Abstract
A pourer installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer includes a liquid flow channel configured to permit a flow of the liquid in an outflow direction; an air intake channel; a filter at the air intake channel. The liquid flow channel may includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; wherein the flow of the liquid the first portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction, the second portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction, and the third portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction. The pourer may include a non-return valve at the air intake channel.
Claims
1. A pourer installable on a container for pouring a liquid from the container, the pourer comprising: a liquid flow channel configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel in an outflow direction from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position; an air intake channel configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel in an inflow direction from outside the container to inside the container; and a filter at the air intake channel for filtering the air; wherein the liquid flow channel comprises a first portion, a second portion connected to the first portion, and a third portion connected to the second portion such that during the flow of the liquid the latter passes successively via the first portion, the second portion and the third portion; whereby during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is at the pouring position, the first portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction, the second portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction, and the third portion is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction.
2. The pourer according to claim 1, wherein the pourer further comprises a first non-return valve which is at the liquid flow channel and is configured to permit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve towards the outflow direction when the pourer is at the pouring position, and inhibit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve in the direction opposite the outflow direction when the pourer is at a resting position.
3. The pourer according to claim 2, wherein the first non-return valve is a check ball valve, comprising a ball which is made of a copper alloy and/or is silver anodized.
4. The pourer according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is helicoidal and/or the second portion is helicoidal.
5. The pourer according to claim 1, wherein the pourer comprises a tube which forms the third portion of the liquid flow channel, a length of the tube being at least three times larger than a diameter of the tube.
6. The pourer according to claim 1, further comprising a protector which comprises an opening through which passes the third portion of the liquid flow channel; wherein an end of the third portion is located on a first side of the protector; the filter is located on a second side of the protector, the second side being opposite the first side; the protector is configured to cover and protect the filter from the liquid which exits the end of the third portion when the liquid flows via the third portion in the outflow direction.
7. The pourer according to claim 6, comprising a cap receptor which is attached to the filter and to the protector and comprises a cylindrical wall; the pourer comprises a chamber formed between the filter, the protector and the cylindrical wall; the cylindrical wall comprises openings configured to allow air to flow through the openings towards the chamber and the filter; the cylindrical wall comprising a screw thread configured for the screwing thereon of a screw cap.
8. The pourer according to claim 1, further comprising a second non-return valve which is at the air intake channel and is configured to permit the air to flow via the second non-return valve towards the inflow direction and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the second non-return valve towards a direction opposite the inflow direction and towards the filter when the pourer is at the pouring position.
9. The pourer according to claim 8, wherein the second non-return valve is a duck bill valve.
10. The pourer according to claim 1, further comprising; an adaptor configured to be firmly attached to an opening of the container; an intermediate part configured to be firmly attached to the adaptor such that at least part of the intermediate part is surrounded by the adaptor; the intermediate part comprising a peripheral wall; a central part configured to be firmly attached to the intermediate part such that at least a part of the central part is surrounded by the peripheral wall of the intermediate part; the first portion and the second portion of the liquid flow channel are at least partially formed by an open space between the peripheral wall and the part of the central part surrounded by the peripheral wall of the intermediate part.
11. The pourer according to claim 10, wherein: the central part comprises a tube, two helicoidal protrusions which protrude from and around a first portion of a wall of the tube, and a disc shaped protrusion which protrudes from the wall of the tube between the first portion and a second portion of the wall of the tube; a first end of the tube is closed; the tube comprises a first opening at the first portion of the wall of the tube, and a second opening at a second end of the tube opposite the first end; the tube forms the third portion of the liquid flow channel, and said third portion extends from the first opening to the second opening; the first opening connects the third portion to the second portion of the liquid flow channel; at least a part of the first portion of the liquid flow channel and at least a part of the second portion of the liquid flow channel are formed between the first portion of the wall of the tube, the disc shaped protrusion, the helicoidal protrusions and the peripheral wall of the intermediate part.
12. The pourer according to claim 10, wherein the air intake channel comprises a tubular portion and a helicoidal portion connected to the tubal portion; the adaptor comprises a tubular part which forms the tubular portion of the air intake channel; and the intermediate part comprises a helical protrusion which protrudes from and around the peripheral wall of the intermediate part and is configured to be attached to the adaptor such that the helicoidal portion of the air intake channel is formed by an open space between the adaptor, the helical protrusion of the intermediate part and the peripheral wall of the intermediate part.
13. The pourer according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the air intake channel is helicoidal.
14. (canceled)
15. A product comprising a container and the pourer according to claim 1 and is attached to the container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the disclosure, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate embodiments of the disclosure, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the disclosure, but just as examples of how the disclosure can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a pourer according to an aspect of the disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of the part of FIG. 4.
[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates together the parts of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section of the part of FIG. 7.
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates a different view of the cross section of FIG. 8.
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0041] FIG. 11 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates a part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0043] FIG. 13 illustrates a cross section of the part of FIG. 12.
[0044] FIG. 14 illustrates a cross section of a part of the embodiment FIG. 2.
[0045] FIG. 15 illustrates a partial cross section of part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 16 illustrates a partial cross section of part of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the disclosure. Next embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings, showing apparatuses and methods according to the disclosure.
[0048] Particular embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to FIG. 1-16. FIG. 1-16 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a pourer which can be installed on a bottle for pouring a liquid from the bottle. The pourer 1 of FIG. 1-16 is particularly suitable for pouring drinks and comprises a liquid flow channel 2, an air intake channel 3 and a filter 4. The liquid flow channel 2 is configured to permit a flow of the liquid via the liquid flow channel 2 in an outflow direction OD from inside the container towards outside the container when the pourer is at a pouring position. The air intake channel 3 is configured to permit air to flow via the air intake channel 3 in an inflow direction ID from outside the container to inside the container. Hence, when the pourer is attached to a bottle and is at the pouring position, liquid can exit the bottle via the pourer's liquid flow channel, and air can enter the bottle via the pourer's air intake channel.
[0049] The respective thick arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the aforementioned outflow direction OD and inflow direction ID. Also, the filter 4 at the air intake channel is for filtering the air that enters the bottle via the air intake channel 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 said filter 4 is attached to said air-intake channel 3 so that the air passing via the air-intake channel 3 also passes via the filter 4. However, it is noted that in other embodiments according to the disclosure, said filter may be considered as part of the air-intake channel.
[0050] Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 the liquid flow channel 2 comprises a first portion 2a, a second portion 2b and a third portion 2c. The second portion 2b is connected to the first portion 2a. Also, the third portion 2c is connected to the second portion 2b. Moreover, the first portion 2a, the second portion 2b and the third portion 2c are arranged such that during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is at the pouring position, the liquid passes successively via the first portion 2a, the second portion 2b and the third portion 2c. Said pouring position is a position at which the liquid is driven by the gravity to travel via the liquid flow channel 2 and exit the latter via the third portion 2c. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 during the flow of the liquid when the pourer is the pouring position, the first portion 2a is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction OD, the second portion 2b is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards a direction opposite the outflow direction OD, and the third portion 2c is configured to direct the liquid to flow towards the outflow direction OD. Consequently, and as a result of the aforementioned configuration of the liquid flow channel in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16, when the pourer is brought from the pouring position back to a resting (parking) position, liquid that may have been left in the third and second portions of the liquid flow channel 2, may accumulate and form a small pool of liquid at the connection between the third and the second portions 2b, 2c. Said small pool of liquid may act as a liquid trap which can blocks air from passing through said pool and entering the bottle. Also, it is noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2 is essentially a tube 7, and the filter 4 is shaped as a disc and comprises a hole 16 through which passes said tube 7.
[0051] In the embodiment of FIG. 1-6 the pourer 1 also comprises a first non-return valve 5 which is at one end of the liquid flow channel 2 towards the latter's side that would face the interior of the container when the pourer is functionally attached to the container. In the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 said first non-return valve 5 is a check ball valve which is configured to permit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve 5 towards the outflow direction OD when the pourer is at the pouring position, and inhibit the liquid to flow via the first non-return valve 5 in the direction opposite the outflow direction OD when the pourer is at a resting position. It may be understood when the pourer is attached to a bottle, the resting position will typically be one at which the mouth's neck is pointed towards the sky, and the bottom of the bottle rests on a supporting surface, e.g. on a shelf, on which the bottle stands in an upright position.
[0052] Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16, the pourer comprises a protector 8, a cap receptor 11, an adaptor 18, and intermediate part 19, a central part 20 and a second non-return valve 17. The protector 8 comprises an opening 9 through which passes the tube 7 that is the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2. An end 10 of the third portion 2c is located on a first side 8a of the protector 8. In the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 said end 10 of the third portion 2c is an open end 27 of the tube 7. Said open end 27 of the tube further down herein is also called second end 27 to be distinguished from a first end 24 of the tube 7. The filter 4 is located on a second side 8b of the protector 8, said second side 8b being opposite the first side 8a. The protector 8 is configured to cover and protect the filter 4 from the liquid which exits the end 10 of the third portion 2c when the liquid flows via the third portion 2c in the outflow direction OD. The cap receptor 11 is attached to the filter 4 and to the protector 8 and comprises a cylindrical wall 12 which comprises a screw thread 15 which is configured for the screwing thereon of a screw cap. Also, between the filter 4, the protector 8 and the cylindrical wall 12 there is formed a chamber. Also, the cylindrical wall 12 comprises openings 14 which are configured to allow air to flow through the openings 14 towards the chamber 13 and the filter 4. Hence, when the pourer is attached to a bottle, air can enter the chamber via the openings 14, and subsequently pass via the filter and travel via the air intake channel towards entering the bottle. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1 said openings 14 are on lateral sides of the pourer to prevent the poured liquid that exits the liquid flow channel from entering the chamber and wetting the filter. For the same reason, the protector 8 essentially acts a shelter or cover that protects the filter 4 and prevents the latter's wetting from liquid that exits the end of the flow channels during the pouring process.
[0053] Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16, the adaptor 18 is configured to be firmly attached to an opening of the bottle. For this purpose, the adaptor comprises a set of protrusions and recesses 31 arranged around an external surface of the adaptor which is shaped to fit inside the neck of a bottle. Said set of protrusions and recesses 31 serve as a seal between the adaptor and the bottle's mouth. Also, the adaptor comprises a lip 32 for being fitted on the mouth of the bottle. Also, the intermediate part 19 is configured to be firmly attached to the adaptor 18 such that at least part of the intermediate part 19 is surrounded by the adaptor 18. Said intermediate part 19 comprises a peripheral wall 19a and a set of openings 33 arranged around a lip 34 of the intermediate part 19, said lip 34 being on one end of the intermediate trap 19. The central part 20 is configured to be firmly attached to the intermediate part 19 such that at least a part of the central part 20 is surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Also, the central part comprises an annular support structure 35 on which rests the filter 4. The first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 are formed by an open space between the peripheral wall 19a and the part of the central part 20 surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Hence, the peripheral wall 19a and the part of the central part 20 surrounded by the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 act as walls of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b. The central part 20 also comprises the tube 7 which is the third portion 2c of the flow channel 2. In addition, the central part also comprises a disc shaped protrusion 22 and two helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b. The helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b protrude from and around a first portion 23a of a wall 23 of the tube 7. The disc shaped protrusion 22 protrudes from the wall 23 of the tube between the first portion 23a and a second portion 23b of the wall 7a of the tube 7. Also, a first end 24 of the tube 7 is closed. Moreover, the tube 7 comprises a first opening 25 and a second opening 26. The first opening 25 of the tube 7 is at the first portion 23a of the wall 23 of the tube 7. The second opening 26 of the tube 7 is at a second end 27 of the tube opposite the first end 24. As mentioned further above, the tube 7 forms the third portion 2c of the liquid flow channel 2, and said third portion 2c extends from the first opening 25 to the second opening 26 of the tube 7. Said first opening 25 connects the third portion 2c to the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2. At least a part of the first portion 2a of the liquid flow channel 2 and at least a part of the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 are formed between the first portion 23a of the wall 23 of the tube 7, the disc shaped protrusion 22, the helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Hence, the wall 23 of the tube 7, the disc shaped protrusion 22, the helicoidal protrusions 21a, 21b and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 delimit (i.e. act as boundaries of) and act as walls of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the flow channel 2 which is for the flow of the liquid. Consequently, each of the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the liquid flow channel 2 is also helicoidal i.e. has a helicoidal shape.
[0054] Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1-16, the air intake channel 3 comprises a tubular portion and a helicoidal portion which is connected to the tubal portion. The adaptor 18 comprises a tubular part 28 which forms the tubular portion of the air intake channel 3. The intermediate part 19 comprises a respective helical protrusion 19b which protrudes from and around the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 and is configured to be attached to the adaptor 18. Hence, the helicoidal portion of the air intake channel 3 is formed by an open space between the adaptor 18, the helical protrusion 19b of the intermediate part 19 and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19. Therefore, the adaptor 18, the helical protrusion 19b of the intermediate part 19 and the peripheral wall 19a of the intermediate part 19 act as boundary walls of the air intake channel 3. Consequently, a part of the air intake channel 3 is helicoidal.
[0055] In the embodiment of FIG. 1-16, the pourer further comprises a second non-return valve 17 which is at end of the air intake channel 3 towards a pourer's side that is inserted in the bottle when the pourer is attached to the bottle. In the embodiment of FIG. 1-16 said second non-return valve 17 is duck bill valve which is made of flexible polymer and is configured to permit the air to flow via the duck bill valve towards the inflow direction ID and inhibit a flow of the liquid via the duck bill valve towards the filter and a direction opposite the inflow direction ID, when the pourer is at a pouring position.
[0056] A preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the disclosure comprises the bottle, a drink inside the bottle, a pourer attached to neck of the bottle, and a cap attached to the pourer.
[0057] In this text, the term comprises and its derivations (such as comprising, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements etc.
[0058] The disclosure is obviously not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.
