Metered pourer

Abstract

A pourer comprises a conduit having an inlet and an outlet; sealing means comprising a plurality of sealing members extending radially from the conduit and dimensioned to engage an interior surface of a bottle neck; an air vent having an inlet and an outlet; the inlet and outlet of each of the conduit and air vent being located on opposite sides of the sealing means; wherein the pourer has no component with a diameter greater than a diameter to engage completely within the bottle neck. In this way, the pourer is configured to be inserted into a bottle neck without any part of the pourer extending outwardly from the bottle neck; and wherein the conduit includes a chamber having a valve comprising an annular valve seat and a moveable member located in the chamber arranged to engage the valve seat to close the valve when the pourer is inverted.

Claims

1. A pourer for use in facilitating pouring of a liquid from a bottle, said pourer comprising; a conduit having an inlet and an outlet; sealing means comprising at least one sealing member extending radially from the conduit and dimensioned to engage an interior surface of a bottle neck; an air vent having an inlet and an outlet; the inlet and outlet of each of the conduit and air vent being located on opposite sides of the sealing means; wherein the pourer has a maximum diameter permitting the pourer to be inserted completely within a bottle neck when in use; wherein the conduit includes a chamber having a valve comprising an annular valve seat and a moveable member located in the chamber arranged to engage the valve seat to close the valve when the pourer is inverted; wherein the outlet of the conduit is located outwardly from an outer surface of the sealing means and further comprises a circular baffle having an external surface co-planar with the outlet of the conduit; wherein the baffle includes an annular aperture to permit a flow of air from a bottle exterior to the air vent inlet; and wherein the air vent inlet is located in or adjacent the sealing means so that the air vent inlet is in spaced relation to the outlet of the conduit.

2. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a cylindrical tube extending from said conduit inlet located inwardly of the sealing means to said conduit outlet.

3. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable member comprises a ball or disk located within the conduit.

4. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit extends axially inwardly from the sealing means, the moveable member being moveable within the conduit between an open position remote from the valve seat and a closed position in which the moveable member engages the valve seat to close the valve.

5. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle is arranged to close a bottle opening when in use.

6. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit has an inlet adjacent an inner surface of the sealing means.

7. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit extends inwardly of the sealing means and at least one inlet is provided in the conduit adjacent the sealing means.

8. A pourer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conduit extends inwardly from the at least one inlet.

9. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second valve.

10. A pourer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the conduit extends outwardly of the sealing means by a distance greater than the distance of the inlet of the air vent from the sealing means.

11. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet of the air vent is located inwardly of the sealing means.

12. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air vent extends parallel to a pourer axis and is located at a radial distance greater than a circumference of the conduit.

13. A pourer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air vent is located circumferentially of the conduit.

14. A bottle having a neck and a pourer in accordance with claim 1.

Description

(1) The invention is further described by means of example, but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first pourer in accordance with this invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the pourer inserted into the neck of a bottle;

(4) FIG. 3 shows views of the pourer shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows various views of a second pourer;

(6) FIG. 5 shows various views of a further pourer;

(7) FIG. 6 shows various views of a further pourer;

(8) FIGS. 7 to 14 show various views of further pourers;

(9) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative pourer;

(10) FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the pourer shown in FIG. 15 in use; and

(11) FIG. 17 shows various views of the assembled pourer shown in FIG. 16.

(12) FIGS. 1-3 show a first pourer in accordance with this invention. A cylindrical body (1) disposed axially of the pourer. Four cylindrical disk-like flanges (2) extend radially from the body (1) and are dimensioned to engage an inner surface (3) of a bottle neck (4) as shown in FIG. 2.

(13) The body (1) forms a cylindrical conduit (5) extending axially of the pourer and bottle neck in use. A cylindrical inlet conduit (6) extends inwardly into the bottle neck in use, downwardly as shown in the Figures. The inlet conduit (6) has rectangular primary inlet openings (7) disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the conduit (6) adjacent the inner surface of the innermost sealing means (2). The conduit (6) has a further opening (8) at the innermost end. This may serve as a secondary inlet.

(14) An air vent (9) extends from an inlet (10). The inlet is co-planar with the outer surface of the sealing means. The air vent has an outlet (11) facing inwardly of the pourer on the inner side of the sealing means. In the embodiment shown, the conduit (6) and air vent (9) have a similar axial length so that the air inlet (10) and conduit outlet (12) are generally co-planar with the sealing ring (2). The conduit inlet (8) and air outlet (11) are located at generally the same axial distance from the sealing means (2) or, as shown, the air outlet may be slightly longer.

(15) A steel ball (14) is captive within the conduit (6) and may slide along the conduit from an open position as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the ball engages the end of the conduit adjacent the inlet (8) and a closed position when the pourer is inverted. A valve seat (15) is formed as an annular shoulder between the wider conduit (5) and the wall (16) of the pourer outlet (12). As the pourer is inverted the ball (14) moves towards the valve seat (15) causing a flow of liquid from the outlet (12). When the ball (14) engages the valve seat (15) the flow of liquid is terminated and the pourer may then be returned to the upright position for further use.

(16) In use the sealing means may be inserted into the neck of a bottle either before or after filling of the bottle, so that the sealing means is wholly located within the neck of a bottle, without leaving any part of the sealing means extending beyond the neck. In the embodiment shown, the pourer may be concealed by the bottle cap and foil covering (13 of FIG. 2) applied to the outer surface of the bottle neck.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a second pourer in accordance with this invention. The pourer has a configuration generally similar to the first embodiment except that a second ball valve is provided to control liquid flow into the conduit.

(18) The second valve comprises a sleeve (20) fitted onto the end of the conduit (26) and housing a second ball (22) retained by inlet (23) extending radially inwardly into an auxiliary inlet (24) axial of the pourer assembly. A liquid inlet (21) provides a flow of liquid and air as the first ball (27) lies upwardly or downwardly within the conduit tube (26). Rectangular liquid intakes (28) allow liquid to flow into the conduit until the ball (27) engages the valves seat (29) in the inverted position.

(19) In the inverted position the second ball (22) engages a second valve seat (31) closing the inlet (24) restricting the flow of liquid into the conduit (26). The fall rate of ball (27) is therefore controlled by the flow rate of the liquid into conduit (26) behind the falling ball (27). The predetermined dimensions of inlet (21) allow this control. When returned to the upright position, the second ball (23) falls freely to the end of sleeve (20) allowing opening of the valve seat (31). This permits drainage of any liquid within conduit (26) back into the bottle.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 1 with the difference that a cap (30) extends radially outwardly from the top outer portion of the pourer in order to cover the rim of a bottle neck. Such an arrangement protects the bottle neck from accidental damage and can promote sealing upon replacement of the bottle cap after a drink has been poured.

(21) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 4 with a cap (40) extending radially outwardly to cover the rim of a bottle neck in the same way as for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

(22) FIG. 7 shows a pourer similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, with the addition of a spout (50) extending beyond the sealing means (50). In this embodiment the pourer may be inserted into the bottle neck to a greater depth so that the spout (50) does not protrude from the neck.

(23) FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 4 but with provision of a spout (60) extending outwardly from the sealing means (61) as described with reference to FIG. 7.

(24) FIG. 9 shows a further pourer in accordance with this invention, generally similar to the pourer shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the addition of a baffle (70) located on the outer end of spout (71) to form a drip guard extending from the conduit outlet (72) to a circumferential rim configured to be adjacent or to engage the interior of the bottle neck.

(25) The sealing members are arranged to be located within the bottle neck in spaced relation to the opening of the bottle neck, the conduit extending towards the opening and having an outlet generally co-planar with the bottle opening, a circular baffle having an external surface generally co-planar with the conduit opening. The baffle closes bottle opening preventing ingress of unwanted material into the pourer. The air vent is located in or adjacent the sealing means so that the vent is in spaced relation to the outlet and baffle.

(26) A circumferential rebate (73) in the circumference of the rim serves to permit flow of air from the exterior to the intake (74) of the air vent (75). The aperture (73) is preferably located diametrically opposite to the air intake (74) to reduce the risk of entry of liquid into the air intake (74).

(27) FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 8 with the addition of a baffle (80) as described in relation to FIG. 9.

(28) FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment generally similar to that shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment the baffle has an annular aperture (90) divided into three segments by bridging members (91) to allow passage of air through the baffle (90) to air intake (92). The annular aperture (90) located around the outlet (93) forms a conduit to allow passage of air irrespective of the angular position of the bottle neck.

(29) FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment generally similar to FIG. 10 but having an annular aperture (100) in the baffle (101) surrounding the outlet (102) of conduit (103) as described in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11.

(30) FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein the pourer is formed in two parts. The sealing means encompasses a cylindrical body (110) having outwardly extending sealing members (111) configured to engage the inner surface of a bottle neck (not shown). The body (110) forms a cylindrical collar (112) upon which a rotatable cylindrical member (113) is received. The cylindrical member (113) has a conduit outlet (114) and air intake (115) as described in the previous embodiments. A conduit inlet tube (115) has a pair of diametrically opposed rectangular inlets (116) and a downwardly extending portion having an auxiliary inlet tube (117) at the lower end. The cylindrical member (113) has an eccentric configuration and is loaded with a heavy weight so that it rotates to a selected orientation when the bottle neck is horizontal. In the selected orientation, the air intake (115) is located above the conduit (114) so that liquid poured from the conduit does not enter the inlet (118) of air intake (115).

(31) FIG. 14 shows an embodiment generally similar to that shown in FIG. 13 wherein a double ball valve is provided similar to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 12.

(32) FIGS. 15 to 17 show a further embodiment of the invention wherein the valve is closed by disk-like member (120) mounted on an axial tube (121). Four radially extending members (122) extend radially outwardly from a body (123). The body (123) has an axial passageway (124) extending to an outlet (125) is generally co-planar with the outermost sealing member (122). A conduit (126) communicates with the passageway (124) to form a valve seat (128) arranged to engage the disk (120) when the pourer is inverted. A cap (129) provided with apertures to permit passage of fluid, supports the tubular member (121) within the conduit (126). Rectangular liquid intakes (127) in the conduit adjacent the sealing means (122) allow a flow of liquid into the conduit when the pourer is inverted.

(33) Air intake (121) extends axially of the pourer and provides a guide upon which the disk-shaped valve member (120) may slide as the bottle is inverted or returned to the upright position.

(34) In an alternative embodiment, the air intake opens into the interior chamber of the conduit behind the disc and not directly into the bottle. This arrangement allows the region of reduced pressure behind the falling disc to be replaced with air drawn in from the ambient atmosphere. This arrangement may improve accuracy of dispensing of a metered measure of liquid. When the bottle is returned to the upright position, air is allowed to flow into the bottle to equalise any pressure difference, thereby resetting the pourer for repeated use.