INLET VALVE FOR AN INFUSION CONTAINER, AND INFUSION CONTAINER

Abstract

An inlet valve (10) for an infusion container (20) to receive a dried infusion substance, and to an infusion container (20). The inlet valve (10) includes a closure cap (11) and a valve body (12). The closure cap (11) and the valve body (12) are connected to one another in a separable manner via a thinned material location (13).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An inlet valve (10) for an infusion container (20) for receiving a dried infusion substance, the inlet valve (10) comprises a closure cap (11) and a valve body (12), wherein the closure cap (11) and the valve body (12) are connected to one another in a separable manner via a material thin point (13).

17. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 16, wherein the closure cap (11) comprises a base body (111) and a wall (112) extending therefrom, which runs around along the base body (111).

18. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 17, wherein the wall (112) is configured to be hollow-cylindrical and has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end adjoins the base body (111) and the second end adjoins the material thin point (13).

19. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 16, wherein the material thin point (13) is configured to be circumferential around the closure cap (11).

20. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 16, wherein the material thin point (13) is configured as a tear-off film.

21. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 16, wherein the valve body (12) has a valve base (121) extending radially towards a center, which adjoins the material thin point (13).

22. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 21, wherein a wall (122) extending therefrom, which runs around along the valve base (121) is arranged on the valve base (121) to form a step.

23. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 22, wherein the wall (122) is configured to be hollow-cylindrical and has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end adjoins the valve base (121) and the second end adjoins a base body (123) extending radially outwards therefrom.

24. The inlet valve (10) according to claim 23, wherein one or more support elements are formed on the base body (123) and/or on the valve base (121).

25. An infusion container (20) for receiving a dried infusion substance for the preparation of an infusion beverage, comprising a base part (21), a lid part (22) and a wall part (23) connecting the base part (21) and the lid part (22) and an inlet valve (10) according to claim 16, wherein the inlet valve (10) is formed in the lid part (22).

26. The infusion container (20) according to claim 25, wherein the infusion container (20) is expandable, wherein in particular the wall part (23) has a variable length.

27. The infusion container (20) according to claim 25, wherein a support (211) for abutment of the closure cap (11) is arranged on the base part (21).

28. The infusion container (20) according to claim 25, wherein the support (211) is arranged on a dispensing opening (212) and is configured at least in some areas as a filter sieve (213).

29. The infusion container (20) according to claim 27, wherein the support (211) comprises a guide element (214) for guiding the closure cap (11).

30. The infusion container (20) according to claim 25, wherein the valve body (12) adjoins the wall part (23), in particular that the base body (123) adjoins the wall part (23).

Description

[0054] The invention is explained in detail hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment by reference to schematic figures. In the figures:

[0055] FIG. 1: shows a perspective sectional view of an infusion container;

[0056] FIG. 2A: shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 1 in a collapsed form;

[0057] FIG. 2B: shows a perspective view of the infusion container of FIG. 2A in an expanded form;

[0058] FIG. 3: shows a detailed view of the inlet valve from FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 4: shows a detailed view from FIG. 3 with broken-open inlet valve.

[0060] For the sake of better clarity in all the figures the dried infusion substance optionally located in the infusion container 20 is not shown.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of an infusion container 20. The infusion container 20 has an inlet valve 10 and an outlet valve 30 with a dispensing opening 212. The infusion container itself comprises a base part 21, a lid part 22 and a wall part 23. The wall part 23 is expandable and in the present case is configured in the form of a bellows and fabricated from a flexible plastic. The wall part 23 is on the one hand connected in a liquid-tight manner to the base part 21 and on the other hand is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the lid part 22. This wall part 23 is enclosed by the base part 21 and by the lid part 22. To this end, a wall extending in the direction of the lid part 22 is provided on the base part 21 on the periphery thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the inlet valve 10 is configured as an integral component of the lid part 22.

[0062] The inlet valve 10 is arranged on a support 211 and therefore accordingly spaced apart from the base part 21. In the present case, the support is configured as an integral component of the base part 21.

[0063] The infusion container 20 according to FIG. 1 is configured to be substantially rotationally symmetrical and has a central axis L. This also defines an axial direction. A central axis is also provided in non-rotationally symmetrical configurations of the infusion container 20. This is substantially defined by the connection of inlet valve 10 and outlet valve 30. A flow direction which runs from the inlet valve 10 to the outlet valve 30 is also defined by the inlet valve 10 and the outlet valve 30.

[0064] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from FIG. 1 in a collapsed form. As can be seen from FIG. 2A and from FIG. 1, in the collapsed form the base part 21 is connected to the lid part 22 via the wall arranged on the periphery thereof with corresponding break-open elements.

[0065] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 2A in an expanded form. By introducing an excess pressure via the inlet valve 10 (see FIG. 1), the break-open elements of the wall of the base part 21 are broken open and the wall part 23 expands as a result of the filling of infusion liquid into the infusion container 20. It is understood that before introducing the excess pressure, the material thin points 13 of the inlet valve 10 have been broken open, as will be explained hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The infusion container 20 subsequently remains in this expanded form for a predetermined time and is then compressed to expel the infusion beverage. As a result of the compression or an additional device, the outlet valve 30 (see on this matter FIG. 1) is opened and the infusion beverage is dispensed through this outlet valve 30.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the inlet valve 10 from FIG. 1 in a sectional view according to FIG. 1. The inlet valve 10 has a closure cap 11 and a valve body 12. The closure cap 11 has a base body 111 and a wall 112 extending from this base body 111. The wall 112 extends in the direction of the interior of the infusion container 20 and in the present case in the direction of the base part 21 in which the outlet valve 30 (see on this matter FIG. 1) is arranged. The wall 112 is configured as a hollow-cylindrical wall wherein a first end of the wall 112 adjoins the base body 111 and a second end of the wall 112 adjoins a material thin point 13. The material thin point 13 is disposed between the closure cap 11 and the valve body 12. The material thin point 12 is configured to run around along the wall 112. Said material thin point adjoins a valve body base 121 extending radially from the centre of the inlet valve 10. The valve body base 121 is part of the valve body 12. The valve body 12 therefore comprises the valve body base 121 and a wall 122 running around along this valve body base 121. This wall 122 adjoins a base body 123. The base body 123 is configured in the present case as an integral component of the lid part 22 (see FIG. 1).

[0067] The base body 123 and the base body 111 lie substantially in one plane. The respective walls 122 and 123 extend from this plane in the direction of the outlet valve 30 and accordingly in the direction of the material thin point 13. The two walls 122 and 112 together with the valve body base 121 form a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the material thin point 13 is formed at the base of this cross-section. The two legs of the U's, provided by the walls 122 and 112, are running slightly conically in the direction of the material thin point 13.

[0068] The closure cap 11 has a substantially hat-shaped configuration overall. The closure cap 11 is in operative connection with a support 211 and is guided on this in the axial direction. For this purpose this has a guide element 214 (see FIG. 4). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the end of the wall 112 which is adjoined by the material thin point 13, is axially spaced apart from a corresponding counter-piece of the support 211. The counter-piece on the support 211 is configured as a circumferential shoulder 215.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows overall a configuration in which the infusion container 20 is collapsed and the material thin point 13 is not yet broken open, in other words this corresponds to a delivery state.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows the detailed view from FIG. 3 with broken-open inlet valve 10 or with broken-open material thin point 13. In order to break open the material thin point 13, the closure cap 11 is pressed in the direction of the support 211 until a lower end of the wall 112 of the closure cap 11 rests against the circumferential shoulder 215 of the support 211. As a result of this relative movement of the closure cap 11 towards the valve body 12, the material thin point 13 is broken open. A filling opening is formed along the material thin point 13.

[0071] The support 211 has a filter sieve 213 and is arranged in the flow direction upstream of the outlet valve 30 (see on this matter FIG. 1). A guide element 214 is formed on the support 211 that is in operative connection with the wall 112 and provides an axial guide for the wall 112. The valve body 12 whose base body 123 is formed as an integral component of the lid part 22 is supported on the circumferential wall of the base part 21 (see on this matter FIG. 1). A force acting in the valve body 12 is therefore absorbed in the base part 21. The valve body 12 can therefore hold its relative position in relation to the support 211. When a force acts on the closure cap 11 and as a result of the displacement of the closure cap 11 in the axial direction, shear forces are formed in the material thin point 13 which break this open.

[0072] It can, for example, additionally be provided to provide further elements in the region of the shoulder 215 of the support 211 radially outside the material thin point 13 which, for example can support the valve base 121. Alternatively it can also be provided to provide support elements on the valve base 121 which in particular cooperate with the shoulder 215 and support the valve base 121 on the shoulder 215.