BOTTLE

Abstract

A bottle, in particular a reusable and refillable bottle for CO.sub.2-containing drinks, which can be carbonated and stored in the bottle. A bottle with better usage properties is to be achieved. The bottle includes a closable liquid container with an adapter which is attached or flanged to the base of the liquid container and which contains a CO.sub.2 tank.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A bottle for beverages which are carbonated and stored in the bottle, the bottle comprising a liquid container and a gas tank, wherein the bottle includes a closable liquid container with an adapter which is attached or flanged to a base of the liquid container and a CO.sub.2 tank, or the adapter is suitably designed as a CO.sub.2 tank/reservoir.

12. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the liquid container and the adapter are detachably connected to one another.

13. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the liquid container and the adapter are permanently connected to one another or form a unit.

14. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein other adapters can be flanged to the liquid container.

15. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the adapter has a gas flow regulation valve corresponding with the gas tank and a push button.

16. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the adapter has a non-return valve corresponding with the liquid container and a non-return valve corresponding with the CO.sub.2 tank.

17. The bottle according to claim 16, wherein a pressure reducer is arranged between the gas flow regulation valve and the non-return valve or a pressure reducer is provided in front of the gas flow regulation valve.

18. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the liquid container can be depressurized via a rotatable closure.

19. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein the CO.sub.2 tank is permanently installed in the adapter or arranged to be exchangeable.

20. The bottle according to claim 11, wherein a sealing element in the closure is designed to be suitable for pressure relief and/or wherein the closure and the adapter are designed to be suitable for pressure relief.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is described in more detail below in an exemplary embodiment with reference to a drawing. In the drawing

[0022] FIG. 1: shows a bottle with an adapter according to the invention,

[0023] FIG. 2: shows the bottle according to FIG. 1 with the main components separately,

[0024] FIG. 3: shows the bottle according to the invention in a second embodiment,

[0025] FIG. 4: shows the bottle according to the invention in a third embodiment,

[0026] FIG. 5: shows the bottle according to the invention in a fourth embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 6: shows the bottle according to the invention with a device for refilling, and

[0028] FIG. 7: shows a second embodiment of the refilling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A bottle according to the invention (FIG. 1) for providing drinks containing CO.sub.2, which are to be carbonated and stored in the bottle, comprises a closable liquid container 1 with an adapter 6 which is flanged to the virtual base 5 of the liquid container 1 and which includes a permanently installed CO.sub.2 Tank 11. The liquid container 1 is open towards the bottom and the adapter 6 also forms the bottom 5 of the liquid container 1.

[0030] In another embodiment, the CO.sub.2 tank 11 could also be reversibly exchangeable, or instead of the CO.sub.2 tank 11, a refillable gas cartridge (FIG. 3) could also be installed. To compensate for the lower usable volume of the bottle when using a gas cartridge, the liquid container 1 could then be made longer.

[0031] In the example, the liquid container 1 can be closed by means of a rotatable, screwable closure 2 on a bottle neck 7 of the liquid container 1. For this purpose, the bottle neck 7 has an external thread 4 and the closure 2 has an internal thread 3 in the example. In addition, the closure 2 is equipped with a sealing element 17 resting on the bottle neck 7, for example a ring seal or a flat seal.

[0032] On the bottom 5, the liquid container 1 has an internal thread 16 in the example which can be screwed to an external thread 15 of the adapter 6 (FIG. 1, 2). Analogous to the closure 2, a sealing ring 8 is inserted (FIG. 1, 2).

[0033] Instead of the thread 15, 16, other forms of connection are also possible, for example bayonets or similar mechanisms.

[0034] The liquid container 1 can be single-walled or double-walled and, like the adapter 6, is preferably made of a light metal, preferably aluminum, or stainless steel, plastic or glass.

[0035] In the example, the CO.sub.2 tank 11 is permanently installed in the adapter 6, but can optionally also be designed as a removable tank (e.g. via a screw connection). In both embodiments it is refillable. FIG. 4 additionally shows a possible embodiment in which the adapter case 18 also takes the function of the CO.sub.2 storage/tank.

[0036] The CO.sub.2 or possibly also another food safe gas is discharged from the gas tank 11 into the liquid container 1 in a controlled manner through a gas line/connection. The gas flow is regulated by means of a pressure reducer 10, which can be fitted optionally between the gas tank 11 and the liquid container 1, and a push button 14 coupled to a gas flow regulation valve 13, such that the pressure in the liquid container does not exceed 5-10 bar, for example.

[0037] By pressing the push button 14, the mechanical blockage in the gas flow regulation valve 13 is released, whereby the gas flow from the gas tank 11 into the liquid container 1 is made possible.

[0038] In order to enable the gas to flow into the liquid or the liquid container 1 without liquid flowing back, a non-return valve 9 or else a silicone valve is preferably arranged as the inlet valve in the adapter 6 close to the base 5. Other embodiments to prevent liquid backflow are possible.

[0039] In another embodiment, a diffuser can follow downstream of the non-return valve 9 in order to reduce the size of the gas bubbles penetrating into the liquid container 1, which increases the dissolving process of the gas. An improved dissolving process can also be achieved by increasing the residence time of the rising gas bubbles in the liquid by cleverly arranging the gas inlet, e.g. by horizontal instead of vertical alignment.

[0040] As an additional safety element, a pressure relief valve, which has a higher relief pressure than the pressure reducer 10, for example 12 bar, can be arranged between the gas flow regulation valve 13 and the non-return valve 9 functioning as an inlet valve. The pressure reducer 10 can also be replaced by a pressure relief valve. FIGS. 4 and 5 additionally show embodiments in which the sealing element 19 in the bottle lid takes the function of pressure relief. This embodiment can be supplemented with a pressure reducer and/or pressure relief valve and/or predetermined breaking point in the adapter.

[0041] The pressure reducer 10 and the mentioned pressure relief units are thus safety elements as well as setting elements in order to achieve a desired sparkling water strength. A short press on the push button 14 produces a drink with a low CO.sub.2 content, while a longer press produces a drink with a high CO.sub.2 content. In addition, shaking the bottle can accelerate the gas dissolution in the drink, which causes a drop in pressure in the bottle body and allows to feed more gas into the bottle body.

[0042] Besides the pressure reducer 10 and the aforementioned relief units, there is another advantageous aspect of functional safety if the pressure built up in the liquid container 1 during the carbonation process can escape quickly when the bottle is opened by unscrewing the closure 2. The closure 2 is thereby not yet completely unscrewed and cannot lift off during the pressure reduction. The pressure reduction can be realized, for example, by means of a groove in the thread.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows another possible embodiment of the bottle, with adapter 18 also taking on the function of the CO.sub.2 tank. A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, in which, in contrast to FIG. 4, the gas tank 24 represents a separate element. The connection to the adapter case 25 can be made, for example, by means of a screw connection. The push button 20 according to FIG. 4, with the connected gas flow regulation valve, enables the flow of CO.sub.2 into the interior of the bottle by the action of force on a mechanical pressure point. In the unactuated position, the regulation valve remains closed by means of a reset mechanism 21, e.g. a spiral spring, and does not allow any flow of CO.sub.2 in the flow direction. The sealing element 19 combines a sealing function with a pressure relief function. The sealing function is guaranteed by the shape and the degree of elasticity of the material used. The functional principle corresponds to a conventional elastomer seal (e.g. flat seal, O-ring, etc.). A defined overpressure within the bottle body leads to a change in the geometric shape of the sealing element. This enables a defined overpressure to be released. The excess pressure is discharged via the thread of the bottle neck 22 or through a specially designed opening in the bottle lid. The sealing element can optionally be removed and cleaned manually by the user. Other embodiments of the pressure relief in the lid are possible. A combination with a pressure reducer and/or pressure relief valve and/or predetermined breaking point in the adapter is advantageous from a safety point of view. The safety element in the adapter should have a higher relief pressure, since a pressure relief via a relief unit in the bottle cap is advantageous due to the reduced CO.sub.2 concentration.

[0044] According to FIG. 1, a non-return valve 12 in the base of the adapter 6 serves as an inlet valve for refilling the gas tank 11. Analogically, the non-return valve 23 in FIG. 4/FIG. 5 serves for refilling the gas storage 18 or the gas tank 24. The refilling station 26/the adapter 31 is external and enables the refilling of the gas tank 11 or 18 or 24 (FIG. 6, 7) via a counterpart that fits the non-return valve 12.

[0045] The volume of the gas tank is less than 0,5 I and the pressure in the gas tank is max. 60 bar, such that in combination with a wall thickness of at least 3.5 mm it satisfies the standards EN 7866 and EN 12862. Like the bottle itself, it can be made of a light metal. Other embodiments (shape, wall thickness) of the gas tank and standards to comply with are possible.

[0046] In the example described above, all functions are carried out mechanically. Electromechanical functional implementations are possible.

[0047] Up to 10 liters of sparkling water can be produced with one tank filling.

[0048] The CO.sub.2 tank 11 or 18 or 24 can be repeatedly filled via the non-return valve 12 or 23 and an external refilling station 26 (FIG. 6). The refilling station 26 can be equipped with a larger, commercially available CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27. The connection to the charging station is made using a threaded fitting 28, or a similar mechanism, with a seal to prevent CO.sub.2 losses. The connection can be pressureless, i.e. the check valve in the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 is actuated manually by the user exerting force, e.g. by pushing down the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder or operating an external mechanism (e.g. lever, push button, etc.). Alternatively, a pressurized implementation is possible, i.e. the check valve in the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 is automatically actuated when it is connected to the threaded fitting 28. The content and pressure of the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder then flows up to the filling and non-return valve 29. When force is applied to a mechanical release mechanism (e.g. pin, ball, plug), the filling and non-return valve 29 allows the gas to flow from the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 via a gas line 30 into the adapter and CO.sub.2 storage/tank 18. The force is applied by fixing and pressing down the bottle in the refilling station 26. Other forms of force to trigger the gas flow are possible. A pressure reduction/relief to fill the gas tank 11 or 18 or 24 is not necessary since CO.sub.2 does not exceed the maximum pressure of 60 bar permitted in the gas tank 11 or 18 or 24 for physical reasons.

[0049] In another, mobile embodiment of the refilling of the CO.sub.2 tank 11 or 18 or 24, an adapter 31 for the large CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 is provided instead of a refilling station (FIG. 7). The CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 is for example attached to the adapter 31 via a threaded fitting, the check valve located in the CO.sub.2 gas cylinder 27 being actuated automatically (pressurized version). If the needle protruding from the adapter 32 is inserted into the non-return valve 12 of the adapter 6 and pressure is applied, the physical blockage in the gas flow regulation valve 33 is released and the gas flow starts.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 1 Liquid container [0051] 2 Closure [0052] 3 Internal thread [0053] 4 External thread [0054] 5 Virtual base/bottom [0055] 6 Adapter [0056] 7 Bottle neck [0057] 8 Sealing ring [0058] 9 Non-return valve [0059] 10 Pressure reducer [0060] 11 CO.sub.2 tank [0061] 12 Non-return valve [0062] 13 Gas flow regulation valve [0063] 14 Push button [0064] 15 External thread [0065] 16 Internal thread [0066] 17 Sealing element [0067] 18 Adapter and CO.sub.2 storage/tank [0068] 19 Sealing element (with pressure relief function) [0069] 20 Push button with connected gas flow regulation valve [0070] 21 Reset mechanism [0071] 22 Thread of the bottle neck [0072] 23 Non-return valve [0073] 24 CO.sub.2 tank [0074] 25 Adapter case [0075] 26 Refilling station [0076] 27 CO.sub.2 gas cylinder [0077] 28 Threaded fitting [0078] 29 Filling and non-return valve [0079] 30 Gas line [0080] 31 Adapter (as a refilling station) [0081] 32 Adapter needle [0082] 33 Gas flow regulation valve