Device for filling a receptacle

Abstract

A device for filling a receptacle (1) with a liquid, especially a drinking liquid, comprises a balloon-type body (4) which can be introduced into an opening (3) in the receptacle (1) and can be filled and inflated in such a way that the balloon-type body (4) rests against the inner surface of the inflated, the balloon-type body (4) is folded about the circumference in order to increase the size of the circumferential line of the balloon-type body (4) compared to a simple circle.

Claims

1. A device for filling a receptacle with a liquid that is intended in particular for consumption, the device comprising: a balloon-type body that is liquid-tight relative to the liquid and is gas-tight; the balloon-type body insertable into an opening of the receptacle and securable on or in the opening of the receptacle after complete insertion; after complete insertion, the balloon-type body is fillable and inflatable with an expansion medium such that the balloon-type body contacts an inner wall surface of the receptacle in an inflated state of the balloon-type body; the balloon-type body, in an initial state of the balloon-type body prior to inflation, comprises folds that are folded in a circumferential direction of the balloon-type body, wherein the folds have fold pockets that extend in a longitudinal direction of the balloon-type body; wherein the balloon-type body comprises an outer wall surface with a profiling, wherein the profiling is configured such that, in the inflated state of the balloon-type body, a continuous passage is formed extending from a bottom of the receptacle up to the opening of the receptacle, wherein through the continuous passage, upon filling of the receptacle, air contained in the receptacle can flow out or, upon emptying of the receptacle, liquid contained in the receptacle can flow out; wherein the profiling comprises strip-shaped stays formed as one piece together with the balloon-type body, wherein the strip-shaped stays are projecting past a wall surface of the balloon-type body and wherein the strip-shaped stays extend from the bottom of the receptacle up to the opening of the receptacle; wherein the strip-shaped stays each extend in one of the fold pockets of the folds in the initial state of the balloon-type body prior to inflation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the folds are folded in a wavy shape or a zigzag shape, viewed in a cross-section of the balloon-type body.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the folds, viewed in a cross-section of the balloon-type body, are embodied as lobes that are arranged so as to rest against an outer circumference of the balloon-type body.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon-type body is comprised of an elastically expandable material and, upon inflation of the balloon-type body, the folds of the balloon-type body are initially unfolded and subsequently the elastically expandable material of the balloon-type body is expanded.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon-type body is comprised of a non-expandable material and, upon inflation, the folds of the balloon-type body are unfolded.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the balloon-type body is comprised of a plastic material and of fibers embedded in the plastic material.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the fibers have an expansion capacity that is different from an expansion capacity of the plastic material.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the fibers are comprised of a material that is less expandable than the plastic material and the fibers extend substantially in an axial direction of the balloon-type body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of a device according to the invention for filling a receptacle with a liquid that is intended in particular for consumption will be explained in the following with the aid of the drawings. It is shown therein in:

(2) FIG. 1a a longitudinal section of the receptacle in the form of a bottle in the basic position;

(3) FIG. 1b an illustration corresponding to that of FIG. 1a in which the balloon-type body is shown in the unfolded but not yet expanded state;

(4) FIG. 1c an illustration corresponding to that of FIG. 1b in which the balloon-type body is in the expanded final state;

(5) FIG. 2a a cross-section of the bottle in the area of the opening;

(6) FIG. 2b a section of the bottle in the area of the actual bottle body with unfolded but not yet expanded balloon-type body;

(7) FIG. 2c an illustration corresponding to that of FIG. 2b in which the balloon-type body is in the expanded state;

(8) FIG. 3 an illustration in accordance with the illustrations of FIG. 2a with a modified folding of the balloon-type body.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) A receptacle 1 in the form of a bottle has a lower bottom 2 as well as an upper opening 3. This receptacle 1 is to be filled with a liquid, i.e., a beverage.

(10) For filling the receptacle 1, a balloon-type body 4 is introduced into this receptacle 1. The balloon-type body 4 can be mounted on a tube or guide rod, not illustrated. This tube or guide rod in and of itself is however irrelevant for the function of the invention. No tube or guide rod may be present just as well. In this case, the inner stiffness of the balloon-type body 4 is great enough that it can be inserted without problems into the opening 3 of the receptacle 1.

(11) The special design of the balloon-type body 4 resides in that, in the basic state, it comprises folds 5 about the circumference relative to the central longitudinal axis of the receptacle 1. These folds 5 can be seen in particular in the illustration according to FIG. 2a when the balloon-type body 4 is thus inserted through the upper opening 3 into the receptacle 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the folds 5 are embodied to have a wavy shape. In principle, they can also be embodied to be zigzag-shaped or can have a different profiling. It is only decisive that by means of the folds 5 the circumferential length of the balloon-type body 4 is enlarged in comparison to a simple circle circumference.

(12) The folds 5 each comprise fold pockets 6 which extend from the upper opening 3 of the receptacle 1 down to the bottom 2. The special feature in this context is that stays 7 are provided in some fold pockets 6 that are extending in the longitudinal direction and the stays are integrally formed on the material of the balloon-type body 4. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of four of these stays 7 are provided. However, more or fewer stays 7 can be provided also.

(13) As explained above, the balloon-type body 4 is preferably inserted into the receptacle 1 by means of the tube, not illustrated, through the opening 3 into the receptacle 1 and is seal-tightly seated on the opening 3 of the receptacle 1.

(14) Subsequently, the balloon-type body 4 is inflated with an expansion medium, in particular with air. The result of this is that first the balloon-type body 4 with its folds 5 will unfold. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 2b. After this unfolding action, the balloon-type body 4 is further inflated. As a result of the elasticity of the balloon-type body 4, the latter will expand like a balloon until it is contacting the inner wall surface of the receptacle 1. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 2c. It is furthermore disclosed that passages 8 are formed in the area of the stays 7 between the balloon-type body 4 and the inner wall surface of the receptacle 1. Along these passages 8, air that is present in particular in the bottom area of the receptacle 1 can escape in upward direction.

(15) In this initial state for filling, the expansion medium contained in the balloon-type body 4 is discharged again. In this way, between the balloon-type body 4 and the receptacle 1 an intermediate space is formed which gradually is filled with liquid. The advantage is that the liquid does not come into contact with air. Finally, the balloon-type body 4 is completely pulled out of the receptacle 1 again.

(16) In FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the folds 5 of the balloon-type body 4 is illustrated. The difference to the afore described first embodiment resides in that the folds 5, instead of having the wave-shaped or zigzag-shaped structure, are designed as lobes 9. This means that the folds 5 viewed in cross-section define relatively long structures wherein the two flap elements of each lobe 9 in the initial state are resting on each other. Moreover, these lobes 9 are arranged to be supported in the circumferential direction.

(17) In the illustrated embodiment two lobes 9 are provided. In principle, more than two lobes 9 can be provided.

(18) Between the lobes 9, a stay 7 extending in longitudinal direction is provided, respectively.

(19) In this context, the advantage of the folds 5 in the form of lobes 9 resides in that the circumferential length is enlarged in comparison to the wavy or zigzag form of the folds 5. Preferably, in this context the inner stiffness of the material of the balloon-type body 4 is such that after discharge of the expansion air the balloon-type body 4 automatically returns into its initial state, illustrated in FIG. 3.

(20) Moreover, it is also conceivable that the two afore described embodiments can be combined with each other, i.e., a portion of the folds 5 are wave-shaped or zigzag-shaped and another portion of the folds 5 are embodied in the form of lobes 9.

(21) In principle, the afore described system is usable also for emptying the receptacle 1. The situation in this context would then be as follows:

(22) A liquid is contained in the receptacle 1. The liquid is to be conveyed out of the receptacle 1. For this purpose, the balloon-type body 4 is inserted and gradually inflated with air. In this way, the liquid which is contained in the receptacle 1 is pushed out of the upper opening 3.

(23) Here also the balloon-type body 4 is initially unfolded with respect to its folds 5. After unfolding, the balloon-type body 4 expands like a balloon. Here also it is ensured by means of the passages 8 that liquid can be pushed completely out of the receptacle 1.

(24) After complete emptying of the receptacle 1, the balloon-type body 4 is pulled out again and can be used for emptying another receptacle 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(25) 1 receptacle 2 bottom 3 opening 4 balloon-type body 5 fold 6 fold pocket 7 stay 8 passage 9 lobe