allow the connection between said valve unit and said lid, wherein said body comprises connection means configured to attach said body to said support element so that said support element moves away from the lid when said elastic means are in the compressed position.

2. Closing device as in claim 1, wherein said lid defines a cavity facing from an opposite part with respect to said opening that is configured to receive a portion of a fluid delivery device; said lid comprising a cap that closes said cavity to protect it from dirt and impurities.

3. Closing device as in claim 1, wherein said lid comprises a threaded portion that engages with a respective threaded portion made on the outside of said container so that said lid can be screwed on said container.

4. Closing device as in claim 1, wherein said holding means are configured as an annular hollow and said attachment means are configured as an annular protrusion that can be inserted under pressure inside said annular hollow.

5. Container for fluids comprising an external keg and an internal bag disposed internally to the external keg and suitable to contain a fluid; said container comprising said closing device as in claim 1.

6. Container as in claim 5, wherein said container and said closing device are made of plastic material as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

7. Valve unit associable with a closing device of a container for fluids, comprising: a support element that is disposed to be attached to a closing device of a container for fluids and that comprises at least a passage aperture through which the fluid can enter into or exit from said container, and a body comprising shutter means disposed to engage with said passage aperture to selectively close said passage aperture, wherein said shutter means and said passage aperture have an at least partly complementary shape, said body being mobile with respect to said passage aperture so as to define at least a closed configuration of said valve unit, wherein said shutter means engage with said passage aperture in an at least partly complementary manner and form a seal to prevent the passage of the fluid through it, and an open configuration of said valve unit in which said shutter means are distanced from said passage aperture to allow the passage of the fluid through it, wherein said body comprises elastic means that are integrated in a single body with said shutter means to elastically deform said body between an extended position, in which said valve unit is in said closed configuration, and a compressed position, in which said valve unit is in said open position, wherein said body comprises connection means configured to attach said body to said support element so that said support element moves away from the lid when said elastic means are in the compressed position.

8. Valve unit as in claim 7, wherein said connection means are integrated in a single body together with said shutter means and said elastic means.

9. Valve unit as in claim 7, wherein said support element comprises a sealing portion that is disposed to engage in a sealed manner with an upper edge of said container.

10. Valve unit as in claim 7, wherein said support element comprises attachment means that allow to attach said support element to said closing device.

11. Valve unit as in claim 7, wherein said support element and said body are made of a plastic material as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a partial cross section of a container for fluids provided with a closing device comprising a valve unit according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 1, which shows the valve unit in a closed configuration;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross section views of a valve unit according to the invention, shown respectively in a closed configuration and an open configuration, and a closing device comprising the valve unit.

(5) To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

(6) We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

(7) With reference to FIG. 1, we will now describe a container for fluids, in particular for beverages, indicated by the reference number 10. It should be noted that the container 10 can contain any type of beverage. For example, the container 10 can contain carbonated beverages, such as beer for example.

(8) The container 10 comprises an external keg 12 and an internal bag 14. The internal bag 14 is disposed inside the external keg 12 and is suitable to contain the fluid, that is, the beverage. The internal bag 14 is a flexible container which defines the tank inside which the beverage is stored. The internal bag 14 and the external keg 12 are separated by a hollow space 13 (better seen in FIGS. 3 and 4). The hollow space 13 is disposed to be filled with a pressurized gas such as compressed air for example. The pressurized gas causes the internal bag 14 to be crushed and, consequently, the beverage to come out. To allow compressed air to enter the hollow space 13, the internal bag 14 comprises one or more through holes 15 (also better seen in FIGS. 3 and 4). The assembly formed by the external keg 12 and the internal bag 14 is closed by a closing device 16, which will be described in greater detail below.

(9) According to the invention, the closing device 16 comprises a valve unit 50, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-4.

(10) The valve unit 50 can alternatively assume at least one closed configuration C, shown in FIGS. 1-3, and an open configuration A, shown in FIG. 4. In the closed configuration C, the valve unit 50 is disposed in such a way as to close the container 10 in a sealed manner so that the beverage cannot escape from the internal bag 14. On the contrary, in the open configuration A, the valve unit 50 is disposed so as to allow the fluidic connection between the inside of the container 10 (in particular between the internal bag 14) and the outside. In other words, the container 10 is open and the beverage can be delivered.

(11) The valve unit 50 comprises a support element 52 which is disposed to be attached to the closing device 16. The support element 52 comprises at least one passage aperture 54 (better seen in FIG. 4) through which the fluid (that is, the beverage) can pass, in order to enter into, or exit from, the container 10 (more particularly, from its internal bag 14).

(12) The valve unit 50 comprises a body 56.

(13) The body 56 comprises shutter means 58 disposed to engage with the passage aperture 54 to selectively close said aperture.

(14) The body 56 is mobile with respect to the passage aperture 54 so as to alternatively define the closed and open configurations. In the closed configuration C, the shutter means 58 engage with the passage aperture 54 to prevent the passage of the beverage. In the open configuration A, the shutter means 58 are distanced from the passage aperture 54 and allow the passage of the beverage.

(15) In the embodiment shown, the shutter means 58 are configured as a shutter element with a cylindrical shape. The latter has the shape of a cap and is positioned at a first end 56A of the body 56 which faces toward the passage aperture 54.

(16) In other embodiments, not shown, the shutter means 58 can have a different shape from the one shown in the attached drawings, provided that it is suitable to obstruct the passage aperture 54 in the closed configuration C. In other words, it is sufficient that the shutter means 58 and the passage aperture 54 have an at least partly complementary shape.

(17) It should be noted that a sealing element 59 can be associated with the shutter means 58, for example a packing made of elastomer material.

(18) The body 56 also comprises elastic means 60 which are integrated in a single body with the shutter means 58. The elastic means 60 allow the body 56 to deform elastically between a non-deformed or extended position E, in which the valve unit 50 is in the closed configuration C, and a deformed or compressed position D, in which the valve unit 50 is in the open position A.

(19) In the embodiment shown, the elastic means 60 are configured as a helicoidal spring. The helicoidal spring is obtained by making a helicoidal groove 62 in a wall 64, for example substantially cylindrical, of the body 56.

(20) In one embodiment, the support member 52 and the body 56 are made of the same material. In particular, they can be made of plastic material, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

(21) It should be noted that, in one embodiment, the support element 52 and the body 56 are made of the same material of which the closing device 16 and/or the container 10 are made. For example, they can all be made of plastic material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

(22) The body 56 also comprises connection means 66 which connect it to the support element 52. In this way the body 56 and the support element 52 are joined to each other and can move solidly with each other.

(23) In one embodiment, the connection means 66 are positioned in correspondence with a second end 56B of the body 56, opposite the first end 56A.

(24) In one embodiment, the connection means 66 can be integrated in a single body together with the shutter means 58 and the elastic means 60.

(25) In one embodiment, the connection means 66 are disposed to connect the body 56 to the support element 52 by means of a mechanical connection. In this embodiment, the connection means 66 comprise one or more engagement elements 68, which can be configured as fins. The engagement elements are made in a single body with the body 56. Each engagement element 68 is received in a corresponding seating 70 made on the support element 52.

(26) In other embodiments, not shown, the connection means 66 can make other connections of the mechanical type, different from the one described above but all technically equivalent to it. By way of non-restrictive example, the connection means 66 can make a threaded connection, a snap-in connection, or an interference connection.

(27) In other embodiments, not shown, the body 56 and the support element 52 can be connected by other types of connection (other than the mechanical one), for example by means of non-reversible connection means such as welding or gluing.

(28) The support element 52 also comprises a sealing portion 72, for example shaped like an annular lip, which engages in a sealed manner with an internal upper edge 29 of the container 10. In particular, the internal upper edge 29 is an edge of the internal bag 14. In one embodiment, the sealing portion 72 comprises a block 74 which contacts the upper edge 29 and presses against the latter to prevent unwanted leaks of fluid from the internal bag 14.

(29) The support element 52 also comprises a tubular element 76 which projects inside the internal bag 14. The seatings 70 which receive the engagement elements 68 are made on the tubular element 76. The tubular element 76 substantially defines the lateral walls of a chamber inside which the body 56 is received.

(30) Moreover, the support element 52 comprises attachment means 78 which allow to attach the support element 52 simply and quickly to the closing device 16.

(31) In one embodiment, the attachment means 78 comprise an annular protrusion 80.

(32) The closing device 16 comprises a lid 82 which closes the opening of the container 10.

(33) In one embodiment, the lid 82 is screwed onto the container 10. For this purpose, the lid 82 comprises a threaded portion 33 which engages with a respective threaded portion 23 made on the outside of the container 10, in particular on the external keg 12.

(34) Moreover, the lid 82 comprises an annular recess 84 disposed to receive the attachment means 78 (that is, the annular protrusion 80) so as to attach the valve unit 50 to the lid 82. The diameter of the annular recess 84 and its sizes are such as to allow reciprocal coupling with the annular protrusion 80. In use, to assemble the valve unit 50 to the closing device 16 it is sufficient to insert under pressure the annular protrusion 80 inside the annular recess 84.

(35) The lid 82 also defines a cavity 86 which is facing from an opposite side with respect to the opening of a container and, during a delivery step, receives a portion of the delivery device, as shown in FIG. 4.

(36) The closing device 16 comprises a stopper 88 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which closes the cavity 86. The stopper 88 protects the cavity 86 from dirt and impurities to safeguard hygiene and cleanliness.

(37) The functioning of the valve unit 50 according to the invention is briefly described below.

(38) Once the container 10 has been filled with the fluid, for example a carbonated beverage such as beer, it is closed with the closing device 16. The valve unit 50 is disposed in the closed configuration C, as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

(39) When it is desired to deliver the beverage, the stopper 88 is removed from the closing device 16 and a delivery device 90 is inserted into the cavity 86. It should be noted that the delivery device 90 can be a conventional deliverer such as those known in the state of the art and available on the market.

(40) The delivery device 90 comprises an outflow channel 92 through which the beer coming out of the container 10 can reach a container for consumption by the user. The outflow channel 92 faces the passage aperture 54.

(41) The delivery device 90 comprises an end portion 94 which penetrates inside the passage aperture 54. In this manner, the end portion 94 contacts the shutter means 58 and presses on them. Thanks to the thrusting force of the end portion 94, the body 56 is taken into the compressed or deformed position D so that the valve unit 50 assumes the open configuration A shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration, the beverage can exit from the container 10, passing in succession through the body 56 (in particular, through the helicoidal groove 62) and the passage aperture 54 toward the outflow channel 92, following the path indicated by the arrows F in FIG. 4.

(42) It should be noted that the thrust exerted by the delivery device 90 causes the displacement of the support element 52. The displacement of the support element 52 ends when it comes into abutment with a shoulder which is defined by the upper edge 29 of the internal bag 14. Then the delivery device 90 takes the support element 52 into the end-of-travel position shown in FIG. 4.

(43) The delivery device 90 can also comprise sealing means 96 which have a dual function. Firstly, the sealing means 96 prevent the beverage from dispersing outside the container 10 in its passage between the passage aperture 54 and the outflow channel 92. Secondly, the sealing means 96 isolate the passage path of the compressed air both from inside the container and also from the external environment.

(44) The sealing means 96 therefore comprises a first sealing element 97, for example an O-ring, which surrounds the end portion 94 externally. The first sealing element 97 therefore prevents the dispersion of the beverage exiting from the container 10 outside the outflow channel 92.

(45) The sealing means 96 also comprise a second sealing element 98 disposed to prevent the exit of the air under pressure toward the external environment.

(46) The delivery device 90 comprises a plurality of supply pipes 100 which carry a pressurized gas, for example compressed air, toward the container 10. The supply pipes 100 lead to the cavity 86. From here the pressurized gas can then reach the hollow space 13. For this purpose, the annular protrusion 80 must comprise one or more passage gaps (not shown) which the compressed air passes through in the path between the cavity 86 and the hollow space 13. During use, the compressed air passes through the supply pipes 100, passes through the cavity 86, the annular protrusion 80, and enters the hollow space 13 through the through holes 15. It should be noted that this path is delimited in a sealed manner by the first and second sealing elements 97, 98.

(47) It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the valve unit and/or closing device and/or container as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(48) It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of valve units and/or closing devices and/or containers, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.