Container for receiving beverages and device for filling the container

Abstract

According to the invention, in order to create a container (1) for receiving beverages, in particular a drinks container or drinks cup, at least comprising a base (2) and a circumferential wall (3) projecting approximately perpendicularly from the base (2), which can be produced particularly inexpensively, can be filled within a minimum time and can be securely sealed after the filling, the wall (3) has openings (4) via which the container (1) can be filled with a beverage, wherein the openings (4) can be closed after the filling via a sealing means that is/can be applied from outside to the outer surface of the wall (3). The invention also relates to a device that can fill a container of this type with a corresponding beverage, such as beer or a soft drink, within a minimum time, said device being simple to operate, inexpensive and simple to produce and having a long service life.

Claims

1. A container for holding a beverage, the container comprising: a bottom, a wall projecting upward from the bottom and formed with perforations through which the container can be filled with the beverage, all of the perforations being at the same spacing from the bottom of the container and distributed uniformly around a circumference of the wall, and a seal element for sealing the perforations upon completion of the filling, the seal element being applicable to an outer surface of the wall from the outside.

2. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the perforations of the wall are arranged or formed in a region of the wall near the bottom.

3. The container defined in claim 1, wherein the seal element is prepositioned on the outer surface of the wall of the container or can be prepositioned on the outer surface of the wall of the container.

4. A container for holding a beverage, the container comprising: a bottom, a wall projecting approximately upward from the bottom and formed with perforations through which the container can be filled with the beverage, and an elastic ring for sealing the perforations upon completion of the filling, the elastic ring being applicable to an outer surface of the wall from the outside and having a flat side that can be or is pushed onto the wall of the container and is displaceable along the wall, the width of the ring being larger than a diameter of the perforations.

5. The container defined in claim 4, wherein the ring is prepositioned on the container near the bottom of the container so as to engage around the wall and is displaceable along the wall for sealing the perforations, a spacing of the perforations from the bottom being greater than the width of the ring, the ring being prepositioned near the perforations between the perforations and the bottom of the container.

6. The container defined in claim 4, wherein the ring is made of a food-grade silicone or rubber.

7. The container defined claim 4, further comprising: a ridge or shoulder formed on the outer surface of the wall that forms a travel-limiting stop for the ring.

8. An apparatus for filling a container having: a bottom, a wall projecting approximately upward from the bottom and formed with perforations through which the container can be filled with a beverage, and a seal element for sealing the perforations upon completion of the filling, the seal element being applicable to an outer surface of the wall from the outside, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a seat into which the bottom and at least a portion of the wall of the container that has the perforations can be inserted in an approximately vertical direction and sealed off against the outside environment, the housing having: a lower part, an upper part, the lower part having a cylindrical recess that opens toward the upper part, and the upper part being formed as a top cover with a circular hole attachable to the lower part, the circular hole partially covering a mouth of the cylindrical recess in an assembled position, a sleeve slidable in the cylindrical recess and having an end facing toward the top cover that abuts against the top cover in a non-use position, the circular hole of the top cover and a space enclosed by the sleeve together forming a seat for the bottom and at least a portion of the wall of the container having the perforations, and a pressure piece displaceable both together with the sleeve and relative to the sleeve against the force of a spring in the sleeve in a first set filling position of the container in the seat, the sleeve being displaced together with the pressure piece in a direction away from the top cover, and in a second sealing position only the pressure piece being moved further in the same direction, the sleeve abutting against a travel-limiting stop and the pressure piece being displaced relative to the sleeve in the filling position; and a regulatable supply line for a beverage to be filled into the container, the supply line being connected at one end directly or indirectly to means that fill the beverage that is supplied via the supply line through the perforations into the container, the means being arranged in a first filling position of the container that is inserted into the seat at the level of the perforations of the container and enclosing the perforations, the container being displaceable in the seat into a second sealing position in which the container is displaced relative to the seal element into a position in which the perforations of the container are sealed by the seal element, a gap formed between the top cover and sleeve opening inside the housing at a level of the perforations of the positioned container and being connected outside the container indirectly to the supply line via a feed duct formed in the lower part.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising: respective threads that connect together the upper and lower parts.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the spring is between the lower part and the pressure piece.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the supply line is connected to a quantity control unit or time control unit for adjusting or measuring a flow rate of the respective beverage through the supply line.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the supply line can be controlled and regulated by a switchable valve that can be or is switched by a starter that is arranged in the apparatus.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the starter is formed as a switching contact that actuates an electrical switch that is switched through displacement of the sleeve into the filling position.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 12, further comprising: power-storage means for powering the signaling means and/or the starter that makes standalone operation possible.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising: an optical signaling means in the lower part or in the pressure piece that shines through the bottom of the positioned container.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the circular hole of the top cover opens into a funnel shape toward the free end, the apparatus further comprising: a circumferential seal on an inner surface of the region surrounding the seat near the end of the top cover facing toward the sleeve that seals the positioned container relative to the inner surface of the top cover.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising: a duct between the pressure piece and the inner surface of the sleeve and/or between the sleeve and the cylindrical recess, the ducts being connected to a main drain duct that emerges on a housing outer side and connectable there to a drainage line or catch basin.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising: a travel-limiting stop consisting of a projection on the inner surface of the sleeve.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the supply duct for supplying beverages is or can be connected to two or more beverage supply lines.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 8, further comprising: seals between the top cover and the lower part and between the sleeve and the lower part that provide a fluid-tight seal between the upper and lower parts.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 20, wherein the elastic ring is an O-ring made of rubber.

22. The apparatus claim 8, wherein the apparatus is or can be integrated into a counter worktop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and described in further detail in the following.

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional side view both of an apparatus according to the invention and of a drinking cup according to the invention in a prepositioned orientation;

(3) FIG. 2 is the same, but with the drinking cup placed in a non-use position in the seat of the apparatus;

(4) FIG. 3 is the same in the filling position;

(5) FIG. 4 is the same in the sealing position;

(6) FIG. 5 is the same with a schematic representation of the direction of removal;

(7) FIG. 6 is the same with a filled, sealed, and removed drinking cup; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of an apparatus according to the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) For one, the figures show a container 1 for holding a beverage. In this embodiment, the container 1 is a drinking cup. The drinking cup has at least one bottom 2 and one side wall 3 that projects approximately perpendicularly upward from the bottom 2.

(10) According to the invention, the wall 3 of the container 1 has perforations 4. The container 1 can be filled with a beverage through the perforations 4. Once filling has been completed, the perforations 4 can be sealed by a seal element that can be applied externally to the lateral surface of the wall 3. Such a container 1 can be filled in an especially quick and easy manner by supplying pressurized beverage through the perforations 4 in the wall 3. In this embodiment, all of the perforations 4 are at the same spacing from the bottom 2 of the container 1 and are distributed angularly uniformly around the circumference of the wall 3. The perforations 4 of the wall 3 are arranged in a region of the wall 3 that is near the bottom 2.

(11) In this embodiment, the seal element is an elastic ring 5 that in this embodiment has two flat sides. The ring 5 presses with its flat side against the wall 3 of the container 1. The width of the ring 5 is greater than the diameter of the perforations 4, so that the ring 5 completely covers the perforations 4 in a position in which it is pushed onto the perforations 4. As a result, liquid is prevented from flowing out of the container 1 after the ring 5 has been pushed up into the sealing position.

(12) In this embodiment, the ring 5 is prepositioned in a position that is near the bottom 2 of the container 1 so as to engage around the wall 3. In order to seal the perforations 4, the ring 5 can be displaced upward along the wall 3. In order to prevent partial covering of the perforations 4 in this prepositioned orientation, the distance between the perforations 4 and the bottom 2 is greater than the width of the ring 5. The ring 5 is prepositioned near the perforations 4 between these perforations 4 and the bottom 2 of the container 1 and can be moved quickly and easily from this prepositioned orientation toward the perforations 4, with the perforations 4 being completely covered in the sealing position and thus completely sealed.

(13) The ring 5 is made of a food-grade synthetic, here silicone.

(14) Alternatively, the ring 5 could also be made of another food-grade synthetic, such as rubber.

(15) In order to prevent displacement of the ring 5 beyond the sealing position, i.e. beyond the perforations 4, a shoulder 6 is formed on the outer surface of the wall 3 in this embodiment. The shoulder 6 thus forms a travel-limiting stop for the ring 5.

(16) The ring 5 forming the seal element must be flat only on its side facing the wall 3 of the container 1, so that it covers the perforations 4 and rests flat against the wall 3. The radially outwardly directed surface may differ from a flat surface and thus serve as an advertising medium. This can be achieved by a contoured surface that deviates from the flat surface as well as by printing.

(17) In addition, an apparatus 7 for the especially quick filling of such a container 1 is shown in the figures. The apparatus 7 has a housing with a lower part 8 and an upper part. The lower part 8 has a cylindrical recess 9 that opens upward toward the upper part. The upper part is formed as a top cover 10 with a circular hole 11 that can be fastened to the lower part 8. A thread 18, 19 that holds together the parts (8 and 10) is formed on the lower part 8 with cylindrical recess 9 and on the top cover 10.

(18) In the assembled position, the circular hole 11 covers the mouth of the cylindrical recess 9 at least partially, and a sleeve 12 is slidable within the cylindrical recess 9. The upper end of the sleeve 12 facing the top cover 10 is positioned so as to rest against the top cover 10 in a non-use position (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6). The circular hole 11 of the top cover 10 and the space enclosed by the sleeve 12 together form a seat 13. The bottom 2 and at least the portion of the wall 3 of the container 1 that has the perforations 4 can be inserted into the seat 13. A pressure piece 15 that can be displaced both together with the sleeve 12 and relative to the sleeve 12 is arranged within the sleeve 12. Upon being displaced into a first position, which constitutes the filling position, the sleeve 12 and the pressure piece 15 are displaced together against the force of a spring 14. Subsequently, upon further displacement into the sealing position, only a further movement of the pressure piece 15 occurs against the force of the spring 14. During displacement from the filling position into the sealing position, the sleeve 12 thus remains in an unchanged position relative to the filling position. In order to ensure this retention of the sleeve 12 in the filling position, a travel-limiting stop is formed on the apparatus against which the sleeve 12 abuts in the filling position, which prevents further movement of the sleeve 12. Once the filling position is reached, a gap 16 is formed between top cover 10 and sleeve 12. The gap 16 opens out on the inside of the housing at the level of the perforations 4 of the positioned container 1 and thus enables a beverage to flow through the perforations 4 of the positioned container 1. In this embodiment, the feed duct 17 is connected to a supply line for a pressurized beverage.

(19) A pressurized beverage can thus be filled with particular speed and ease after the container 1 is fitted into the apparatus 7 and pressure is applied to the container 1 in an approximately vertically downward direction relative to the apparatus 7.

(20) The spring 14 is between the lower part 8 and the pressure piece 15, ensuring return to the non-use position by the spring 14 after removal of the container 1 from the apparatus 7.

(21) Although this cannot be seen from the figures, the supply line for beverages can be connected to a quantity control unit or time control unit or to a combination of quantity and time control. With such units, the flow rate of the beverage or the flow time and thus the quantity conveyed through the respective supply line is adjustable and optionally measurable and then adjustable. This makes it possible to fill containers 1 of different sizes with a suitable desired amount.

(22) For this purpose, a one-time adaptation to the size of the container to be filled 1 is performed, and then this amount is stored by the quantity control or timing unit, whereupon no further adaptation is required for further filling. This only needs to be readjusted when a container 1 having a different capacity is to be used.

(23) In this embodiment, a starter that is formed as a switching contact 18 is also arranged on the apparatus 7. The switching contact 18 actuates an electrical switch that is switched by displacement of the sleeve 12 into the filling position and forwards this to appropriate signaling means.

(24) In this embodiment, the signaling means is formed as an LED 19 that shines through the pressure piece 15 at the bottom 2 of the positioned container 1. This LED 19 can signal to the user of the apparatus 7 that the container 1 has been filled. In this embodiment, the switching contact 18 of the starter sends a control signal to the LED 19. During the filling process, the LED 19 thus lights up and indicates this to the user. Once the filling of the container 1 has been completed, the LED 19 goes out, thus signaling to the user that no further filling is occurring. Now the user can move the container 1 further downward into the seat 13 in an approximately vertical direction relative to the apparatus 7, so that the seal that is formed as a ring 5 and arranged near the bottom 2 of the container 1 is displaced relative to the container 1 into a sealing position in which the perforations 4 are completely covered. Once the filling position is reached, the ring 5 abuts against a projection 23 that is formed on an inner circumferential surface on the sleeve 12. Upon further displacement of the container 1 into the sealing position, the ring remains in this position, and the container 1 is moved relative to the ring 5 into a position in which the ring 5 completely covers and seals the perforations 4 of the wall 3 of the container 1.

(25) The filled and sealed container 1 can then be removed by the user from the apparatus 7 and handed to the consumer.

(26) In this embodiment, a feed duct 17 is formed for the purpose of supplying beverages. This can be connected outside the apparatus 7 to one or more beverage supply lines, thus enabling a choice to be made between different beverages.

(27) Alternatively, and not shown in the figures, a plurality of feed ducts 17 can be formed on an apparatus 7, each of which is or can be connected to a beverage supply line.

(28) In this way, namely by selecting the appropriate supply line, a consumer can be provided quickly and easily with a desired beverage.

(29) As can be seen from the figures, ducts 21 are formed between pressure piece 15 and inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 12 and between sleeve 12 and cylindrical recess 9 that are connected to a main drain duct 22. The main drain duct 22 emerges on a housing outer side and is or can be connected there to a drainage line or catch basin. This enables extra beverage to be drained away in an especially simple and hygienic manner.

(30) In addition, this simplifies cleaning after successful use of the apparatus 7.

(31) Seals in the form of O-rings 24 made of rubber are arranged between the top cover 10 and the lower part 8 and between the sleeve 12 and the lower part 8 that provide a fluid-tight seal between the parts.

(32) This embodiment shown in the figures shows an apparatus 7 that can be integrated into a counter worktop. In this case, the top cover 10 can be flush with a drainboard 25 (screen plate) of a counter work surface, for example, and the lower part 8 can be attached to a recess of the tray 26 (drip tray).

(33) Alternatively, and not shown in the figures, such an apparatus 7 can also have power storage such as a rechargeable battery or a standard battery that is used to power the signaling means and/or the starter. This makes standalone operation of such an apparatus possible. To operate the apparatus 7, only a supply line with an already pressurized beverage needs to be connected to the apparatus 7.

(34) In an additional embodiment that is not shown in the figures, a plurality of such apparatuses can be provided in an arrangement next to one another so as to enable a beverage to be filled by each of a user's hands.

(35) The arrangement of four or more than four adjacent apparatuses 7 is also possible.

(36) The invention is not limited to this embodiment, but rather can be varied in many respects within the framework of the disclosure.

(37) All of the individual and combined features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are regarded as being essential to the invention.